High-throughput array production using precision glass syringes

The advantages of using 1, 96, or 384 precision glass syringes in automated high-throughput microdispensers in creating highly uniform and reproducible DNA, protein, and organic compound array filters and slides are described. Using the Hydra Microdispenser and Tango Liquid Handling system, 0.1-5 ng (in 50-300 nL) PCR-amplified, human cancer-related genes and housekeeping genes were spotted onto nylon membranes and coated slides. Protein solutions of 50 microg/mL to 1 mg/mL were spotted onto coated slides or onto MaxiSorp 96-well plates. Up to 6144 spots/membrane and up to 1000 spots/slide were printed. The size of the spots created by glass syringes was uniform and reproducible (precision variation of less than 5%) from spot to spot and membrane to membrane. Using a Tango 384 system, a total of ten 6144-spot filters can be produced in approximately 25 min, translating into a spotting speed of 2.5 min/membrane.

RNA analysis by ion-pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography

Ion-pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (IP RP HPLC) is presented as a new, superior method for the analysis of RNA. IP RP HPLC provides a fast and reliable alternative to classical methods of RNA analysis, including separation of different RNA species, quantification and purification. RNA is stable under the analysis conditions used; degradation of RNA during the analyses was not observed. The versatility of IP RP HPLC for RNA analysis is demonstrated. Components of an RNA ladder, ranging in size from 155 to 1770 nt, were resolved. RNA transcripts of up to 5219 nt were analyzed, their integrity determined and they were quantified and purified. Purification of mRNA from total RNA is described, separating mouse rRNA from poly(A)(+) mRNA. IP RP HPLC is also suitable for the separation and purification of DIG-labeled from unlabeled RNA. RNA purified by IP RP HPLC exhibits improved stability.

The mouse mahogany locus encodes a transmembrane form of human attractin

Agouti protein and agouti-related protein are homologous paracrine signalling molecules that normally regulate hair colour and body weight, respectively, by antagonizing signalling through melanocortin receptors. Expression of Agouti is normally limited to the skin, but rare alleles from which Agouti is expressed ubiquitously, such as lethal yellow, have pleiotropic effects that include a yellow coat, obesity, increased linear growth, and immune defects. The mahogany (mg) mutation suppresses the effects of lethal yellow on pigmentation and body weight, and results of our previous genetic studies place mg downstream of transcription of Agouti but upstream of melanocortin receptors. Here we use positional cloning to identify a candidate gene for mahogany, Mgca. The predicted protein encoded by Mgca is a 1,428-amino-acid, single-transmembrane-domain protein that is expressed in many tissues, including pigment cells and the hypothalamus. The extracellular domain of the Mgca protein is the orthologue of human attractin, a circulating molecule produced by activated T cells that has been implicated in immune-cell interactions. These observations provide new insight into the regulation of energy metabolism and indicate a molecular basis for crosstalk between melanocortin-receptor signalling and immune function.

Recombinant human endothelin-converting enzyme ECE-1b is located in an intracellular compartment when expressed in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is a phosphoramidon-sensitive membrane-bound metalloprotease responsible for the conversion of big-endothelins into endothelins [Yanagisawa, Kurihara, Kimura, Tomobe, Kobayashi, Mitsui, Yazaki, Goto and Masaki (1988) Nature (London) 332, 411-415]. Several distinct isoforms of ECE have been cloned and identified. ECE-1a, b and c have the same ectodomain and differ only by their cytosolic tails [Schweizer, Valdenaire, Nelböck, Deuschle, Edwards, Stumpf and Löffler (1997) Biochem. J. 328, 871-877]. The ectodomain common to ECE-1 a, b and c shares extensive sequence similarities with neprilysin, a major kidney brush border metallopeptidase. To study the sorting of ECE in polarized cells, ECE-1bcDNA was expressed by transfection in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Cell-surface biotinylation and immunofluorescence studies showed that ECE-1b is not expressed on the cell-surface but was rather located in intracellular compartments that could also be labelled with anti-Rab-5 and Rab-7 antibodies and was thus tentatively identified as early and late endosomes. Similar results were also obtained when ECE-1b was expressed in non-polarized Chinese hamster ovary cells for comparison purposes. When MDCK or Chinese hamster ovary transfected cells were pre-treated with the ECE inhibitor phosphoramidon, a 3-fold increase in the level of ECE-1b was observed both by Western blotting and by enzymic activity. However, no change in the level of neprilysin or the beta-chain of meprin, two apical membrane metallopeptidases, was observed in MDCK cells transfected under similar conditions. Northern blotting showed that the increase in the level of ECE-1b was not owing to changes in the ECEmRNA transcription rate or stability. Rather, pulse-chase experiments followed by immunoprecipitation showed a decrease in the rate of degradation of ECE-1b in phosphoramidon-treated cells. Half-lives were determined to be 2.8 and 7.5 h for non-treated and phosphoramidon-treated cells, respectively. Confocal microscopy showed accumulation of ECE-1b immunoreactive material in the lysosomes of phosphoramidon-treated cells. Taken together, these results suggest that ECE-1b turns over very rapidly between endosomal and lysosomal compartments and that lysosomal degradation of the enzyme is slowed down by phosphoramidon.

Structurally diverse N-terminal peptides of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide (PTHRP) inhibit the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 isoform by binding to the PTH/PTHRP receptor type I and activating distinct signaling pathways

N-terminal peptides of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide (PTHRP) elicit a wide variety of biological responses in target cells, including the inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 activity in renal cells. This response is believed to be mediated by ligand binding to a common receptor (i.e. PTH/PTHRP receptor type I) and activation of cAMP-dependent and/or Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinases (PKA and PKC, respectively). However, the mechanism of action of these N-terminal peptides is now unclear because of recent data reporting the existence of additional receptor isoforms. Therefore, to directly examine the ligand binding and signaling characteristics of the PTH/PTHRP receptor type I and its ability to elicit a biological response, cDNAs encoding the rat type I receptor and the rat NHE3 isoform were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (AP-1) cells that lack endogenous expression of these proteins. Competition binding assays using [125I-Tyr36]PTHRP-(1-36)-NH2 radioligand indicated that several biologically active human N-terminal PTH and PTHRP fragments (PTH-(1-34), PTH-(3-34), PTH-(28-42), PTH-(28-48), and PTHRP-(1-34)) were capable of binding to the type I receptor. Both PTH-(1-34) and PTHRP-(1-34) stimulated adenylate cyclase and PKC activities in these cells, whereas PTH-(3-34), PTH-(28-42), and PTH-(28-48) selectively enhanced only PKC activity. PTHRP-(1-16), a biologically inert fragment, was incapable of binding to this receptor and influencing either the PKA or PKC pathway. Furthermore, all the analogues with the exception of PTHRP-(1-16) inhibited NHE3 activity. Inhibition of PKC by the potent antagonist chelerythrine chloride abolished the depression of NHE3 activity by PTH-(3-34), PTH-(28-42), and PTH-(28-48) but did not alleviate the effects of PTH-(1-34). Likewise, antagonism of PKA by H-89 was unable to prevent the inhibition caused by PTH-(1-34). However, inhibition of both PKA and PKC by the nonselective protein kinase antagonist H-7 abolished the reduction of NHE3 activity by PTH-(1-34). These data indicate that discrete N-terminal analogues of PTH and PTHRP can interact with the classical PTH/PTHRP receptor type I and activate PKA and/or PKC. Activation of either signaling pathway independently leads to inhibition of NHE3.

Parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related peptide activate the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE-1 isoform in osteoblastic cells (UMR-106) via a cAMP-dependent pathway

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHRP) regulate Na+/H+ exchanger activity in osteoblastic cells, although the signaling components involved are not precisely defined. Since these peptide hormones can stimulate production of diverse second messengers (i.e. cAMP and diacylglycerol) that activate protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) in target cells, it is conceivable that either one or both of these pathways can participate in modulating exchanger activity. To discriminate among these possibilities, a series of synthetic PTH and PTHRP fragments were used that stimulate adenylate cyclase and/or PKC. In the osteoblastic cell line UMR-106, human PTH(1-34) and PTHRP(1-34) augmented adenylate cyclase activity, whereas PTH(3-34), PTH(28-42), and PTH(28-48) had no effect. Nevertheless, all these peptide fragments were found to enhance PKC translocation from the cytosol to the membrane in a dose-dependent (10(-11) to 10(-7) M) manner. PTHRP(1-16), a biologically inert fragment, was incapable of influencing either the PKA or PKC pathway. PTH(1-34) and PTHRP(1-34), but not PTH(3-34), PTH(28-42), PTH(28-48), or PTHRP(1-16), elevated Na+/H+ exchanger activity, implicating cAMP as the transducing signal. In accordance with this observation, forskolin (10 microM), which directly stimulates adenylate cyclase, also activated Na+/H+ exchanger activity. The involvement of PKA was verified when the highly specific PKA inhibitor, H-89, completely abolished the stimulatory effect of PTH(1-34) and forskolin on Na+/H+ exchange. In addition, Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of only the NHE-1 isoform of the Na+/H+ exchanger in UMR-106 cells. In summary, these results indicated that PTH and PTHRP activate the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE-1 isoform in osteoblastic UMR-106 cells exclusively via a cAMP-dependent pathway.

Parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related peptide inhibit the apical Na+/H+ exchanger NHE-3 isoform in renal cells (OK) via a dual signaling cascade involving protein kinase A and C

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHRP) interact with a common G protein-coupled receptor and stimulate production of diverse second messengers (i.e. cAMP, diacylglycerol, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) that varies depending on the target cell. In renal proximal tubule OK cells, PTH inhibits the activity of the apical membrane Na+/H+ exchanger, although it is unclear whether the signal is transmitted through protein kinase A (PKA) and/or protein kinase C (PKC). To delineate the signaling circuitry, a series of synthetic PTH and PTHRP fragments were used that stimulate the adenylate cyclase-cAMP-PKA and/or phospholipase C-diacylglycerol-PKC pathways. Human PTH-(1-34) and PTHRP-(1-34) stimulated adenylate cyclase and PKC activity, whereas the PTH analogues, PTH-(3-34), PTH-(28-42), and PTH-(28-48), selectively enhanced only PKC activity. However, each peptide fragment inhibited Na+/H+ exchanger activity by 40-50%, suggesting that PKC and possibly PKA were capable of transducing the PTH/PTHRP signal to the transporter. This was corroborated when forskolin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), direct agonists of adenylate cyclase and PKC, respectively, both inhibited the Na+/H+ exchanger. The specific PKA antagonist, H-89, abolished the forskolin-mediated suppression of Na+/H+ exchanger activity, but did not prevent the inhibitory effects of PTH-(1-34) or PMA. In comparison, the potent PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride, prevented the inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger activity mediated by PTH-(28-48) and PMA but did not avert the negative regulation caused by PTH-(1-34) or forskolin. However, inhibition of both PKA and PKC prevented PTH-(1-34)-mediated suppression of Na+/H+ exchanger activity, indicating that PTH-(1-34) acted through both signaling pathways. In addition, Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of only the NHE-3 isoform of the Na+/H+ exchanger in OK cells. In summary, these results demonstrated that NHE-3 is expressed in OK cells and that activation of the PTH receptor can stimulate both the PKA and PKC pathways, each of which can independently lead to inhibition of NHE-3 activity.