We examined the biosynthesis and post-translational processing of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (pro-BDNF) in cells infected with a pro-BDNFencoding vaccinia virus. Metabolic labeling, immunoprecipitation, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveal that pro-BDNF is generated as a 32-kDa precursor that is N-glycosylated and glycosulfated on a site, within the pro-domain. Some pro-BDNF is released extracellularly and is biologically active as demonstrated by its ability to mediate TrkB phosphorylation. The precursor undergoes N-terminal cleavage within the trans-Golgi network and/or immature secretory vesicles to generate mature BDNF (14 kDa). Small amounts of a 28-kDa protein that is immunoprecipitated with BDNF antibodies is also evident. This protein is generated in the endoplasmic reticulum through N-terminal cleavage of pro-BDNF at the Arg-Gly-Leu-Thr 57 -2-SerLeu site. Cleavage is abolished when Arg 54 is changed to Ala (R54A) by in vitro mutagenesis. Blocking generation of 28-kDa BDNF has no effect on the level of mature BDNF and blocking generation of mature BDNF with ␣ 1 -PDX, an inhibitor of furin-like enzymes, does not lead to accumulation of the 28-kDa form. These data suggest that 28-kDa pro-BDNF is not an obligatory intermediate in the formation of the 14-kDa form in the constitutive secretory pathway. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)1 along with nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) are members of the neurotrophin family of trophic factors (1). The neurotrophins play essential roles in the development, survival, and function of a wide range of neurons in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.The neurotrophins have a number of shared characteristics, including similar molecular weights (13.2-15.9 kDa), isoelectric points (in the range of 9 -10), and ϳ50% identity in primary structure. They exist in solution as noncovalently bound dimers. Six cysteine residues conserved in the same relative positions give rise to three intra-chain disulfide bonds (2, 3). The neurotrophins interact with two cell surface receptors, the low affinity P75 receptor (4) and the Trk family of high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (5). NGF preferentially binds TrkA, BDNF and NT4/5 bind TrkB, and NT-3 binds TrkC (and TrkA to a lesser extent).Sequence data predict that mature neurotrophins are generated through the proteolytic processing of higher molecular weight precursors (31-35 kDa), a process that has been extensively studied with respect to the production of NGF (6, 7). Almost nothing is known, however, about the biosynthesis and post-translational processing of the other members of the neurotrophin family. Recent data from our laboratory show that cells with a regulated secretory pathway, including central nervous system neurons, release mature (i.e. fully processed) NGF (8) and NT-3 (9) via the constitutive secretory pathway, whereas mature BDNF is packaged in vesicles and released through the regulated pathway (8). Furthermore, BDNF i...

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is released through the constitutive secretory pathway from cells in peripheral tissues and nerves where it can act as a target-derived survival factor. In contrast, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) appears to be processed in the regulated secretory pathway of brain neurons and secreted in an activity-dependent manner to play a role in synaptic plasticity. To determine whether sorting differences are intrinsic to the neurotrophins or reflect differences between cell types, we compared NGF and BDNF processing in cultured hippocampal neurons using a Vaccinia virus expression system. Three independent criteria (retention or release from cells after pulse-chase labeling, depolarization-dependent release, and immunocytochemical localization) suggest that the bulk of newly synthesized NGF is sorted into the constitutive pathway, whereas BDNF is primarily sorted into the regulated secretory pathway. Similar results occurred with AtT 20 cells, including those transfected with cDNAs encoding neurotrophin precursor-green fluorescent protein fusions. The NGF precursor, but not the BDNF precursor, is efficiently cleaved by the endoprotease furin in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Blocking furin activity in AtT 20 cells with alpha1-PDX as well as increasing the expression of NGF precursor partially directed NGF into the regulated secretory pathway. Therefore, neurotrophins can be sorted into either the constitutive or regulated secretory pathways, and sorting may be regulated by the efficiency of furin cleavage in the TGN. This mechanism may explain how neuron-generated neurotrophins can act both as survival factors and as neuropeptides.

In order to define the enzymes responsible for the maturation of the precursors of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (proNT3), we have analysed their biosynthesis and intracellular processing by the proprotein convertases furin, PC1, PC2, PACE4, PC5 and its isoform PC5/6-B. In these studies, we utilized a vaccinia virus expression system in either BSC40 or the furin activity-deficient LoVo cells. Results demonstrated that in both cells furin and, to a lesser extent, PACE4 and PC516-B effectively process proBDNF and proNT3. Furthermore, we have determined that human proNT3 is sulfated, suggesting that processing of proNT3 occurs following the arrival of the precursor to the Trans Golgi Network.

Schwann cells express low levels of myelin proteins in the absence of neurons. When Schwann cells and neurons are cultured together the production of myelin proteins is elevated, and myelin is formed. For peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22), the exact amount of protein produced is critical, because peripheral neuropathies result from its underexpression or overexpression. In this study we examined the effect of neurons on Schwann cell PMP22 production in culture and in peripheral nerve using metabolic labeling and pulse-chase studies as well as immunocytochemistry. Most of the newly synthesized PMP22 in Schwann cells is rapidly degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum. Only a small proportion of the total PMP22 acquires complex glycosylation and accumulates in the Golgi compartment. This material is translocated to the Schwann cell membrane in detectable amounts only when axonal contact and myelination occur. Myelination does not, however, alter the rapid turnover of PMP22 in Schwann cells. PMP22 may therefore be a unique myelin protein in that axonal contact promotes its insertion into the Schwann cell membrane and myelin without altering its rapid turnover rate within the cell.