scholarly journals Structural analysis and tissue localization of human C4.4A: a protein homologue of the urokinase receptor

2004 ◽  
Vol 380 (3) ◽  
pp. 845-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line V. HANSEN ◽  
Henrik GÅRDSVOLL ◽  
Boye S. NIELSEN ◽  
Leif R. LUND ◽  
Keld DANØ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Skin ◽  
Human Term Placenta ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Structural And Functional Properties ◽  
Surface Staining ◽  
Structural Homologue ◽  
Suprabasal Keratinocytes ◽  
Mcf 7

C4.4A, a structural homologue of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), was originally identified as a metastasis-associated membrane protein, but little is known about its structural and functional properties. Therefore, we expressed, purified and characterized a soluble truncated form of human C4.4A, and used this protein to produce specific polyclonal anti-C4.4A antibodies. By immunohistochemistry we observed a pronounced surface staining for C4.4A in suprabasal keratinocytes of chronic human wounds and found C4.4A expression markedly upregulated in migrating keratinocytes during re-epithelisation of incisional skin wounds. Phorbol-ester-induced hyperplasia of mouse skin is also accompanied by a significant induction of C4.4A expression in the multilayered, suprabasal keratinocytes. C4.4A contains two Ly-6 (leucocyte antigen 6)/uPAR/α-neurotoxin modules. Our recombinant human C4.4A is extensively modified by post-translational glycosylation, which include 5–6 N-linked carbohydrates primarily located in or close to its second Ly-6/uPAR/α-neurotoxin module and approximately 15 O-linked carbohydrates clustered in a Ser/Thr/Pro-rich region at the C-terminus. A highly protease-sensitive region (Tyr200–Arg204) is located between these two clusters of N- and O-linked carbohydrates. The natural, glycolipid-anchored C4.4A from amnion membranes of human term placenta exhibits similar properties. Using recombinant, soluble C4.4A or MCF 7 cells, which express significant amounts of GPI-anchored C4.4A, we find no evidence for an interaction between C4.4A and uPA, a property suggested previously for rat C4.4A. Collectively these data indicate that C4.4A, although being a structural homologue of uPAR, is unlikely to have a functional overlap with uPAR.

scholarly journals Myosin Light Chain Kinase Functions Downstream of Ras/ERK to Promote Migration of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator-Stimulated Cells in an Integrin-Selective Manner

1999 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diem H.D. Nguyen ◽  
Andrew D. Catling ◽  
Donna J. Webb ◽  
Mauricio Sankovic ◽  
Lori A. Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Serine Phosphorylation ◽  
Cellular Migration ◽  
Erk Activation ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Mcf 7

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activates the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2, in diverse cell types. In this study, we demonstrate that uPA stimulates migration of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells, and uPAR-overexpressing MCF-7 cells by a mechanism that depends on uPA receptor (uPAR)-ligation and ERK activation. Ras and MAP kinase kinase (MEK) were necessary and sufficient for uPA-induced ERK activation and stimulation of cellular migration, as demonstrated in experiments with dominant-negative and constitutively active mutants of these signaling proteins. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) was also required for uPA-stimulated cellular migration, as determined in experiments with three separate MLCK inhibitors. When MCF-7 cells were treated with uPA, MLCK was phosphorylated by a MEK-dependent pathway and apparently activated, since serine-phosphorylation of myosin II regulatory light chain (RLC) was also increased. Despite the transient nature of ERK phosphorylation, MLCK remained phosphorylated for at least 6 h. The uPA-induced increase in MCF-7 cell migration was observed selectively on vitronectin-coated surfaces and was mediated by a β1-integrin (probably αVβ1) and αVβ5. When MCF-7 cells were transfected to express αVβ3 and treated with uPA, ERK was still phosphorylated; however, the cells did not demonstrate increased migration. Neutralizing the function of αVβ3, with blocking antibody, restored the ability of uPA to promote cellular migration. Thus, we have demonstrated that uPA promotes cellular migration, in an integrin-selective manner, by initiating a uPAR-dependent signaling cascade in which Ras, MEK, ERK, and MLCK serve as essential downstream effectors.

Urokinase type plasminogen activator and inhibitor type-1 plasma levels in colorectal cancer

2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A599-A600 ◽  
Author(s):  
L HERSZENYI ◽  
F FARINATI ◽  
G ISTVAN ◽  
M PAOLI ◽  
G ROVERONI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Inhibitor Type

Expression and Characterization of Clustered Charge-to-Alanine Mutants of Low Mr Single-Chain Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (01) ◽  
pp. 134-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ueshima ◽  
P Holvoet ◽  
H R Lijnen ◽  
L Nelles ◽  
V Seghers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Solvent Accessibility ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Properties

SummaryIn an effort to modify the fibrinolytic and/or pharmacokinetic properties of recombinant low M r single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (rscu-PA-32k), mutants were prepared by site-directed mutagenesis of clusters of charged amino acids with the highest solvent accessibility. The following mutants of rscu-PA-32k were prepared: LUK-2 (Lys 212, Glu 213 and Asp 214 to Ala), LUK-3 (Lys 243 and Asp 244 to Ala), LUK-4 (Arg 262, Lys 264, Glu 265 and Arg 267 to Ala), LUK-5 (Lys 300, Glu 301 and Asp 305 to Ala) and LUK-6 (Arg 400, Lys 404, Glu 405 and Glu 406 to Ala).The rscu-PA 32k moictic3 were expressed in High Five Ttichoplasiani cells, and purified to humugciicily from the conditioned cell culture medium, with recoveries of 0.8 to 3.7 mg/1. The specific fibrinolytic activities (220,000 to 300,000 IU/mg), the rates of plasminogen activation by the single-chain moieties and the rates of conversion In lwo chain moieties by plasmin were comparable for mutant and wild-type rscu PA 32k moieties, with the exception of LUK-5 which was virtually inactive. Equi-effective lysis (50% in 2 h) of 60 pi 125I-fibrin labeled plasma clots submerged in 0.5 ml normal human plasma was obtained with 0.7 to 0.8 μg/ml of wild-type or mutant rscu-PA-3?.k, except with LUK-5 (no significant lysis with 16 pg/ml). Following bolus injection in hamsters, all rscu-PA-32k moieties had a comparably rapid plasma clearance (1.3 to 2.7 ml/min), as a result of a short initial half-life (1.4 to 2.5 min). In hamsters with pulmonary embolism, continuous intravenous infusion over 60 min at a dose of 1 mg/kg, resulted in 53 to 72% clot lysis with the mutants, but only 23% with LUK-5, as compared to 36% for wild-type rscu-PA-32k.These data indicate that clustered charge-to-alanine mutants of rscu-PA-32k, designed to eliminate charged regions with the highest solvent accessibility, do not have significantly improved functional, fibrinolytic or pharmacokinetic properties.

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