Acetylcholinesterase of mammalian neuromuscular junctions: presence of tailed asymmetric acetylcholinesterase in synaptic basal lamina and sarcolemma

Stabilization of collagen-tailed acetylcholinesterase in muscle cells through extracellular anchorage by transglutaminase-catalyzed cross-linking

A component of collagen-tailed acetylcholinesterase (asymmetric; A-AChE) in muscle forms a metabolically-stable pool which can be released from the cell surface only by collagenase, suggesting that part of the enzyme is covalently bound by its tail (COLQ) subunits. We have investigated whether this insoluble pool forms through covalent cross-linking of A-AChE to extracellular matrix glycoproteins by tissue transglutaminase (Tg; type 2 transglutaminase). Tg catalyzed the incorporation of the polyamine substrate 3[H]-putrescine into the collagen tail of affinity-purified avian A12-AChE. Complexes between A12-AChE and cellular fibronectin were also formed in vitro by Tg. In quail myotubes, retinoic acid, which stimulates the formation of epsilon(gamma-glutamyl)lysine isodipeptide bonds by Tg in myotubes, increased the proportion of extraction-resistant (er) A-AChE. Following irreversible inactivation of AChE by diisopropylfluorophosphate, entry of newly-synthesized A-AChE into the extraction-resistant pool was inhibited by a competitive Tg inactivator RS48373-007. The quantity of exogenously-added A 12 AChE incorporated into the extraction-resistant pool in living myotubes was increased by Tg in the presence of calcium. The inhibition of cross-bridge formation in fibrillar collagen by beta-aminopropionitrile, and pre-exposure of myotubes to a monoclonal antibody to fibronectin, resulted in a reduction in the size of the erA-AChE pool present on the cell-surface. The evidence supports the hypothesis that a component of insoluble collagen-tailed AChE, once subject to clustering influences mediated via reversible docking to proteoglycans and their receptors, is anchored at the cell surface through covalent cross-linking by Tg. The high stability of the epsilon(gamma-glutamyl)lysine isopeptide bond is likely to contribute to the observed low turnover of the erA-AChE fraction.

Calcium influxes and calmodulin modulate the expression and physicochemical properties of acetylcholinesterase molecular forms during development in vivo

1. Acetylcholinesterase (AcChoE; EC 3.1.1.7) exists in several molecular forms that may be anchored to cell membranes or associated with extracellular matrix. AcChoE bound to lipidic membranes is detergent extractable (DE AcChoE), whereas the enzyme associated with extracellular matrix is high salt soluble (HSS AcChoE). The latter variant is accumulated in synaptic regions by an unknown mechanism. 2. We have suggested previously that depolarization-induced Ca2+ influx is a major factor that modulates AcChoE synthesis in vivo, as well as the conversion of some DE AcChoE to HSS variant. In the present study, we have examined (i) the effects of depolarization-induced skeletal muscle inactivity and ionophore-induced Ca2+ influxes on the expression of AcChoE molecular forms and (ii) the hypothesis that Ca(2+)-dependent calmodulin may be involved in the conversion of at least some forms of DE AcChoE to HSS variant in vivo. 3. Chick embryos were treated in ovo during the early period of nerve-muscle interactions with d-tubocurarine (dTC; a competitive neuromuscular blocking agent) or with decamethonium (dMET; a depolarizing agent). Both dTC and dMET equally and significantly reduced embryonic neuromuscular activity (motility). However, dTC significantly decreased AcChoE overall activity, whereas dMET had virtually no effect on AcChoE expression, compared to controls. 4. Treatment of embryos with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 significantly increased the total AcChoE activity as well as the DE/HSS ratio of each AcChoE molecular form. However, treatment with N-(6-Aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (also termed W-7), a calmodulin antagonist, did not alter the total AcChoE activity, but significantly increased the DE/HSS ratio of AcChoE forms. 5. These results support the idea that (i) depolarization and/or Ca2+ influxes, but not muscle contraction, may regulate AcChoE expression in skeletal muscle and (ii) Ca(2+)-dependent calmodulin activation may be involved in the conversion of some DE AcChoE to their HSS variant in vivo.

Developmental modulation of physicochemical variants of the tailed asymmetric (16S) acetylcholinesterase by neuromuscular activity and innervation in the mouse embryo

We have studied the physicochemical properties of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) during embryonic development of normal and functionally impaired mouse skeletal muscle, focusing on the tailed asymmetric (16S) form of the enzyme. The muscle-specific 16S AChE exists in two different variants. One is associated with extracellular matrix and is high-salt soluble (HSS, also termed hydrophilic AChE), whereas the other form is anchored to cell membranes and is detergent extractable (DE, or hydrophobic AChE). Before innervation during normal embryonic development, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic 16S AChE exist in equal amounts. After muscle innervation, there was an increase (amounting three-fold on E18) in the levels of hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic 16S AChE. This alteration of the relative proportions of the two variants of 16S AChE did not occur in chronically inactive muscles either from the mouse mutant, muscular dysgenesis, or from tetrodotoxin-treated mouse embryos. Taken together with previous reports, the present results suggest that postsynaptic membrane depolarization-induced Ca2+ fluxes are important in modulating not only the synthesis of 16S AChE, but also the relative proportions of both physicochemical variants of this molecular form of AChE.

Phosphatidylinositol is involved in the attachment of tailed asymmetric acetylcholinesterase to neuronal membranes

1. We analyzed the mode of attachment of 16 S tailed acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) to rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neuronal membranes. Using extractions by high-salt (HS) and nonionic detergent (Triton X-100), we found two pools of 16 S AChE. 2. The detergent-extracted (DE) 16 S AChE was tightly bound to membranes through detergent-sensitive, high-salt insensitive interactions and was distinct from high-salt-soluble 16 S AChE. The detergent-extracted (DE) 16 S AChE constituted a significant proportion of about one-third of the total 16 S AChE. 3. Treatment of the neuronal membranes by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) resulted in the release of some, but not all DE 16 S AChE, indicating that a significant amount of the neuronal DE 16 S AChE, about one-third, is anchored to membranes through a phosphatidylinositol containing residue. Thus, a covalent association of a glycolipid and catalytic or structural AChE polypeptidic chains occurs not only for dimeric AChE but also for the asymmetric species of AChE. 4. The complex polymorphism of AChE is due not only to different globular or asymmetric associations of catalytic and structural subunits but also to the alternative existence of a transmembrane domain or a glycolipid membrane anchor.

Tissue-specific processing and polarized compartmentalization of clone-produced cholinesterase in microinjected Xenopus oocytes

1. To approach the involvement of tissue-specific elements in the compartmentalization of ubiquitous polymorphic proteins, immunohistochemical methods were used to analyze the localization of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in Xenopus oocytes microinjected with synthetic BuChEmRNA alone and in combination with tissue-extracted mRNAs. 2. When injected alone BuChEmRNA efficiently directed the synthesis of small membrane-associated accumulations localized principally on the external surface of the oocyte's animal pole. Tunicamycin blocked the appearance of such accumulations, suggesting that glycosylation is involved in the transport of nascent BuChE molecules to the oocyte's surface. Coinjection with brain or muscle mRNA, but not liver mRNA, facilitated the formation of pronounced, tissue-characteristic BuChE aggregates. 3. These findings implicate tissue-specific mRNAs in the assembly of the clone-produced protein and in its nonuniform distribution in the oocyte membrane or extracellular material.

Differences in the solubility and susceptibility to proteolytic degradation of basement-membrane components in adult and embryonic mouse tissues

We have studied susceptibility of basement membranes in a variety of tissues to solubility in guanidine hydrochloride and to proteolytic degradation by trypsin and thermolysin. Unfixed sections from embryonic and adult mouse tissues and the EHS tumor were subjected to solvent buffers or digested with enzymes. The retention or disappearance of the basement-membrane components nidogen, laminin, collagen IV, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan was subsequently assayed by immunofluorescence. Our data showed that in all tissues nidogen was the most readily solubilized component and the most susceptible to proteolytic degradation. With few exceptions, nidogen in embryonic tissues was more susceptible to degradation than that in adult tissues, and this correlated well with the susceptibility of the other basement-membrane components to be degraded. We conclude that basement membranes differ quite markedly in their solubility and their susceptibility to proteolytic degradation and that these properties reflect differences in their molecular structure.

Proteolytic stimulation and solubilization of membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase from muscle sarcotubular system

Incubation of membranes derived from sarcotubular system of rabbit skeletal muscle with increasing concentrations of Triton X-100 produced both stimulation of the AChE activity and solubilization of this enzyme. Mild proteolytic treatment of microsomal membranes produced a several fold activation of the still membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Attempts were made to solubilize AChE from microsomal membranes by proteolytic treatment. About 30-40% of the total enzyme activity could be solubilized by means of trypsin or papain. Short trypsin treatment of the microsomal membranes produced first an activation of the membrane-bound enzyme followed by solubilization. Incubation of muscle microsomes for a short time with papain yielded a significant portion of soluble enzyme. Membrane-bound enzyme activation was measured after a prolonged incubation period. These results are compared with those of solubilization obtained by treatment of membranes with progressive concentrations of Triton X-100. The occurrence of molecular forms in protease-solubilized AChE was investigated by means of centrifugation analysis and slab gel electrophoresis. Centrifugation on sucrose gradients revealed two main components of 4.4S and 10-11S in either trypsin or papain-solubilized AChE. These components behaved as hydrophilic species whereas the Triton solubilized AChE showed an amphipatic character. Application of slab gel electrophoresis showed the occurrence of forms with molecular weights of 350,000; 175,000; 165,000; 85,000 and 76,000. The stimulation of membrane-bound AChE by detergents or proteases would indicate that most of the enzyme molecules or their active sites are sequestered into the lipid bilayer through lipid-protein or protein-protein interactions and these are broken by proteolytic digestion of the muscle microsomes.

Electron microscopical study of non-specific cholinesterase activity in simple lamellar corpuscles of glabrous skin from cat rhinarium: a histochemical evidence for the presence of collagenase-sensitive molecular forms and their secretion

The distribution of nCHE activity was studied histochemically in simple lamellar corpuscles (SLCs) of glabrous skin from cat rhinarium. The Schwann cells forming myelin sheaths in preterminal part of SCLs exhibited no positive reaction for nCHE activity. Prevalent reaction product was localized extracellularly in the inne core enveloping terminal portion of unmyelinated sensory axon. A dot-like shaped reaction product was deposited in the basal lamina of the inner core cells and their cytoplasmic lamellae or was scattered in enlarged interlamellar spaces. Only small amount of fine end product was found to be associated with the plasma membrane of inner core lamellae. Fine reaction product for nCHE activity was consistently localized in perinuclear and rER cisternae and saccules of the Golgi apparatus of inner core cells. Some vesicles around rER and the Golgi apparatus, ones beneath the plasma membrane, and tubular-like cisternal profiles oriented towards the surface contained nCHE end product, as well. The intracellular and extracellular localization of nCHE reaction product suggests that this enzyme behaves in cat SLCs as a secreted rather than as an integral membrane protein. A large amount of dot-like reaction product in the interlamellar spaces disappeared if the skin sections were treated with collagenase before incubation in the medium for histochemical detection of nCHE activity. The decrease of nCHE end product in SLCs of the skin sections after collagenase digestion was corroborated by means of light microdensitometer and electrometrical measurement. The histochemical detection and electrometrical measurement revealed that the majority of the reaction product in the interlamellar spaces of inner core corresponds with the nCHE molecules sensitive to collagenase treatment and they are probably counted among asymmetrical molecular forms.

Definition, at the molecular level, of a thyroglobulin-acetylcholinesterase shared epitope: study of its pathophysiological significance in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy

The nature of the putative autoantigen in Graves' ophthalmopathy (Go) remains an enigma but the sequence similarity between thyroglobulin (Tg) and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) provides a rationale for epitopes which are common to the thyroid gland and the eye orbit. In an attempt to define the shared epitope, we have screened a lambda gt 11 human thyroid cDNA library using a polyclonal antibody to Torpedo ACHE and isolated two clones, which upon sequencing, were shown to contain Tg segments, corresponding to portions of the C terminal part of the molecule which has a high similarity with ACHE. Having demonstrated the existence of an epitope common to Tg and ACHE, the clones have been further tested and found to be positive in lysis plaque assays with 1/10 sera from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), 8/8 from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and 0/8 normal sera. We have investigated the physiological significance of this common epitope by in situ immunolocalization studies in which the polyclonal antibody to Torpedo ACHE (which was used for screening the library) and immunoglobulins (Igs) from 6 Go patients tested were shown to bind to end plate regions of human foetal muscle fibres which were concurrently shown to be rich in cholinesterase activity: Igs from 3 normal individuals and 2 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis did not bind. The results demonstrate and characterize an epitope which is common to Tg and ACHE and show that Go patients Igs contain antibodies which bind to muscle end plates rich in cholinesterase. The significance of these findings to the pathogenesis of Go is discussed.

Molecular biological search for human genes encoding cholinesterases

Cholinesterases (ChEs) are highly polymorphic proteins, capable of rapidly hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and involved in terminating neurotransmission in neuromuscular junctions and cholinergic synapses. In an attempt to delineate the structure and detailed properties of the human protein(s) and the gene(s) coding for the acetylcholine hydrolyzing enzymes, a human cDNA coding for ChE was isolated by use of oligodeoxynucleotide screening of cDNA libraries. For this purpose, a method for increasing the effectiveness of oligonucleotide screening by introducing deoxyinosine in sites of codon ambiguity and using tetramethyl-ammonium salt washes to remove false-positive hybrids was employed. The resulting isolated 2.4-kilobase (kb) cholinesterase cDNA sequences encode for the entire mature secretory protein, preceded by an N-terminal signal peptide. The human ChE primary sequence shows almost no homology to other serine hydrolases, with the exception of a hexapeptide at the active site. In contrast, it displays extensive homology with acetylcholinesterase form Torpedo californica and Drosophila melanogaster as well as with bovine thyroglobulin. These extensive homologies probably suggest the need of the entire coding sequence for the physiological function(s) fulfilled by the enzyme and further suggest a common, unique, ancestral gene for these cDNAs. In turn, the cDNA was used as a probe to isolate genomic DNA sequences for the 5'-region of the human ChE gene. The genomic DNA fragment encoding part of the 5'-region of ChEcDNA was detected by DNA blot hybridization, enriched 70-fold by gel electrophoresis and electroelution, cloned in lambda phage and isolated. Sequencing of the cloned DNA revealed that it did indeed include part of the 5'-region of ChEcDNA, starting at an adjacent 5'-position to the nucleotides coding for the initiator methionine, and ending with an EcoRI restriction site inherent to the ChEcDNA sequence. The isolated fragment of the human cholinesterase gene is currently employed to complete the structural characterization of this and related genes.

Histochemical localization of acetylcholinesterase in relation to motor neurons and internuclear neurons of the cat abducens nucleus

Three distinct patterns of AChE localization have been observed in relation to cat abducens motor neurons and internuclear neurons labelled by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. First, AChE was localized predominantly within cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum and agranular reticulum of motor neuron somata, dendrites and axons, but was absent from internuclear neurons. AChE was also associated with saccules of the Golgi apparatus in the motor neurons, but was was absent from all other cytoplasmic organelles. Second, AChE was observed on the soma-dendritic and axonal surface membrane of the motor neurons, particularly at sites of apposition of synaptic endings of all morphological types, but was usually absent from the surface membranes of internuclear neurons. Third, AChE was associated both extracellularly and intracellularly with certain synaptic endings that contained spheroidal synaptic vesicles and that contacted both motor neurons and internuclear neurons. A similar pattern of staining of synaptic endings was observed at the neuromuscular junctions in the lateral rectus muscle. Axotomy of the VIth nerve resulted in loss of intracellular AChE associated with the Golgi apparatus and extracellular AChE on the somatic surface membrane of the motor neurons. The patterned localization of AChE contrasted with the localization of butyrylcholinesterase, which was associated predominantly with astrocytes. The findings suggest different roles of AChE as a function of the different patterns of localization.

Globular and asymmetric acetylcholinesterase in frog muscle basal lamina sheaths

After denervation in vivo, the frog cutaneus pectoris muscle can be led to degenerate by sectioning the muscle fibers on both sides of the region rich in motor endplate, leaving, 2 wk later, a muscle bridge containing the basal lamina (BL) sheaths of the muscle fibers (28). This preparation still contains various tissue remnants and some acetylcholine receptor-containing membranes. A further mild extraction by Triton X-100, a nonionic detergent, gives a pure BL sheath preparation, devoid of acetylcholine receptors. At the electron microscope level, this latter preparation is essentially composed of the muscle BL with no attached plasmic membrane and cellular component originating from Schwann cells or macrophages. Acetylcholinesterase is still present in high amounts in this BL sheath preparation. In both preparations, five major molecular forms (18, 14, 11, 6, and 3.5 S) can be identified that have either an asymmetric or a globular character. Their relative amount is found to be very similar in the BL and in the motor endplate-rich region of control muscle. Thus, observations show that all acetylcholinesterase forms can be accumulated in frog muscle BL.

Cellular localization of the molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in primary cultures of rat sympathetic neurons and analysis of the secreted enzyme

The secretion and cellular localization of the molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were studied in primary cultures of rat sympathetic neurons. When cultured under conditions favoring a noradrenergic phenotype, these neurons synthesized and secreted large quantities of the tetrameric G4, and the dodecameric A12 forms, and minor amounts of the G1 and G2 forms. When these neurons adopted the cholinergic phenotype, i.e., in the presence of muscle-conditioned medium, the development of the cellular A12 form was completely inhibited. These neurons secreted only globular, mainly G4, AChE. Both cellular and secreted A12 AChE in adrenergic cultures aggregated at an ionic strength similar to that of the culture medium, raising the hypothesis that this form was associated with a polyanionic component of basal lamina. In noradrenergic neurons, 60-80% of the catalytic sites were exposed at the cell surface. In particular, 80% of G4 form, but only 60% of the A12 form, was external, demonstrating for the A12 form a sizeable intracellular pool. The hydrophobic character of the molecular forms was studied in relation to their cellular localization. As in muscle cells, most of the G4 form was membrane-bound. Whereas 76% of the cell surface A12 form was solubilized in the aqueous phase by high salt concentrations, only 50% of the intracellular A12 form was solubilized under these conditions. The rest of intracellular A12 could be solubilized by detergents and was thus either membrane-bound or entrapped in vesicles originating from, e.g., the Golgi apparatus.

Simultaneous labelling of basal lamina components and acetylcholinesterase at the neuromuscular junction

A double labelling technique has been developed which permits the concomitant localization of basal lamina constituents together with acetylcholinesterase in mouse skeletal muscles. First, using the protein A-gold technique, type IV collagen and laminin were revealed on basal laminae ensheathing skeletal muscle fibres. The immunolabelling for both proteins was higher in synaptic than extrasynaptic regions. At synaptic sites the anti-type IV collagen immunolabelling exhibited an asymmetry; it was more intense on the portion of basal lamina closest to the postsynaptic membrane, whereas the anti-laminin immunolabelling was more uniformly distributed. It was also observed that the laminin immunoreactivity associated with Schwann and perineural cells was higher than that of skeletal muscle fibres. Secondly, the two basal lamina antigens were revealed simultaneously with another synaptic protein, acetylcholinesterase, using a refined cytochemical technique prior to the immunolabelling. The cytochemical reaction, which facilitates the location of endplates, did not alter the immunolabelling pattern. This double labelling procedure permits ready comparison of the distributions of type IV collagen and laminin with that of acetylcholinesterase, and may prove to be a useful approach in studies on synaptic components in developing and diseased muscle.

External and internal acetylcholinesterase in rat sympathetic neurones in vivo and in vitro

The subcellular distribution of multiple molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in neurones of rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) was determined both in vivo and in vitro by the use of selective lipid-soluble or -insoluble inhibitors. In vivo as well as in vitro, 10 S AChE is mainly outside the cell. In primary cultures of rat SCG neurones, both 4 S and 16 S AChE are mainly inside the cell. In near-term rat SCG, 4 S and 16 S are more external to the cell than in primary cultures. In adult rat SCG, 4 S AChE is equally distributed inside and outside and 16 S AChE is mainly outside the cell. Thus, specific AChE externalization probably occurs in neuronal cells as a developmentally regulated process.