A high-throughput cigarette smoke-treated bronchosphere model for disease-relevant phenotypic compound screening

Cigarette smoking (CS) is the leading cause of COPD, and identifying the pathways that are driving pathogenesis in the airway due to CS exposure can aid in the discovery of novel therapies for COPD. An additional barrier to the identification of key pathways that are involved in the CS-induced pathogenesis is the difficulty in building relevant and high throughput models that can recapitulate the phenotypic and transcriptomic changes associated with CS exposure. To identify these drivers, we have developed a cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated bronchosphere assay in 384-well plate format that exhibits CSE-induced decreases in size and increase in luminal secretion of MUC5AC. Transcriptomic changes in CSE-treated bronchospheres resemble changes that occur in human smokers both with and without COPD compared to healthy groups, indicating that this model can capture human smoking signature. To identify new targets, we ran a small molecule compound deck screening with diversity in target mechanisms of action and identified hit compounds that attenuated CSE induced changes, either decreasing spheroid size or increasing secreted mucus. This work provides insight into the utility of this bronchopshere model to examine human respiratory disease impacted by CSE exposure and the ability to screen for therapeutics to reverse the pathogenic changes caused by CSE.

A high-throughput 3D cantilever array to model airway smooth muscle hypercontractility in asthma

Asthma is often characterized by tissue-level mechanical phenotypes that include remodeling of the airway and an increase in airway tightening, driven by the underlying smooth muscle. Existing therapies only provide symptom relief and do not improve the baseline narrowing of the airway or halt progression of the disease. To investigate such targeted therapeutics, there is a need for models that can recapitulate the 3D environment present in this tissue, provide phenotypic readouts of contractility, and be easily integrated into existing assay plate designs and laboratory automation used in drug discovery campaigns. To address this, we have developed DEFLCT, a high-throughput plate insert that can be paired with standard labware to easily generate high quantities of microscale tissues in vitro for screening applications. Using this platform, we exposed primary human airway smooth muscle cell-derived microtissues to a panel of six inflammatory cytokines present in the asthmatic niche, identifying TGF-β1 and IL-13 as inducers of a hypercontractile phenotype. RNAseq analysis further demonstrated enrichment of contractile and remodeling-relevant pathways in TGF-β1 and IL-13 treated tissues as well as pathways generally associated with asthma. Screening of 78 kinase inhibitors on TGF-β1 treated tissues suggests that inhibition of protein kinase C and mTOR/Akt signaling can prevent this hypercontractile phenotype from emerging, while direct inhibition of myosin light chain kinase does not. Taken together, these data establish a disease-relevant 3D tissue model for the asthmatic airway, which combines niche specific inflammatory cues and complex mechanical readouts that can be utilized in drug discovery efforts.

"3D, human renal proximal tubule (RPTEC-TERT1) organoids 'tubuloids' for translatable evaluation of nephrotoxins in high-throughput"

The importance of human cell-based in vitro tools to drug development that are robust, accurate, and predictive cannot be understated. There has been significant effort in recent years to develop such platforms, with increased interest in 3D models that can recapitulate key aspects of biology that 2D models might not be able to deliver. We describe the development of a 3D human cell-based in vitro assay for the investigation of nephrotoxicity, using RPTEC-TERT1 cells. These RPTEC-TERT1 proximal tubule organoids 'tubuloids' demonstrate marked differences in physiologically relevant morphology compared to 2D monolayer cells, increased sensitivity to nephrotoxins observable via secreted protein, and with a higher degree of similarity to native human kidney tissue. Finally, tubuloids incubated with nephrotoxins demonstrate altered Na+/K+-ATPase signal intensity, a potential avenue for a high-throughput, translatable nephrotoxicity assay.

Dexamethasone inhibits respiratory syncytial virus-driven mucus production while increasing viral replication without altering antiviral interferon signaling

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause mucus overproduction and bronchiolitis in infants leading to severe disease and hospitalization. As a therapeutic strategy, immune modulatory agents may help prevent RSV-driven immune responses that cause severe airway disease. We developed a high throughput screen to identify compounds that reduced RSV-driven mucin 5AC (Muc5AC) expression and identified dexamethasone. Despite leading to a pronounced reduction in RSV-driven Muc5AC, dexamethasone increased RSV infection in vitro and delayed viral clearance in mice. This correlated with reduced expression of a subset of immune response genes and reduced lymphocyte infiltration in vivo. Interestingly, dexamethasone increased RSV infection levels without altering antiviral interferon signaling. In summary, the immunosuppressive activities of dexamethasone had favorable inhibitory effects on RSV-driven mucus production yet prevented immune defense activities that limit RSV infection in vitro and in vivo. These findings offer an explanation for the lack of efficacy of glucocorticoids in RSV-infected patients.

Guide Swap enables genome-scale pooled CRISPR-Cas9 screening in human primary cells

CRISPR-Cas9 screening allows genome-wide interrogation of gene function. Currently, to achieve the high and uniform Cas9 expression desirable for screening, one needs to engineer stable and clonal Cas9-expressing cells-an approach that is not applicable in human primary cells. Guide Swap permits genome-scale pooled CRISPR-Cas9 screening in human primary cells by exploiting the unexpected finding that editing by lentivirally delivered, targeted guide RNAs (gRNAs) occurs efficiently when Cas9 is introduced in complex with nontargeting gRNA. We validated Guide Swap in depletion and enrichment screens in CD4+ T cells. Next, we implemented Guide Swap in a model of ex vivo hematopoiesis, and identified known and previously unknown regulators of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) expansion. We anticipate that this platform will be broadly applicable to other challenging cell types, and thus will enable discovery in previously inaccessible but biologically relevant human primary cell systems.

Utilizing Chemical Genomics to Identify Cytochrome b as a Novel Drug Target for Chagas Disease

Unbiased phenotypic screens enable identification of small molecules that inhibit pathogen growth by unanticipated mechanisms. These small molecules can be used as starting points for drug discovery programs that target such mechanisms. A major challenge of the approach is the identification of the cellular targets. Here we report GNF7686, a small molecule inhibitor of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and identification of cytochrome b as its target. Following discovery of GNF7686 in a parasite growth inhibition high throughput screen, we were able to evolve a GNF7686-resistant culture of T. cruzi epimastigotes. Clones from this culture bore a mutation coding for a substitution of leucine by phenylalanine at amino acid position 197 in cytochrome b. Cytochrome b is a component of complex III (cytochrome bc₁) in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and catalyzes the transfer of electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome c by a mechanism that utilizes two distinct catalytic sites, Q_N and Q_P. The L197F mutation is located in the Q_N site and confers resistance to GNF7686 in both parasite cell growth and biochemical cytochrome b assays. Additionally, the mutant cytochrome b confers resistance to antimycin A, another Q_N site inhibitor, but not to strobilurin or myxothiazol, which target the Q_P site. GNF7686 represents a promising starting point for Chagas disease drug discovery as it potently inhibits growth of intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes with a half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of 0.15 µM, and is highly specific for T. cruzi cytochrome b. No effect on the mammalian respiratory chain or mammalian cell proliferation was observed with up to 25 µM of GNF7686. Our approach, which combines T. cruzi chemical genetics with biochemical target validation, can be broadly applied to the discovery of additional novel drug targets and drug leads for Chagas disease.

Chagas Disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is primarily transmitted to a mammalian host via a triatomine insect vector (the “kissing bug”) infected with T. cruzi parasites. Although discovered in 1909 by the physician Dr. Carlos Chagas, the disease gained recognition by the public health community only following a major outbreak in Brazil during the 1960s. Approximately eight million people (primarily in Central and South America) are infected with T. cruzi and cases are becoming more widespread due to migration out of the endemic regions. Current treatment options have severe problems with toxicity, limited efficacy, and long administration. Hence, discovery of new drugs for treatment of Chagas disease has become of prime interest to the biomedical research community. In this study, we report identification of a potent inhibitor of T. cruzi growth and use a chemical genetics-based approach to elucidate the associated mechanism of action. We found that this compound, GNF7686, targets cytochrome b, a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain crucial for ATP generation. Our study provides new insights into the use of phenotypic screening to identify novel targets for kinetoplastid drug discovery.

Fitness costs of rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis are amplified under conditions of nutrient starvation and compensated by mutation in the β' subunit of RNA polymerase

Rifampicin resistance, a defining attribute of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, is conferred by mutations in the β subunit of RNA polymerase. Sequencing of rifampicin-resistant (RIF-R) clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis revealed, in addition to RIF-R mutations, enrichment of potential compensatory mutations around the double-psi β-barrel domain of the β' subunit comprising the catalytic site and the exit tunnel for newly synthesized RNA. Sequential introduction of the resistance allele followed by the compensatory allele in isogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis showed that these mutations respectively caused and compensated a starvation enhanced growth defect by altering RNA polymerase activity. While specific combinations of resistance and compensatory alleles converged in divergent lineages, other combinations recurred among related isolates suggesting transmission of compensated RIF-R strains. These findings suggest nutrient poor growth conditions impose larger selective pressure on RIF-R organisms that results in the selection of compensatory mutations in a domain involved in catalysis and starvation control of RNA polymerase transcription.

In vitro selection, via serial passage, of Clostridium difficile mutants with reduced susceptibility to fidaxomicin or vancomycin

OBJECTIVES

Current treatments for Clostridium difficile infection include vancomycin, metronidazole and fidaxomicin. LFF571 is an experimental agent undergoing evaluation in humans for the treatment of moderate C. difficile infection. Reduced susceptibility of C. difficile to fidaxomicin or LFF571 in vitro can be mediated by single point mutations in genes encoding the targets, whereas the mechanism(s) mediating reduced susceptibility to vancomycin in vitro remains elusive. To further characterize mechanisms reducing susceptibility of C. difficile to vancomycin, fidaxomicin or LFF571 in vitro, selections via serial passage at low cell density were performed, followed by whole-genome sequencing.

METHODS

C. difficile strain ATCC 43255 and three clinical isolates were subjected to 10 passages on medium containing a range of concentrations of fidaxomicin, LFF571 or vancomycin. Genomic DNA from isolates with reduced susceptibility was sequenced using Illumina Whole Genome Sequencing.

RESULTS

Clones exhibiting decreased susceptibility to fidaxomicin harboured mutations in rpoB and CD22120 (marR homologue). Clones exhibiting decreased susceptibility to vancomycin harboured mutations in rpoC and also in CD2725, CD3659 and sdaB, which encode a putative N-acetylglucosamine transferase, exonuclease and l-serine deaminase, respectively. All mutations resulted in non-synonymous substitutions. No clones with reduced susceptibility to LFF571 were selected in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced susceptibility to fidaxomicin and vancomycin was associated with mutations mediating target modifications (RNA polymerase and cell wall, respectively), as well as with mutations that may contribute to reduced susceptibility via other mechanisms. The MIC of LFF571 was unaffected for those mutants with reduced susceptibility to fidaxomicin or vancomycin.

Rasgrp1 mutation increases naive T-cell CD44 expression and drives mTOR-dependent accumulation of Helios⁺ T cells and autoantibodies

Missense variants are a major source of human genetic variation. Here we analyze a new mouse missense variant, Rasgrp1^Anaef, with an ENU-mutated EF hand in the Rasgrp1 Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor. Rasgrp1^Anaef mice exhibit anti-nuclear autoantibodies and gradually accumulate a CD44^hi Helios⁺ PD-1⁺ CD4⁺ T cell population that is dependent on B cells. Despite reduced Rasgrp1-Ras-ERK activation in vitro, thymocyte selection in Rasgrp1^Anaef is mostly normal in vivo, although CD44 is overexpressed on naïve thymocytes and T cells in a T-cell-autonomous manner. We identify CD44 expression as a sensitive reporter of tonic mTOR-S6 kinase signaling through a novel mouse strain, chino, with a reduction-of-function mutation in Mtor. Elevated tonic mTOR-S6 signaling occurs in Rasgrp1^Anaef naïve CD4⁺ T cells. CD44 expression, CD4⁺ T cell subset ratios and serum autoantibodies all returned to normal in Rasgrp1^AnaefMtor^chino double-mutant mice, demonstrating that increased mTOR activity is essential for the Rasgrp1^Anaef T cell dysregulation.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01020.001

Our DNA contains more than three billion nucleotides. Each of these nucleotides can be an A, C, G or T, and groups of three neighboring nucleotides within our DNA are used to represent the 20 amino acids that are used to make proteins. This means that changing just one nucleotide can cause one amino acid to be replaced by a different amino acid in the protein encoded by that stretch of DNA: AAA and AAG code for the amino acid lysine, for example, but AAC and AAT code for asparagine. Known as missense gene variants, these changes can also increase or decrease the expression of the gene.

Every person has thousands of missense gene variants, including about 12,000 inherited from their parents. Sometimes these variants have no consequence, but they can be harmful if replacing the correct amino acid with a different amino acid prevents the protein from performing an important task. In particular, missense gene variants in genes that encode immune system proteins are likely to play a role in diseases of the immune system. For example, variants near a gene called Rasgrp1 have been linked to two autoimmune diseases – type 1 diabetes and Graves’ disease—in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells and tissues.

Now Daley et al. have shed new light on the mechanism by which a missense gene variant in Rasgrp1 can cause autoimmune diseases. Mice with this mutation show signs of autoimmune disease, but their T cells—white blood cells that have a central role in the immune system – develop normally despite this mutation. Instead, Daley et al. found that a specific type of T cell, called T helper cells, accumulated in large numbers in the mutant mice and stimulated cells of a third type—immune cells called B cells—to produce autoantibodies. The production of autoantibodies is a common feature of autoimmune diseases.

Daley et al. traced the origins of the T helper cells to excessive activity on a signaling pathway that involves a protein called mTOR, and went on to show that treatment with the drug rapamycin counteracted the accumulation of the T helper cells and reduced the level of autoimmune activity. In addition to exemplifying how changing just one amino acid change can have a profound effect, the work of Daley et al. is an attractive model for exploring how missense gene variants in people can contribute to autoimmune diseases.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01020.002

Identification of the Plasmodium berghei resistance locus 9 linked to survival on chromosome 9

Background

One of the main causes of mortality from severe malaria in Plasmodium falciparum infections is cerebral malaria (CM). An important host genetic component determines the susceptibility of an individual to develop CM or to clear the infection and become semi-immune. As such, the identification of genetic loci associated with susceptibility or resistance may serve to modulate disease severity.

Methodology

The Plasmodium berghei mouse model for experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) reproduces several disease symptoms seen in human CM, and two different phenotypes, a susceptible (FVB/NJ) and a resistant mouse strain (DBA/2J), were examined.

Results

FVB/NJ mice died from infection within ten days, whereas DBA/2J mice showed a gender bias: males survived on average nineteen days and females either died early with signs of ECM or survived for up to three weeks. A comparison of brain pathology between FVB/NJ and DBA/2J showed no major differences with regard to brain haemorrhages or the number of parasites and CD3+ cells in the microvasculature. However, significant differences were found in the peripheral blood of infected mice: For example resistant DBA/2J mice had significantly higher numbers of circulating basophils than did FVB/NJ mice on day seven. Analysis of the F2 offspring from a cross of DBA/2J and FVB/NJ mice mapped the genetic locus of the underlying survival trait to chromosome 9 with a Lod score of 4.9. This locus overlaps with two previously identified resistance loci (char1 and pymr) from a blood stage malaria model.

Conclusions

Survival best distinguishes malaria infections between FVB/NJ and DBA/2J mice. The importance of char1 and pymr on chromosome 9 in malaria resistance to P. berghei was confirmed. In addition there was an association of basophil numbers with survival.

Antituberculosis thiophenes define a requirement for Pks13 in mycolic acid biosynthesis

We report a new class of thiophene (TP) compounds that kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) by the novel mechanism of Pks13 inhibition. An F79S mutation near the catalytic Ser-55 site in Pks13 conferred TP-resistance in Mtb. Over-expression of wild-type pks13 resulted in TP-resistance and over-expression of the F79S pks13 mutant conferred high-level resistance. In vitro, TP inhibited fatty acyl-AMP loading onto Pks13. TP inhibited mycolic acid biosynthesis in wild-type Mtb, but to a much lesser extent in TP-resistant Mtb. TP treatment was bactericidal and equivalent to the first-line drug isoniazid, but it was less likely to permit emergent resistance. Combined isoniazid and TP treatment exhibited sterilizing activity. Computational-docking identified a possible TP-binding groove within the Pks13 ACP domain. This study confirms that Mtb Pks13 is required for mycolic acid biosynthesis, validates it as a druggable target and demonstrates the therapeutic potential of simultaneously inhibiting multiple targets in the same biosynthetic pathway.

Identification of elongation factor G as the conserved cellular target of argyrin B

Argyrins, produced by myxobacteria and actinomycetes, are cyclic octapeptides with antibacterial and antitumor activity. Here, we identify elongation factor G (EF-G) as the cellular target of argyrin B in bacteria, via resistant mutant selection and whole genome sequencing, biophysical binding studies and crystallography. Argyrin B binds a novel allosteric pocket in EF-G, distinct from the known EF-G inhibitor antibiotic fusidic acid, revealing a new mode of protein synthesis inhibition. In eukaryotic cells, argyrin B was found to target mitochondrial elongation factor G1 (EF-G1), the closest homologue of bacterial EF-G. By blocking mitochondrial translation, argyrin B depletes electron transport components and inhibits the growth of yeast and tumor cells. Further supporting direct inhibition of EF-G1, expression of an argyrin B-binding deficient EF-G1 L693Q variant partially rescued argyrin B-sensitivity in tumor cells. In summary, we show that argyrin B is an antibacterial and cytotoxic agent that inhibits the evolutionarily conserved target EF-G, blocking protein synthesis in bacteria and mitochondrial translation in yeast and mammalian cells.

Imaging of Plasmodium liver stages to drive next-generation antimalarial drug discovery

Most malaria drug development focuses on parasite stages detected in red blood cells, even though, to achieve eradication, next-generation drugs active against both erythrocytic and exo-erythrocytic forms would be preferable. We applied a multifactorial approach to a set of >4000 commercially available compounds with previously demonstrated blood-stage activity (median inhibitory concentration < 1 micromolar) and identified chemical scaffolds with potent activity against both forms. From this screen, we identified an imidazolopiperazine scaffold series that was highly enriched among compounds active against Plasmodium liver stages. The orally bioavailable lead imidazolopiperazine confers complete causal prophylactic protection (15 milligrams/kilogram) in rodent models of malaria and shows potent in vivo blood-stage therapeutic activity. The open-source chemical tools resulting from our effort provide starting points for future drug discovery programs, as well as opportunities for researchers to investigate the biology of exo-erythrocytic forms.

A chemical genetic screen in Mycobacterium tuberculosis identifies carbon-source-dependent growth inhibitors devoid of in vivo efficacy

Candidate antibacterials are usually identified on the basis of their in vitro activity. However, the apparent inhibitory activity of new leads can be misleading because most culture media do not reproduce an environment relevant to infection in vivo. In this study, while screening for novel anti-tuberculars, we uncovered how carbon metabolism can affect antimicrobial activity. Novel pyrimidine–imidazoles (PIs) were identified in a whole-cell screen against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lead optimization generated in vitro potent derivatives with desirable pharmacokinetic properties, yet without in vivo efficacy. Mechanism of action studies linked the PI activity to glycerol metabolism, which is not relevant for M. tuberculosis during infection. PIs induced self-poisoning of M. tuberculosis by promoting the accumulation of glycerol phosphate and rapid ATP depletion. This study underlines the importance of understanding central bacterial metabolism in vivo and of developing predictive in vitro culture conditions as a prerequisite for the rational discovery of new antibiotics.

Candidate anti-tuberculosis drugs are often identified in whole-cell screens. Here, Pethe et al. show that inappropriate carbon-source selection can lead to the identification of compounds devoid of efficacy in vivo, underlining the importance of developing predictive in vitro screens.

Efficacy and immunogenicity of Mycobacterium bovis DeltaRD1 against aerosol M. bovis infection in neonatal calves

An attenuated Mycobacterium bovisRD1 deletion (DeltaRD1) mutant of the Ravenel strain was constructed, characterized, and sequenced. This M. bovis DeltaRD1 vaccine strain administered to calves at 2 weeks of age provided similar efficacy as M. bovis bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) against low dose, aerosol challenge with virulent M. bovis at 3.5 months of age. Approximately 4.5 months after challenge, both DeltaRD1- and BCG-vaccinates had reduced tuberculosis (TB)-associated pathology in lungs and lung-associated lymph nodes and M. bovis colonization of tracheobronchial lymph nodes as compared to non-vaccinates. Mean central memory responses elicited by either DeltaRD1 or BCG prior to challenge correlated with reduced pathology and bacterial colonization. Neither DeltaRD1 or BCG elicited IFN-gamma responses to rESAT-6:CFP-10 prior to challenge, an emerging tool for modern TB surveillance programs. The DeltaRD1 strain may prove useful for bovine TB vaccine programs, particularly if additional mutations are included to improve safety and immunogenicity.

Use of a dense single nucleotide polymorphism map for in silico mapping in the mouse

Rapid expansion of available data, both phenotypic and genotypic, for multiple strains of mice has enabled the development of new methods to interrogate the mouse genome for functional genetic perturbations. In silico mapping provides an expedient way to associate the natural diversity of phenotypic traits with ancestrally inherited polymorphisms for the purpose of dissecting genetic traits. In mouse, the current single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data have lacked the density across the genome and coverage of enough strains to properly achieve this goal. To remedy this, 470,407 allele calls were produced for 10,990 evenly spaced SNP loci across 48 inbred mouse strains. Use of the SNP set with statistical models that considered unique patterns within blocks of three SNPs as an inferred haplotype could successfully map known single gene traits and a cloned quantitative trait gene. Application of this method to high-density lipoprotein and gallstone phenotypes reproduced previously characterized quantitative trait loci (QTL). The inferred haplotype data also facilitates the refinement of QTL regions such that candidate genes can be more easily identified and characterized as shown for adenylate cyclase 7.

Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis defines haplotype patterns in mouse

The nature and organization of polymorphisms, or differences, between genomes of individuals are of great interest, because these variations can be associated with or even underlie phenotypic traits, including disease susceptibility. To gain insight into the genetic and evolutionary factors influencing such biological variation, we have examined the arrangement (haplotype) of single-nucleotide polymorphisms across the genomes of eight inbred strains of mice. These analyses define blocks of high or low diversity, often extending across tens of megabases that are delineated by abrupt transitions. These observations provide a striking contrast to the haplotype structure of the human genome.

Identification, characterization, and expression of a new prolactin-like molecule in the hamster placenta

In the hamster, serum total lactogenic activity increases during the latter half of gestation (Days 8-16). On Days 10 and 12 a substantial amount of lactogenic activity cannot be attributed to prolactin (PRL) and hamster placental lactogen-II (haPL-II); therefore, the presence of a molecule similar to placental lactogen-I (PL-I), as found in the rat and mouse at midpregnancy, has been hypothesized for the hamster. The objectives of this study were to identify PRL-like molecules synthesized by the hamster placenta and to determine the temporal and cellular synthesis of identified molecules. Oligonucleotides (20-23 bp) corresponding to regions of nucleotide homology between mouse PL-I (mPL-I) and rat PL-I (rPL-I) along with midgestation hamster placental RNA were used in 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methodology to generate PRL-like cDNA. A 444-bp cDNA fragment that had nucleotide sequence similarity with members of the prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) gene family was generated. This cDNA fragment was utilized to screen a Day 16 hamster placental bacteriophage cDNA library, and a clone containing the entire coding region was identified and sequenced. The molecule had 77% nucleotide sequence homology with mouse proliferin-related protein (mPRP) and somewhat less homology (approximately 60%) with hamster, rat, and mouse PRL or placental lactogens (PL). The derived amino acid sequence of the identified molecule contained a 15-residue signal sequence and a 219-residue peptide with a calculated molecular weight of 25477. The peptide shared 58% amino acid sequence identity with mPRP. Placental expression of the PRL-like molecule during the latter half of gestation was evaluated by Northern and slot-blot analyses using the 444-bp cDNA fragment as a hybridization probe. A 1-kb transcript was detected on Days 9-15 with peak expression on Days 10 and 11. Messenger RNA for the PRL-like molecule was localized to cytotrophoblast but not giant trophoblast cells of the placental trophospongium region. In addition, specific immunostaining using an antibody to mPRP was confined to cytotrophoblast cells.