Characterization of hepatic lactogen receptor. Subcellular distribution and characterization of N-linked carbohydrate chains

Characterization and regulation of prolactin receptors in MA-10 Leydig cells

The aim of this study is to further characterize the prolactin receptors (PRL-R) previously reported in the murine Leydig tumor MA-10 cell line, as well as to study their homologous and heterologous regulation. Two forms of PRL-R, a high and a low molecular weight form, were revealed by studies of covalent crosslinking of 125I-human GH to cultured MA-10 cells or cell membranes and immunoprecipitation of the solubilized PRL-R complexes with polyclonal anti PRL-R antibody, followed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The long form had a molecular weight of 101 kDa and was predominant when the study was performed in the presence of protease inhibitors. The short form, with a molecular weight of 39 kDa, appeared, at least in part, to be a proteolytic product of the longer form. The same size forms of PRL-R were detected by crosslinking studies in the parental C57BL/6 mouse testicular Leydig cells, indicating the physiological relevance of the MA-10 cell model to the study of Leydig cell PRL-R. Homologous down-regulation of PRL-R was demonstrated in cultured MA-10 cells exposed for 24 h to increasing concentrations of PRL. In contrast, heterologous, 3 5-fold up-regulation of PRL-R was induced by various cAMP-elevating agents, including 8-bromo-cAMP (10(-4) -10(-3) M), dibutyryl cAMP (3 x 10(-3) M) and cholera toxin (1-10 ng/ml), although not by hCG (up to 100 ng/ml). This up-regulatory effect was apparently the result of a change in affinity, since cholera toxin caused a 2.4-fold increase in PRL-R affinity, with no change in the number of binding sites. In summary, these studies provide further evidence that MA-10 Leydig cells can serve as a physiologically relevant model for the study of PRL and PRL-R interactions, both at the functional level, as shown in our previous study, and at the structural and regulatory levels as shown in the current study.

Binding and cross-linking of iodinated rat prolactin to rat hepatic prolactin receptor

Basal parameters for binding and cross-linking of 125I-rat prolactin (rPRL) to lactogenic (PRL) binding species present in crude membrane fraction (CMF) or detergent-solubilized preparations of rat liver have been investigated. (1) The highest specific binding to CMF was obtained with an incubation time of 50 h at 20 degrees C and with a 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 8.5. (2) Cross-linking of 125I-rPRL to binding sites in CMF with disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) showed the autoradiographic appearance of an Mr 40,000 binding species. (3) No specific binding or cross-linking of rPRL was seen in Triton X-100-solubilized CMF. This is probably due to Triton X-100-induced changes in the physical properties of rPRL. (4) Specific binding of 125I-rPRL was detected in CHAPS-solubilized CMF. Following cross-linking the autoradiographic appearance of a binding species with an Mr value of 40,000 was shown. 125I-hGH was cross-linked to three PRL binding species with Mr 82,000, 40,000 and 35,000 in CHAPS-solubilized preparations. (5) In Golgi-enriched low-density membrane preparation 125I-rPRL was cross-linked to Mr 82,000, 40,000 and 35,000 species. It is proposed that the inability of rPRL to be cross-linked to Mr 82,000 and 35,000 species present in CHAPS-solubilized preparation is the result of CHAPS-induced changes of rPRL binding properties and low solubilizing capacity of CHAPS. (6) In conclusion, this study shows that also the iodinated endogenous hormone, rat prolactin, and not only hGH identifies high and low molecular forms of the rat liver prolactin receptor.