Oxidation of organic and biogenic amines by recombinant human hephaestin expressed in Pichia pastoris.

Hephaestin is a multicopper ferroxidase involved in iron absorption in the small intestine. Expressed mainly on the basolateral surface of duodenal enterocytes, hephaestin facilitates the export of iron from the intestinal epithelium into blood by oxidizing Fe(2+) into Fe(3+), the only form of iron bound by the plasma protein transferrin. Structurally, the human hephaestin ectodomain is predicted to resemble ceruloplasmin, the major multicopper oxidase in blood. In addition to its ferroxidase activity, ceruloplasmin was reported to oxidize a wide range of organic compounds including a group of physiologically relevant substrates (biogenic amines). To study oxidation of organic substrates, the human hephaestin ectodomain was expressed in Pichia pastoris. The purified recombinant hephaestin has an average copper content of 4.2 copper atoms per molecule. The K(m) for Fe(2+) of hephaestin was determined to be 3.2µM which is consistent with the K(m) values for other multicopper ferroxidases. In addition, the K(m) values of hephaestin for such organic substrates as p-phenylenediamine and o-dianisidine are close to values determined for ceruloplasmin. However, in contrast to ceruloplasmin, hephaestin was incapable of direct oxidation of adrenaline and dopamine implying a difference in biological substrate specificities between these two homologous ferroxidases.

Human hephaestin expression is not limited to enterocytes of the gastrointestinal tract but is also found in the antrum, the enteric nervous system, and pancreatic {beta}-cells.

Hephaestin (Hp) is a membrane protein with ferroxidase activity that converts Fe(II) to Fe(III) during the absorption of nutritional iron in the gut. Using anti-peptide antibodies to predicted immunogenic regions of rodent Hp, previous immunocytochemical studies in rat, mouse, and human gut tissues localized Hp to the basolateral membranes of the duodenal enterocytes where the Hp was predicted to aid in the transfer of Fe(III) to transferrin in the blood. We used a recombinant soluble form of human Hp to obtain a high-titer polyclonal antibody to Hp. This antibody was used to identify the intracellular location of Hp in human gut tissue. Our immunocytochemical studies confirmed the previous localization of Hp in human enterocytes. However, we also localized Hp to the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract, the antral portion of the stomach, and to the enteric nervous system (both the myenteric and submucous plexi). Hp was also localized to human pancreatic beta-cells. In addition to its expression in the same cells as Hp, ferroportin was also localized to the ductal cells of the exocrine pancreas. The localization of the ferroxidase Hp to the neuronal plexi and the pancreatic beta cells suggests a role for the enzymatic function of Hp in the protection of these specialized cell types from oxidative damage.

Neither human hephaestin nor ceruloplasmin forms a stable complex with transferrin.

Iron homeostasis is essential for maintaining the physiological requirement for iron while preventing iron overload. Cell toxicity is caused by the generation of hydroxyl-free radicals that result from redox reactions involving Fe(II). Multicopper ferroxidases regulate the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III), circumventing the generation of these harmful by-products. Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is the major multicopper ferroxidase in blood; however, hephaestin (Hp), a membrane-bound Cp homolog, was recently discovered and has been implicated in the export of iron from duodenal enterocytes into blood. In the intracellular milieu, it is likely that iron exists as reduced Fe(II), yet transferrin (Tf), the plasma iron transporter, is only capable of binding oxidized Fe(III). Due to the insoluble and reactive nature of free Fe(III), the oxidation of Fe(II) upon exiting the duodenal enterocyte may require an interaction between a ferroxidase and the iron transporter. As such, it has been suggested that as a means of preventing the release of unbound Fe(III), a direct protein-protein interaction may occur between Tf and Hp during intestinal iron export. In the present study, the putative interaction between Tf and both Cp and a soluble form of recombinant human Hp was investigated. Utilizing native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, covalent cross-linking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a stable interaction between the two proteins was not detected. We conclude that a stable complex between these ferroxidases and Tf does not occur under the experimental conditions used. We suggest alternative models for loading Tf with Fe(III) during intestinal iron export.

A novel murine protein with no effect on iron homoeostasis is homologous with transferrin and is the putative inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase.

In a search for genes that modify iron homoeostasis, a gene (1300017J02Rik) was located immediately upstream of the murine TF (transferrin) gene. However, expression of the 1300017J02Rik gene product was not responsive to a number of modulators of iron metabolism. Specifically, expression was not altered in mouse models of iron disorders including mice with deficiencies in the haemochromatosis protein Hfe, the recombination-activating protein, Rag, beta2-microglobulin, TF, ceruloplasmin or Hb, or in mice with microcytic anaemia. Additionally, neither lipopolysaccharide nor hypoxia treatment resulted in any significant changes in the 1300017J02Rik expression level. The genomic DNA sequence suggested that the 1300017J02Rik gene product might be a protein equivalent to the pICA {porcine ICA [inhibitor of CA (carbonic anhydrase)]}. The coding region for the murine 1300017J02Rik gene was placed into the pNUT expression vector. Transformed BHK cells (baby-hamster kidney cells) were transfected with this plasmid, resulting in secretion of recombinant mICA (murine ICA) into the tissue culture medium. Following purification to homogeneity, the yield of mICA from the BHK cells was found to be considerably greater (at least 4-fold) than the yield of pICA from a previously reported Pichia pastoris (yeast) expression system. MS showed that the recombinant mICA was a glycoprotein that associated with CA in a 1:1 stoichiometry. Despite its high sequence similarity to TF, titration experiments showed that mICA was unable to bind iron specifically. Although enzymatic assays revealed that mICA was able to inhibit CA, it is unclear if this is its sole or even its major function since, to date, humans and other primates appear to lack functional ICA. Lastly, we note that this member of the TF superfamily is a relatively recent addition resulting from a tandem duplication event.

Proteomics: applications relevant to transfusion medicine.

With the completion of the human genome sequence, it is now possible to analyze the many individual components that comprise complex biologic systems. Despite this sequence data, understanding the biologic relationships of all proteins of a given cell or biologic sample (the proteome) is still an exceedingly difficult task. However, new technology developments mean that proteomics research can be used to investigate a variety of biologic systems. Already, these studies have given valuable insight for the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic products. The present review aims to provide a basic understanding of proteomics research by discussing the methods used to study large numbers of proteins and by reviewing the application of proteomics methods to transfusion medicine.

Identification of the epitope of a monoclonal antibody that disrupts binding of human transferrin to the human transferrin receptor.

The molecular basis of the transferrin (TF)-transferrin receptor (TFR) interaction is not known. The C-lobe of TF is required to facilitate binding to the TFR and both the N- and C-lobes are necessary for maximal binding. Several mAb have been raised against human transferrin (hTF). One of these, designated F11, is specific to the C-lobe of hTF and does not recognize mouse or pig TF. Furthermore, mAb F11 inhibits the binding of TF to TFR on HeLa cells. To map the epitope for mAb F11, constructs spanning various regions of hTF were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. The recombinant fusion proteins were analysed in an iterative fashion by immunoblotting using mAb F11 as the probe. This process resulted in the localization of the F11 epitope to the C1 domain (residues 365-401) of hTF. Subsequent computer modelling suggested that the epitope is probably restricted to a surface patch of hTF consisting of residues 365-385. Mutagenesis of the F11 epitope of hTF to the sequence of either mouse or pig TF confirmed the identity of the epitope as immunoreactivity was diminished or lost. In agreement with other studies, these epitope mapping studies support a role for residues in the C1 domain of hTF in receptor binding.

Recombinant expression and functional characterization of human hephaestin: a multicopper oxidase with ferroxidase activity.

Human hephaestin (Hp) is a transmembrane protein that has been implicated in duodenal iron export. Mutations in the murine hephaestin gene (sla) produce microcytic, hypochromic anemia that is refractory to oral iron therapy. Hp shares approximately 50% sequence identity with the plasma multicopper ferroxidase ceruloplasmin including conservation of residues involved in disulfide bond formation and metal coordination. On the basis of this similarity to ceruloplasmin, human hephaestin may also bind copper and possess ferroxidase activity. To test this hypothesis, human hephaestin cDNA has been cloned by reverse transcription of human duodenal mRNA. Following in vitro mutagenesis to make the encoded polypeptide suitable for expression and purification, the hephaestin cDNA was cloned into the expression vector pNUT and introduced into baby hamster kidney cells. After selection with methotrexate, the baby hamster kidney cells secreted the recombinant human hephaestin into the medium at a level of approximately 2 mg/L. Purification was achieved by a single immunoaffinity chromatography step. As judged by SDS-PAGE, N-terminal sequence analysis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the purified hephaestin was homogeneous with a mass of 129600 Da, suggesting a carbohydrate content of 7.7%. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry revealed that recombinant hephaestin contained an average of 3.13 atoms of copper per protein molecule. A visible absorption maximum was observed at 607 nm, consistent with the presence of a Type 1 copper site. By using ferrous ammonium sulfate as a substrate, recombinant hephaestin was shown to have ferroxidase activity with a K(m) of 2.1 microM for Fe(II). Lastly, urea PAGE showed that hephaestin was able to catalyze formation of diferric transferrin from Fe(II) and apotransferrin.

Severe FVII deficiency caused by a new point mutation combined with a previously undetected gene deletion.

A 3-week-old Caucasian female presented with severe unprovoked parenchymal cerebral haemorrhage. Her plasma factor VII (FVII) activity was <0.01 units/ml. FVII activities for her mother and sister were 0.65 units/ml and 0.51 units/ml, respectively, while her father's level was normal. These results indicated that the mother was heterozygous for a non-functional F7 gene that had also been inherited by the proband's sister. The proband's severe FVII deficiency was caused by a new mutation in her paternal F7 gene coupled with the inheritance of the non-functional maternal F7 gene. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the proband had apparent homozygosity for a novel single point mutation (g.3907G >A) changing the codon for Glu29 to Lys (E29K); neither parent had the E29K mutation. Because of the unlikelihood that the proband was homozygous for two identical new point mutations, the DNA sequence abnormality was more likely to have arisen from a single mutated gene on one allele and a F7 gene deletion on the other allele. Real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis confirmed that the proband had inherited a gene deletion that was present in the maternal side of the family. Subsequent clotting assays and real time PCR revealed that the maternal deletion also included the closely linked F10 gene.