scholarly journals Structural Analysis of Yoked Chorionic Gonadotropin-Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Ectodomain Complexes by Circular Dichroic Spectroscopy

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 1192-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory B. Fralish ◽  
Brian Dattilo ◽  
David Puett
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Homology Model ◽  
Difference Spectrum ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Receptor ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Glycoprotein Hormone ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Α Helix

Abstract Binding of the heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone, chorionic gonadotropin (CG), occurs to the heptahelical LH receptor N-terminal ectodomain (ECD), a large portion of which has been modeled as a leucine-rich repeat protein. In this study, we expressed and purified three single chain N-CG-ECD-C complexes, one comprising the full-length ECD, 1–341 (encoded by exons 1–10 and a portion of 11), and two C-terminal ECD deletion fragments, 1–294 (encoded by exons 1–10) and 1–180 (encoded by exons 1–7). The fusion proteins, including yoked CG (N-β-α-C), were characterized by Western blot analysis and circular dichroism (CD). Analysis of the CD spectra obtained on the CG-ECD fusion proteins, and of the difference spectrum of each after subtracting the CG contribution, yielded secondary structures consistent with a repeating β-strand/α-helix fold as predicted in the homology model. A marked decrease in helicity was observed when the C-terminal 47 amino acid residues were removed from the ECD. Removal of an additional 114 residues, i.e. the region encoded by exons 8–10, results in the loss of fewer helical residues. These results suggest that the hinge region of the ECD, predicted to contain only limited secondary structure, interacts with and stabilizes the ligand-occupied N-terminal portion. Furthermore, the results support a repeating fold, consistent with the proposed model for the LHR ECD.

scholarly journals Single-chain human chorionic gonadotropin analogs containing the determinant loop of the beta-subunit linked to the alpha-subunit

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Schubert ◽  
D Puett
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Receptor ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Intrinsic Activity ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Hek 293 ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a member of the family of glycoprotein hormones containing a common alpha-subunit and distinct beta-subunits that confer hormonal specificity. hCG binds to the relatively large ectodomain of the human luteinizing hormone receptor (hLHR), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily, leading to increased intracellular production of cAMP. Using protein engineering, two miniaturized versions of hCGbeta have been separately fused to the N-terminus of the alpha-subunit to give N-des[1-91]hCGbeta-alpha-C and N-des[1-91,110-114]hCGbeta-alpha-C, i.e. fusion proteins of the hCGbeta determinant loop (extended to include the complete seat belt and carboxy-terminal peptide) coupled to the alpha-subunit. Bioactivity of these single-chain gonadotropin analogs was assessed in two systems following transient transfections into HEK 293 cells and subsequent cAMP measurements. In one, each mini-beta-alpha cDNA was fused to that of hLHR and transfected into cells to create yoked miniaturized hCG-hLHR complexes; in the other, the cDNA of each single chain mini-beta-alpha was co-transfected with that of hLHR in an effort to produce non-covalent miniaturized hCG-hLHR complexes. Using yoked hCG-hLHR and hLHR as positive and negative controls respectively, expression of each mini-hCG-hLHR complex was confirmed using antibody and ligand binding assays. The two mini-hCGs led to minimal activation of hLHR, suggesting weak intrinsic activity of the mini-beta-alpha fusion proteins. These results suggest that potent agonists and antagonists will require the presence of other portions of hCGbeta in addition to the determinant loop/seat belt.

scholarly journals Human Thyrotropin (TSH) Variants Designed by Site-Directed Mutagenesis Block TSH Activity in Vitro and in Vivo

Endocrinology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 2845-2850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naiel Azzam ◽  
Rinat Bar-Shalom ◽  
Zaki Kraiem ◽  
Fuad Fares
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Human Thyroid ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Β Subunit ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Glycoprotein Hormone ◽  
Α Subunit

Abstract TSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone synthesized in the pituitary and composed of a specific β-subunit and a common α-subunit shared with FSH, LH, and human chorionic gonadotropin. The heterodimer was previously converted into a biologically active single chain protein by genetic fusion of the genes coding to both subunits in the presence of the carboxy-terminal sequence of human (h) chorionic gonadotropin-β subunit as a linker [hTSHβ-carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP)-α]. N-linked carbohydrate-free single-chain TSH variants were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and overlapping PCR: one devoid of both N-linked oligosaccharide chains on the α-subunit (hTSHβ-CTP-αdeg) and the other lacking also the oligosaccharides on the β-subunit (hTSHβdeg-CTP-αdeg). These variants were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and secreted into the culture media. We have previously reported that the variants block the activities of hTSH and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins in cultured human thyroid follicles. In the present study, binding affinity of hTSH variants to hTSH receptor and the localization of the antagonistic effect were examined. Moreover, the effect of these variants on TSH activity was tested in vivo. The results of the present study indicate that the hTSH variants bind to the hTSH receptor with high affinity. Experiments using forskolin also indicated that the N-linked carbohydrate-free TSH single-chain variants inhibit TSH activity at the receptor-binding site and not at a postreceptor level. Moreover, the variants significantly inhibited (about 50%) TSH activity with respect to thyroid hormone secretion in vivo in mice. These variants may offer a novel therapeutic strategy in treating hyperthyroidism.

scholarly journals Gonadal defects and hormonal alterations in transgenic mice expressing a single chain human chorionic gonadotropin–lutropin receptor complex

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Meehan ◽  
Barry G Harmon ◽  
Megan E Overcast ◽  
Kristine K Yu ◽  
Sally A Camper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Hormone Receptor ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Receptor ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
Interstitial Tissue ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Receptor Complex ◽  
Single Chain

To study the effects of premature and chronic ligand-mediated luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) activation on reproductive development, we have generated transgenic mice expressing a genetically engineered, constitutively active yoked hormone–receptor complex (YHR), in which a fusion protein of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is covalently linked to the N-terminus of rat LHR. YHR-expressing mice (YHR+) were analyzed at pre- and post-pubertal ages. Relative to wild type (WT) controls, male mice exhibited prepubertal increases in testosterone levels and seminal vesicle weights, and decreases in serum FSH, serum LH, testes weight, and the size of the seminiferous tubules. In adult male YHR+ mice, testosterone and LH levels are not significantly different from WT controls. However, FSH levels and testes weights remain decreased. Female YHR+ mice undergo precocious puberty with early vaginal opening, accelerated uterine development, enhanced follicular development, including the presence of corpora lutea, and an increase in serum progesterone. At 12 weeks of age, the ovary exhibits a relative increase in the amount of interstitial tissue, comprised of cells that are hypertrophic and luteinized, as well as follicles that are degenerating. Additionally, hemorrhagic cysts develop in approximately 25% of the transgenic mice. These degenerative changes are consistent with an aging ovary suggesting that CG-induced LHR activation in female mice leads to precocious sexual development and ovarian lesions. Taken together, these data indicate that the single chain YHR is functional in vivo and demonstrate that YHR+ mice provide a novel system to further understand the reproductive consequences of aberrant LHR activation.

scholarly journals A conformational contribution of the luteinizing hormone–receptor ectodomain to receptor activation

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Nurwakagari ◽  
Andreas Breit ◽  
Claudia Hess ◽  
Hagar Salman-Livny ◽  
David Ben-Menahem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Hormone Receptor ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Inverse Agonist ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Receptor ◽  
Receptor Activity ◽  
Activation Mechanism ◽  
Glycoprotein Hormone

Glycoprotein hormone receptors such as the lutropin/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHR) are characterized by a large N-terminal ectodomain (ECD), which is responsible for hormone–receptor interactions. For the closely related TSH receptor (TSHR), it has been proposed that the ECD also serves as a tethered inverse agonist. However, the exact role of the LHR–ECD for receptor activation remains elusive. Functional analysis of N-terminally truncated LHR mutants expressed in COS-7 cells revealed that the LHR–ECD does not act as an inverse agonist but facilitates active LHR conformations. This notion is supported by two observations: first, removal of the ECD tended to decrease basal LHR activity and secondly, mutationally induced constitutive receptor activity was diminished for most activating mutations in LHR lacking the ECD. In addition, swapping of the LHR–ECD for the ECD of the closely related TSHR was not sufficient to restore constitutive receptor activity induced by naturally occurring activating heptahelical LHR mutations. Thus, the ECD stabilizes an activation-competent conformation of the heptahelical region. While the full-length LHR fused to the cognate agonist, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), showed increased basal activity, fusion proteins between hCG and N-terminally truncated LHR did not yield constitutive receptor activity suggesting an important role of the ECD also for agonist-dependent LHR activity. Our experiments strengthen the concept of a major contribution of the LHR–ECD in the activation mechanism apart from hormone binding and provide evidence for a cooperative model with structural and functional interactions of the ECD and the transmembrane domain.

Molecular Forms of Human Protein C: Comparison and Distribution in Human Adult Plasma

1989 ◽  
Vol 62 (03) ◽  
pp. 902-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian S Greffe ◽  
Marilyn J Manco-Johnson ◽  
Richard A Marlar
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Beta Form ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Adult Plasma ◽  
The Difference

SummaryProtein C (PC) is a vitamin K-dependent protein which functions as both an anticoagulant and profibrinolytic. It is synthesized as a single chain protein (SC-PC) and post-transla-tionally modified into a two chain form (2C-PC). Two chain PC consists of a light chain (LC) and a heavy chain (HC). The present study was undertaken to determine the composition of the molecular forms of PC in plasma. PC was immunoprecipitated, subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The blots were scanned by densitometry to determine the distribution of the various forms. The percentage of SC-PC and 2C-PC was found to be 10% and 90% respectively. This is in agreement with previous work. SC-PC and the heavy chain of 2C-PC consisted of three molecular forms (“alpha”, “beta”, and “gamma”). The “alpha” form of HC is the standard 2C form with a MW of 40 Kd. The “beta” form of HC has also been described and has MW which is 4 Kd less than the “alpha” form. The “gamma” species of the SC and 2C-PC has not been previously described. However, its 3 Kd difference from the “beta” form could be due to modification of the “beta” species or to a separate modification of the alpha-HC. The LC of PC was shown to exist in two forms (termed form 1 and form 2). The difference between these two forms is unknown. The molecular forms of PC are most likely due to a post-translational modification (either loss of a carbohydrate or a peptide) rather than from plasma derived degradation.

scholarly journals Subcellular localization and purification of a p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase from cultured carrot cells and characterization of the corresponding cDNA

1997 ◽  
Vol 325 (3) ◽  
pp. 761-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle GARCIA ◽  
Matthew RODGERS ◽  
Catherine LENNE ◽  
Anne ROLLAND ◽  
Alain SAILLAND ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleotide Sequence ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Peptide Sequence ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Carrot Cells ◽  
Expression Studies ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Molecular Masses ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Dioxygenase Activity

p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase catalyses the transformation of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate into homogentisate. In plants this enzyme has a crucial role because homogentisate is the aromatic precursor of all prenylquinones. Furthermore this enzyme was recently identified as the molecular target for new families of potent herbicides. In this study we examine precisely the localization of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase activity within carrot cells. Our results provide evidence that, in cultured carrot cells, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase is associated with the cytosol. Purification and SDS/PAGE analysis of this enzyme revealed that its activity is associated with a polypeptide of 45–46 kDa. This protein specifically cross-reacts with an antiserum raised against the p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Gel-filtration chromatography indicates that the enzyme behaves as a homodimer. We also report the isolation and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding a carrot p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. The nucleotide sequence (1684 bp) encodes a protein of 442 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 48094 Da and shows specific C-terminal regions of similarity with other p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases. This cDNA encodes a functional p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, as evidenced by expression studies with transformed Escherichia coli cells. Comparison of the N-terminal sequence of the 45–46 kDa polypeptide purified from carrot cells with the deduced peptide sequence of the cDNA confirms that this polypeptide supports p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase activity. Immunodetection studies of the native enzyme in carrot cellular extracts reveal that N-terminal proteolysis occurs during the process of purification. This proteolysis explains the difference in molecular masses between the purified protein and the deduced polypeptide.

Difference Spectrophotometric Estimation of Santonin

1984 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 939-941
Author(s):  
Abdel-Azim M Habib ◽  
Abdalla A Omar ◽  
Taha M Sarg
Keyword(s):  
Difference Spectrum ◽  
Crude Drug ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Santonin gives a characteristic alkaline vs acidic difference spectrum. This was used for its estimation in pharmaceuticals and in the crude drug. Santonin was first extracted and purified through a specific partition procedure; then the difference absorbance was measured either at the maximum, 285 nm, or the minimum, 242 nm. The percentage of santonin can be calculated either by reference to the difference absorbance of a reference santonin sample, treated similarly, or by making use of the determined absorptivity. Measurement at the maximum is advisable, especially when the crude drug is assayed, because natural contaminants may interfere with the difference absorbance at the minimum.

scholarly journals Translational Fusion of Two β-Subunits of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Results in Production of a Novel Antagonist of the Hormone

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (8) ◽  
pp. 3977-3986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satarupa Roy ◽  
Sunita Setlur ◽  
Rupali A. Gadkari ◽  
H. N. Krishnamurthy ◽  
Rajan R. Dighe
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Chain Molecule ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Β Subunit ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Lh Receptor

The strategy of translationally fusing the α- and β-subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into a single-chain molecule has been used to produce novel analogs of hCG. Previously we reported expression of a biologically active single-chain analog hCGαβ expressed using Pichia expression system. Using the same expression system, another analog, in which the α-subunit was replaced with the second β-subunit, was expressed (hCGββ) and purified. hCGββ could bind to LH receptor with an affinity three times lower than that of hCG but failed to elicit any response. However, it could inhibit response to the hormone in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, it inhibited response to hCG in vivo indicating the antagonistic nature of the analog. However, it was unable to inhibit human FSH binding or response to human FSH, indicating the specificity of the effect. Characterization of hCGαβ and hCGββ using immunological tools showed alterations in the conformation of some of the epitopes, whereas others were unaltered. Unlike hCG, hCGββ interacts with two LH receptor molecules. These studies demonstrate that the presence of the second β-subunit in the single-chain molecule generated a structure that can be recognized by the receptor. However, due to the absence of α-subunit, the molecule is unable to elicit response. The strategy of fusing two β-subunits of glycoprotein hormones can be used to produce antagonists of these hormones.

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