Involvement of cytosolic prolyl endopeptidase in degradation of p40-phox splice variant protein in myeloid cells.

Our previous studies indicated that an alternatively spliced variant mRNA of p40-phox, a cytosolic component of NADPH oxidase, is expressed but its protein is hardly detected in myeloid cells such as promyelocytic HL-60 cells and neutrophils. Here, we have examined the stability of p40-phox variant protein in undifferentiated HL-60 cells. When in vitro-translated proteins were incubated with subcellular fractions of HL-60 cells, p40-phox variant protein but not native p40-phox was degraded by the cytosol and granule fractions. The degradation of variant protein by the granule fraction was observed using sonicated but not intact granules, suggesting that the variant protein is unlikely to be degraded by the granules in intact cells. To identify the enzyme(s) involved, we examined the effects of various enzyme inhibitors on the degradation of variant protein by the cytosol fraction. Degradation was completely inhibited by proline-specific serine protease (prolyl endopeptidase) inhibitors but not by proteasome, calpain, and metalloprotease inhibitors. Furthermore, the variant protein was degraded by a purified prolyl endopeptidase, and the degradation was protected by treating HL-60 cells with a cell-permeable inhibitor (S17092-1) for prolyl endopeptidase. These observations suggest that a cytosolic prolyl endopeptidase is involved in the degradation of p40-phox variant protein in myeloid cells.

Evaluation of the expression of NADPH oxidase components during maturation of HL-60 clone 15 cells to eosinophilic lineage.

OBJECTIVE: Superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase consists of the membrane-bound cytochrome b558 (gp91phox and p22Phox) and the cytosolic components (p67phox, p47phox, p40phox and rac). In this study, we evaluated the superoxide-generating activity and the expression of NADPH oxidase components during eosinophilic maturation using HL-60 clone 15 cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HL-60 clone 15 cells were matured to eosinophils by incubation with 0.5 mM butyrate for 7 days, and NADPH oxidase components were detected by Northern blot, Western blot analyses and immunocytochemical staining. Moreover, superoxide-generating activity was examined by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. RESULTS: Northern blot and Western blot analyses revealed that mRNAs and proteins for gp91phox, p67phox and p47phox were expressed after eosinophilic myelocyte stages, whereas mRNAs and proteins for p40phox and rac-2 were expressed from the promyelocyte stage. Interestingly, p22phox mRNA was expressed from the promyelocyte stage, but its protein was expressed after eosinophilic myelocyte stages. Consistent with the results of Western blotting, immunocytochemical staining of butyrate-induced HL-60 clone 15 cells indicated that gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox and p47phox were detected after eosinophilic myelocyte stages (eosinophilic myelocytes, eosinophilic metamyelocytes, eosinophilic band cells and eosinophilic-segmented cells), whereas p40phox and rac-2 were expressed from the promyelocyte stage. Moreover, almost the same results as those with butyrate-treated HL-60 clone 15 cells were obtained using human bone marrow cells by immunocytochemical staining. Furthermore, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay indicated that superoxide could be produced after eosinophilic myelocyte stages but not produced before the promyelocyte stage. CONCLUSIONS: Together these observations indicate that all the components for NADPH oxidase are expressed, and the superoxide-producing activity is obtained after myelocyte stages during eosinophilic maturation.

Evaluation of the effects of peptide antibiotics human beta-defensins-1/-2 and LL-37 on histamine release and prostaglandin D(2) production from mast cells.

Antimicrobial peptides, human beta-defensins (hBD-1/-2), and LL-37 (a peptide of human cathelicidin CAP18) are predominately expressed at epithelial tissues, where they participate in the innate host defense by killing invading microorganisms. In this study, to investigate the interactions between epithelial cell-derived antimicrobial peptides and mast cells, we evaluated the effects of hBD-1/-2 and LL-37 on mast cell functions using rat peritoneal mast cells. hBD-2 and LL-37 but not hBD-1 induced histamine release and intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization, and hBD-2 was more potent than LL-37. Interestingly, histamine release and intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization elicited by hBD-2 and LL-37 were markedly suppressed by BAPTA-AM (an intracellular Ca(2+) chelating agent), pertussis toxin and U-73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor). In addition, among the peptides examined, only hBD-2 significantly induced PGD(2) production, which was abolished by indomethacin (cyclooxygenase-1/-2 inhibitor) but not NS-398 (cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor), suggesting that hBD-2-induced PGD(2) production is mediated by cyclooxygenase-1. Likewise, the PGD(2) production was suppressed by pertussis toxin and U-73122. These observations suggest that hBD-2 and LL-37 stimulate mast cells to mobilize intracellular Ca(2+) and release histamine or generate PGD(2) in a G protein-phospholipase C-dependent manner. Thus, hBD-2 and LL-37 may have modulatory effects on inflammatory reactions.

ARF-GEP(100), a guanine nucleotide-exchange protein for ADP-ribosylation factor 6.

A human cDNA encoding an 841-aa guanine nucleotide-exchange protein (GEP) for ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), named ARF-GEP(100), which contains a Sec7 domain, a pleckstrin homology (PH)-like domain, and an incomplete IQ-motif, was identified. On Northern blot analysis of human tissues, a approximately 8-kb mRNA that hybridized with an ARF-GEP(100) cDNA was abundant in peripheral blood leukocytes, brain, and spleen. ARF-GEP(100) accelerated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to ARF1 (class I) and ARF5 (class II) 2- to 3-fold, and to ARF6 (class III) ca. 12-fold. The ARF-GEP(100) Sec7 domain contains Asp(543) and Met(555), corresponding to residues associated with sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of the fungal metabolite brefeldin A (BFA) in yeast Sec7, but also Phe(535) and Ala(536), associated with BFA-insensitivity. The PH-like domain differs greatly from those of other ARF GEPs in regions involved in phospholipid binding. Consistent with its structure, ARF-GEP(100) activity was not affected by BFA or phospholipids. After subcellular fractionation of cultured T98G human glioblastoma cells, ARF6 was almost entirely in the crude membrane fraction, whereas ARF-GEP(100), a 100-kDa protein detected with antipeptide antibodies, was cytosolic. On immunofluorescence microscopy, both proteins had a punctate pattern of distribution throughout the cells, with apparent colocalization only in peripheral areas. The coarse punctate distribution of EEA-1 in regions nearer the nucleus appeared to coincide with that of ARF-GEP(100) in those areas. No similar coincidence of ARF-GEP(100) with AP-1, AP-2, catenin, LAMP-1, or 58K was observed. The new human BFA-insensitive GEP may function with ARF6 in specific endocytic processes.

Evaluation of the expression of NADPH oxidase components during maturation of HL-60 cells to neutrophil lineage.

To understand the expression of NADPH oxidase components during neutrophil maturation, we examined the expression of mRNAs and proteins for NADPH oxidase components, and the superoxide-producing activity using HL-60 cells incubated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Northern blot and Western blot analyses revealed that gp91(phox), p67(phox), and p47(phox) were expressed after myelocyte stages, whereas p22(phox), p40(phox), and rac-2 were expressed from the promyelocyte stage. Furthermore, immunocytochemical staining of DMSO-induced HL-60 cells indicated that gp91(phox), p67(phox), and p47(phox) were detected only after myelocyte stages (myelocytes, metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented cells), whereas p22(phox), p40(phox), and rac-2 were detected from the promyelocyte stage. In addition, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay showed that superoxide could be produced after myelocyte stages but not produced before promyelocyte stages. Moreover, almost the same results as those with DMSO-induced HL-60 cells were obtained using human bone-marrow cells by immunocytochemical staining and NBT assay, except that p22(phox) was detected by immunocytochemical staining after myelocyte stages in bone-marrow cells. Together, these observations indicate that all the components for NADPH oxidase are expressed, and the superoxide-producing activity is obtained after myelocyte stages during neutrophil maturation.

Phosphorylation of p40-phox during activation of neutrophil NADPH oxidase.

NADPH oxidase, a superoxide-producing enzyme in phagocytic cells, consists of membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and cytosolic components (p47-phox, p67-phox, p40-phox, rac 1/2). Activation of NADPH oxidase is accompanied by the phosphorylation of cytosolic components (p47-phox and p67-phox). In this study, we have examined whether p40-phox, a newly identified cytosolic component, is phosphorylated during neutrophil activation, and the relationship between p40-phox phosphorylation and NADPH oxidase activation. When 32P-labeled guinea pig neutrophils were stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, p40-phox was phosphorylated as p47-phox. It is interesting that phosphorylation of p40-phox was markedly inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitor, H-7, but not by casein kinase II inhibitor, A-3, and H-7 inhibited translocation of p40-phox and activation of NADPH oxidase. Furthermore, purified protein kinase C but not casein kinase II directly phosphorylated p40-phox of p40-phox/p47-phox/p67-phox complex. Together these observations suggest that p40-phox is phosphorylated by protein kinase C during neutrophil activation, and phosphorylation of p40-phox may be important for the activation of NADPH oxidase.

Identification of a splice variant mRNA of p40phox, an NADPH oxidase component of phagocytes.

Northern blot analysis using p40phox cDNA probe revealed that two sizes of p40phox mRNAs were expressed in human promyelocytic HL-60 and bone marrow cells. To characterize these mRNAs, we performed reverse transcription using total RNA from HL-60 cells, and amplified the coding region of p40phox by polymerase chain reaction with oligonucleotide primers. Two cDNA fragments with different sizes were isolated. One was identical to a known p40phox cDNA (1054 bp) which encoded a protein of 339 residues (39,031 Da) with a calculated pI of 6.5. The other cDNA (1299 bp) contained an additional 245 bp intron 8 sequence in the open reading frame and encoded a protein of 348 residues (39,000 Da) with a calculated pI of 9.3. N-terminal 253 residues were identical between p40phox and the variant protein, whereas C-terminal 254-348 residues of the variant protein shared low homology with p40phox. Interestingly, the variant protein lacked PC (Phox and Cdc24p) motif of p40phox, which is assumed to be important for the interaction with p67phox. In addition, Western blot analysis revealed that the variant protein was not detected in HL-60 cells and neutrophils. Together, these observations suggest that alternatively spliced variant mRNA of p40phox is expressed, but its protein is hardly present in myeloid cells.

Evaluation of the expression of human CAP18 gene during neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow.

To understand the gene expression of CAP18 (18-kDa cationic antibacterial protein), a member of cathelicidins, we evaluated mRNA and protein expression of CAP18 using human bone marrow cells and mature neutrophils. Northern blot analysis revealed that CAP18 mRNA was expressed more abundantly in bone marrow cells than mature neutrophils, whereas Western blot analysis indicated that CAP18 protein was more abundant in mature neutrophils than bone marrow cells. Consistent with this, in situ hybridization using bone marrow cells demonstrated that the expression of CAP18 mRNA was neutrophil lineage-specific and was observed primarily in myelocytes (>95%) with limited expression in more immature cells (promyelocytes) and mature cells (metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented neutrophils). Furthermore, immunohistochemical study indicated that, coincident with the increase of CAP18 mRNA levels, CAP18-positive cells increased markedly at myelocyte stage, and the increased levels remained almost constant (>95%) in metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented neutrophils, although the mRNA levels were remarkably reduced in these cells. Together these observations indicate that CAP18 gene transcription likely occurs lineage- and stage-specifically at the myelocyte stage of neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow and results in the synthesis and cytoplasmic accumulation of CAP18, which is present in the subsequent stages of neutrophil maturation.

Study on the superoxide-producing enzyme of eosinophils and neutrophils--comparison of the NADPH oxidase components.

It has been known that eosinophils produce more superoxide anion (O2-) than neutrophils. To elucidate the mechanism involved in the difference in the superoxide-producing activities, we compared the NADPH oxidase components and the translocation of the cytosolic components between eosinophils and neutrophils. Membrane-bound cytochrome b558, cytosolic p47-phox, p67-phox, and p40-phox were present in both neutrophils and eosinophils, but the amounts of these components were 1.5- to 3.3-fold greater in eosinophils than neutrophils. Upon activation, p47-phox, p67-phox, and p40-phox were translocated to the membranes in both leukocytes, but larger amounts were translocated in eosinophils than in neutrophils. Furthermore, the cross-mixing experiments using membrane and cytosol of eosinophils and neutrophils revealed that more cytosolic components were translocated, and more superoxide-producing activities were obtained using eosinophil fractions. Interestingly, Km values of activated oxidase for NADPH were almost the same in any combination of membrane and cytosol from both leukocytes, indicating that oxidase components are likely similar in both eosinophils and neutrophils. These observations suggest that NADPH oxidase components are more abundant in eosinophils than neutrophils, and, upon activation, larger amounts of NADPH oxidase complex are formed in eosinophils than in neutrophils.

PF1092A, B and C, new nonsteroidal progesterone receptor ligands produced by Penicillium oblatum. I. Taxonomy of producing strain, fermentation, isolation and biological activities.

Three new nonsteroidal progesterone receptor ligands, PF1092A, B and C, have been isolated from Penicillium oblatum. They were purified from the solid cultures of rice media using ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and crystallization. All three ligands competitively inhibited [3H]-progesterone binding to porcine uteri cytosol preparations with IC50 of 3.0 x 10 nM (PF1092A), 2.2 x 10(2) nM (PF1092B) and 2.2 x 10(3) nM (PF1092C).

Molecular cloning and expression of cDNAs encoding rat brain and liver cytosolic long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolases.

cDNAs encoding the long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolases (ACHs) from rat brain and liver, referred to as rBACH and rLACH1, respectively, were isolated and sequenced. The rBACH cDNA contained an open reading frame encoding a 338-amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 37,559, of which the deduced amino acid sequence matched partial amino acid sequences directly determined for peptides generated by tryptic digestion or CNBr cleavage of purified rBACH. The rLACH1 cDNA contained an open reading frame encoding a 343-amino acid polypeptide with a molecular weight of 38,240. When expressed in Escherichia coli, these cDNAs produced palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase activity and 44-kDa proteins with molecular masses similar to those of purified rBACH and rLACH1 (43 kDa). These expressed proteins and enzyme activity were immunoblotted and neutralized, respectively, by anti-rBACH or anti-rLACH1 antibodies. rLACH1 cDNA had 84 and 94% identity with rBACH cDNA at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. However, the 5'-end of the former cDNA which contained the N-terminal coding region of rLACH1 was entirely different from the corresponding region of rBACH cDNA, suggesting that these enzymes may be generated by alternative use of exons of the same gene. Northern blot analysis showed that ACH mRNA was expressed constitutively in the rat brain and testis, whereas its expression in the liver was inducible by treatment with the peroxisome proliferator. This study demonstrated the molecular diversity of ACH and suggested the presence of tissue-specific mechanisms to regulate the ACH gene expression.

Translocation of guinea pig p40-phox during activation of NADPH oxidase.

The superoxide-producing NADPH oxidase consists of membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and cytosolic components, p47-phox and p67-phox. Recently, we have found a novel cytosolic component, p40-phox, which is tightly associated with p67-phox. In this study, we examined the translocation of p40-phox during activation of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system using the membrane and the purified p47-phox/p67-phox/p40-phox complex. p40-phox was translocated to the membrane by arachidonic acid in a dose-dependent manner. The translocation pattern of p40-phox was similar to those of p47-phox and p67-phox. However, immunoprecipitation assay revealed that p40-phox was dissociated from p47-phox and p67-phox during activation. The translocation of three cytosolic components was not affected by the deletion of GTP-gamma-s from the reaction mixture. Interestingly, a synthetic peptide corresponding to carboxyl-terminus of p40-phox inhibited the activation of NADPH oxidase and translocation of p40-phox, p47-phox, and p67-phox, suggesting that p40-phox might play a role in the activation of NADPH oxidase. These observations suggest that p40-phox is dissociated from p67-phox during activation, and translocates to the membrane by GTP-gamma-s-independent mechanism.

Type IV collagen-binding proteins of neutrophils: possible involvement of L-selectin in the neutrophil binding to type IV collagen.

To isolate type IV collagen-binding proteins, 125I-labeled human-neutrophil extracts were chromatographed on a type IV collagen-Sepharose column. The affinity chromatography-separated fraction contained the four radioactive proteins with apparent molecular masses of 28, 49, 67, and 95 kD on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Western blot analysis indicated that the 95-kD proteins contained both L-selectin and nonspecific cross-reacting antigen 90 (NCA90), and that the 67-kD protein was the 67-kD elastin/laminin-binding protein (67BP). The data obtained with the type IV collagen-affinity chromatography and the immunoaffinity chromatographies using anti-L-selectin and anti-NCA90 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have shown that L-selectin is closely associated with 67BP and the 49-kD protein, and that NCA90 is associated with 67BP, the 28-kD and 49-kD proteins. Among these binding proteins, sialic acid residues were contained in 67BP, L-selectin, and NCA90, but not in the 28-kD and 49-kD proteins. Sialidase treatment completely abolished both the binding affinity of the type IV collagen-binding proteins to type IV collagen and the neutrophil adherence to type IV collagen-coated plastic. Thus, the sialic acid residues of 67BP, L-selectin, and NCA90 seem to be important for the binding of neutrophils to type IV collagen. Furthermore, L-selectin IgG chimeric protein directly bound to type IV collagen-Sepharose column, and anti-L-selectin MoAb DREG56 inhibited the neutrophil adherence to type IV collagen-coated plastic by 51%. These observations suggest that L-selectin likely plays a role in the neutrophil binding to type IV collagen, although neutrophils have several kinds of adhesion molecules for type IV collagen such as L-selectin, NCA90, 67BP, and the 28-kD and 49-kD proteins.

The possible involvement of DNA-dependent protein kinase in the phosphorylation of P1 protein in cell-free DNA replication of Xenopus eggs.

We prepared two types of antibodies: one directed against an oligopeptide corresponding to the C-terminal portion of P1 protein and the other against an oligopeptide corresponding to the C-terminal portion of the 80-kDa subunit of the Ku antigen (p80 Ku) essential for DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot of sperm nuclei preincubated in Xenopus egg extracts by anti-P1 antibody showed that Xenopus P1 protein is a phosphoprotein with two phosphorylated forms: a hyperphosphorylated form extractable with Triton X-100 and a hypophosphorylated form resistant to Triton X-100. The immunodepletion of extracts with anti-p80 Ku IgG-bound beads caused the hyperphosphorylated form to disappear but hardly affected the hypophosphorylated form of P1 protein. DNA replication was stimulated by immunodepletion of the extract with anti-p80 Ku IgG-bound beads. These findings suggest that DNA-PK down-regulates DNA replication through inhibition of hyperphosphorylation of P1 protein during S phase in this cell-free system.

The possible involvement of replication-related proteins with a DEAD-box-like motif in cell-free DNA replication of Xenopus eggs.

Two types of antibodies were prepared: one directed against an oligopeptide specific to P1 protein, a mammalian homologue of yeast MCM3, and the other against an oligopeptide with a DEAD box motif, which is a highly conserved sequence in the P1 protein family. Immunoprecipitation of the eluate from anti-P1 family IgG-bound beads, which had been incubated in Xenopus egg extracts, with anti-P1 IgG-bound beads revealed that three proteins were coprecipitated. Two proteins remained in the supernatant after the immunoprecipitation of the eluate from anti-P1 family IgG-bound beads with anti-P1 IgG-bound beads. The immunodepleted extracts with anti-P1 family IgG-bound beads showed much lower DNA replication activity than did mock-treated extracts. Recovery of replication was achieved by supplementing the depleted extracts with both the eluate from anti-P1 IgG-bound beads and the supernatant obtained after the immunoprecipitation of the eluate with anti-P1 IgG-bound beads but not by supplementing the extracts with only the proteins eluted from anti-P1 IgG-bound beads. These findings suggest that some proteins containing a DEAD-box-like motif as well as mammalian homologues of yeast MCM2, MCM3 and CDC46 play an important role in cell-free DNA replication of Xenopus eggs.

The association and involvement of some members of the P1 protein family in a cell-free DNA replication of Xenopus eggs.

Two types of antibodies were prepared one directed against an oligopeptide specific to P1Cdc46, a mammalian homologue of yeast CDC46, and the other against an oligopeptide highly conserved in the P1 protein family. Immunoprecipitation with anti-P1Cdc46 antibody revealed that some members of the P1 protein family were coprecipitated with P1Cdc46 in the soluble fraction of Xenopus S phase extracts. Immunoblot analysis showed that all of the coprecipitated proteins reacted with the antibody against an oligopeptide, designated as a DEAD box motif, a highly conserved sequence in the P1 protein family. The immunodepleted extracts with anti-P1Cdc46 antibody-bound beads showed much lower activity of DNA replication than the mock-treated extracts. Recovery of replication was achieved by supplementing depleted extracts with the proteins eluted from anti-P1Cdc46 antibody-bound beads. These findings suggest that the proteins contained in the P1 protein family were associated in the extracts and that the multiprotein complex of the family plays an essential role in a cell-free DNA replication of Xenopus eggs.

Stimulation of DNA replication by truncated Fos and Jun proteins in a cell-free extract of Xenopus eggs.

The effects of truncated Fos (residue 116-211) and/or Jun (residue 224-334) proteins on the DNA replication of plasmid with or without an AP-1 binding site were examined in a cell-free extract of Xenopus eggs. These truncated proteins, which are depleted of the domains necessary for transcriptional activation, stimulated semiconservative DNA replication only in combination and in the presence of plasmid with an AP-1 binding site. These results suggest that truncated Fos and Jun proteins act together to stimulate DNA replication and that activation depends on the presence of an AP-1 binding site in the Xenopus cell-free DNA replication system.

Appearance of rereplication and activation of DNA replication by calyculin A in a cell-free extract of activated Xenopus eggs.

When sperm nuclei were added to Xenopus S phase (activated) egg extracts pretreated with a serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A, a density substitution experiment showed that newly synthesized sperm DNA migrated in two peaks, heavy-light DNA and heavy-heavy DNA, only in the presence of calyculin A and that the total DNA replication activity was activated. In contrast, the addition of calyculin A to S phase extracts about 30 min after addition of sperm nuclei had no effect on DNA replication activity. Calyculin A clearly prevented the decline of Replication Licensing Factor activity during S phase. These results imply that the occurrence of some rereplication and the activation of DNA replication by calyculin A in activated extracts may be due to the inhibition of inactivation of licensed sites of initiation or the increase in the number of the initiation sites of DNA replication because of lack of the fall in Licensing Factor activity during S phase.

Analysis of the NADPH oxidase components during differentiation of HL-60 cells to eosinophilic lineage.

HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into eosinophil-like cells with sodium butyrate after passage under mild alkaline condition. The differentiating cells gradually possessed the Luxol-fast-blue (LFB) staining-positive granules and the capacity to produce superoxide. The increase in the amounts of cytochrome b-558 paralleled the superoxide anion generating activity. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that p47-phox cytosolic oxidase protein appeared 1 day after differentiation, and increased up to 7 days. On the other hand, p67-phox cytosolic oxidase protein appeared in 3 days, and increased gradually up to 7 days. The oxidase activity did not appear until p67-phox protein was expressed in the cytosol during eosinophilic differentiation, indicating that p67-phox protein is likely to be a key protein of cytosolic factors also in eosinophilic differentiating cells. The amounts of p47-phox and p67-phox translocated to the plasma membrane in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increased with increasing amounts of cytochrome b-558 in the membrane. Our data demonstrate that the appearance of NADPH oxidase activity during eosinophilic differentiation is dependent on the levels of p47-phox and p67-phox cytosolic proteins translocated to the plasma membrane and the amount of cytochrome b-558 in the membrane as observed with neutrophils and monocytes.

Inhibition of cell cycle oscillation of DNA replication by a selective inhibitor of the cdc2 kinase family, butyrolactone I, in Xenopus egg extracts.

A selective inhibitor of the cdc2 kinase family, butyrolactone I, was found to inhibit the DNA replication activity of Xenopus egg extracts. When metaphase-arrested Xenopus egg extracts pretreated with butyrolactone I were released into interphase by the addition of CaCl2 at low concentrations of sperm nuclei, butyrolactone I (10 microM) prevented the oscillation of DNA replication activity to a great extent and lengthened the cell cycle. In contrast, in activated extracts which had already entered interphase, prepared from eggs activated by the calcium ionophore A23187, butyrolactone I (10 microM) had little effect on the first peak of the oscillation but reduced to less than half the second peak. These inhibitory effects of butyrolactone I on the initiation of DNA replication and mitosis in Xenopus egg extracts are probably a consequence of its previously reported inhibition of the cyclin-cdc2 kinase family.