The role of the Ras-related GTP-binding protein, Rab1B, in intracellular trafficking of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) was studied in cultured 293 cells. beta APP is processed via one of two alternative routes. In the major secretory pathway, beta APP is cleaved by alpha-secretase within the region comprising the beta-amyloid peptide (A beta), resulting in release of a soluble NH2-terminal exodomain (APP alpha) and a 3-kDa peptide (p3) derived from the carboxyl-terminal tail. In the alternative amyloidogenic pathway, beta APP is cleaved by beta-secretase, with the release of a truncated exodomain (APP beta) and an intact A beta peptide. When beta APP751 was coexpressed with Rab1B(wt) or dominant-negative Rab1B mutants (Rab1BN121I or Rab1BS22N) there was a marked decrease in conversion of the immature Endo-H sensitive form of beta APP751 (108 kDa) to the mature O-glycosylated form of beta APP751 (130 kDa) in cells expressing the mutant forms of Rab1B. The block in Golgi-dependent processing of beta APP was accompanied by inhibition of secretion of APPS (APP alpha). A similar decrease in secretion of APPS (APP alpha+APP beta) was observed in cells that were coexpressing Rab1BN121I with the "Swedish" variant of beta APP751 (i.e. beta APPSW751), which undergoes increased amyloidogenic processing. Coincident with the decline in APPS secretion, the cells coexpressing beta APPSW751 with Rab1BN121I showed a 90% decrease in A beta secretion. The data indicate that Rab1B plays a key role in endoplasmic reticulum-->Golgi transport of beta APP, and that beta APP must pass through a late Golgi compartment before entering either the alpha-secretase or the amyloidogenic beta-secretase pathway. The results also suggest that mutant versions of other Rab proteins that function in different parts of the exocytic and endocytic pathways may be useful in defining the specific routes of beta APP transport involved in the biogenesis of A beta.
Changes in protein prenyltransferase activity, levels of prenylated protein, and the type of isoprenoid modification was described in cells of rat seminifereous epithelium and correlated with differentiative events of spermatogenesis. The activity of protein farnesyltransferase (PFT) was at least 10-fold higher than that for protein geranylgeranyltransferase-I (PGGT-I) in seminiferous epithelium and spermatogenic cells of prepubertal rats of different ages. Both activities increased during the meiotic stages of differentiation and peaked at 23 days of age. The activity of farnesyltransferase in seminiferous epithelium was the same as that in mixed spermatogenic cell populations from animals aged 9 and 23 days, indicating that the activity of this enzyme in somatic cells and germ cells was similar at these ages. Farnesyltransferase activities were similar and low in both pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids from adult rats; however, the activity in pachytene spermatocytes from 23-day old animals was 2-fold higher than in adults. The highest activity was associated with intermediate-sized spermatocytes appearing late during meiosis. PGGT-I activity was at least 10-fold lower than farnesyltransferase activity and was not significantly different among all cell populations. Differentiation-dependent in vivo protein prenylation was demonstrated by labeling of seminiferous epithelium with [3H]mevalonic acid at different prepubertal ages. Total protein prenylation and the ratio of geranylgeranylated to farnesylated protein, in contrast to prenyltransferase activity, decreased with increasing age. Although 20-30-kDa proteins were the most highly labeled at all ages, [3H]-proteins from different-aged prepubertal rats showed age-dependent changes in the level of prenylation of at least 14 proteins as determined by two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis. Prenylated proteins of round spermatids were distinguished from those of the spermatocytes by the lack of many 20-30-kDa proteins and by low geranylgeranyl/farnesyl (GG/F) ratios. These results show that independent changes in prenyltransferase activity and protein prenylation accompany the differentiation events during the premeiotic and meiotic stages of spermatogenesis. This suggests that prenylation in the seminiferous epithelium may be more dependent on available protein substrate than on protein prenyltransferase activity.
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