Identification of the calmodulin-binding components in bovine lens plasma membranes

Glycation decreases calmodulin binding to lens transmembrane protein, MIP

Channels of the major intrinsic protein (MIP) of the lens transport water, thus playing an important role in lens fiber cell homeostasis. Calmodulin (CAM) interacts with MIP and possibly regulates MIP channel permeability. Protein glycation has been implicated in lens opacification. We previously identified sites of glycation of MIP, which are in close proximity to the putative CAM binding site. This study is aimed to show the effect of in vitro and in vivo glycation on CAM binding to MIP. Our results show that MIP and MP20 are the major CAM binding proteins of the lens membrane. In vitro incubation of lens membranes with 1 M glucose decreased CAM binding by 38% (P<0.001). Similarly, there was a progressive decrease in CAM binding to diabetic lens membranes compared to age-matched controls (up to 30% decrease, P<0.01). Mutation of K228 and K238 as well as a triple K mutation (K228N, K238N, K259N) of MIP resulted in a decrease in CAM binding. Thus, post-translational protein modifications of MIP influence CAM binding. Since CAM is the ubiquitous Ca(2+) receptor, decreases in CAM binding to the target protein will affect the Ca(2+)-mediated cellular processes leading to lens opacification in diabetic and aging lenses.

Structural arrangement of lens fiber cell plasma membrane protein MP20

The membrane topology of the bovine lens fiber cell plasma membrane protein MP20 has been examined using anti-peptide antibodies and the hydrophobic label 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazerine ([125I]TID). The specificity of the affinity-purified anti-peptide polyclonal antibodies, directed against four separate hydrophilic segments of MP20, was established by immunodot blots, Western immunoblotting and ELISA. Western immunodetection of protease-treated, urea-washed lens membranes indicated that each of the segments of MP20 identified by the anti-peptide antibodies was accessible to proteases indicating their likely extramembranous location. Immunoelectron microscopy of junctional lens membrane immunolabeled with MP20 anti-peptide antibodies directed against two segments predicted to be on the extra-cellular face of the lens fiber cell plasma membrane suggests these segments may actually be located on the cytoplasmic plasma membrane face. Transmembrane segments of MP20, identified using the hydrophotic photo-affinity label [125I]TID, were isolated and sequenced. Only three of the four previously proposed transmembrane segments of this protein were significantly labeled with this reagent. Based on these results and previously reported information regarding MP20, a new topological model is proposed for the arrangement of MP20 in the lens fiber cell plasma membrane. The new topological model of MP20 includes two alpha-helical and two beta-strand transmembrane segments.

The human lens fiber-cell intrinsic membrane protein MP19 gene: isolation and sequence analysis

DNA sequence analysis of overlapping shotgun and restriction fragments have revealed the entire sequence of the human lens fiber cell intrinsic membrane protein MP19 gene (also termed MP17, MP18, and MP20). The 8,056 bp MP19 gene contains 5 exons encoding a mature protein of 173 amino acids, which displayed a very high degree of identity (91%) with that of bovine MP19, deduced from a bovine cDNA sequence. The exon range in size from 52 bases (exon 1) to about 340 bases (exon 5). The introns consist of two large segments (introns B and C) of about 4,700 bases and 1,800 bases, respectively, and two small segments (intron A and D) of about 450 and 250 bases each. Seven Alu family DNA repeats are found within the human MP19 gene. The sequenced gene includes 100 bases of 5' flanking sequence.

Identity of the calmodulin-binding proteins in bovine lens plasma membranes

Two bovine lens plasma membrane proteins have been identified that bind calmodulin in a Ca2(+)-dependent fashion. Electrophoretic analysis of lens membrane proteins photoaffinity-labeled with benzophenone[125I]calmodulin confirmed our previous observation [Louis, Johnson and Turnquist (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 150, 271-8] that two major products are formed with Mr = 46 kDa and 36 kDa. Limited proteolysis of lens membrane proteins with chymotrypsin resulted in the formation of a 21-kDa-fragment that was derived from the hydrolysis of the major lens membrane protein MP26; this correlated with the loss of the 46-kDa complex, and the formation of a 41-kDa photoaffinity-labeled complex. Use of the [125I]calmodulin gel overlay procedure confirmed that the 46-kDa and 41-kDa photoaffinity-labeled complexes reflect the interaction of calmodulin with both MP26 and its 21-kDa chymotryptic fragment, respectively. Proteolysis of lens membranes with higher concentrations of chymotrypsin resulted in the hydrolysis of the 18-kDa protein which correlated with the generation of a 12-kDa fragment; this paralleled the loss of the 36-kDa photoaffinity labeled complex and the formation of a 28-kDa-complex. The [125I]calmodulin gel overlay procedure demonstrated that the 36-kDa and 28-kDa photoaffinity-labeled complexes reflect the interaction of calmodulin with the 18-kDa lens membrane protein and its likely 12-kDa chymotryptic fragment, respectively. Identification of these calmodulin-binding proteins suggests that MP26 and the 18-kDa membrane protein are likely candidates for the proposed calcium sensitive, calmodulin-dependent gating of lens fiber cell junctions.

Ca2+-ATPase activity in the human lens

A membrane-rich preparation of paired human lenses was prepared in such a manner as to preserve ATPase activity. The lipid:protein ratio of these preparations was increased 12-fold with an 85% recovery of total phospholipid. The pattern of stimulation of ATPase activity by a range of calcium concentrations was found to be similar in membrane preparations of epithelium and cortex. The concentration of calcium necessary for half-maximal simulations of ATPase activity was approximately 10(-6) M. Ca2+-ATPase activity is undetectable in the lens nuclear region. A shift in the sensitivity of lens epithelial Ca2+-ATPase activity was observed with increasing age concomitant with a general increase in Ca2+-ATPase activity suggesting age related modifications of the membrane.

Distribution of MP17 in isolated lens fibre membranes

MP17 is the second most abundant integral membrane protein in the mammalian lens. It has some common features with the major intrinsic polypeptide MIP26, but amino terminal sequencing shows that MP17 is a separate gene product. Both MP17 and MIP26 are abundant in isolated lens fibre membrane vesicles and are not detectable in the fibre gap junctions.

Structural and molecular biology of the eye lens membranes

Lens transparency is associated with a unique design in tissue development and architecture. The fiber plasma membrane has domains which link with the cytoskeleton, thus maintaining cell shape. Other membrane regions form processes which interlock adjacent lens fibers, and intercellular junctions contain transmembrane pores which allow passage of metabolites between cells. Much interest has recently focused on the study of lens membrane structure and function, mainly because membrane dysfunction may be associated with cataract formation. This article reviews what is known about the structure of membrane domains, about the identification of domain-specific proteins, and describes current attempts to relate these results to function. Much of the presently available data is controversial, and an attempt will be made to reconcile them in revised models and testable hypotheses.

MP17, a fiber-specific intrinsic membrane protein from mammalian eye lens

A major protein with a molecular weight of 17,000, designated as MP17, has been identified in mammalian eye lens plasma membranes. Hydrophobic photolabeling experiments revealed that MP17 is a genuine intrinsic membrane protein. By using monoclonal antibodies we demonstrated that MP17 is not detectable in liver, heart, muscle, spleen and kidney, and thus can be considered, like MP26, as a lens-specific membrane protein. Furthermore, we showed that MP17 is a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase and that it is a calmodulin-binding protein.

Characterization of the bovine lens plasma membrane substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase

cAMP-dependent protein kinase, derived from either calf lens or bovine heart, promotes the phosphorylation of three lens plasma membrane proteins of molecular mass 28 kDa, 26 kDa and 18 kDa. Correlation of the maximal level of phosphorylation of these components with the Coomassie blue staining intensity of fractionated lens membranes suggests that the phosphorylation of the 28 kDa and 18 kDa components may be approximately stoichiometric. The protein kinase substrates could be dephosphorylated by a cardiac sarcoplasmic-reticulum-bound protein phosphatase activity. The 26 k Da component comigrated with MP26, the major lens membrane component that has been localized to the lens fiber cell junction. Treatment of phosphorylated lens membranes with chymotrypsin did not suggest that any of the three major phosphorylated components was derived from the partial proteolysis of a larger phosphoprotein. After electrophoretic separation of phosphorylated proteins, treatment with N-chlorosuccinimide confirmed that there was little similarity in the structure of the three phosphoproteins. Chymotrypsin did, however, reveal a cryptic phosphorylation site in a 22 kDa fragment that appeared to be derived from MP26. Treatment of phosphorylated membranes with reducing agents resulted in the disappearance of the 28 kDa phosphorylated component and the appearance of a new phosphorylated component of 18 kDa; neither MP26 nor the original 18 kDa component was affected by such treatment. It is not clear whether the original 18 kDa phosphoprotein, present in unreduced samples, is the same as that generated with reducing agents from the 28 kDa phosphorylated lens membrane component.