The propeptide of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily member, macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), is a multifunctional domain that can facilitate protein folding and secretion.
Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. While it is synthesized in a pre-pro form, it is unique among superfamily members because it does not require its propeptide for correct folding or secretion of the mature peptide. To investigate factors that enable these propeptide independent events to occur, we constructed MIC-1/TGF-beta1 chimeras, both with and without a propeptide. All chimeras without a propeptide secreted less efficiently compared with the corresponding constructs with propeptide. Folding and secretion were most affected after replacement of the predicted major alpha-helix in the mature protein, residues 56-68. Exchanging the human propeptide in this chimera with either the murine MIC-1 or TGF-beta1 propeptide resulted in secretion of the unprocessed, monomeric chimera, suggesting a specific interaction between the human MIC-1 propeptide and mature peptide. Propeptide deletion mutants enabled identification of a region between residues 56 and 78, which is important for the interaction between the propeptide and the mature peptide. Cotransfection experiments demonstrated that the propeptide must be in cis with the mature peptide for this phenomenon to occur. These results suggest a model for TGF-beta superfamily protein folding.
Centre for Immunology, Saint Vincent's Hospital and University of New South Wales, Victoria Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
W D
WD
Fairlie
H P
HP
Zhang
W M
WM
Wu
S L
SL
Pankhurst
A R
AR
Bauskin
P K
PK
Russell
P K
PK
Brown
S N
SN
Breit
D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D006031:Glycosylation; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017510:Protein Folding; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; C526140:GDF15 protein, human; C526141:Gdf15 protein, mouse; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins