Cloning, sequencing, and expression of a cDNA encoding rat liver mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase II.

We report the isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA encoding rat liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II). Beginning with the purified protein CNBr fragments were generated and sequenced. Corresponding oligonucleotides were used to screen a rat liver cDNA library constructed in the plasmid cloning vector, pcDV. The clone ultimately obtained consisted of a 62 nucleotide 5'-untranslated region, a single open reading frame of 1,974 bases predicting a protein of 658 amino acids (Mr = 74,119), and a 3'-untranslated segment of 260 nucleotides followed by the poly (A) tail. The identity of the cDNA was confirmed by the findings that (a) the open reading frame encoded all three peptides found in the original protein; (b) a fourth peptide synthesized from a portion of the deduced amino acid sequence and used to immunize a rabbit resulted in the generation of an antibody that recognized pure CPT II on a Western blot; (c) in vitro transcription and translation of the cDNA (ligated into pBlue-script KS (+] generated a protein that was specifically immunoprecipitated by anti-CPT II antibody and having a Mr slightly greater than that of mature CPT II; (d) transfection of COS cells with the cDNA subcloned into the expression vector, pCMV4, resulted in a 6-fold induction of mitochondrial CPT II catalytic activity. It seems likely that the de novo synthesized enzyme gains entry into the mitochondrion via a targeting peptide that is subsequently cleaved. The mature protein probably associates (relatively loosely) with the inner membrane through a limited number of membrane spanning domains. The predicted amino acid sequence of CPT II shows strong identity with those of two other acyltransferases, namely, rat liver peroxisomal carnitine octanoyltransferase and porcine choline acetyltransferase.

Inter-tissue and inter-species characteristics of the mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase enzyme system.

Properties of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.21) (CPT) enzyme system were compared in isolated mitochondria from a range of tissues in rodents, monkey, and man. Common features were as follows: (a) while membrane-bound, CPT I, but not CPT II, was inhibited reversibly by malonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and irreversibly by CoA esters of certain oxirane carboxylic acids; (b) the detergent, Tween-20, readily solubilized CPT II in active form while leaving CPT I membrane associated and catalytically functional; (c) octyl glucoside and Triton X-100 released active CPT II but caused essentially complete loss of CPT I activity. Use of [3H]tetradecylglycidyl-CoA, a covalent ligand for CPT I, yielded estimates of the enzyme's monomeric molecular size: approximately 86 kDa in non-hepatic tissues and approximately 90-94 kDa in liver, depending upon species. A polyclonal antibody to purified rat liver CPT II recognized a single protein in each tissue; its apparent molecular mass was approximately 70 kDa in all rat tissues and approximately 68 kDa in all mouse tissues as well as monkey and human liver. On Northern blot analysis a rat liver CPT II cDNA probe detected a single approximately 2.5-kilobase mRNA in all rat and mouse tissues examined. The following points are emphasized. First, CPT I and II are different proteins. Second, within a species CPT II, but not CPT I, is probably conserved across tissue lines. Third, slight variations in size of both enzymes were found in different species, although, at least in the case of CPT II, significant amino acid identity exists among the various isoforms. Fourth, CPT I, unlike CPT II, requires membrane integrity for catalytic function. Finally, the strategic use of detergents provides a simple means of discriminating between the two enzyme activities.

The endodermal origin of the endocrine cells of an adenocarcinoma of the colon of the rat.

A transplantable adenocarcinoma of the colon of the rat, which contained mucous, columnar, endocrine, and undifferentiated carcinoma cells, were cloned to see if each of the differentiated cell lineages had a common cell or origin. Four clonal lines were produced by the transplantation of single cells using micropipettes. Each tumor contained all four cell lineages but in markedly differing proportions. A confirmatory experiment was performed using a lung colony cloning assay. Seven tumors were obtained; each had mucous, columnar, endocrine, and undifferentiated cells. It is concluded that the endocrine cells of the colon are derived by differentiation from endoderm. They are not of neural crest origin.

Information seeking vs information utilization in children's induction from incomplete pictures.

By removing small squares which completely covered simple silhouette pictures, 4-,6-,8-, and 10-yr.-old children gradually exposed information until they were able to induce, or identify, the whole picture. This method allowed differentiation between the development of information-seeking behavior (accuracy of removing only those squares which exposed the silhouette) and utilization of information (accuracy of identifying partially exposed silhouettes). Results indicated a monotonic development in information seeking but a plateau between ages 6 and 8 yr. in utilization of information.