Isolation and structure-bioactivity characterization of glycosylated N-pro-opiomelanocortin isoforms

A Long-Acting Neutralizing Monoclonal ACTH Antibody Blocks Corticosterone and Adrenal Gene Responses in Neonatal Rats

The control of steroidogenesis in the neonatal adrenal gland is of great clinical interest. We have previously demonstrated that the postnatal day (PD) 2 rat exhibits a large plasma corticosterone response to hypoxia in the absence of an increase in plasma ACTH measured by RIA, whereas the corticosterone response to exogenous ACTH is intact. By PD8, the corticosterone response to hypoxia is clearly ACTH-dependent. We hypothesized that this apparently ACTH-independent response to hypoxia in the newborn rat is due to an increase in a bioactive, nonimmunoassayable form of ACTH. To evaluate this phenomenon, we pretreated neonatal rats with a novel, specific, neutralizing anti-ACTH antibody (ALD1611) (20 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg IP) on the morning of PD1, PD7, and PD14. Twenty-four hours later, we measured hypoxia- or ACTH-stimulated plasma ACTH and corticosterone. For long-term effects, ALD1611 was given on PD1 and pups were studied on PD8 and PD15. Pretreatment with ALD1611 significantly decreased baseline corticosterone and completely blocked the corticosterone response to hypoxia and exogenous ACTH stimulation at all ages. The effect of 1 mg/kg ALD1611 on PD1 had dissipated by PD15. The decrease in corticosterone in ALD1611-treated pups was associated with decreases in baseline and hypoxia- and ACTH-stimulated adrenal Ldlr, Mrap, and Star mRNA expression at all ages. The adrenal response to hypoxia in the newborn rat is ACTH-dependent, suggesting the release of nonimmunoassayable, biologically active forms of ACTH. ALD1611 is useful as a tool to attenuate stress-induced, ACTH-dependent adrenal steroidogenesis in vivo.

Proteomics of the Anterior Pituitary Gland as a Model for Studying the Physiology of a Heterogeneous Organ

The anterior pituitary gland (AP) secretes six established hormones that collectively control hundreds of biological and behavioral functions. Because of advances in mass spectrometry (MS), protein labeling, and bioinformatics, it is now possible to characterize, compare, and quantify the AP hormones together with large numbers of nonhormonal AP proteins. For example, by using high-performance liquid chromatography in line with tandem MS we characterized 145 proteins in subcellular fractions of the AP of young adult male Golden Syrian hamsters and 115 proteins in subcellular fractions of the AP of young adult male mice. These included hormones, proteins involved in hormone synthesis and release, and housekeeping proteins. We also used difference gel electrophoresis in conjunction with MS and peptide mass fingerprinting to quantify the effects of estrogen on the AP-soluble protein fraction in rats. Ovarlectomized rats were administered 50 μg of estradiol valerate subcutaneously and studied 48 hrs later, before the onset of the anticipated surges of gonadotropins in blood. Following DeCyder image analysis, we Identified by MS and peptide mass fingerprinting 26 protein spots that were upregulated and 19 protein spots that were downregulated. Estrogen increased levels of acidic isoforms of growth hormone and Prolactin, several proteins involved in protein synthesis, folding and secretion, and several metabolic enzymes. Most of the downregulated proteins are involved in RNA or DNA interactions. We followed up on the results with RT-PCR and immunohistochemical techniques to demonstrate that one protein identified by MS in hamster AP, fertility protein SP22, is synthesized in the AP and localized primarily in somatotropes and thyrotropes. These experiments demonstrate the efficacy of our proteomics approach to characterize AP proteins and quantify changes in them. The approaches used to study the AP could serve as a model to investigate other heterogeneous organs.

Incomplete posttranslational prohormone modifications in hyperactive neuroendocrine cells

BACKGROUND

In black-background-adapted Xenopus laevis, the intermediate pituitary melanotrope cells are hyperactive, producing large amounts of their major secretory cargo proopiomelanocortin (POMC, representing ~80% of all newly synthesised proteins), whereas in white-adapted frogs these cells are only basally active. Here we explored in the hyperactive and basally active melanotrope cells the capacity for posttranslational POMC processing events in the secretory pathway.

RESULTS

We found that the hyperactive cells produced mainly non-complex N-glycosylated POMC, whereas in the basally active cells POMC was mostly complex N-glycosylated. Furthermore, the relative level of POMC sulphation was ~5.5-fold lower in the hyperactive than in the basally active cells. When the cargo load in the secretory pathway of the hyperactive cells was pharmacologically reduced, the relative amount of complex glycosylated POMC markedly increased.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our data show that the secretory pathway in hyperactive neuroendocrine secretory cells lacks the capacity to fully comply with the high demands for complex glycosylation and sulphation of the overload of secretory cargo. Thus, a hyperactive secretory cell may run short in providing an output of correctly modified biological signals.

Beta1-adrenoceptor expression in rat anterior pituitary gonadotrophs and in mouse alphaT3-1 and LbetaT2 gonadotrophic cell lines

The rat anterior pituitary expresses beta(2)-adrenoceptors (ARs) on somatotrophs, lactotrophs, and corticotrophs. The present study investigates whether beta(1)-ARs exist in the anterior pituitary, in which cell type(s) they are found, and whether they are regulated by glucocorticoids. As determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western immunoblotting, the rat anterior pituitary expressed beta(1)-AR mRNA and protein. Unlike the beta(2)-AR, expression decreased to very low levels after 5-d aggregate cell culture but was strongly up-regulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner by dexamethasone (DEX). Glucocorticoids attenuated isoproterenol-induced down-regulation of beta(1)-AR mRNA levels. As examined by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, beta(1)-AR immunoreactivity was detected in a subpopulation of gonadotrophs, but not in somatotrophs, lactotrophs, corticotrophs, thyrotrophs, or folliculo-stellate cells. beta(1)-AR-immunoreactivity cells were often surrounded by cup-shaped lactotrophs. Consistent with these findings, beta(1)-AR mRNA was considerably more abundant in the gonadotrophic alphaT3-1 and LbetaT2 cell lines than in the GHFT, GH3, and TtT/GF cell lines. DEX did not affect expression level in the cell lines. DEX also failed to up-regulate beta(1)-AR mRNA levels in aggregates from a subpopulation enriched in large gonadotrophs obtained by gradient sedimentation. In contrast, excessive DEX-dependent up-regulation of beta(1)-AR mRNA was found in a subpopulation enriched in small nonhormonal cells. The present data indicate that beta(1)-AR is expressed in a subpopulation of gonadotrophs with a topographical relationship to lactotrophs. However, the glucocorticoid-induced up-regulation does not seem to occur directly in the gonadotrophs but within (an)other unidentified cell type(s), or is transduced by that cell type on gonadotrophs.

Probe-independent and direct quantification of insulin mRNA and growth hormone mRNA in enriched cell preparations

Task division in multicellular organisms ensures that differentiated cell types produce cell-specific proteins that fulfill tasks for the whole organism. In some cases, the encoded mRNA species is so abundant that it represents a sizeable fraction of total mRNA in the cell. In this study, we have used a probe- and primer-free technique to quantify such abundant mRNA species in order to assess regulatory effects of in vitro and in vivo conditions. As a first example, we were able to quantify the regulation of proinsulin mRNA abundance in beta-cells by food intake or by the glucose concentration in tissue culture. The second example of application of this technique is the effect of corticosteroids on growth hormone mRNA in enriched somatrotrophs. It is anticipated that other examples exist in which measurement of very abundant mRNAs in dedicated cells will help to understand biological processes, monitor disease states, or assist biotechnological manufacturing procedures.

Mouse anterior pituitary gland: analysis by ion trap mass spectrometry

We investigated the proteome of the anterior pituitary gland (AP) in a species in which the genome has been sequenced. Subcellular fractions of APs from 2-month-old male mice were prepared for protein denaturation, treatment with trypsin and analyses utilizing micro liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and the database search software SEQUEST. In the nuclear, non-nuclear 100,000 g and cytosolic fractions, we identified 49, 36 and 68 different proteins, respectively. A total of 115 distinct proteins were detected. We identified growth hormone, prolactin, pro-opiomelanocortin, the alpha-subunit for the glycoprotein hormones, and luteinizing hormone-beta. Groups of other identified proteins included hormone-processing, secretion granule-associated, non-hormonal endoplasmic reticulum-associated, calcium-binding, protein kinase C-associated, histones, non-histone chromosomal, other RNA-binding, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins, splicing factors, helicases, lamins, ribosomal, microtubule-associated, microfilament-associated, adenosine triphosphate- and guanosine triphosphate-associated, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation, enzymes in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic and urea cycles and the pentose phosphate path, heat-shock, glutathione-associated, peroxidases, ubiquitin-associated, catabolic, protease inhibitors, other, and blood proteins. The 115 proteins reported in this study and the 145 proteins reported in a previous study on the AP of the adult male Golden Syrian hamster are compared and form a foundation for defining the proteome in normal adult male AP.

Analysis of the golden Syrian hamster anterior pituitary gland proteome by ion trap mass spectrometry

We utilized mass spectrometry (MS) and bioinformatics to investigate the proteome of the anterior pituitary gland (AP). Subcellular fractions of APs from 2-month-old male Golden Syrian hamsters were prepared for protein denaturation, treatment with trypsin and analyses utilizing micro liquid chromatography MS/MS and the database search software SEQUEST. In the nuclear, non-nuclear 100,000 x g and cytosolic fractions we identified 76, 52 and 52 different proteins, respectively. A total of 145 distinct proteins were detected. We identified growth hormone, prolactin, pro-opiomelanocortin, the alpha-subunit for the glycoprotein hormones, luteinizing hormone-beta and follicle-stimulating hormone-beta. Groups of other identified proteins included hormone processing, secretion granule associated, non-hormonal endoplasmic reticulum associated, calcium binding, protein kinase C associated histone and non-histone chromosomal material, other RNA-binding, splicing factors, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins, helicases, lamins, microfilament associated, microtubule associated, adenosine triphosphate and guanosine diphosphate associated, keratins, lysosomal, ribosomal, enzymes in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic and pentose phosphate paths, glutathione associated, transmethylation, catabolic and unknown protein products as well as blood hemoglobins. Proteins previously not reported in the AP, such as fertility protein SP22, were identified. The proteins identified in the present study form a foundation for defining the proteome in normal adult male AP.

Gamma-MSH peptides in the pituitary: effects, target cells, and receptors

The melanocortin (MC) gamma3-MSH is believed to signal through the MC3 receptor. We showed that it induces a sustained increase in intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) in a subpopulation of pituitary cells. Most of the cells responding to gamma3-MSH express more than one pituitary hormone mRNA. The effect of gamma3-MSH is blocked by SHU9119, a MC3R and MC4R antagonist, in only 50% of the responsive cells, suggesting that in half of these cells the mediating receptor is not the MC3R. Low picomolar doses of gamma3-MSH increase [Ca(2+)](i) in the growth hormone (GH)- and prolactin (PRL)-secreting GH3 cell line. gamma2-MSH and alpha-MSH display a similar effect. SHU9119 does not affect the gamma3-MSH-induced [Ca(2+)](i) response. MTII, a potent synthetic agonist of the MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R, also shows no or low potency in increasing [Ca(2+)](i). By means of RT-PCR, the mRNA of the MC2R, MC3R, and MC4R receptors is undetectable. Experiments testing gamma2-MSH analogues with single alanine replacements show that, unlike the classic MCRs, the His(5)-Phe(6)-Arg(7)-Trp(8) sequence in gamma2-MSH is not a core sequence for activating the gamma-MSH receptor in GH3 cells, whereas Met(3) is essential. Low nanomolar doses of gamma-MSH increase intracellular cAMP levels. Blockade of protein kinase A abolishes the [Ca(2+)](i) responses to gamma3-MSH. gamma2-MSH increases binding of [S(35)]GTPgammaS to membrane preparations of GH3 cells. The pharmacological characteristics of gamma-MSH peptides and analogues on [Ca(2+)](i) and the signal-transduction pathways present strong evidence for the expression of a hitherto uncharacterized gamma-MSH receptor in GH3 cells, belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor family.

Paracrine control of lactotrope proliferation and differentiation

Lactotropes in the pituitary gland might be useful models of how a cell type develops, differentiates, proliferates and regresses under the control of paracrine and autocrine signals. Lactotrope development during embryonic life is determined by a well-defined sequence of temporal and positional actions of locally produced members of the bone morphogenetic protein, hedgehog and fibroblast growth factor families. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), TGF-beta and galanin mediate the action of estrogen on the postnatal expansion of the lactotrope cell population and expression of the gene encoding prolactin in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Moreover, the classic hormone precursor pro-opiomelanocortin generates differentially glycosylated isoforms of its N-terminal fragment as paracrine controllers, which each induce distinct aspects of lactotrope differentiation and growth.