title: The processing of interleukin-1 beta studied with antibodies raised against synthetic peptides from the precursor N-terminal region.
abstract: The exact sequence of events during processing of human interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and the fate of the N-terminal region are unknown. We have used anti-peptide sera specific for the precursor and mature regions of IL-1 beta to study biosynthesis. These were raised against peptides corresponding to amino acids 1-15, 17-32, and 43-54 of the precursor and a peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 33 amino acids of mature human IL-1 beta. Antiserum to the mature region peptide immunoprecipitated the 35-kD precursor from cell lysates and 17-kD mature IL-1 beta and a 31-kD protein from the culture supernatants from radiolabeled human peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Antisera to peptides from the precursor region also immunoprecipitated the 35-kD IL-1 beta precursor but not the 31-kD or 17-kD forms. Of the precursor-specific sera, only antiserum to amino acids 1-15 specifically recognized any other proteins; a peptide of 18 kD and a low molecular weight peptide, both of which accumulated in the medium. The 18-kD protein was not recognized by any of the other antisera and is unlikely to be the N-terminal region of the precursor removed during processing. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that the 31-kD protein could be a processing intermediate and also that it was itself an end product along with full-length precursor. Only 17-kD mature IL-1 beta had biological activity.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bomford
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies; D001681:Biological Assay; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors