Biosynthesis, primary structure and molecular cloning of snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) lectin.

Poly(A)-rich RNA isolated from ripening ovaries of snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) yielded a single 17-kDa lectin polypeptide upon translation in a wheat-germ cell-free system. This lectin was purified by affinity chromatography. Translation of the same RNA in Xenopus leavis oocytes revealed a lectin polypeptide which was about 2 kDa smaller than the in vitro synthesized precursor, suggesting that the oocyte system had removed a 2-kDa signal peptide. A second post-translational processing step was likely to be involved since both the in vivo precursor and the Xenopus translation products were about 2 kDa larger than the mature lectin polypeptide. This hypothesis was confirmed by the structural analysis of the amino acid sequence of the mature protein and the cloned mRNA. Edman degradation and carboxypeptidase Y digestion of the mature protein, and structural analysis of the peptides obtained after chemical cleavage and modification, allowed determination of the complete 105 amino acid sequence of the snowdrop lectin polypeptide. Comparison of this sequence with the deduced amino acid sequence of a lectin cDNA clone revealed that besides the mature lectin polypeptide, the lectin mRNA also encoded a 23 amino acid signal-sequence and a C-terminal extension of 29 amino acids, which confirms the results from in vitro translation experiments.

Production and identification of natural monocyte chemotactic protein from virally infected murine fibroblasts. Relationship with the product of the mouse competence (JE) gene.

Primary cultures of mouse embryonic fibroblasts and confluent monolayers of mouse fibroblastoid cells (L929) were found to secrete a chemotactic factor specific for monocytes. It biological activity was deduced from both the migration distance under agarose and the number of migrated monocytes in the micropore filter method. The monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP) was inducible in these cells by double-stranded RNA and by infection with virus. In embryonic fibroblasts MCP was also produced in response to the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Under all conditions for induction of MCP tested no production of chemotactic activity for granulocytes could be detected. MCP activity from virally infected L929 cells was concentrated and purified by sequential adsorption to controlled pore glass, heparin-Sepharose chromatography, ion-exchange FPLC and reversed-phase HPLC. Pure MCP was found to occur mainly as a 7-8-kDa protein. Although the mature protein possessed a blocked NH2-terminus, it was identified by enzymatic cleavage and sequence analysis of an internal fragment. The sequence obtained corresponded to a part of the cDNA-derived protein sequence of the murine 'competence' (JE) gene, inducible in fibroblasts by cytokines and virus. In all probability the 7-8-kDa MCP form represents the natural product of the mouse gene JE. Murine MCP can thus be classified in the novel family of small inducible inflammatory proteins.

Molecular cloning of a phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan from human lung fibroblasts.

Two mAbs raised against the 64-kD core protein of a membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan from human lung fibroblasts also recognize a nonhydrophobic proteoglycan which accumulates in the culture medium of the cells. Pulse-chase studies suggest that the hydrophobic cell-associated forms act as precursors for the nonhydrophobic medium-released species. The core proteins of the medium-released proteoglycans are slightly smaller than those of the hydrophobic cell-associated species, but the NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of both forms are identical. The characterization of human lung fibroblast cDNAs that encode the message for these core proteins and the effect of bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C suggest that the hydrophobic proteoglycan is membrane-anchored through a phospholipid tail. These data identify a novel membrane proteoglycan in human lung fibroblasts and imply that the shedding of this proteoglycan may be related to the presence of the phospholipid anchor.

The neutrophil-activating proteins interleukin 8 and beta-thromboglobulin: in vitro and in vivo comparison of NH2-terminally processed forms.

Isolation of the human neutrophil activating protein (NAP) interleukin 8 (IL8) from leukocytes has revealed that it is structurally related to beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) from platelets. Both these proteins occur as natural mixtures of multiple forms, differing from each other by unequal truncation at the NH2 terminus. In this study we have compared IL8 and beta TG forms for in vitro and in vivo neutrophil activation. In contrast to IL8, none of the beta TG forms were found to exert granulocyte chemotactic activity in vitro, as measured in the agarose assay. However, fractions rich in the most extensively processed forms of beta TG (e.g. NAP-2) as well as pure NAP-2 did induce lactoferrin release from granulocytes, whereas fractions containing only the longer forms (e.g. connective tissue-activating peptide III) were inactive. In order to observe this in vitro effect, about 10-fold less IL8 (10 nM) than NAP-2 was required. In the presence of a vasodilator substance low doses (2-20 pmol) of IL8 and the shorter forms of beta TG caused granulocyte accumulation and plasma leakage in rabbit skin whereas the longer forms of beta TG again failed to do so. Finally, granulocytosis induction following i.v. injection was found to occur with NAP-2. At the maximal dose tested (250 pmol), this in vivo effect of NAP-2 was less pronounced than that of IL8. In the case of IL8, NH2-terminal processing did not seem to affect granulocyte stimulatory activity. It should be noted, however, that the extent of processing of IL8 is less than that occurring with beta TG. It can be concluded that the platelet factor beta TG, structurally related to the monokine IL8, can also play a role in neutrophil activation during inflammatory reactions.

Further biological and molecular characterization of actinophage VWB.

The development cycle of the temperate actinophage VWB was investigated. Adsorption of most phage particles occurred within 30 min and the adsorption constant was 0.6 x 10(-8) ml min-1. The latent and rise periods were 140 and 100 min, respectively, and the burst size was estimated to be 130-250 p.f.u. Although phage VWB could infect only Streptomyces venezuelae ETH 14630 (ATCC 40755), of six different S. venezuelae strains tested, phage DNA could be introduced by transfection into most non-infectible strains. Upon transfection, phage DNA was propagated in these non-infectible strains and phage particles were released. In addition, the transfected strains could be lysogenized. By comparison of restriction fragments of VWB DNA, either free or integrated in the chromosomal DNA of the S. venezuelae ETH 14630 lysogen, the attachment site was localized. PAGE of the phage proteins revealed at least 17 different proteins with three major bands estimated as 16.5, 27.2 and 43 kDa in size. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of these supposed major head and tail proteins was determined. The corresponding DNA sequences on the phage genome were localized using oligonucleotides synthesized on the basis of the N-terminal amino acid sequences. The genes coding for the major structural proteins were shown to be clustered, as has been observed for other bacteriophages.

Identification of the monocyte chemotactic protein from human osteosarcoma cells and monocytes: detection of a novel N-terminally processed form.

The chemotactic activity for monocytes in culture supernatants from double-stranded RNA-stimulated human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells and from LPS-stimulated human monocytes was purified to homogeneity and characterized by amino acid sequence analysis. The chemotactic protein derived from the fibroblastoid osteosarcoma cells had a blocked N-terminus but sequencing of tryptic fragments showed that it was identical with a recently identified monocyte chemoattractant designated MCP-1 or MCAF isolated from glioma or myelomonocytic cells, respectively. Preparations of monocyte -derived chemotactic activity appeared to contain not only the blocked protein, but also a novel N-terminally processed form of this molecule, lacking 5 amino acid residues.

Purification and N-terminal sequencing of style glycoproteins associated with self-incompatibility in Petunia hybrida.

We report isolation and N-terminal amino acid sequencing of three style glycoproteins, which segregate with three S (self-incompatibility) alleles of Petunia hybrida. The S-glycoproteins were expressed mainly in the upper part of the pistil and showed an increasing concentration during flower development. The glycoproteins were purified by a combination of ConA-Sepharose and cation exchange fast protein liquid chromatography. The amount of S-glycoproteins recovered from style extracts varied from 0.5 to 1.6 micrograms per style, which was 40-60% of the amount recovered by a simplified analytical method. N-terminal amino acid sequences of S1-, S2- and S3-glycoprotein showed homology within the fifteen amino terminal residues. These amino acid sequences were compared with the previously published sequences of S-glycoproteins from Nicotiana alata and Lycopersicon peruvianum.

Identification by sequence analysis of chemotactic factors for monocytes produced by normal and transformed cells stimulated with virus, double-stranded RNA or cytokine.

A monocyte chemotactic activity was found to be released by various types of cultured human cells after appropriate stimulation: normal diploid fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells or monocytes isolated therefrom, and a number of tumor cell lines, including osteosarcoma (MG-63) and hepatoma (Malavu) but not melanoma (Bowes) cells. Cultures of diploid human fibroblasts and these tumor cells stimulated with interleukin (IL) 1 or double-stranded RNA [poly(rI).poly(rC)], or infected with viruses (measles or rubella viruses) were found to produce chemotactic activity for both monocytes and granulocytes. Media collected from fibroblasts treated with E. coli or IL 6 did not contain such activity. Granulocyte and monocyte chemotactic activities were serologically distinct, and could be separated by successive chromatographical procedures. While the granulocyte chemotactic activity of both fibroblasts and MG-63 cells had previously been identified as granulocyte chemotactic protein/IL 8, the monocyte chemotactic activity from MG-63 cells was identified by amino acid sequence analysis as a different protein recently described to be released by human glioma and myelomonocytic cell lines. In view of the similarity in their chromatographical behavior, monocyte chemotactic activities from fibroblasts, MG-63 cells and fresh monocytes can probably be assigned to identical molecules. Cultures of unfractionated peripheral blood cells, however, were found to release an additional monocyte chemotactic protein, identifiable by amino acid sequence analysis as platelet factor 4.

The chemotactic activity for granulocytes produced by virally infected fibroblasts is identical to monocyte-derived interleukin 8.

So far, the role of fibroblasts in inflammatory processes has been underestimated. We have previously shown that stimulation of fibroblasts with viruses or bacteria results in a simultaneous production of several cytokines, including interferon-beta, interleukin (IL) 6 and colony-stimulating factors. We here report that virally infected fibroblasts produce also a chemotactic factor for granulocytes. The activity is inducible not only by measles virus but also by IL 1 beta and the double-stranded RNA poly(rI).poly(rC). This factor, when purified to homogeneity, occurs as a 6-7-kDa protein doublet upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The pure protein is serologically related to a fully characterized granulocyte chemotactic peptide (GCP) from monocytes, designated IL8. Furthermore, the chemotactic factor from fibroblasts has an NH2-terminal sequence identical to that of GCP/IL8, small differences in NH2-terminal processing being observed. Finally, in addition to diploid fibroblasts, the osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line is also a producer of GCP/IL8. It can thus be concluded that GCP/IL8 can be produced by several cell types in response to infection and that fibroblasts can contribute to chemotaxis in inflammation.

Purification of granulocyte chemotactic peptide/interleukin-8 reveals N-terminal sequence heterogeneity similar to that of beta-thromboglobulin.

Stimulated human peripheral blood leukocytes produce a chemotactic factor for granulocytes (granulocyte chemotactic peptide/interleukin-8; GCP/IL-8), which is structurally related to platelet-derived beta-thromboglobulin. Analytically pure CGP/IL-8 and beta-thromboglobulin could be obtained after three purification steps, comprising adsorption to silicic acid, heparin-Sepharose chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. Although GCP/IL-8 and beta-thromboglobulin had a similar affinity for heparin, they could be separated on a cation-exchange column. Both molecules were heterogeneous in that 6-7-kDa protein doublets were detected upon SDS/PAGE. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis revealed the presence of six immunologically related but differently truncated polypeptides of beta-thromboglobulin, of which only two corresponded to previously described forms. Similarly, apart from a major polypeptide, five minor species of GCP/IL-8 were detected that also differed by N-terminal truncation. The most processed forms of beta-thromboglobulin and GCP/IL-8 were found to have their N-terminus in that region of the primary structure where a significant similarity between the two molecules starts. GCP/IL-8 was found to be chemotactic for granulocytes with a specific activity of 10(5) units/mg, whereas none of the beta-thromboglobulin species possessed detectable chemotactic activity.

Interferon-gamma is cytotoxic for normal mouse fibroblasts: enhancement by tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are cytotoxic for certain tumor cells but have a proliferative effect on normal cells. Here we show that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) can be cytotoxic for normal cells, in particular mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The cytotoxicity effect is observed with immuno-purified recombinant mouse IFN-gamma (MuIFN-gamma) at concentrations of 1,000 I.U./ml and can be neutralized by anti-MuIFN-gamma monoclonal antibodies. The effect appears 48 h after initial contact with IFN-gamma and is not influenced by infection of the target cells with mengovirus. Although TNF and IL-1 are not toxic for mouse fibroblasts, they can strongly enhance the IFN-gamma-induced cytotoxicity. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) neither are cytotoxic themselves nor have any influence on the IFN-gamma-induced cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of IFN-gamma, in contrast to that of TNF is inhibited by actinomycin or cycloheximide. These data suggest that the cytotoxic effect of IFN-gamma requires active cooperation of target cells and that the mechanism of action is different from that of the TNF-induced cytotoxicity.

Heterogeneity of human tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) from human melanoma cells (Bowes) was purified by immunosorbent chromatography on affinospecific polyclonal antibodies and gel filtration in the presence of KSCN. The immunosorbent eluate contained three major components of greater than 200, 85 and 65 kDa, respectively. The 65 kDa t-PA component could be separated by gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA44 in the presence of KSCN to a pure preparation yielding a unique N-terminal amino acid sequence. Immunoblot analysis, using affinospecific antibodies against t-PA, was a specific and sensitive method to identify different types of t-PA (I-IV), as well as t-PA-inhibitor complexes and degradation products in unstimulated melanoma cell culture fluids. Furthermore, the t-PA preparations, produced by phorbol ester-treated melanoma cells, were free of type IV and thus differed physiochemically from the constitutively produced t-PA preparations. The composition of t-PA from mammalian cell cultures is thus more complex than hitherto described.

Separation and comparison of two monokines with lymphocyte-activating factor activity: IL-1 beta and hybridoma growth factor (HGF). Identification of leukocyte-derived HGF as IL-6.

Supernatants of mitogen-stimulated human leukocytes contain two biologically related cytokines, IL-1 and hybridoma growth factor (HGF). IL-1 beta is a potent inducer of HGF in fibroblasts but has little stimulating effect on monocytes that spontaneously produce HGF. Leukocyte-derived HGF and IL-1 were separated by the use of affinity chromatography on specific antibodies and discriminating assay systems for both cytokines. They had different Mr upon gel filtration and SDS-PAGE. In contrast to IL-1 beta, HGF showed heterogeneity on a cation-exchange column. IL-1 beta and HGF were purified to homogeneity by a sequence of four and five purification steps, respectively. Leukocyte-derived HGF was characterized by analysis of its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. This revealed complete homology with fibroblast-derived HGF, 26-kDa protein, IFN-beta 2, and B cell stimulatory factor 2, molecules which have collectively been designated as IL-6. IL-1 beta exerted an antiviral and growth-promoting effect of fibroblasts, whereas HGF/IL-6 did not. Both IL-1 and IL-6 possessed lymphocyte-activating factor activity, which could be neutralized only by an anti-serum against the corresponding cytokine.

Structure and expression of mos sequences in spontaneous and Moloney murine sarcoma virus-induced yolk sac carcinomas in rats.

Facilitation of yolk-sac carcinoma (YSCa) development in fetectomized rats by the Moloney murine sarcoma virus/murine leukemia virus (Mo-MSV/MLV) complex was found to be closely associated with the presence of Mo-MSV sequences in the genomes of the YSCa cells. The virus-induced YSCas consisted of cells of mono- or oligoclonal origin which always contained in their genomes at least I randomly integrated Mo-MSV provirus. In YSCas which developed in the absence of virus, no rearrangement or amplification of c-mos could be detected. In addition, blot hybridization analysis of cellular RNA failed to detect mos-related RNA in cell lines derived from Mo-MSV-induced as well as from non-virally induced YSCas. The methylation level of c-mos DNA was low in all YSCa cell lines. In contrast, v-mos DNA in cell lines derived from Mo-MSV-induced YSCas was heavily methylated.

Human rhinovirus protein synthesis and polyprotein cleavage in infected HeLa-RH cells. Brief report.

Precursor and mature polypeptides of four human rhinovirus types (HRV 30, 63, 81 and 88) were compared. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the HRV-specific polypeptides differed significantly from each other, as well as from those of the HRV types studied previously (HRV 1A, 2 and 14). Our results provide further evidence for considerable heterogeneity within the rhinovirus genus.