Phosphorylation of the human calcitonin receptor by multiple kinases is localized to the C-terminus.

The calcitonin receptor is a seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor which is located on osteoclasts, in kidney, and in brain. The receptor signals through multiple pathways, including activation of adenylate cyclase, leading to inhibition of bone resorption. In the present study, we used antibodies raised against the C-terminus of the human calcitonin (CT) receptor to study receptor phosphorylation. In baby hamster kidney cells transfected with the human CT receptor, phosphorylation of the receptor increased approximately 2.5-fold after cells were treated with calcitonin, phorbol ester, forskolin, or calcitonin plus phorbol ester. Phosphorylation reached a maximum 20 minutes after treatment with sCT and half-maximal phosphorylation was observed at 0.1 nM sCT, a hormone concentration related to receptor occupancy. Digestion of the immunoprecipitated receptor with cyanogen bromide (CNBr) yielded a single 32P-labeled fragment which migrates at Mr 14 kD on gel electrophoresis. This corresponds to the predicted size of the CNBr fragment containing the C-terminal domain of the receptor. No 32P-labeled bands were observed for CNBr fragments predicted to contain the first, second, or third intracellular loops. An identical labeling pattern was seen with cells expressing an alternatively spliced isoform of the human receptor (insert-positive isoform). Phosphorylation of the receptor by phorbol ester and forskolin was further localized to a Mr 6 kD proteolytic fragment within the C-terminus. The protein kinase A and C inhibitors staurosporine, chelerythrine, and H-89 had little effect on CT-induced phosphorylation, suggesting that nonsecond messenger-activated kinases are involved in hormone-dependent CT receptor phosphorylation.

Determinants for calcitonin analog interaction with the calcitonin receptor N-terminus and transmembrane-loop regions.

High affinity binding was characterized for a number of salmon calcitonin (sCT) analogs to a chimeric receptor (NtCTr) constructed by splicing the N-terminal domain of the human CT receptor onto the C-terminal, transmembrane loop region of the receptor for glucagon. Another chimeric receptor (NtGGr) with the N-terminal domain of the glucagon receptor spliced onto the C-terminal regions of the CT receptor shows no high affinity binding of sCT. Nevertheless, sCT and a number of analogs of the hormone are able to elevate cAMP levels in cells transfected with NtGGr. The least helical analog, des-1-amino-[Ala1,7,Gly8]des-Leu19-sCT, is one of the most active in this regard. Two hormone analogs with modifications in the amino-terminal region, des-Ser2-sCT and [Gly2,3,4,5,6]sCT, show reduced or no activity, respectively, for elevating cAMP in cells expressing the NtGGr. In addition, a 15-fold excess of the peptide sCT-(8-32) antagonizes sCT activation of this receptor. In contrast, these calcitonin analogs exhibited a different rank order for binding to the NtCTr receptor. In fact, des-Ser2-sCT and [Gly8]-des-Leu19-sCT along with the native hormone had the highest helical content as well as the highest binding affinities to the NtCTr receptor. These studies suggest that the helical portion of the hormone within residues 8-22 of sCT is the principal determinant for binding to the receptor N-terminus. Residues 2-6 of sCT interact with the receptor transmembrane loop region and are critical for activation of adenylate cyclase; however, residues 8-32, including Leu16, are responsible for most of the hormone interaction with the transmembrane loop region. Thus, unique requirements exist for CT interaction at the receptor N-terminus relative to the receptor transmembrane loop region, yet there is significant overlap in the hormone determinants that facilitate these interactions.

Functionally different isoforms of the human calcitonin receptor result from alternative splicing of the gene transcript.

Two subtypes of the human calcitonin receptor (hCTR) have been described which differ from one another by the presence or absence of a 16-amino acid insert in the first intracellular loop. Both isoforms were stably expressed in baby hamster kidney cells to compare their ligand binding and second messenger coupling. The binding affinity and the on/off rate of binding for salmon CT were identical for the two receptor isoforms. However, the presence of the insert significantly reduced the ability of the receptor to couple to both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Stimulation of a transient calcium response was only observed with the insert-negative receptor. Similarly, the ED50 for the cAMP response is 100-fold higher for the insert-positive form compared with the insert-negative form of the receptor. However, the maximal cAMP response was equivalent for both receptor isoforms. The rate of internalization of the insert-positive form of the receptor is significantly impaired relative to the insert-negative receptor, which suggests that this process may be dependent on the stimulation of a second messenger pathway. Cloning and characterization of the relevant portion of the hCTR gene revealed that these isoforms are generated by alternative splicing. We also discovered a third isoform of the hCTR, which can be generated by alternative splicing at the same position. The presence of a stop codon in this newly described alternative exon would lead to premature termination of the receptor at the C-terminal end of the first transmembrane domain.

Intracellular calcium increases mediated by a recombinant human calcitonin receptor.

Stable transfectants expressing a recombinant human calcitonin receptor respond to calcitonin via increased cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cAMP, EC50 = 0.06 nM salmon calcitonin [sCT]) and a transient mobilization of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) coincident with turnover of inositol phosphate (IP; EC50 = 6 nM sCT). Millimolar increases in extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o, EC50 = 8 mM) cause a rapid elevation in [Ca2+]i after a calcitonin dose-dependent pretreatment of cells (pretreatment EC50 = 0.2 nM sCT). Cells exhibit persistent sensitivity to increased [Ca2+]o up to 3 h after hormone exposure and even after multiple cycles of increased [Ca2+]o followed by wash. Calcitonin pretreatment of cells also allows apparent influx of elevated extracellular strontium and manganese, but little or no effect is observed on addition of barium, cadmium, or lanthanum. Human amylin (100 nM) causes a rapid and transient increase in [Ca2+]i comparable to that of calcitonin; however, no significant response to increased [Ca2+]o is observed after amylin addition. Human calcitonin gene-related product (hCGRP) (300 nM) and forskolin do not increase [Ca2+]i or activate a sensitivity to increased [Ca2+]o. Nevertheless, human amylin and human calcitonin gene-related product (hCGRP) activate adenylate cyclase with EC50s of 0.7 nM and 8 nM, respectively. The calcium-channel drugs verapamil, BAY K 8644, diltiazem, and nifedipine have little effect on [Ca2+]i increases. The calcitonin-induced transient mobilization of calcium is inhibited by treatment of cells with cholera toxin or 8-(diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8); whereas, the response to subsequent increased [Ca2+]o is inhibited by lanthanum chloride (200 microM) and lower pH (6.0).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chimeric human calcitonin and glucagon receptors reveal two dissociable calcitonin interaction sites.

Two chimeric receptors were constructed by transposing the coding regions for the putative N-terminal domains of the human calcitonin (hCTR) and glucagon (hGGR) receptors. These receptors were stably expressed as glycosylated proteins with molecular masses of 80 kDa for the calcitonin receptor N-terminus chimera (NtCTr) and 65 kDa for the glucagon receptor N-terminus chimera (NtGGr). The NtCTr chimera binds salmon calcitonin (sCT) with an apparent Kd of 12 nM relative to 0.3 nM for the native hCTR. However, this chimera does not mediate a cAMP response even with a transfectant expressing 1.8 x 10(6) cell surface receptors. Stable transfectants expressing the NtGGr chimera show no detectable binding of 125I-sCT or 125I-human glucagon. Surprisingly, adenylate cyclase is activated through the NtGGr chimera by sCT, pCT, and hCT with half-maximal activation at 2.2 +/- 0.6, 5.8 +/- 2.1, and 810 +/- 151 nM, respectively, and the maximum response is similar to that induced by 25 microM forskolin. The rank-order of competition for sCT binding to the NtCTr chimera is similar to the hCTR (sCT > pCT > hCT), but the concentrations required for half-maximal competition are 100- to > 2000-fold higher. In addition, salmon calcitonin binds with a much more rapid on-rate and off-rate to the NtCTr chimera relative to the hCTR which binds hormone irreversibly. Cross-linking of 125I-sCT to the NtCTr chimera with bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate is much greater than to the hCTR, suggesting unique conformations for the two receptor-hormone complexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cloning and characterization of an abundant subtype of the human calcitonin receptor.

We have cloned and characterized a second form of the human calcitonin receptor from T47D cells. It resembles the clone described by Gorn et al. [J. Clin. Invest. 90:1726-1735 (1992)] except that it lacks a 16-amino acid insert in the putative first intracellular loop. The insert-negative receptor appears to be the most abundant form, and it occurs at a relatively constant level in all expressing tissues. In contrast, the insert-positive receptor is found at low levels in most tissues but its expression levels appear to be much more variable. The insert-negative cDNA was stably expressed in baby hamster kidney cells. Like the endogenous T47D receptor, the recombinant receptor has an equally high affinity for salmon and porcine calcitonin but a 3-4-fold lower affinity for human calcitonin. High concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide, rat amylin, secretin, or vasoactive intestinal peptide do not significantly compete with calcitonin for binding to the recombinant receptor. Calcitonin stimulates a cAMP response in both T47D and transfected baby hamster kidney cells. Salmon calcitonin is more potent than human calcitonin for T47D cells, but the two are nearly equipotent for the transfectants. Furthermore, the ED50 for the cAMP response in the transfectants is 10-100-fold lower than in T47D cells. Calcitonin stimulates inositol phosphate turnover and elevates internal calcium levels in the transfectants. This response requires non-physiological levels of calcitonin and is directly correlated with the number of receptors. Lastly, by using a human/rodent somatic cell hybrid panel and in situ hybridization, we localized the human calcitonin receptor gene to chromosome 7.

A recombinant human calcitonin receptor functions as an extracellular calcium sensor.

Calcitonin, a peptide hormone active in calcium homeostasis, is used in the treatment of bone loss disorders because it inhibits osteoclast function. A human calcitonin receptor was cloned and expressed in baby hamster kidney cells. Three independent stable transfectants respond to calcitonin via increased intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP). We made the interesting observation that these cells also respond to millimolar increases in extracellular calcium via a rapid and sustained elevation in [Ca2+]i, whereas three calcitonin receptor-negative baby hamster kidney cell lines, two of which express recombinant receptors related to the calcitonin receptor, show no sensitivity to changes in extracellular calcium. The increase of [Ca2+]i in response to both calcitonin and extracellular calcium is a function of the average number of calcitonin receptors per cell. These studies suggest a dual role for the calcitonin receptor as a hormone receptor and an extracellular calcium sensor.

Modulation of calcitonin binding by calcium: differential effects of divalent cations.

Binding of salmon calcitonin to bovine hypothalamic membranes is enhanced about 25% by calcium with a half-maximal effect at 15 mM calcium. In contrast, membranes prepared from a cell line expressing a recombinant human calcitonin receptor show no effect of calcium under similar conditions. The hypothalamic calcitonin receptor solubilized with CHAPS detergent retains an apparent Kd of 0.3 nM for salmon calcitonin; however, binding of calcitonin to the detergent-solubilized receptor complex can be inhibited by divalent cations in order of potency Mn > Ca approximately Sr approximately Mg >> NaCl with Mn and Ca having apparent Ki's of 5 mM and 20 mM respectively. Dixon and Scatchard plots of Mn and Ca inhibition of binding to the soluble receptor complex suggest a noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition. Calcium also inhibits calcitonin binding to a detergent-solubilized recombinant human calcitonin receptor. Inhibition of calcitonin binding is observed using two independent methods for determining soluble receptor-hormone complex and inhibition is reversed by EDTA.

Structure and function studies of the cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase.

Studies of cGMP binding to both the native cyclic GMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase and to two unique isolated chymotryptic fragments lacking the catalytic domain suggest that the enzyme contains two noncatalytic cGMP-binding sites/homodimer. In the presence of high concentrations of ammonium sulfate, 2 mol of cGMP are bound/mol of cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase homodimer. Under these conditions, linear Scatchard plots of binding are obtained that give an apparent Kd of approximately 2 microM. The inclusion of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine produces a curvilinear plot. In the absence of ammonium sulfate, the dissociation of cGMP from the holoenzyme is rapid, having a t1/2 of less than 10 s, and addition of ammonium sulfate to the incubation greatly decreases this rate of dissociation. The native enzyme is resistant to degradation by chymotrypsin in the absence of cGMP; however, in its presence, chymotrypsin treatment produces several discrete fragments. Similarly, in the presence but not in the absence of cGMP, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide causes an irreversible activation of the enzyme without cross-linking the nucleotide to the phosphodiesterase. Both observations provide evidence that a different conformation in the enzyme results from cGMP binding. Only the conformation formed upon cGMP binding is easily attacked by chymotrypsin or permanently activated by treatment with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. One major chymotryptic cleavage site exposed by cGMP binding is at tyrosine 553, implying that this region takes part in the conformational change. Limited proteolysis experiments indicate that these noncatalytic binding sites are located within a region of internal sequence homology previously proposed to include the cGMP-binding site(s) and that they retain a high affinity and specificity for cGMP independent of the catalytic domain of the enzyme. The products formed by partial proteolysis can be separated into individual catalytically active and cGMP-binding fractions by anion exchange chromatography. Gel filtration and electrophoresis analysis of the isolated fractions suggest that the cGMP-binding peak has a dimeric structure. Moreover, it can be further resolved by polyethyleneimine high performance liquid chromatography into two peaks (Peaks IIIA and IIIB). Peak IIIA binds 2 mol of cGMP/mol of dimer with an apparent Kd of 0.2 microM. Peak IIIB, however, has greatly reduced cGMP binding. Further digestion of these fragments with cyanogen bromide show that the differences between Peaks IIIA and IIIB are due to one or more additional proteolytic nicks in IIIB that remove a few residues near its C terminus, most probably residues 523-550 or 534-550. This in turn suggests that this region is essential for cGMP-binding activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino acid sequence of the cyclic GMP stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine heart.

The complete amino acid sequence of the cyclic GMP stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (cGS-PDE) of bovine heart has been determined by analysis of five digests of the protein; placement of the C-terminal 330 residues has been confirmed by interpretation of the corresponding partial cDNA clone. The holoenzyme is a homodimer of two identical N alpha-acetylated polypeptide chains of 921 residues, each with a calculated molecular weight of 103,244. The C-terminal region, residues 613-871, of the cGS-PDE comprises a catalytic domain that is conserved in all phosphodiesterase sequences except those of PDE 1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a secreted PDE from Dictyostelium. A second conserved region, residues 209-567, is homologous to corresponding regions of the alpha and alpha' subunits of the photoreceptor phosphodiesterases. This conserved domain specifically binds cGMP and is involved in the allosteric regulation of the cGS-PDE. This regulatory domain contains two tandem, internal repeats, suggesting that it evolved from an ancestral gene duplication. Common cyclic nucleotide binding properties and a distant structural relationship provide evidence that the catalytic and regulatory domains within the cGS- and photoreceptor PDEs are also related by an ancient internal gene duplication.

Direct photolabeling of the cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase.

cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE) has been directly photolabeled with [32P]cGMP using UV light. Sequence analysis of peptide fragments obtained from partial proteolysis or cyanogen bromide cleavage indicate that two different domains are labeled. One site, on a Mr = 36,000 chymotryptic fragment located near the COOH terminus, has characteristics consistent with it being close to or part of the catalytic site of the enzyme. This peptide contains a region of sequence that is highly conserved in all mammalian cyclic nucleotide PDEs and has been postulated to contain the catalytic domain of the enzyme. The other site, on a Mr = 28,000 cyanogen bromide cleavage fragment located near the middle of the molecule, probably makes up part of the allosteric site of the molecule. Labeling of the enzyme is concentration dependent and Scatchard analysis of labeling yields a biphasic plot with apparent half labeling concentrations of about 1 and 30 microM consistent with two types of sites being labeled. Limited proteolysis of the PDE by chymotrypsin yields five prominent fragments that separate by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) at Mr = 60,000, 57,000, 36,000, 21,000, and 17,000. Both the Mr = 60,000 and 57,000 apparently have blocked NH2 termini suggesting that the Mr = 57,000 fragment is a subfragment of the Mr = 60,000 fragment. Primary sequence analysis indicates that both the Mr = 21,000 and 17,000 fragments are subfragments of the Mr = 36,000 fragment. Autoradiographs of photolabeled then partially proteolyzed enzyme show labeled bands at Mr = 60,000, 57,000, and 36,000. Addition of 5 microM cAMP prior to photolabeling eliminates photolabeling of the Mr = 36,000 fragment but not the Mr = 60,000 or 57,000 fragments. The labeled site not blocked by cAMP is also contained in a Mr = 28,000 cyanogen bromide fragment of the enzyme that does not overlap with the Mr = 36,000 proteolytic fragment. Limited chymotryptic proteolysis also increases basal activity and eliminates cGMP stimulation of cAMP hydrolysis. The chymotryptic fragments can be separated by either ion exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or solid-phase monoclonal antibody treatment. A solid-phase monoclonal antibody against the cGMP-stimulated PDE removes the Mr = 60,000 and 57,000 labeled fragments and any intact, unproteolyzed protein but does not remove the Mr = 36,000 fragment or the majority of activity. Ion exchange HPLC separates the fragments into three peaks (I, II, and III). Peaks I and II contain activity of approximately 40 and 100 units/mg, respectively. Peak II is the undigested or slightly nicked native enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Catalytic and regulatory effects of light intensity on chloroplast ATP synthase.

The incorporation of water oxygens into ATP made by photophosphorylation is known to be increased markedly when either Pi or ADP concentration is lowered. The present studies show a similar increase in oxygen exchange when light intensity is lowered even with ample ADP and Pi present. The number of reversals of bound ATP formation prior to release increases about 1 to about 27 in the presence of dithiothreitol and to 5 in its absence. The equilibrium of the bound reactants still favors ATP at low light intensity, as shown by measurement of the amount of bound ATP rapidly labeled from [32P]Pi during steady-state photophosphorylation. Changes observed in the interconversion rate in the absence of added thiol are likely involved in the regulation of the dark ATPase activity in the chloroplast. The interconversion rate of bound ATP to bound ADP and Pi in the presence of thiol is about the same at low and high light intensities. This rate of bound ATP formation is not sufficient, however, to account for the maximum rate of photophosphorylation. Thus, when adequate protonmotive force is present, the rate of conversion of bound ADP and Pi to bound ATP, and possibly that of bound ATP to bound ADP and Pi, must be increased, with proton translocation being completed only when bound ATP is present to be released. These observations are consistent with the predictions of the binding change mechanism with sequential participation of catalytic sites and are accommodated by a simplified general scheme for the binding change mechanism that is presented here.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mitochondrial F1-ATPase will bind and cleave ATP but only slowly release ADP after N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole derivatization.

The ATPase from the inner mitochondrial membrane is known to be inhibited by modification of one of the three catalytic subunits with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) or 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole. An experimental approach described in this paper shows that most of the residual ATPase activity observed after the usual DCCD or 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole modification is due to the presence of unmodified enzyme, although the large fraction of modified enzyme retains a weak catalytic activity. This weak catalytic activity can be stimulated by methanol or dimethyl sulfoxide. When the modified enzymes are exposed to Mg2+ and [3H]ATP, about equal amounts of [3H]ATP and [3H]ADP appear at catalytic sites. The turnover rate for these enzymes is less than 1/1000 that of the native enzyme when it is calculated from the rate at which the enzyme becomes labeled at the catalytic sites with [3H]ATP and [3H]ADP during steady state hydrolysis. In addition, a higher ATP concentration is required for steady state turnover and, after ATP binding, the principal rate-limiting step is the capacity of the derivatized enzyme to undergo the binding changes necessary for the release of ADP and Pi. When the modified enzymes are not hydrolyzing ATP, they convert to form(s) that show a distinct lag in the replacement of bound nucleotides at catalytic sites. The replacement of bound nucleotides is still promoted by MgATP, even though the enzymes have been converted to sluggish forms. Contrary to a recent suggestion based on the study of the DCCD-modified enzyme (Soong, K.S., and Wang, J.H. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 136-141), our data provide evidence for the existence of catalytic cooperatively between at least two alternating sites in the modified enzyme and are consistent with continued sequential participation of all three sites.

More sensitive flameless atomic absorption analysis of vanadium in tissue and serum.

We describe a sensitive method for the determination of vanadium in biological substances by atomic absorption spectroscopy. By using background correction and pyrolytically coated graphite tubes with flameless apparatus, this vanadium assay has a sensitivity of 65 pg and a detection limit of 30 pg, approximately sixfold more sensitive than previously reported assays involving this technique. The vanadium concentrations have been determined in several biological materials, including bovine liver and human serum. To investigate signal interferences, we have determined vanadium concentrations in matrix solutions containing several elements at physiologically relevant concentrations. Evaluated by the method of standard additions, the vanadium signals are linear with concentration over a range of 3 to 100 micrograms/L. Tissue vanadium concentrations are similar to those previously reported. Serum vanadium concentrations can be determined directly, and we found values ranging from 2.22 to 3.94 micrograms/L in human serum. The improved sensitivity permits the use of sample sizes substantially smaller than previously required.