title: Characterization of a plasma membrane-associated prenylcysteine-directed alpha carboxyl methyltransferase in human neutrophils.
abstract: Signal transduction in human neutrophils requires prenylcysteine-directed carboxyl methylation of ras-related low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins. We now report the subcellular localization and characterization of a neutrophil prenylcysteine alpha carboxyl methyltransferase. The highest carboxyl methyltransferase activity copurified with biotinylated neutrophil surface membranes, supporting a plasma membrane localization of the enzyme. Neutrophil nuclear fractions contained little or no methyltransferase activity. Methyltransferase activity was detergent-sensitive but could be reconstituted by removal of detergent in the presence of phosphatidyl choline and an anionic phospholipid. N-Acetyl-S-trans,trans-farnesyl-L-cysteine (AFC) and N-acetyl-S-all-trans-geranylgeranyl-L-cysteine (AGGC) were effective substrates for neutrophil prenylcysteine-directed methyltransferase; Vmax values for AFC and AGGC (16.4 and 22.1 pmol of methylated/mg protein/min, respectively) are among the highest yet reported. Although both GTP gamma S and the chemoattractant fMet-Leu-Phe stimulated methylation of ras-related proteins, neither affected methylation of AFC. These data suggest that neutrophil plasma membranes contain a phospholipid-dependent, prenylcysteine-directed carboxyl methyltransferase of relatively high specific activity that modifies ras-related protein substrates in the GTP-bound, activated state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pillinger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Volker
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weissmann
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Philips
mesh_terms: D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases / Q000097:blood*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; C056501:protein-S-isoprenylcysteine O-methyltransferase; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins