A receptor-binding region in human choriogonadotropin/lutropin beta subunit

Two Hormones for One Receptor: Evolution, Biochemistry, Actions, and Pathophysiology of LH and hCG

LH and chorionic gonadotropin (CG) are glycoproteins fundamental to sexual development and reproduction. Because they act on the same receptor (LHCGR), the general consensus has been that LH and human CG (hCG) are equivalent. However, separate evolution of LHβ and hCGβ subunits occurred in primates, resulting in two molecules sharing ~85% identity and regulating different physiological events. Pituitary, pulsatile LH production results in an ~90-minute half-life molecule targeting the gonads to regulate gametogenesis and androgen synthesis. Trophoblast hCG, the "pregnancy hormone," exists in several isoforms and glycosylation variants with long half-lives (hours) and angiogenic potential and acts on luteinized ovarian cells as progestational. The different molecular features of LH and hCG lead to hormone-specific LHCGR binding and intracellular signaling cascades. In ovarian cells, LH action is preferentially exerted through kinases, phosphorylated extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) and phosphorylated AKT (also known as protein kinase B), resulting in irreplaceable proliferative/antiapoptotic signals and partial agonism on progesterone production in vitro. In contrast, hCG displays notable cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated steroidogenic and proapoptotic potential, which is masked by estrogen action in vivo. In vitro data have been confirmed by a large data set from assisted reproduction, because the steroidogenic potential of hCG positively affects the number of retrieved oocytes, and LH affects the pregnancy rate (per oocyte number). Leydig cell in vitro exposure to hCG results in qualitatively similar cAMP/PKA and pERK1/2 activation compared with LH and testosterone. The supposed equivalence of LH and hCG has been disproved by such data, highlighting their sex-specific functions and thus deeming it an oversight caused by incomplete understanding of clinical data.

Chemical synthesis of the β-subunit of human luteinizing (hLH) and chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) glycoprotein hormones

Human luteinizing hormone (hLH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are human glycoprotein hormones each consisting of two subunits, an identical α-subunit and a unique β-subunit, that form noncovalent heterodimers. Structurally, β-hCG shares a high degree of sequence similarity with β-hLH, including a common N-glycosylation site at the N-terminus but differs mainly in the presence of an extended C-terminal portion incorporating four closely spaced O-linked glycans. These glycoproteins play important roles in reproduction and are used clinically in the treatment of infertility. In addition, the role of hCG as a tumor marker in a variety of cancers has also attracted significant interest for the development of cancer vaccines. In clinical applications, these hormones are administered as mixtures of glycoforms due to limitations of biological methods in producing homogeneous samples of these glycoproteins. Using the powerful tools of chemical synthesis, the work presented herein focuses on the highly convergent syntheses of homogeneous β-hLH and β-hCG bearing model glycans at all native glycosylation sites. Key steps in these syntheses include a successful double Lansbury glycosylation en route to the N-terminal fragment of β-hCG and the sequential installation of four O-linked glycosyl-amino acid cassettes into closely spaced O-glycosylation sites in a single, high-yielding solid-supported synthesis to access the C-terminal portion of the molecule. The final assembly of the individual glycopeptide fragments involved a stepwise native chemical ligation strategy to provide the longest and most complex human glycoprotein hormone (β-hCG) as well as its closely related homologue (β-hLH) as discrete glycoforms.

Assembly and structural characterization of an authentic complex between human follicle stimulating hormone and a hormone-binding ectodomain of its receptor

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted from the pituitary gland to regulate reproduction in vertebrates. FSH signals through a G-protein coupled receptor (FSHR) on the target cell surface. We describe here the strategy to produce a soluble FSH-FSHR complex that involves the co-secretion of a truncated FSHR ectodomain (FSHR(HB)) and a covalently linked FSHalphabeta heterodimer from baculovirus-infected insect cells. FSH binds to FSHR(HB) with a high affinity comparable to that for the full-length receptor. The crystal structure of the FSH-FSHR(HB) complex provides explanations for the high affinity and specificity of FSH interaction with FSHR, and it shows an unexpected dimerization of these complexes. Here we also compare the crystal structure with theoretical models of the FSH-FSHR-binding mode. We conclude that the FSH-FSHR(HB) structure gives an authentic representation of FSH binding to intact FSHR.

Structural biology of glycoprotein hormones and their receptors

Glycoprotein hormones regulate reproduction in vertebrates and exert their actions through specific G protein-coupled receptors on target cell surfaces. Structural information is now available for human chorionic gonadotropin (CG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and FSH bound to the extracellular binding domain of its receptor (FSHR(HB)). The recently determined structure of a human FSH-FSHR(HB) complex provides an explanation for the specificity of glycoprotein hormones binding to their receptors, and it suggests hypotheses concerning the mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction.

Models of glycoprotein hormone receptor interaction

The glycoprotein hormones regulate reproduction and development through their interactions with receptors in ovarian, testicular, and thyroid tissues. Efforts to design hormone agonists and antagonists useful for treat-ing infertility and hyperthyroidism would benefit from a molecular understanding of hormone-receptor interaction. The structure of a complex containing FSH bound to a fragment of its receptor has been determined at 2.9 Angstroms resolution, but this does not explain several observations made with cell-surface G protein receptors and may reflect the manner in which FSH binds a short alternate spliced receptor form. We discuss observations that must be explained by any model of the cell-surface G protein-coupled glycoprotein hormone receptors and suggest structures for these receptors that satisfy these requirements. Glycoprotein hormones appear to contact two distinct sites in the extracellular domains of their receptors, not just the leucine-rich repeat domain. These dual contacts contribute to ligand binding specificity and appear to be essential for signal transduction. As outlined in this minireview, differences in the manners in which these ligands contact their receptors explain why some ligands and ligand analogs interact with more than one class of receptor and why some receptors and receptor analogs bind more than one ligand. The unique manner in which these ligands appear to interact with their receptors may have facilitated hormone and receptor co-evolution during early vertebrate speciation.

Immunoaffinity extraction and tandem mass spectrometric analysis of human chorionic gonadotropin in doping analysis

A confirmatory and quantitative HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) method for human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) at concentrations as low as 5 IU/l following immunoaffinity extraction of the glycoprotein from urine was developed. The extraction method involved retention of urinary hCG in the immunoaffinity column via specific antigen-antibody interaction. A variety of eluents were then used to quantitatively elute hCG from the immunoaffinity column. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of hCG were undertaken using MS-MS by identifying the amino acid sequence of the marker peptide betaT5 obtained from hCG by tryptic digestion and the peak areas of three product ions b(6)(+), b(9)(+) and y(11)(+), respectively.

First live birth after ovarian stimulation using a chimeric long-acting human recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) agonist (recFSH-CTP) for in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE

To report the first pregnancy and live birth after ovarian stimulation using a chimeric long-acting human recombinant FSH agonist (recFSH-CTP) for IVF.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Tertiary fertility center.

PATIENT(S)

A 32-year-old woman with a 7-year history of primary infertility.

INTERVENTION(S)

Ovarian stimulation with a single SC injection of 180 microg recFSH-CTP on cycle day 3, followed by daily injections of 150 IU recFSH from cycle day 10 onward, combined with daily GnRH antagonist 0.25 mg SC to prevent a premature LH rise. Final oocyte maturation was induced by 10,000 IU hCG.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

First ongoing pregnancy obtained with recFSH-CTP.

RESULT(S)

Twelve oocytes were retrieved. Ten oocytes were fertilized in vitro by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and from these 10 oocytes, two embryos were subsequently transferred after 3 days of culture. A pregnancy test 2 weeks after ET was positive, and ultrasound investigation revealed an intact, intrauterine, singleton pregnancy after 12 weeks.

CONCLUSION(S)

The first pregnancy and live birth was achieved after ovarian stimulation using recFSH-CTP for IVF.

Mapping the receptor binding regions of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) using disulfide peptides of its beta-subunit: possible involvement of the disulfide bonds Cys(9)-Cys(57) and Cys(23)-Cys(72) in receptor binding of the hormone

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The alpha- and beta-subunits of hCG are highly cross-linked internally by disulfide bonds which seem to stabilize the tertiary structures required for the noncovalent association of the subunits to generate hormonal activity. The purpose of this study was to delineate the role of the disulfide bonds of hCGbeta in receptor binding of the hormone. Six disulfide peptides incorporating each of the six disulfide bonds of hCGbeta were synthesized and screened, along with their linear counterparts, for their ability to competitively inhibit the binding of [125I] hCG to sheep ovarian corpora luteal LH/CG receptor. Disulfide peptide Cys (9-57) was found to be approximately 4-fold more potent than the most active of its linear counterparts in inhibiting radiolabeled hCG from binding to its receptor. Similarly, disulfide peptide Cys (23-72) exhibited receptor binding inhibition activity, whereas the constituent linear peptides were found to be inactive. The results suggest the involvement of the disulfide bonds Cys(9)-Cys(57) and Cys(23)-Cys(72) of the beta-subunit of hCG in receptor binding of the hormone. This study is the first of its kind to use disulfide peptides rather than linear peptides to map the receptor binding regions of hCG.

Molecular architecture and biorecognition processes of the cystine knot protein superfamily: part I. The glycoprotein hormones

In this review article, the reader is introduced to recent advances in our knowledge on a subset of the cystine knot superfamily of homo- and hetero-dimeric proteins, from the perspective of the endocrine glycoprotein hormone family of proteins: follitropin (FSH), Iutropin (LH), thyrotropin. (TSH) and chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Subsequent papers will address the structure-function behaviour of other members of this increasingly significant family of proteins, including various members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family of proteins, the activins, inhibins, bone morphogenic growth factor, platelet derived growth factor-beta, nerve growth factor and more than 35 other proteins with similar topological features. In the present review article, specific emphasis has been placed on advances with the glycoprotein hormones (GPHs) that have facilitated greater insight into their physiological functions, molecular structures and most importantly the basis of the molecular recognition events that lead to the formation of hetero-dimeric structures as well as their specific and selective recognition by their corresponding receptors and antibodies. Thus, this review article focuses on the structural motifs involved in receptor recognition and the current techniques available to identify these regions, including the role of immunological methodology, peptide fragment design and synthesis and mutagenesis to delineate their structure-function relationships and molecular recognition behaviour.

Induction of programmed cell death in Kaposi's sarcoma cells by preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin

BACKGROUND

Isolation of the first neoplastic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cell line (KS Y-1) has furthered understanding of the pathogenesis of KS. Studies with KS Y-1 cells have indicated that inhibition of KS cell proliferation occurs in early pregnancy in mice and after treatment with certain commercial preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, a pregnancy hormone purified from urine). The activity of the commercial preparations has been attributed to an hCG-associated factor(s) (HAF). While several clinical benefits of HAF are clearly evident, the basis for its anti-KS properties remains unknown. We investigated the apoptosis-inducing effects of HAF and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in KS cells.

METHODS

KS Y-1 and KS SLK cells were treated with clinical-grade crude preparations of hCG, recombinant hCG, or urine fractions exhibiting anti-KS activity and then examined for features of apoptosis. Levels of proteins associated with apoptosis were monitored by western blot analysis, and cell DNA content was assessed by flow cytometry. Tumors induced in mice by inoculation of KS Y-1 cells were treated with preparations of hCG, and the tumors were examined for cell morphology and also for DNA fragmentation by use of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end-labeling (TUNEL) assay.

RESULTS

The HAF present in some preparations of hCG and in urine fractions has the ability to induce apoptosis in KS cells in vitro and in vivo. HAF-triggered apoptosis was preceded by increased levels of the apoptosis-related proteins c-Myc and c-Rel and cell accumulation in Go/G1 phase of the cell cycle. KS Y-1 cells transfected with a c-Myc complementary DNA showed elevated rates of apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

The anti-KS activity of HAF appears to induce apoptosis. Such activity suggests a role for HAF in pregnancy-related regulation of cell death.

The luteinizing hormone receptor

The luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) is a member of the subfamily of glycoprotein hormone receptors within the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)/seven-transmembrane domain receptors. Over the past eight years, major advances have been made in determining the structure and function of the LHR and its gene. The hormone-binding domain has been localized to exons 1-7 in the extracellular (EC) domain/region of the receptor, which contains several leucine-rich repeats. High-affinity binding of LH and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) causes secondary hormone or receptor contacts to be established with regions of the EC loop/transmembrane module that initiate signal transduction. Models of hormone-receptor interaction have been derived from the crystal structures of hCG and of the ribonuclease inhibitor, which also contains leucine-rich repeats. Such models provide a framework for the interpretation of mutational studies and for further experiments. The extracellular domain of the receptor has been overexpressed in vitro, which will facilitate crystallographic resolution of the structure of the receptor-binding site. The transmembrane domain/loop/cytoplasmic module transduces the signal for coupling to G proteins. Several constitutive, activating mutations that cause human disease have been found in helix VI and adjacent structures. These mutations have provided valuable information about mechanisms of signal transfer and G protein coupling. The structure of the LHR gene has been elucidated, and the regulation of its transcription is beginning to be understood. Valuable insights into receptor evolution have been derived from analysis of sequence homologies, the gene structure of glycoprotein hormone receptors and other members of the GPCR family, and the glycoprotein hormone receptor-like precursors identified in several invertebrate species.

Synthetic hFSH peptide constructs in the evaluation of previous studies on the hFSH receptor interaction

The human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) belongs to a family of glycoprotein hormones which contains two non-identical subunits. This paper describes the design and synthesis of a series of synthetic hFSH constructs as putative ligands for the receptor. The design of these constructs is based on the crystal structure of hCG and molecular modelling using the program package Insight II/Discover. The designed constructs contain peptides ranging from 7 to 48 amino acid residues, disulphide bridges and glycan residues. All the synthetic peptides were synthesized by the stepwise solid-phase method using Fmoc chemistry. Two of the synthetic peptides contain the glycosylated amino acid. Asn(GlcNAc-GlcNAc) and both were prepared using fully protected glycosylated building blocks in the solid-phase peptide synthesis. The disulphide bridges were formed from acetamidomethyl-protected glycopeptides and peptides by a direct deprotection/oxidation method using thallium(III) trifluoroacetate. Mass spectroscopy and amino acid analysis were used for characterization of the synthetic hFSH glycopeptides and peptides. The synthetic hFSH constructs were tested for binding activity on FSH receptor assays but none showed improved binding properties compared with the naturally occurring hormone. It was finally demonstrated that non-related peptides showed non-specific binding at the same level as reported for specific peptides.

Substitution of the seat-belt region of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) beta-subunit with the corresponding regions of choriogonadotropin or follitropin confers luteotropic but not follitropic activity to chimeric TSH

The region between the 10th and 12th cysteine (Cys88-Cys105 in human thyroid-stimulating hormone beta-subunit (hTSHbeta)) of the glycoprotein hormone beta-subunits corresponds to the disulfide-linked seat-belt region. It wraps around the common alpha-subunit and has been implicated in regulating specificity between human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH), but determinants of hTSH specificity are unknown. To characterize the role of this region for hTSH, we constructed hTSH chimeras in which the entire seat-belt region Cys88-Cys105 or individual intercysteine segments Cys88-Cys95 and Cys95-Cys105 were replaced with the corresponding sequences of hCG and hFSH or alanine cassettes. Alanine cassette mutagenesis of hTSH showed that the Cys95-Cys105 segment of the seat-belt was more important for TSH receptor binding and signal transduction than the Cys88-Cys95 determinant loop region. Replacing the entire seat-belt of hTSHbeta with the hCG sequence conferred full hCG receptor binding and activation to the hTSH chimera, whereas TSH receptor binding and activation were abolished. Conversely, introduction of the hTSHbeta seat-belt sequence into hCGbeta generated an hCG chimera that bound to and activated the TSH receptor but not the CG/lutropin (LH) receptor. In contrast, an hTSH chimera bearing hFSH seat-belt residues did not possess any follitropic activity, and its thyrotropic activity was only slightly reduced. This may in part be due to the fact that the net charge of the seat-belt is similar in hTSH and hFSH but different from hCG. However, exchanging other regions of charge heterogeneity between hTSHbeta and hFSHbeta did not confer follitropic activity to hTSH. Thus, exchanging the seat-belt region between hTSH and hCG switches hormonal specificity in a mutually exclusive fashion. In contrast, the seat-belt appears not to discriminate between the TSH and the FSH receptors, indicating for the first time that domains outside the seat-belt region contribute to glycoprotein hormone specificity.

Influence of subunit interactions on lutropin specificity. Implications for studies of glycoprotein hormone function

Bovine lutropin (bLH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones required for reproduction. Both bind rat LH receptors (rLHRs), but hCG binds human LH receptors (hLHRs) 1000-10,000 fold better than bLH. We tested the premise that this difference in affinity could be used to identify lutropin receptor contacts. Heterodimers containing hCG/bLH alpha- or beta-subunit chimeras that bound hLHR like hCG (or bLH) were expected to have hCG (or bLH) residues at the receptor contact sites. Analogs containing one subunit derived from hCG bound hLHR much more like hCG than bLH, indicating that each bLH subunit contains all the residues sufficient for high affinity hLHR binding. Indeed, the presence of bovine alpha-subunit residues increased the activities of some hCG analogs. The low hLHR activity of bLH was due primarily to an interaction between its alpha-subunit and beta-subunit residue Leu95. Leu95 does not appear to contact the hLHR since it did not influence the hLHR activity of heterodimers containing human alpha-subunit. These observations show that interactions within and between the subunits can significantly influence the activities of lutropins, thereby confounding efforts to identify ligand residues that contact these receptors.

Complete amino acid sequences of follitropin and lutropin in the ostrich, Struthio camelus

We determined the complete amino acid sequences of two pituitary gonadotropins, follitropin and lutropin in the ostrich, thereby providing the first information on the structure of avian follitropin. Ostrich follitropin and lutropin both consist of two subunits: a common alpha-subunit and a hormone-specific beta-subunit. The alpha-subunit is composed of 96 amino acid residues and has 70-80% sequence identity with the alpha-subunits of most vertebrates. The ostrich follitropin beta-subunit consists of 106 amino-acid residues, and shows 70-74% sequence identity with mammalian follitropins beta, 61% with amphibian follitropin beta, 39-46% with teleost gonadotropins II beta and 32-44% with teleost gonadotropins I beta. The ostrich lutropin beta-subunit consists of 128 amino-acid residues, and exhibits 76-78% sequence identity with other avian lutropins beta, 44-50% with teleost gonadotropins II beta, 45% with amphibian lutropin beta, 41-44% with mammalian lutropins beta, and 25-36% with teleost gonadotropins I beta. Sequence comparison revealed that lutropin beta-subunits are more class-specific and have diversified approximately twice as fast follitropin beta-subunits, although segments essential for maintaining higher-order structures have been conserved.

Follitropin conformational stability mediated by loop 2 beta effects follitropin-receptor interaction

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is in the family of pituitary/placental glycoprotein hormones which also includes luteinizing hormone (LH), chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and thyroid-stimulating hormone. These hormones are heterodimers composed of common alpha- and similar but unique beta-subunits. The 21 amino acid loop between Y33 and F53 of the FSH beta-subunit (L2 beta) can be switched into L2 beta of hCG beta without a loss of receptor binding, yet mutation of hFSH beta 37LVY39 to 37AAA39 was antecendent to a 20-fold reduction in receptor binding (based on ID50). A mutation in the LH beta gene, which causes Q54 to be R, causes hypogonadism. This residue is conserved in the glycoprotein hormones and corresponds to Q48 in hFSH beta. Mutation of hFSH beta 48QKTCT52 to 48AAACA52 resulted in a failure of heterodimer formation. In the current study single mutations were made to pinpoint which of the seven hFSH beta residues in the 37LVY39 to 37AAA39 and the 48QKTCT52 to 48AAACA52 mutants were responsible for the observed phenotypes. A single mutation of T52 to alanine was sufficient to cause a reduction in expression of heterodimeric hormone. Single mutants Q48A, T50A, V38A, Y39A, and, to a lesser extent, T52A formed heterodimer. However, these hFSH mutants were markedly unstable at pH 2.0. Thus, acid dissociation can be used to reveal metastable forms of this protein. Mutant hFSH beta Q48A was also 8-fold less active than wild-type hFSH when assayed for binding to hFSH receptors. hFSH beta V38A and Y39A mutants affected receptor binding; however, neither mutation alone caused greater than a 2-fold decrease in receptor binding activity. In summary, these results identify single important residues in the long loop (between Y33 and F53) of the hFSH beta-subunit which are required for proper subunit interactions that provide conformational stability which in turn is necessary for FSH-receptor interaction.

The groove between the alpha- and beta-subunits of hormones with lutropin (LH) activity appears to contact the LH receptor, and its conformation is changed during hormone binding

Gonadotropins are heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones that control vertebrate fertility through their actions on gonadal lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) and follitropin (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH) receptors. The beta-subunits of these hormones control receptor binding specificity; however, the region of the beta-subunit that contacts the receptor has not been identified. By a process of elimination we show this contact to be the portions of beta-subunit loops one and three found in a hormone groove created by the juxtaposition of the alpha- and beta-subunits. Most other regions of the beta-subunit can be recognized by antibodies that bind to human chorionic hormone (hCG)-receptor complexes or replaced without disrupting hormone function. Using a series of bovine LH/hCG and human FSH/hCG beta-subunit chimeras we identified key hCG beta-subunit residues in the epitopes of two antibodies that bind to hCG-receptor complexes. These epitopes include the surfaces of beta-subunit loops one and three near residue 74 on the outside of the hormone groove and parts of the C-terminal end of the "seat belt" that holds the two subunits together. The antibody that recognized residue 74 bound to receptor complexes containing most mammalian lutropins better than to the free hormones, an indication that the outside surface of the beta-subunit groove is altered during hormone binding. This region of the beta-subunit is furthest from the alpha-subunit and is recognized equally well in the free beta-subunit and in the heterodimer. Thus, the receptor associated increase in antibody binding appears due to an interaction of this portion of the beta-subunit with the receptor and not to an effect of the receptor on the relative positions of the alpha- and beta-subunits. Unlike most previous studies designed to identify portions of the beta-subunit likely to contact the LH receptor, this indirect approach provides data that are more easily interpreted because it does not rely on the use of mutations that disrupt hormone function. The approach described here should be valuable for studying the receptor interactions of other complex ligands.

Immunochemical characterization of two thyroid-stimulating hormone beta-subunit epitopes

The epitopes of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH) recognized by two murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), designated MAb 279 and MAb 299, have been characterized. These MAbs are highly specific for the beta-subunit of TSH. The epitope recognized by MAb 279 appears to be completely conserved between bovine and human TSH and partially conserved in the porcine species. The TSH beta-subunit epitope recognized by MAb 299 is only partially conserved between the human, bovine and porcine species. Both MAbs are capable of inhibiting the binding of TSH to its receptor in a TSH radioreceptor assay, indicating that the epitopes either coincide or are located close to the TSH beta-subunit receptor-binding sites. The carbohydrate moieties of the TSH beta-subunit appear to play little or no role in the epitope recognition by MAb 279 or MAb 299 while the integrity of the disulphide bonds are essential. The epitopic recognition may also involve lysine residues, as determined by the immunoreactivity with both MAbs following citraconylation of TSH. In addition, the amino acid sequence region between residues bTSH beta 34-44 could be excised by trypsin digestion of bovine TSH beta (bTSH beta) without eliminating epitopic recognition by either MAb. These results provide further insight into the relationship between the structure of the TSH beta-subunit epitopes and location of the receptor-binding sites.

On the role of the invariant glutamine at position 54 in the human choriogonadotropin beta subunit

The twelve Cys and eight of the non-Cys residues are invariant in the glycoprotein hormone beta subunits from a variety of mammalian species. beta-Gin-54 of human lutropin (hLH) and choriogonadotropin (hCG) is one of these invariant amino acid residues. A single A-->G mutation in the LH beta gene of a patient presenting with hypogonadism resulted in the replacement of Gin-54 with Arg [1]. The authors also reported that an expressed mutant of hLH beta, with Arg replacing Gin-54, associated with the alpha subunit, but there was no demonstrable binding of the mutant hormone to receptor. We have replaced Gin-54 in hCG beta with Glu and with Lys using site-directed mutagenesis. The expression plasmids pRSV-hCG beta (wild-type and mutants) were transiently transfected into CHO cells containing a stably integrated gene for bovine alpha, and the media were analyzed for holoproteins, which were characterized in vitro using competitive binding and steroidogenic assays with MA-10 cells. hCG beta(Glu-54) bound to alpha almost as well as hCG beta wild-type, and the resulting heterodimer competed with [125l]hCG binding to the LH/CG receptor and stimulated progesterone production to the same extent as the wild-type control. However, the apparent potencies, as judged by ED50s, were less than those of the wild-type control, the effect being more pronounced in binding than in steroidogenesis. In contrast, hCG beta(Lys-54) associated very poorly with alpha. Our results suggest that while Gin-54 in hCG beta participates in receptor binding, its major function appears to involve alpha binding. Such dual functionality leads to interesting models for holoprotein formation and receptor binding.

Structure of human chorionic gonadotropin at 2.6 A resolution from MAD analysis of the selenomethionyl protein

BACKGROUND

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a placental hormone that stimulates secretion of the pregnancy-sustaining steroid progesterone. It is a member of a family of glycoprotein hormones that are disulfide-rich heterodimers, with a common alpha-chain and distinctive beta-chains specific to their particular G-protein linked receptors.

RESULTS

We have produced recombinant hCG in mammalian cells as the selenomethionyl protein, and have determined its structure (after partial deglycosylation) at 2.6 A resolution from multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) measurements. Despite only limited sequence similarity (10% identity), the alpha- and beta-subunits of hCG have similar tertiary folds. Each subunit has a cystine-knot motif at its core of extended hairpin loops. There is a very extensive subunit interface featuring two inter-chain beta-sheets and a unique, disulfide-tethered 'arm' from the beta-subunit which 'embraces' the alpha-subunit. The carboxy-terminal peptide of the beta-subunit, which is rich in O-linked sugars, is disordered.

CONCLUSIONS

Structural and sequence comparisons indicate an evolutionary homology, albeit remote, between the glycoprotein hormone chains and other cystine-knot proteins, notably platelet-derived growth factor. Segments of the alpha- and beta-chains that have been convincingly implicated in receptor binding by hCG are juxtaposed on one side of the molecule. A glycosylation site implicated in signal transduction but not in binding is also close to the presumed binding site suggesting a possible coupling between ligand binding and signaling. This study with selenomethionyl protein produced in mammalian cells extends the realm of MAD phasing.

Crystal structure of human chorionic gonadotropin

The three-dimensional structure of human chorionic gonadotropin shows that each of its two different subunits has a similar topology, with three disulphide bonds forming a cystine knot. This same folding motif is found in some protein growth factors. The heterodimer is stabilized by a segment of the beta-subunit which wraps around the alpha-subunit and is covalently linked like a seat belt by the disulphide Cys 26-Cys 110. This extraordinary feature appears to be essential not only for the association of these heterodimers but also for receptor binding by the glycoprotein hormones.

Antibody response against three epitopic domains on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in women and rodents immunized with a beta hCG-based immunocontraceptive vaccine

The antibody repertoire generated against human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), following immunization with an immunocontraceptive vaccine based on the beta subunit of the hormone, in humans was compared with that generated in rats. Three epitopic domains represented by the beta hCG loop peptide 38-57, the carboxy-terminal peptide (CTP) 109-145, and a region defined by monoclonal antibody (MAb) 206 were probed. In both species, the titer of antibodies against the MAb 206-defined epitopic domain had a good correlation with the total anti-hCG antibody titers. However, the antibody response against the beta hCG loop peptide (38-57) was not observed in human subjects and there was a weak response against this peptide in rats. Despite the good anti-hCG antibody titers in all animals (n = 8), only two had antibodies against this domain. A good antibody response was observed against CTP in rats, whereas in humans this region was weakly immunogenic. Antibodies against CTP were detected in random samples in only 57% of the subjects and this response had no correlation with the total anti-hCG antibody titers. The high antibody response against CTP in rodents compared to humans may be due to its recognition as a foreign determinant. Our results demonstrate that contraception can be achieved in women despite a poor antibody response against the CTP (109-145) and a receptor binding domain (38-57) of beta hCG.

Synthetic peptides based upon a three-dimensional model for the receptor recognition site of follicle-stimulating hormone exhibit antagonistic or agonistic activity at low concentrations

Follicle-stimulating hormone (follitropin, FSH) belongs to a group of closely related glycoprotein hormones that contain two noncovalently linked dissimilar subunits designated alpha and beta. By using synthetic peptides, several receptor interaction sites in these hormones have been identified; however, the peptides have a reduced potency (lowest effective concentration of 10(-4) to 10(-5) M) relative to the hormone itself (10(-8) to 10(-11) M). This suggests that the peptides represent only a portion of a larger recognition site in the intact hormone that comprises parts of both the beta and the alpha chains. To develop peptides that exhibit FSH-antagonistic activity at low concentrations, we have constructed a three-dimensional model for FSH, which is based on an alignment of both the beta and the alpha chains of glycoprotein hormones with thioredoxin, for which x-ray diffraction data are available. This model resulted in the prediction of a conformational receptor-binding site in FSH, in which (parts of) three earlier proposed binding regions on the FSH molecule [namely, the regions FSH alpha-(34-37), with the amino acid sequence SRAY; FSH beta-(40-43), with the amino acid sequence TRDL; and FSH beta-(87-94), the "determinant loop" with the amino acid sequence CDSDSTDC] are located within 10 A of one another. On the basis of this model, peptides have been synthesized in which two of these binding regions are linked by a synthetic amino acid whose length was derived from the model, Ac-TDSDS-NH-(CH2)5-CO-SRAY-NH2 and Ac-SRAY-NH-(CH2)4-CO-TRDL-NH2. Both peptides inhibited FSH-induced cAMP production in Sertoli cells at 1000-fold lower concentrations (10(-7) M) than the peptides Ac-TRDL-NH2, Ac-SRAY-NH2, or Ac-TDSDS-NH2. In another peptide, Ac-TDSDS-NH-(CH2)5-CO-SRAY-NH-(CH2)4-CO-TRDL-NH2, all three binding regions have been linked. This peptide appeared to be a strong agonist of FSH action, as measured by the ability to stimulate cAMP production, at concentrations as low as 10(-7) M. The observation that a synthetic peptide, in which (parts of) three earlier described receptor interaction sites are combined according to the three-dimensional model, can mimic the action of FSH, at 10(-7) M, shows that this model is useful to predict a conformational receptor-binding site in FSH and that combination of only a few amino acid residues from the alpha and beta chains of FSH in a small synthetic peptide is sufficient to transduce a signal upon binding to the receptor.

Inhibition of TSH bio-activity by synthetic beta TSH peptides

The in vitro bioactivity of the human beta TSH subunit was investigated utilizing eleven overlapping synthetic peptides representing the entire 112 residue sequence. The peptides were tested for both stimulatory and inhibitory activity in two sensitive bioassay systems: the first based on cAMP production in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells, and the second based on stimulation of iodine trapping by the same continuous cell line. Peptides from three distinct regions of the beta-subunit showed concentration dependent inhibition of TSH bio-activity, including beta 1-15, beta 11-25, beta 31-45, beta 81-95, and beta 91-105 with IC50 values ranging from 150 to 304 microM. An additional peptide representing the entire sequence of the "intercysteine loop" region of beta TSH, beta 31-52, also inhibited TSH activity with somewhat higher potency than its fragment peptide beta 31-45 (IC50 of 87.5 +/- 14.7 microM for beta 31-52 versus 207 +/- 92.4 microM for beta 31-45). Three of these, beta 1-15, beta 31-45, and beta 31-52, also inhibited binding of TSH to the receptor in a radio-receptor assay, as previously reported (1), supporting their importance in receptor interaction. None of the synthetic peptides stimulated either cAMP production or iodine trapping. Two other overlapping peptides, beta 81-95 and beta 91-105, possessed bio-inhibitory activity but did not inhibit binding of labeled TSH. Computer analysis of this sequence predicted an extended turn structure for this region. This region has been referred to as the "determinant loop" as it is bounded by cysteine residues at positions 88 and 95 that many believe form a disulfide bond in the native subunit. The current data suggests the beta 88-95 region may play a role in receptor activation after initial binding of hormone to receptor.

Contributions of arginines-43 and -94 of human choriogonadotropin beta to receptor binding and activation as determined by oligonucleotide-based mutagenesis

Members of the glycoprotein hormone family contain a common alpha subunit and a hormone-specific beta subunit. Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) beta is a 145 amino acid residue protein glycosylated at 6 positions (2 N-linked and 4 O-linked oligosaccharides). In an effort to elucidate receptor determinants on hCG beta, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to prepare and express several mutant cDNAs with replacements at arginines-43 and -94. Arg-43 is invariant in all known mammalian CG/lutropin beta amino acid sequences, and Arg-94 is conserved in 10 of the 12 sequences. Moreover, various studies involving synthetic peptides and enzymatic digestions of intact beta chains suggest that these residues may be important in hCG receptor binding. Point mutants were made in which these two arginines were replaced with the corresponding residues in human follitropin beta, Leu-43 and Asp-94. The wild-type and mutant beta chains were expressed in CHO cells containing a stably integrated gene for bovine alpha, and heterodimer formation occurred. These heterologous gonadotropins were active in assays using transformed Leydig cells, competitive binding with standard 125I-hCG, and cAMP and progesterone production, but the potency was considerably less than that associated with the hCG beta wild-type-containing gonadotropin. The double-mutant protein Arg-43 to Leu/Arg-94 to Asp also associated with bovine alpha, but the resultant heterodimer exhibited only low activity. Replacement of each arginine with lysine yielded heterodimers that were at least as potent as bovine alpha-hCG beta wild type, but the Lys-43-containing beta chain appeared to exhibit a low degree of subunit association or reduced stability relative to the expressed hCG beta wild type. These results demonstrate that arginines-43 and -94 contribute to receptor binding through a positive charge.

Conversion of human choriogonadotropin into a follitropin by protein engineering

Human reproduction is dependent upon the actions of follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH), luteinizing hormone (hLH), and chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). While the alpha subunits of these heterodimeric proteins can be interchanged without effect on receptor-binding specificity, their beta subunits differ and direct hormone binding to either LH/CG or FSH receptors. Previous studies employing chemical modifications of the hormones, monoclonal antibodies, or synthetic peptides have implicated hCG beta-subunit residues between Cys-38 and Cys-57 and corresponding regions of hLH beta and hFSH beta in receptor recognition and activation. Since the beta subunits of hCG or hLH and hFSH exhibit very little sequence similarity in this region, we postulated that these residues might contribute to hormone specificity. To test this hypothesis we constructed chimeric hCG/hFSH beta subunits, coexpressed them with the human alpha subunit, and examined their ability to interact with LH and FSH receptors and hormone-specific monoclonal antibodies. Surprisingly, substitution of hFSH beta residues 33-52 for hCG beta residues 39-58 had no effect on receptor binding or stimulation. However, substitution of hFSH beta residues 88-108 in place of the carboxyl terminus of hCG beta (residues 94-145) resulted in a hormone analog identical to hFSH in its ability to bind and stimulate FSH receptors. The altered binding specificity displayed by this analog is not attributable solely to the replacement of hCG beta residues 108-145 or substitution of residues in the "determinant loop" located between hCG beta residues 93 and 100.

A synthetic peptide corresponding to human FSH beta-subunit 33-53 binds to FSH receptor, stimulates basal estradiol biosynthesis, and is a partial antagonist of FSH

We have previously shown that hFSH-beta 34-37 (KTCT) and 49-52 (TRDL) inhibit binding of 125I-hFSH to FSH receptor in calf testis membranes and that hFSH-beta 33-53, which encompasses these tetrapeptides, inhibits binding with increased potency. hFSH-beta 33-53 rapidly dimerizes under conditions utilized in the receptor binding assay (pH 7.5) so that the binding inhibition reported earlier was due to the hFSH-beta 33-53 dimer rather than the monomer. At pH 6.5, conversion to dimer does not occur, and binding inhibition could be unequivocally attributed to the monomer. Radioiodinated and alkylated hFSH-beta 33-53 binds to the FSH receptor with a Kd = (5.5 +/- 1.4) X 10(-5) M. The biological activity of hFSH-beta 33-53 was assessed by its ability to affect the conversion of androstenedione to estradiol in rat Sertoli cells cultures. FSH-beta 33-53 behaved as a partial antagonist of the FSH-induced estradiol synthesis. The required incubation medium, however, contains cystine as well as cystine, which rapidly forms a hFSH-beta Cys-(51)-S-S-Cys derivative at the pH of the incubation, 7.4. When hFSH-beta 33-53 was converted either to the hFSH-beta Cys(51)-S-S-Cys or to a carboxymethylated derivative, inhibition of FSH-induced estradiol synthesis still was observed. This result demonstrates that the free R-SH group at Cys51 is not responsible for the inhibition. FSH-beta 33-53 also significantly stimulated basal levels of estradiol synthesis, but not to maximal levels observed with FSH (partial agonist). Neither the carbohydrate content of hFSH-beta nor the alpha subunit of FSH appears to be essential for signal transduction and expression of the hormone effect of FSH-beta 33-53.

Synthesis of cystine peptides 21-25/70-73 and 35-39/56-59 of the beta-subunit of human choriogonadotropin

Syntheses of two asymmetrical cystine peptides with the amino acid residues 21-25/70-73 and 35-39/56-59, based on the linear amino acid sequence and the disulfide bond assignment in the beta-subunit of human choriogonadotropin (hCG-beta), are described. S-trityl and S-acetamidomethyl peptide fragments of each cystine peptide were prepared in solution phase and were subjected to oxidation with I2/MeOH to form the disulfide bridge. The cystine peptides were characterized by their amino acid analyses and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Immunological characterization by several homologous radioimmunoassay systems showed that peptide 21-25/70-73 had significant hCG, hCG-beta, and hLH activities while peptide 35-39/56-59 failed to reveal any immunoreactivity.

Helix formation in reduced, S-carboxymethylated human choriogonadotropin beta subunit and tryptic peptides

The beta subunit of human choriogonadotropin (hCG beta) and its asialoderivative were digested with trypsin and then reduced and S-carboxymethylated. A series of peptides were purified which corresponded to residues 1-43, 44-95, 96-114, and 123-145 of the 145 amino acid residue glycoprotein. The two N-linked oligosaccharides were present on the amino terminal peptide, and three of the four O-linked oligosaccharides were present on the carboxy terminal peptide. Circular dichroic spectra between 190-240 nm were obtained on reduced, S-carboxymethylated (RCM) hCG beta and the above peptides, both in aqueous solution and in the helicogenic solvent 80% (vol/vol) trifluoroethanol (TFE). In aqueous solution there was evidence of only limited helicity in the peptides and RCM-hCG beta; however, in the presence of TFE, peptides 1-43 and 44-95 exhibited significant helicity, as did the full-length linear chain. The helicity developed in TFE by RCM-hCG beta appears much greater than that which occurs in the native, disulfide-intact form, thus suggesting that the disulfides prevent expression of helicity in regions with alpha-helix potential. Application of the Chou-Fasman secondary structure predictive algorithm to hCG beta suggested that several regions of helix potential, in particular regions 14-21, 59-69, and perhaps 80-88, may account for much of the helicity observed in peptides 1-43 and 44-95, respectively, in TFE. The region from 96-145 has no significant potential for helicity, consistent with the measured circular dichroic spectra of peptides 96-114 and 123-145. These results demonstrate that helicity can occur in the linear form of hCG beta, and this secondary structure can best be attributed to the amino terminal and the middle portion of the molecular. Several potential regions of beta-structure and beta-turns were also suggested.

Mutagenesis and chimeric genes define determinants in the beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin and lutropin for secretion and assembly

Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) and lutropin (LH) are members of a family of glycoprotein hormones that share a common alpha subunit but differ in their hormone-specific beta subunits. The glycoprotein hormone beta subunits share a high degree of amino acid homology that is most evident for the LH beta and CG beta subunits having greater than 80% sequence similarity. However, transfection studies have shown that human CG beta and alpha can be secreted as monomers and can combine efficiently to form dimer, whereas secretion and assembly of human LH beta is less efficient. To determine which specific regions of the LH beta and CG beta subunits are responsible for these differences, mutant and chimeric LH beta-CG beta genes were constructed and transfected into CHO cells. Expression of these subunits showed that both the hydrophobic carboxy-terminal seven amino acids and amino acids Trp8, Ile15, Met42, and Asp77 together inhibit the secretion of LH beta. The carboxy-terminal amino acids, along with Trp8, Ile15, Met42, and Thr58 are implicated in the delayed assembly of LH beta. These unique features of LH beta may also play an important role in pituitary intracellular events and may be responsible for the differential glycosylation and sorting of LH and FSH in gonadotrophs.

Isolation and analysis of the C-terminal signal directing export of Escherichia coli hemolysin protein across both bacterial membranes

We have studied the C-terminal signal which directs the complete export of the 1024-amino-acid hemolysin protein (HlyA) of Escherichia coli across both bacterial membranes into the surrounding medium. Isolation and sequencing of homologous hlyA genes from the related bacteria Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii revealed high primary sequence divergence in the three HlyA C-termini and highlighted within the extreme terminal 53 amino acids the conservation of three contiguous sequences, a potential 18-amino-acid amphiphilic alpha-helix, a cluster of charged residues, and a weakly hydrophobic terminal sequence rich in hydroxylated residues. Fusion of the C-terminal 53 amino acid sequence to non-exported truncated Hly A directed wild-type export but export was radically reduced following independent disruption or progressive truncation of the three C-terminal features by in-frame deletion and the introduction of translation stop codons within the 3' hlyA sequence. The data indicate that the HlyA C-terminal export signal comprises multiple components and suggest possible analogies with the mitochondrial import signal. Hemolysis assays and immunoblotting confirmed the intracellular accumulation of non-exported HlyA proteins and supported the view that export proceeds without a periplasmic intermediate. Comparison of cytoplasmic and extracellular forms of an independently exported extreme C-terminal 194 residue peptide showed that the signal was not removed during export.