Hiroshi Tsuji

Immunocytochemical study of the surrounding envelope of autophagic vacuoles in cultured rat hepatocytes

By the use of electron immunoperoxidase cytochemistry at the ultrastructural level, the relationship of the surrounding sac of the autophagic vacuoles to the different cytomembranes was studied. When the endoplasmic reticulum was completely stained for microsomal carboxyesterase E1, the enzyme was not found to be labeled in the developed envelopes forming autophagic vacuoles. The autophagic envelope at the formative stages was also devoid of albumin which intensely stained Golgi cisternae. However, although it was rare, the endoplasmic reticulum showed an electron-lucent region like an early autophagic envelope in its cisternae which was lacking in carboxyesterase E1. In addition, deeply curving swelled cisternae where carboxyesterase E1 was found at the edges were occasionally encountered. These observations suggest that the segregating membranes arise from an endoplasmic reticulum and the structural characteristics of the endoplasmic membranes change at very early stages of formation of autophagic vacuoles. Acid phosphatase, a lysosomal marker enzyme, began to be localized on sections of the double membranes of newly created autophagic vacuoles. The enzyme spread all along the limiting membranes of the autophagic vacuoles, while, at the same time, the double membranes were converted into a single membrane. A lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (LGP107) was also localized on the surrounding envelope of autophagic vacuoles in a fashion similar to that of acid phosphatase. Lysosomal hydrolases seem to play some role in the conversion of double limiting membranes into a single limiting membrane.

Immunocytochemical Localization of Cathepsin D in Lysosomes of Cortical Collecting Tubule Cells of the Rat Kidney

Immunocytochemical localization of cathepsin D in rat renal tubules was investigated by means of indirect immunoenzyme and protein A--gold techniques. By light microscopy, fine granular staining was seen in the mesangial cells of glomeruli. Heavy reaction deposits were present in the cortical tubular segments and some of the medullary collecting tubules. The proximal tubules contained a few positive granules. Other segments were negative for cathepsin D. By electron microscopy, gold particles representing the antigenic sites for cathepsin D were present in cytoplasmic granules and multivesicular bodies of the segment of the cortical collecting tubule. These cytoplasmic granules were presumed to be digestive vacuoles (secondary lysosomes) from their morphological profile. The proximal tubule cells contained the very weakly labeled secondary lysosomes. No specific labeling was noted in other segments of the nephron. Control experiments confirmed the specificity of the immunostaining. Quantitative analysis of the labeling density in each subcellular compartment also confirmed that the main subcellular sites for cathepsin D are the secondary lysosomes and multivesicular bodies. The labeling density in these granules of the lysosomal system varied widely with the individual granules, suggesting that there is a considerable heterogeneity of enzyme content among the granules of the lysosomal system. The prominent presence of cathepsin D in the cortical collecting tubule suggests a certain segment-specific function of this proteinase.

Localization of lysosomal and peroxisomal enzymes in the specific granules of rat intestinal eosinophil leukocytes revealed by immunoelectron microscopic techniques.

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of lysosomal and peroxisomal enzymes in the eosinophil leukocytes of rat intestinal mucosa was studied by use of rabbit antibodies to the enzymes coupled to protein A-gold complex. Gold particle labeling for the lysosomal enzymes, beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D, was present on specific granules, with a heavy concentration on their paracrystalline cores. The peroxisomal enzymes, acyl-CoA oxidase and catalase, were also found on these granules. The double labeling procedures using two different combination of anti-acyl-CoA oxidase and anti-beta-glucuronidase or anti-catalase and anti-cathepsin D revealed that these enzymes were simultaneously present in specific granules of the intestinal eosinophils. Quantitative analysis of the labeling on subcellular compartments confirmed that all enzymes examined are significantly localized within specific granules and that there is no significant labeling on other compartments such as the nucleus and cytoplasm. In the control sections incubated with an immunoglobulin G fraction from nonimmunized rabbits, no specific labeling was seen on the granules or other organelles. These findings indicate that enzymes which previously have been identified in some organs as lysosomal and in others as peroxisomal can be found together in eosinophil granules.

Immunocytochemical localization of cathepsin B in rat kidney. I. Light microscopic study using the indirect immunoenzyme technique.

Localization of cathepsin B in rat kidney was studied using immunocytochemical techniques. Cathepsin B was purified from rat liver and antibody to it was raised in rabbits. The antibody reacted with a lysosomal extract of rat kidney to form a single precipitin line in a double-diffusion test. Immunoblot analysis of lysosomal cathepsin B of rat kidney showed two species of 29K and 25K MW. After removal of Epon, semi-thin sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue were stained by the indirect immunoenzyme technique. Dark-brown reaction product, indicating the antigenic sites for cathepsin B, was found in cytoplasmic granules throughout the nephron. Staining intensity and size of the positive granules varied widely in each segment of the nephron. In the glomeruli and distal tubules, a few small cytoplasmic granules were stained. In the proximal tubules, the S1 segment exhibited many large granules which were most heavily stained, whereas the S2 and S3 segments contained few positive granules. All segments of the distal tubules showed the smallest amount of positive granules. A few positive granules were also noted in the cortical and medullary collecting tubules. Control experiments confirmed the specificity of the staining. The results indicate that the major site for cathepsin B in rat kidney is the S1 segment of the proximal tubule which is known to actively take up proteins leaked through the glomerulus.

Immunocytochemical localization of cathepsin B in rat kidney. II. Electron microscopic study using the protein A-gold technique.

Thin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded materials were labeled with protein A-gold complex. Gold particles representing the antigen sites for cathepsin B were exclusively confined to lysosomes of each segment of the nephron. The heaviest labeling was noted in the lysosomes of the S1 segment of the proximal tubules. Labeling intensity varied considerably with the individual lysosomes. Lysosomes of the other tubular segments, such as the S2 and S3 segments of the proximal tubules, distal convoluted tubules, and collecting tubules were weakly labeled by gold particles. Quantitative analysis of labeling density also confirmed that lysosomes in the S1 segment have the highest labeling density and that approximately 65% of labeling in the whole renal segments, except for the glomerulus, was found in the S1 segment. These results indicate that in rat kidney the lysosomes of the S1 segment are a main location of cathepsin B. Further precise observations on lysosomes of the S1 segment revealed that apical vesicles, tubules, and vacuoles were devoid of gold particles, but when the vacuoles contained fine fibrillar materials, gold labeling was detectable in such vacuoles. As the lysosomal matrix becomes denser, the labeling density is increased. Some small vesicles around the Golgi complex were also labeled. These results indicate that the endocytotic apparatus including the apical vesicles, tubules, and vacuoles contains no cathepsin B. When the vacuoles develop into phagosomes, they acquire this enzyme to digest the absorbed proteins.

Identification and characterization of two distinct kyotorphin-hydrolyzing enzymes in rat brain

We identified and characterized two kyotorphin-hydrolyzing peptidases (KTPases) in a soluble fraction of rat brain. When the soluble fraction was chromatographed with DEAE-Sephacel, the enzyme activity was resolved into two peaks, which were designated as KTPases I and II in their order of elution. KTPases I and II accounted for 95% and 5% of the KTPase activity in the soluble fraction, respectively. KTPases I and II hydrolyzed kyotorphin with Km values of 22 microM and 110 microM, respectively. By gel filtration, Mr values of KTPases I and II were determined to be 55,000 and 98,000, respectively. Immunological analyses of KTPase II with an anti-enkephalin aminopeptidase antibody indicated that KTPase II was identical to an enkephalin aminopeptidase with Mr = 98,000. However, KTPase I was a novel peptidase responsible for the major kyotorphin-degrading activity in the soluble fraction of rat brain.

Ile (476), a constituent of di-leucine-based motif of a major lysosomal membrane protein, LGP85/LIMP II, is important for its proper distribution in late endosomes and lysosomes

Lysosomal membrane glycoprotein termed LGP85 or LIMP II extends a COOH-terminal cytoplasmic tail of R459GQGSMDEGTADERAPLIRT478, in which an L475 I476 sequence lies as a di-leucine-based motif for lysosomal targeting. In the present study, we explored the role of the I476 residue in the localization of LGP85 to the endocytic organelles using two substitution mutants called I476A and I476L in which alanine and leucine are replaced at I476, respectively, and I476R477T478-deleted LGP85 called Delta 476-478. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that I476A and I476L are largely colocalized in intracellular organelles with an endogenous late endosomal and lysosomal marker, LAMP-1, but there were some granules in which staining for the LGP85 mutants was prominent, while Delta 476-478 is detected in LAMP-1-positive and LAMP-1-negative intracellular organelles, and on the cell surface. The subcellular fractionation studies revealed that I476A, I476L, and Delta 476-478 are different from wild-type LGP85 in the distribution of early endosomes, late endosomes, and lysosomes. I476A and I476L are present more in late endosomes than in the densest lysosomes, whereas wild-type LGP85 is mainly lysosomal. Substitution of I476 for A and L differentially modified the ratios of late endosomal to lysosomal LGP85. A major portion of Delta 476-478 resided in the light buoyant density fraction containing plasma membrane and early endosomes. Taken together, these results indicate that the existence of the 476th amino acid residue is essential for localization of LGP85 to late endocytic compartments. The fact that isoleucine but not leucine is in the 476th position is especially of importance in the proper distribution of LGP85 in late endosomes and lysosomes.

Purification and characterization of a soluble form of lysosome‐associated membrane glycoprotein‐2 (lamp‐2) from rat liver lysosomal contents

Lysosomal membrane of rat liver contains a highly glycosylated protein referred to as lamp‐2. Lamp‐2 occurs to a significant extent in a soluble fraction of rat liver lysosomes. The soluble form of lamp‐2 (SF‐lamp‐2) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. An apparent molecular weight (Mr) of SF‐lamp‐2 on sodium dodecy sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was determined to be 91,000 which is 5,000 less than that of the membranous form of lamp‐2 (MF‐lamp‐2). SF‐ and MF‐lamp‐2 were very similar to each other in terms of sialic acid content, NH2‐terminal amino acid sequence and isoelectric point. Gel filtration data indicated that native SF‐lamp‐2 has an Mr=360,000. Taken together, SF‐lamp‐2 forms a tetrameric structure consisiting of a homogenous polypeptide lacking a membrane‐spanning domain and a cytoplasmic tail near the COOH‐terminus.