title: Isoprenylation of rap2 proteins in platelets and human erythroleukemia cells.
abstract: The covalent modification of proteins by isoprenoid derivatives of mevalonic acid was investigated in human platelets, cells that lack the ability to synthesize endogenous cholesterol, and human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells, cholesterol-producing cultured cells derived from megakaryocytes. When washed platelets or HEL cells were incubated with [3H]mevalonic acid, the radiolabel was incorporated into a distinct group of proteins with molecular masses between 21,000 and 28,000. We have identified one of these proteins as a ras-related rap2 protein based on its immunoreactivity with a polyclonal antiserum raised against purified recombinant rap2b. This anti-rap2 antiserum was used for two-dimensional immunoblotting analysis and immunoprecipitation of mevalonate-labeled rap2 from platelets and HEL cells. These results suggest that rap2 may undergo a series of carboxyl-terminal modifications similar to the p21ras proteins. In addition, it is shown that non-cholesterol-producing cells are capable of incorporating isoprenyl groups into specific proteins.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Burroughs Wellcome Company, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Winegar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molina y Vedia
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lapetina
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013729:Terpenes; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates; D013729:Terpenes; D002784:Cholesterol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins; D008798:Mevalonic Acid