title: Biosynthesis of rat alpha 1-macroglobulin. Identification of an intracellular precursor.
abstract: Alpha 1-macroglobulin was purified from rat plasma by gel filtration (Sephacryl S-300) and ion exchange chromatography (DE52). Analysis of the purified alpha 1-macroglobulin by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two polypeptides: a light chain which could be resolved into a double band (36/38 kDa) and a heavy chain (160 kDa). Under non-reducing conditions complexes of 200 and 400 kDa could be demonstrated. Antibodies were raised against both chains of alpha 1-macroglobulin which did not cross-react with either rat alpha 2-macroglobulin or rat alpha 1-inhibitor 3. It was shown that in the medium of [35S]methionine-labeled hepatocytes the two subunits of alpha 1-macroglobulin are linked by disulfide bridges. Intracellularly, however, a high molecular mass polypeptide (185 kDa) could be immunoprecipitated with either the antiserum to the heavy or the light chain of alpha 1-macroglobulin, indicating the existence of a polyprotein precursor. Also in a cell-free translation system alpha 1-macroglobulin was synthesized as a polyprotein consisting of heavy and light chains (162 kDa). In a pulse-chase experiment using tunicamycin to block N-glycosylation, alpha 1-macroglobulin secretion was totally inhibited. This finding reflects the importance of the oligosaccharide side chains for the proteolytic processing to the two subunits and/or secretion of alpha 1-macroglobulin.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004220:Disulfides / Q000032:analysis; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D008715:Methionine