Supramolecular Assembly of Human Pulmonary Surfactant Protein SP-D.

Pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a glycoprotein from the collectin family that is a component of the lung surfactant system. It exhibits host defense and immune regulatory functions in addition to contributing to the homeostasis of the surfactant pool within the alveolar airspaces. It is known that the SP-D monomer forms trimers, which further associate into higher-order oligomers. However, the pathway and the interactions involved in the assembly of SP-D oligomers are not clearly understood. In the current study, a recombinant form of full-length human SP-D (rhSP-D) has been qualitatively and quantitatively studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrophoresis, with the aim to understand the conformational diversity and the determinants defining the oligomerization of the protein. The rhSP-D preparation studied is a mixture of trimers, hexamers, dodecamers and higher-order oligomeric species, with dodecamers accounting for more than 50% of the protein by mass. Similar structures were also found in hSP-D obtained from proteinosis patients, with the largest fuzzy-ball-like oligomers being more abundant in these samples. The proportion of dodecamer is increased under acidic conditions, accompanied by a conformational change into more compact configurations. Two hexamers appear to be the minimal necessary unit for dodecamer formation, with stabilization of the dodecamer occurring via non-covalent, ionic, and hydrophobic interactions between the individual N-terminal domains and the proximal area of the SP-D collagen stems.

The GTPase Rab3a is associated with large dense core vesicles in bovine chromaffin cells and rat PC12 cells.

Small GTPases of the rab family control intracellular vesicle traffic in eukaryotic cells. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of the Rab proteins have not been elucidated yet, it is known that the function of these proteins is dependent on their precise subcellular localization. It has been suggested that Rab3a, which is mainly expressed in neural and endocrine cells, might regulate exocytosis. Recently, direct experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis has been obtained. Consistent with such a role for Rab3a in regulated exocytosis was the previously reported specific association of Rab3a with synaptic vesicles and with secretory granules in adrenal chromaffin cells. Since the latter result, based on subcellular fractionation, has been controversial, we have re-investigated the subcellular localization of this GTP-binding protein by using a combination of morphological techniques. Bovine chromaffin cells were labelled with an affinity-purified polyclonal anti-Rab3a antibody and analyzed by confocal microcopy. Rab3a was found to colocalize partially with dopamine beta-hydroxylase, a chromaffin granule marker. In agreement with this observation, immunoelectron microscopy revealed a specific staining of chromaffin granules. In addition to large dense core vesicles, some small vesicles were labelled. To eliminate the possibility that the staining was due to a Rab3a-related protein, we investigated by immunoelectron microscopy the localization of an epitope-tagged Rab3a expressed in rat PC12 cells. Secretory granules were specifically labelled, whereas clear microvesicles were not. These results provide further evidence supporting a specific association of the GTPase Rab3a with large dense core secretory vesicles.

Interaction cloning of Rabin3, a novel protein that associates with the Ras-like GTPase Rab3A.

Rab3A is a small, Ras-like GTPase expressed in neuroendocrine cells, in which it is associated with secretory vesicle membranes and regulates exocytosis. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified a rat brain cDNA encoding a novel 50-kDa protein, which we have named Rabin3, that interacts with Rab3A and Rab3D but not with other small GTPases (Rab3C, Rab2, Ran, or Ras). Several independent point mutations in the effector domain of Rab3A (F51L, V55E, and G56D) which do not alter nucleotide binding by the GTPase abolish the interaction with Rabin3, while another mutation (V52A) appears to increase the interaction. These results demonstrate that the interaction is highly specific. However, a glutathione S-transferase-Rabin3 fusion protein associates only weakly in vitro with recombinant Rab3A and possesses no detectable GTPase-activating protein or nucleotide exchange activity, and Rabin3 overexpressed in adrenal chromaffin cells has no observable effect on secretion. The protein possess a sequence characteristic of coiled-coil domains and a second small region with sequence similarity to a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, Sec2p, Sec2p is essential for constitutive secretion in yeast cells and interacts with Sec4p, a close relative of the Rab3A GTPase. Rabin3 mRNA and protein are widely expressed but are particularly abundant in testes.

Evidence for the involvement of Rab3A in Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis from adrenal chromaffin cells.

Bovine chromaffin cells are nondividing primary secretory cells that store and secrete catecholamine and a variety of proteins including chromogranins, opiate peptides, and opiate precursors. A transient transfection technique based upon the expression of human growth hormone as a reporter for the regulated secretory pathway was used to study the role of a Ras-like, GTP-binding protein, Rab3a, in Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry revealed that growth hormone and Rab proteins were coexpressed in the same cells. Overexpression of the wild type protein and expression of a mutant protein Rab3aQ81L both inhibited nicotinic agonist-stimulated exocytosis in intact cells. Expression of Rab3aQ81L also inhibited Ca(2+)-dependent secretion from permeabilized cells. Two other mutants, Rab3aN135I and Rab3aT36N, which correspond to dominant acting mutants of Ras, caused limited and no inhibition, respectively, of agonist-stimulated exocytosis. These data provide direct evidence that Rab3a plays an important role in Ca(2+)-triggered exocytosis. We suggest that Rab3a is an inhibitor of secretion, perhaps as part of a pre-fusion complex with secretory vesicles. Elevated Ca2+ may trigger exocytosis by overcoming the inhibition by Rab3a.

The Rab3A GTPase interacts with multiple factors through the same effector domain. Mutational analysis of cross-linking of Rab3A to a putative target protein.

Rab3A/smg25A is a small Ras-like guanine nucleotide binding protein implicated in the control of regulated secretion from cells. Rab3A is approximately 30% cytosolic and 70% associated with the membranes of secretory vesicles. It cross-links specifically to a rat brain membrane protein of about 85 kilodaltons (p85). To identify epitopes on Rab3A that are important for its interaction with this putative target protein, we have determined the effects of point mutations on the cross-linking efficiency of Rab3A to p85. Rab3A, which was preincubated with a non-hydrolyzable analog of GTP, cross-linked more efficiently to p85 than did Rab3A-GDP. Rab3A mutants that had decreased nucleotide binding also exhibited poor cross-linking to p85. Mutations in the effector domain, a site important for the interaction of Rab3A with its guanine nucleotide releasing factor, guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor, and GTPase-activating protein, eliminated the ability of Rab3A to cross-link to p85. However, short peptides corresponding to the effector domain did not reduce cross-linking efficiency when present at a concentration of 50 microM.

Regulation of the GTPase cycle of the neuronally expressed Ras-like GTP-binding protein Rab3A.

The small GTP-binding protein Rab3A (identical to smg p25A) is expressed in neural/exocrine/endocrine cells, is distributed between the cytosol and secretory vesicle membranes, and may cycle between these locations to regulate exocytosis. It is proposed that the GTP/GDP state of Rab3A controls this distribution. In PC12 cells, cytosolic Rab3A is predominantly GDP-bound, whereas membrane-associated Rab3A is approximately 50% GTP-bound. Two cytosolic factors, GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) and guanine nucleotide releasing factor (GRF), act only on GDP.Rab3A, and preferentially with post-translationally modified Rab3A. Rab3A GTPase-activating protein (GAP) does not preferentially act on processed Rab3A, and interacts selectively with GTP.Rab3A. GDI antagonizes GRF but not GAP activity toward Rab3A. These data are consistent with the concept of an ordered Rab3A cycle controlled by factors that regulate the guanine-nucleotide binding state of Rab3A.

Mutants of Rab3A analogous to oncogenic Ras mutants. Sensitivity to Rab3A-GTPase activating protein and Rab3A-guanine nucleotide releasing factor.

Rab3A is a Ras-like GTPase that is believed to function in regulated secretion. A GTPase activating protein (GAP) and a guanine nucleotide releasing factor (GRF) specific for Rab3A have recently been described. In this study we have described the biochemical activities of Rab3A mutants in codons 31, 81, 135, and 166, which correspond to codons 12, 61, 116, and 146 in Ras. The results demonstrate that simple extrapolations from the properties of Ras mutants are not valid for all small GTPases. S31V-Rab3A and Q81L-Rab3A had a reduced basal GTPase activity, but surprisingly were sensitive to the effects of Rab3A-GAP and insensitive to Rab3A-GRF. Q81L-Rab3A and wild-type Rab3A that were bound to a nonhydrolyzable GTP analog had similar affinities for Rab3A-GAP. In vivo, the percent of Q81L-Rab3A (46%) and wild-type Rab3A (43%) complexed to GTP was similar. These findings indicate that Rab3A-GRF and Rab3A-GAP interact with residues different from those of previously described GAPs and GRFs. Both A166V-Rab3A and N135I-Rab3A had increased intrinsic dissociation rates for GDP. However, the dissociation rate for N135I-Rab3A was > 100-fold higher than that for A166V-Rab3A suggesting that, in vivo, of the two, N135I-Rab3A would more likely be preferentially in the GTP-bound state.

Transforming growth factor-alpha expression produces only morphological transformants of diploid human fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is a potent mitogen for a variety of epithelial and mesenchymal cells and is commonly expressed in many human tumors and tumor cell lines. Frequently, this creates a potential autocrine circuit for growth stimulation in these cells; however, this is occurring in a background of other mutation-generated events. To determine the significance of the TGF-alpha circuit alone, we expressed the human TGF-alpha cDNA in a diploid human foreskin fibroblast strain, 7-25, under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter-enhancer region and screened transfectants for TGF-alpha expression by Northern analysis and by immunoprecipitation. Partially processed forms (M(r) 24,000 and 20,000) of the recombinant TGF-alpha were observed in cell lysates and a M(r) 5500 fully processed form was secreted by the fibroblasts into the media. TGF-alpha-expressing clones showed an altered morphology and an increased saturation density (1.4- to 2.1-fold) but did not exhibit anchor-age-dependent growth in soft agarose or the ability to form tumors in nude mice. Additionally, expression of recombinant TGF-alpha did not extend the lifespan of these fibroblast clones. Scatchard analysis revealed approximately 10(5) epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors on the surface of these human fibroblasts, indicating that the failure of TGF-alpha expression to strongly transform these cells is not due to low EGF receptor levels. These data suggest that cell type plays an important role in determining the transforming ability of TGF-alpha.

Amino acid residues in the Ras-like GTPase Rab3A that specify sensitivity to factors that regulate the GTP/GDP cycling of Rab3A.

Two cellular factors have been described, Rab3A-GAP (GTPase-activating protein) and Rab3A-GRF (guanine nucleotide releasing factor) which, respectively, accelerate the intrinsic GTPase activity of, or the rate of dissociation of GDP from, the Ras-related GTP-binding protein, p25 Rab3A. Mutational analysis of p25 Rab3A was undertaken to define amino acid residues important for interaction with these factors. Mutations in residues 51-59, which correspond to the effector domain of p21 Ras, completely abolished sensitivity of p25 Rab3A to Rab3A-GRF and decreased the affinity of p25 Rab3A for Rab3A-GRF. Surprisingly, only one mutant in this region was Rab3A-GAP-insensitive, while the others retained partial, complete, or significantly increased GAP responsiveness. Mutations in the first G-domain had only modest effects on intrinsic GTPase activity and little effect on either Rab3A-GRF or Rab3A-GAP interactions. Truncation of 34 residues from the carboxyl terminus had no effect Rab3A-GAP sensitivity but facilitated Rab3A-GRF stimulation. Mutation T36N, analogous to the dominant inhibitory mutation T17N in Ras, which has been hypothesized to sequester an upstream activator of Ras, conferred a 10-fold higher affinity upon p25 Rab3A for Rab3A-GRF.

N-myc oncogene enhances mitogenic responsiveness of diploid human fibroblasts to growth factors but fails to immortalize.

The N-myc gene is amplified in several types of human tumors. To assess the role of the N-myc gene in the transformation of normal human cells, we transfected an N-myc expression vector into diploid human fibroblasts. Transfected clones were isolated and found to express the N-myc gene at levels similar to those seen in a tumor cell line (neuroblastoma LA-N-1) which contains an amplified N-myc gene. The level of N-myc expression decreased as the N-myc clones senesced. Clones expressing N-myc had an increased saturation density and an altered morphology but did not have an extended lifespan. Under low serum conditions, neither the clones expressing N-myc nor the control cells showed anchorage-dependent growth. Clones expressing N-myc were compared to control cells to determine if different growth factors would affect the ability of cells to grow in soft agarose. Clones expressing N-myc and the control cells did not grow in soft agarose supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). However, compared to control cells, clones expressing N-myc grew in agarose 2.8- to 18-fold higher in response to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 5.5- to 55-fold higher in response to platelet-derived growth factor B-chain homodimer (PDGF-BB).

Fibronectin levels are enhanced in human fibroblasts overexpressing the c-sis protooncogene.

We studied human dermal fibroblasts transfected with a human c-sis cDNA (coding for the platelet-derived growth factor B-chain). Dermal fibroblasts overexpressing c-sis exhibited a stellate morphology with focus formation, enhanced colony formation in methylcellulose-containing growth medium, and increased levels of soluble and extracellular matrix-associated fibronectin. Gene expression of fibronectin was enhanced 10-fold in c-sis-overexpressing fibroblasts relative to controls. Pro-alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA was not increased in these same c-sis-overexpressing fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor beta 1 treatment of c-sis-transfected cells caused a modest increase (77%) in fibronectin mRNA levels with no increase in soluble fibronectin production after 24 h. In contrast, transforming growth factor beta 1 caused at least a 10-fold increase in fibronectin mRNA and a 2-fold increase in soluble fibronectin from medium conditioned by control fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor beta 1 increased pro-alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA approximately 3-fold in both control and c-sis-transfected fibroblasts. These studies reveal that a primary biological function of the platelet-derived growth factor B-chain is upregulation of fibronectin gene expression and extracellular matrix formation. The anchorage-independent phenotype of c-sis-overexpressing cells was blocked by the cell adhesion sequence of fibronectin, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser. Our results demonstrate that interaction of cells with extracellular adhesion receptors is necessary for proliferation in semisolid medium even when cells are overproducing growth factors known to act via autocrine stimulation.

Benzo[a]pyrene-diol-epoxide-induced anchorage-independence in diploid human fibroblasts. Analysis of cellular protooncogenes.

Treatment of diploid human fibroblasts with stereoisomeric benzo[alpha]pyrene anti and syn diol epoxides has been shown to induce anchorage-independent clones of cells with a dose dependence and frequency [(0.5-12) X 10(-4)] not significantly different from mutations at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus [(1-8) X 10(-4)] in these cells. The majority of the anchorage-independent clones that were picked retained their mutagen-induced, anchorage-independent phenotype through at least 20 generations of expansion in monolayer culture. No variant cells showing extended life-span were detected among survivors in any of the mutagen treatment groups (less than 1.6 X 10(-7) frequency). Extensive analysis of a pool of 15 cellular protooncogenes (Ha-ras, Ki-ras, N-ras, mos, fos, fes, myc, abl, sis, myb, erbA, erbB, src, raf, N-myc), using Southern and northern blot analysis, was done to determine whether mutagen-induced rearrangement, amplification or overexpression of any of these genes was responsible for the mutagen-induced, anchorage-independent phenotype. We found no evidence that the genomic arrangement or expression level of any of these genes had been altered, thus indicating that an alternative form of mutation, or an alternative gene not included in this screening was responsible for the mutagen-induced, anchorage-independent phenotype.

Partially transformed, anchorage-independent human diploid fibroblasts result from overexpression of the c-sis oncogene: mitogenic activity of an apparent monomeric platelet-derived growth factor 2 species.

A human c-sis cDNA in an expression vector was introduced into human diploid fibroblasts by transfection or electroporation. Fibroblast clones showing an aberrant, densely packed colony morphology were isolated and found to overexpress a 3.6-kilobase sis mRNA species and associated immunoprecipitable platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) 2 proteins. Parallel analyses in cell clones of sis mRNA expression and colony formation in agar indicated that, above a threshold, a linear, positive correlation existed between sis overexpression and acquired anchorage independence. The sis-overexpressing cells formed transient, regressing tumor nodules when injected into nude mice, consistent with the finite life span which they retained. Protein products generated from the transfected c-sis construct in two overexpressing clones were immunoprecipitated with anti-human PDGF antibodies. One clone contained an apparent PDGF dimer of 21 kilodaltons; the second clone contained only an apparent PDGF monomer of 12 kilodaltons, which was shown to account for all of the mitogenic activity present in the cells, essentially all of which was concentrated in the membrane fraction. The results demonstrate a clear link between sis overexpression and acquisition of a partially transformed, anchorage-independent phenotype, and when combined with previous observations of sis overexpression in human tumors, clearly implicate sis overexpression as a genetic mechanism which contributes to human cell transformation.