Expression, localisation and hormone regulation of the human copper transporter hCTR1 in placenta and choriocarcinoma Jeg-3 cells.

Copper is an essential trace element necessary for normal growth and development. During pregnancy, copper is transported from the maternal circulation to the fetus by mechanisms which have not been clearly elucidated. The copper uptake protein, hCTR1 is predicted to play a role in copper transport in human placental cells. This study has examined the expression and localisation of hCTR1 in human placental tissue and Jeg-3 cells. In term placental tissue the hCTR1 protein was detected as a 105 kDa protein, consistent with the size of a trimer which may represent the functional protein. A 95 kDa band, possibly representing the glycosylated protein, was also detected. hCTR1 was localised within the syncytiotrophoblast layer and the fetal vascular endothelial cells in the placental villi and interestingly was found to be localised toward the basal plasma membrane. It did not co-localise with either the Menkes or the Wilson copper transporting ATPases. Using the placental cell line Jeg-3, it was shown that the 35 kDa monomer was absent in the extracts of cells exposed to insulin, estrogen or progesterone and in cells treated with estrogen an additional 65 kDa band was detected which may correspond to a dimeric form of the protein. The 95 kDa band was not detected in the cultured cells. These results provide novel insights indicating that hormones have a role in the formation of the active hCTR1 protein. Furthermore, insulin altered the intracellular localisation of hCTR1, suggesting a previously undescribed role of this hormone in regulating copper uptake through the endocytic pathway.

Expression and localization of menkes and Wilson copper transporting ATPases in human placenta.

Copper is an essential trace element necessary for normal growth and development. During pregnancy, copper is transported from the maternal circulation to the fetus by mechanisms which have not been clearly elucidated. Two copper transporting ATPases, Menkes (ATP7A; MNK) and Wilson (ATP7B; WND) are known to be expressed in the placenta and are thought to have a role in copper transport to the fetus. In this study, the expression and localization of the MNK and WND proteins in the human placenta were investigated in detail using immunoperoxidase and double-label immunohistochemistry. MNK and WND are differentially localized within the placenta. MNK is present in the syncytiotrophoblast, the cytotrophoblast and the fetal vascular endothelial cells whereas WND is only in the syncytiotrophoblast. Placental levels of both proteins, measured by Western blot analysis, did not change across pregnancy. These data offer some insights into possible roles for MNK and WND within the placenta.

Endosomal trafficking of the Menkes copper ATPase ATP7A is mediated by vesicles containing the Rab7 and Rab5 GTPase proteins.

The Cu-ATPase ATP7A (MNK) is localized in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and relocalizes in the plasma membrane via vesicle-mediated traffic following exposure of the cells to high concentrations of copper. Rab proteins are organelle-specific GTPases, markers of different endosomal compartments; their role has been recently reviewed (Trends Cell Biol. 11(2001) 487). In this article we analyze the endosomal pathway of trafficking of the MNK protein in stably transfected clones of CHO cells, expressing chimeric Rab5-myc or Rab7-myc proteins, markers of early or late endosome compartments, respectively. We demonstrate by immunofluorescence and confocal and electron microscopy techniques that the increase in the concentration of copper in the medium (189 microM) rapidly induces a redistribution of the MNK protein from early sorting endosomes, positive for Rab5-myc protein, to late endosomes, containing the Rab7-myc protein. Cell fractionation experiments confirm these results; i.e., the MNK protein is recruited to the endosomal fraction on copper stimulation and colocalizes with Rab5 and Rab7 proteins. These findings allow the first characterization of the vesicles involved in the intracellular routing of the MNK protein from the TGN to the plasma membrane, a key mechanism allowing appropriate efflux of copper in cells grown in high concentrations of the metal.

Copper in disorders with neurological symptoms: Alzheimer's, Menkes, and Wilson diseases.

Copper is an essential element for the activity of a number of physiologically important enzymes. Enzyme-related malfunctions may contribute to severe neurological symptoms and neurological diseases: copper is a component of cytochrome c oxidase, which catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water, the essential step in cellular respiration. Copper is a cofactor of Cu/Zn-superoxide-dismutase which plays a key role in the cellular response to oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, copper is a constituent of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, a critical enzyme in the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway. A detailed exploration of the biological importance and functional properties of proteins associated with neurological symptoms will have an important impact on understanding disease mechanisms and may accelerate development and testing of new therapeutic approaches. Copper binding proteins play important roles in the establishment and maintenance of metal-ion homeostasis, in deficiency disorders with neurological symptoms (Menkes disease, Wilson disease) and in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease). The Menkes and Wilson proteins have been characterized as copper transporters and the amyloid precursor protein (APP) of Alzheimer's disease has been proposed to work as a Cu(II) and/or Zn(II) transporter. Experimental, clinical and epidemiological observations in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease and in the genetically inherited copper-dependent disorders Menkes and Wilson disease are summarized. This could provide a rationale for a link between severely dysregulated metal-ion homeostasis and the selective neuronal pathology.

Functional analysis of the sheep Wilson disease protein (sATP7B) in CHO cells.

In this study we investigated the function of the sheep orthologue of ATP7B (sATP7B), the protein affected in the human copper toxicosis disorder Wilson disease. Two forms of sATP7B are found in the sheep, a 'normal' form and one with an alternate N terminus, both of which were expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Cells expressing either form of sATP7B were more resistant to copper than the parental CHO-K1 cells. Subcellular localisation studies showed that both forms of sATP7B were similarly located in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). When the extracellular copper concentration was increased, each form of sATP7B redistributed to a punctate, vesicular compartment that extended throughout the cytoplasm. Both forms of sATP7B recycled to the perinuclear location within one hour when the cells were subsequently incubated in basal medium. After treatment of cells with bafilomycin A1 sATP7B accumulated in cytoplasmic vesicles, implying that ATP7B continuously recycles via the endocytic pathway. These results suggest that both forms of sATP7B are functional copper-transport proteins and that the intracellular location and trafficking of the sheep protein within the cell also appears normal.

Expression of the human Menkes ATPase in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Menkes disease is an X-linked disorder of copper metabolism that is usually fatal. The affected gene has recently been cloned and encodes one of the two human copper ATPases. If the Menkes ATPase is defective, copper is trapped in the intestinal mucosa, leading to systemic copper deficiency. In order to study copper transport by this ATPase and the effects of disease mutations on its function, we developed a Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system. Wild-type Menkes ATPase cDNA and a fusion of this gene with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was transcribed in vitro and the mRNA injected into oocytes. Expression in oocytes was analyzed by Western blotting and fluorescence microscopy. The Menkes ATPase-GFP chimera appeared to localize primarily to the plasma membrane as assessed by confocal microscopy. This system should thus provide an interesting new tool to study the function of the Menkes ATPase.

The molecular basis of copper-transport diseases.

Copper (Cu) is a potentially toxic yet essential element. MENKES DISEASE, a copper deficiency disorder, and WILSON DISEASE, a copper toxicosis condition, are two human genetic disorders, caused by mutations of two closely related Cu-transporting ATPases. Both molecules efflux copper from cells. Quite diverse clinical phenotypes are produced by different mutations of these two Cu-transporting proteins. The understanding of copper homeostasis has become increasingly important in clinical medicine as the metal could be involved in the pathogenesis of some important neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone diseases and prion diseases.

Functional studies on the Wilson copper P-type ATPase and toxic milk mouse mutant.

The Wilson protein (WND; ATP7B) is an essential component of copper homeostasis. Mutations in the ATP7B gene result in Wilson disease, which is characterised by hepatotoxicity and neurological disturbances. In this paper, we provide the first direct biochemical evidence that the WND protein functions as a copper-translocating P-type ATPase in mammalian cells. Importantly, we have shown that the mutation of the conserved Met1386 to Val, in the Atp7B for the mouse model of Wilson disease, toxic milk (tx), caused a loss of Cu-translocating activity. These investigations provide strong evidence that the toxic milk mouse is a valid model for Wilson disease and demonstrate a link between the loss of catalytic function of WND and the Wilson disease phenotype.

Effect of the toxic milk mutation (tx) on the function and intracellular localization of Wnd, the murine homologue of the Wilson copper ATPase.

Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive copper transport disorder resulting from defective biliary excretion of copper and subsequent hepatic copper accumulation and liver failure if not treated. The disease is caused by mutations in the ATP7B (WND) gene, which is expressed predominantly in the liver and encodes a copper-transporting P-type ATPase that is structurally and functionally similar to the Menkes protein (MNK), which is defective in the X-linked copper transport disorder Menkes disease. The toxic milk (tx) mouse has a clinical phenotype similar to Wilson disease patients and, recently, the tx mutation within the murine WND homologue (WND:) of this mouse was identified, establishing it as an animal model for Wilson disease. In this study, cDNA constructs encoding the wild-type (Wnd-wt) and mutant (Wnd-tx) Wilson proteins (Wnd) were generated and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The tx mutation disrupted the copper-induced relocalization of Wnd in CHO cells and abrogated Wnd-mediated copper resistance of transfected CHO cells. In addition, co-localization experiments demonstrated that while Wnd and MNK are located in the trans-Golgi network in basal copper conditions, with elevated copper, these proteins are sorted to different destinations within the same cell. Ultrastructural studies showed that with elevated copper levels, Wnd accumulated in large multi-vesicular structures resembling late endosomes that may represent a novel compartment for copper transport. The data presented provide further support for a relationship between copper transport activity and the copper-induced relocalization response of mammalian copper ATPases, and an explanation at a molecular level for the observed phenotype of tx mice.

Conditionally immortalized mouse hepatocytes for use in liver gene therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of hepatocytes for gene therapy is limited by the difficulty of maintaining and altering primary liver cells in culture. A conditionally immortalized mouse hepatocyte cell line has been developed which can be passaged indefinitely at the permissive temperature (33 degrees C), but fails to proliferate and dies at the non-permissive temperature (39 degrees C) in vitro. METHODS: Hepatocytes were harvested from a 6 week-old male transgenic mouse ('immortomouse') carrying a thermolabile SV40 Large T gene, using a modified two-step collagenase perfusion method, and serially passaged at 33 degrees C for more than 1 year. To assess the ability of immortohepatocytes to engraft and populate mouse liver, cells were infused into partially hepatectomized congenic mice via the portal vein (n = 10) or the spleen with (n = 2) and without (n = 2) partial hepatectomy. The ability to transfect immortohepatocytes was assessed using the reporter gene enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). RESULTS: All immortohepatocytes in culture stained positive by immunohistochemistry for the hepatocyte markers albumin, AFP, CK8 and CK18. In early cultures a proportion of cells also stained strongly for the biliary epithelial markers CK7 and CK19. Late cell cultures were negative for M2PK and CK7 and stained variably with anti-CK19 antibodies. Cells transferred to the non-permissive temperature of 39 degrees C ceased proliferation and died within 1 week in vitro. Large T DNA was detected in the liver of all postoperative mice up to 2 weeks post-hepatocellular transplantation via PCR and Southern blot analysis. The immortohepatocytes were easily transfected with a reporter gene. CONCLUSIONS: Immortohepatocytes can survive in vivo after transfer to liver, and will be useful as a model for hepatic gene therapy.

The Menkes copper transporter is required for the activation of tyrosinase.

Menkes disease is an X-linked recessive copper deficiency disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7A (MNK) gene. The MNK gene encodes a copper-transporting P-type ATPase, MNK, which is localized predominantly in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). The MNK protein relocates to the plasma membrane in cells exposed to elevated copper where it functions in copper efflux. A role for MNK at the TGN in mammalian cells has not been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated whether the MNK protein is required for the activity of tyrosinase, a copper-dependent enzyme involved in melanogenesis that is synthesized within the secretory pathway. We demonstrate that recombinant tyrosinase expressed in immortalized Menkes fibroblast cell lines was inactive, whereas in normal fibroblasts known to express MNK protein there was substantial tyrosinase activity. Co-expression of the Menkes protein and tyrosinase from plasmid constructs in Menkes fibroblasts led to the activation of tyrosinase and melanogenesis. This MNK-dependent activation of tyrosinase was impaired by the chelation of copper in the medium of cells and after mutation of the invariant phosphorylation site at aspartic acid residue 1044 of MNK. Collectively, these findings suggest that the MNK protein transports copper into the secretory pathway of mammalian cells to activate copper-dependent enzymes and reveal a second copper transport role for MNK in mammalian cells. These findings describe a single cell-based system that allows both the copper transport and trafficking functions of MNK to be studied. This study also contributes to our understanding of the molecular basis of pigmentation in mammalian cells.

Defective localization of the Wilson disease protein (ATP7B) in the mammary gland of the toxic milk mouse and the effects of copper supplementation.

Toxic milk (tx) is a copper disorder of mice that causes a hepatic accumulation of copper similar to that seen in patients with Wilson disease. Both disorders are caused by a defect in the ATP7B copper-transporting ATPase. A feature of the tx phenotype is the production of copper-deficient milk by lactating dams homozygous for the tx mutation; the milk is lethal to the pups. It has not been determined whether the production of copper-deficient milk is a direct consequence of impaired expression of ATP7B protein in the mammary gland. With the use of immunohistochemistry, our study demonstrated that the ATP7B protein was mislocalized in the lactating tx mouse mammary gland, which would explain the inability of the tx mouse to secrete normal amounts of copper in milk. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that, in the lactating tx mammary gland, ATP7B was predominantly perinuclear in comparison with the diffuse, cytoplasmic localization of ATP7B in the lactating normal mammary gland. Lactating tx mice showed impaired delivery of copper from the mammary gland to the milk and this was not ameliorated by dietary copper supplementation. In contrast, the normal mouse mammary gland responded to increased dietary copper by increasing the amount of copper in milk. A change in the distribution of the ATP7B protein from perinuclear in the non-lactating gland to a diffuse, cytoplasmic localization in the lactating gland of the normal (DL) mouse suggests that the relocalization of APT7B is a physiological process that accompanies lactation. We conclude that the impaired copper transport from the mammary gland into milk in lactating tx mice is related to the mislocalization of ATP7B.

Cloning, mapping and expression analysis of the sheep Wilson disease gene homologue.

Copper homeostasis in mammals is maintained by the balance of dietary intake and copper excretion via the bile. Sheep have a variant copper phenotype and do not efficiently excrete copper by this mechanism, often resulting in excessive copper accumulation in the liver. The Wilson disease protein (ATP7B) is a copper transporting P-type ATPase that is responsible for the efflux of hepatic copper into the bile. To investigate the role of ATP7B in the sheep copper accumulation phenotype, the cDNA encoding the ovine homologue of ATP7B was isolated and sequenced and the gene was localised by fluorescence in situ hybridisation to chromosome 10. The 6.3 kb cDNA encoded a predicted protein of 1444 amino acids which included all of the functional domains characteristic of copper transporting P-type ATPases. ATP7B mRNA was expressed primarily in the liver with lower levels present in the intestine, hypothalamus and ovary. A splice variant of ATP7B mRNA, which was expressed in the liver and comprised approximately 10% of the total ATP7B mRNA pool, also was isolated. The results suggest that ATP7B is produced in the sheep and that the tendency to accumulate copper in the liver is not due to a gross alteration in the structure or expression of ATP7B.

Identification of the copper chaperone SAH in Ovis aries: expression analysis and in vitro interaction of SAH with ATP7B.

A clone encoding the putative copper chaperone protein Sheep Atx1 Homologue (SAH) was isolated from a sheep liver cDNA library. The 466-bp cDNA encoded a predicted protein of 68 amino acids, with 44 and 81% amino acid identity to the yeast Atx1 and human Atox1 copper chaperone proteins, respectively. The characteristic MTCxxC and KTGK motifs were conserved in SAH. Northern blot analysis revealed an abundant 0.5-kb mRNA in all tissues examined. Elevated hepatic copper content did not affect the level of SAH mRNA in the liver. Analysis of SAH mRNA in the developing liver revealed low levels of expression in the foetal period, with a steady increase to adult levels occurring during development. In vitro two-hybrid analysis demonstrated SAH interacted with the amino terminal portion of the sheep Wilson's disease protein (ATP7B). The extent of this interaction was significantly reduced by the addition of the copper chelator bathocuproine disulfonic acid to the media. These results suggest SAH is a functional copper chaperone that is able to interact with ATP7B in a copper-dependent manner to facilitate copper transport into the secretory pathway.

Expression of menkes copper-transporting ATPase, MNK, in the lactating human breast: possible role in copper transport into milk.

The Menkes copper ATPase (MNK) is a copper efflux ATPase that is involved in copper homeostasis. Little is known about the intracellular localization and cell-specific function of the MNK in human tissues. To investigate a possible role for this protein in lactation, we measured its expression in sections of tissue from nonlactating and lactating human breast. Western blot analysis showed that MNK expression was greater in lactating tissue than in nonlactating tissue. By confocal immunofluorescence, the MNK was detected in luminal epithelial cells of the alveoli and ducts but not in myoepithelial cells. In the nonlactating breast epithelial cells, the MNK had a predominantly perinuclear distribution. In lactating breast tissue, the distribution of the MNK was markedly altered. Lactating epithelial cells showed a granular, diffuse pattern, which extended beyond the perinuclear region of the cell. This pattern was similar to that observed in a previous study in which cultured CHO cells were exposed to high copper concentrations. Our results suggest that relocalization of the MNK is a physiological process, which may be mediated by copper levels in the breast or by hormones and other events taking place during lactation. A vesicular pathway for copper from the Golgi into milk, similar to that of calcium, is proposed.(J Histochem Cytochem 47:1553-1561, 1999)

Copper levels are increased in the cerebral cortex and liver of APP and APLP2 knockout mice.

The pathological process in Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid beta (Abeta) deposition and neuronal cell degeneration. The neurotoxic Abeta peptide is derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a member of a larger gene family including the amyloid precursor-like proteins, APLP1 and APLP2. The APP and APLP2 molecules contain metal binding sites for copper and zinc. The zinc binding domain (ZnBD) is believed to have a structural rather than a catalytic role. The activity of the copper binding domain (CuBD) is unknown, however, APP reduces copper (II) to copper (I) and this activity could promote copper-mediated neurotoxicity. The expression of APP and APLP2 in the brain suggests they could have an important direct or indirect role in neuronal metal homeostasis. To examine this, we measured copper, zinc and iron levels in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and selected non-neuronal tissues from APP (APP(-/-)) and APLP2 (APLP2(-/-)) knockout mice using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Compared with matched wild-type (WT) mice, copper levels were significantly elevated in both APP(-/-) and APLP2(-/-) cerebral cortex (40% and 16%, respectively) and liver (80% and 36%, respectively). Copper levels were not significantly different between knockout and WT cerebellum, spleen or serum samples. There were no significant differences observed between APP(-/-), APLP2(-/-) and WT mice zinc or iron levels in any tissue examined. These findings indicate APP and APLP2 expression specifically modulates copper homeostasis in the liver and cerebral cortex, the latter being a region of the brain particularly involved in AD. Perturbations to APP metabolism and in particular, its secretion or release from neurons may alter copper homeostasis resulting in increased Abeta accumulation and free radical generation. These data support a novel mechanism in the APP/Abeta pathway which leads to AD.

The Menkes protein (ATP7A; MNK) cycles via the plasma membrane both in basal and elevated extracellular copper using a C-terminal di-leucine endocytic signal.

Menkes disease is an X-linked recessive copper deficiency disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7A ( MNK ) gene which encodes a copper transporting P-type ATPase (MNK). MNK is normally localized pre- dominantly in the trans -Golgi network (TGN); however, when cells are exposed to excessive copper it is rapidly relocalized to the plasma membrane where it functions in copper efflux. In this study, the c-myc epitope was introduced within the loop connecting the first and second transmembrane regions of MNK. This myc epitope allowed detection of the protein at the surface of living cells and provided the first experimental evidence supporting the common topological model. In cells stably expressing the tagged MNK protein (MNK-tag), extracellular antibodies were internalized to the perinuclear region, indicating that MNK-tag at the TGN constitutively cycles via the plasma membrane in basal copper conditions. Under elevated copper conditions, MNK-tag was recruited to the plasma membrane; however, internalization of MNK-tag was not inhibited and the protein continued to recycle through cyto- plasmic membrane compartments. These findings suggest that copper stimulates exocytic movement of MNK to the plasma membrane rather than reducing MNK retrieval and indicate that MNK may remove copper from the cytoplasm by transporting copper into the vesicles through which it cycles. Newly internalized MNK-tag and transferrin were found to co-localize, suggesting that MNK-tag follows a clathrin-coated pit/endosomal pathway into cells. Mutation of the di-leucine, L1487 L1488, prevented uptake of anti-myc antibodies in both basal and elevated copper conditions, thereby identifying this sequence as an endocytic signal for MNK. Analysis of the effects of the di-leucine mutation in elevated copper provided further support for copper-stimulated exocytic movement of MNK from the TGN to the plasma membrane.

Cloning and expression analysis of the sheep ceruloplasmin cDNA.

The cDNA encoding sheep ceruloplasmin (sCP) was isolated from a sheep liver cDNA library. The cDNA contig was 3530 nucleotides in length and encoded a protein of 1048 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a high degree of conservation (87%) when compared to the human ceruloplasmin (hCP) sequence. Northern blot analysis of sheep tissue revealed that the sheep ceruloplasmin gene (sCP) was expressed primarily in the liver, but low levels of mRNA were detected in the hypothalamus, spleen and uterus. No sCP mRNA was detected in the cortex, heart, intestine or kidney. Expression was not significantly affected by hepatic copper content. Northern blot analysis of sheep liver during development demonstrated little sCP expression during fetal life, but significant levels of mRNA were observed after birth. Significantly, the developmental expression pattern of sCP was closely correlated with that of the sheep Wilson disease gene (sATP7B), suggesting that the expression of the two genes may be coordinated to ensure that copper is supplied to apoceruloplasmin. Overall, the structure and expression of sCP appeared similar to other mammals, suggesting that abnormalities in CP were not responsible for the unusual sheep copper phenotype.

Functional analysis of the N-terminal CXXC metal-binding motifs in the human Menkes copper-transporting P-type ATPase expressed in cultured mammalian cells.

The Menkes protein (MNK) is a copper-transporting P-type ATPase, which has six highly conserved metal-binding sites, GMTCXXC, at the N terminus. The metal-binding sites may be involved in MNK trafficking and/or copper-translocating activity. In this study, we report the detailed functional analysis in mammalian cells of recombinant human MNK and its mutants with various metal-binding sites altered by site-directed mutagenesis. The results of the study, both in vitro and in vivo, provide evidence that the metal-binding sites of MNK are not essential for the ATP-dependent copper-translocating activity of MNK. Moreover, metal-binding site mutations, which resulted in a loss of ability of MNK to traffick to the plasma membrane, produced a copper hyperaccumulating phenotype. Using an in vitro vesicle assay, we demonstrated that the apparent K(m) and V(max) values for the wild type MNK and its mutants were not significantly different. The results of this study suggest that copper-translocating activity of MNK and its copper-induced relocalization to the plasma membrane represent a well coordinated copper homeostasis system. It is proposed that mutations in MNK which alter either its catalytic activity or/and ability to traffick can be the cause of Menkes disease.

Molecular mechanisms of copper homeostasis.

Copper is an essential trace element which plays a pivotal role in cell physiology as it constitutes a core part of important cuproenzymes. Novel components of copper homeostasis in humans have been identified recently which have been characterised at the molecular level. These include copper-transporting P-type ATPases, Menkes and Wilson proteins, and copper chaperones. These findings have paved the way towards better understanding of the role of copper deficiency or copper toxicity in physiological and pathological conditions.