Conformational intermediates in the production of the combinable form of the beta-subunit of chorionic gonadotropin.
Human trophoblastic cells synthesize and secrete hCG as well as uncombined forms of the alpha- and beta-subunits of hCG. We have previously reported that the rate-limiting step in alpha beta-dimer assembly in cultured JAR choriocarcinoma cells is a conformational change in beta-subunit accompanied by the formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds. We now report on the intermediate steps in the acquisition of this combinable conformation by the beta-subunit. The earliest biosynthetically labeled form of beta detected in JAR cells is a precursor termed p beta 1 that lacks at least one of the intramolecular disulfide bonds found in mature beta-subunit, that does not combine with alpha-subunit, and that does not react with a monoclonal antibody specific for free beta. The p beta 1 precursor rapidly assumes (within 5 min) a new conformation termed p beta 2 that, in contrast to p beta 1, migrates more slowly on nonreduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, combines with alpha to form the hCG dimer, and reacts with the monoclonal anti-free beta antibody. Pulse-chase kinetic experiments support the following sequence of events: p beta 1----uncombined p beta 2----combined p beta 2. The transition of p beta 1 to uncombined p beta 2 involves the formation of at least one intramolecular disulfide bond coincident with the conformational shift of the p beta molecule. Furthermore, treatment of the nonreduced subunits with trypsin releases a [35S]cysteine-labeled peptide from p beta 1, but not from either form of p beta 2. This peptide presumably contains one of the two crucial cysteine residues that participate in forming the disulfide bond that distinguishes p beta 1 from the p beta 2 forms. Dimer p beta 2 differs from both p beta 1 and uncombined p beta 2 in that it contains an O-linked N-acetylgalactosamine, which represents the first step in the formation of the O-linked glycans of beta-subunit. Dimer p beta 2 is, therefore, the most fully processed and kinetically the latest of the three p beta forms that appear in JAR cell lysates. We conclude that formation of an appropriate array of intramolecular S-S bonds accompanies the acquisition of a combinable conformation of beta-subunit, and we have identified intermediate steps in the pathway leading to this conformational change. The data suggest that it is the achievement of this conformation by beta-subunit that limits the alpha beta combination reaction rather than the amount or conformation of alpha-subunit.
Ruddon
R W
RW
Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0626.
Krzesicki
R F
RF
Beebe
J S
JS
Loesel
L
L
Perini
F
F
Peters
B P
BP
D002460:Cell Line; D002822:Choriocarcinoma; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D011247:Pregnancy; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014357:Trypsin; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014357:Trypsin; D005944:Glucosamine