Ian J. Okazaki

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored and Secretory Isoforms of Mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases

Mono-ADP-ribosylation, a post-translational modification of proteins in which the ADP-ribose moiety of NAD is transferred to an acceptor amino acid, occurs in viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic cells (1). The reaction is distinct from that catalyzed by poly(ADPribose) polymerase, a nuclear protein involved in DNA repair, cell differentiation, and the maintenance of chromatin structure (2). Among mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases, the bacterial toxins, cholera toxin, pertussis toxin, diphtheria toxin, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A are the best characterized in molecular structure, function, and substrate specificity (reviewed in Ref. 1). Mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases from mammalian and avian cells have been cloned and characterized, and specific target proteins have been identified (3, 4). In lymphocytes, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored transferase appears to be involved in immune modulation, whereas other isoforms in lymphocytes (5) and chicken heterophil granules (6) are membrane-associated but appear to be processed for secretion. Further, ADP-ribosyltransferases have been purified from brain, and data from several independent laboratories demonstrate that ADP-ribosylation is involved in neuronal function (7, 8). Deduced amino acid sequences of the vertebrate ADP-ribosyltransferases have similarities to those of viral and bacterial toxin transferases (9, 10) in regions that form, in part, an active site cleft, consistent with a common mechanism of NAD binding and ADP-ribose transfer (9). The majority of the eukaryotic enzymes are arginine-specific transferases. ADP-ribosylation of arginine appears to be a reversible process; free arginine can be regenerated in ADP-ribosylated proteins by ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases (1). ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase activity was detected in the soluble fraction of turkey erythrocytes, cultured mouse cells, and rat skeletal muscle with deduced amino acid sequences known for rat, mouse, and human brain ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases (11, 12). ADP-ribosylation of cysteine was reported in bovine erythrocytes (13), and an NAD:cysteine ADP-ribosyltransferase that modified Gai was purified from human erythrocyte and platelet membranes (14). Consistent with this, ADP-ribosylcysteine linkages were detected in rat liver plasma membranes (15). ADP-ribosylation of cysteine can, however, occur nonenzymatically via the reaction of ADP-ribose, generated from NAD by NAD glycohydrolases, with cysteine to form an ADP-ribosylthiazolidine, a linkage distinct from the thioglycoside formed by pertussis toxin (PT)-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a cysteine in the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins (16). Nonenzymatic ADP-ribosylation of cysteine in proteins, however, yielded a product with the same chemical sensitivity as the linkage formed by PT (17). Based on these data, the ADP-ribose-cysteine produced by the human erythrocyte enzyme may have been generated nonenzymatically from free ADP-ribose. Because nitric oxide (NO) induced the noncovalent binding of the entire NAD molecule to a cysteine of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (18), it is important to exclude NAD attachment to cysteine when assaying the radiolabeling of proteins with [P]NAD. This review summarizes information on the avian and mammalian ADP-ribosyltransferases and the recent advances in understanding their role in cellular metabolism.

MONO-ADP-RIBOSYLATION : A REVERSIBLE POSTTRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS

Mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity has been detected in numerous vertebrate tissues and transferase cDNAs from a few species have recently been cloned. In vitro ADP-ribosylation has been demonstrated with diverse substrates such as phosphorylase kinase, actin, and Gs alpha resulting in the alteration of substrate function. ADP-ribosylation of endogenous target proteins has been observed in chicken heterophils, rat brain, and human platelets, and integrin alpha 7 was found to be the endogenous substrate of the GPI-anchored rabbit skeletal muscle transferase. The reversibility of ADP-ribosylation is made possible by ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases which have been isolated and cloned from rodent and human tissues. The transferases and hydrolases could in principle form an intracellular ADP-ribosylation regulatory cycle. In the case of the skeletal muscle transferases, however, processing of ADP-ribosylated integrin alpha 7 is carried out by phosphodiesterases and possibly phosphatases (Fig. 1). Most bacterial toxin and eukaryotic mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases, and perhaps other NAD-utilizing enzymes such as the RT6 family of proteins, share a common catalytic-site structure despite a lack of overall sequence identity. The transferases that have been studied thus far possess a critical glutamic acid and other amino acids at the catalytic cleft which function to position NAD for nucleophilic attack at the N-glycosidic linkage for either ADP-ribose transfer or NAD hydrolysis. The amino acid differences among transferases at the active site may reflect different catalytic mechanisms of ADP-ribosylation or may be required for accommodating the different ADP-ribose acceptor molecules.

Vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases.

Mono-ADP-ribosylation appears to be a reversible modification of proteins, which occurs in many eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Multiple forms of arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferases have been purified and characterized from avian crythrocytes, chicken polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mammalian skeletal muscle. The avian transferases have similar molecular weights of∼28 kDa, but differ in physical, regulatory and kinetic properties and subcellular localization. Recently, a 38-kDa rabbit skeletal muscle ADP-ribosyltransferase was purified and cloned. The deduced amino acid sequence contained hydrophobic amino and carboxy termini, consistent with known signal sequences of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. This arginine-specific transferase was present on the surface of mouse myotubes and of NMU cells transfected with the cDNA and was released with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferases thus appear to exhibit considerable diversity in their structure, cellular localization, regulation and physiological role.

Characterization of Mouse Rt6.1 NAD:Arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase

Rat RT6 proteins, and perhaps mouse Rt6, identify a set of immunoregulatory T lymphocytes. Rat RT6.1 (RT6.1) and rat RT6.2 (RT6.2) are NAD glycohydrolases, which catalyze auto-ADP-ribosylation, but not ADP-ribosylation of exogenous proteins. Mouse Rt6.1 (mRt6.1) also catalyzes auto-ADP-ribosylation. The activity of mouse cytotoxic T lymphocytes is reportedly inhibited by ADP-ribosylation of surface proteins, raising the possibility that mRt6 may participate in this process. The reactions catalyzed by mRt6, would, however, need to be more diverse than those of the rat homologues and include the ADP-ribosylation of acceptors other than itself. To test this hypothesis, mRt6.1 and rat RT6.2 were synthesized in Sf9 insect cells and rat mammary adenocarcinoma (NMU) cells. mRt6.1, but not rat RT6.2, catalyzed the ADP-ribosylation of guanidino-containing compounds (e.g. agmatine). Unlike RT6.2, mRt6.1 was a weak NAD glycohydrolase. In the presence of agmatine, however, the ratio of [adenine-14C]ADP-ribosylagmatine formation from [adenine-14C]NAD to [carbonyl-14C]nicotinamide formation from [carbonyl-14C]NAD was ∼1.0, demonstrating that mRt6.1 is primarily a transferase. ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase, which preferentially hydrolyzes the α-anomer of ADP-ribosylarginine, released [U-14C]arginine from ADP-ribosyl[U-14C]arginine synthesized by mRT6.1, consistent with the conclusion that mRt6.1 catalyzes a stereospecific Sn2-like reaction. Thus, mRt6.1 is an NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase capable of catalyzing a multiple turnover, stereospecific Sn2-like reaction.

Characterization of NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferases

NAD:arginine mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases catalyze the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD to the guanidino group of arginine on a target protein. Deduced amino acid sequences of one family (ART1) of mammalian ADP-ribosyltransferases, cloned from muscle and lymphocytes, show hydrophobic amino and carboxyl termini consistent with glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. The proteins, overexpressed in mammalian cells transfected with the transferase cDNAs, are released from the cell surface with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), and display immunological and biochemical characteristics consistent with a cell surface, GPI-anchored protein. In contrast, the deduced amino acid sequence of a second family (ART5) of transferases, cloned from murine lymphoma cells and expressed in high abundance in testis, displays a hydrophobic amino terminus, consistent with a signal sequence, but lacks a hydrophobic signal sequence at its carboxyl terminus, suggesting that the protein is destined for export. Consistent with the surface localization of the GPI-linked transferases, multiple surface substrates have been identified in myotubes and activated lymphocytes, and, notably, include integrin α subunits. Similar to the bacterial toxin ADP-ribosyltransferases, the mammalian transferases contain the characteristic domains involved in NAD binding and ADP-ribose transfer, including a highly acidic region near the carboxy terminus, which, when disrupted by in vitro mutagenesis, results in a loss of enzymatic activity. The carboxyl half of the protein, synthesized as a fusion protein in E. coli, possessed NADase, but not ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. These findings are consistent with the existence at the carboxyl terminus of ART1 of a catalytically active domain, capable of hydrolyzing NAD, but not of transferring ADP-ribose to a guanidino acceptor.

Structure and function of eukaryotic mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases

ADP-ribosylation of proteins has been observed in numerous animal tissues including chicken heterophils, rat brain, human platelets, and mouse skeletal muscle. ADP-ribosylation in these tissues is thought to modulate critical cellular functions such as muscle cell development, actin polymerization, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte proliferation. Specific substrates of the ADP-ribosyltransferases have been identified; the skeletal muscle transferase ADP-ribosylates integrin alpha 7 whereas the chicken heterophil enzyme modifies the heterophil granule protein p33 and the CTL enzyme ADP-ribosylates the membrane-associated protein p40. Transferase sequence has been determined which should assist in elucidating the role of ADP-ribosylation in cells. There is sequence similarity among the vertebrate transferases and the rodent RT6 alloantigens. The RT6 family of proteins are NAD glycohydrolases that have been shown to possess auto-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity whereas the mouse Rt6-1 is also capable of ADP-ribosylating histone. Absence of RT6+ T cells has been associated with the development of an autoimmune-mediated diabetes in rodents. Humans have an RT6 pseudogene and do not express RT6 proteins. The reversal of ADP-ribosylation is catalyzed by ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases, which have been purified and cloned from rodent and human tissues. In principle, the transferases and hydrolases could form an intracellular ADP-ribosylation regulatory cycle. In skeletal muscle and lymphocytes, however, the transferases and their substrates are extracellular membrane proteins whereas the hydrolases described thus far are cytoplasmic. In cultured mouse skeletal muscle cells, processing of the ADP-ribosylated integrin alpha 7 was carried out by phosphodiesterases and possibly phosphatases, leaving a residual ribose attached to the (arginine)protein. Several bacterial toxin and eukaryotic mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases, and perhaps other NAD-utilizing enzymes such as the RT6 alloantigens share regions of amino acid sequence similarity, which form, in part, the catalytic site. The catalytic cleft, found in the bacterial toxins that have been studied thus far, contains a critical glutamate and other amino acids that function to position NAD for nucleophilic attack at the N-glycosidic linkage, for either ADP-ribose transfer or NAD hydrolysis. Amino acid differences among the transferases at the active site may be required for accommodating the different ADP-ribose acceptor molecules.

ADP-Ribosylarginine Hydrolases and ADP-Ribosyltransferases

Mono-ADP-ribosylation is a reversible modification of arginine residues in proteins, with NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferases and ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases constituting opposing arms of a putative ADP-ribosylation cycle. The enzymatic components of an ADP-ribosylation cycle have been identified in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. The regulatory significance of the cycle has been best documented in prokaryotes. As shown by Ludden and coworkers, ADP-ribosylation controls the activity of dinitrogenase reductase in the phototropic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum. ADP-ribosylation of other amino acids, such as cysteine, has also been demonstrated, lending credence to the hypothesis that this modification is heterogeneous. In eukaryotes, the functional relationship between ADP-ribosyltransferases and ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases is less well documented. The transferase-catalyzed reaction results in sterospecific formation of alpha-ADP-ribosylarginine from beta-NAD; ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases specifically cleave the alpha-anomer, leading to release of ADP-ribose and regeneration of the free guanidino group of arginine. The two reactions can thus be coupled in vitro. Coupling in vivo is dependent on cellular localization. The deduced amino acid sequences of ADP-ribosyltransferases from avian and mammalian tissues have common consensus sequences involved in catalytic activity but, in some instances, enzyme-specific cellular localization signals. The presence of amino- and carboxy-terminal signal sequences is consistent with the glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-anchoring to the cell surface. The muscle and lymphocyte transferases ADP-ribosylate integrins. Some transferases lack the carboxy- terminal signal sequence needed for GPI-anchoring. Most ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase activity is cytosolic, although perhaps some is located at the cell surface. Deduced amino acid sequences of hydrolases from a number of mammalian species are consistent with their cytoplasmic localization. Katada and coworkers have determined, however, that auto-ADP-ribosylated RT6, a GPI-linked protein, is metabolized by a hydrolase-like activity, consistent with the existence of an ADP-ribosylation cycle. ADP-ribosyl RT6 may be internalized, thereby coming in contact with the cytosolic hydrolase; alternatively, a novel form of the hydrolase may be located at the surface. The mechanism of coupling of ADP-ribosyltransferases and hydrolases in eukaryotic ADP-ribosylation cycles has yet to be clarified.

ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases

ADP-ribosylation is a reversible post-translational modification of proteins involving the addition of the ADP-ribose moiety of NAD to an acceptor protein or amino acid. NAD: arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase, purified from numerous animal tissues, catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose to an arginine residue in proteins. The reverse reaction, catalyzed by ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase, removes ADP-ribose, regenerating free arginine. An ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase, purified extensively from turkey erythrocytes, was a 39-kDa monomeric protein under denaturing and non-denaturing conditions, and was activated by Mg2+ and dithiothreitol. The ADP-ribose moiety was critical for substrate recognition; the enzyme hydrolyzed ADP-ribosylarginine and (2-phospho-ADP-ribosyl)arginine but not phosphoribosylarginine or ribosylarginine. The hydrolase cDNA was cloned from rat and subsequently from mouse and human brain. The rat hydrolase gene contained a 1086-base pair open reading frame, with deduced amino acid sequences identical to those obtained by amino terminal sequencing of the protein or of HPLC-purified tryptic peptides. Deduced amino acid sequences from the mouse and human hydrolase cDNAs were 94% and 83% identical, respectively to the rat. Anti-rat brain hydrolase polyclonal antibodies reacted with turkey erythrocyte, mouse and bovine brain hydrolase. The rat hydrolase, expressed inE. coli, demonstrated enhanced activity in the presence of Mg2+ and thiol, whereas the recombinant human hydrolase was stimulated by Mg2+ but was thiol-independent. In the rat and mouse enzymes, there are five cysteines in identical positions; four of the cysteines are conserved in the human hydrolase. Replacement of cysteine 108 in the rat hydrolase (not present in the human enzyme) resulted in a thiol-independent hydrolase without altering specific activity. Rabbit anti-rat brain hydrolase antibodies reacted on immunoblot with the wild-type rat hydrolase and only weakly with the mutant hydrolase. There was no immunoreactivity with either the wild-type or mutant human enzyme. Cysteine 108 in the rat and mouse hydrolase may be responsible in part for thiol-dependence as wall as antibody recognition. Based on these studies, the mammalian and avian ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases exhibit considerable conservation in structure and function.

CHARACTERIZATION OF MAMMALIAN ADP-RIBOSYLATION CYCLES

NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferases catalyze the transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety from NAD to an arginine in an acceptor protein, whereas ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases remove ADP-ribose, regenerating free arginine and completing an ADP-ribosylation cycle. A family of four mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases was isolated and characterized from turkey erythrocytes. Transferases from rabbit and human skeletal muscle were cloned. The muscle transferases are glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins and highly conserved across mammalian species. The rat T cell alloantigen RT6.2 has significant amino acid sequence identity to the muscle ADP-ribosyltransferase. Mammalian cells transformed with the RT6.2 coding region cDNA expressed NAD glycohydrolase activity. Sequences of RT6.2, rabbit muscle transferase and several of the bacterial toxin ADP-ribosyltransferases contain regions of amino acid similarity which, in the bacterial toxin ADP-ribosyltransferases, form the NAD-binding and active-site domains. ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase, initially purified from turkey erythrocytes, was cloned from rat, mouse, and human brain. Deduced amino acid sequences of the rat and mouse hydrolases were 94% identical with five conserved cysteines whereas the human hydrolase sequence was 83% identical to that of the rat, with four conserved cysteines. It is unclear how an intracellular hydrolase acts in concert with a surface ADP-ribosyltransferase.

The Function of GPI-Anchored Proteins

Publisher Summary Although proteins attached to the plasma membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linkage are certainly diverse, these proteins now appear to use common signaling pathways. This chapter discusses the role of GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-AP) in cell function. GPI-linked proteins can be released from the cell surface by phospholipases C and D to generate the signaling molecules diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. Some of the effects of insulin may be mediated in this manner. The association of GPI-AP with members of the src-family protein tyrosine kinases is established, following antibody cross-linking of T cell antigens. It is unclear whether the effects of cross-linking antibodies in vitro are analogous to ligand binding to GPI-AP in vivo. Molecules with GPI anchors that do not span the lipid bilayer are assumed to form an obligatory complex with transmembrane proteins to transmit extracellular signals to intracellular effectors. Many GPI-linked proteins are enzymes. The effects of ectoenzyme activity on cell function have often seemed independent of GPI signaling.