The MRP gene associated with a non-P-glycoprotein multidrug resistance encodes a 190-kDa membrane bound glycoprotein.

HL60 cells isolated for resistance to Adriamycin (HL60/ADR) overexpress a 190-kDa ATP binding protein which has a minor sequence homology with P-glycoprotein. It has also been observed that HL60/ADR overexpress the MRP gene which was first identified as a component of a non-P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance of H69/ADR cells [Cole et al., Science (Washington DC), 258: 1650, 1992]. A complementary DNA of MRP has been cloned and based on the deduced sequence encodes a member of the superfamily of proteins which bind ATP and function in various transport processes [Cole et al., Science (Washington DC), 258: 1650, 1992]. In view of this it was of interest to identify the protein encoded by MRP and determine if it may be related to p190. In the present study we have prepared antisera against three synthetic peptides which correspond to the deduced sequence of the MRP protein. Proteins reactive with the antisera have been examined in HL60/ADR cells using Western blot analysis. All antisera react with a 190 kDa protein contained in membranes of resistant but not sensitive cells. One antiserum used for further studies is not reactive with P-glycoprotein contained in membranes of HL60 cells isolated for resistance to vincristine. Analysis of subcellular fractions demonstrates that p190 is present primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum with lower levels also present in plasma membranes. Treatment of HL60/ADR cells with tunicamycin results in the appearance of a 165-kDa resistance associated protein which reacts with the antipeptide serum. The results of this study therefore demonstrate that the MRP gene encodes a 190-kDa membrane bound glycoprotein.

Cloning, expression, and hormonal regulation of an insect beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene.

Chitinolytic enzymes such as beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases are major hydrolases involved in insect molting. By screening a Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm) cDNA library with an antibody against beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from molting fluid of M. sexta pharate pupae, several putative cDNA clones for this enzyme were isolated. The longest of the cDNA clones has an insert of approximately 3 kb, and the complete nucleotide sequence was determined. Because this clone is missing the initiation codon and nucleotides corresponding to the leader peptide, the mRNA 5'-end sequence was determined by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification and cycle sequencing. The sequence of the encoded protein from positions 23 to 35 is identical to the NH2-terminal sequence of one of the beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases isolated from pharate pupal molting fluid. The amino acid sequence is similar to those of silkworm, human, mouse, bacterial, and several other beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases. Two highly conserved regions in the amino acid sequence were found in all members of this family. Southern blot analysis suggested that the number of genes in the Manduca genome closely related to the cDNA clone may be as few as one. The beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is expressed most abundantly in epidermal and gut tissues on days 6 and 7 of fifth instar larvae. Injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone induced expression of the beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene, whereas topical application of the juvenile hormone analog, fenoxycarb, suppressed the inductive effect of molting hormone.

Detection and characterization of membrane protein changes in multidrug resistant HL-60 cells.

Antisera were prepared against fractionated membrane proteins of HL-60 cells isolated for resistance to adriamycin. Analysis of these antisera revealed that one (GSBl) was capable of detecting major protein changes in three independent isolates selected for anthracycline resistance. Thus, in studies using western blot analysis, the antiserum was found to be reactive with two proteins of 130 and 150 kDa which are present in plasma membranes of resistant but not sensitive cells. The antibody also reacted with a plasma membrane protein of 180 kDa that is present in sensitive cells but is increased in resistant isolates. Additional studies showed that P180 was greatly increased in both plasma membranes and endoplasmic reticulum in sensitive cells induced to differentiate in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol13-acetate (TPA). Resistant cells treated under identical conditions showed only a slight increase in the levels of P180. TPA had no effect on the levels of P150 or P130. In contrast, differentiation of HL-60 cells in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in the induction of P150 expression with major levels of protein contained in plasma membranes. DMSO has essentially no effect on the levels of plasma membrane P180, P150, or P130 in HL-60/Adr cells. These results therefore demonstrate a strong correlation between the development of resistance and the overexpression of proteins reactive with the GSBl antiserum. The results also show that development of anthracycline resistance in HL-60 cells results in the overexpression of P150, a protein associated with the differentiation of myeloid cells to granulocytes.

HL-60 cells isolated for resistance to vincristine are defective in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced differentiation and the formation of a functional AP-1 complex.

HL-60 cells isolated for resistance to vincristine are multidrug resistant and defective in the cellular accumulation of drug. Further studies demonstrate that these cells are also highly defective in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced differentiation to macrophages. Analysis of this system demonstrates that certain protooncogenes which may contribute to differentiation are expressed at similar levels in sensitive and resistant cells. Thus, treatment of cells with TPA results in a reduction in the levels of c-myb and c-myc mRNA, while the expression of c-fos, c-jun, and junB is greatly enhanced. Immunoprecipitation experiments also demonstrate a TPA induced increase in the c-jun protein in both sensitive and resistant cells. Gel mobility shift assays show that TPA induces AP-1 formation in sensitive cells, whereas in parallel experiments with the HL-60/Vinc isolate, AP-1 is essentially absent. It has been found, however, that in resistant cells which have reverted to drug sensitivity, the levels of TPA inducible AP-1 is essentially identical to that of sensitive cells. Revertant and sensitive cells differentiate at similar levels in the presence of TPA. These studies therefore demonstrate that HL-60/Vinc cells are defective in the TPA induction of a functional AP-1 complex and that this may account for the inability of these cells to differentiate to macrophages. The molecular basis of the finding that AP-1 is not formed in resistant cells remains to be determined.

Analysis of MRP gene expression and function in HL60 cells isolated for resistance to adriamycin.

In an effort to define clearly the basis of non-P-glycoprotein multidrug resistance in HL60/ADR cells, we have analyzed expression of MRP mRNA levels and the MRP-encoded protein in resistant cells and also in resistant cells that have undergone a reversion to drug sensitivity. The results demonstrate that an MRP cDNA containing 5'-end coding sequences reacts with a 6-kb RNA, which is overexpressed in the resistant isolate. As resistant cells revert to drug sensitivity there is essentially a complete loss of the 6-kb RNA. Southern blot analysis indicates that the MRP gene is amplified compared to the copy number found in sensitive cells. Revertant cells no longer contain amplified MRP sequences. Western blot analysis has been conducted using an antibody prepared against the carboxyl terminus (15 amino acids) of the deduced sequence of the MRP-encoded protein. The antibody is reactive with a 190-kDa protein (P190) and with two closely migrating proteins of 65 and 70 kDa (P70), which are overexpressed in plasma membranes and endoplasmic reticulum of resistant cells. Both proteins are greatly reduced in revertant cells. Growth of cells in the presence of tunicamycin demonstrates that both P190 and P70 are glycosylated, with the deglycosylated forms migrating in polyacrylamide gels as proteins of 165 kDa and 45 kDa, respectively. Additional antisera have also been prepared against sequence domains contained in the C-terminal region of P190. These antisera are reactive with both P190 and P70. Antisera directed against sequences of the amino terminal region of P190 do not react with P70.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synthesis and properties of DNA purine dehydrodimers: 8-8-bideoxyribonucleosides and 8-8-bideoxyribonucleotides.

Purine dimers are formed by oxidation of DNA. There is evidence that these dimers are not repaired by cells from the human disease xeroderma pigmentosum. It has been suggested that unrepaired purine dimers are involved in the etiogenesis of internal cancers and neural degeneration that are observed in this disease. In order to study the properties and biological consequences of such moieties, these compounds were synthesized: 8-8-(2'-deoxyadenosyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine; 8-8-(2'-deoxyadenosyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate; 8-8-(2'-deoxyadenosyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine; 8-8-(2'-deoxyadenosyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate; 8-8-(2'-deoxyguanosyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine; 8-8-(2'-deoxyguanosyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate; 8-8-(2'-deoxyguanosyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine, and 8-8-(2'-deoxyguanosyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate. Following purification, they were characterized by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Ultraviolet, fluorescence, and circular dichroic spectra of these products were established. The behavior of these photoproducts in various chromatographic systems was elucidated. Syntheses of purine dimers and descriptions of their properties can aid the studies of their possible formation in, and excision from, oxidized DNA.

Purification and partial characterization of microsomal cytochrome b555 from the higher plant Catharanthus roseus.

Microsomal b-type hemoprotein designated, cytochrome b555 of C.roseus seedlings was solubilized using detergents and purified by a combination of ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration to a specific content of 18.5 nmol per mg of protein. The purified cytochrome b555 was homogeneous and estimated to have an apparent molecular weight of 16500 on SDS-PAGE. The absorption spectrum of the reduced form has major peaks at 424, 525 and 555 nm. The alpha-band of the reduced form is asymmetric with a pronounced shoulder at 559 nm. The spectrum of the pyridine ferrohemochrome shows absorption peaks at 557, 524 and 418 nm indicating that the cytochrome has protoheme prosthetic group. The purified cytochrome is autoxidizable and does not combine with carbon monoxide, azide or cyanide. It is reducible by NADH in the presence of NADH-cytochrome b555 reductase partially purified from C.roseus microsomes.

Phosphorylation of the multidrug resistance associated protein gene encoded protein P190.

Recent studies suggest that multidrug resistance of HL60/ADR cells is related to an overexpression of the MRP (multidrug resistance associated protein) gene which encodes a 190-kDa ATP-binding membrane glycoprotein. In the present study we have further characterized P190 and have examined phosphorylation properties of the protein. The results demonstrate that P190 is highly phosphorylated and that the phosphate groups are metabolically active and undergo cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the cell. Serine is the single amino acid phosphorylated in P190 and the phosphate groups are contained in nine tryptic peptides. Experiments have also been conducted to analyze the effect of various protein kinase inhibitors on phosphorylation levels of P190. The results show that H-7, staurosporine, and chelerythrine can reduce the phosphorylation of this protein. In the presence of both H-7 (200 microM) and staurosporine (200 nM) the phosphorylation of P190 is completely blocked. It has also been found that in the presence of these agents there is a major increase in drug accumulation and concomitant inhibition in drug efflux of resistant cells. These results therefore suggest the possibility that certain phosphate groups of protein P190 play an important role in modulating drug accumulation in resistant cells.

Stopped-flow fluorescence studies of the interaction of a mutant form of cytochrome b5 with lipid vesicles.

Cytochrome b5 binds spontaneously to lipid vescles and also self-associates in aqueous solution. Two mutant proteins have been generated, one has a self-association constant which is less than that of the native protein, while the other has a larger self-association constant. All three proteins have Trp in the membrane-binding domain but as aqueous solutions of these proteins contain differing amounts of monomeric protein, the kinetics of fluorescence enhancement, when the proteins are mixed with lipid vesicles, are complex. Similar complex kinetics are seen when the Trp are quenched by the addition of bromolipid vesicles. The mutant which has Trp 108 and 112 both replaced by Leu does not self-associate and shows monoexponential stopped-flow fluorescence kinetics. Identical rate constants are seen with this mutant for fluorescence enhancement by POPC and fluorescence quenching by three bromolipids with bromines at the 6,7-, 9,10-, and 11,12-positions of thesn-2 acyl chain. This rate constant is only 1% of the calculated collisional rate constant and it is suggested that the reduced rate is caused by a reduction in the number of productive collisions rather than by a slow rate of penetration of the membrane-binding domain into the bilayer.

Evidence for autocrine actions of neuromedin B and gastrin-releasing peptide in non-small cell lung cancer.

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a member of the bombesin family of peptides, has been shown to have mitogenic activity in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and to be produced by SCLC in an autocrine fashion. In this report, we demonstrate that both GRP and another member of the bombesin family of peptides, neuromedin B (NMB), are also autocrine growth factors for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we have detected mRNA for the neuromedin B receptor (NMBR) in all 14 of the NSCLC cell lines examined. GRP receptor (GRPR) mRNA was also expressed in the majority of NSCLC cell lines (nine of 14). By immunoblotting using SDS-PAGE gradient gels fixed in trichloroacetic acid, GRP and NMB were found in fractions of culture medium that had been purified by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) from NSCLC cell lines. NMB was detected in the conditioned medium of seven of nine cell lines and GRP in seven of nine cell lines; both peptides were produced in six cell lines. In four of the cell lines where both peptides were produced, the relative amount of NMB secreted into the medium was 7-15 times that of GRP; in the other two cases, the relative amounts of GRP and NMB were equivalent. Cultured human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells expressed the GRPR and NMBR but did not produce either peptide. A subline of A549 cells that was adapted to grow in serum-free and growth factor-free conditions, termed A549-R(0), secreted both bombesin-like peptides (BLPs) into the culture medium. Using either a colony-forming assay or a BrDU incorporation assay, both NMB and GRP were found to be mitogens for three NSCLC cell lines that express mRNA for BLP receptors and secrete BLPs, regardless of which peptide and/or receptor subtype was detected. The monoclonal antibody 2A11, which preferentially recognizes GRP, was able to block the in vitro proliferative response to GRP in the BrDU incorporation assay, and partially blocked the response to NMB. The 2A11 antibody could only partially block the in vivo growth of cell lines that showed proliferative responses to BLPs. 2A11 antibody was more effective against the 239T cell line, which secreted a low amount of GRP into the medium (0.6 nM), compared to the 201T cell line, which secreted a higher amount of both GRP and NMB (4.2 nM and 36.6 nM, respectively). These results suggest that both NMB and GRP are autocrine growth factors for NSCLC, but that the production of NMB and expression of the NMBR may be more prominent than the production of GRP and expression of the GRP receptor. If BLP ligand-receptor systems are to be targeted therapeutically in NSCLC, it will be necessary to inhibit both NMB and GRP.

Evaluation of atypical cytochrome P450 kinetics with two-substrate models: evidence that multiple substrates can simultaneously bind to cytochrome P450 active sites.

Some cytochrome P450 catalyzed reactions show atypical kinetics, and these kinetic processes can be grouped into five categories: activation, autoactivation, partial inhibition, substrate inhibition, and biphasic saturation curves. A two-site model in which the enzyme can bind two substrate molecules simultaneously is presented which can be used to describe all of these observed kinetic properties. Sigmoidal kinetic characteristics were observed for carbamazepine metabolism by CYP3A4 and naphthalene metabolism by CYPs 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, and 3A5 as well as dapsone metabolism by CYP2C9. Naphthalene metabolism by CYP3A4 and naproxen metabolism by CYP2C9 demonstrated nonhyperbolic enzyme kinetics suggestive of a low Km, low Vmax component for the first substrate molecule and a high Km, high Vmax component for the second substrate molecule. 7, 8-Benzoflavone activation of phenanthrene metabolism by CYP3A4 and dapsone activation of flurbiprofen and naproxen metabolism by CYP2C9 were also observed. Furthermore, partial inhibition of 7, 8-benzoflavone metabolism by phenanthrene was observed. These results demonstrate that various P450 isoforms may exhibit atypical enzyme kinetics depending on the substrate(s) employed and that these results may be explained by a model which includes simultaneous binding of two substrate molecules in the active site.