title: Acidic precursor revealed in human eosinophil granule major basic protein cDNA.
abstract: Eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP), a potent toxin for helminths and various cell types, is a 13.8-kD single polypeptide rich in arginine with a calculated isoelectric point (pI) of 10.9. A cDNA for human MBP was isolated from a gamma GT10 HL-60 cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the MBP cDNA indicates that MBP is translated as a 25.2-kD preproprotein. The 9.9-kD pro-portion of proMBP is rich in glutamic and aspartic acids and has a calculated pI of 3.9, while proMBP itself has a calculated pI of 6.2. We suggest that MBP is translated as a nontoxic precursor that protects the eosinophil from damage while the protein is processed through the endoplasmic reticulum to its sequestered site in the granule core toxic MBP, and we present results from the literature suggesting that other cationic toxins, which damage cell membranes, may also be processed from nontoxic precursors containing distinct anionic and cationic regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gleich
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pease
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D012260:Ribonucleases