Changes in pulmonary adenosine triphosphate-binding proteins detected by nucleotide photoaffinity labeling following treatment of mice with the tumor-modulatory agent butylated hydroxytoluene.

Protein kinases play a central role in the regulation of normal and neoplastic growth. A novel approach to evaluating this role is to apply the photoaffinity analogue of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), 8-azido[gamma-32P]adenosine 5'-triphosphate (8-N3-[gamma-32P]ATP), to extracts obtained from nondividing and dividing tissues in order to label high affinity ATP receptors, including protein kinases. A pattern of ATP-binding proteins was observed on autoradiograms prepared from lung extracts which were reproducible upon repeated experimentation and was identical among extracts prepared from several inbred strains. Seven specifically photolabeled proteins were detected with molecular weights of 120,000, 84,000, 53,000, 51,000, 43,000, 41,000, and 33,000. The pneumotoxicity that results from treating mice with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is followed by a stimulation of lung cell proliferation as part of the regenerative repair phase. Increased photoincorporation of 8-N3-[gamma-32P]ATP into proteins with molecular weights of 41,000, 37,000 and 33,000 resulted from BHT treatment. The following correlations between increased photoincorporation and lung repair, as defined by an increased lung weight/body weight ratio, were observed: (a) these changes shared a similar BHT dose dependency; (b) both followed the same time course and were reversible; (c) both lung damage and enhanced photolabeling were abolished if the mice were pretreated with cedrene, an inducer of drug-detoxifying enzymes; (d) the effect of BHT on ATP-binding proteins was agent specific, since urethan treatment did not affect photoincorporation. These results demonstrate that the specific photolabeling of ATP receptors in tissue extracts is a sensitive indicator of a particular growth-related repair process.

A comparison of changes in nucleotide-protein interactions in the striatal, hippocampus and paramedian cortex after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion: correlations to regional vulnerability.

[32P]Azido-purine analogs of ATP and GTP were used to detect changes in phosphorylation and nucleotide binding induced by ischemia and subsequent reperfusion in rat brain striatum, hippocampus and paramedian cortex (PM cortex) tissues. Major changes in phosphorylation were observed for a 130-kDa protein, tentatively identified as the Ca2+ transport ATPase, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM Kinase II) in all tissues. However, recovery of the phosphorylation of the 130-kDa protein occurred only in the PM cortex on reperfusion. A 200-300% increase in [32P]8N3ATP photoinsertions was observed in the striatum and hippocampus regions for a 43-kDa protein with an isoelectric point of 6.8. This protein was identified as glutamine synthetase (GS) and the increase in binding was found to be due to both increased copy number and activation by Mn2+. An increase in [32P]8N3GTP photoinsertion into a 55-kDa protein, identified as the beta-subunit of tubulin, was found only in the striatum and hippocampus. This indicates the depolymerization of microtubulin in these tissues. These changes correlate to the vulnerability of the striatum and hippocampus to ischemia-induced neuronal death.

Abnormal properties of creatine kinase in Alzheimer's disease brain: correlation of reduced enzyme activity and active site photolabeling with aberrant cytosol-membrane partitioning.

The report shows that Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain creatine kinase (CK) is modified such that the nucleotide binding site of CK is blocked and that abnormal partitioning of CK between the soluble and pellet fractions occurs. First, CK activity was 86% decreased in AD brain homogenates in comparison to age-matched controls. Secondly, over a 23.5 fold greater 32P photoincorporation of [alpha 32P]8N3ATP was observed into CK of control vs. AD samples. Also, a 7.4-fold increase of enzyme induced 32P incorporation was observed in controls vs. AD samples by incubation with [gamma 32P]ATP. Thirdly, Western blot analysis showed that CK copy numbers in the AD homogenate were decreased by less than 14% in comparison to controls. However, analysis showed that control supernatant and pellet fractions contained 10.3 and 0.4 times the CK copy number found in the corresponding AD fractions. 32P incorporation by both photolabeling and enzyme catalyzed incorporation of radiolabel followed CK activity and not CK copy number. Further, [alpha 32P]ADP and [gamma 32P]ATP incorporated 32P into control brain and purified brain CK equally well, indicating that a mechanism different from gamma-phosphoryl transfer is involved in the enzymatic incorporation of radiolabel. Also, the level of abnormal partitioning of CK into AD brain pellet correlated with the decreased [32P]8N3GTP photolabeling and abnormal partitioning of beta-tubulin, a protein known to be aberrantly modified in the AD brain. This indicates that a common chemistry is affecting both CK and tubulin in AD.

Widespread occurrence of a specific protein in vertebrate tissues and regulation by cyclic AMP of its endogenous phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.

A protein whose endogenous phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are affected by cAMP has been found in the soluble and particulate fractions of all vertebrate tissues studied. This phosphoprotein, which contained a substantial proportion of the radioactive phosphate observed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, was estimated to have an apparent molecular weight of 49,000. In the presence of Zn++, cAMP inhibited the endogenous phosphorylation of this protein (protein 49) in the cytosol and microsomal fractions. In the presence of Mg++, cAMP stimulated the phosphorylation of protein 49 in the cytosol fractions, but had only slight effects in the microsomal fractions. The dephosphorylation of protein 49 by an endogenous protein phosphatase was markedly stimulated by cAMP in the cytosol and microsomal fractions of all tissues studied. The binding of 8-azido-cAMP (a photoaffinity analog of cAMP, which reacts specifically with cAMP-binding sites) to subcellular fractions was also studied. This binding was principally to a protein of molecular weight 49,000. These and other data suggest that a cAMP-binding protein with a molecular weight of 49,000 capable of undergoing cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, occurs in a variety of tissues.

Role of calcium in inactivation of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II after cerebral ischemia.

Transient cerebral ischemia demonstrates an increase in activated oxygen species in the brain that could lead to eventual neuronal cell death. Neuronal cells respond to oxygen free radicals through the restructuring of the cytoskeleton and membranes, mobilization of calcium and gene expression which play a role in cell injury. Ten min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion resulted in a decrease in calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) phosphorylation and activity detected in the brain immediately following ischemia and was partially restored within 24 h of reperfusion. Pretreatment of animals with an anesthetic dose of pentobarbital (40 mg/kg) resulted in partial protection of inactivation of CaM kinase II following ischemia. CaM kinase II activity was maintained following pretreatment of animals with alpha-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), which traps oxygen free radicals. Infusion of superoxide dismutase or catalase prior to ischemia, blocked CaM kinase II inactivation. Blockage of calcium uptake with bepridil resulted in a marked protection of CaM kinase II inactivation. In addition, trifluoperazine, a calmodulin antagonist also diminished the inhibition of CaM kinase II phosphorylation in our model. These results suggest that ischemia and reperfusion injury results in the generation of activated oxygen and the mobilization of calcium which inactivate CaM kinase II. These results indicate that changes associated with protein kinase activity in the brain following an ischemic insult may have profound effects upon neurodegeneration and neuronal survival.

A comparative analysis of cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits in sea urchin and rat spermatozoa.

8-Azido cAMP photoaffinity labeling of cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits (R1 = 49 K;R2 = 55K) was done on spermatozoa from species lacking, and species containing an epididymis. Spermatozoa from sea urchin and trout contained only R1, while rat caudaepididymal spermatozoa contained both R1 and R2 subunits. This was established by the Mr value of the 8-azido cAMP photolabeled moieties, and a biochemical analysis based on the known differences of protein-nucleotide interactions of Type I and II cAMP-dependent protein kinases. Sea urchin and trout sperm R1 subunits were similar to mammalian sperm R1 subunits in co-migration on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and in both saturation and specificity of nucleotide binding. Calcium enhanced photoprobe binding to rat R1 and R2 subunits and to sea urchin R1 subunit without revealing a sea urchin R2 subunit. Likewise, phosphodiesterase incubation of sea urchin and trout spermatozoa prior to photolabeling did not reveal R2 subunits. These data suggest that the cAMP regulation of sperm physiology may require R1 subunit in species both with and without an epididymis. Further taxonomic study is necessary to determine whether evolutionary acquisition of the epididymis and internal fertilization may have created unique environments favoring the addition of sperm R2 regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Mercury vapor inhalation inhibits binding of GTP to tubulin in rat brain: similarity to a molecular lesion in Alzheimer diseased brain.

Hg2+ interacts with brain tubulin and disassembles microtubules that maintain neurite structure. Since it is well known that Hg vapor (Hg0) is continuously released from "silver" amalgam tooth fillings and is absorbed into brain, rats were exposed to Hg0 4h/day for 0, 2, 7, 14 and 28 d at 250 or 300 micrograms Hg/m3 air, concentrations present in mouth air of some humans with many amalgam fillings. Average rat brain Hg concentrations increased significantly (11-47 fold) with duration of Hg0 exposure. By 14 d Hg0 exposure, photoaffinity labelling on the beta-subunit of the tubulin dimer with [alpha 32P] 8N3 GTP in brain homogenates was decreased 41-74%, upon analysis of SDS-PAGE autoradiograms. The identical neurochemical lesion of similar or greater magnitude is evident in Alzheimer brain homogenates from approximately 80% of patients, when compared to human age-matched neurological controls. Total tubulin protein levels remained relatively unchanged between Hg0 exposed rat brains and controls, and between Alzheimer brains and controls. Since the rate of tubulin polymerization is dependent upon binding of GTP to tubulin dimers, we conclude that chronic inhalation of low-level Hg0 can inhibit polymerization of brain tubulin essential for formation of microtubules.

Photoaffinity labeling of rat liver microsomal steroid 5 alpha-reductase by 2-azido-NADP+.

Preincubation of female rat liver microsomal preparations with [2'-32P]2N3-NADP+ followed by photolysis with UV light (254 nm) and analysis by SDS-PAGE/autoradiography showed incorporation of 32P into at least 3 major protein bands in the molecular weight range of 14-97 Kd. Labeling of a 26 kD band, the apparent molecular weight of 5 alpha-reductase in liver microsomes, was accompanied by a loss of enzyme activity, consistent with its covalent modification. The inclusion of 20-fold excess NADP+ (100 microM) completely inhibited the incorporation of [2'-32P]2N3-NADP+ and preserved the enzyme activity, whereas excess NAD+ (100 microM) failed to protect 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha R) activity. Similar results were obtained with the detergent-solubilized form of 5 alpha R. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) fractionation of detergent-solubilized preparations of 5 alpha R showed that all the 5 alpha R activity could be recovered in the 6.5% pellet with a 3-4-fold increase in the specific activity. photolysis of this fraction with [2'-32P]2N3-NADP+ resulted in approximately 2-fold increase in 32P labeling of the 5 alpha R band. Increasing photolysis time and concentration of the [2'-32P]2N3-NADP+ indicated that the half-life for photoincorporation and the apparent Kd were 1.0 min and 2 microM, respectively. These results suggest that 2N3-NADP+ is an effective probe of the NADP(H) binding site of 5 alpha R, and is a useful marker during purification of the enzyme.

Development and utilization of 8-azidopurine nucleotide photoaffinity probes.

The 8-azidopurine analogs of adenosine and guanine nucleotides have proved to be very useful probes for nucleotide-binding sites. In most systems they have proved to be effective mimics of the natural compounds with 1) both 8-azidoadenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and 8-azidoguanosine-3',5'-monophosphate activating their respective kinases, 2) 8-azidoguanosine-5'-triphosphate effecting tubulin polymerization and activation of adenylate cyclase, and 3) 8-azidoadenosine-5'-triphosphate appearing to be a substrate for a large number of ATPases and several kinases. As photoprobes they have been used to 1) isolate and study active site peptides; 2) determine the membrane sidedness and cellular location of binding sites; 3) detect the availability of various nucleotide-binding sites as cells progress through development, maturation, infectious stages, etc.; 4) study membrane-soluble partitioning of binding sites relative to nucleotide regulation of a biochemical process; 5) detect nucleotide-binding sites exposed by small molecules such as Ca2+ and calmodulin; and 6) detect potential catalytic and regulatory subunits of protein kinases found in preparations that actively phosphorylate endogenous substrates. The difference between the gamma-32P-labeled 8-azidopurine nucleotide triphosphate and the alpha-32P-labeled species has been used to study the in situ hydrolysis of the nucleotides on specific protein receptors and determine the fate of the produced nucleotide diphosphate. Such factors are important in studying the molecular dynamics of such systems as tubulin polymerization, G-actin to F-actin conversions, and GTP activation of adenylate cyclase. A review of techniques used and data obtained with these probes is presented.

Photoaffinity labeling of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate binding sites of human red cell membranes.

To identify and investigate the cAMP binding sites of human red cell membranes a photoaffinity analog of cAMP, 8-azidoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-N3cAMP), has been synthesized. This analog activates cAMP-dependent protein kinase(s) in the red cell membrane. It exhibits tight, but reversible binding to the membranes which is competitive with cAMP. Photolysis of [32P]-8-N3cAMP with red cell membranes results in covalent incorporation of radioactive label onto two specific membrane proteins. This incorporation requires activating light and is reduced to background levels with addition of low levels of cAMP. Prephotolysis of 8-N3cAMP completely abolished its ability to photolabel membrane proteins. Both the reversible and photocatalyzed binding of 8-N3cAMP show saturation kinetics. The molecular weights of the two primarily labeled proteins are approximately 49,000 and 55,000. The differential effects of cAMP, ATP, and adenosine on the photocatalyzed incorporation of [32P]-8-N3cAMP onto these two proteins suggest that they have biochemically different properties. The potential usefulness of this compound for investigating various molecular aspects of cAMP action is discussed.

Identification of peptides within the base binding domains of the GTP- and ATP-specific binding sites of tubulin.

Using gamma-32P-labeled 8-azidopurine nucleotide photoaffinity probes of GTP and ATP, the respective purine ring binding domain peptides of tubulin have been identified. First, the location of the GTP-specific binding site was shown to be on the beta-subunit, whereas the major ATP-specific binding site was on the alpha-subunit. Using a combination of anion-exclusion and immobilized Al3+ column chromatography, the respective photolabeled tryptic peptides of both nucleotide binding sites were isolated, further purified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and sequenced. Chymotryptic peptides were also generated for the GTP binding site. High retention of the photoinserted radiolabel was observed with many of the peptides on reverse phase HPLC at low flow rates. The stability of the photoinserted radiolabel to HPLC varied with different peptides. However, certain peptides were easily distinguished as being within the base binding domains of the GTP and ATP binding sites of tubulin. Two beta-tubulin peptides containing the majority of photoinserted [gamma-32P]8-azidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate corresponded to N-terminal beta-tubulin amino acid residues 3EIVHIQAGQCGNQIGAK19 and 20FWEVISDEHGIDPTGS35. The peptide containing the majority of photoinserted [gamma-32P]8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate corresponded to the C-terminal alpha-tubulin sequence 431DYEEVGVDSVEGEGEEEGEE450.

Photoaffinity labeling of ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase with 8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate.

Photoaffinity labeling with [(32)P] 8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate (8-N3ATP) was used to identify putative binding sites on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. and N. rustica L.) leaf ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCase, EC 4.1.1.39). Incorporation of (32)P was observed in polypeptides corresponding to both RuBPCase subunits when desalted leaf and chloroplast extracts, and purified RuBPCase were irradiated with ultraviolet light in the presence of [(32)P] 8-N3ATP. (32)P-labeling was dependent upon ultraviolet irradiation and occurred with [(32)P] 8-N3ATP labeled in the α-position, indicating covalent incorporation of the photoprobe. Both [(32)P] 8-N3ATP and [(32)P] 8-N3GTP were incorporated to a similar extent into the 53-kilodalton (kDa) "large" subunit (LSu), but incorporation of [(32)P] 8-N3GTP into the 14-kDa "small" subunit (SSu) of RuBPCase was <5% of that measured with [(32)P] 8-N3ATP. Distinct binding sites for 8-N3ATP on the two subunits were indicated by different apparent K D values, 3 and 18 µM for the SSu and LSu, respectively, and differences in the response of photoaffinity labeling to Mg(2+), anions and enzyme activation. Active-site-directed compounds, including the non-gaseous substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, the reaction intermediate analog 2-carboxyarabinitol-1,5-bisphosphate and several phosphorylated effectors afforded protection to the LSu site against photoincorporation but provided almost no protection to the SSu. These results indicate that 8-N3ATP binds to the active-site region of the LSu and a distinct site on the SSu of RuBPCase. Experiments conducted with intact pea (Pisum sativum L.) and tobacco chloroplasts showed that the SSu was not photolabeled with [(32)P] 8-N3ATP in organello or in undesalted chloroplast lysates but was photolabeled when lysates were ultrafiltered or desalted. These results indicate that 8-N3ATP binds to a site on the SSu that has physiological significance.

Synthesis and biological properties of 5-azido-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate, a photoactive nucleotide suitable for making light-sensitive DNA.

A photoactive nucleotide analogue of dUTP, 5-azido-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (5-N3dUTP), was synthesized from dUMP in five steps. The key reaction in the synthesis of 5-N3dUTP is the nitration of dUMP in 98% yield in 5 min at 25 degrees C using an excess of nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate in anhydrous dimethylformamide. Reduction of the resulting 5-nitro compound with zinc and 20 mM HCl gave 5-aminodeoxyuridine monophosphate (5-NH2dUMP). Diazotization of 5-NH2dUMP with HNO2 followed by the addition of NaN3 to the acidic diazonium salt solution gave a photoactive nucleotide derivative in 80-90% yield. The monophosphate product was identified as 5-N3dUMP by proton NMR, UV, IR, and chromatographic analysis as well as by the mode of synthesis and its photosensitivity. After formation of 5-N3dUTP through a chemical coupling of pyrophosphate to 5-N3dUMP, the triphosphate form of the nucleotide was found to support DNA synthesis by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I at a rate indistinguishable from that supported by dTTP. When UMP was used as the starting compound, 5-N3UTP was formed in an analogous fashion with similar yields and produced a photoactive nucleotide which is a substrate for E. coli RNA polymerase. To prepare [gamma-32P]-5-N3dUTP for use as an active-site-directed photoaffinity labeling reagent, a simple method of preparing gamma-32P-labeled pyrimidine nucleotides was developed. [gamma-32P]-5-N3dUTP is an effective photoaffinity labeling reagent for DNA polymerase I and was found to bind to the active site with a 2-fold higher affinity than dTTP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification of a guanine binding domain peptide of the GTP binding site of glutamate dehydrogenase: isolation with metal-chelate affinity chromatography.

Photoaffinity labeling with [alpha-32P]8N3GTP and [gamma-32P]8N3GTP was used to identify the guanine binding domain of the GTP regulatory site within glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). Without photolysis, 8N3GTP mimicked the regulatory properties of GTP on GDH activity with 8N3GTP exhibiting a Ki of 5 microM while the Ki for GTP was about 0.6 microM. Under optimal photolabeling conditions saturation of photoinsertion with 1 microgram of GDH revealed an apparent Kd of 9 +/- 4 microM for [gamma-32P]8N3GTP. Photolabeling with this analog could be competitively inhibited with GTP with an apparent Kd of 12 +/- 2 microM. Other nucleotides such as ATP and NAD(P)H could not reduce the amount of photoinsertion as effectively as GTP. ADP could decrease photoinsertion, but only at much higher concentrations. NAD(P)+, GDP, AMP, and GMP had little effect on photoinsertion. Divalent cations Mg2+ and Ca2+ also reduced photoinsertion significantly while the monovalent K+ and Na+ ions had no effect. Aluminum(III)-chelate or iron(III)-chelate affinity chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC were used to purify photolabel-containing peptides generated with either trypsin or chymotrypsin. This identified a portion of the guanine binding domain within the GTP regulatory site as the region containing the sequence Ile439 to Tyr454. Photolabeling of this peptide was prevented 91% by the presence of 300 microM GTP during photolysis. Lys445 was not identified in sequence analyses of the photolabeled peptides. Also, trypsin was unable to cleave the photolabeled peptide at this site. These results suggest that Lys445 may be the residue modified by [alpha-32P]8N3GTP.