Partial processing of the neuropeptide Y precursor in transfected CHO cells.
The activation of regulatory peptides by post-translational modification of their biosynthetic precursors is generally thought to occur only in neuroendocrine cells. We have selected clones of Chinese hamster ovary cells, a non-neuroendocrine cell line, which were transfected with a eukaryotic expression vector coding for the precursor for neuropeptide Y. Although the majority of the immunoreactive NPY was found in the form of pro-NPY, some degree of intracellular proteolytic processing of the precursor occurred in all clones. Part of the intracellular NPY immunoreactivity was even correctly amidated. Extracellular degradation of pro-NPY in the tissue culture medium generated immunoreactivity which corresponded in size to NPY. It is concluded that precursor processing can occur in non-neuroendocrine cells both as a biological process within the cells and as apparent processing, degradation in the tissue culture medium.
Wulff
B S
BS
University Department of Chemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
O'Hare
M M
MM
Boel
E
E
Theill
L E
LE
Schwartz
T W
TW
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000032:analysis; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D011498:Protein Precursors