[Meta analysis of whether cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can improve survival in patients with colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis]

Objective: To explore whether the cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC) can improve the survival rate of colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis. Methods: The relevant studies were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP database, and the study of French Elias' team on peritoneal metastasis was retrieved manually. Inclusion criteria: (1) The patients were colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis. (2) There were CRS+HIPEC treatments (treatment group) and other treatments (control group). (3) Survival analysis data of treatment group and control group were available. (4) Types of studies were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, or case-control studies. (5) The literature was in Chinese or English. Exclusion criteria: (1) studies without full-text; (2) studies without complete data. The literature screening and data extraction were carried out by two people independently, and the third person decided on the literature with differences. The extracted data included authors, year of publication, number of patients, time of enrollment, time of follow-up, studies design, treatment regimen, hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of treatment group and control groups. If the HR and 95% CI of the treatment group and control group were not provided in the literature, Engauge Digitizer 11.1 software was used to extract the time of follow-up and the survival rate at the corresponding time point from the survival curves of both groups, and the HR and 95% CI of both groups were calculated by combining the number of both groups. The quality of study was evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) or Cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing risk bias. STATA 15.1 software was used for statistical analysis. HR and 95% CI of both groups were pooled and analyzed. Inter-trial heterogeneity was assessed by Q test and I(2) statistics. When there was no significant heterogeneity (Q test: P≥0.10), fixed-effect model was used for pooled analysis. When significant heterogeneity existed (Q test: P<0.10), random effect model was used for pooled analysis, and subgroup analysis was used to find out the source of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the stability of the pooled results. Publication bias was assessed by Egger's test and Begg's test (P<0.05 indicated publication bias) and it is reflected by the visual symmetry of Begg's funnel plot on the natural logarithm of HR. Results: A total of 10 studies were enrolled in the meta-analysis, including 1 randomized controlled trial and 9 cohort studies. The risk of bias in 1 randomized controlled trial was uncertain, and 9 cohort studies were all higher than 7 points, indicating high quality literatures. There were 781 patients in treatment group receiving CRS+HIPEC and 2452 patients in control group receiving other treatment, including tumor cytoreductive surgery (CRS), palliative chemotherapy (PC) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC). The results of pooled analysis by random effect model showed that the OS rate in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group (HR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.34-0.54), but the heterogeneity of the study was high (P=0.024, I(2)=52.9%). The subgroup analysis of different control treatments showed that the OS rate in treatment group was significantly higher than that in CRS control group (HR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.44-0.90), in PC control group (HR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.32-0.43), in CRS+ IPC control group (HR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.96), and the heterogeneity of each subgroup was low (CRS control group: P=0.255, I(2)=22.9%; PC control group: P=0.222, I(2)=29.9%; CRS+IPC control group: P=0.947, I(2)=0). Due to the low heterogeneity of subgroups, fixed-effect models were used to pool and analysis. The results of sensitivity analysis revealed that there was little difference between the pooled analysis results after each study was deleted, suggesting that the pooled analysis results were more reliable. Publication bias detection of each study showed Begg's test (P=0.088) >0.05 and Egger's test (P=0.138)>0.05. According to the Begg's funnel plot, the scatter point distribution was basically symmetric, indicating that there was no publication bias in the included study. Conclusion: CRS+HIPEC can improve the OS of patients with colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis.

Full-length cDNAs: more than just reaching the ends

The development of functional genomic resources is essential to understand and utilize information generated from genome sequencing projects. Central to the development of this technology is the creation of high-quality cDNA resources and improved technologies for analyzing coding and noncoding mRNA sequences. The isolation and mapping of cDNAs is an entrée to characterizing the information that is of significant biological relevance in the genome of an organism. However, a bottleneck is often encountered when attempting to bring to full-length (or at least full-coding) a number of incomplete cDNAs in parallel, since this involves the nonsystematic, time consuming, and labor-intensive iterative screening of a number of cDNA libraries of variable quality and/or directed strategies to process individual clones (e.g., 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends). Here, we review the current state of the art in cDNA library generation, as well as present an analysis of the different steps involved in cDNA library generation.

Genomic organization of the canine p53 gene and its mutational status in canine mammary neoplasia

To determine whether canine malignancies share common genetic lesions with their human counterparts, and are thus potentially interesting model systems in which to pose questions regarding tumor etiology and progression, we have elucidated the entire exon/intron structure of the canine p53 gene. A search for p53 gene abnormalities in mammary tumor tissue was undertaken utilizing single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Mutations were detected in exons 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the p53 gene and consisted of nonsense, splicing, and frameshift mutations. None of 11 benign tumors and 6 of 40 primary carcinomas (15%) were found to harbor subtle p53 mutations. In 14 carcinomas examined the results in primary tumors and metastases were the same. These findings implicate involvement of this gene in the genesis of some malignant canine tumors, in a fashion similar to their human counterparts.

Characterization of an abundant short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) present in Canis familiaris

A short interspersed nuclear element (Can SINE) of approximately 130-150 bp was cloned and characterized from Canis familiaris. We demonstrate that this element is interspersed, present approximately every 5-8.3 kbp, and many are sufficiently close to allow IRS (interspersed repetitive DNA sequences) PCR. Sequence analysis of > 20 Can SINEs from the dog has identified a conserved region that was used to design oligonucleotides for IRS PCR. Since Can SINEs are not present in human or rodent genomes, IRS PCR using oligonucleotides directed to the conserved region of Can SINEs can be used to simplify analysis of canid DNA in somatic cell hybrids, as well as in large insert cloning vectors. We demonstrate that the canid IRS products are polymorphic and could be developed as genetic markers for filter-based genotyping in this organism.

Dexamethasone suppresses apoptosis in a human gastric cancer cell line through modulation of bcl-x gene expression

Treatment of human gastric cancer TMK-1 cells with transcription and translation inhibitors rapidly triggered cell apoptosis. Along with cell apoptosis, the Bcl-xS level was markedly upregulated suggesting a crucial role of this protein in promoting the apoptotic process. In the presence of dexamethasone, however, cell apoptosis was greatly attenuated as demonstrated by DNA histogram shift and DNA fragmentation. Studies using the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 indicated that attenuation of apoptosis was mediated through glucocorticoid receptors. Dexamethasone not only suppressed the apoptosis-associated upregulation of Bcl-xS but also enhanced the basal level of Bcl-xL in the cells. In addition, bcl-x mRNA stability was significantly extended in the presence of dexamethasone. These results indicate that dexamethasone exerted a protective effect and delayed apoptosis of TMK-1 cells by modulating bcl-x gene expression.

Functional characterization of human nucleosome assembly protein-2 (NAP1L4) suggests a role as a histone chaperone

Histones are thought to play a key role in regulating gene expression at the level of DNA packaging. Recent evidence suggests that transcriptional activation requires competition of transcription factors with histones for binding to regulatory regions and that there may be several mechanisms by which this is achieved. We have characterized a human nucleosome assembly protein, NAP-2, previously identified by positional cloning at 11p15.5, a region implicated in several disease processes including Wilms tumor (WT) etiology. The deduced amino acid sequence of NAP-2 indicates that it encodes a protein with a potential nuclear localization motif and two clusters of highly acidic residues. Functional analysis of recombinant NAP-2 protein purified from Escherichia coli demonstrates that this protein can interact with both core and linker histones. We demonstrate that recombinant NAP-2 can transfer histones onto naked DNA templates. Deletion mutagenesis of NAP-2 demonstrates that both NH3- and COOH-terminal domains are required for histone transfer activity. Subcellular localization studies of NAP-2 indicate that it can shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus, suggesting a role as a histone chaperone. Given the potential role of the human NAP-2 gene (HGMW-approved symbol NAP1L4) in WT etiology, we have elucidated the exon/intron structure of this gene and have analyzed the mutational status of NAP-2 in sporadic WTs. Our results, coupled with tumor suppression assays in G401 WT cells, do not support a role for NAP-2 in the etiology of WT. A putative role for NAP-2 in regulating cellular differentiation is discussed.

Effects of transcription and translation inhibitors on a human gastric carcinoma cell line. Potential role of Bcl-X(S) in apoptosis triggered by these inhibitors

The effects of the macromolecular synthesis inhibitors 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole (DRB), actinomycin D, and cycloheximide on the human gastric cancer TMK-1 cell line were studied. These agents inhibited DNA, RNA, or protein synthesis efficiently and induced cell death rapidly in a wide range of concentrations. After 8 hr of exposure to these agents, the cells exhibited morphological features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies. Western blot analysis revealed that these inhibitors altered the protein levels of apoptosis-related gene products such as c-Myc, Bcl-X(S), and the mutant p53 (mp53) in TMK-1 cells markedly. The c-myc mRNA and protein levels were decreased initially and were then induced markedly to a new level after 4 hr of exposure to DRB, a RNA polymerase II inhibitor. The Bcl-X(S) levels were increased rapidly after treatment with all of these agents, whereas the levels of Bcl-X(L) and Bax remained largely unchanged. Northern blot analysis indicated that the c-myc overexpression is concomitant to DRB-induced DNA fragmentation and that the increased mp53 protein level was mainly a posttranscriptional event. Our observations suggest that the up-regulation of Bcl-X(S) may serve as an important mechanism for the apoptosis triggered by these inhibitors. This study also provides evidence for the notion that interference with the cellular survival pathway may lead to apoptosis.

The human steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) gene is expressed in the urogenital system and encodes a mitochondrial polypeptide

The first enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones occurs in the mitochondrial inner membrane and is dependent on the mobilization of cholesterol from cellular stores. We report on the isolation of a human cDNA which encodes a mitochondrial protein called steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, implicated in transport of cholesterol into mitochondria. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence analyses indicate that the human and murine polypeptides are highly conserved, sharing 87% identity with an overall homology of 92%. Analysis of the distribution of StAR mRNA transcripts in human tissues by Northern blotting reveals several mRNA species, the most abundant of which is a 1.8 kb mRNA transcript present in testes, ovaries and kidneys. Using in vitro translated protein, we demonstrate that the StAR gene product can be efficiently imported into exogenously added mitochondria.

An efficient strategy to isolate full-length cDNAs based on an mRNA cap retention procedure (CAPture)

The ability to generate cDNA libraries is one of the most fundamental procedures in contemporary molecular biology. One of the major drawbacks of current methods is that most cDNAs present in any given library are incomplete, rendering the characterization of genes an inefficient and time-consuming task. We have developed an affinity selection procedure using a fusion protein containing the murine cap-binding protein (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E), coupled to a solid support matrix, that allows for the purification of mRNAs via the 5' cap structure. When combined with a single-strand-specific RNase digestion step, specific retention of complete cDNA-RNA duplexes following first-strand synthesis is achieved. This method can be used to generate cDNA libraries in which polyadenylated and nonpolyadenylated mRNAs are equally represented and to enrich for full-length or 5'-end clones, thus facilitating cDNA cloning and promoter mapping.

Structural characterization of adrenal chromogranin A and parathyroid secretory protein-I as homologs

We have isolated and purified adrenal chromogranin A (Ch A) for the purpose of making structural comparisons to parathyroid secretory protein-I (SP-I), because our earlier data indicated these two molecules may be the same protein. An improved purification step, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), has enabled us to demonstrate that both SP-I and Ch A consists of two species, one of approximately 72,000 Da and one of approximately 66,000 Da. The amino acid composition is the same for all four species. The difference in molecular mass is assumed to be due to carbohydrate content. Cyanogen bromide digestion of each of the four samples, followed by HPLC separation of the generated peptides, resulted in a chromatographic profile that was the same for each digest. Amino acid analysis of the eight peptide fragments obtained from each digest indicates that both species of Ch A and both species of SP-I yielded the same peptide mixtures following this cleavage reaction. One large (approximately 50,000 Da) CNBr peptide was obtained and seven smaller ones, one of which contains cysteine. The large fragment behaved similarly to the intact molecule in a radioimmunoassay. HPLC separation of tryptic digests of Ch A (72,000 Da) and SP-I (72,000 Da) also resulted in elution profiles that were very similar to each other. Amino acid analysis revealed 23 peptides common to each digest. Ch A contained four peptides ranging in size from 4 to 30 residues that were not observed in the SP-I digest. SP-I contained two peptides, each with about 30 residues, that were not found in the Ch A digest. Nothing unusual was noted in any of the uncommon peptides. Thus, both a chemical and an enzymatic digestion of these molecules followed by analysis of the peptides generated, indicates that SP-I and Ch A are nearly identical homologs.

Effects of isoproterenol and cycloheximide on parathyroid secretion

Tissue slices or dispersed cells of bovine parathyroid gland were incubated with [3H]leucine to label the intracellular proteins and then tested for their secretory response to isoproterenol and cycloheximide at different calcium concentrations. Secretion of the newly synthesized as well as the older PTH and SP-I was stimulated by isoproterenol at all calcium levels tested, even when it was maximally enhanced by low calcium. Cycloheximide interfered with neither the secretory process nor the secretory response to different stimuli, but decreased the amount of PTH and SP-I secreted. We conclude that the inhibitor decreased the secretion by reducing the supply of PTH and SP-I. Calculations derived from the data reveal that, under most secretory conditions, newly synthesized PTH contributed a major portion of the total hormone secretion in bovine parathyroid cells.

Similarity of secretory protein I from parathyroid gland to chromogranin A from adrenal medulla

We have compared the amino acid and carbohydrate compositions, partial amino acid sequences, immunological crossreactivity, and physical properties of secretory protein I of the parathyroid gland and chromogranin A of adrenal gland. This comparison indicates that these proteins are similar molecules. Because secretory protein I is present in secretory granules containing parathormone and is cosecreted with the hormone, and because chromogranin A is contained within chromaffin granules and, likewise, is secreted with the catecholamines, the present observations raise the possibility that this class of protein plays a general role in hormone secretion or storage mechanisms.

Cosecretion of secretory protein-I and parathormone by dispersed bovine parathyroid cells

A RIA with a minimal sensitivity of 0.5 ng protein was developed for the measurement of bovine secretory protein-I (SP-I). With this assay and a previously established RIA for parathormone, the secretion and cell content of SP-I and parathormone were determined in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. SP-I and parathormone were secreted in linear fashion over a 2-h period. The net secretion of both of these proteins diminished progressively as the concentration of calcium was raised from 0.25 mM to 3.0 mM. The molar ratio for the secreted proteins and those remaining in the cell varied from experiment to experiment but on average was 0.70 +/- 0.07 for the secreted proteins and 0.47 +/- 0.03 for the cellular proteins. Possible explanations for the difference in the ratio of SP-I to parathormone between cellular and secreted proteins include 1) a preferential secretion of SP-I; 2) a preferential intracellular degradation of SP-I; 3) a preferential postsecretory degradation of parathormone, or 4) differential affinities of potential fragments of either or both proteins for their antisera. These results suggest that SP-I and parathormone bear close but not identical metabolic and secretory fates.

Isolation and partial characterization of secretory protein I from bovine parathyroid glands

Secretory protein I, a protein that is cosecreted with parathormone, has been isolated from bovine parathyroid tissue. The purification procedure was aided by the inclusion in the starting material of fresh tissue that had been incubated with radioactive amino acids to label the newly formed secretory protein I. The isolation of the secretory protein I was then followed by locating the radioactive species. Later, purification was also followed by radioimmunoassay. The procedures included salt fractionation, gel filtration, and two steps of ion-exchange chromatography, yielding a 96-fold purification of secretory protein I. The final product contained two species that were shown to be related by comparison of their tryptic peptides and the release of only a single major residue at each step of the Edman degradation. On the basis of amino acid analysis, secretory protein I contains about 30% acidic amino acid residues, contributing to an isoelectric point of 4.5, and has a minimum molecular weight of about 70 000. It contains 2.6% carbohydrate. A radioimmunoassay was established for secretory protein I. A partial amino acid sequence spanning the first 32 residues of the amino-terminal region was obtained. This portion of the structure appeared to be unrelated to those of the known parathyroid hormonal peptides.

Functioning oxyphil adenoma of parathyroid gland. An ultrastructural and biochemical study

Oxyphil cells and oxyphil cell adenomas of parathyroid glands are, in most instances, regarded to be nonfunctioning. Although 21 cases of hyperparathyroidism associated with parathyroid oxyphil cell adenoma have been reported, secretion of hormone by these tumors has not been conclusively demonstrated. A parathyroid adenoma, diagnosed by light microscopy as oxyphil type, together with the results from ultrastructural and biochemical studies of the patient's adenomatous tissue, are reported here. The patient, a 64-year-old male, was found to have elevated serum calcium, low serum phosphorus, and elevated serum immunoreactive parathormone: findings consistent with hyperparathyroidism. After excision of two small normal-appearing glands and one greatly enlarged (1.9 g) parathyroid gland, those laboratory values returned to normal. Light microscopy of the enlarged parathyroid indicated that it consisted almost entirely of an oxyphil adenoma. Electron microscopy revealed that the adenoma was composed mainly of mitochondria-rich oxyphil cells but also of interspersed transitional oxyphil cells and rare scattered chief cells. Golgi zones, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and prosecretory and secretory-like granules were observed in some oxyphil cells, in most transitional oxyphil cells, and in the infrequent chief cells. Thus, many of these cells appear to contribute to the production and secretion of parathormone. Biochemical studies performed directly on the adenomatous tissue demonstrated that it was able to synthesize proparathormone and parathormone, although the proportion of hormonal peptide synthesis relative to that of the total protein synthesis in this tissue was much smaller (0.9%) than that found in normal parathyroid tissue (5.7%). There was a small increase in immunoreactive parathormone when the adenoma tissue was incubated in a low-calcium medium. These findings indicate that this oxyphil adenoma of the parathyroid gland synthesized and secreted parathormone, apparently to some extent autonomously, but suggest that its capacity to do so was largely dependent on its component of cells other than fully developed oxyphil cells, such as transitional oxyphil cells.

Disruption of the Golgi zone and inhibition of the conversion of proparathyroid hormone to parathyroid hormone in human parathyroid tissue by tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane

Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris, Tromethamine, THAM) and other non-amphoteric amines were previously reported to inhibit the conversion of proparathyroid hormone to parathyroid hormone in bovine parathyroid glands incubated in vitro. This inhibition correlated with a striking dilation of the Golgi complex. This work has now been extended to normal, hyperplastic, and adenomatous parathyroid glands from human subjects. The tissues were incubated for up to 3 hours with 3H-leucine in physiologic solutions (control) or in the same solutions containing 50 mM Tris. In one case, diethylamine also was tested. Electron microscopy revealed that the amines produced a dilation of the Golgi complex and swelling of vesicles, predominantly in the region of the Golgi zone. Other organelles were normal in appearance. During the same period, Tris reduced by sixfold the ratio of the parathyroid hormone to proparathyroid hormone, from a control value of 2:1 to 1:3. It was apparent that Tris exerted the same biochemical and morphologic actions in human parathyroid tissues as it was previously shown to do in bovine glands. These studies support the concept that the Golgi zone is that region in the parathyroid gland in which proparathyroid hormone to parathyroid hormone conversion is initiated and that Tris inhibits this conversion through disruption of the converting site.

Energy-dependent intracellular translocation of proparathormone

We previously suggested that after synthesis, proparathormone is transferred from rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi region where its conversion to parathormone occurs. We have attempted to define more closely this transfer process. In the first type of study, bovine parathyroid slices were incubated with [3H]leucine for 10 min and then radioisotope labeling was restricted by addition of a large excess of nonradioactive leucine. Under these conditions, more than 90% of the initially labeled proparathormone was converted to parathormone in 40 min. Lowered temperature in the chase period markedly inhibited the conversion. Several chemical agents were employed individually in the chase period to examine their effect on the conversion process. Antimycin A, dinitrophenol, oligomycin, and anaerobiosis (N2) inhibited the conversion, whereas sodium flouride and cycloheximide had no effect. In the second type of study, parathyroid slices were incubated with [3H]leucine for the entire incubation period. Lowered temperature and inhibitors of energy metabolism and microtubular function all lengthened the interval (lag) between the initial synthesis of [3H]parathormone. Cycloheximide, Tris, and chloroquine decreased the rates of protein synthesis and conversion, respectively, but none had any effect on the lag. We interpret the lag to represent the time of transit for proparathormone from rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi region. We conclude that this transfer process is independent of the synthesis of the prohormone and its conversion to the hormone. Moreover, this translocation requires metabolic energy and appears to be mediated by microtubules.

Conversion of proparathyroid hormone to parathyroid hormone by a particulate enzyme of the parathyroid gland

The conversion of proparathyroid hormone (proparathormone) to parathyroid hormone (parathormone) by subcellular fractions of the bovine parathyroid has been investigated. The identification of the conversion product as parathormone was established by its elution postion during ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration, and by partial amino acid sequence analysis of its NH2-terminal region. Total homogenates and derived subcellular fractions (600 X g pellet, 5,000 X g pellet, 20,000 X g pellet, 190,000 X g pellet, and 190,000 X g supernatant) all catalyzed the conversion of exogenous [3H]- or [14C]prohormone. Over 60% of the converting activity was in the particulate fractions; the 190,000 X g particulate fraction contained the highest specific converting activity. The converting activity appeared to be an integral component of the membranes since it could only be partially removed by extraction with Triton X-100. The production of parathormone by the particulate converting enzyme increased with time and the concentration of enzyme protein. The optimum pH range was between 7 and 9, and the enzyme was inactive below pH 6. Conversion by the particulate enzyme was inhibited by benzamidine or chloroquine, but not by pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, indicating its dissimilarity to trypsin. When a mixture of [14C]proparathormone and [3H]parathormone was used as substrate, the particulate enzyme did not metabolize the hormone despite over 70% conversion of the prohormone to hormone and other peptides. There was a close correlation between the subcellular distribution of converting activity and that of newly formed parathormone found in the membrane fraction. These data suggest that the particulate converting activity is that concerned with the formation of parathormone in vivo.

Interaction of parathyroid hormone with membranes of kidney cortex: degradation of the hormone and activation of adenylate cyclase

Plasma membranes prepared from rat renal cortex contain both a parathyroid hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase and a potent proteolytic activity which degrades the hormone into peptide fragments. The degree and pattern of degradation was determined by subjecting incubation mixtures to gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Estimation of the degree of degradation by acid precipitation of the intact hormone was inadequate since metabolism of the hormone apparently generated acid-insoluble fragments. When parathyroid hormone was incubated with membrane fraction, the capacity of its stimulatory effect on adenylate cyclase decreased steadily. This decrease of PTH activitiy could be closely related to the degradation of intact hormone by the same membrane preparation. The adenylate cyclase and degradative activity appeared to exist in similar membrane structures since they could not be separated by centrifugation through sucrose density gradients. The degradation of the hormone could not be inhibited by Trasylol and pancreatic or soybean trypsin inhibitors and was only slightly inhibited by ribonuclease and benzamidine. Histone (1 mg per ml), on the other hand, was able to decrease the degradation of the hormone and prevent the loss of its activity. Radioimmunoassay of the incubation mixtures showed that the rapid degradation of both amino- and carboxy-terminal regions of the hormone was prevented by histone. The oxidized, inactive hormone was also degraded to the same extent by the renal cortical membrane. Furthermore, the degradative activity was also found in plasma membrane preparations of renal medulla and liver. This lack of hormone and tissue specificity suggests that similar degradative activity exists in all tissues and that caution should be exercised in estimating hormonal potency based on activation of adenylate cyclase.

Biosynthesis of proparathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone by human parathyroid glands

Human parathyroid glands obtained at autopsy were incubated with [(3)H]leucine and [(3)H]lysine. After incubation, nonradioactive parathyroid tissue of either human or bovine origin was added. Radioactive parathyroid hormone and proparathyroid hormone were isolated from the gland and medium by organic solvent and salt fractionation, trichloroacetic acid precipitation, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, and carboxymethyl cellulose column chromatography. The human hormonal peptides were identified in the ion-exchange column eluates by their relatively high levels of radioactivity, their elution positions, and their immunoreactivity to anti-PTH antiserum. The time-course of radioactive amino acid incorporation into these peptides and a brief incubation of the gland with radioactive amino acids, followed by various lengths of incubation with nonradioactive amino acids, indicated that a precursor-product relationship exists for the two peptides. An alternate method for isolation of the hormone and prohormone, which involves separation of peptides by urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, confirmed the identities of the human parathyroid hormone and proparathyroid hormone.

Calcemic fraction-A: biosynthetic peptide precursor of parathyroid hormone

Calcemic fraction-A (CF-A) is a biologically active, hypercalcemic and bone resorptive peptide, which was detected in, and isolated from, bovine parathyroid glands [Hamilton et al. (1971) Endocrinology 89, 1440-1447]. It has been further purified, and its relationship to parathyroid hormone clarified. The peptide is present in fresh glands at a concentration of about 3 mug/g (parathyroid hormone, 100 mug/g). It contains 109 amino acids (hormone, 84), each of which is present in equal or greater molar ratio than in the hormone. Its molecular weight, calculated from amino-acid composition, is 12,144; determined by dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it is 12,500 (hormone, 9563). Per mole, it reacts with antiserum to parathyroid hormone to an extent of 7-10% that of the hormone, and is about 50% as active in its hypercalcemic and bone resorptive properties in the appropriate assays. Time course and pulse-chase experiments with parathyroid gland slices, in which the incorporation of amino acid into isolated peptide and hormone were measured, indicate that the hormone is made from a protein precursor; the patterns of incorporation of radioactivity are those that would be predicted from a precursor-product relationship. When the large peptide was incubated with parathyroid gland extracts it was partially converted to a molecule that appeared to be the hormone, as based upon its coelution with marker hormone from ion-exchange columns. Finally, tryptic digestion of the peptide increased the immunoreactivity of the sample in accord with the known greater immunoreactivity of the hormone than the peptide. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that the peptide is a biosynthetic precursor of the hormone in bovine parathyroid gland.