TX14(A), a prosaposin-derived peptide, reverses established nerve disorders in streptozotocin-diabetic rats and prevents them in galactose-fed rats.

Recently, TX14(A), a prosaposin-derived neurotrophic peptide, was shown to prevent both large and small fiber deficits in streptozotocin diabetes. Here, the efficacy of TX14(A) in reversing established nerve conduction disorders in streptozotocin diabetes, a model of insulin deficiency, and preventing them in galactose feeding, an insulin-replete model of polyol pathway flux, was investigated. Following streptozotocin injection (50 mg/kg ip), TX14(A) treatment (1 mg/kg ip thrice weekly) was initiated in half of the animals. After 8 wk, treatment was begun in half of the untreated animals and discontinued in half of the treated animals, and the experiment continued for 6 wk. TX14(A) reversed established motor and sensory nerve conduction deficits in streptozotocin-diabetic rats and the impact of previous treatment was still evident 3 wk after withdrawal. With the onset of 40% galactose feeding, the same dose of TX14(A) was given to half of the control and half of the galactose-fed animals for 16 wk. TX14(A) was without effect in control animals but it attenuated motor and sensory nerve conduction deficits in galactose-fed rats, an effect associated with amelioration of axonal dwindling in the sciatic nerve. These observations extend the therapeutic utility of TX14(A) and highlight its potential in treating established diabetic neuropathy.

A fragment of prosaposin (SGP-1) from rooster sperm promotes sperm-egg binding and improves fertility in chickens.

A protein isolated from the supernatant of cryopreserved rooster sperm was found to increase the capability of cryopreserved rooster sperm to bind in vitro to the perivitelline membrane of a chicken egg and substantially raise fertility after artificial insemination (AI). That activity was partially purified and termed universal primary sperm-egg binding protein (UPSEBP). Insufficient protein remained from 6 x 10(11) sperm, despite retention of bioactivity, to allow sequencing. We deduced that the protein may be related to prosaposin (also termed SGP-1, for sulfated glycoprotein-1), and we used published amino acid sequences of prosaposin as a guide for synthesis of peptides. Certain peptides were found to increase in vitro sperm-egg binding and increase fertility of frozen-thawed or fresh rooster sperm, in a manner similar to semipurified UPSEBP. Active epitopes were in a 60 amino acid sequence, reflecting the intervening sequence between saposins A and B, plus short extensions into saposins A and B. Highest activity was found when this synthetic peptide was oxidized to form a disulfide bond between terminal cysteines. Antibody against a synthetic peptide consisting of 58 of these 60 amino acids bound to a 7-9 kilodalton protein in UPSEBP. Collectively, the data support the conclusion that UPSEBP is a fragment of prosaposin. Because prosaposin is in semen in humans and animals, these observations have broad implications for possible cause and therapy of one type of subfertility.

Prosaposin treatment induces PC12 entry in the S phase of the cell cycle and prevents apoptosis: activation of ERKs and sphingosine kinase.

We report that prosaposin treatment induced extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and sphingosine kinase activity, increased DNA synthesis, and prevented cell apoptosis. Prosaposin treatment induced pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) to enter the S phase of the cell cycle; this effect was inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD98059, indicating that prosaposin-induced ERK phosphorylation is required for stimulation of DNA synthesis. The prosaposin effect was also inhibited by pertussis toxin, indicating that the prosaposin receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor. Prosaposin rescued PC12 cells from apoptosis induced by staurosporine or ceramide. Sphingosine kinase activity was increased by prosaposin treatment. We propose that this effect is a mechanism underlying the proliferative and anti-apoptotic functions of prosaposin. Prosaposin appears to be a key regulatory factor in the ceramide-S-1-P rheostat, which regulates cell fate.

Prosaptide D5 reverses hyperalgesia: inhibition of calcium channels through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein mechanism in the rat.

A retro-inverso 11-mer peptidomimetic of prosaposin, Prosaptide D5, induced neurite outgrowth in NS20Y neuroblastoma cells and enhanced [35S]GTPgammaS binding to rat synaptosomal membrane at low nanomolar concentrations similar to prosaposin. Intramuscular injection of D5 ameliorated thermal hyperalgesia in the Seltzer rat model of neuropathic pain, returning paw withdrawal latency to control levels within 3 h after treatment. The effect was sustained for at least 48 h after injection. Prosaposin and D5 inhibited K+-stimulated synaptosomal 45Ca2+ uptake similar to omega-conotoxin MVIIC, demonstrating that both effectors modulated voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC); inhibition was largely abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin before D5 treatment. The results suggest a mechanism whereby VDCC are modulated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein coupled receptor; D5 binds to this receptor and thereby ameliorates hyperalgesia in the Seltzer model of neuropathic pain.

Prosaposin-derived peptides enhanced sprouting of sensory neurons in vitro and induced sprouting at motor endplates in vivo.

Prosaposin exhibits neurotrophic factor properties that are localized to a 12-amino acid sequence located in the amino terminal portion of the saposin C domain. Prosaptides are peptides derived from the neurotrophic portion of prosaposin; these have been previously reported to be bioactive in neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro. We report that prosaptides were also bioactive in explants of adult primary sensory neurons by dose-dependently increasing both the number (3- to 4-fold) and elongation of these neurites by 50%. Local injection of prosaptides into the gluteus muscle of adult mice also induced sprouting at the motor endplate. Our results indicate that prosaptides are potent neuritogenic factors for both sensory and motor neurons of adult peripheral nerve.

Intracellular transport of acid beta-glucosidase and lysosome-associated membrane proteins is affected in Gaucher's disease (G202R mutation).

Gaucher's disease (GD) is caused by an inherited deficiency of acid beta-glucosidase with storage of glucosylceramides in the lysosomes of macrophages. This study identifies a G202R mutation in the acid beta-glucosidase gene in an infant with severe neuronopathic (type 2) GD and only slightly reduced acid beta-glucosidase activity. Western blot analysis, pulse chase experiments, and the thin frozen section immunogold method were used to analyse the implications of this mutation on the pathogenesis, clinical heterogeneity and diagnostic evaluation of GD. The results show that acid beta-glucosidase persists in the patient's fibroblasts as a mannose-rich polypeptide in the endoplasmic reticulum and is not transported to the lysosomes. By contrast, high expression of the lysosome-associated membrane proteins LAMP-1 and LAMP-2, saposin C, and cathepsin D was observed in the patient's lysosomes. Immunogold labelling of the integral membrane proteins LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 increases significantly at the cell surface of Kupffer cells and fibroblasts as well as at the apical membrane of hepatocytes. In addition, LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 associate with the bilayer of stored glucosylceramide. It is concluded that defective intracellular transport of mutant acid beta-glucosidase from the endoplasmic reticulum to lysosomes leads to a more severe clinical phenotype than the residual enzyme activity may indicate. Furthermore, the detection of LAMP in the tubular bundles of undigested glucosylceramides, as well as their increased concentration at the surfaces of the affected cells, suggests that these proteins play a role in the storage or removal of substrate in GD. Intracellular targeting of acid beta-glucosidase and LAMP contributes to the broad phenotypic heterogeneity of GD.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt protein kinase mediate IGF-I- and prosaptide-induced survival in Schwann cells.

Withdrawal of trophic factors necessary for Schwann cell survival regulates Schwann cell number during development and after nerve injury. In the present study, we identified signaling pathways involved in Schwann cell survival by prosaposin, prosaptides (peptides incorporating the neurotrophic sequence of prosaposin), and insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I). When postnatal Schwann cells were placed in low serum medium, cells underwent abrupt shrinkage, condensation of nuclei occurred, and smooth rounded apoptotic bodies appeared. Dose-response studies of cell death, measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, demonstrated that both prosaptide TX14(A) and IGF-I dose dependently reduced cell death in primary Schwann cells. Histone-associated DNA fragmentation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, showed a 10- and 14-fold increase in apoptosis after 4 and 24 hr in low serum medium, respectively, that was reduced by prosaposin, TX14(A), or IGF-I. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, wortmannin or LY294002, blocked the survival effects of both TX14(A) and IGF-I. In contrast, only TX14(A) anti-apoptotic activity was blocked by the MEK inhbitor, PD98059, although TX14(A) and IGF-I are potent activators of extracellular regulated kinases in Schwann cells. Phosphorylation of the PI3K signaling target, Akt, was measured; TX14(A) and IGF-I increased Akt activity by 12-fold and 22-fold, respectively, that was inhibited by LY294002. These findings indicate that prosaposin and IGF-I use the PI3K/Akt pathway to induce survival of Schwann cells.

Secretion of prosaposin, a multifunctional protein, by breast cancer cells.

Western blotting and immunodetection with three antibodies were used to probe conditioned media of breast cancer cells (MDA231, MDA435, MCF-7) for prosaposin, a lysosomal protein that occurs in milk. It was readily detected in media from these cells, and from that of an sv40-transformed mammary epithelial cell, HBL100, but not from medium of human neural tumor cells (SK-N-MC). In cultures of MCF-7 cells, the prosaposin pattern of secretion over time closely resembled that of procathepsin D, another lysosomal protein occurring in milk. Supplementing medium with 17beta-estradiol (0. 1-100 nM) dose dependently increased secretion of both proteins after 48 h without changes in cell viability. The influence of 17beta-estradiol on secretion could play a role in the trophic activity of prosaposin in cellular differentiation and cell death protection. In concert with other lysosomal proteins in the tumor environment, such as procathepsin D, prosaposin may be a factor in eliminating barriers to tumor metastasis by facilitating hydrolysis of membrane glycolipids. The number of milk proteins known to be secreted by breast cancer cells is growing. There is evidence that at least some of these may be secreted in an endocrine manner in the normal, non-lactating breast.

Prosaposin: a myelinotrophic protein that promotes expression of myelin constituents and is secreted after nerve injury.

Recently, we demonstrated that prosaposin and prosaptides (peptides encompassing the neurotrophic sequence in prosaposin) prevent cell death and increase extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and sulfatide content in primary Schwann cells or oligodendrocytes (Hiraiwa et al., 1997a). Here, we examine the effect of prosaptide on other myelin constituents, on Schwann cell morphology and proliferation, and characterize the time course of expression of prosaposin protein after sciatic nerve injury. After 24 h of treatment with 10 nM TX14(A), a 14-mer prosaptide, the specific activity of UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (GalT) in primary Schwann cells was increased by 150% over controls. Under the same conditions, the maximum content of sulfatide increased 3-fold over controls after 48 h of treatment. Northern blot analysis, probed with oligonucleotide sequences from the GalT and P0 cDNAs, revealed that the mRNA levels of GalT and P0 protein were elevated about 30 and 200%, respectively, over controls after 24 h of treatment with TX14(A). Treatment of primary Schwann cells with TX14(A) also induced a morphological change at 10 nM; the peptide-treated cells had a bipolar (spindle-shaped) appearance after 48 h of treatment, compared to control cells which were irregular and multipolar. TX14(A) did not induce cell proliferation, indicating that TX14(A), unlike IGF-I, is not mitogenic. After sciatic nerve transection, Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of intact prosaposin in tubular fluid in a silicon chamber into which the proximal and distal nerve stumps were sutured. The concentration of prosaposin in the fluid was maximum after 9 days post-surgery and returned to normal after 28 days post-surgery. In uninjured and injured nerve, prosaposin immunolocalized to the smooth muscle of epineurial and endoneurial vessels. These findings indicated that sciatic nerve secreted prosaposin after injury and that prosaposin is a naturally occurring injury-repair protein which acts to prevent degeneration and to promote regeneration of peripheral nerves.

Spectrum of mutations in fucosidosis.

Fucosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder characterised by progressive psychomotor deterioration, angiokeratoma and growth retardation. It is due to deficient alpha-l-fucosidase activity leading to accumulation of fucose-containing glycolipids and glycoproteins in various tissues. Fucosidosis is extremely rare with less than 100 patients reported worldwide, although the disease occurs at a higher rate in Italy, in the Hispanic-American population of New Mexico and Colorado, and in Cuba. We present here a review study of the mutational spectrum of fucosidosis. Exon by exon mutation analysis of FUCA1, the structural gene of alpha-l-fucosidase, has identified the mutation(s) in nearly all fucosidosis patients investigated. The spectrum of the 22 mutations detected to date includes four missense mutations, 17 nonsense mutations consisting of seven stop codon mutations, six small deletions, two large deletions, one duplication, one small insertion and one splice site mutation. All these mutations lead to nearly absent enzymatic activity and severely reduced cross-reacting immunomaterial. The observed clinical variability is, therefore, not due to the nature of the fucosidosis mutation, but to secondary unknown factors.

Colocalization and complex formation between prosaposin and monosialoganglioside GM3 in neural cells.

Prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C, and D, was recently identified as a neurotrophic factor in vitro as well as in vivo. Its neurotrophic activity has been localized to a linear 12-amino acid sequence located in the NH2-terminal portion of the saposin C domain. In this study, we show the colocalization of prosaposin and ganglioside GM3 on NS20Y cell plasma membrane by scanning confocal microscopy. Also, TLC and western blot analyses showed that GM3 was specifically associated with prosaposin in immunoprecipitates; this binding was Ca2+-independent and not disassociated during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The association of prosaposin-GM3 complexes on the cell surface appeared to be functionally important, as determined by differentiation assays. Neurite sprouting, induced by GM3, was inhibited by antibodies raised against a 22-mer peptide, prosaptide 769, containing the neurotrophic sequence of prosaposin. In addition, pertussis toxin inhibited prosaptide-induced neurite outgrowth, as well as prosaptide-enhanced ganglioside concentrations in NS20Y cells, suggesting that prosaposin acted via a G protein-mediated pathway, affecting both ganglioside content and neuronal differentiation. Our findings revealed a direct and tight GM3-prosaposin association on NS20Y plasma membranes. We suggest that ganglioside-protein complexes are structural components of the prosaposin receptor involved in cell differentiation.

Identification of a neurotrophic sequence in erythropoietin.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is a hematopoietic factor that facilitates erythroid progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. Recently, trophic effects of Epo have been observed in central cholinergic neurons. We have confirmed the neurotrophic factor activity of Epo and moreover, demonstrated sprouting and signaling by Epo in neural cells. Further, we have identified a 17-mer peptide sequence (epopeptide AB) in Epo (AEHCSLNENITVPDTKV) with activity similar to that of the holoprotein. This peptide induces differentiation and prevents cell death in both murine NS20Y and human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cell lines. However, epopeptide AB does not promote the proliferation of erythropoietic cell lines or mouse primary spleen cells. The biological activities in neural cells were blocked by the addition of an antibody to the extracellular domain of the Epo receptor, indicating that the bioactive effects of epo-peptide AB in neural cells are Epo receptor mediated. Both epopeptide AB and Epo stimulated phosphorylation of ERKs in PC12 cells. When epopeptide AB or Epo was locally injected into mice, the frequency of motor end plate sprouting in adjacent muscles increased in a manner similar to that induced by CNTF. These findings indicate that neural cells and not hematological cells respond to a peptide sequence within erythropoietin and suggests that Epo may have separate domains for neurotrophic and hematotrophic function.

Prosaptide prevents hyperalgesia and reduces peripheral TNFR1 expression following TNF-alpha nerve injection.

This study demonstrated that hyperalgesia resulting from an intraneural injection of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) was prevented by preemptive administration of a single dose of the prosaptide TX14(A) (200 microg/kg). TX14(A) is a synthetic 14-mer peptide with neurotrophic and cytoprotective activities. Efforts to elucidate TX14(A) antagonism of hyperalgesia concentrated on determining the effect of TX14(A) on the up-regulation of the 55 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR1) at the nerve injury site. It has been previously shown that TNFR1 expression is upregulated following nerve injury and parallels the display of nociceptive behavior. In our experiments, TNFR1 was decreased at the TNF nerve injection site in TX14(A)-treated rats when compared to vehicle-treated or control peptide-treated rats. Light microscopic evaluation of nerve injury site tissue displayed qualitatively similar neuropathology in both treatment groups during the time of peak hyperalgesia (day 3), but appeared more normal than untreated nerves at day 7 (histological scoring, mean +/-s.d., 3.7+/-0.57 for TX14(A)-treated and 5.67+/-0.5 for control peptide-treated). These results suggest that TX14(A) decreased nociceptive behavior by attenuating both TNFR1 upregulation and Schwann cell activation in response to TNF injection. This prosaptide neurotrophin may also moderate nerve degeneration or promote regeneration. It is not known whether TX14(A) also acts rostral to the lesion site.

Cloning, expression and map assignment of chicken prosaposin.

Prosaposin is the precursor of four small glycoproteins, saposins A-D, that activate lysosomal sphingolipid hydrolysis. A full-length cDNA encoding prosaposin from chicken brain was isolated by PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence predicted that, similarly to human and other mammalian species studied, chicken prosaposin contains 518 residues, including four domains that correspond to saposins A-D. There was 59% identity and 76% similarity of human and chicken prosaposin amino acid sequences. The basic three-dimensional structures of these saposins is predicted to be similar on the basis of the conservation of six cysteine residues and an N-glycosylation site. Identity of amino acid sequences was higher among saposins A, B and D than in saposin C. The predicted amino acid sequence of saposin B matched exactly that of purified chicken saposin B protein. The chicken prosaposin gene was mapped to a single locus, PSAP, in chicken linkage group E11C10 and is closely linked to the ACTA2 locus. This confirms the homology between chicken and human prosaposins and defines a new conserved segment with human chromosome 10q21-q24.

Prosaptide prevents paclitaxel neurotoxicity.

Paclitaxel (Taxol), a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast and ovarian tumors, has been reported to induce a predominantly sensory neuropathy. Co-treatment with neurotrophic factors and paclitaxel has been proposed for preventing or reversing paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C and D was recently identified as a neurotrophic factor and was reported to facilitate nerve regeneration in vivo. Peptides (prosaptides) encompassing the neurotrophic sequence located in the saposin C domain, have neurotrophic activity similar to the holoprotein (O'Brien et al. 1995). In the present study, we investigated the effect of a 14-mer prosaptide, TX14(A), or a 22-mer prosaptide, 769P, on paclitaxel-induced neutrotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Paclitaxel treatment (1 microM) decreased cell viability of both PC12 and Schwann cells. TX14(A) (10 nM) prevented paclitaxel-induced loss of cell viability in PC12 cells but not in Schwann cells. Systemic injections (i.p.) of paclitaxel (1.2 mg/kg/day) given five times per week for three weeks (cumulative dose 18 mg/kg) or given every third day (25, 12.5 and 12.5 mg/kg) for 10 ten days (cumulative dose 50 mg/kg) in adult rats induced thermal hypoalgesia that was not accompanied by morphological changes in the sciatic nerve or changes of nerve conduction velocity. Co-administration of paclitaxel with prosaptides (cumulative dose 3 or 10 mg/kg) prevented paclitaxel-induced thermal hypoalgesia. In the short-term high dose study, paclitaxel treated rats lost 10% of their body weight, had reduced erythrocyte counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations which were not prevented by treatment with prosaptide. TX14(A) did not diminish paclitaxel cytotoxicity of breast cancer cells in vitro. These findings suggest that prosaptide prevents the neurotoxic effects of paclitaxel while not interfering with its anti-tumor activity.

Prosaposin receptor: evidence for a G-protein-associated receptor.

Prosaposin, the precursor of sphingolipid activator protein (saposins A-D), has been identified as a neurotrophic factor capable of inducing neural differentiation and preventing cell death. The putative prosaposin receptor was partially purified from baboon brain membranes by affinity chromatography using a saposin C-column. The purified preparation gave a single major protein band with an apparent molecular weight of 54 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Affinity cross-linking of 11 kDa 125I-saposin C demonstrated the presence of a 66 kDa product, indicative of an apparent molecular weight of 55 kDa for the receptor. A GTP gamma S-binding assay using cell membranes from SHSY5Y neural cells demonstrated agonist stimulated binding of [35S]-GTP gamma S upon treatment with prosaptide TX14(A) a peptide from the neurotrophic region; maximal binding was obtained at 2 nM. TX14(A) stimulated binding was abolished by prior treatment of SHSY5Y cells with pertussis toxin and by a scrambled and an all D-amino acid-derivative of the 14-mer. A 14-mer mutant prosaptide (6N-->6D) competed with TX14(A) with a Ki of 0.7 nM. Immunoblot analysis using an antibody against the G0 alpha subunit demonstrated that the purified receptor preparation contained a 40 kDa reactive band consistent with association of G0 alpha and the receptor. These findings indicate that the signaling induced by prosaposin and TX14(A) is generated by binding to a G0-protein associated receptor.

Saposins (sap) A and C activate the degradation of galactosylceramide in living cells.

In loading tests using galactosylceramide which had been labelled with tritium in the ceramide moiety, living skin fibroblast lines derived from the original prosaposin-deficient patients had a markedly reduced capacity to degrade galactosylceramide. The hydrolysis of galactosylceramide could be partially restored in these cells, up to about half the normal rate, by adding pure saposin A, pure saposin C, or a mixture of these saposins to the culture medium. By contrast, saposins B and D had little effect on galactosylceramide hydrolysis in the prosaposin-deficient cells. Cells from beta-galactocerebrosidase-deficient (Krabbe) patients had a relatively high residual galactosylceramide degradation, which was similar to the rate observed for prosaposin-deficient cells in the presence of saposin A or C. An SV40-transformed fibroblast line from the original saposin C-deficient patient, where saposin A is not affected, showed normal degradation of galactosylceramide. The findings support the hypothesis, which was deduced originally from in vitro experiments, that saposins A and C are the in vivo activators of galactosylceramide degradation. Although the results with saposin C-deficient fibroblasts suggest that the presence of only saposin A allows galactosylceramide breakdown to proceed at a normal rate in fibroblasts, it remains to be determined whether saposins A and C can substitute for each other with respect to their effects on galactosylceramide metabolism in the whole organism.

Model SV40-transformed fibroblast lines for metabolic studies of human prosaposin and acid ceramidase deficiencies.

Skin fibroblasts from patients with Farber disease (acid ceramidase deficiency) and from two siblings of the only known family affected with prosaposin deficiency were transformed by transfection with a plasmid carrying the SV40 large T antigen. The prosaposin-deficient transformed cell lines conserved their original metabolic defects, and in particular they were free of detectable immunoreactivity when using anti-saposin B and anti-saposin C antisera. Ultrastructurally, the cells contained heterogeneous lysosomal storage products. As found for their parental cell lines, the SV40-transformed fibroblasts exhibited deficient in vitro activities of lysosomal ceramidase and beta-galactosylceramidase, but a normal activity of acid sphingomyelinase. As observed for SV40-transformed fibroblasts from Farber disease, degradation of radioactive glucosylceramide or low density lipoprotein-associated radiolabelled sphingomyelin by the prosaposin-deficient cells in situ showed a clear impairment in the turnover of lysosomal ceramide. Ceramide storage in prosaposin-deficient cells was also demonstrated by ceramide mass determination. In contrast to acid ceramidase deficient cells, both the accumulation of ceramide and the reduced in vitro activity of acid ceramidase in cells from prosaposin deficiency could be corrected by addition of purified saposin D. The data confirm that prosaposin is required for lysosomal ceramide degradation, but not for sphingomyelin turnover. The SV40-transformed fibroblasts will be useful for pathophysiological studies on human prosaposin deficiency.

Induction of MAPK phosphorylation by prosaposin and prosaptide in PC12 cells.

Prosaposin is a 66 kDa glycoprotein which has neurotrophic activity in vitro and in vivo. The neurotrophic sequence (8CEFLVKEVTKLIDNNKTEKEI29L) within prosaposin has been located to the amino terminal portion of the saposin C domain. This 22-mer peptide, prosaptide, has neurotrophic activity equivalent to prosaposin. We present binding studies using 125I-prosaposin and 125I-prosaptide which revealed a single class of specific binding sites with a Kd of 2.5 nM and 18.3 nM, respectively. Both prosaposin and prosaptide rapidly stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation in PC12 cells and increased phosphorylation of MAPK 20-fold especially of p44 MAPK which peaked at 5 minutes of stimulation and then rapidly declined. Treatment of PC12 cells with a mutant 22-mer prosaptide (21Asn to 21Asp) did not induce phosphorylation. These findings suggest a role for MAPK in signal transduction by prosaposin.

Prosaposin and prosaptide, a peptide from prosaposin, induce an increase in ganglioside content on NS20Y neuroblastoma cells.

Prosaposin has been recently identified as a neurotrophic factor eliciting differentiation in neuronal cultured cells (NS20Y). In this paper we investigate whether prosaposin and its active peptide (prosaptide) may modify the ganglioside pattern in neuroblastoma cells. The analysis by high performance thin layer chromatography did not reveal qualitative changes in the ganglioside pattern of NS20Y cells incubated in the presence of prosaposin, compared to control cells, but it did reveal an increase of the content of all three major resorcinol positive bands (GM3, GM2, GD1a). Cytofluorimetric and immunofluorescence microscopic analysis revealed that the increase of the ganglioside content was at the plasma membrane level. These findings suggest that the neurotrophic activity of prosaposin on NS20Y neuroblastoma cells might be mediated in part by the increase of cell surface gangliosides.