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Studies on the intracellular segregation of polyribosome-associated messenger ribonucleic acid species in the lactating guinea-pig mammary gland.

ABSTRACT: 1. Free and membrane-bound polyribosomes were isolated and the associated mRNA species characterized by cell-free protein synthesis, RNA-complexity analysis and polyribosome run-off in vitro. 2. Of the recovered polyribosomal RNA 85% was associated with membrane-bound polyribosomes and contained 87--93% of the total milk-protein mRNA species as assessed by cell-free protein synthesis or RNA-complexity analysis. 3. RNA-complexity analysis showed that the abundant (milk-protein mRNA assumed) species constituted 55% of the post-nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA population, the remainder consisting of a moderately abundant population (18%) and a low abundance population (27%). Calculations suggest that each population contained up to 2, 48 and 5000 different species respectively. 4. RNA-complexity analysis of the free polyribosomal poly(A)-containing RNA demonstrated that all the species in the post-nuclear fraction were present, though in different proportions, the abundant, moderately abundant and low-abundance groups representing 38, 30 and 32% of this population. 5. RNA-complexity analysis of the membrane-bound polyribosomal poly(A)-containing RNA revealed a more limited population, 72% consisting of the abundant (milk-protein mRNA) species, and 28% a population of up to 900 RNA species. 6. Polyribosome run-off confirmed that milk-protein mRNA was associated with the membrane-bound and free polyribosomes, but represented only a small fraction of the total protein synthesized by the latter. 7. Comparative analysis of milk proteins synthesized in mRNA-directed cell-free systems, or by run-off of free and of membrane-bound polyribosomes, is consistent with the interpretation that in vivo the initiation of protein synthesis occurs on free polyribosomes, followed by the attachment of a limited population to the endoplasmic reticulum. After attachment, but before completion of peptide synthesis, the detachable N-terminal peptide sequence of one of these(pre-alpha-lactalbumin) is removed. 8. The results are discussed in terms of the mechanisms involved in the intracellular segregation of mRNA species in the lactating guinea-pig mammary gland.

SUBMITTER: Craig RK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1161215 | biostudies-other | 1979 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:1. The major milk proteins synthesized by the lactating mammary gland of the guinea pig were identified and designated as caseins A, B and C and alpha-lactalbumin, with estimated mol.wts. of 28000, 25500, 20500 and 14500 respectively. 2. Antisera to the total casein fraction and to alpha-lactalbumin were prepared from rabbits. The milk proteins were also iodinated with either 131I or 125I. 3. A poly(A)-rich RNA fraction was isolated from lactating guinea-pig mammary glands. Isolation was by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. 4. Examination of this RNA fraction by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing formamide indicated three major species 1, 2 and 3, with estimated wol.wts. of 5.4 X 10(5) and 3.3 X 10(5), and the apparent absence of rRNA species. 5. The poly(A)-rich RNA stimulated protein synthesis in heterologous cell-free systems based on wheat germ, Krebs II ascites-tumour cells, and the latter supplemented with an initiation factor-3 fraction from rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes. 6. Between 80 and 90% of the protein synthesis directed by the mRNA was for milk proteins. 7. Analysis of the proteins immunoprecipitated by the alpha-lactalbumin antiserum showed in the wheat-germ system that the product was a protein with a molecular weight greater than that of alpha-lactalbumin, whereas in the ascites-tumour-cell systems both this protein and alpha-lactalbumin were found. When the larger protein was treated with CNBr and the resulting peptides were examined, it was shown that the extra peptide was at the N-terminus. This and other evidence is adduced for the initial translation product of alpha-lactalbumin being a precursor with an addition of about ten amino acids at the N-terminus. 8. Similar analysis of the casein immlnospecific proteins produced under the direction of mRNA indicated that the products had a molecular weight that was apparently a littel smaller than that of the caseins synthesized in vivo. This was not consistent with higher-molecular weight casein precursors. 9. Possible explanations for the results obtained are discussed, especially in terms of the physiological significance of the pre-alpha-lactalbumin as a secretory protein.

Project description:Golgi and endoplasmic-reticulum fractions were prepared from the lactating guinea-pig mammary gland. The endoplasmic-reticulum fraction was highly active in the processing and sequestration of milk-protein primary translation products. Explants from the lactating gland in organ culture were used to identify milk-protein intermediates present in the secretory pathway, and the timing of the events leading to their post-translational modification. With [35S]methionine, the milk proteins labelled after a short pulse (3 min) were represented by the partially processed (but not phosphorylated) caseins and alpha-lactalbumin sequestered within membrane-bound vesicles. After a 30 min labelling period, higher-Mr caseins with electrophoretic mobilities identical with those of the phosphorylated caseins isolated from milk were identified in the incubation medium, and sequestered within membrane-bound vesicles. Pulse-chase experiments established a precursor-product relationship between these forms. Secretion is apparent approx. 30 min after sequestration. Caseins are highly phosphorylated; removal of the phosphate residues with acid phosphatase results in proteins with increased electrophoretic mobility, similar to those of the partially processed early casein intermediates found sequestered in explants after a 3 min pulse with [35S]methionine, and those sequestered within microsomal membranes after mRNA-directed cell-free protein synthesis. A comparison of the proteins labelled during both short (5 min) and long (30 min) pulses with [35S]methionine and [32P]Pi shows that, in contrast with the 35S-labelled caseins, those labelled with [32P]Pi exhibit only electrophoretic mobilities identical with those of the mature caseins isolated from milk and those identified after long labelling periods with [35S]methionine. No phosphorylated early intermediate forms of caseins were identified. We conclude that the synthesis and post-translational modification of guinea-pig caseins occurs in two stages, (i) an early event involving synthesis and sequestration within the endoplasmic reticulum, an event that involves signal-peptide removal, followed (ii) 10-20 min later by phosphorylation at a different point in the secretory pathway, probably in the Golgi complex. Secretion of the phosphorylated caseins occurs 10-20 min later.

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Studies on the intracellular segregation of polyribosome-associated messenger ribonucleic acid species in the lactating guinea-pig mammary gland.

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