Pregnancy effects on distribution of progesterone receptors, oestrogen receptor alpha, glucocorticoid receptors, Ki-67 antigen and apoptosis in the bovine interplacentomal uterine wall and foetal membranes.

Until recently, studies dealing with the uterus of the pregnant cow focus primarily on the placentome or on early and late pregnancy. Thus, there is a paucity of information about many aspects of the interplacentomal uterine wall including adherent foetal membranes. Corresponding tissue specimens were collected at the slaughterhouse and in animals undergoing premature caesarean section. Two specimens per month of pregnancy were assessed immunohistochemically for progesterone receptors, oestrogen receptor alpha and glucocorticoid receptors, Ki-67 protein and TUNEL procedure was performed. The latter two methods were employed in three animals each per months 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 7 and 8 and in six animals undergoing caesarean section at days 274 and 275 post insemination or during spontaneous labour. Results indicate that proliferation and apoptosis are of minor importance for tissue homeostasis since both can histochemically be detected only sporadically. Thus, at the sites investigated here, cellular hypertrophy plays an important role for tissue growth during pregnancy. Progesterone receptors, oestrogen receptor alpha and glucocorticoid receptors, however, exhibit cell type and pregnancy stage specific distribution patterns within the tissues assessed. Progesterone receptor immunoreactive scores remained fairly unchanged during pregnancy. Oestrogen receptor alpha scores, however, generally decreased and glucocorticoid receptors increased with ongoing gestation. Progesterone receptors and oestrogen receptor alpha were present in endometrial stroma and in myometrial smooth muscle cells during whole pregnancy. Oestrogen receptor alpha was detectable during whole pregnancy also in uterine glands. Progesterone receptors were, however, present at a very low level at the latter site only during months 1-3 and 6-9. Oestrogen receptor alpha and glucocorticoid receptors may also mediate uterine blood flow since they were present in the tunica media of uterine blood vessels. Results of the present study indicate, that progesterone and its receptor play an important role during whole gestation, mainly for uterine quiescence. Glucocorticoids and their receptors - possibly in cooperation with oestrogens and decreasing amounts of the oestrogen receptor alpha - should trigger processes initiating parturition, such as endometrial prostaglandin production. Further studies - including the periparturient period - should help to understand the exact role of the extraplacental compartment of the uterine wall for the initiation and progress of parturition.

Molecular characterization and crystallization of Diocleinae lectins.

Molecular characterization of seven Diocleinae lectins was assessed by sequence analysis, determination of molecular masses by mass spectrometry, and analytical ultracentrifugation equilibrium sedimentation. The lectins show distinct pH-dependent dimer-tetramer equilibria, which we hypothesize are due to small primary structure differences at key positions. Lectins from Dioclea guianensis, Dioclea virgata, and Cratylia floribunda seeds have been crystallized and preliminary X-ray diffraction analyses are reported.

A hormone pulse induces transient changes in the subcellular distribution and leads to a lysosomal accumulation of the estradiol receptor alpha in target tissues.

An intrauterine pulse-stimulation with estradiol induced changes in the subcellular localization of estrogen receptor alpha in porcine endometrium, as detected with F(ab') fragments of various anti-receptor antibodies covalently linked to nanogold. The low-sterically hindered immunoreagents--recognizing different epitopes within the hormone binding domain--allowed for an efficient immunolabeling of estradiol receptor alpha, detecting it both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of nonstimulated epithelium cells. In the cytoplasm, the receptor often seemed to be associated with actin filaments and the endoplasmatic reticulum. After the stimulation with estradiol, a predominantly nuclear localization and a labeling of nucleoli was observed. Our immunoelectron microscopy study demonstrates a localization of the receptor in cytoplasmic organelles that increased after the hormone pulse. These organelles exhibited the morphological properties of lysosomes and relocated to the perinuclear area. In analogous cytoplasmic organelles, the presence of cathepsin D was detected via indirect immunogold labeling, justifying their classification as lysosomes. Quantitative examinations revealed that not only the number of lysosomes in the proximity of the nucleus but also their immunostaining for estradiol receptor alpha increased significantly after the hormone pulse. Thus, estradiol induces both the rapid shift of receptor into the nucleus, a slower perinuclear accumulation of lysosomes and an increase of lysosomal ERalpha-immunoreactivity. These results suggest a role for lysosomes in the degradation of receptor shuttling out of the nucleus. This could serve as termination of the estradiol receptor alpha-dependent activation of target cells. This hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that the receptor content in uterine tissue declined drastically few hours after the hormone pulse.

Assignment of the ligand binding site of the porcine estradiol receptor to the N-terminal 17 kDa part of domain E.

Ligand-filled porcine estradiol receptor was adsorbed to heparin-Sepharose, from which a 26 kDa fragment was released by papain. Its mass was reduced to a 17 kDa fragment by trypsin. The sedimentation velocities of both estradiol binding fragments increased after reaction with the MAB 13H2. The same antibody identified the denatured fragments on Western blots. The N-terminal 21 amino acid sequence was obtained from the 17 kDa peptide which corresponds to amino acids 303-323 of the human receptor with four amino acids exchanged. This indicates that the ligand binding site resides in the N-terminal 17 kDa portion of domain E.

Mapping the heparin-binding domain of boar spermadhesins.

Boar spermadhesins are a group of seminal plasma, heparin-binding proteins which appear to be involved in sperm capacitation and gamete interaction. Using a proteolytic protection assay we have identified regions of AQN-1, AQN-3, PSP-I and AWN which remain attached to a heparin-Sepharose column following in-column digestion of bound spermadhesins with chymotrypsin and elastase. In addition, the complete amino acid sequence of spermadhesin AWN was synthesized as overlapping peptides, and their ability to bind to a heparin-Sepharose column and to inhibit the interaction of soluble heparin with purified ELISA plate-coated AWN was tested. Both approaches gave similar results and as a whole showed that different regions of AWN may converge in its tertiary structure to form a composite heparin-binding site. The conformational heparin-binding surface resides on the GFCC'C'' face of the proposed structural model for AWN and is in an opposite location to the carbohydrate-binding region of the spermadhesin.

Immunological detection of the oestradiol receptor protein in cell lines derived from the lymphatic system and the haematopoietic system: variability of specific hormone binding in vitro.

Extracts of human MCF 7 mammary carcinoma cells, the human lymphoblastoid cell lines AEH 1 and IM 9, T-cell derived CCRF cells, HL 60 myeloic leukaemia cells and murine myeloma cells SP 0 and NS I were analysed for immunoreactivity with polyclonal goat antibodies raised against homogeneous preparations of C-terminal fragments (32 kDa) of porcine uterine oestradiol receptor (ER). Whole cells and low speed cytosols were analysed for specific oestradiol-binding activity. ERs were enriched from cell extracts by either fractionated ethanol precipitation (0-25% (v/v) ethanol) and/or microscale-immunoaffinity chromatography. Immunoreactive proteins of identical molecular weight (approximately 65 kDa) were detected in all cell lines examined. Whole cell binding assays showed specific oestradiol-binding activity in MCF 7, IM 9 and CCRF cells. Borderline binding was found in HL 60 myeloid cells. No specific binding could be detected in AEH 1, NS I and SP 0 cells. Identical results were obtained using agar-electrophoresis after dextran-coated charcoal treatment. Immunoaffinity purified ERs from MCF 7, AEH 1 and HL 60 cells were subjected to limited proteolysis, where identical tryptic fragments were generated. In conclusion, we have confirmed by immunological methods that ERs are expressed in a variety of cell lines derived from the immune system and the haematopoietic system. The lack of specific hormone binding or very low-affinity hormone binding in some of the cells examined may be due to post-translational events or point mutations.

The C-terminal half of the porcine estradiol receptor contains no post-translational modification: determination of the primary structure.

The C-terminal part of ligand filled porcine estradiol receptor extending from H267 to I595 was isolated by adsorption to the monoclonal antibody 13H2, subjected to cleavage by CNBr, o-iodosobenzoic acid and endopeptidase Lys-C as well as other proteases, both in the native and the denatured state. The overlapping peptides produced were separated by reverse phase HPLC and sequenced by Edman degradation, lacking T570-M581 in domain F. We found no evidence of post-translational modification; the native fragment is not glycosylated and the tyrosyl residues in domain E (aa 328, 331, 459, 526, 537) and F (aa 582, 583) are not phosphorylated. In addition, all serine and threonine PTH derivatives were obtained in normal yields. The amino acid sequence of the fragment corresponds in full with that derived from the cDNA. The complete cDNA-derived sequence codes for a polypeptide of 595 amino acids with a calculated mass of 66,357 Da. The high degree of homology between species in domains C and E is shared by the porcine receptor.

The HDQVH-motif in domain E of the estradiol receptor alpha is responsible for zinc-binding and zinc-induced hormone release.

The estradiol receptor alpha and proteolytic fragments thereof which contain the entire ligand-binding domain E, bind 65Zn with high affinity. Four putative double-histidine zinc-binding sequences can be identified within the hormone-binding domain E: HDQVH [amino acid (aa) 373-377], HIH (aa 474-476), HFRH (aa 513-516) and HRLH (aa 547-550). Only the HDQVH-motif is responsible for the 1:1 zinc-binding to domain E because the proteolytic (endo-Lys-C) 17 kDa fragment (aa 303-467) from porcine estradiol receptor alpha possesses the zinc-binding ability but none of the fragments containing the other motifs. In addition, H373A- and H377A-mutants lack the metal-binding capacity. Moreover, divalent metal ions are able to release estradiol out of the binding-niche. The order for this feature parallels the competition pattern of 65Zn-binding: Mg2+ < Ni2+ << Zn2+ < or = Cu2+. Mutant estradiol receptor alpha fragments (H373A and H377A) lack the zinc-induced hormone release.

The sequence of porcine 80 kDa 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase reveals similarities to the short chain alcohol dehydrogenase family, to actin binding motifs and to sterol carrier protein 2.

The cDNA of porcine 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase codes for a polypeptide of 737 amino acids. The dehydrogenase activity of the 80 kDa translation product is located in its N-terminal 32 kDa fragment, which is the major form isolated from endometrial epithelium. beta-Actin co-purifies with some of the 32 kDa enzyme, which contains actin-binding motifs and is homologous to hydratase-dehydrogenase-epimerase of Candida tropicalis. The microbody-targeting signal AKI and sequences resembling sterol carrier protein 2 are present in the C-terminal part of the 80 kDa protein. The N- and C-terminal parts are connected by a sequence containing the putative protease recognition signal AAP.

The side chains responsible for the dimerization of the estradiol receptor by ionic bonds are lost in a 17 kDa fragment extending downstream from aa 303.

Fragments of 32, 26 and 17 kDa of the porcine estradiol receptor were prepared, all of which contain the ligand-binding site. While dimers of the 32 and 26 kDa fragments like those of intact receptor can be dissociated by protonation, the dimer of the 17 kDa fragment obtained by trypsination of the 26 kDa fragment is resistant to lowering the pH from 7.0 to 6.5 and below. Its dissociation can be achieved by 0.5 M MgCl2 at pH 7.0. All fragments are recognized by the MAB 13H2 in Western blots. The antibody also reacts with native receptor and the three fragments, both in their monomer and dimer states. The combining ratios of antibody with receptor, or its fragments, in the monomer and dimer states and the weakening of the estradiol-receptor bond by antibody attachment support the back to back and head to toe model of receptor dimers.

Endoproteolysis of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 (7-36) amide by ectopeptidases in RINm5F cells.

This study concerns whether the pancreatic beta cell expresses cell-surface ectopeptidases that are capable of proteolysis of peptide hormones and neuropeptides that modify glucose-dependent insulin release. These biochemical investigations of the RINm5F cell line found that these cells express ectopeptidases. We have characterized the limited endoproteolysis of GLP-1 (7-36) amide that occurs in the presence of RINm5F plasma membranes. The products and the sensitivity to specific peptidase inhibitors of the proteolysis is characteristic of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), amylin, glucagon, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and exendin-4 also undergo proteolysis in the presence of RIN cell membranes. NEP 24.11-activity in RIN cell membranes was confirmed using a specific fluorogenic assay, by histochemistry, and by comparison with the recombinant enzyme with respect to the kinetics of proteolysis of GLP-1 (7-36) amide and of a fluorogenic substrate. Specific fluorogenic assays revealed the presence of aminopeptidase N and the absence of aminopeptidase A and of dipeptidylpeptidase IV.

Subcellular localization of estradiol receptor in MCF7 cells studied with nanogold-labelled antibody fragments.

Ultrastructural localization studies of estradiol receptor in hormone-deprived and hormone-stimulated MCF7 cells were done using F(ab') fragments of three different antibodies (#402, 13H2, HT277) covalently linked to nanogold. These ultra-small, non-charged immunoreagents, combined with a size-enlargement by silver enhancement, localized estradiol receptor in both nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of non-stimulated target cells; stimulation with the steroid induced a predominantly nuclear labelling. In the cytoplasm of resting cells, tagging was often observed at or in the proximity of stress fibers. In the nucleus a large proportion of receptor was found inside the nucleolus, specially with the reagent derived from antibody 13H2. We postulate that different accessibilities of receptor epitopes account for the different labelling densities observed at cytoskeletal elements and the nucleoli.

The ligand-binding site of the estradiol receptor resides in a non-covalent complex of two consecutive peptides of 17 and 7 kDa.

A non-covalent complex of a 17 and a 7 kDa peptide was isolated from a Lys-C digest of the C-terminal 32 kDa half of the estradiol receptor by immunoadsorption. The 17 kDa part extends from K303 to K467, the 7 kDa part from S468 to K529 (or K531). The components are held together by hydrophobic interactions and can be separated by SDS/PAGE. They react on Western blots with MAB 13H2 (17 kDa) and MAB H222 (7 kDa), respectively. The native complex binds estradiol with high affinity and is recognized both by MAB 13H2 and H222, indicating that both peptides contribute to the ligand-binding niche.

Detection of Zn-binding in domain E of the porcine estradiol receptor.

A 32 kDa fragment of the porcine estradiol receptor, which contains the entire hormone-binding domain E and parts of the adjacent domains D and F, binds 65Zn with high affinity. Nonradioactive Zn and Cu are equally potent competitors, Co and Ni are less effective. The capacity for Zn-binding is pH-dependent, it is abolished by the ethoxycarboxylation of imidazole, but remains unimpaired after the modification of sulfhydryls by vinylpyridine. The presence of a HDXXH motif in domain E of the receptor and the significance of its similarity with the HEXXH zinc-binding motif of metallo-proteases are discussed.

Retrieval of estradiol receptor in paraffin sections of resting porcine uteri by microwave treatment. Immunostaining patterns obtained with different primary antibodies.

The unmasking of estradiol receptor in paraffin sections of Bouin's-fixed uterine tissue from ovariectomized gilts was attained with microwave treatment. Immunocytochemistry of the receptor was performed using a polyclonal or five monoclonal antibodies, two of which are commercially available, reacting with different domains of the protein and an amplified-peroxidase system for detection. With five of the antibodies, a predominance of nuclear staining was observed in cells of endometrial glands, while one monoclonal antibody (13H2), reacting with the receptor's domain E, showed a preference for the cytoplasmic receptor. In stroma, all antibodies detected more receptor in nuclei than in cytoplasm. In epithelium, the commercially available antibody H222, our monoclonals 13H2 and HT65, and the polyclonal antibody 402 demonstrated more receptor in cytoplasmic than in nuclear areas. In myometrium, the nuclei from longitudinal and ring muscles were definitely stained with the antibodies. We conclude that the accessibilities of the antibody epitopes of the receptor differ according to the functional uterine cell type.

Smooth muscle fatty acid binding protein: a regulator of smooth muscle contraction?

A fatty acid binding protein has been isolated from chicken gizzard smooth muscle. The partial amino acid sequence (EMBL P80565) of this protein shows high sequence similarities with other members of the fatty acid binding protein family. This is the first fatty acid binding protein isolated from smooth muscle. It may be involved in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction by transporting polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. arachidonic acid).

Completion of the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal half of the porcine estradiol receptor by Edman degradation: reconfirmation of the absence of O-linked sugars and phosphates.

The peptide A569-Y582 of the porcine estradiol receptor containing the missing sequence T570-M581 (1) was isolated and sequenced. The 4 seryl- and 2 threonyl-PTH amino acids were recovered in normal yields, excluding their posttranslational modification and reconfirming the absence of O-glycosylation and O-phosphorylation in H267-I595.

Immunogold labelling of the cytoplasmic estradiol receptor in resting porcine endometrium.

Serial sections of resting porcine endometrium were analyzed with the monoclonal antibody 13H2 using goat antimouse IgG/5 nm gold as secondary reagent or with either polyclonal antibodies from goat #402 or the rat monoclonal antibody H222, both in combination with protein G/12 nm gold. A modestly higher labelling of nuclei than of cytoplasm was seen only with the monoclonal antibody H222. Polyclonal #402 and monoclonal 13H2 showed fewer attachments over nuclear than over cytoplasmic areas. The highest densities of attachment and of predominantly cytoplasmic labelling were obtained with the monoclonal antibody 13H2. The results confirm the earlier assumption of a restricted accessibility of estradiol receptor in the cytoplasm of resting cells for immunoreagents.

Characterization of five monoclonal antibodies raised against domain E of the porcine estradiol receptor.

Male Balb C mice were immunized with a pure 32 kDa fragment of the porcine estradiol receptor spanning the domain E. Five antibody-producing hybridoma lines were established from fusions of spleen cells with the myeloma lines SPO and NSO. The antibodies were analyzed for interaction with native and with denatured intact receptor and receptor fragments, respectively. The antigenic determinant for antibody 13H2 is a native epitope which retains its combining activity after receptor denaturation. The antibodies 1F5, 1G5, 3E6 and 2H10 react with denatured proteins only. The presence of the determinants of all five antibodies has also been demonstrated in human, bovine, rat and mouse estradiol receptor.

Surface mapping of the ligand-filled C-terminal half of the porcine estradiol receptor by restricted proteolysis.

The ligand-filled 32-kDa fragment of the porcine estradiol receptor extending from His267 to the C-terminal Ile595 was purified to homogeneity by adsorption to mAb 13H2. The native protein was exposed at 4 degrees C to a panel of proteases: thermolysin, subtilisin, pronase, elastase, ficin, bromelain, endopeptidase Lys-C, both in the dimer and the monomer state, and chymotrypsin at pH 8.2 only. The digests were analysed by SDS/PAGE/Western blotting for Coomassie staining and immunostaining. Peptides were sequenced from blots. The majority of cleavage sites in upper domain E (8 out of 11) amassed in the Leu296-Leu310 stretch. Cleavage at Leu319 was seen with subtilisin and at Tyr328 with chymotrypsin. Susceptability to enzymic proteolysis was also pronounced in Thr465-Glu470 at the center of domain E. Three peptides, 13 kDa with thermolysin, beginning at Leu337, 6 kDa and, in low yield, 5 kDa with endopeptidase Lys-C beginning at Asp473 resp. Cys417 were only obtained from the monomer substrate. The various digests featured either 27-23-kDa peptides or mixtures of 17-13-kDa and 12-7-kDa peptides separable by SDS/PAGE. All peptides with N-termini between Leu297 and Ser329 reacted with mAb 13H2. The digests showed high peaks of bound estradiol in the dimer position of 32-kDa fragment controls on density gradient centrifugation at pH 7.4. However, the property of proton-driven dissociation was only preserved in the pronase, elastase and chymotrypsin digests with peptides extending beyond the His547-ArgLeuHis550 motif. The preservation of the estradiol-binding niche in the tightly complexed peptides of domain E was also demonstrated by refilling after steroid removal. The sites exposed to proteolytic enzymes and the epitope for 13H2 attachment are in good agreement with surface probability plots.