Molecular properties of the oxytocin/bovine neurophysin biosynthetic precursor. Studies using a semisynthetic precursor

Familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus--an update

Although molecular research has contributed significantly to our knowledge of familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (FNDI) for more than a decade, the genetic background and the pathogenesis still is not understood fully. Here we provide a review of the genetic basis of FNDI, present recent progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its development, and survey diagnostic and treatment aspects. FNDI is, in 87 of 89 kindreds known, caused by mutations in the arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene, the pattern of which seems to be largely revealed as only few novel mutations have been identified in recent years. The mutation pattern, together with evidence from clinical, cellular, and animal studies, points toward a pathogenic cascade of events, initiated by protein misfolding, involving intracellular protein accumulation, and ending with degeneration of the AVP producing magnocellular neurons. Molecular research has also provided an important tool in the occasionally difficult differential diagnosis of DI and the opportunity to perform presymptomatic diagnosis. Although FNDI is treated readily with exogenous administration of deamino-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP), other treatment options such as gene therapy and enhancement of the endoplasmic reticulum protein quality control could become future treatment modalities.

A novel heterozygous missense mutation in the vasopressin moiety is identified in a Japanese person with neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus

The autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (adFNDI) is caused by diverse mutations in one allele of the gene that encodes the arginine vasopressin (AVP) precursor protein, AVP-neurophysin II (AVP-NP II). Most of the mutations identified so far are located in either the signal peptide or NP II moiety. Two recently published mutations in the AVP gene identified in kindreds with adFNDI predict a substitution of histidine for tyrosine at position 2 and a deletion of phenylalanine at position 3 in AVP. They are unique among adFNDI mutations in that they are the only adFNDI mutations that affect amino acid residues in the AVP moiety of the pro-hormone. Here, we report a novel heterozygous missense mutation in the AVP moiety of the AVP-NP II gene in a Japanese person with neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (DI). This mutation occurs at position 2 in AVP and predicts a substitution of serine for tyrosine (Y21S). It is expected to interfere with normal binding of AVP with NP II, and thus result in misfolding of the precursor proteins. The data of this study support the notion that mutations affecting the AVP moiety can result in the initiation of the pathological processes.

EGFP-tagged vasopressin precursor protein sorting into large dense core vesicles and secretion from PC12 cells

1. Hypothalamic magnocellular neurons synthesize, store, and secrete large quantities of the neuropeptides, vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT), which are synthesized as protein precursors also containing proteins called neurophysins. These protein precursors are sorted through the regulated secretory pathway (RSP), packaged into large dense core vesicles LDCVs, and their peptide products are secreted from nerve terminals in the posterior pituitary. 2. It has been hypothesized that this efficient packaging is dependent on the interaction of the peptide with neurophysin in a complex that forms the granule core. To test this, PC12 cells were transfected with vasopressin precursor DNA constructs that either contained or deleted the neurophysin moiety and tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as reporters. The intracellular routing and secretion of the EGFP-tagged VP precursor proteins were studied by in differentiated PC12 cells by fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, and fluorescent imaging techniques. 3. The data showed that only when the neurophysin was present in the VP precursor construct did the fluorescent fusion protein become routed to the RSP and get efficiently packaged into LDCVs and secreted. These data are consistent with the view that routing of the precursor to LDCVs requires the amino acids that encode the intravesicular chaperone, neurophysin.

Impaired trafficking of mutated AVP prohormone in cells expressing rare disease genes causing autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus

OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN

Two different mutations in the arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene associated with autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (adFNDI) predict Y21H (AVP2) and V67A (NP36) amino acid substitutions of the AVP prohormone. They are unique in that they change, respectively, the AVP moiety and a region of the neurophysin II domain not so far affected by any mutations. To test whether they affect the cellular handling of the AVP prohormone in a similar manner to previously investigated mutations, they were examined by heterologous expression in cell lines.

RESULTS

Both mutations resulted in significantly reduced amounts of immunoreactive AVP in the cell culture medium as determined by radioimmunoassay analysis. Metabolic labelling combined with immunoprecipitation demonstrated that processing and secretion of the mutant prohormones was reduced but not prevented. Finally, confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that normal AVP prohormone and/or its processed products were localized in the tips of the cellular processes, whereas both mutant prohormones were accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in the case of the V67A prohormone, also in perinuclear structures outside the ER.

CONCLUSION

Both mutations result in reduced AVP prohormone processing and secretion probably due to retention in the ER. This supports, at least partly, the hypothesis that the mutations lead to the production of a mutant hormone precursor that fails to fold and/or dimerize properly and, as a consequence, is retained by the ER protein quality control machinery. Perinuclear accumulation of the V67A prohormone outside the ER indicates that additional mechanisms could be involved.

Six novel mutations in the arginine vasopressin gene in 15 kindreds with autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus give further insight into the pathogenesis

Autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (adFNDI) is caused by postnatal arginine vasopressin (AVP) deficiency resulting from mutations in the AVP gene encoding the AVP pre-prohormone. To advance the understanding of adFNDI further, we have searched for mutations in the AVP gene in 15 unrelated kindreds in which diabetes insipidus appeared to be segregating. In nine kindreds, seven different previously described mutations were identified. In each of the other six kindreds, unique novel mutations were identified. Two of these (225A>G and 227G>A) change a nucleotide in the translation initiation codon of the signal peptide, whereas the other four (1797T>C, 1884G>A, 1907T>G, and 2112C>G) predict amino-acid substitutions in the neurophysin II moiety of the AVP prohormone, namely V67A (NP36), G96D (NP65), C104G (NP73), and C116W (NP85). Among these, the mutation predicting the V67A (NP36) substitution is remarkable. It affects a region of the neurophysin II not affected by any other mutations, produces only a minor change, and its inheritance suggests an incomplete penetrance. Our findings both confirm and further extend the mutation pattern that has emerged in adFNDI, suggesting that the mutations affect amino-acid residues known or reasonably presumed to be important for the proper folding and/or dimerization of the neurophysin II moiety of the AVP prohormone.

Targeting of green fluorescent protein to secretory granules in oxytocin magnocellular neurons and its secretion from neurohypophysial nerve terminals in transgenic mice

Oxytocin (OT) is a hypothalamic nonapeptide that is synthesized as part of a larger precursor protein that also contains an approximately 10-kDa protein called neurophysin at its C-terminus. This precursor protein is trafficked through the regulated secretory pathway into secretory granules and then axonally transported to and secreted from nerve terminals in the neural lobe of the pituitary. In this paper, we show that the AI-03 transgene that contains enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused to the end of the neurophysin at the C-terminus of the OT pre-prohormone, is expressed selectively in OT-magnocellular neurons and is trafficked to secretory granules in transgenic mice. The EGFP-containing secretory granules are then transported to OT-neurosecretory terminals in the neurohypophysis, where the EGFP fluorescence undergoes depolarization-induced calcium-dependent secretion. The endogenous fluorescence in the neural lobes is sufficiently intense to image secretory events in individual OT nerve terminals (neurosecretosomes) isolated from the posterior pituitaries in these transgenic mice.

Structures of an unliganded neurophysin and its vasopressin complex: implications for binding and allosteric mechanisms

The structures of des 1-6 bovine neurophysin-II in the unliganded state and as its complex with lysine vasopressin were determined crystallographically at resolutions of 2.4 A and 2.3 A, respectively. The structure of the protein component of the vasopressin complex was, with some local differences, similar to that determined earlier of the full-length protein complexed with oxytocin, but relatively large differences, probably intrinsic to the hormones, were observed between the structures of bound oxytocin and bound vasopressin at Gln 4. The structure of the unliganded protein is the first structure of an unliganded neurophysin. Comparison with the liganded state indicated significant binding-induced conformational changes that were the largest in the loop region comprising residues 50-58 and in the 7-10 region. A subtle binding-induced tightening of the subunit interface of the dimer also was shown, consistent with a role for interface changes in neurophysin allosteric mechanism, but one that is probably not predominant. Interface changes are suggested to be communicated from the binding site through the strands of beta-sheet that connect these two regions, in part with mediation by Gly 23. Comparison of unliganded and liganded states additionally reveals that the binding site for the hormone alpha-amino group is largely preformed and accessible in the unliganded state, suggesting that it represents the initial site of hormone protein recognition. The potential molecular basis for its thermodynamic contribution to binding is discussed.

Effects of diabetes insipidus mutations on neurophysin folding and function

Mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of diabetes insipidus mutations were probed by studying their effects on the properties of bovine oxytocin-related neurophysin. The mutations G17V, DeltaE47, G57S, G57R, and C67STOP were each shown to have structural consequences that would diminish the conformational stability and folding efficiency of the precursors in which they were incorporated, and factors contributing to the origins of these property changes were identified. Effects of the mutations on dimerization of the folded proteins were similarly analyzed. The projected relative impact of the above mutations on precursor folding properties qualitatively parallels the reported relative severity of their effects on the biological handling of the human vasopressin precursor, but quantitative differences between thermodynamic effects and biological impact are noted and explored. The sole mutation for which no clear thermodynamic basis was found for its pathogenicity was 87STOP, suggesting that the region of the precursor deleted by this mutation plays a role in targeting independent from effects on folding, or participates in stabilizing interactions unique to the human vasopressin precursor.

A diabetes insipidus vasopressin prohormone altered outside the central core of neurophysin accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum

Over 20 mutations affecting the neurophysin moiety of the vasopressin prohormone, have been identified in families suffering from familial neurohypophysial diabetes insipidus (FNDI). Only one of these, NP87E-->stop, is located outside the central conserved domain implicated in sorting of the vasopressin prohormone. To obtain clues about the mechanism of induction of FNDI by this atypical mutant we stably expressed wild type and NP87E-->stop vasopressin prohormones in (neuro)endocrine cell lines. Metabolic labeling and immunoprecipitation demonstrated reduced processing of the mutant prohormone to neurophysin. In addition, evoked secretion of neurophysin and vasopressin was diminished, suggesting that part of the mutant is retained in another intracellular compartment than the secretory granules. Indeed, immunofluorescence demonstrated accumulation of the truncated vasopressin prohormone in the endoplasmic reticulum. We conclude that the presence of the vasopressin moiety and the central conserved core of the neurophysin domain suffices for sorting and processing, but not for efficient endoplasmic reticulum exit of the vasopressin-neurophysin molecule.

Trafficking of the vasopressin and oxytocin prohormone through the regulated secretory pathway

The trafficking of prohormones and of regulated secretory proteins in general has been studied extensively in the last decades of the last century. Prohormone trafficking starts with correct folding and subsequently efficient sorting into the secretory granule of the regulated secretory pathway. The vasopressin/oxytocin prohormone is particularly interesting for studying protein trafficking, because the physicochemical properties and three-dimensional structure have been largely elucidated. In the case of pro-vasopressin and pro-oxytocin, folding and sorting depend completely on both intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. Proper folding is guided by the hormone-neurophysin association and the sorting event relies on the aggregative properties of the neurophysin domain in the prohormone, as well as a specific sorting signal, which is revealed when the aggregative property of the neurophysin domain is deleted. A comprehensive mechanism for trafficking of the vasopressin/oxytocin prohormone from the endoplasmic reticulum to the secretory granule is proposed.

Mutations in the vasopressin prohormone involved in diabetes insipidus impair endoplasmic reticulum export but not sorting

Familial neurohypophysial diabetes insipidus is characterized by vasopressin deficiency caused by heterozygous expression of a mutated vasopressin prohormone gene. To elucidate the mechanism of this disease, we stably expressed five vasopressin prohormones with a mutation in the neurophysin moiety (NP14G-->R, NP47E-->G, NP47DeltaE, NP57G-->S, and NP65G-->V) in the neuroendocrine cell lines Neuro-2A and PC12/PC2. Metabolic labeling demonstrated that processing and secretion of all five mutants was impaired, albeit to different extents (NP65G-->V >/= NP14G-->R > NP47DeltaE >/= NP47E-->G > NP57G-->S). Persisting endoglycosidase H sensitivity revealed these defects to be due to retention of mutant prohormone in the endoplasmic reticulum. Mutant prohormones that partially passed the endoplasmic reticulum were normally targeted to the regulated secretory pathway. Surprisingly, this also included mutants with mutations in residues involved in binding of vasopressin to neurophysin, a process implicated in targeting of the prohormone. To mimick the high expression in vasopressin-producing neurons, mutant vasopressin prohormones were transiently expressed in Neuro-2A cells. Immunofluorescence displayed formation of large accumulations of mutant prohormone in the endoplasmic reticulum, accompanied by redistribution of an endoplasmic reticulum marker. Our data suggest that prolonged perturbation of the endoplasmic reticulum eventually leads to degeneration of neurons expressing mutant vasopressin prohormones, explaining the dominant nature of the disease.

Mutant vasopressin precursors that cause autosomal dominant neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus retain dimerization and impair the secretion of wild-type proteins

Autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus is caused by mutations in the arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene. We demonstrated recently that mutant AVP precursors accumulate within the endoplasmic reticulum of neuronal cells, leading to cellular toxicity. In this study, the possibility that mutant AVP precursors interact with wild-type (WT) proteins to alter their processing and function was explored. WT and mutant precursors were epitope-tagged to allow them to be distinguished in transfected cells. An in vivo cross-linking reaction revealed homo- and heterodimer formation between WT and mutant precursors. Mutant precursors were also shown to impair intracellular trafficking of WT precursors from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. In addition to the cytotoxicity caused by mutant AVP precursors, the interaction between the WT and mutant precursors suggests that a dominant-negative mechanism may also contribute to the pathogenesis of familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus.

Crystal structure of the neurophysin-oxytocin complex

The first crystal structure of the pituitary hormone oxytocin complexed with its carrier protein neurophysin has been determined and refined to 3.0 A resolution. The hormone-binding site is located at the end of a 3(10)-helix and involves residues from both domains of each monomer. Hormone residues Tyr 2, which is buried deep in the binding pocket, and Cys 1 have been confirmed as the key residues involved in neurophysin-hormone recognition. We have compared the bound oxytocin observed in the neurophysin-oxytocin complex, the X-ray structures of unbound oxytocin analogues and the NMR-derived structure for bound oxytocin. We find that while our structure is in agreement with the previous crystallographic findings, it differs from the NMR result with regard to how Tyr 2 of the hormone is recognized by neurophysin.

End-group modified retro-inverso isomers of tripeptide oxytocin analogues: binding to neurophysin II and enhancement of its self-association properties

The importance of peptide backbone structure in peptide/protein recognition events has been tested evaluating the binding properties of end-group modified retro-inverso isomers of MYF and LYF amides, tripeptides able to mimic oxytocin in binding neurophysin II and in potentiating its self-association. The isomers, topochemically related to their parent peptides, have been prepared respectively from all-D N-acetyl-FYM and N-acetyl-FYL amides via the Hofmann-type rearrangement mediated by iodobenzene bis-trifluoroacetate. Retro-inverso isomers recognised neurophysin II with similar affinity as the parent peptides, as determined by analytical affinity chromatography on columns prepared immobilising neurophysin II on preactivated supports. In addition, their effect on neurophysin II self-association was similar to the tripeptide oxytocin analogues, potentiating neurophysin II dimerization to the same extent, as evaluated by solid-phase binding assays on microtiter plates coated with neurophysin II. Recognition specificity of retro-inverso isomers was further demonstrated by their inhibitory effect on the interaction between neurophysin II and oxytocin tripeptide analogues. Results suggest that only the proper orientation of the alpha-amino group and of the side chains plays a dominant role in the binding of tripeptide analogues to neurophysin II and potentiation of its self-association, while the peptide backbone topology has little influence on the recognition process.

Oriented immobilization of peptide ligands on solid supports

A synthetic procedure was developed for the direct immobilization on preactivated affinity supports of peptidic ligands requiring free alpha-amino groups to recognize their targets properly. The peptidic ligand is assembled by solid-phase peptide synthesis on an octa-branched heptalysine core through a polyglycine spacer, similar to the method developed for the production of multiple antigenic peptides. After deblocking from the resin, peptide is dialysed, lyophylized and used directly for coupling to preactivated supports. Following immobilization, only a limited number of peptide chains are covalently linked to the solid phase, leaving the remainder facing the mobile phase and sufficiently spaced to interact properly. This procedure was applied successfully to the design, synthesis and oriented immobilization of a multimeric tripeptide ligand (Met-Tyr-Phe) for affinity purification of bovine neurophysin.

The hormone-binding site of neurophysins: binding of vasopressin to the N-terminal sub-domain dissected from human MSEL-neurophysin through endopeptidase Lys-C

Human MSEL-neurophysin has been dissected into two halves by endopeptidase Lys-C, taking advantage of a peculiar Lys59-Ala60 bond. Two sub-domains, N-terminal (1-59) and C-terminal (60-93), have been separated. These sub-domains have been purified by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography and identified by their N-terminal sequences. The N-terminal fragment comprises two chains 1-18 and 19-59, because of the presence of a second lysine residue in position 18, whereas the C-terminal fragment (60-93) is a single chain. Hormone-binding experiments have been carried out using vasopressin or vasopressinyl-Gly-Lys-Arg and testing the ability of the hormone-neurophysin complex to precipitate at pH 3.9 with 10% NaCl. The N-terminal sub-domain precipitates in presence of vasopressin in the same way as native neurophysin whereas the C-terminal sub-domain does not. It can be concluded that the hormone-binding site is located in the 1-59 region of neurophysin.

Neurophysin-neurohypophyseal hormone interactions: studies using a dansylated vasotocin analogue

We have synthesized a neurohypophyseal hormone analogue containing an extrinsic fluorescence probe by linking a dansyl (DNS) group to the epsilon-amino group of the lysine at residue 8 of vasotocin. The fluorescence properties of this analogue have been characterized by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic methods and compared with those of epsilon-DNS-lysine and the dansylated carboxyl terminal tripeptide Pro-Lys(DNS)-GlyNH2. The binding of this hormone analogue to purified isoforms of bovine neurophysins, the natural carrier proteins of the neurohypophyseal hormones, results in changes in several fluorescence parameters of the dansyl probe. These changes include an increase in intensity and average lifetime, a shift of the emission band to higher energies, and an increase in the emission anisotropy. Anisotropy changes have been used to determine dissociation constants for binding to these neurophysin isoforms. Based on the changes in the fluorescence properties of the dansyl probe, the dansyl group itself interacts with the protein. The degree of the dansyl-neurophysin interaction, however, appears to be different for the full sequence isoform of neurophysin I and the Val89 isoform of neurophysin II.

Sequence simplification and the intra- and intermolecular self-recognition properties of vasopressin/neurophysin biosynthetic precursor

The self-assembly properties of the arginine 8-vasopressin/bovine neurophysin II (AVP/BNPII) biosynthetic precursor were studied using glycopeptide-deleted and sequence-redesigned semisynthetic derivatives. Semisynthetic precursors were prepared by chemically coupling synthetic vasopressinyl sequence domains and native protein-derived neurophysin II domain. Measurement of precursor-protein association by the extent of affinity chromatographic retardation on agarose-immobilized BNPII verified that the semisynthetic precursor with native AVP sequence has an enhanced self-association propensity similar to that predicted for native precursor. Here, the stabilizing contacts between hormone and neurophysin domains, mainly the positively charged protonated alpha-amino group and tyrosyl 2 side chain of the hormone, are retained. Semisynthetic precursor variants in which the hormone domain is sequence-simplified by introducing alanyl residues in positions not considered important for neurophysin recognition show non-reduced association to BNPII. In contrast, removal of one of the main contact elements between hormone and neurophysin by acetylation of the hormone alpha-amino group abolishes potentiation of precursor self-association. The results show that the presence of the C-terminal glycopeptide sequence domain of native vasopressin precursor is not required to promote self-assembly of the precursor. The data verify the view proposed for the oxytocinyl precursor that intramolecular domain interaction is the triggering event which promotes the increase in affinity of precursor self-association (intermolecular self-recognition). The data also define some of the intramolecular self-recognition elements in the folded precursor required for the high affinity intermolecular self-recognition.

Bioaffinity chromatography: synergy between interactive chromatography and molecular recognition for the separation and analysis of macromolecules

Affinity chromatography, commonly regarded as an integral tool in macromolecular separation sciences, also provides an analytical method to study structure-function relationships of macromolecular interaction processes and to design recognition molecules. The latter, as found recently for the case of antisense peptides, may be useful as affinity agents in immobilized forms to effect new types of biomolecular separation.

Synthetic peptide substrates as models to study a pro-ocytocin/neurophysin converting enzyme

The selectivity and mechanism of processing at paired basic amino acids in hormone precursors was studied on several analogues of the (1-20)-aminoterminal domain of the ocytocin/neurophysin precursor in a cleavage assay by an endoprotease partially purified from bovine pituitary secretory granules. Peptide analogues with amino acid substitutions in, and around, the basic doublet were synthesized and used as substrates. The data obtained demonstrate the strict requirement of the processing enzyme for basic amino acids in tandem within a possibly preferred conformation which may be highly conserved in the aminoterminal domain of this hormone precursor.

Molecular diagnostics using analytical immuno high performance liquid affinity chromatography

Analytical immuno high performance liquid affinity chromatography (analytical immuno HPLAC) was evaluated as a molecular diagnostic tool. Antibodies raised in rabbits against bovine neurophysin II were immobilized through Protein A crosslinking onto coated silica. Interaction of immobilized antibody with mobile antigen was characterized by zonal and frontal elutions of 14C-labeled bovine neurophysin II under isocratic, nondenaturing conditions. The chromatographic behavior shows that analytical immuno HPLAC with immobilized antibodies can be used to detect the number and functional nature of matrix-interacting antigens in mixtures, thus providing a quantitative chromatographic technology for "antigen mapping."

General strategies in the separation of proteins by high-performance liquid chromatographic methods

General fractionation strategies for the high-resolution purification of proteins are described. The impact of different separation parameters and resolution optimisation approaches with tandem-based systems on retention and recovery behaviour is reviewed. Procedures for the successful linkage of different chromatographic steps into a preferred sequence of operations are discussed in terms of the underlying principles and modus operandi of high-performance liquid chromatographic purification of proteins and related biomacromolecules.

Analytical high-performance affinity chromatography: evaluation by studies of neurophysin self-association and neurophysin-peptide hormone interaction using glass matrices

Bovine neurophysin II (BNP II) was covalently immobilized on both nonporous and porous (200-nm pore diameter) glass beads and incorporated in a high-performance liquid chromatograph to evaluate analytical high-performance affinity chromatography as a microscale method for characterizing biomolecular interactions. By extension of the theoretical treatment of analytical affinity chromatography, both the self-association of neurophysin and its binding of the peptide hormone vasopressin were characterized by using a single chromatographic column containing immobilized neurophysin predominantly in the monomer form. Both [3H] [Arg8]vasopressin (AVP) and 125I-BNP II were rapidly eluted (less than 25 min). The relatively symmetrical elution peaks obtained allowed calculation of both equilibrium dissociation constants and kinetic dissociation rate constants. The dissociation constant measured chromatographically for the AVP-immobilized neurophysin complex, KM/L = 11 microM with porous glass beads and 75 microM with nonporous glass (NPG) beads, was in reasonable agreement with those previously obtained by curve fitting of Scatchard plots (16-20 microM) and from binding to [BNP II]Sepharose (50 microM). The values obtained are larger than that for dissociation of AVP from BNP II dimer, by a factor consistent with the intended nature of immobilized BNP II as monomers. Chromatography of BNP II on the [BNP II]NPG gave a dimer dissociation constant of 166 microM, a value in excellent agreement with that derived from equilibrium sedimentation studies (172 microM). In contrast to the agreement of chromatographic equilibrium binding constants with those measured in solution, the dissociation rate, k-3, determined from the variance of the affinity chromatographic elution profile with nonporous beads, was several orders of magnitude smaller than the solution counterpart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantitative high-performance affinity chromatography: evaluation of use for analyzing peptide and protein interactions

To examine analytical high-performance affinity chromatography as a microscale method for characterizing macromolecular interactions, the chromatographic behavior was evaluated of Arg8-vasopressin on bovine neurophysin II covalently immobilized in its monomer form on several new high-flow and pressure-resisting affinity supports. Zonal elution of both tritiated and unlabeled peptide hormone and an extension of theoretical treatment of analytical affinity chromatography allowed determination of equilibrium dissociation constants of hormone binding to immobilized bovine neurophysin II. Microamounts of hormone, ranging from 0.05 to 15 micrograms, were eluted within 20-30 min, with a quantitative recovery of the amount injected. For zones containing more than 5 micrograms, continuous elution monitoring was possible by ultraviolet absorbance, providing greater speed and accuracy in data analysis. The values obtained for the equilibrium dissociation constants were in good agreement with those previously measured in solution. The above hormone-protein evaluation system has led to identification of several pressure-resistant affinity supports, including silica-, agarose- and glass-based matrices, which are appropriate for use with high-performance liquid chromatographic instrumentation for affinity chromatographic analysis of macromolecular interactions.

Analytical affinity chromatography in studies of molecular recognition in biology: a review

Measuring macromolecular and cellular interactions remains central to the study of recognition in biology and its application in biotechnology. Analytical affinity chromatography provides a versatile methodology to detect and quantitate such interactions. Both zonal and frontal elution approaches have been developed, essentially in parallel, for analytical affinity chromatography. A close quantitative relatedness of chromatographically obtained equilibrium constants and analogous constants determined fully in solution has been found for a growing number of proteins. This consistently observed correlation has formed the basis for extending theoretical treatments in order to evaluate not only monovalent molecular systems of varying types but also multivalently interacting macromolecules, including those which exhibit cooperativity. The potential to measure chemical rate constants by affinity chromatography also has been recognized, and experimental tests of the available theory are being made. As a micromethod, the quantitative use of affinity chromatography has important applicability for biochemical analysis of an increasing array of biologically active molecules being discovered and isolated but available in only relatively small amounts. Analytical affinity chromatography thus provides a means to use matrix--mobile interactant systems to study mechanisms of biomolecular interactions and therein to attain an understanding of such interactions which often is not easily achieved by solution methods alone.

An endopeptidase associated with bovine neurohypophysis secretory granules cleaves pro-ocytocin/neurophysin peptide at paired basic residues

The octacosapeptide sequence [Tyr18] pro-ocytocin/neurophysin (1-18)NH2 [pro-OT/Np(1-18)NH2] was synthesized and used as substrate to detect endoprotease(s) possibly involved in the processing of this precursor in bovine hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal tract. An endopeptidase (58 Kda) was detected in Lysates made from highly purified neurosecretory granules. This protease which cleaves the peptide bond on the carboxyl side of the Lys-Arg doublet, and no single basic residue, generates both OT-Gly10-Lys11-Arg12+Ala13-Val-Leu-Asp-Leu-Tyr18 (NH2) from the octacosapeptide substrate. In addition, a carboxypeptidase B-like activity converting OT-Gly10-Lys11-Arg12 into OT-Gly10 was detected in the same granule Lysates. It is hypothesized that a combination of these endoprotease and carboxypeptidase B-like activities together with the amidating enzyme of secretory granules might participate in the cleavage and processing of pro-OT/Np in vivo.