Rab5 regulates motility of early endosomes on microtubules.

The small GTPase Rab5 regulates membrane docking and fusion in the early endocytic pathway. Here we reveal a new role for Rab5 in the regulation of endosome interactions with the microtubule network. Using Rab5 fused to green fluorescent protein we show that Rab5-positive endosomes move on microtubules in vivo. In vitro, Rab5 stimulates both association of early endosomes with microtubules and early-endosome motility towards the minus ends of microtubules. Moreover, similarly to endosome membrane docking and fusion, Rab5-dependent endosome movement depends on the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase hVPS34. Thus, Rab5 functionally links regulation of membrane transport, motility and intracellular distribution of early endosomes.

Insulin receptors internalize by a rapid, saturable pathway requiring receptor autophosphorylation and an intact juxtamembrane region.

The effect of receptor occupancy on insulin receptor endocytosis was examined in CHO cells expressing normal human insulin receptors (CHO/IR), autophosphorylation- and internalization-deficient receptors (CHO/IRA1018), and receptors which undergo autophosphorylation but lack a sequence required for internalization (CHO/IR delta 960). The rate of [125I]insulin internalization in CHO/IR cells at 37 degrees C was rapid at physiological concentrations, but decreased markedly in the presence of increasing unlabeled insulin (ED50 = 1-3 nM insulin, or 75,000 occupied receptors/cell). In contrast, [125I]insulin internalization by CHO/IRA1018 and CHO/IR delta 960 cells was slow and was not inhibited by unlabeled insulin. At saturating insulin concentrations, the rate of internalization by wild-type and mutant receptors was similar. Moreover, depletion of intracellular potassium, which has been shown to disrupt coated pit formation, inhibited the rapid internalization of [125I]insulin at physiological insulin concentrations by CHO/IR cells, but had little or no effect on [125I]insulin uptake by CHO/IR delta 960 and CHO/IRA1018 cells or wild-type cells at high insulin concentrations. These data suggest that the insulin-stimulated entry of the insulin receptor into a rapid, coated pit-mediated internalization pathway is saturable and requires receptor autophosphorylation and an intact juxtamembrane region. Furthermore, CHO cells also contain a constitutive nonsaturable pathway which does not require receptor autophosphorylation or an intact juxtamembrane region; this second pathway is unaffected by depletion of intracellular potassium, and therefore may be independent of coated pits. Our data suggest that the ligand-stimulated internalization of the insulin receptor may require specific saturable interactions between the receptor and components of the endocytic system.

Role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Rab5 effectors in phagosomal biogenesis and mycobacterial phagosome maturation arrest.

Phagosomal biogenesis is a fundamental biological process of particular significance for the function of phagocytic and antigen-presenting cells. The precise mechanisms governing maturation of phagosomes into phagolysosomes are not completely understood. Here, we applied the property of pathogenic mycobacteria to cause phagosome maturation arrest in infected macrophages as a tool to dissect critical steps in phagosomal biogenesis. We report the requirement for 3-phosphoinositides and acquisition of Rab5 effector early endosome autoantigen (EEA1) as essential molecular events necessary for phagosomal maturation. Unlike the model phagosomes containing latex beads, which transiently recruited EEA1, mycobacterial phagosomes excluded this regulator of vesicular trafficking that controls membrane tethering and fusion processes within the endosomal pathway and is recruited to endosomal membranes via binding to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns[3]P). Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3'(OH)-kinase (PI-3K) activity diminished EEA1 recruitment to newly formed latex bead phagosomes and blocked phagosomal acquisition of late endocytic properties, indicating that generation of PtdIns(3)P plays a role in phagosomal maturation. Microinjection into macrophages of antibodies against EEA1 and the PI-3K hVPS34 reduced acquisition of late endocytic markers by latex bead phagosomes, demonstrating an essential role of these Rab5 effectors in phagosomal biogenesis. The mechanism of EEA1 exclusion from mycobacterial phagosomes was investigated using mycobacterial products. Coating of latex beads with the major mycobacterial cell envelope glycosylated phosphatidylinositol lipoarabinomannan isolated from the virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, inhibited recruitment of EEA1 to latex bead phagosomes, and diminished their maturation. These findings define the generation of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and EEA1 recruitment as: (a) important regulatory events in phagosomal maturation and (b) critical molecular targets affected by M. tuberculosis. This study also identifies mycobacterial phosphoinositides as products with specialized toxic properties, interfering with discrete trafficking stages in phagosomal maturation.

Human VPS34 is required for internal vesicle formation within multivesicular endosomes.

After internalization from the plasma membrane, activated EGF receptors (EGFRs) are delivered to multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Within MVBs, EGFRs are removed from the perimeter membrane to internal vesicles, thereby being sorted from transferrin receptors, which recycle back to the plasma membrane. The phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, inhibits internal vesicle formation within MVBs and causes EGFRs to remain in clusters on the perimeter membrane. Microinjection of isotype-specific inhibitory antibodies demonstrates that the PI 3'-kinase required for internal vesicle formation is hVPS34. In the presence of wortmannin, EGFRs continue to be delivered to lysosomes, showing that their removal from the recycling pathway and their delivery to lysosomes does not depend on inward vesiculation. We showed previously that tyrosine kinase-negative EGFRs fail to accumulate on internal vesicles of MVBs but are recycled rather than delivered to lysosomes. Therefore, we conclude that selection of EGFRs for inclusion on internal vesicles requires tyrosine kinase but not PI 3'-kinase activity, whereas vesicle formation requires PI 3'-kinase activity. Finally, in wortmannin-treated cells there is increased EGF-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation when EGFRs are retained on the perimeter membrane of MVBs. Therefore, we suggest that inward vesiculation is involved directly with attenuating signal transduction.

Vps34p differentially regulates endocytosis from the apical and basolateral domains in polarized hepatic cells.

Using a microinjection approach to study apical plasma membrane protein trafficking in hepatic cells, we found that specific inhibition of Vps34p, a class III phosphoinositide 3 (PI-3) kinase, nearly perfectly recapitulated the defects we reported for wortmannin-treated cells (Tuma, P.L., C.M. Finnegan, J.-H Yi, and A.L. Hubbard. 1999. J. Cell Biol. 145:1089-1102). Both wortmannin and injection of inhibitory Vps34p antibodies led to the accumulation of resident apical proteins in enlarged prelysosomes, whereas transcytosing apical proteins and recycling basolateral receptors transiently accumulated in basolateral early endosomes. To understand how the Vps34p catalytic product, PI3P, was differentially regulating endocytosis from the two domains, we examined the PI3P binding protein early endosomal antigen 1 (EEA1). We determined that EEA1 distributed to two biochemically distinct endosomal populations: basolateral early endosomes and subapical endosomes. Both contained rab5, although the latter also contained late endosomal markers but was distinct from the transcytotic intermediate, the subapical compartment. When PI3P was depleted, EEA1 dissociated from basolateral endosomes, whereas it remained on subapical endosomes. From these results, we conclude that PI3P, via EEA1, regulates early steps in endocytosis from the basolateral surface in polarized WIF-B cells. However, PI3P must use different machinery in its regulation of the apical endocytic pathway, since later steps are affected by Vps34p inhibition.

Distinct roles for the p110alpha and hVPS34 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinases in vesicular trafficking, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and mitogenesis.

We have examined the roles of the p85/ p110alpha and hVPS34 phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinases in cellular signaling using inhibitory isoform-specific antibodies. We raised anti-hVPS34 and anti-p110alpha antibodies that specifically inhibit recombinant hVPS34 and p110alpha, respectively, in vitro. We used the antibodies to study cellular processes that are sensitive to low-dose wortmannin. The antibodies had distinct effects on the actin cytoskeleton; microinjection of anti-p110alpha antibodies blocked insulin-stimulated ruffling, whereas anti-hVPS34 antibodies had no effect. The antibodies also had different effects on vesicular trafficking. Microinjection of inhibitory anti-hVPS34 antibodies, but not anti-p110alpha antibodies, blocked the transit of internalized PDGF receptors to a perinuclear compartment, and disrupted the localization of the early endosomal protein EEA1. Microinjection of anti-p110alpha antibodies, and to a lesser extent anti-hVPS34 antibodies, reduced the rate of transferrin recycling in CHO cells. Surprisingly, both antibodies inhibited insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis by 80%. Injection of cells with antisense oligonucleotides derived from the hVPS34 sequence also blocked insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis, whereas scrambled oligonucleotides had no effect. Interestingly, the requirement for p110alpha and hVPS34 occurred at different times during the G1-S transition. Our data suggest that different PI 3'-kinases play distinct regulatory roles in the cell, and document an unexpected role for hVPS34 during insulin-stimulated mitogenesis.

The insulin receptor juxtamembrane region contains two independent tyrosine/beta-turn internalization signals.

We have investigated the role of tyrosine residues in the insulin receptor cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region (Tyr953 and Tyr960) during endocytosis. Analysis of the secondary structure of the juxtamembrane region by the Chou-Fasman algorithms predicts that both the sequences GPLY953 and NPEY960 form tyrosine-containing beta-turns. Similarly, analysis of model peptides by 1-D and 2-D NMR show that these sequences form beta-turns in solution, whereas replacement of the tyrosine residues with alanine destabilizes the beta-turn. CHO cell lines were prepared expressing mutant receptors in which each tyrosine was mutated to phenylalanine or alanine, and an additional mutant contained alanine at both positions. These mutations had no effect on insulin binding or receptor autophosphorylation. Replacements with phenylalanine had no effect on the rate of [125I]insulin endocytosis, whereas single substitutions with alanine reduced [125I]insulin endocytosis by 40-50%. Replacement of both tyrosines with alanine reduced internalization by 70%. These data suggest that the insulin receptor contains two tyrosine/beta-turns which contribute independently and additively to insulin-stimulated endocytosis.

Distinct roles of class I and class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases in phagosome formation and maturation.

Phagosomes acquire their microbicidal properties by fusion with lysosomes. Products of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) are required for phagosome formation, but their role in maturation is unknown. Using chimeric fluorescent proteins encoding tandem FYVE domains, we found that phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI[3]P) accumulates greatly but transiently on the phagosomal membrane. Unlike the 3'-phosphoinositides generated by class I PI 3-kinases which are evident in the nascent phagosomal cup, PI(3)P is only detectable after the phagosome has sealed. The class III PI 3-kinase VPS34 was found to be responsible for PI(3)P synthesis and essential for phagolysosome formation. In contrast, selective ablation of class I PI 3-kinase revealed that optimal phagocytosis, but not maturation, requires this type of enzyme. These results highlight the differential functional role of the two families of kinases, and raise the possibility that PI(3)P production by VPS34 may be targeted during the maturation arrest induced by some intracellular parasites.

Mitochondrial DNA is a major cellular target for a dihydrodiol-epoxide derivative of benzo[a]pyrene.

When mammalian cell cultures are exposed for 2 hours to (+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene, a mutagenic and carcinogenic derivative of benzo[a]pyrene, the extent of covalent modificationof mitochondrial DNA is 40 to 90 times greater than that of nuclear DNA. Evidence is presented that this reflects the lipophilic character of the derivative and the very high ratio of lipid to DNA in mitochondria. These results suggest that mitochondrial DNA may be an important cellular target of chemical carcinogens.

Hepatic phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity and its alterations in diabetic rats.

Phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity in rat liver was measured using a phosphopeptide substrate containing sequence identity to the major site of insulin receptor autophosphorylation. PTPase activity was detected in both cytosolic and particulate fractions of rat liver and produced linear dephosphorylation over a 15-min time course. In rats made insulin-deficient diabetic by streptozotocin treatment (STZ), cytosolic PTPase activity increased to 180% of the control values after 2 d of diabetes and remained elevated at 30 d (P less than 0.02). Gel filtration on Sephadex-75 revealed a single peak of activity in the cytosol in both control and diabetic animals and confirmed the increased levels. In BB diabetic rats, another model of insulin deficiency, the PTPase activity in the cytosolic fraction was increased to approximately 230% of control values. PTPase activity in the particulate fraction of liver was also increased by 30 and 80% after 2 and 8 d of STZ diabetes, respectively. However, this increase was not sustained and after 30 d of STZ diabetes, PTPase activity associated with the particulate fraction in the BB diabetic rat was reduced to approximately 70% of the control levels. Treatment of STZ diabetic rats with subcutaneous insulin or vanadate in their drinking water for 3 d reduced tyrosine PTPase activity in the particulate, but not in the cytosolic fraction. This was associated with a change in blood glucose toward normal. These data indicate insulin deficient diabetes is accompanied by significant changes in hepatic PTPase activity. Since tyrosine phosphorylation plays a central role in the cellular action of insulin receptor, an increase in PTPase activity may be an important factor in the altered insulin action associated with these diabetic states.

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in liver and muscle of animal models of insulin-resistant and insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus.

Insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), which in turn binds to and activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). In the present study, we have examined these processes in animal models of insulin-resistant and insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus. After in vivo insulin stimulation, there was a 60-80% decrease in IRS-1 phosphorylation in liver and muscle of the ob/ob mouse. There was no insulin stimulation of PI 3-kinase (85 kD subunit) association with IRS-1, and IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity was reduced 90%. Insulin-stimulated total PI 3-kinase activity was also absent in both tissues of the ob/ob mouse. By contrast, in the streptozotocin diabetic rat, IRS-1 phosphorylation increased 50% in muscle, IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity was increased two- to threefold in liver and muscle, and there was a 50% increase in the p85 associated with IRS-1 after insulin stimulation in muscle. In conclusion, (a) IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity is differentially regulated in hyperinsulinemic and hypoinsulinemic diabetic states; (b) PI 3-kinase activation closely correlates with IRS-1 phosphorylation; and (c) reduced PI 3-kinase activity may play a role in the pathophysiology of insulin resistant diabetic states, such as that seen in the ob/ob mouse.

Insulin receptor substrate 1 rescues insulin action in CHO cells expressing mutant insulin receptors that lack a juxtamembrane NPXY motif.

Insulin signals are mediated through tyrosine phosphorylation of specific proteins such as insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and Shc by the activated insulin receptor (IR). Phosphorylation of both proteins is nearly abolished by an alanine substitution at Tyr-960 (A960) in the beta-subunit of the receptor. However, overexpression of IRS-1 in CHO cells expressing the mutant receptor (A960 cells) restored sufficient tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 to rescue IRS-1/Grb-2 binding and phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase activation during insulin stimulation. Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and its binding to Grb-2 were impaired in the A960 cells and were unaffected by overexpression of IRS-1. Although overexpression of IRS-1 increased IRS-1 binding to Grb-2, ERK-1/ERK-2 activation was not rescued. These data suggest that signaling molecules other than IRS-1, perhaps including Shc, are critical for insulin stimulation of p21ras. Interestingly, overexpression of IRS-1 in the A960 cells restored insulin-stimulated mitogenesis and partially restored insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis. Thus, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation is sufficient to increase the mitogenic response to insulin, whereas insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis appears to involve other factors. Moreover, IRS-1 phosphorylation is either not sufficient or not involved in insulin stimulation of ERK.

Specific activation of p85-p110 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase stimulates DNA synthesis by ras- and p70 S6 kinase-dependent pathways.

We have developed a polyclonal antibody that activates the heterodimeric p85-p110 phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase in vitro and in microinjected cells. Affinity purification revealed that the activating antibody recognized the N-terminal SH2 (NSH2) domain of p85, and the antibody increased the catalytic activity of recombinant p85-p110 dimers threefold in vitro. To study the role of endogenous PI 3'-kinase in intact cells, the activating anti-NSH2 antibody was microinjected into GRC + LR73 cells, a CHO cell derivative selected for tight quiescence during serum withdrawal. Microinjection of anti-NSH2 antibodies increased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation fivefold in quiescent cells and enhanced the response to serum. These data reflect a specific activation of PI 3'-kinase, as the effect was blocked by coinjection of the appropriate antigen (glutathione S-transferase-NSH2 domains from p85 alpha), coinjection of inhibitory anti-p110 antibodies, or treatment of cells with wortmannin. We used the activating antibodies to study signals downstream from PI 3'-kinase. Although treatment of cells with 50 nM rapamycin only partially decreased anti-NSH2-stimulated BrdU incorporation, coinjection with an anti-p70 S6 kinase antibody effectively blocked anti-NSH2-stimulated DNA synthesis. We also found that coinjection of inhibitory anti-ras antibodies blocked both serum- and anti-NSH2-stimulated BrdU incorporation by approximately 60%, and treatment of cells with a specific inhibitor of MEK abolished antibody-stimulated BrdU incorporation. We conclude that selective activation of physiological levels of PI 3'-kinase is sufficient to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent cells. PI 3'-kinase-mediated DNA synthesis requires both p70 S6 kinase and the P21ras/MEK pathway.

Regulation of the p85/p110 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase: stabilization and inhibition of the p110alpha catalytic subunit by the p85 regulatory subunit.

We propose a novel model for the regulation of the p85/pl10alpha phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. In insect cells, the p110alpha catalytic subunit is active as a monomer but its activity is decreased by coexpression with the p85 regulatory subunit. Similarly, the lipid kinase activity of recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-p110alpha is reduced by 65 to 85% upon in vitro reconstitution with p85. Incubation of p110alpha/p85 dimers with phosphotyrosyl peptides restored activity, but only to the level of monomeric p110alpha. These data show that the binding of phosphoproteins to the SH2 domains of p85 activates the p85/p110alpha dimers by inducing a transition from an inhibited to a disinhibited state. In contrast, monomeric p110 had little activity in HEK 293T cells, and its activity was increased 15- to 20-fold by coexpression with p85. However, this apparent requirement for p85 was eliminated by the addition of a bulky tag to the N terminus of p110alpha or by the growth of the HEK 293T cells at 30 degrees C. These nonspecific interventions mimicked the effects of p85 on p110alpha, suggesting that the regulatory subunit acts by stabilizing the overall conformation of the catalytic subunit rather than by inducing a specific activated conformation. This stabilization was directly demonstrated in metabolically labeled HEK 293T cells, in which p85 increased the half-life of p110. Furthermore, p85 protected p110 from thermal inactivation in vitro. Importantly, when we examined the effect of p85 on GST-p110alpha in mammalian cells at 30 degrees C, culture conditions that stabilize the catalytic subunit and that are similar to the conditions used for insect cells, we found that p85 inhibited p110alpha. Thus, we have experimentally distinguished two effects of p85 on p110alpha: conformational stabilization of the catalytic subunit and inhibition of its lipid kinase activity. Our data reconcile the apparent conflict between previous studies of insect versus mammalian cells and show that p110alpha is both stabilized and inhibited by dimerization with p85.

Protein kinase A-dependent and -independent signaling pathways contribute to cyclic AMP-stimulated proliferation.

The effects of cyclic AMP (cAMP) on cell proliferation are cell type specific. Although the growth-inhibitory effects of cAMP have been well studied, much less is known regarding how cAMP stimulates proliferation. We report that cAMP stimulates proliferation through both protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent and PKA-independent signaling pathways and that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is required for cAMP-stimulated mitogenesis. In cells where cAMP is a mitogen, cAMP-elevating agents stimulate membrane ruffling, Akt phosphorylation, and p70 ribosomal S6 protein kinase (p70s6k) activity. cAMP effects on ruffle formation and Akt were PKA independent but sensitive to wortmannin. In contrast, cAMP-stimulated p70s6k activity was repressed by PKA inhibitors but not by wortmannin or microinjection of the N-terminal SH2 domain of the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K, indicating that p70s6k and Akt can be regulated independently. Microinjection of highly specific inhibitors of PI3K or Rac1, or treatment with the p70s6k inhibitor rapamycin, impaired cAMP-stimulated DNA synthesis, demonstrating that PKA-dependent and -independent pathways contribute to cAMP-mediated mitogenesis. Direct elevation of PI3K activity through microinjection of an antibody that stimulates PI3K activity or stable expression of membrane-localized p110 was sufficient to confer hormone-independent DNA synthesis when accompanied by elevations in p70s6k activity. These findings indicate that multiple pathways contribute to cAMP-stimulated mitogenesis, only some of which are PKA dependent. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the ability of cAMP to stimulate both p70s6k- and PI3K-dependent pathways is an important facet of cAMP-regulated cell cycle progression.

Insulin-stimulated oocyte maturation requires insulin receptor substrate 1 and interaction with the SH2 domains of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Xenopus oocytes from unprimed frogs possess insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors but lack insulin and IGF-I receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), the endogenous substrate of this kinase, and fail to show downstream responses to hormonal stimulation. Microinjection of recombinant IRS-1 protein enhances insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase activity and restores the germinal vesicle breakdown response. Activation of PtdIns 3-kinase results from formation of a complex between phosphorylated IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase. Microinjection of a phosphonopeptide containing a pYMXM motif with high affinity for the src homology 2 (SH2) domain of PtdIns 3-kinase p85 inhibits IRS-1 association with and activation of the PtdIns 3-kinase. Formation of the IRS-1-PtdIns 3-kinase complex and insulin-stimulated PtdIns 3-kinase activation are also inhibited by microinjection of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the SH2 domain of p85. This effect occurs in a concentration-dependent fashion and results in a parallel loss of hormone-stimulated oocyte maturation. These inhibitory effects are specific and are not mimicked by glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins expressing the SH2 domains of ras-GAP or phospholipase C gamma. Moreover, injection of the SH2 domains of p85, ras-GAP, and phospholipase C gamma do not interfere with progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. These data demonstrate that phosphorylation of IRS-1 plays an essential role in IGF-I and insulin signaling in oocyte maturation and that this effect occurs through interactions of the phosphorylated YMXM/YXXM motifs of IRS-1 with SH2 domains of PtdIns 3-kinase or some related molecules.

Interaction of benzo(a)pyrene and its dihydrodiol-epoxide derivative with nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in C3H10T 1/2 cell cultures.

To analyze the distribution of radioactive carcinogens and [3H]thymidine between nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we have developed a simple and rapid method for the separation of nDNA and mtDNA using gel electrophoresis of cell lysates. Using this method, we found that, when C3H10T 1/2 cells are exposed to either 0.5 microM [3H]-(+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene ([3H]BPDE) or 1 microM [3H]benzo(a)pyrene, the mtDNA contains a major fraction of the total adducts formed with cellular DNAs. Deoxynucleoside adducts formed between benzo(a)pyrene and mtDNA in intact C3H10T 1/2 cells or between BPDE and isolated rat liver mtDNA were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and were found to be much more heterogeneous than those present in nDNA of C3H10T 1/2 cells. The extensive modification of mtDNA in BPDE in C3H10T 1/2 cells is associated with preferential inhibition of the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into mtDNA, when compared to incorporation of [3H]thymidine into nDNA. To analyze the factors responsible for the extensive modification of mtDNA by BPDE, we investigated the role of a lipid phase utilizing liposome:DNA complexes as a model system. We found that the liposomes protect BPDE from spontaneous hydrolysis and enhance the extent of DNA modification at low DNA concentrations. These findings extent previous evidence suggesting that the mitochondria may be important cellular targets in the process of chemical carcinogenesis.

Chromosomal localization and nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity of human metastasis-suppressor genes NM23-1 and NM23-2.

Human metastasis-suppressor genes nm23-1 (NME1) and nm23-2 (NME2) are implicated in control of the metastatic potential of malignant cells. Using somatic cell hybrid analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization we co-localized both genes to 17q21.3. The 17q21 region carries the locus responsible for early-onset familial breast-ovarian cancer and several other genes that are involved in tumorigenesis and differentiation and undergo frequent rearrangements during neoplastic development. Thus, our mapping places the NME genes in a region that may be subjected to multiple selection pressures. NME1 and NME2 genes were expressed as soluble proteins in a T7 bacterial expression system. Both proteins are independently active nucleotide diphosphate kinases and readily form intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds. The biochemical properties of these proteins may explain the diversity of mature eucaryotic nucleoside diphosphate kinases.

The rapid transbilayer movement of thiocholesterol in small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles.

Cholesterol is a major component of biological membranes, yet there is very little information concerning its distribution across the membrane. Recent experiments in our laboratory, using cholesterol oxidase, have demonstrated that cholesterol can undergo a rapid transbilayer movement in lecithin-cholesterol vesicles in a half-time of 1 min or less at 37 degrees C. In order to support this conclusion, we have sought other approaches to the measurement of this process. We now report our finding that the transbilayer movement of thiocholesterol in phospholipid vesicles occurs in a half-time of 1 min or less at 20 degrees C.