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GM130 is a cytoplasmic peripheral membrane protein localized on the cis side of the Golgi apparatus. GM130 is proposed to function as a membrane skeleton, maintaining the structure of the Golgi apparatus, and as a vesicle tether that facilitates vesicle fusion to the Golgi membrane. More than 60% of the GM130 molecule is believed to exist as coiled-coil structures with a probability above 90%, based on its primary amino acid sequence. The predicted coiled-coil region was similar to that of yeast Uso1p and its mammalian homolog, p115, both of which form coiled-coil homodimers. Therefore, GM130 has long been thought to form a homodimer with a rod-like shape. However, our biochemical and electron microscopical analyses revealed that GM130 is a parallel homotetramer with a flexible rod-like structure with I- and Y-shaped conformations. The structure of the N-terminal region may interchange between an open conformation (branched or Y-shaped) and a closed conformation (non-branched or I-shaped), possibly with the help of interacting molecules. This conformational change may alter the oligomeric state of the GM130 molecules and the function of GM130 in the vesicle tethering and the maintenance of the Golgi structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coiled-coil Golgi membrane protein golgin-84 functions as a tethering factor for coat protein I (COPI) vesicles. Protein interaction analyses have revealed that golgin-84 interacts with another tether, the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, through its subunit Cog7. Therefore, we explored the function of golgin-84 as the tether for COPI vesicles of intra-Golgi retrograde traffic. First, glycosylic maturation of both plasma membrane (CD44) and lysosomal (lamp1) glycoproteins was distorted in golgin-84 knockdown (KD) cells. The depletion of golgin-84 caused fragmentation of the Golgi with the mislocalization of Golgi resident proteins, resulting in the accumulation of vesicles carrying intra-Golgi solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) and cis-Golgi membrane protein GPP130. Similar observations were obtained by diminution of the COG complex, suggesting a strong correlation between the two tethers. Indeed, COG complex-dependent (CCD) vesicles that accumulate in Cog3 or Cog7 KD cells carried golgin-84. Surprisingly, the interaction between golgin-84 and another candidate tethering partner CASP (CDP/cut alternatively spliced product) decreased in Cog3 KD cells. These results indicate that golgin-84 on COPI vesicles interact with the COG complex before SNARE assembly, suggesting that the interaction of golgin-84 with COG plays an important role in the tethering process of intra-Golgi retrograde vesicle traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypophosphatasia, a congenital metabolic disease related to the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase gene (TNSALP), is characterized by reduced serum alkaline phosphatase levels and defective mineralization of hard tissues. A replacement of valine with alanine at position 406, located in the crown domain of TNSALP, was reported in a perinatal form of hypophosphatasia. To understand the molecular defect of the TNSALP (V406A) molecule, we examined this missense mutant protein in transiently transfected COS-1 cells and in stable CHO-K1 Tet-On cells. Compared with the wild-type enzyme, the mutant protein showed a markedly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity. This was not the result of defective transport and resultant degradation of TNSALP (V406A) in the endoplasmic reticulum, as the majority of newly synthesized TNSALP (V406A) was conveyed to the Golgi apparatus and incorporated into a cold detergent insoluble fraction (raft) at a rate similar to that of the wild-type TNSALP. TNSALP (V406A) consisted of a dimer, as judged by sucrose gradient centrifugation, suggestive of its proper folding and correct assembly, although this mutant showed increased susceptibility to digestion by trypsin or proteinase K. When purified as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchorless soluble form, the mutant protein exhibited a remarkably lower Kcat/ Km value compared with that of the wild-type TNSALP. Interestingly, leucine and isoleucine, but not phenylalanine, were able to substitute for valine, pointing to the indispensable role of residues with a longer aliphatic side chain at position 406 of TNSALP. Taken together, this particular mutation highlights the structural importance of the crown domain with respect to the catalytic function of TNSALP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vesicle-tethering protein p115 functions in endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi trafficking. We explored the function of homologous region 2 (HR2) of the p115 head domain that is highly homologous with the yeast counterpart, Uso1p. By expression of p115 mutants in p115 knockdown (KD) cells, we found that deletion of HR2 caused an irregular assembly of the Golgi, which consisted of a cluster of mini-stacked Golgi fragments, and gathered around microtubule-organizing center in a microtubule-dependent manner. Protein interaction analyses revealed that p115 HR2 interacted with Cog2, a subunit of the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex that is known another putative cis-Golgi vesicle-tethering factor. The interaction between p115 and Cog2 was found to be essential for Golgi ribbon reformation after the disruption of the ribbon by p115 KD or brefeldin A treatment and recovery by re-expression of p115 or drug wash out, respectively. The interaction occurred only in interphase cells and not in mitotic cells. These results strongly suggested that p115 plays an important role in the biogenesis and maintenance of the Golgi by interacting with the COG complex on the cis-Golgi in vesicular trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protein p130 was isolated from rat brain as an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-binding protein with a domain organization similar to that of phospholipase C-δ1 but lacking PLC activity. We show that p130 plays an important role in signaling by the type A receptor for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Yeast twohybrid screening identified GABA RAP (GABAA receptor-associated protein), which is proposed to contribute to the sorting, targeting or clustering of GABAA receptors, as a protein that interacts with p130. Furthermore, p130 competitively inhibited the binding of the γ2 subunit of the GABAA receptor to GABARAP in vitro. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that the modulation of GABA-induced Cl- current by Zn2+ or diazepam, both of which act at GABAA receptors containing γ subunits, is impaired in hippocampal neurons of p130 knockout mice. Moreover, behavioral analysis revealed that motor coordination was impaired and the intraperitoneal injection of diazepam induced markedly reduced sedative and antianxiety effects in the mutant mice. These results indicate that p130 is essential for the function of GABAA receptors, especially in response to the agents acting on a γ2 subunit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cDNA was cloned coding for human placental 5’-nucleotidase. The 3547-cDNA contains an open reading frame that encodes a 574-residue polypeptide with a calculated size of 63375 Da. The NH2-terminal 26 residues comprises a signal peptide, which is followed by the NH2-terminal sequence of the purified protein. Four potential N-linked glycosylation sites are found in the molecule, accounting for a larger mass of the mature form (71 kDa). The predicted structure contains a hydrophobic amino acid sequence at the COOH terminus, a possible signal for the post-translational modification by glycophosholipid. To confirm this possibility, we tried to isolate and characterize the membrane-anchoring domain of 5’-nucleotidase. BrCN-cleaved fragments of the protein were extracted with hexane and subjected to HPLC, resulting in purification of a single component of 2.3 kDa. Chemical analyses revealed that the purified fragment contains the tetradecapeptide Lys-Ile-Tyr-Pro-Ala-Val-Glu-Gly-Arg-Ile-Lys-Phe-Ser, ethanolamine, glucosamine, mannose, inositol, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. The peptide sequence determined is identified at positions 540-523 in the primary structure deduced from the cDNA sequence, which predicts a further extension to position 548, containing the hydrophobic amino acid sequence. Thus, it is concluded that the nmature 5’-nucleotidase lacks the predicted COOH-terminal peptide extension (524-548), which has been replaced by the glycophospholipid functioning as the membrane anchor of 5’-nucleotidase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains of rat haptoglobin which were synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes in primary culture. When the cells were incubated with either [³H]mannose,[³H]galactose, or [³H]fucose, all the radioactive precursors were incorporated into the β subunit of haptoglobin. [³]HMannose-labled haptoglobin was purified from the culture medium by immunoaffinity chromatogrpahy, and [³H]oligosaccharides were prepared by strong alkali-borohydride treatment. The oligosccharides obtained were analyzed by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, concanavali-A - Sepharose chromatography and Bio-Gel P-4 chromatography before and after sequential exoglycosidase digestions. The oligosaccharides labeled with [³H]fucose or [³H]galactose were also characterized by the above methods. The results indicated that rat haptoglobin contains two complex-type oligosccharide chains in each β subunit one with a possible structure of (± NeuAc→Galβ→GlcNAcβ→)3(Manα→)2Manβ→GlcNAc→(±Fucα→)GcNAc and the other with (±NeuAc→Galβ→GlcNacβ→Manα→)2Manβ→GlcNAc→(±Fucα→)GlcNAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the biosynthesis and intracellular processing of three major secretory proteins, albumin, α1-protease inhibitor and α2u-globulin, in cultured rat hepatocytes. The effect of secretion-blocking agents, monensin, a monovalent ionophore, and the microtubule-affecting agents colchicine and taxol was determined. In the control cells, α1-protease inhibitor, a glycoprotein, was first synthesized as an endoglycosidase-H-sensitive form with Mr 51000, and then processed to two endoglycosidase-H-resistant forms having Mr 51000 and 56000, the latter of which was secreted into the medium. Initially synthesized proalbumin was converted with chase to serum-type albumin, while no pro-type precursor was identified for α2u-globulin. In the cells lrcated with colchicine or taxol, in which secretion was greatly inhibited, the fully processed α1-protease inhibitor and albumin accumulated and were finally secreted into the medium. In the monensin-treated cells, however, most of the newly synthesized α1-protease inhibitor and albumin were not processed to the final mature forms, resulting in accumulation of two 51000-Mr forms and proalbumin, respectively. Moreover in treated cells, proalbumin and the endoglycosidase-H-resistant α1-protease inhibitor were finally secreted into the medium. Such an effect was not caused by NH4Cl which also inhibited the secretion and is known to exert the similar effect as monensin on the receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway. Based on these results, the use of monensin may prove valuable for more detailed analysis of intracellular processing of various proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cDNA encoding a 5′-nucleotidase was identified by screening a λgt10 cDNA library from the electric lobe of Discopyge ommata using a cDNA probe containing the complete open reading frame coding for the rat liver enzyme. Nucleotide sequence analysis defines an open reading frame of 577 amino acids, corresponding to a calculated molecular mass of 63833 Da. The N-terminus of the mature protein, as determined by direct protein sequencing, is preceded by 29 amino acid residues comprising a signal peptide. The C-terminus contains a stretch of hydrophobic amino adds, considered to be cleaved on post-translational modification and exchanged for glycosylphosphatidylinositol as a membrane anchor. The predicted protein contains four potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Electric ray 5′-nucleotidase shares 61 % amino acid identity with the enzymes from rat liver and human placenta, and about 23% with bacterial proteins possessing 5′-nucleotidase activity and also additional enzyme activities like UDP-glucose hydrolase. Polyclonal antibodies raised against 5′-nucleotidase from mammalian sources or the electric ray electric organ reveal mutual cross-reactivity. Interestingly, there are 5–7 domains highly conserved in procaryotes and vertebrates in enzymes exhibiting 5′-nucleotidase, 3′-nucleotidase or phosphodiesterase activity. 5′-nucleotidase isolated from Torpedo electric organ hydrolyzes UDP-glucose at 8% of the rate of AMP hydrolysis. The possible phylogenetic origin of vertebrate 5′-nucleotidase from multifunctional nucleotide hydrolases is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural analysis of 55 nearly full-length cDNA clones revealed heterogeneity in the 5'-untranslated regions of rat liver alkaline phosphatase mRNAs. The 5' extremities diverged into two totally unrelated sequence stretches at the position 88 nucleotides upstream of the initiation codon ATG. These two sequences, referred to as E1 and E2, were assigned on the genome about 36 000 base pairs (36 kbp) and 10 kbp upstream, respectively, of the exon coding for the 5'-most part of the common region. The gene consisted of 13 exons, including E1 and E2, and spanned about 56 kbp. The 11 exons (E3 to E13) following E1 and E2 were shared in common by the El-type and the E2-type mRNAs. Analyses by SI nuclease mapping and primer extension revealed the presence of two independent transcription-initiation sites specific to each of the El and E2 sequences. These results are interpreted as indicating a possible alternative usage of two leader exons, hence the presence of two independent promoters. Structural features of these putative promoters are described in the context of transcriptional fundamental and regulatory cis-elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]