Characterization of hydrophobic prenyl groups of isoprenylated proteins in human cancer cells.

Extensive protease digestion of delipidated [3H]mevalonate (MVA)-labeled proteins, followed by HPLC separation of the products, is one approach to identify and study prenyl cysteines. Using this methodology three major [3H]MVA-labeled peaks appeared. Two of them represent farnesyl cysteine (FC) and geranylgeranyl cysteine (GGC). The third peak represents unknown products that are considerably more hydrophobic than FC and GGC, here designated HPC. Previously, we provided evidence that cysteine residues may also be modified by dolichyl groups. Dolichyl cysteines (DolC) belong to HPC. However, as shown in the present study, DolC only represents a minor portion of HPC. Data obtained from different sets of experiments, including [3H]GGOH-labeling and use of prenyl transferase inhibitors, suggest that HPC mainly involves CXC or CC residues with double-linked GG groups. In turn this points to the possibility that proteins modified by double GG groups are quite common, and may probably involve other proteins than the rab family of GTPases.

A highly aggressive primitive mesenchymal tumor with a translocation (1;19)(q12;q13.2).

Soft tissue sarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, the classification of which may present a diagnostic challenge. We present here the cytological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and cytogenetic findings of an unusual case of a highly aggressive sarcoma. Based on the morphology and the immunohistochemical profile, this primitive tumor and its metastases could not be conclusively classified as any of the defined subtypes of sarcomas, although the findings were suggestive of a variant of rhabdomyosarcoma. Cytogenetic characterization using G-banding, SKY, FISH, and CGH revealed almost identical chromosomal compositions of the primary tumor and the metastasis. The hypertetraploid karyotype was characterized by numerical imbalances as well as by an unbalanced translocation t(1;19)(q12;q13.2), which has not been previously reported.

Pre-operative radiotherapy in soft tissue tumors. Assessment of response by static post-contrast MR imaging compared to histopathology.

PURPOSE: To evaluate if static post-contrast MR imaging was adequate to assess tumor viability after pre-operative radiotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Post-contrast MR imaging of 36 soft tissue sarcomas performed 0-54 days (median 13 days) after pre-operative radiotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed and compared to post-operative histopathology reports. The contrast enhancement of the tumor was visually graded as minor, moderate or extensive. From the post-operative histopathology reports, three types of tumor response to radiotherapy were defined: Poor, intermediate or good. The size of the tumors before and after radiation was compared. RESULTS: Even if most viable tumors enhanced more than non-viable tumors, there was major overlapping and significant contrast enhancement could be seen in tumors where histopathological examination revealed no viable tumor tissue. Based on histopathology, there were 12 good responders; 8 of these showed minor, 3 moderate and 1 extensive contrast enhancement on MR imaging. Sixteen tumors had an intermediate response; 3 showed minor, 8 moderate and 5 extensive enhancement. Eight tumors had poor response; none showed minor enhancement, 3 moderate and 5 extensive enhancement. Both increase and decrease in tumor size was seen in lesions with a good therapy response. CONCLUSION: Static post-contrast MR imaging cannot reliably assess tumor viability after pre-operative radiotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma. In tumors with no viable tumor tissue, moderate and extensive contrast enhancement can be seen.

Increased expression of insulin-like growth factor I receptor in malignant cells expressing aberrant p53: functional impact.

We investigated the functional impact of p53 on insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) expression in malignant cells. Using the BL-41tsp53-2 cell line, a transfectant carrying temperature-sensitive (ts) p53 and endogenous mutant p53 (codon 248), we demonstrated a drastic down-regulation of plasma membrane-bound IGF-IRs on induction of wild-type p53. However, a similar response was obtained by treatment of BL-41tsp53-2 cells expressing mutant ts p53 with a p53 antisense oligonucleotide. Thus, even if the negative effect of wild-type p53 predominates under a competitive condition, these data indicate that mutant p53 may be important for up-regulation of IGF-IR. To further elucidate this issue, three melanoma cell lines (BE, SK-MEL-5, and SK-MEL-28) that overexpressed p53 were investigated. The BE cell line has a "hot spot" mutation (codon 248) and expresses only codon 248-mutant p53. SK-MEL-28 has a point mutation at codon 145. SK-MEL-5 cells did not exhibit any p53 mutations, but the absence of p21Waf1 expression suggested functionally aberrant p53. Our data suggest that interaction with Mdm-2 may underlie p53 inactivation in these cells. Using p53 antisense oligonucleotides, we demonstrated a substantial down-regulation of cell surface expression of IGF-IR proteins in all melanoma cell lines after 24 h. This was paralleled by decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-IR and growth arrest, and, subsequently, massive cell death was observed (this was also seen in BL-41tsp53-2 cells with mutant conformation of ts p53). Taken together, our results suggest that up-regulation of IGF-IR as a result of expression of aberrant p53 may be important for the growth and survival of malignant cells.

Tamoxifen-induced cell death in malignant melanoma cells: possible involvement of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway.

Recent data indicate that the estrogen receptor (ER) blocker tamoxifen (TAM) can induce cell death in malignant melanoma cells. However, as shown in the present study and several other studies melanoma cells usually do not express classical ERs. In the present study we investigated whether the cytotoxic effect of TAM on melanoma cells could depend on interference with the expression or function of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a plasma membrane receptor important for cell survival in this tumor cell type. Several melanoma cell lines were included in the analysis. Administration of TAM at a concentration of 15 microm or more resulted in cell death of the melanoma cells within 48 h. TAM treatment was correlated to a slight to moderate inhibition of IGF-1 binding to IGF-1R. Since it has been reported that TAM can increase the release of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) we then investigated whether this mechanism could underly the decreased IGF-1 binding. However, we could demonstrate that the amount of released IGFBPs were unchanged or decreased in TAM-treated cells. Whereas TAM did not have any strong effect on IGF-1 binding and the expression of IGF-1R at the cell surface, it was was found to efficently block tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-1R beta-subunit. Taken together, our data suggest that TAM-induced cytotoxicity of malignant melanoma cells can be due to inactivation of IGF-1R.

Inhibition of N-linked glycosylation down-regulates insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor at the cell surface and kills Ewing's sarcoma cells: therapeutic implications.

The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) has been shown to be of critical importance for tumor development and tumor cell survival of various types of malignancies. We have previously demonstrated that an adequate N-linked glycosylation of IGF-1R is required for its translocation to the cell surface in melanoma cells. This raises the possibility of using glycosylation inhibitors as therapeutic agents against IGF-1R-dependent malignancies. In this study we show that inhibition of N-linked glycosylation using tunicamycin or the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor lovastatin resulted in down-regulation of IGF-1R at the cell surface in Ewing's sarcoma cell lines (RD-ES and ES-1 cells). The down-regulation of plasma membrane-bound IGF-1R was correlated with a drastic decrease in IGF-1R autophosphorylation, suggesting biochemical inactivation of the receptor. Whereas RD-ES and ES-1 cells responded differently with regard to DNA synthesis, the decrease in IGF-1R expression was accompanied by a rapid and substantial decrease in survival of both cell lines. Our data suggest that relatively untoxic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g. lovastatin) could have therapeutic significance in IGF-1R-dependent neoplasms like Ewing's sarcoma.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and p27Kip1 in melanocytic tumors: a potential regulatory role of IGF-1 pathway in distribution of p27Kip1 between different cyclins.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) has been shown to be important for melanoma cell growth and survival. In this study we first show, using immunohistochemistry, that progression from benign nevi to malignant melanoma is paralleled by an increased expression of IGF-1R and a down-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. Even though the expression of p27Kip1 was drastically reduced compared to benign tumors, detectable amounts of it could be assayed by Western blotting in cultured melanoma cells. To analyze whether there is a causative relationship between the IGF-1 pathway and p27Kip1 expression, melanoma cells were treated with alpha IR-3, an antibody blocking the IGF-1 binding to IGF-1R, or Tunicamycin, which inhibits the translocation of IGF-1R to the cell surface. From these studies we could conclude that the overall expression of p27Kip1 is independent of the IGF-1 pathway. In contrast, the association of p27Kip1 with the different cyclins was drastically affected. Both TM and alpha IR-3 decreased the binding of p27Kip1 to cyclin D1, whose expression was drastically reduced. On the other hand there was an increased binding of p27Kip1 to cyclin E and cyclin A. This redistribution of p27Kip1 may be a mechanism for growth arrest and induction of apoptosis following interruption of the IGF-1 pathway in melanoma cells.

Expression of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in breast cancer cells: evidence for a regulatory role of dolichyl phosphate in the transition from an intracellular to an extracellular IGF-1 pathway.

In this study we provide evidence that the low expression of IGF-1R at the cell surface of estrogen-independent breast cancer cells is due to a low rate of de novo synthesis of dolichyl phosphate. The analyses were performed on the estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cell line MDA231 and, in comparison, the melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2, which expresses a high number of plasma membrane-bound IGF-1R. Whereas the MDA231 cells had little or no surface expression of IGF-1R, they expressed functional (i.e., ligand-binding) intracellular receptors. By measuring the incorporation of [3H]mevalonate into dolichyl phosphate, we could demonstrate that the rate of dolichyl phosphate synthesis was considerably lower in MDA231 cells than in SK-MEL-2 cells. Furthermore, N-linked glycosylation of the alpha-subunit of IGF-1R was 8-fold higher in the melanoma cells. Following addition of dolichyl phosphate to MDA231 cells, N-linked glycosylation of IGF-1R was drastically increased, which in turn was correlated to a substantial translocation of IGF-1R to the plasma membrane, as assayed by IGF-1 binding analysis and by Western blotting of plasma membrane proteins. The dolichyl phosphate-stimulated receptors were proven to be biochemically active since they exhibited autophosphorylation. Under normal conditions MDA231 cells, expressing very few IGF-1R at the cell surface, were not growth-arrested by an antibody (alphaIR-3) blocking the binding of IGF-1 to IGF-1R. However, after treatment with dolichyl phosphate, leading to a high cell surface expression of IGF-1R, alphaIR-3 efficiently blocked MDA231 cell growth. Taken together with the fact that the breast cancer cells produce IGF-1 and exhibit intracellular binding, our data suggest that the level of de novo -synthesized dolichyl phosphate may be critical for whether the cells will use an intracellular or an extracellular autocrine IGF-1 pathway.

Regulatory role of mevalonate and N-linked glycosylation in proliferation and expression of the EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein in Ewing's sarcoma cells.

The Ewing's sarcoma cell line RD-ES, which carries the EWS/FLI-1 fusion gene, responded to the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor lovastatin with growth arrest. Replenishment of mevalonate (MVA) to the arrested cells restored cell growth. However, if tunicamycin (TM), which is an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation, was present together with MVA the cells remained arrested, indicating that N-linked glycosylation is of importance for growth of Ewing's sarcoma cells. Inhibition of the biosynthesis of EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein by treatment with antisense oligonucleotides also led to growth arrest, suggesting that this protein is of importance for cell growth. We investigated whether MVA synthesis and N-linked glycosylation could be involved in regulation of the expression of the EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein, which in fact contains four potential sites for N-linked glycosylation. We found that inhibition of both HMG-CoA reductase and N-linked glycosylation drastically decreased the expression of the fusion protein, which mainly appears in the cell nuclei. There was no significant difference in the inhibitory effect on the fusion protein between the cytoplasm and the cell nuclei, indicating that the transport of the fusion protein to the cell nucleus is not affected. The fusion protein did not exhibit any gel electrophoretic mobility shift after treatment of the cells with lovastatin or TM, and it did not incorporate [3H]glucosamine. Therefore we can conclude that the fusion protein is not a glycoprotein. The decreased expression of the fusion protein following lovastatin or TM treatment was found to be due to a lowered stability of de novo-synthesized fusion protein. The down-regulation of the fusion protein was correlated to growth arrest. Furthermore, the kinetics between the expression of EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein and the initiation of DNA synthesis in MVA-stimulated cells were similar. Taken together, our data suggest that the regulatory role of N-linked glycosylation in the expression of the EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein is important for growth of Ewing's sarcoma cells. Possible mechanisms underlying TM-induced decrease in EWS/FLI-1 expression may involve the breaking of growth factor receptor pathways.

Detection of EWS/FLI-1 by Immunostaining. An Adjunctive Tool in Diagnosis of Ewing's Sarcoma and Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour on Cytological Samples and Paraffin-Embedded Archival Material.

Purpose. Recently we showed that the 68-kDa fusion protein derived from the EWS/FLI1 hybrid gene can be specifically detected by Western blotting using a polyclonal antibody to the C-terminal of FLI1 on biopsy material from Ewing's sarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this antibody also could be used for immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry in diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma.Methods. Immunostaining on paraffin-embedded archival material, fine-needle aspirates and tumour touch imprints from Ewing's sarcomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNET) for detection of the fusion protein was performed. Most cases were also analysed by Western blotting.Tumours of differential diagnostic importance were also included.Results. Eighty per cent (12/15 cases) of the Ewing tumours exhibited a positive immunoreactivity for the FLI1 antibody. The signal was mainly localised in the nuclei of the tumour cells, which seems reasonable since EWS/FLI1 is a transcription factor. The signal was found to be specific since it did not appear when the blocking peptide was added to the antibody solution.Moreover, two other types of small-round cell tumours (i.e. neuroblastoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma) were negative as well as most normal tissues.Discussion. Immunostaining of histological and cytological specimens with the FLI1 antibody can be of diagnostic relevance in Ewing tumours carrying t(11;22).The absence of immunoreactivity in non-Ewing cells is most likely due to a low expression of the wild-type FLI1 protein.

Expression of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and its anti-apoptotic effect in malignant melanoma: a potential therapeutic target.

The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and its possible protective effect on apoptotic cell death in malignant melanoma was analysed in four commercial melanoma cell lines. Inhibition of N-linked glycosylation by tunicamycin, which has previously been shown to block the translocation of IGF-1R to the cell surface, blocked cell growth and/or induced cell death in these cell lines. Treatment with alphaIR-3, an antibody blocking the binding domain of IGF-1R, also resulted in growth arrest and/or apoptosis. We also analysed lymph node metastases of malignant melanoma by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. All these cases were shown to express IGF-1R at the cell surface. In three cases of lymph node metastases we had access to both tumour specimens and cultured cells. One of these exhibited a substantially higher expression of IGF-1R than the two other cases. The corresponding cell lines showed growth arrest and apoptosis following treatment with alphaIR-3. However, the two cell lines with low expression of IGF-1R were more sensitive in this respect. Furthermore, we demonstrated an inverse correlation between IGF-1R expression and the frequency of apoptotic cells in the tumour specimens. Our data suggest that IGF-1R is crucial for the viability of malignant melanoma cells in vitro as well as in vivo.

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on fine needle aspirates for rapid detection of translocations in synovial sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utilization of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy to obtain material for reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the detection of the t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) translocation in synovial sarcomas. STUDY DESIGN: We applied RT-PCR to detection of synovial sarcoma fusion gene transcripts on fine needle aspirates. Five clinical samples were first analyzed: one was a tumor previously diagnosed as malignant hemangiopericytoma, one was a poorly defined tumor, and three were suspected synovial sarcomas. FNA material was transferred directly to the RT-PCR reaction tube without RNA extraction. RESULTS: The t(X;18) translocation could be detected on the limited amount of material that FNA provides. In each of the cases studied the representivity of the tumor samples was confirmed microscopically. CONCLUSION: Our protocol permits analysis directly on representative samples without extraction of RNA. The results imply that RT-PCR offers reliable detection of sarcoma fusion gene transcripts on fine needle aspirates. The procedure, apart from being applicable to outpatients, is rapid and sensitive.

Dolichol-like lipids with stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis: substrates for protein dolichylation?

Substantial evidence has suggested that a nonsterol product of mevalonic acid (MVA) is essential for the initiation of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells. Several possible isoprenoid candidates have been suggested, but the identity of this compound still remains unknown. In this study we have isolated and purified MVA products from SV40-transformed human fibroblasts and identified fractions with a growth-stimulatory effect. The cells were labelled with [14C]MVA in the presence of inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. After lipid extraction, the [14C]MVA-labelled lipids were subjected to high performance liquid chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography, and the effect of the fractionated eluate on the DNA synthesis of arrested MVA-depleted target cells was tested. Thereby we found a fraction of [14C]MVA-labelled lipids with a substantial stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis. The chromatographic behavior suggested that the growth-stimulating fractions contained dolichol-20. This was confirmed by mass spectrometric analysis. Similar results were obtained when lipids from hepatocellular carcinoma cells and a sample from breast tumor were isolated and analyzed by the same procedure. The mechanisms by which these compounds induce DNA synthesis are unknown. Recent data obtained in our laboratory have provided evidence that dolichyl groups are covalently linked to tumor cell proteins, which implicates a new biological function for long-chain polyisoprenoid alcohols (Hjertman et al. [1997] FEBS Lett 416:235-238). In this study we demonstrate that tumor cells containing dolichol-like growth-stimulatory lipids also contained dolichylated proteins. This raises the question whether the growth-stimulatory dolichol-like lipids serve as substrates for the dolichylation reaction.

Specific and sensitive detection of the EWS/FLI1 fusion protein in Ewing's sarcoma by Western blotting.

We applied Western blotting, using an antibody against the carboxy terminal of the FLI1 protein, for detection of the 68-kDa EWS/FLI1 fusion protein in cultured Ewing's sarcoma cells and in four surgical biopsies of Ewing's sarcoma. Of six different human cell lines, the 68-kDa fusion protein was identified only in Ewing's sarcoma cells carrying the t(11;22)(q24;q12) translocation. The four samples from Ewing's sarcoma patients were also found to contain the 68-kDa fusion protein. The lowest detection level for total protein loaded on the gel was 0.3 microg. When whole Ewing's sarcoma cells were used for Western blotting without prior protein extraction, the lowest detection level was 1,300 cells. It will be possible to use Western blotting for detection of the EWS/FLI1 fusion protein in the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma in surgical biopsy specimens, and possibly also in fine-needle aspirates. As the method is not dependent on the quality of mRNA in the sample and involves no risk of contamination, it will be a powerful complement to the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Evidence for protein dolichylation.

Labeling of human colon carcinoma cells with [3H]dol, followed by extensive delipidation and removal of dol-P oligosaccharides, showed that dol are bound to cellular proteins with sizes of 5, 10, 27, 75 and > 140 kDa. HPLC purification of proteolytic products of [3H]dol- and [35S]cys-labeled proteins revealed a hydrophobic peak containing both dol and cysteine. The dol/cys-labeled products were clearly separated from GG-cys, and exhibited a hydrophobicity between that of dol-P and dol. In another set of experiments delipidated proteins were treated with methyl iodide, which cleaves thioether bonds. After HPLC purification of released dol-like lipids, these were subjected to mass spectrometry. This demonstrated molecular ions with the same mass as that of dol. Taken together our data provide evidence for the existence of proteins covalently modified with dol.

Immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing Spitz nevi from malignant melanomas.

In this study, we demonstrate that immunostaining with MIB-1 and anti-bcl-2 is a useful tool to distinguish compound Spitz nevi from malignant melanomas. Forty-six cases of Spitz nevi and 50 cases of vertical growth-phase melanomas (Clark III-V) were compared for the immunoreactivity of MIB-1 and bcl-2 in the intradermal component of the lesions. As many as 76% of the Spitz nevus cases showed a low percentage (0-2%) of MIB-1 immunoreactivity. In the malignant melanomas, such a low MIB-1 index was shown in only 2% of the cases. The average MIB-1 index in malignant melanomas and Spitz nevi was 29.7 and 4.0%, respectively. bcl-2 was negative in only 4% of the melanoma cases, whereas the corresponding value was 72% in Spitz nevi. Statistical analyses using Students t test showed that the differences were highly significant (P < 0.001). By considering the immunoreactivity for MIB-1 and bcl-2 in the individual cases, we found that as many as 96% of the melanomas both expressed a bcl-2 positivity and exhibited a MIB-1 index exceeding 2% in the dermal component. The corresponding value was as low as 6% in the Spitz nevi.

Mevalonate-regulated mechanisms in cell growth control: role of dolichyl phosphate in expression of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in comparison to Ras prenylation and expression of c-myc.

One or more mevalonate derivatives of non-sterol type have been proposed to be of indispensable importance for cell growth. Conceivable mevalonate-dependent mechanisms involved in growth control are farnesylation of Ras proteins, regulation of c-myc expression, and N-linked glycosylation of the IGF-1 receptor. The latter mechanism might be rate-limited by dolichyl phosphate, which acts as a donor of oligosaccharides in glycoprotein synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum. In order to study the significance for cell proliferation of the three aforementioned mevalonate-dependent processings, their inhibitory response due to mevalonate deprivation was explored and compared with the effect on DNA synthesis in the malignant melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2. We found that mevalonate depletion due to treatment with 3 microM lovastatin for 24 h, which efficiently growth-arrested the cells, hardly at all affected the expression of c-myc, and although Ras prenylation was inhibited by 50%, the most pronounced effect of lovastatin was seen on N-linked glycosylation of IGF-1 receptors, which was inhibited by more than 95%. The order and magnitude of the decreased IGF-1 receptor glycosylation, which was followed by a decreased expression of IGF-1 receptors at the cell membrane, correlated well with the inhibition of DNA synthesis. We investigated whether dolichol, and in particular dolichyl phosphate, through its participation in N-linked glycosylation, act as regulators of IGF-1 receptor expression. First, we could confirm that exogenous dolichol became phosphorylated and in this form took part in the glycosylation processing. Secondly, we showed that dolichyl phosphate, in a dose-dependent manner, could increase the number of IGF-1 receptors at the cell membrane, simultaneously as DNA synthesis was stimulated. Taken together, our results provide direct evidence for an important role of dolichyl phosphate as a regulator of cell growth through limiting N-linked glycosylation of the IGF-1 receptor.

Utility of a proliferation marker in distinguishing between benign naevocellular naevi and naevocellular naevus-like lesions with malignant properties.

In the present study we have investigated the utility of the proliferation marker MIB 1 in distinguishing between benign naevocellular naevi and naevocellular naevus-like lesions with malignant potential. Percentages of MIB 1 immunoreactivity in the intradermal portion of the lesions were determined. In benign congenital and acquired naevi, as well as in dysplastic naevi, there was no or only a slight intradermal melanocytic proliferation (0-2%), whereas vertical growth phase melanomas exhibited a substantial proliferative activity (11-48%). In five cases of naevus-lke lesions, which had all relapsed as unmistakable malignant melanomas (locally or metastatically) after primary surgery, there was also clear proliferative activity (9-67%). Our findings suggest that MIB 1 may be a useful tool in the routine histopathological examination of problematic naevocellular lesions.

Mevalonate is essential for growth activation of human fibroblasts: evidence for a critical role of protein glycosylation in the prereplicative period.

Human diploid fibroblasts, arrested following serum or mevalonate depletion, were restimulated to a maximal rate of DNA synthesis within 24 h after the addition of serum or mevalonate, respectively. In both cases the initiation of DNA synthesis was preceded by a 12-h prereplicative phase. Upon the stimulation with serum there was a rapid increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity, reflecting an elevated formation of mevalonate, which reached its maximal value 4 h after serum replenishment. If this serum-induced increase in mevalonate synthesis was inhibited, the subsequent initiation of DNA synthesis was prevented. Serum stimulation also increased the level of N-linked glycosylation, an event that was dependent on the increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity. After treatment of the cells with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation, they failed to enter the S-phase. However, an increased level of N-linked glycosylation was not required during the whole of the period after serum stimulation. Instead, it seemed to be of critical importance only during the mid stage of the prereplicative phase (i.e., 4-8 h after stimulation). Our data suggest that the N-linked glycosylation required for initiation of DNA synthesis is of high-molecular-weight (90-240 kDa) proteins. These high-molecular-weight glycoproteins may include growth factor receptors. Indirect evidence raises the possibility that the expression of growth factor receptors may play a regulatory role in the mevalonate-dependent growth activation of human fibroblasts.