Use of molecular hybridization to purify and analyze albumin messenger RNA from rat liver

The influence of glucocorticoid on the fibrinogen messenger RNA content of rat liver in vivo and in hepatocyte suspension culture

The plasma concentration of fibrinogen, one of the major acute-phase proteins produced by the liver, increases during the acute-phase response as a result of enhanced synthesis in liver. Since adrenal-cortical hormones have been thought to have a key role in the regulation of the fibrinogen synthesis, fibrinogen-polypeptide mRNA sequences were determined in the present study, by using a specific complementary-DNA probe, in RNA fractions obtained from rat hepatocytes exposed to glucocorticoids in vitro (hepatocyte suspension cultures) and in vivo. Maximal induction of the fibrinogen-polypeptide mRNA (to 400% of the control value) was found in vitro at 0.1 microM-dexamethasone after 9 h of incubation. The same magnitude of induction was obtained with 20 microM-cortisol or 60 microM-corticosterone. In contrast with the findings in vitro, no induction of the fibrinogen-polypeptide mRNA was observed in the liver at various times after injection of different doses of glucocorticoids into rats. These results suggest that more complex regulatory mechanisms are involved and that glucocorticoids are not the sole regulatory factors in vivo in the enhanced synthesis of fibrinogen during the acute-phase response.

Effects of chronic renal failure on protein synthesis and albumin messenger ribonucleic acid in rat liver

Previously we reported that chronic renal failure in rats leads to preferential disaggregation of liver membrane-bound polysomes associated with a decrease in albumin synthesis. To determine whether reduced albumin synthesis results from reduced cellular levels of albumin messenger RNA (mRNA) or some other molecular mechanism, we have employed mRNA-DNA hybridization in conjunction with cell-free protein synthesis to determine albumin mRNA sequence content and biological activity in subcellular fractions from control and uremic rat liver. Using high specific activity albumin [3H]-complementary DNA prepared from purified-albumin mRNA, we found that total liver polysomes and albumin mRNA sequence content are increased in uremic animals. The extra polysomes are located within the membrane-bound subcellular fraction. These polysomes, however, have reduced ability to synthesize albumin in the cell-free system, and mRNA isolated from membrane-bound polysomes of uremic liver showed reduced albumin synthesis. Evaluation of albumin mRNA size by hybridization analysis revealed a reduced content of intact albumin mRNA molecules per microgram of RNA in the liver of uremic animals. This was associated with increased ribonuclease activity in uremic cytosol. The diminished albumin synthesis by membrane-bound polysomes of uremic rat liver can, therefore, be explained by enhanced degradation of albumin mRNA.

Anti-ribosomal ribonucleoprotein autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

Sera from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients giving a fluorescent ribosomal pattern on tissue and cell preparations also showed precipitating autoantibodies against purified rat liver ribosomes. Ribosomal antigen is also present in rabbit thymus cellular extract (RTE), since the same sera gave precipitin lines against RTE in identity with ribosomes. Immunofluorescent staining was completely inhibited by serum absorption with ribosomes or with RTE. However ribosomal RNA and RNase or trypsin-treated ribosomes failed to react with these autoantibodies as demonstrated in immunoabsorption and immunodiffusion studies. These data suggest that these sera contain autoantibodies directed against some antigenic site composed of a portion of both RNA and ribosomal protein. Ribosomal autoantibodies were detectable at a low frequency in SLE patients characterized by an active disease and renal involvement.

Direct regulation by calcium of cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleic acid coding for pre-proparathyroid hormone in isolated bovine parathyroid cells

DNA complementary to bovine preproparathyroid hormone mRNA was cloned and labeled by nick translation in order to measure mRNA by molecular hybridization. Bovine parathyroid cells were maintained in primary tissue culture for periods up to 96 h at 0.5 mM, 1.25 mM, and 2.5 mM calcium, which was followed by extraction of cellular RNA. Levels of mRNA showed no differences at 0.5 or 1.25 mM calcium, but at high calcium levels, there was a reversible decrease that began at 16 h to a plateau at 30% of control after 72 h. These studies suggest that the glandular capacity to synthesize hormone may be at or near maximal at normal calcium, but at high calcium, there is a decrease over time in steady state levels of mRNA.

Development and use of a rat albumin cDNA clone to evaluate the effect of chronic ethanol administration on hepatic protein synthesis

A rat albumin cDNA probe (pBR alb 149) was developed in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for changes in hepatic protein synthesis after chronic administration of ethanol to rats. Rats fed a diet for up to 1 year in which 36% of calories were from ethanol, developed fatty livers but not cirrhosis. Cell-free protein synthesis with liver membrane-bound polysomes of ethanol-fed rats was increased as compared to control membrane-bound polysomes, whereas protein synthesis with free polysomes was unchanged. Total RNA extracted from liver membrane-bound polysomes and translated in a rabbit reticulocyte mRNA-dependent system showed a marked increase in albumin synthesis in the ethanol-fed group. Analysis of RNA molecules separated according to molecular weight by gel electrophoresis and hybridized with recombinant-cloned albumin cDNA demonstrated an increase in full-sized albumin mRNA species in ethanol-fed animals. Therefore, chronic ethanol administration appears to increase albumin synthesis by increasing the steady-state level of biologically active albumin mRNA in liver membrane-bound polysomes. Despite development of fatty liver, the protein synthesis machinery functions normally.

cDNA cloning and analysis of chick-embryo-liver cytochrome P-450 mRNA induced by porphyrinogenic drugs

Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 was elevated in 17-day chick embryos by combined administration of the porphyrinogenic drugs 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide and 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine. Increased apoprotein levels were the result of de novo protein synthesis; in vitro obtained translation data suggested that cytochrome P-450 mRNA levels were elevated. A 1000-base cDNA sequence for the drug-induced cytochrome P-450 mRNA was isolated from a chick embryo cDNA 'library' and this was used as a specific probe to investigate drug-mediated induction of cytochrome P-450 mRNA. RNA-DNA 'dot' hybridisation studies demonstrated that drug treatment led to a 3-5-fold increase in the level of this mRNA and that the mRNA was predominantly associated with membrane-bound polyribosomes. Treatment of embryos with the drugs individually demonstrated that both of them induced synthesis of the same mRNA. These studies show directly that treatment of chick embryos with 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide or 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine caused increased levels of cytochrome P-450 mRNA and suggest that this involved increased transcription of the gene.

Presence of albumin mRNA precursors in nuclei of analbuminemic rat liver lacking cytoplasmic albumin mRNA

Analbuminemic rats, which lack serum albumin, were previously found to have no albumin mRNA in the cytoplasm of the liver. In the present study, the existence of nuclear albumin mRNA precursors in the liver of analbuminemic rats was examined by RNA X cDNA hybridization kinetics. Albumin mRNA precursors were present in the nuclei of analbuminemic rat liver at almost normal levels, despite the absence of albumin mRNA from the cytoplasm. Nuclear RNA of analbuminemic rat liver was subjected to electrophoresis on 1% agarose gel in parallel with nuclear RNA of normal rat liver. RNA was transferred from the gel to diazobenzyloxymethyl-paper and hybridized to cloned cDNA. Several bands of putative albumin mRNA precursors were obtained with nuclear RNA of analbuminemic rat liver and some of them were indistinguishable from those of normal rat liver. Nuclear RNA of analbuminemic rats was hybridized to 3'-end-labeled cloned cDNA under the conditions of RNA excess and then digested completely with S1 nuclease and subjected to electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. By this technique, nuclear RNA that could hybridized to cDNA was found to have the albumin mRNA sequence in at least the 3' half of the mRNa that was covered by cloned cDNA. For comparison of the structures of the albumin genes of analbuminemic and normal rats, DNAs from rat livers of both types were digested completely with EcoRI, HindIII, and Pst I; the fragments were separated by electrophoresis on 1% agarose gel, transferred to nitrocellulose paper, and hybridized to cloned cDNA. The intensities of the corresponding bands and the digestion patterns of the analbuminemic and normal rat genes were indistinguishable. From these data, it is concluded that analbuminemic rats have a unique type of mutation(s) affecting albumin mRNA maturation.

Isolation and characterization of xenopus laevis albumin mRNA

The messenger RNA for albumin was isolated from the liver of male frogs. Purification was achieved using oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation under denaturing conditions. As judged by translational activity in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system derived from rabbit reticulocytes, albumin mRNA was enriched 259-fold as compared to the total ribonucleic acid of the liver cells. Purified albumin mRNA migrated after sucrose gradient centrifugation as a single symmetrical peak of approximately 17 S and also moved as a single band following denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis. Albumin mRNA possess properties compatible with the presence of a poly(adenylic acid) sequence. Translation in vitro yielded a product which is immunoprecipitable with anti-(frog albumin) and which showed a single radioactive peak having a molecular weight of about 74000 in sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Complementary DNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase, and, as a template, purified albumin mRNA. Following hybridization under conditions of excess RNA, the rot1/2 of albumin mRNA was found to be 1.8 X 10-3 mol . s . 1-1. This result also confirmed that albumin nRNA had been isolated in a highly purified form.

Developmental changes in the composition of polyadenylated RNA isolated from free and membrane-bound polyribosomes of the rat forebrain, analysed by translation in vitro

Free and membrane-bound polyribosomes were isolated from the rat forebrain during its development. Polyadenylated RNA [poly(A)+ RNA] was isolated from both fractions, by using oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography, and its composition studied by translating the poly(A)+ RNA in vitro in reticulocyte lysates. Electrophoretic analysis of the translation products showed that both free and membrane-bound polyribosomal poly(A)+ RNA gave many common components, but that there were also distinct differences in the protein composition of the products of the two fractions. Several proteins, of mol.wts. 39 000, 37 000, 31 000, 27 000 and 17 000, appeared to be products predominantly of free polyribosomal poly(A)+ RNA, whereas others, of mol.wt. 47 000, 33 000, 24 000 and 21 000 were specific to the membrane-bound polyribosomal poly(A)+ RNA fraction. More developmental changes were observed in the translational products of the membrane-bound poly(A)+ RNA fraction. Proteins of mol.wts. 33 000 and 21 000, which were predominant components of the translational products of this fraction when isolated from 10-day and older rats, were not present in translational products derived from preparations isolated from 3-day-old rats. The developmental appearance of these proteins as translational products of the membrane-bound poly(A)+ RNA suggests the appearance of new mRNA species. These transcriptional changes are discussed in relation to processes involved in brain differentiation, including myelination.

Absence of albumin mRNA in the liver of analbuminemic rats

Albumin synthesis in the liver of analbuminemic rats, established as a strain from a stock of Sprague-Dawley rats, was examined in vivo by labeling protein by intraperitoneal injection of L-[3H]leucine. Albumin was not synthesized in the liver of analbuminemic rats, whereas its synthesis amounted to about 14% of the total protein synthesis in the liver of normal rats. The RNA content and size distribution of the total polysomes in the liver of analbuminemic rats were not significantly different from those of normal rats. However, no functional mRNA coding for albumin was found in poly(A)-containing RNA from the liver of analbuminemic rats when tested with a cell-free translation system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. Moreover, the amount of the RNA sequence that could hybridize to purified albumin cDNA was more than 750 times greater in the liver of normal rats than in that of analbuminemic rats.

Synthesis of delta-aminolaevulinate synthase in vitro using hepatic mRNA from chick embryos with induced porphyria

Polyadenylated mRNA was isolated from chick embryo liver following induction of hepatic porphyria. The RNA was translated in vitro using a wheat germ cell-free system and delta-aminolaevulinate synthase was identified in the translation products by indirect immunoprecipitation. The enzyme was not apparent in the translation products of polyadenylated RNA from non-induced livers. The molecular weight of delta-aminolaevulinate synthase synthesized in vitro was 70000 and the protein was estimated to represent up to 5% of total products synthesised in vitro. These data demonstrate for the first time that induction of chick embryo liver delta-aminolaevulinate synthase activity in hepatic porphyria correlates with a large increase in the translational capacity of isolated polyadenylated RNA for this enzyme and, together with preliminary cDNA . RNA hybridization studies, indicate that an increase in the level of delta-aminolaevulinic synthase mRNA is responsible.

Purification of messenger ribonucleic acids for fast and slow myosin heavy chains by indirect immunoprecipitation of polysomes from embryonic chick skeletal muscle

Fast and slow myosin heavy chain mRNAs were isolated by indirect immunoprecipitation of polysomes from 14-day-old embryonic chick leg muscle. The antibodies were prepared against myosin heavy chains purified by NaDod-SO4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and were shown to be specific for fast and slow myosin heavy chains. The RNA fractions directed the synthesis of myosin heavy chains in a cell-free translation system from wheat germ. Several smaller peptides were also synthesized in lower concentrations. These probably are partial products of myosin heavy chains, since they are immunoprecipitated with antibodies to myosin heavy chains. Immunoprecipitation of the translation products with the antibodies to fast and slow myosin heavy chains showed the RNA preparations to be approximately 94% enriched for fast myosin heavy chain mRNA and approximately 84% enriched for slow myosin heavy chain mRNA with respect to myosin HC type. Peptides having slightly different mobilities on NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels were immunoprecipitated by antibodies to fast and slow myosin heavy chains.

Inhibition of cell-free protein synthesis by low-molecular-weight nuclear polyadenylate-containing ribonucleic acid species isolated from the lactating guinea pig

1. Poly(A)-containing RNA was isolated from the nuclei of mammary gland, liver and brain of lactating guinea pigs. 2. Total nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA from mammary gland inhibited mRNA-directed protein synthesis by a wheat-germ cell-free system. It also inhibited the endogenous activity of the wheat-germ and other cell-free systems. It did not inhibit a wheat-germ cell-free system directed by poly(U). 3. Total nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA from liver and brain did not inhibit the mRNA-directed wheat-germ system. 4. Fractionation of the nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA revealed inhibitory activity in the less than 10 S fraction from mammary gland as well as that from liver and brain. 5. The mechanism of protein-synthesis inhibition appeared to be at the level of elongation. 6. The inhibitory activity could be reversed in a wheat-germ system by increasing the amount of S-30 supernatant. 7. The mechanism of inhibition of protein synthesis is discussed in relation to other RNA species known to inhibit such systems.

Regulation of albumin synthesis in rat liver

The present report reviews our findings on the subcellular distribution of albumin mRNA in rat liver under normal and abnormal physiologic conditions, the identification of albumin mRNA in specific mRNP complexes in liver cytosol of starved rats, and evidence fo albumin mRNA sequences in a higher molecular weight nuclear precursor to cytoplasmic albumin mRNA.

Distribution of rat liver albumin mRNA membrane-bound and free in polyribosomes as determined by molecular hybridization

Recently, we purified rat liver albumin mRNA and prepared albumin [(3)H]cDNA. Using albumin [(3)H]cDNA in molecular hybridization experiments, we have now determined the distribution of albumin mRNA sequences in membrane-bound and free liver polyribosomes prepared by techniques in which there is high recovery of polyribosomes without evidence of degradation. By using molecular hybridization to measure specific mRNA sequence content, numerous problems could be avoided in interpretation of results as obtained by cell-free protein synthesis or immunological methods. Under these conditions, 98% of albumin mRNA sequences in polyribosomes are found in the membrane-bound fraction.