neuromedin-n and Thyroid-Neoplasms

Neurotensin (NT) and Neuromedin N (NN) are two biologically active peptides present in one copy each in the C-terminal region of a 169-residue precursor. Four basic Lys-Arg doublets occur within the precursor and represent putative processing sites. We investigated the effects of dexamethasone on the biosynthesis and the posttranslational processing of the NT/NN precursor in the rat medullary thyroid carcinoma 6-23 cell line (rMTC 6-23). Western blot analysis and RIA coupled to HPLC and arginine-directed tryptic cleavage of precursor forms were performed with antisera specific for precursor sequences adjacent to the four basic doublets. These studies revealed that rMTC 6-23 cells synthesized the NT/NN precursor in response to dexamethasone and had the capability to process this precursor at the three Lys-Arg doublets that flank and separate NT and NN, thus yielding authentic NT, NN, and several larger products. The most N-terminal Lys-Arg doublet was not processed in this system. Dexamethasone increased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner the levels of all the NT/NN precursor-derived products. This increase did not affect the relative proportion of the different products. We also showed by Northern blot analysis that both the 1.1-kilobase and 1.5-kilobase NT/NN precursor messenger RNAs were present in the rMTC 6-23 cell line and that the time course and dose response of dexamethasone-induced messenger RNA synthesis were in good agreement with those observed for dexamethasone-induced increase in processing products. The rMTC 6-23 cell line represents a good model to elucidate the steps involved in the posttranslational processing of the NT/NN precursor.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dexamethasone; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurotensin; Peptide Fragments; Peptide Mapping; Protein Precursors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Thyroid Neoplasms; Trypsin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Neurotensin (NT) and neuromedin N (NN) are two related biologically active peptides that are encoded in the same precursor molecule. In the rat, the precursor consists of a 169-residue polypeptide starting with an N-terminal signal peptide and containing in its C-terminal region one copy each of NT and NN. NN precedes NT and is separated from it by a Lys-Arg sequence. Two other Lys-Arg sequences flank the N-terminus of NN and the C-terminus of NT. A fourth Lys-Arg sequence occurs near the middle of the precursor and is followed by an NN-like sequence. Finally, an Arg-Arg pair is present within the NT moiety. The four Lys-Arg doublets represent putative processing sites in the precursor molecule. The present study was designed to investigate the post-translational processing of the NT/NN precursor in the rat medullary thyroid carcinoma (rMTC) 6-23 cell line, which synthesizes large amounts of NT upon dexamethasone treatment. Five region-specific antisera recognizing the free N- or C-termini of sequences adjacent to the basic doublets were produced, characterized and used for immunoblotting and radioimmunoassay studies in combination with gel filtration, reverse-phase h.p.l.c. and trypsin digestion of rMTC 6-23 cell extracts. Because two of the antigenic sequences, i.e. NN and the NN-like sequence, start with a lysine residue that is essential for recognition by their respective antisera, a micromethod by which trypsin specifically cleaves at arginine residues was developed. The results show that dexamethasone-treated rMTC 6-23 cells produced comparable amounts of NT, NN and a peptide corresponding to a large N-terminal precursor fragment lacking the NN and NT moieties. This large fragment was purified. N-Terminal sequencing revealed that it started at residue Ser23 of the prepro-NT/NN sequence, and thus established the Cys22-Ser23 bond as the cleavage site of the signal peptide. Two other large N-terminal fragments bearing respectively the NN and NT sequences at their C-termini were present in lower amounts. The NN-like sequence was internal to all the large fragments. There was no evidence for the presence of peptides with the NN-like sequence at their N-termini. This shows that, in rMTC 6-23 cells, the precursor is readily processed at the three Lys-Arg doublets that flank and separate the NT and NN sequences. In contrast, the Lys-Arg doublet that precedes the NN-like sequence is not processed in this system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma; Chromatography, Gel; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Immunoblotting; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurotensin; Peptide Fragments; Protein Precursors; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Thyroid Neoplasms; Trypsin; Tumor Cells, Cultured