scholarly journals Coupled Site-Directed Mutagenesis/Transgenesis Identifies Important Functional Domains of the Mouse Agouti Protein

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
William L Perry ◽  
Takuro Nakamura ◽  
Deborah A Swing ◽  
Lisa Secrest ◽  
Bryn Eagleson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Coat Color ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Functional Domains ◽  
Basic Domain

Abstract The agouti locus encodes a novel paracrine signaling molecule containing a signal sequence, an N-linked glycosylation site, a central lysine-rich basic domain, and a C-terminal tail containing 10 cysteine (Cys) residues capable of forming five disulfide bonds. When overexpressed, agouti causes a number of pleiotropic effects including yellow coat and adult-onset obesity. Numerous studies suggest that agouti causes yellow coat color by antagonizing the binding of a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) to the a-MSH-(melanocortin-1) receptor. With the goal of identifying functional domains of agouti important for its diverse biological activities, we have generated 14 agouti mutations by in vitro sitedirected mutagenesis and analyzed these mutations in transgenic mice for their effects on coat color and obesity. These studies demonstrate that the signal sequence, the N-linked glycosylation site, and the C-terminal Cys residues are important for full biological activity, while at least a portion of the lysine-rich basic domain is dispensable for normal function. They also show that the same functional domains of agouti important in coat color determination are important for inducing obesity, consistent with the hypothesis that agouti induces obesity by antagonizing melanocortin binding to other melanocortin receptors.

Identification of pre-mRNA polyadenylation sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 4215-4229
Author(s):  
S Heidmann ◽  
B Obermaier ◽  
K Vogel ◽  
H Domdey
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Adh1 Gene ◽  
Polyadenylation Sites ◽  
Yeast Genes

In contrast to higher eukaryotes, little is known about the nature of the sequences which direct 3'-end formation of pre-mRNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hexanucleotide AAUAAA, which is highly conserved and crucial in mammals, does not seem to have any functional importance for 3'-end formation in yeast cells. Instead, other elements have been proposed to serve as signal sequences. We performed a detailed investigation of the yeast ACT1, ADH1, CYC1, and YPT1 cDNAs, which showed that the polyadenylation sites used in vivo can be scattered over a region spanning up to 200 nucleotides. It therefore seems very unlikely that a single signal sequence is responsible for the selection of all these polyadenylation sites. Our study also showed that in the large majority of mRNAs, polyadenylation starts directly before or after an adenosine residue and that 3'-end formation of ADH1 transcripts occurs preferentially at the sequence PyAAA. Site-directed mutagenesis of these sites in the ADH1 gene suggested that this PyAAA sequence is essential for polyadenylation site selection both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the 3'-terminal regions of the yeast genes investigated here are characterized by their capacity to act as signals for 3'-end formation in vivo in either orientation.

scholarly journals An In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation of the Diverse Biological Activities of Bovine Placental Lactogen

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Spiers ◽  
Arieh Gertler ◽  
Harold Johnson ◽  
James Spain
Keyword(s):  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Placental Lactogen ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Thermal Environments

In order to understand the structure-function relationship of bovine placental lactogen (bPL) and initiate production of material for in vivo testing, 28 different bPL analogues were prepared by either truncation or site-directed mutagenesis. The effect of these mutations was determined by measuring binding capacity, ability to homodimerize extracellular domains (ECDs) of several lactogenic and somatogenic receptors, and by in vitro bioassays. Two analogues were prepared in large amounts for in vivo studies. These studies (a) identified the residues responsible for the somatogenic activity of bPL (K73, G133, T188) and for both lactogenic and somatogenic activity (N-terminus, K185, Y190); (b) allowed preparation of bPL analogues with selectively abolished or reduced somatogenic activity; and (c) provided a tool to understand the kinetic difference between lactogenic and somatogenic receptors. In vivo studies using rodent and dairy models showed that bovine growth hormone (bGH) is superior to bPL in stimulating growth and lactation. Likewise, bGH has greater somatogenic activity in different age groups and thermal environments. Initial studies of bPL analog T188 suggest that its lactogenic potential is superior to bGH. Effective experimental models have now been developed and tested for analysis of new bPL analogs.

Processing and trafficking of cysteine proteases in Leishmania mexicana

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (22) ◽  
pp. 4035-4041 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.R. Brooks ◽  
L. Tetley ◽  
G.H. Coombs ◽  
J.C. Mottram
Keyword(s):  
Cysteine Protease ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Cysteine Proteases ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Flagellar Pocket ◽  
Leishmania Mexicana

Removal of the pro-domain of a cysteine protease is essential for activation of the enzyme. We have engineered a cysteine protease (CPB2.8) of the protozoan parasite Leishmania mexicana by site-directed mutagenesis to remove the active site cysteine (to produce CPB(C25G)). When CPB(C25G) was expressed in a L. mexicana mutant lacking all CPB genes, the inactive pro-enzyme was processed to the mature protein and trafficked to the lysosome. These results show that auto-activation is not required for correct processing of CPB in vivo. When CPB(C25G) was expressed in a L. mexicana mutant lacking both CPA and CPB genes, the majority of the pro-enzyme remained unprocessed and accumulated in the flagellar pocket. These data reveal that CPA can directly or indirectly process CPB(C25G) and suggest that cysteine proteases are targeted to lysosomes via the flagellar pocket. Moreover, they show that another protease can process CPB in the absence of either CPA or CPB, albeit less efficiently. Abolition of the glycosylation site in the mature domain of CPB did not affect enzyme processing, targeting or in vitro activity towards gelatin. This indicates that glycosylation is not required for trafficking. Together these findings provide evidence that the major route of trafficking of Leishmania cysteine proteases to lysosomes is via the flagellar pocket and therefore differs significantly from cysteine protease trafficking in mammalian cells.

scholarly journals Identification of a glycosylation site in the woodchuck hepatitis virus preS2 protein and its role in protein trafficking

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-793
Author(s):  
O. Schildgen ◽  
M. Roggendorf ◽  
M. Lu
Keyword(s):  
Protein Trafficking ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Middle Surface ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Immunofluorescent Staining ◽  
Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus

The middle surface antigen (M-sAg) of hepadnaviruses is one of three envelope proteins that share a common C-terminal S domain. M-sAg contains the preS2 domain in addition to the S region. The preS2 region of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) contains a potential glycosylation site Asn-Gln-Thr at amino acid (aa) positions 3–5. In this study, we mutated this site by site-directed mutagenesis and confirmed that glycosylation occurs here. In in vitro translation assays, the mutation Thr to Asn at aa 5 significantly impaired glycosylation of M-sAg. The mutated M-sAg formed abnormal clustered structures in transfected cells as determined by immunofluorescent staining. Confocal microscopic analysis showed that an enrichment of this glycosylation-deficient protein in the Golgi apparatus occurred, which is not typical for the wild-type protein. These results are consistent with earlier findings that incorrect glycosylation of viral proteins may interfere with virus assembly.

GPI anchor transamidase of Trypanosoma brucei: in vitro assay of the recombinant protein and VSG anchor exchange

2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 2529-2539
Author(s):  
Xuedong Kang ◽  
Alexander Szallies ◽  
Marc Rawer ◽  
Hartmut Echner ◽  
Michael Duszenko
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Gpi Anchor ◽  
Hydrophobic Region ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Vitro Assay

GPI8 from Trypanosoma brucei was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. TbGPI8 encodes a 37 kDa protein (35 kDa after removal of the putative signal sequence) with a pI of 5.5. It contains one potential N-glycosylation site near the N-terminus but no C-terminal hydrophobic region. Enzyme activity assays using trypanosomal lysates or recombinant TbGpi8 exhibited cleavage of the synthetic peptide acetyl-S-V-L-N-aminomethyl-coumarine, indicating that TbGpi8 is indeed directly involved in the proteolytic processing of the GPI anchoring signal. Intracellular localization of TbGpi8 within tubular structures, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, was observed by using specific anti-TbGpi8 antibodies. The transamidase mechanism of GPI anchoring was studied in bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei using media containing hydrazine or biotinylated hydrazine. In the presence of the latter nucleophile, part of the newly formed VSG was linked to this instead of the GPI anchor and was not transferred to the cell surface. VSG-hydrazine-biotin was detected by streptavidin in western blots and intracellularly in Golgi-like compartments.

scholarly journals A former amino terminal signal sequence engineered to an internal location directs translocation of both flanking protein domains.

1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 2292-2301 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Perara ◽  
V R Lingappa
Keyword(s):  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Protein Domains ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Free System ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Internal Position ◽  
Presence And Absence

To determine whether a functional amino terminal signal sequence can be active at an internal position, a hybrid gene was constructed in which the entire coding region of bovine preprolactin cDNA was inserted into chimpanzee alpha-globin cDNA 109 codons downstream from the initiation codon of globin. When RNA synthesized in vitro from this plasmid (pSPGP1) was translated in the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system, a 32-kD protein was produced that was both prolactin and globin immunoreactive. When microsomal membranes were present during translation (but not when added posttranslationally), a 26-kD and a 14-kD product were also observed. By immunoreactivity and electrophoretic mobility, the 26-kD protein was identical to mature prolactin, and the 14-kD protein appeared to be the globin domain with the prolactin signal sequence attached at its carboxy terminus. From (a) posttranslational proteolysis in the presence and absence of detergent, (b) sedimentation of vesicles in the presence and absence of sodium carbonate pH 11.5, and (c) N-linked glycosylation of the globin-immunoreactive fragment after insertion of an Asn-X-Ser N-linked glycosylation site into the globin coding region of pSPGP1, it appears that all of the 26-kD and some of the 14-kD products, but none of the 32-kD precursor, have been translocated to the lumen of the membrane vesicles. Thus, when engineered to an internal position, the prolactin signal sequence is able to translocate both flanking protein domains. These data have implications for the understanding of translocation of proteins across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum.

scholarly journals Folding and trimerization of signal sequence-less mature TolC in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (6) ◽  
pp. 1847-1857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel Masi ◽  
Guillaume Duret ◽  
Anne H. Delcour ◽  
Rajeev Misra
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Outer Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Tightly Coupled

TolC is a multifunctional outer-membrane protein (OMP) of Escherichia coli that folds into a unique α/β-barrel structure. Previous studies have shown that unlike the biogenesis of β-barrel OMPs, such as porins, TolC assembles independently from known periplasmic folding factors. Yet, the assembly of TolC, like that of β-barrel OMPs, is dependent on BamA and BamD, two essential components of the β-barrel OMP assembly machinery. We have investigated the folding properties and cellular trafficking of a TolC derivative that lacks the entire signal sequence (TolCΔ2–22). A significant amount of TolCΔ2–22 was found to be soluble in the cytoplasm, and a fraction of it folded and trimerized into a conformation similar to that of the normal outer membrane-localized TolC protein. Some TolCΔ2–22 was found to associate with membranes, but failed to assume a wild-type-like folded conformation. The null phenotype of TolCΔ2–22 was exploited to isolate suppressor mutations, the majority of which mapped in secY. In the secY suppressor background, TolCΔ2–22 resumed normal function and folded like wild-type TolC. Proper membrane insertion could not be achieved upon in vitro incubation of cytoplasmically folded TolCΔ2–22 with purified outer membrane vesicles, showing that even though TolC is intrinsically capable of folding and trimerization, for successful integration into the outer membrane these events need to be tightly coupled to the insertion process, which is mediated by the Bam machinery. Genetic and biochemical data attribute the unique folding and assembly pathways of TolC to its large soluble α-helical domain.

scholarly journals The Cotranslational Maturation of the Type I Membrane Glycoprotein Tyrosinase: The Heat Shock Protein 70 System Hands Off to the Lectin-based Chaperone System

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 3740-3752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Wang ◽  
Robert Daniels ◽  
Daniel N. Hebert
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Protein ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Membrane Glycoprotein ◽  
Type I ◽  
Nascent Chain ◽  
Chaperone Binding

The maturation of eukaryotic secretory cargo initiates cotranslationally and cotranslocationally as the polypeptide chain emerges into the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. Here, we characterized the cotranslational maturation pathway for the human type I membrane glycoprotein tyrosinase. To recapitulate the cotranslational events, including glycosylation, signal sequence cleavage, chaperone binding, and oxidation, abbreviated transcripts lacking a stop codon were in vitro translated in the presence of semipermeabilized melanocyte membranes. This created a series of ribosome/translocon-arrested chains of increasing lengths, simulating intermediates in the cotranslational folding process. Initially, nascent chains were found to associate with the heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 family member BiP. As the nascent chains elongated and additional glycans were transferred, BiP binding rapidly decreased and the lectin-based chaperone system was recruited in its place. The lectin chaperone calnexin bound to the nascent chain after the addition of two glycans, and calreticulin association followed upon the addition of a third. The glycan-specific oxidoreductase ERp57 was cross-linked to tyrosinase when calnexin and calreticulin were associated. This timing coincided with the formation of disulfide bonds within tyrosinase and the cleavage of its signal sequence. Therefore, tyrosinase maturation initiates cotranslationally with the Hsp70 system and is handed off to the lectin chaperone system that first uses calnexin before calreticulin. Interestingly, divergence in the maturation pathways of wild-type and mutant albino tyrosinase can already be observed for translocon-arrested nascent chains.

scholarly journals N-Glycosylation Increases the Circulatory Half-Life of Human Growth Hormone

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (11) ◽  
pp. 5326-5336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas V. Flintegaard ◽  
Peter Thygesen ◽  
Henrik Rahbek-Nielsen ◽  
Steven B. Levery ◽  
Claus Kristensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anion Exchange ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Pharmacodynamic Effect

Therapeutic use of recombinant GH typically involves daily sc injections. We examined the possibilities for prolonging the in vivo circulation of GH by introducing N-glycans. Human GH variants with a single potential N-glycosylation site (N-X-S/T) introduced by site-directed mutagenesis were expressed in HEK293 cells. In a scan of 15 different positions for N-glycosylation sites, four positions (amino acids 93, 98, 99, and 101) were efficiently utilized and did not influence GH in vitro activity. A GH variant (3N-GH) with all these sites was produced in CHOK1SV cells and contained up to three N-glycans. Two pools of 3N-GH were purified and separated according to their charge by anion-exchange chromatography. Anion-exchange HPLC revealed that the N-glycans in the two pools were very similar except for the extent of sialylation. Both 3N-GH pools circulated longer in rats than wild-type GH. The terminal half-life of 3N-GH after iv injection was 24-fold prolonged compared with wild-type GH for the pool with the most pronounced sialylation, 13-fold prolonged for the less sialylated pool, and similar to the wild-type for desialylated 3N-GH. The less sialylated 3N-GH pool exhibited a profound pharmacodynamic effect in GH-deficient rats. Over a 4-d period, a single injection of 3N-GH induced a stronger IGF-I response and a larger increase in body weight than daily injections with wild-type GH. Thus, N-glycans can prolong the in vivo circulation and enhance the pharmacodynamic effect of GH. Sialic acids seem to play a pivotal role for the properties of glycosylated GH.

scholarly journals On the Functional Interchangeability, Oxidant versus Reductant, of Members of the Thioredoxin Superfamily

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (3) ◽  
pp. 723-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Debarbieux ◽  
Jon Beckwith
Keyword(s):  
Disulfide Bond ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Bond Formation ◽  
Disulfide Bond Formation ◽  
Thioredoxin 1 ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli thioredoxin 1 has been characterized in vivo and in vitro as one of the most efficient reductants of disulfide bonds. Nevertheless, under some conditions, thioredoxin 1 can also act in vivo as an oxidant, promoting formation of disulfide bonds in the cytoplasm (E. J. Stewart, F. Åslund, and J. Beckwith, EMBO J. 17:5543–5550, 1998). We recently showed that when a signal sequence is attached to thioredoxin 1 it is exported to the periplasm, where it can also act as an oxidant, replacing the normal periplasmic catalyst of disulfide bond formation, DsbA, in oxidizing cell envelope proteins (L. Debarbieux and J. Beckwith, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:10751–10756, 1998). Here we report pulse-chase studies of the efficiency of disulfide bond formation in strains exporting thioredoxin 1 and more-oxidizing variants of it. While the exported thioredoxin 1 itself substantially speeds up the kinetics of disulfide bond formation, a version of this protein containing the DsbA active site exhibits kinetics that are indistinguishable from those of the DsbA protein itself. Further, we confirm the findings of Jonda et al. (S. Jonda, M. Huber-Wunderlich, R. Glockshuber, and E. Mössner, EMBO J. 18:3271–3281, 1999), who found that DsbB is responsible for the oxidation of exported thioredoxin 1, and we report the detection of a disulfide-bonded DsbB-thioredoxin 1 complex. Finally, we have found that under conditions of high-level expression of exported thioredoxin 1, the protein can act as both an oxidant and a reductant.

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