Induction of specific protein tyrosine phosphatase transcripts during differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma (F9) cells

AbstractWe have investigated the pattern of PTPase transcript expression during in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma (F9) cells. While the transcripts of most PTPases were unchanged or undetected during embryonal differentiation induced by retinoic acid, several PTPase transcripts exhibited distinct patterns of induction. Mutant cells defective in differentiation did not display the induction of some of these PTPase transcripts. Interestingly, three out of the four PTPase transcripts induced were the same PTPase transcripts induced during in vitro erythroid differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells [(1982) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 107, 1104–1109]. The possible role played by specific PTPases in cell differentiation is discussed

Cloning, expression and chromosomal localization of a new putative receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase

AbstractWe have isolated a mouse cDNA of 5.7 kb, encoding a new member of the family of receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases, termed mRPTPμ. The cDNA predicts a protein of 1432 amino acids (not including signal peptide) with a calculated Mr of 161 636. In addition, we have cloned the human homologue, hRPTPμ, which shows 98.7% amino acid identity to mRPTPμ. The predicted mRPTPμ protein consists of a 722 amino acid extracellular region, containing 13 potential N-glycosylation sites, a single transmembrane domain and a 688 amino acid intracellular part containing 2 tandem repeats homologous to the catalytic domains of other tyrosine phosphatases. The N-terminal extracellular part contains a region of about 170 amino acids with no sequence similarities to known proteins, followed by one Ig-like domain and 4 fibronectin type III-like domains. The intracellular part is unique in that the region between the transmembrane domain and the first catalytic domain is about twice as large as in other receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases. RNA blot analysis reveals a single transcript, that is most abundant in lung and present in much lower amounts in brain and heart. Transfection of the mRPTPμ cDNA into COS cells results in the synthesis of a protein with an apparent Mr of 195 000, as detected in immunoblots using an antipeptide antibody. The human RPTPμ gene is localized on chromosome 18pter-q11, a region with frequent abnormalities implicated in human cancer

Misfolded proteins activate Factor XII in humans, leading to kallikrein formation without initiating coagulation

When blood is exposed to negatively charged surface materials such as glass, an enzymatic cascade known as the contact system becomes activated. This cascade is initiated by autoactivation of Factor XII and leads to both coagulation (via Factor XI) and an inflammatory response (via the kallikrein-kinin system). However, while Factor XII is important for coagulation in vitro, it is not important for physiological hemostasis, so the physiological role of the contact system remains elusive. Using patient blood samples and isolated proteins, we identified a novel class of Factor XII activators. Factor XII was activated by misfolded protein aggregates that formed by denaturation or by surface adsorption, which specifically led to the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system without inducing coagulation. Consistent with this, we found that Factor XII, but not Factor XI, was activated and kallikrein was formed in blood from patients with systemic amyloidosis, a disease marked by the accumulation and deposition of misfolded plasma proteins. These results show that the kallikrein-kinin system can be activated by Factor XII, in a process separate from the coagulation cascade, and point to a protective role for Factor XII following activation by misfolded protein aggregates

Fibronectin is a hypoxia-independent target of the tumor suppressor VHL.

Item does not contain fulltextThe von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene regulates the extracellular matrix by controlling fibronectin deposition. To identify novel VHL target genes, we subjected mRNA from VHL-deficient RCC cells (786-0-pRC) and a transfectant re-expressing wildtype VHL (786-0-VHL) to differential expression profiling. Among the differentially expressed genes, we detected that fibronectin is upregulated in the presence of VHL, while it is not affected by hypoxia. Thus regulation of fibronectin deposition by VHL occurs at the transcriptional level, irrespective of oxygen levels

Recombinant endostatin forms amyloid fibrils that bind and are cytotoxic to murine neuroblastoma cells in vitro

AbstractEndostatin is a fragment of collagen XVIII that acts as an endogenous inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. Anti-tumor effects have been described using both soluble and insoluble recombinant endostatin. However, differences in endostatin structure are likely to cause differences in bioactivity. In the present study we have investigated the structure and cellular effects of insoluble endostatin. We found that insoluble endostatin shows all the hallmarks of amyloid aggregates. Firstly, it binds Congo red and shows the characteristic apple-green birefringe when examined under polarized light. Secondly, electron microscopy shows that endostatin forms short unbranched fibrils. Thirdly, X-ray analysis shows the abundant presence of cross-β sheets, the tertiary structure that underlies fibrillogenesis. None of these properties was observed when examining soluble endostatin. Soluble endostatin can be triggered to form cross-β sheets following denaturation, indicating that endostatin is a protein fragment with an inherent propensity to form amyloid deposits. Like β-amyloid, found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid endostatin binds to and is toxic to neuronal cells, whereas soluble endostatin has no effect on cell viability. Our results demonstrate a previously unrecognized functional difference between soluble and insoluble endostatin, only the latter acting as a cytotoxic amyloid substance