Prognostic value of p53 genetic changes in colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore whether there is a linkage between different mutations in the p53 gene in primary colorectal cancer and the risk of death from colorectal cancer in a large group of patients with long follow-up. We also compared a complementary DNA-based sequencing method and an immunohistochemical (IHC) method for detecting p53 protein overexpression in colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The entire coding region of the p53 gene was sequenced in 191 frozen tumor samples collected from January 1988 to November 1992. RNA was extracted and synthesized to cDNA. p53 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, and the DO-7 monoclonal antibody was used in the IHC assessments. RESULTS: Mutations were detected in 99 samples (52%) from 189 patients. There was a significant relationship between the p53 mutational status and the cancer-specific survival time, with shorter survival time for patients who had p53 mutations than for those who did not (P = .01, log-rank test). Mutations outside the evolutionarily conserved regions were associated with the worst prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of p53 mutations was an independent prognostic factor (relative hazard, 1.7, P = .03). There was no significant relationship between overexpression of p53 protein, as determined by IHC analysis, and cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Mutational analyses of the p53 gene, using cDNA sequencing in colorectal cancer, provide useful prognostic information. In addition, cDNA sequencing gives better prognostic information than IHC assessment of p53 protein overexpression.

Calmodulin binds to specific sequences in the cytoplasmic domain of C-CAM and down-regulates C-CAM self-association.

C-CAM is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin supergene family and is known to mediate calcium-independent homophilic cell-cell binding. Two major isoforms, C-CAM1 and C-CAM2, which differ in their cytoplasmic domains, have been identified. Previous investigations have demonstrated that both cytoplasmic domains can bind calmodulin in a calcium-dependent reaction. In this investigation, peptides corresponding to the cytoplasmic domains of C-CAM were synthesized on cellulose membranes and used to map the binding sites for 125I-labeled calmodulin. Both C-CAM1 and C-CAM2 had one strong calmodulin-binding site in the membrane-proximal region. Those binding regions were conserved in C-CAM from rat, mouse, and man. In addition, C-CAM1 from rat and mouse contained a weaker binding site in the distal region of the cytoplasmic domain. Biosensor experiments were performed to determine rate and equilibrium constants of the C-CAM/calmodulin interaction. An association rate constants of 3.3 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 and two dissociation rate constants of 2.2 x 10(-2) and 3.1 x 10(-5) s-1 were determined. These correspond to equilibrium dissociation constants of 6.7 x 10(-8) and 9.4 x 10(-11) M, respectively. In dot-blot binding experiments, it was found that binding of calmodulin causes a down-regulation of the homophilic self-association of C-CAM. This suggests that calmodulin can regulate the functional activity of C-CAM.

Detection and characterization of oligosaccharides in column effluents using surface plasmon resonance.

Surface plasmon resonance was used to detect oligosaccharides derived from glycoproteins. No sample derivatization or labeling is required for this technique. Sensor surfaces were prepared by immobilizing lectins. In the case of Sambucus nigra agglutinin reactive to terminal sialic acid or Ricinus communis agglutinin preferring terminal beta-linked galactose, femtomole levels of oligosaccharides could be detected. Using this affinity detector system, oligosaccharides and glycopeptides from a chromatographic separation on a gel filtration column were detected either by on-line monitoring or by analyzing the fractions individually.

C-CAM (Cell-CAM 105) is a calmodulin binding protein.

C-CAM (Cell-CAM 105) is a transmembrane cell adhesion molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It mediates intercellular adhesion of rat hepatocytes and occurs in various isoforms in several epithelia, vessel endothelia and leukocytes. We now report that purified liver C-CAM interacts specifically with calmodulin. Binding was observed both when 125I-labeled C-CAM was used in a dot-blot assay and when 125I-labeled calmodulin was used in a gel overlay assay. Experiments with protease-generated peptides indicated that calmodulin bound to the cytoplasmic domain of C-CAM. Analyses of whole liver membranes demonstrated that C-CAM is one of five major proteins that bind calmodulin in a calcium-dependent manner.

C-CAM (cell-CAM 105) is an adhesive cell surface glycoprotein with homophilic binding properties.

C-CAM (Cell-CAM 105) is a cell surface glycoprotein that is involved in cell-cell adhesion of rat hepatocytes in vitro. To elucidate the adhesion mechanism the binding properties of purified C-CAM were investigated. Using proteins immobilized on nitrocellulose it was found that radiolabeled C-CAM bound to C-CAM but not to a variety of other proteins. Partitioning in Triton X-114 showed that C-CAM has hydrophobic properties. In accordance with this, C-CAM was effectively incorporated into phosphatidylcholine liposomes by dialysis from octylglucoside-containing solutions. The C-CAM-containing liposomes bound specifically to isolated hepatocytes. This binding was blocked by Fab fragments of anti-C-CAM antibodies. Furthermore, preincubation of hepatocytes with anti-C-CAM antibodies followed by washing of the cells blocked binding of C-CAM-containing liposomes. At increasing C-CAM contents in the reconstituted liposomes a marked self-aggregation of the liposomes occurred. This aggregation was blocked by Fab fragments of anti-C-CAM antibodies and by alkaline pH. After neutralization a rapid reaggregation occurred. Neither C-CAM binding to C-CAM immobilized on nitrocellulose nor C-CAM-liposome aggregation required calcium ions. Liposomes reconstituted with C-CAM-depleted membrane glycoproteins did not self-aggregate or bind to hepatocytes. Thus, it is concluded that C-CAM can bind specifically to C-CAM in a homophilic binding reaction that does not require calcium. Accordingly, C-CAM has the potential of directly mediating cell-cell adhesion via C-CAM-C-CAM binding between adjacent cells.

Cell-surface location and molecular properties of cell-CAM 105 in intestinal epithelial cells.

Cell-CAM 105 is involved in intercellular adhesion of isolated rat hepatocytes in vitro. In addition to liver, cell-CAM 105 occurs in several different epithelia, in platelets, and in granulocytes. In this paper we present a detailed analysis of cell-CAM 105 in the small intestinal mucosa. Isolated rat intestinal epithelial cells and brush-borders were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence. A strong fluorescence occurred in the brush-border region and a much weaker staining was seen in the lateral cell surfaces. The brush-border staining was heterogeneous and concentrated to the periphery where brush-border microvilli from adjacent cells are in contact with each other. It is suggested that cell-CAM 105 might mediate binding between the outer surfaces of neighboring microvilli. Immunoblotting and electrophoretic analyses of the biochemical properties of intestinal cell-CAM 105 demonstrated significant differences compared with cell-CAM 105 isolated from liver. Intestinal cell-CAM 105 was smaller than liver cell-CAM 105 under reducing conditions, whereas it was larger than liver cell-CAM 105 under non-reducing conditions. Chemical reduction decreased the size of intestinal cell-CAM 105, but increased the size of liver cell-CAM 105. Our interpretation of these data is that intestinal cell-CAM 105 occurs as a part of a macromolecular complex. This interpretation was supported by electrophoretic analyses of intestinal cell-CAM 105 isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography on anti-cell-CAM antibodies. In addition to cell-CAM 105, this material contained several other proteins of lower molecular weight than cell-CAM 105. These data suggest that intestinal cell-CAM 105 participates in cell-surface interactions that may regulate the structure and function of the apical brush-border regions of the intestinal epithelial cells.

Vimentin filaments are assembled from a soluble precursor in avian erythroid cells.

The synthesis and assembly of vimentin was studied in erythroid cells from 10-d-old chicken embryos. After various periods of [35S]methionine incorporation, cells were lysed in a Triton X-100-containing buffer and separated into a soluble and an insoluble (cytoskeletal) fraction. Analysis of these two fractions by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis shows that vimentin is almost exclusively present in the cytoskeletal fraction and that newly synthesized vimentin is rapidly incorporated into this fraction. However, after a short pulse-labeling period, a prominent labeled protein at the position of vimentin is present in the soluble fraction. By immunoautoradiography and immunoprecipitations with vimentin antibodies, this protein was identified as vimentin. The vimentin in the soluble fraction is not sedimented by high speed centrifugation, suggesting that it does not consist of short filaments. After different pulse-labeling periods, assembly of newly synthesized vimentin in the cytoskeletal fraction increases linearly, while the radioactivity in the soluble vimentin remains constant. During a 2-h pulse-chase period, the vimentin in the soluble fraction is chased into the cytoskeletal fraction, with a half-life of 7 min. These results suggest that in chicken embryo erythroid cells newly synthesized vimentin is rapidly assembled into filaments from a soluble precursor.

Synthesis of spectrin in avian erythroid cells: association of nascent polypeptide chains with the cytoskeleton.

The site of synthesis of spectrin was investigated in erythroid cells from 10-day chicken embryos. After various periods of [35S]methionine incorporation the cells were lysed in a Triton X-100 (TX-100)-containing buffer and were separated into a TX-100-soluble and -insoluble (cytoskeletal) fraction. Analysis of these two fractions by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis after a short pulse-labeling period reveals that alpha-spectrin nascent polypeptides are present predominantly in the TX-100-insoluble fraction. These polypeptides can be immunoprecipitated with alpha-spectrin antisera and the [35S]methionine incorporated into them during a short pulse can be chased into mature alpha-spectrin molecules. The alpha-spectrin nascent polypeptide chains are released quantitatively from the TX-100 cytoskeleton by treatment of lysed cells with puromycin, suggesting that they themselves are not associated with the cytoskeleton. A small fraction of the newly synthesized mature alpha-spectrin molecules is rapidly incorporated into the cytoskeleton, as shown by the fact that they are not released by the puromycin treatment; the rest are recovered in the soluble fraction. These results suggest that alpha-spectrin is synthesized in association with the cytoskeleton during chicken erythropoiesis and assembles onto the membrane-cytoskeleton posttranslationally.

Synthesis and assembly of spectrin during avian erythropoiesis: stoichiometric assembly but unequal synthesis of alpha and beta spectrin.

The synthesis and assembly of spectrin was investigated in erythroid cells during chicken embryo development. Immunoprecipitation of Triton X-100-soluble and -insoluble cytoskeletal fractions with alpha- and beta-spectrin antisera show that, at steady state, alpha and beta spectrin are present in stoichiometric amounts, and exclusively, in the cytoskeleton. However, pulse labeling of cells and in vitro translation of total erythroid cell RNA reveal that alpha spectrin is synthesized in a two to three fold excess over beta spectrin. Pulse-chase experiments show that newly synthesized alpha and beta spectrin are present in both the cytoskeletal and soluble fractions, and that stoichiometric amounts are stably assembled in the cytoskeleton. On the other hand, there is a severalfold excess of alpha relative to beta spectrin in the soluble fraction, both of which turn over with a half-life of 50 min. In cells from 4 day old embryos, more than 80% of the newly synthesized beta spectrin, but only 10% of the alpha spectrin, are present in the cytoskeleton. Thus, early in development, the association of alpha and beta spectrin with the membrane-cytoskeleton may be rate-limited by the amount of beta spectrin synthesized. Later on in erythroid development, progressively lesser proportions of newly synthesized beta spectrin are present in the cytoskeleton, suggesting that during development, the rate of association of beta spectrin with the membrane-cytoskeleton becomes limited by some other membrane-cytoskeletal component.

On the dynamics of the microfilament system in HeLa cells.

We measured the pools of unpolymerized and filamentous actin in homogenates of HeLa cells made in several different lysis buffers, as well as after treatment of cells with a variety of chemicals or trypsin, and after adenovirus (type 2) infection. This was possible when a series of factors concerning the basic culture conditions were kept constant: e.g., serum type used, serum batch, cell density, time after subcultivation of cells, and buffering substance in the medium. Homogenates from untreated cells usually contain 35-45 percent of the total actin in an unpolymerized form. With some batches of cells this number can be as high as 50 percent. In sparse cultures (3 x 10(4) cell/cm(2)), HeLa cells contain approximately 10 pg actin/cell, while the corresponding number is only 5 pg in dense cultures (3 x 10(5) cells/cm(2)). Treatment of cells with cytochalasin B increases the pool of unpolymerized actin by approximately 30-40 percent, while colchicine decreases the fraction of unpolymerized actin by 20 percent. The oxidant diamide increases the filamentous actin pool 25-50 percent. Glucose, sodium azide, dinitrophenol, serum starvation, or thymidine treatment does not affect the distribution between unpolymerized and filamentous actin to any significant extent. Trypsin and EDTA induced rounding up of cells but did not change the actin distribution. The distribution of actin between G- and F-forms was unchanged after adenovirus infection. These results show that significant changes in the actin pools can be induced in nucleated cells. However, several treatments which alter the morphology and motility of cells are not accompanied by an alteration in the G-/F-actin ratio.

alpha-Actinin promotes polymerization of actin from profilactin.

The effect of alpha-actinin on profilactin has been analyzed. The results show that addition of submolar ratios of alpha-actinin to a profilactin sample leads to a dissociation by the profilin-actin complex and polymerization of actin. The newly formed filaments are cross-linked by alpha-actinin.

Isolation and characterization of profilactin and profilin from calf thymus and brain.

1. Profilactin and profilin have been purified from calf thymus and calf brain. Thymus profilactin could be crystallized with a similar technique as described earlier for the spleen protein. 2. Preparations of profilactin from the three calf tissues spleen, thymus and brain contain a mixture of beta actin and gamma actin. The ratio beta/gamma differs between the tissues, but is constant throughout the purification steps. 3. The properties of profilin isolated from three sources (spleen, thymus and brain) indicate that it is a highly conserved protein.

Reorganization of actin in platelets stimulated by thrombin as measured by the DNase I inhibition assay.

The effect of thrombin stimulation on actin organization in human platelets has been analyzed by using the DNase I inhibition assay, which is selective for unpolymerized and filamentous actin. The results provide biochemical evidence for the suggestion that stimulation leads to rapid polymerization of actin. The measurements also reveal changes in the polymerization state of actin occurring after cell lysis. These changes are influenced by the concentration of free calcium in the extracts.

Selective assay of monomeric and filamentous actin in cell extracts, using inhibition of deoxyribonuclease I.

A simple and selective assay for monomeric and filamentous actin is presented, based on the inhibition of DNAase I by actin. In mixtures of monomeric and filamentous actin, only the monomeric form is measured as DNAase inhibitor. The total amount of actin in a sample can be determined after depolymerization of F actin with guanidine hydrochloride. The assay is rapid enough to detect changes in the polymerization state of actin in vitro over time intervals as short as 3 min. Data characterizing unpolymerized and filamentous actin pools in extracts of human platelets, lymphocytes and HeLa cells are presented.