Comparative Proteomics of Human and Macaque Milk Reveals Species-Specific Nutrition during Postnatal Development.

Milk has been well established as the optimal nutrition source for infants, yet there is still much to be understood about its molecular composition. Therefore, our objective was to develop and compare comprehensive milk proteomes for human and rhesus macaques to highlight differences in neonatal nutrition. We developed a milk proteomics technique that overcomes previous technical barriers including pervasive post-translational modifications and limited sample volume. We identified 1606 and 518 proteins in human and macaque milk, respectively. During analysis of detected protein orthologs, we identified 88 differentially abundant proteins. Of these, 93% exhibited increased abundance in human milk relative to macaque and include lactoferrin, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, alpha-1 antichymotrypsin, vitamin D-binding protein, and haptocorrin. Furthermore, proteins more abundant in human milk compared with macaque are associated with development of the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system, and the brain. Overall, our novel proteomics method reveals the first comprehensive macaque milk proteome and 524 newly identified human milk proteins. The differentially abundant proteins observed are consistent with the perspective that human infants, compared with nonhuman primates, are born at a slightly earlier stage of somatic development and require additional support through higher quantities of specific proteins to nurture human infant maturation.

Comparison of recombinant human haptocorrin expressed in human embryonic kidney cells and native haptocorrin.

Haptocorrin (HC) is a circulating corrinoid binding protein with unclear function. In contrast to transcobalamin, the other transport protein in blood, HC is heavily glycosylated and binds a variety of cobalamin (Cbl) analogues. HC is present not only in blood but also in various secretions like milk, tears and saliva. No recombinant form of HC has been described so far. We report the expression of recombinant human HC (rhHC) in human embryonic kidney cells. We purified the protein with a yield of 6 mg (90 nmol) per litre of cell culture supernatant. The isolated rhHC behaved as native HC concerning its spectral properties and ability to recognize both Cbl and its baseless analogue cobinamide. Similar to native HC isolated from blood, rhHC bound to the asialoglycoprotein receptor only after removal of terminal sialic acid residues by treatment with neuraminidase. Interestingly, rhHC, that compared to native HC contains four excessive amino acids (…LVPR) at the C-terminus, showed subtle changes in the binding kinetics of Cbl, cobinamide and the fluorescent Cbl conjugate CBC. The recombinant protein has properties very similar to native HC and although showing slightly different ligand binding kinetics, rhHC is valuable for further biochemical and structural studies.

High concentrations of haptocorrin interfere with routine measurement of cobalamins in human serum and milk. A problem and its solution.

BACKGROUND: Human milk and occasional serum samples contain high concentrations of unsaturated haptocorrin, which influence accurate measurement of cobalamins. METHODS: Cobalamins in serum samples spiked with increasing amounts of unsaturated haptocorrin were measured employing the Centaur, Cobas and Architect analysers. Cobinamide-coated EAH sepharose was employed for pretreatment of the samples. Human milk samples were collected from 24 healthy mothers. Haptocorrin was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The measured concentration of cobalamins either increased (Centaur analyser) or decreased (Architect, Cobas analysers) significantly for haptocorrin >10 nM, and was 220%, 52% or 45% of the expected values in a serum sample containing 50 nM haptocorrin. Following pretreatment with cobinamide-sepharose, the expected cobalamin concentration was obtained (Centaur). The milk samples contained 4.5-180 nM haptocorrin. In samples containing >10 nM haptocorrin (n=19), the median concentration of cobalamins decreased from 1.3 nM to 0.67 nM after pretreatment with cobinamide-sepharose. CONCLUSIONS: Haptocorrin in concentrations above 10 nM influences measurement of cobalamins giving rise to falsely elevated or decreased results. Removal of unsaturated haptocorrin by pretreatment with cobinamide-sepharose solves the problem.

Identification of a putative lysosomal cobalamin exporter altered in the cblF defect of vitamin B12 metabolism.

Vitamin B(12) (cobalamin) is essential in animals for metabolism of branched chain amino acids and odd chain fatty acids, and for remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. In the cblF inborn error of vitamin B(12) metabolism, free vitamin accumulates in lysosomes, thus hindering its conversion to cofactors. Using homozygosity mapping in 12 unrelated cblF individuals and microcell-mediated chromosome transfer, we identified a candidate gene on chromosome 6q13, LMBRD1, encoding LMBD1, a lysosomal membrane protein with homology to lipocalin membrane receptor LIMR. We identified five different frameshift mutations in LMBRD1 resulting in loss of LMBD1 function, with 18 of the 24 disease chromosomes carrying the same mutation embedded in a common 1.34-Mb haplotype. Transfection of fibroblasts of individuals with cblF with wild-type LMBD1 rescued cobalamin coenzyme synthesis and function. This work identifies LMBRD1 as the gene underlying the cblF defect of cobalamin metabolism and suggests that LMBD1 is a lysosomal membrane exporter for cobalamin.

Transcobalamin in cultured fibroblasts from patients with inborn errors of vitamin B12 metabolism.

Derivatives of vitamin B(12) (cobalamin, Cbl) are required for activity of the mitochondrial enzyme L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and the cytoplasmic enzyme methionine synthase in human cells. We recently described a putative novel Cbl-binding protein in crude mitochondrial fractions isolated from cultured fibroblasts. The amount of Cbl bound to this protein varied in fibroblasts from patients with different genetic defects affecting cobalamin metabolism. We have now identified this protein as the cobalamin transport protein transcobalamin (TC) by its binding to anti-TC antibodies and mass spectrometry, and suggest that its presence in crude mitochondrial fractions was the result of lysosomal contamination. Increased Cbl bound TC levels were confirmed in whole cell extracts in at least one cell line from both the cblB and mut classes of inborn errors of cobalamin metabolism.

Binding of transcobalamin II by human mammary epithelial cells.

The presence of nutrient binders in milk may have an important role during milk production and may influence the nutrient's bioavailability to the infant. Human milk and plasma contain at least two types of vitamin B12 binders: transcobalamin II (TCII) and haptocorrin (Hc). Vitamin B12 in milk is exclusively bound to Hc (Hc-B12). In plasma, the major vitamin B12 binding protein that is responsible for delivering absorbed vitamin B12 to most tissues and cells is TCII (TCII-B12). Currently, little is known about the route of secretion of vitamin B12 into human milk. It is possible that a receptor-mediated pathway is involved, since maternal vitamin B12 supplementation increases the amount of the vitamin secreted into human milk if the mother's vitamin B12 consumption is low, but remains unchanged if her intake is adequate. In this study, we investigated the process by which the mammary gland acquires vitamin B12 from maternal circulation, whether as a free vitamin or as a Hc-B12 or TCII-B12 complex. TCII was purified from plasma incubated with [57Co]vit B12 (B12*), while Hc was purified from whey incubated with B12*. Both proteins were separated by fast protein liquid chromatography using gel filtration and anion-exchange columns. Purity of the separated proteins was assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Binding studies were carried out on a monolayer of normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) at 4 degrees C using free B12* and TCII-B12* and Hc-B12* complexes. Minimal binding of free B12* and Hc-B12* to HMEC was observed; however, HMEC exhibited a high affinity for the TCII-B12* complex. This study suggests that a specific cell surface receptor for the TCII-B12 complex exists in the mammary gland. It is possible that once vitamin B12 is in the mammary gland it is transferred to Hc (which may be synthesized by the mammary gland) and then secreted into milk as a Hc-B12 complex.

Sequence, S-S bridges, and spectra of bovine transcobalamin expressed in Pichia pastoris.

Transcobalamin (TC) -encoding cDNA was isolated from a bovine mammary gland cDNA library. Hybridization of the cloned bovine TC-cDNA to RNA samples from bovine tissues showed that the most intensive synthesis of a TC positive 1.9-kilobase mRNA occurred in kidney, lymphatic nodes, and liver. Bovine TC was expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris, and the isolated recombinant protein showed cobalamin (Cbl) and receptor binding properties similar to TCs from other sources. Alignment of the related Cbl carriers (haptocorrins and intrinsic factors from other species) with bovine TC (414 residues) revealed four conservative clusters in the sequence (85-98, 137-147, 178-190, and 268-288), which may be responsible for Cbl binding. Three S-S bonds connected Cys residues 3-252, 98-294, and 147-190. Treatment with an S-S reducing agent caused liberation of Cbl from TC-Cbl. A significant change was observed in the TC-Cbl absorbance spectrum upon substitution of Co(2+)-coordinated H(2)O by azide. The reaction developed several orders of magnitude slower, and the spectral distortions were much stronger than those in free Cbl. This may be caused by significant deformation of the Cbl molecule and/or by its shielding when bound to TC.

Transcobalamin from cow milk: isolation and physico-chemical properties.

The concentration of endogenous cobalamin (Cbl) in cow milk was 3.3 nM while the Cbl-binding capacity was 0.05 nM. Both endogenous and newly added Cbl showed similar quantitative distribution between a 280 kDa protein complex (45%) and a 43 kDa Cbl-binder (55%). Long time incubation, as well as urea treatment, was accompanied by a slow release of the 43 kDa Cbl-binder from the 280 kDa fraction. No other Cbl-binding proteins appeared after these procedures. The 43 kDa binder from cow milk, depleted of the ligand by urea treatment, reacted with Cbl even in the presence of a B12-analogue cobinamide (Cbi) at the ratio Cbl:Cbi = 1:40. The stokes radius of the binder changed from 2.7 nm for the Cbl-free protein to 2.5 nm for the Cbl-saturated form and the Cbl-saturated binder was able to displace human transcobalamin (TC) from the TC-receptor. The interaction between the protein and Cbl was significantly suppressed at pH 2.0. The N-terminal sequence of the purified 43 kDa Cbl-binder revealed homology with TC from human and rabbit plasma. In conclusion we have shown that TC is the main Cbl-binding protein in cow milk. This is surprising, since previous studies on human and rat milk have shown another Cbl-binder, apo-haptocorrin, to be the dominating Cbl-binding protein.

Binding of cobalamin and cobinamide to transcobalamin from bovine milk.

We have studied the interaction between transcobalamin (TC) and the ligands cobalamin (Cbl) and cobinamide (Cbi). Partially purified TC from bovine milk was depleted of endogenous Cbl by 8 M urea treatment. Unsaturated TC was adsorbed on CM-Sepharose in order to ensure fast separation of the matrix-bound protein from the reaction medium. The forward reaction TC+Cbl-->TC-Cbl (rate constant k+Cbl) and the backward reaction TC-Cbl-->TC+Cbl (k-Cbl) were followed in time. A single-step binding model (with no intermediate protein-ligand complex) was sufficient to fit the data. The calculated rate constants were k+Cbl = 0.6 nM-1 min-1 and k-Cbl = 1.3 x 10(-4) min-1, which corresponded to the TC-Cbl dissociation constant KDCbl = 0.2 pM. Reaction between TC and Cbl developed against electrostatic forces, and the effective charges of the interacting species were estimated as both +1 or both -1. The competition between Cbl and Cbi for TC was studied, which resulted in determination of the relevant rate constants for Cbi: k+Cbi = 0.03 nM-1 min-1, k-Cbi = 0.03 min-1, and KDCbi = 1 nM. Slow dissociation of TC-Cbl guarantees its stability in plasma for 5-10 h, while Cbi bound to TC would be transferred to haptocorrin in less than 1 h.

Isolation and sequence analysis of variant forms of human transcobalamin II.

Two cDNA clones (1.9 kb and 1.5 kb, respectively) encoding full length human TC II have been isolated from a human endothelial cell cDNA library and sequenced. The differences between the two clones are the length of the 5' end and the 3' end non-coding regions and the codon at position 198 and 219. Both the clones differ from the recently isolated (human endothelial cell) cDNA for TC II (Platica, O., Janecko, R., Quadros, E.V., Regee, A., Romain, R. and Rothenberg, S.P. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7860-7863) in codon 259 and 376 and in their calculated pI values. In vitro transcription followed by translation in a reticulocyte lysate system and SDS-PAGE revealed that the isolated cDNA clones encode a protein of 43 kDa. Upon treatment with canine pancreatic microsomes, the molecular mass of the in vitro translated product was reduced to 41.5 kDa, indicating the presence of an approximately 1.5 kDa signal peptide. This translation product was immunoprecipitated with rabbit anti-serum to human TC II and was able to bind to Cbl-Sepharose beads. The amino acid sequence alignment of TC II with that of other Cbl binding proteins (rat intrinsic factor, human transcobalamin I and porcine haptocorrin) revealed only 33% overall homology. However, there were four regions of greater than 80% homology and two regions of about 60% homology. These regions encompass the majority of the hydrophobic areas of the Cbl-binders. Based on these studies, we suggest that structural basis for the expression of different polymorphic forms of TC II may be due to single point mutations and that TC II, like other mammalian Cbl-binders, have evolved from a common ancestral gene. Furthermore, the Cbl-binding functional domain most probably resides in a hydrophobic pocket which is formed by all or some of the six regions of high homology.

Cobalamin binding proteins in patients with HIV infection.

P-Cobalamins have been reported to be decreased in patients with HIV infection. Because of this, we found it of interest to examine both cobalamin-saturated binding proteins (holo-transcobalamin, holo-TC and holo-haptocorrin, holo-HC) and cobalamin unsaturated binding proteins (apo-transcobalamin, apo-TC and apo-haptocorrin, apo-HC). The results are given as range and (median). Eighteen male HIV-infected patients with plasma cobalamins below 200 pmol/l were studied. We found low concentrations of holo-TC (37-88 (47.5) pmol/l) and holo-HC (64-184 (135.5) pmol/l). The concentration of apo-TC and apo-HC was increased (480-1730 (1025) pmol/l; 70-800 (235) pmol/l). It is concluded that, in HIV-infected patients, low plasma cobalamin does not reflect a low concentration of transcobalamin or haptocorrin. In 20 HIV-infected patients and 31 patients with malignant haematological diseases, the TC isopeptide patterns were determined. In the HIV group, an increased frequency of TC isopeptide X was found and the overall distribution of TC isopeptides was significantly different from the reference population (p less than 0.05). There was no difference between the group of patients with malignant haematological diseases and the reference group.

Functional expression of transcobalamin II cDNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The products of in vitro transcription of human transcobalamin II (TC II) cDNA when microinjected into Xenopus laevis oocytes yielded a single secretory protein of 43 kDa. The mobility of the 43 kDa band did not change following digestion with peptide N-glycosidase F. [57Co]Cbl bound to the medium was immunoprecipitated with anti-serum to human TC II, but not to other Cbl binders. In addition, the [57Co]Cbl complex also bound to placental microsomes. These results suggest that TC II mRNA transcribed encodes TC II which contains both the Cbl and receptor binding domains. Furthermore, Xenopus oocytes can be used as a screening system to define structural elements important in TC II's secretion and binding reactions.

Synthesis and secretion of a cobalamin-binding protein by HT 29 cell line.

An HT 29 cell line derived from human colonic carcinoma was shown to synthesize and release a cobalamin-binding protein. The cobalamin-binding protein was classified as transcobalamin (TC). By gel filtration on Sephacryl S200 HR, we observed that the secreted protein bound to cobalamin had the same size as plasma transcobalamin. Like transcobalamin, the cobalamin-binding protein bound cobalamin but not cobinamide. Purification of the cobalamin-binding protein was performed by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and by Sephacryl S200 gel filtration. The molecular mass of the purified protein was estimated at 44 kDa by SDS/PAGE. The isoelectric point was determined to be 6.4. The purified cobalamin-binding protein reacted with an antiserum produced against human transcobalamin. A 44 kDa band was also identified by SDS/PAGE of an immunoprecipitated homogenate from HT 29 cells labelled with [35S]methionine and in a Western blot of cell homogenates. The secretion of the cobalamin-binding protein was maximal between 10 and 12 days of cell culture and was inhibited by cycloheximide.

Synthesis and secretion of cobalamin binding proteins by opossum kidney cells.

Opossum kidney epithelial cells synthesize and secrete two Cobalamin (Cbl) binding proteins of Mr 66,000 and 43,000. When grown on culture inserts, the apical medium contained both these proteins while the basolateral medium contained only the 43 kDa Cbl binder. Colchicine, a microtubule disruptive drug, increased two fold the apical but not the basolateral secretion of the Cbl binding proteins. Although the opossum Cbl binders did not cross react with anti-serum raised to Cbl binders from other species, the identity based on Cbl binding and size suggest that the 66 kDa and 43 kDa proteins are haptocorrin and transcobalamin II.

Expression of cobalamin transport proteins and cobalamin transcytosis by colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells express both intrinsic factor-cobalamin receptor and transcobalamin II (TC II). The expression of these activities began to rise by day 6 and reached peak levels between 10 and 15 days in culture. The postconfluent Caco-2 cell membranes bound approximately 30-35 fmol of intrinsic factor (IF) [57Co]Cbl/mg protein. The size of the mature receptor expressed in the apical brush border had a relative molecular mass of 230 kDa. The intracellular form of TC II had a Mr of 43, 5 higher than the secreted form of TC II. TC II was secreted unidirectionally via the basolateral direction when Caco-2 cells were grown on culture inserts. When grown on culture inserts, the Caco-2 cells were polarized (electrical resistance greater than 200 omega/cm2) and transcytosed [57Co]Cbl bound to IF from apical-to-basal but not from basal-to-apical direction. Under these conditions, [57Co]Cbl complexed to haptocorrin was not transported. These cells also transcytosed free [57Co]Cbl, although less efficiently. The [57Co]Cbl transcytosed using either IF[57Co]Cbl or free [57Co]Cbl as ligands was bound exclusively to TC II. Intracellular [57Co]Cbl decreased during transcytosis with a slow (t1/2 = 4 h) transfer of [57Co]Cbl from IF to TC II. These results show that the transport of Cbl in Caco-2 cells is very similar to the human enterocyte system.

Purification and properties of chicken egg-white cobalamin-binding protein.

A cobalamin-binding protein has been purified from chicken egg-white by using a combination of conventional and high performance ion-exchange chromatography. Following initial purification by DEAE-cellulose, ammonium sulphate precipitation, Sephacryl S-200 CM-cellulose and affinity chromatography, appropriate fractions were further purified using the Pharmacia fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) system. Using this method of purification, egg-white CBP has been purified more rapidly and with greater recovery than with conventional column chromatography. The homogeneity of this protein was verified by SDS-PAGE. The Mr was 37,000 by SDS-PAGE and 39,000 by gel filtration, which indicated that it was a glycoprotein. The stokes radius was 4.1 nm and pI was 4.3. The protein bound 57COB12 with a molar ratio of 1/1 and kd of 0.40 microM. The egg-white CBP was composed of 294 amino acid residues. Thiol groups and metal ions were not connected with the Cbl-binding activities.

Transfer of cobalamin from the cobalamin-binding protein of egg yolk to R binder of human saliva and gastric juice.

Patients may fail to absorb cobalamin (vitamin B12) bound to food even when they have adequate intrinsic factor to absorb free cobalamin normally. We studied cobalamin transfer from egg yolk cobalamin-binding protein to human saliva and gastric juice as a model of this important first step in cobalamin assimilation. The cobalamin-binding protein of egg yolk eluted with human R binder on Sephadex gel chromatography and bound cobalamin with a comparable affinity, but it did not cross-react with R binder immunologically. Transfer of cobalamin from egg yolk to saliva or gastric juice R binder did not occur at neutral pH. Slight transfer (8%-12% of the 57Co-cobalamin bound to egg yolk) occurred when the saliva was acidified to pH 1.5. This minor transfer by acid was not inhibited by pepstatin A, a pepsin inhibitor. Acidification caused variable transfer to gastric juice R binder (12%-40%) that appeared to be partially due to residual gastric pepsin activity. Adding 1200 U of pepsin per milliliter enhanced cobalamin transfer to saliva or gastric juice R binders (39%-58% transfer). At no time was cobalamin transferred directly to intrinsic factor; R binder-deficient gastric juice failed to accept cobalamin from egg yolk. The transfer of cobalamin from egg yolk to human R binder requires both an acid pH and pepsin activity. While as little as 30 U of pepsin added per milliliter of saliva promoted transfer of cobalamin, the requirement for an acid pH was very strict. Virtually no transfer occurred when pH exceeded 2.0, regardless of the amount of pepsin present. Acid provided an optimal pH for pepsin activity and, to a lesser extent, affected transfer by a mechanism unrelated to pepsin. Our data suggest that compromised pepsin secretion and, probably even more importantly, compromised acid secretion interfere with transfer of food cobalamin to R binder.

Physicochemical characterization and biological activity of intrinsic factor in cystic fibrosis.

Absorption of crystalline labeled cobalamin is strongly decreased in cases of cystic fibrosis. In order to determine if this is due to an alteration or a lack of activation of intrinsic factor by proteases, the physicochemical properties and biological activity of intrinsic factor have been studied. Intrinsic factor was purified 800-fold from stimulated gastric juice of cystic fibrosis patients with a yield of 64.2%. Cystic fibrosis intrinsic factor had an estimated Mr of 57,000 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its carbohydrate content resembled that of normal human intrinsic factor, except that the ratio fucose/sialic acid was higher (6.1 and 1.6, respectively) and that the content in N-acetylgalactosamine was decreased. The same alterations in carbohydrate composition were observed for Hc purified from cystic fibrosis saliva. Purified intrinsic factor from cystic fibrosis gastric juice was biologically active in vitro in the presence of ileal solubilized receptor as well as in vivo (Schilling test). The fate of iodinated cystic fibrosis intrinsic factor in guinea pig ileum studied by high-resolution radioautography was similar to that of normal intrinsic factor. In conclusion, despite modifications of the carbohydrate content of the molecule, the biological activity of intrinsic factor is not altered in cases of cystic fibrosis. The malassimilation of crystalline cobalamin observed in cystic fibrosis is due to a mechanism independent from intrinsic factor secretion.

Structure of the cDNA encoding transcobalamin I, a neutrophil granule protein.

Transcobalamin I (TCI) is a member of the R binder family of vitamin B12 binding proteins. It is a major protein constituent of secondary granules in neutrophils. We have isolated and characterized full length cDNA clones encoding TCI in order to determine whether its expression is coordinately regulated with the appearance of secondary granules and whether it is consequently a useful marker of granulocyte development. Partial amino acid sequences of human R protein were obtained from tryptic digestion fragments. Using the polymerase chain reaction, a partial TCI cDNA probe was isolated by selective amplification of a region of cDNA located between two oligonucleotides deduced from the available partial amino acid sequences. The amplified probe was then used to obtain full length clones from a granulocyte cDNA library. Identity of the clones was confirmed by matching DNA sequence to known peptide amino acid sequence. TCI is transcribed to a single 1.5-kilobase mRNA species. The predicted protein sequence is 433 amino acids long. We have compared the sequence of TCI to that of rat intrinsic factor. The two proteins have areas of extensive homology which implicate regions potentially important for vitamin B12 binding. TCI mRNA was present in late neutrophil precursors but absent from uninduced and induced HL60 cells.