Thyrotropin (TSH) and the gonadotropins (FSH, LH, hCG) are a family of heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones composed of two noncovalently linked subunits, ␣ and . We have recently converted the hTSH heterodimer to a biologically active single chain (hTSH⅐CTP␣) by fusing the common ␣-subunit to the C-terminal end of the hTSH -subunit in the presence of a ϳ30-amino acid peptide from hCG (CTP) as a linker. The hTSH⅐CTP␣ single chain was used to investigate the role of the Nlinked oligosaccharides of ␣-and -subunits in the secretion and function of hTSH. Using overlapping PCR mutagenesis, two deglycosylated variants were prepared: one lacking both oligosaccharide chains on the ␣-subunit (hTSH⅐CTP␣ 1؉2 ) and the other lacking the oligosaccharide chain on the -subunit (hTSH⅐CTP␣(deg)). The single chain variants were expressed in CHO cells and were secreted into the medium. hTSH variants lacking the oligosaccharide chains were less potent than hTSH⅐CTP␣ wild-type with respect to cAMP formation and thyroid hormone secretion in cultured human thyroid follicles. Both deglycosylated variants competed with hTSH in a dose-dependent manner. The hTSH⅐CTP␣ 1؉2 variant blocked cAMP formation and thyroid hormone secretion stimulated by hTSH as well as by the antibody, thyroidstimulating immunoglobulins, responsible for the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, Graves disease. Thus, this variant behaves as a potential antagonist, offering a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis caused by Graves' disease and TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Thyrotropin (TSH)1 is a member of the glycoprotein hormone family, which includes lutropin (LH), follitropin (FSH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These are heterodimers composed of two noncovalent-linked subunits, a common ␣-subunit and a hormone-specific -subunit (1, 2). Assembly of glycoprotein subunits is vital to the function of these hormones. The ␣-and -subunits contain one (TSH and LH) or two (␣, FSH, and hCG) asparagine-linked (N-linked) oligosaccharides (1, 2). These residues have been shown to play a role in determining the biological activity of glycoprotein hormones, including the maintenance of intracellular stability, assembly, secretion, signal transduction, and modulation of plasma halflife (1, 3). Deglycosylation of glycoprotein hormones have been utilized using chemical or enzymatic treatments, but these however cannot discriminate between individual sites, are nonspecific, and provide only completely deglycosylated hormones.Site-directed mutagenesis has become an important tool for studying the structure and function of glycoprotein hormones. However, mutations in either ␣-or -subunits can alter the folding and ultimately inhibit subunit assembly and secretion of the hormone (4 -6). To overcome these limitations, the genes encoding the common ␣-subunit and either the hCG -, FSH -, or TSH -subunits have been genetically fused. The resulting polypeptide chains were efficiently secreted and were biologically active (7-12). The...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.