VAP-A binds promiscuously to both v- and tSNAREs.

Proteins that bind to SNAREs may regulate their function. One such protein, VAP-33, was first discovered in Aplysia californica and has two mammalian homologues, VAP-A and VAP-B. VAP-A has been implicated in vesicle targeting to the plasma membrane based on its location in polarized cells and its ability to bind VAMP in vitro. Here, we demonstrate that VAP-A is a widely expressed resident of the ER/Golgi intermediate compartment in COS-7 cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that VAMP-binding and VAP-dimerization require both the N- and C-terminal domains of VAP-A and also that VAP-A binds to a wide range of SNAREs and fusion-related proteins including syntaxin 1A, rbet1, rsec22, alphaSNAP, and NSF. Together, these results suggest that VAP-A is not a regulator of a specific VAMP, but rather may play a more general role in SNARE-mediated vesicle traffic between the ER and Golgi in nonpolarized cells.

A functional role for VAP-33 in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 traffic.

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are critical proteins in membrane fusion, in both regulated and constitutive vesicular traffic. In addition, proteins that interact with the SNAREs are thought to regulate fusion. Vesicle-associated membrane protein-2 (VAMP-2) is a SNARE protein involved in insulin-dependent glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) traffic. VAMP-2 is required for productive GLUT4 incorporation into the plasma membrane. VAMP-associated protein of 33 kDa (VAP-33) is an integral membrane protein that binds VAMPs in vitro, and is hypothesized to be a regulator of VAMPs. In L6 skeletal myoblasts, which display insulin-dependent traffic of GLUT4, we show that VAP-33 colocalized significantly with VAMP-2 using indirect confocal immunofluorescence and biochemical cosegregation. Overexpression of wild-type VAP-33 in L6 myoblasts attenuated the insulin-dependent incorporation of myc-tagged GLUT4 into the plasma membrane, and this response was restored by co-overexpression of VAMP-2 linked to green fluorescent protein. Antibodies to VAP-33 microinjected into 3T3-L1 adipocytes abrogated the insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane, as measured in adhered plasma membrane lawns. Immunopurified VAMP-2-containing compartments from L6 myotubes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed significant levels of VAP-33. We propose that VAP-33 may be a regulator of VAMP-2 availability for GLUT4 traffic and other vesicle fusion events.

Osteopontin inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in rat vascular tissue.

We tested the hypothesis that osteopontin (OPN) can inhibit the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in vascular tissue. iNOS activity was induced in rat thoracic aortas by incubation of the tissue with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and measured by conversion of L-[3H]arginine to L-[3H]citrulline. Addition of >/=1 nM recombinant OPN protein significantly reduced the LPS-induced increase in iNOS activity. Western blotting and the RT-PCR were used to determine the effect of LPS with and without OPN on tissue levels of iNOS protein and RNA, respectively. LPS resulted in an increase in iNOS protein and RNA, whereas OPN dose-dependently reduced tissue levels of iNOS activity, protein, and RNA. Mutated OPN proteins, in which the integrin-binding RGD amino acid sequence was deleted or mutated to RGE, resulted in complete and partial loss, respectively, of the ability of OPN to inhibit LPS-induced iNOS activity, implicating integrin binding in the effect. These results indicate that OPN can prevent induction of iNOS in vascular tissue.

Identification of a human homologue of the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-associated protein of 33 kDa (VAP-33): a broadly expressed protein that binds to VAMP.

We report the identification of a human homologue of the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-associated protein (hVAP-33) that has been implicated in neuronal exocytosis in Aplysia californica. This hVAP-33 shared 50% amino acid identity with the A. californica form and had similar length, structural organization and VAMP-binding abilities. However, in contrast with the neuron-specific expression seen in A. californica, hVAP-33 was broadly expressed, suggesting possible roles in vesicle fusion in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells.

Lack of biologic activity or specific binding of amino-terminal pro-ANP segments in the rat.

In addition to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP99-126) itself, linear peptide fragments from its N-terminal prohormone segment (pro-ANP) have been reported to have biological activity. In vivo, diuresis and natriuresis, as well as hypotension have been observed. In vitro, sodium uptake into medullary collecting duct cells was inhibited, and tone of vascular smooth muscle was reduced, associated with activation of guanylate cyclase. Such previous studies have used heterologous peptides and species, e.g., human pro-ANP1-30 or pro-ANP31-67, tested in rat, pig, or dog. The present experiments were designed to test whether rat pro-ANP1-30 or pro-ANP31-67 were natriuretic and hypotensive in rats, whether the two peptides showed specific binding to plasma membranes from rat kidney cortex or aorta, and whether they affected particulate guanylate cyclase activity in rat glomerular membranes. To extend in vitro results from the literature, the effect of human pro-ANP31-67 on transport in the rat medullary collecting duct in vivo was also tested. Although rat ANP99-126, as expected, increased diuresis and natriuresis, associated with inhibition of transport in the medullary collecting duct, in identically treated rats human pro-ANP31-67 was without effect. Similarly, only the ANP99-126 infusion resulted in reduction of arterial blood pressure. Furthermore, no diuretic, natriuretic, or hypotensive responses were observed in rats infused with either rat pro-ANP31-67 or pro-ANP1-30. In plasma membranes from rat kidney cortex or aorta, neither of the rat prosegments showed specific binding, or interference with ANP99-126 receptors. Finally, in contrast to ANP99-126, neither of the prosegments was able to increase basal guanylate cyclase activity in rat glomerular membranes. Therefore, under our experimental conditions we were unable to replicate the earlier results. This study thus does not support a regulatory role for pro-ANP fragments in blood volume or blood pressure homeostasis.

Characterization of binding sites in rat for A, B and C-type natriuretic peptides.

Binding studies, affinity cross-linking and guanylate cyclase assays allowed a comparison of receptors with which the rat forms of atrial/A-type natriuretic peptide (rANP), brain/B-type natriuretic peptide (rBNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (rCNP) interact in rat kidney cortex and lung. This work represents the first study in which the rat form of BNP (= rBNP-45/iso-rANP(1-45)) has been used as a radiolabelled tracer to further characterize its receptors in these tissues. In addition, these studies stress the use of the same species of natriuretic peptide and assay system, an important experimental des ign given that BNPs show species-specific differences in structure. rBNP-45 bound with lower affinity to rANP (99-126) receptors, namely guanylate cyclase-linked receptor(s) and C-receptor. No receptor which interacted with only rBNP-45 was detectable in lung and kidney cortex. Since rBNP-45 interacted preferentially with the C-receptor and was less potent than rANP(99-126) in stimulating glomerular guanylate cyclase, rBNP-45 may signal through another second messenger in addition to cyclic GMP. Work with truncated analogues of this hormone pinpointed regions of this peptide which may contribute to receptor binding affinity and guanylate cyclase activation. CNP-22 bound to only a subset of ANP receptors and was least effective in stimulating glomerular guanylate cyclase, suggesting a differential mode of action from ANP.