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Molecular Endocrinology 12 (1): 146-156
Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society

The 20-Kilodalton (kDa) Human Growth Hormone (hGH) Differs from the 22-kDa hGH in the Complex Formation with Cell Surface hGH Receptor and hGH-Binding Protein Circulating in Human Plasma

Mitsufumi Wada, Hiroshi Uchida, Miwa Ikeda, Bunkichi Tsunekawa, Naokazu Naito, Shinichi Banba, Eishi Tanaka, Yoshihide Hashimoto and Masaru Honjo

Life Science Laboratories (M.W., H.U., M.I., B.T., N.N., M.H.) and Computational Science Laboratory (S.B., E.T.) Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Mobara, Chiba 297, Japan Institute of Biological Science (Y.H.) Mitsui Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mobara, Chiba 297 Japan


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 REFERENCES
 
In spite of recent advance in understanding of the stoichiometry of 22-kDa human GH (22K-hGH) with cell surface hGH receptor (hGHR) and hGH-binding protein (hGH-BP) circulating in human plasma, that of 20-kDa hGH (20K-hGH) is poorly understood. To clarify this, mouse pro-B Ba/F3 cells stably expressing the full-length hGHR (Ba/F3-hGHR) and both recombinant and native hGH-BP were used in this study. Cell proliferation assay revealed that the two hGH isoforms increased Ba/F3-hGHR cells to the same extent in a dose-dependent manner at 0.1 pM–10 nM. However, the self-inhibition observed in 20K-hGH at 5 µM was significantly less than that in 22K-hGH. Furthermore, addition of 1 and 10 nM recombinant hGH-BP caused a slight inhibition in 20K-hGH, but a drastic inhibition in 22K-hGH. Gel filtration chromatography of mixtures of 20K-hGH with recombinant hGH-BP clearly demonstrated that 20K-hGH formed a 1:2 (hGH:hGH-BP) complex efficiently but no detectable 1:1 complex in any conditions. Supporting data were also obtained with native hGH-BP. Computer-aided homology modeling of 20K-hGH has provided speculative data that the conformational change caused by deletion of 15 residues may occur only in the loop between helix 1 and helix 2, resulting in the reduction of its site 1 affinity. In conclusion, 20K-hGH possesses a unique property for forming a 1:2 complex to the same extent as 22K-hGH but has difficulty in forming a 1:1 complex, which might be attributed to the conformational change restricted to its site 1 region.


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 REFERENCES
 
The 20,000 dalton human GH (20K-hGH) is a naturally occurring isoform of the 22,000 dalton hGH (22K-hGH) and occupies ~5–10% of pituitary hGH (1, 2). It differs from 22K-hGH in its deleted region corresponding to amino acid residues E32-Q46 of 22K-hGH and arises from the same gene (hGH-N) as 22K-hGH by alternative mRNA splicing (3, 4).

Human GH exerts a wide variety of effects, which are generally classified as somatogenic or lactogenic (5). The former activity is induced via hGH receptor (hGHR) (6), the latter via human PRL receptor (7). Regarding an interaction of 22K-hGH with hGHR, considerable information has been accumulated. There are two binding sites called site 1 and site 2 in 22K-hGH (8) whose locations have already been characterized by alanine-scanning mutagenesis (9, 10) and an x-ray structural analysis (11). According to the previous gel filtration study, at a 1:2 (10 µM:20 µM) ratio of 22K-hGH to the recombinant hGH-binding protein (hGH-BP), which corresponds to the extracellular domain of hGHR (12), all proteins chromatographed as a single 1:2 (hGH:hGH-BP) complex. However, when the ratio was greater than 1:2, a 1:1 complex and a free 22K-hGH appeared in addition to a 1:2 complex (8). This finding was consistent with the result of the cell proliferation assay performed using mouse FDC-P1 cells expressing a hybrid receptor of hGHR and the murine G-CSF receptor (13). In the assay, 22K-hGH showed a bell-shaped dose-response curve, i.e. it induced cell proliferation at low concentrations but self-antagonized at high concentrations.

Based on these findings, a sequential dimerization model for an activation of hGHR by 22K-hGH has been proposed (10, 13, 14). At low concentrations, 22K-hGH binds with hGHR first at site 1 and subsequently at site 2 to produce an active 1:2 complex. In contrast, at high concentrations where an excess of 22K-hGH exists relative to hGHR, 22K-hGH produces an inactive 1:1 complex by binding preferentially at site 1, thereby behaving as an antagonist. On the other hand, the stoichiometry of hGH-BP complexes with 22K-hGH in human plasma has been reported to differ from that of cell surface hGHR. Most 22K-hGH exists as a 1:1 complex with hGH-BP prevailing in plasma (0.35–2 nM), even though virtually all 22K-hGH is captured in a 1:2 complex by cell surface hGHR (60 nM–6.7 µM) (15). However, it is not clear whether these models are adaptable for 20K-hGH.

In the present study, Ba/F3-hGHR cell proliferation and gel filtration assay were performed to examine the stoichiometry of complexes of 20K-hGH with cell surface hGHR and hGH-BP prevailing in human plasma. Next we predicted the conformational difference between 20K- and 22K-hGH by computer-aided homology modeling. Our results demonstrate that 20K-hGH forms a 1:2 complex as efficiently as 22K-hGH, but that 20K-hGH has difficulty in forming a 1:1 complex, which might be explained partly by a conformational change occurring in its site 1 region.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 REFERENCES
 
Dose-Responsive Effects of 20K- and 22K-hGH on Proliferation of Ba/F3-hGHR Cells
We transfected the full-length hGHR cDNA into mouse pro-B cell line Ba/F3 cells by electroporation and established cells stably expressing hGHR (Ba/F3-hGHR). The cells proliferated in response to hGH in a dose-dependent manner and were available as a tool for measuring human somatogenic activity. The binding affinities and receptor number were calculated by Scatchard analysis (16) on competition curves for both 125I-labeled hGH isoforms bound to Ba/F3-hGHR cells. The dissociation constant values (Kd) of 20K- and 22K-hGH calculated from three independent experiments were equal (0.38 ± 0.075 nM and 0.40 ± 0.039 nM, respectively), and the receptor number was estimated to be 3900 ± 420 sites per cell. We examined cell proliferative potencies of 20K- and 22K-hGH in a range of 0.1 pM–5 µM (Fig. 1Go) and found that both isoforms showed similar potencies except at 5 µM, where the self-inhibitory effect of 20K-hGH was significantly weaker (P < 0.005). In view of a sequential dimerization model, it was speculated that 20K-hGH might have difficulty in generating a 1:1 complex with hGHR even though it could generate a 1:2 complex to the same extent as 22K-hGH.



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Figure 1. Ba/F3-hGHR Cell Proliferation Caused by 22K- or 20K-hGH

Ba/F3-hGHR cells were dispensed in a 96-well plate (4 x 104 cells per well) and were incubated for 18 h in the presence of a series of concentrations of 22K-hGH (•) or 20K-hGH ({circ}). Cell number was determined by MTT assay. Each data point represents the mean of triplicate wells, and error bars indicate SD. Asterisk denotes a significant difference between 20K- and 22K-hGH (**, P < 0.005).

 
Inhibitory Effects of Physiological Concentrations of Recombinant hGH-BP on Cell Proliferation Induced by 20K- or 22K-hGH
To investigate the effect of hGH-BP in a physiological range on cell proliferation induced by 20K- or 22K-hGH, 1 or 10 nM of recombinant hGH-BP was added in the assay system. When 10 nM hGH-BP was added, a drastic reduction was observed in 22K-hGH at 0.05–2.5 nM (P < 0.005, Fig. 2AGo); however, only a slight reduction occurred in 20K-hGH at 0.05 and 0.25 nM (P < 0.05, Fig. 2BGo). The maximal inhibition (49.2% inhibition) was observed at 0.05 nM in 22K-hGH, whereas the maximal inhibition (11.0%) was at 0.25 nM in 20K-hGH. When 1 nM hGH-BP was added, a similar result was obtained (data not shown). This finding strongly suggests that 20K-hGH may be poorly captured by hGH-BP in the physiological range.



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Figure 2. Inhibitory Effect of hGH-BP on Ba/F3-hGHR Cell Proliferation Caused by 22K- or 20K-hGH

A, Proliferation of Ba/F3-hGHR cells caused by a series of concentrations of 22K-hGH in the absence (•) or presence ({blacktriangleup}) of 10 nM recombinant hGH-BP. B, Proliferation of Ba/F3-hGHR cells caused by a series of concentrations of 20K-hGH in the absence ({circ}) or presence ({triangleup}) of 10 nM recombinant hGH-BP. Each data point represents the mean of triplicate wells, and error bars indicate SD. Asterisk denotes a significant difference from control value in the absence of hGH-BP (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.005).

 
Gel Filtration Chromatograms of 20K- and 22K-hGH with High (Micromolar) or Low (Nanomolar) Levels of hGH-BP
The results observed in cell proliferation assay prompted us to investigate the stoichiometry of complexes of 20K-hGH with recombinant hGH-BP by gel filtration chromatography. According to previous reports, the concentration of cell surface hGHR is considerably high (60 nM–6.7 µM) due to the avidity effect, while that of hGH-BP prevailing in human plasma is quite low (0.35–2 nM) (13, 15). For this reason, we used high (micromolar) and low (nanomolar) levels of recombinant hGH-BP in this study.

In the micromolar level study, hGH-BP concentration was fixed at 1.8 µM. Mixtures of hGH with hGH-BP at various ratios corresponding to 5:1, 2:1, 1:1, 0.5:1, and 0.25:1 were separated on TSK-G2000 SWXL column ({phi} 7.8 x 300 mm) and detected on a fluorometer (excitation: 280 nm; emission: 340 nm). When 22K-hGH was used as a control (Fig. 3AGo), only a single peak was detected at a retention time (RT) of 7.4 min at a 0.5:1 ratio, and two other peaks (RT 7.8 and 9.0 min) appeared at ratios greater than 0.5:1. In view of the previous report (14), these three peaks were considered to correspond to a 1:2 complex (RT 7.4 min), a 1:1 complex (RT 7.8 min), and free 22K-hGH (RT 9.0 min), respectively. These peaks were also identified by determination of molecular size of cross-linked mixtures subjected to SDS-PAGE (data not shown). At a 0.25:1 ratio, a peak at RT of 9.0 min was considered to represent an excess of free hGH-BP. In contrast, in 20K-hGH (Fig. 3BGo), only two peaks representing a 1:2 complex (RT 7.5 min) and free 20K-hGH (RT 9.3 min) were detected at ratios exceeding 0.5:1, but no peak of a 1:1 complex was detected even under the condition where a 1:1 complex predominates in 22K-hGH. This finding is consistent with the weaker self-inhibition of 20K-hGH seen in Fig. 1Go.



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Figure 3. Gel Filtration Profile of Mixtures of 22K- or 20K-hGH with Recombinant hGH-BP at Micromolar Range

Recombinant hGH-BP concentration was fixed at 1.8 µM, and ratios of 22K-hGH (A) or 20K-hGH (B) to hGH-BP were (from top to bottom) 5:1, 2:1, 1:1, 0.5:1, and 0.25:1. Complex formation was achieved for 15 min at 25 C in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.8, containing 0.05% Tween 20. Aliquots (50 µl) of the mixtures were applied to TSK-G2000 SWXL column ({phi} 7.8 mm x 300 mm) and were eluted with the same buffer at 1.0 ml/min. Peaks were monitored on a fluorometer (Ex: 280 nm; Em: 340 nm). The vertical scale (mV), which represents fluorescence intensity, is common to all profiles.

 
In the nanomolar level study, the ratio was fixed at 1:2, and concentrations of hGH and hGH-BP were varied (150 nM:300 nM, 75 nM:150 nM, 15 nM:30 nM, 7.5 nM:15 nM, and 1.5 nM:3 nM). As the detection by fluorometry did not give a satisfactory result in the nanomolar level study, we established enzyme immunoassay (EIA) systems for detecting 22K-hGH or 20K-hGH. In the EIAs, hGH concentration in each eluted fraction was determined using free 22K-hGH or 20K-hGH as a standard. In Fig. 4AGo-1, a single peak of a 1:2 complex of 22K-hGH with hGH-BP (150 nM:300 nM) was detected. It was replaced by the peak of a 1:1 complex as the concentrations decreased (see Figs. 4AGo-2,3,4 and 5) consistent with a previous report (15). However, in 20K-hGH, the peak area of a 1:2 complex was gradually diminished and finally disappeared without an appearance of a detectable peak of a 1:1 complex (see Figs. 4BGo-1,2,3,4 and 5), which agrees with the data in Fig. 2Go.



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Figure 4. Gel Filtration Profile of Mixtures of 22K- or 20K-hGH with Recombinant hGH-BP at Nanomolar Range

The ratio of 22K-hGH (A) or 20K-hGH (B) to hGH-BP was fixed at 1:2, and the concentrations of hGH-BP were 300 nM (A-1 and B-1), 150 nM (A-2 and B-2), 30 nM (A-3 and B-3), 15 nM (A-4 and B-4), and 3 nM (A-5 and B-5). Mixtures (100 µl) were applied to TSK-G2000 SWXL column ({phi} 7.8 mm x 300 mm), and eluted fraction was pooled at 0.25 ml/tube. The 22K- and 20K-hGH concentration in each fraction was determined by EIA for 22K- and 20K-hGH, respectively. The vertical scale represents the concentration relative to free 22K- or 20K-hGH (ng/ml).

 
Gel Filtration Chromatograms of 20K- and 22K-hGH with Plasma hGH-BP
To obtain direct evidence that 20K-hGH has difficulty in complexing with hGH-BP circulating in human plasma, mixtures of 20K-hGH with human plasma were analyzed on Sephadex G-100 column ({phi} 10 mm x 450 mm) using 22K-hGH as a control. The quantification of 22K-hGH or 20K-hGH in each fraction was performed by the EIA described above. As shown in Fig. 5Go, two peaks were detected in 22K-hGH. The first peak was considered to correspond to the previously reported 1:1 complex, and the second peak corresponded to free 22K-hGH (15). In contrast, no 1:1 complex peak of 20K-hGH was detected. This result directly indicates that 20K-hGH can be poorly captured by human plasma hGH-BP.



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Figure 5. Gel Filtration Profile of Mixtures of 22K- and 20K-hGH with Plasma hGH-BP

Complex formation of 20 ng/ml of 22K- or 20K-hGH with human plasma originally containing less than 0.1 ng/ml of total hGH was achieved for 45 min at 37 C. Mixtures were applied to Sephadex G-100 column ({phi} 10 mm x 450 mm), and eluted fraction was pooled at 0.5 ml/tube. The 22K- and 20K-hGH concentration in each fraction was determined by EIA for 22K- and 20K-hGH, respectively. The vertical scale represents the concentration relative to free 22K- or 20K-hGH (ng/ml). The profiles for 22K- and 20K-hGH are indicated by closed circle (•) and open circle ({circ}), respectively.

 
Model Structure Analysis on 20K-hGH
To understand what causes the unique stoichiometry of 20K-hGH complexes with hGHR/hGH-BP in the molecular structure level, we performed homology modeling in which 20K-hGH structure was predicted based on the 1:2 complex of 22K-hGH with hGH-BP determined by De Vos et al. (11). Although 15 residues (E32-Q46 of 22K-hGH) are deleted in 20K-hGH, it has been shown that 20K-hGH still maintains two disulfide bonds between C38 and C150 and between C167 and 174 (17). In addition, it is likely that the region of 20K-hGH from L9 to F31 preserves a rigid helix 1 conformation. Therefore we examined the possibility that the six residues N32-L37 in 20K-hGH could replace the 21 residues E32-L52 in 22K-hGH without any bump and strain. As a result of a database search, we found that the C{alpha} distance between two clusters (I32-E36 and E43-K47) of exo-1,4 ß-D-glycanase best fits that between the two clusters (T27-F31 and C38-S42) adjacent to the N32-L37 in 20K-hGH (18) (Fig. 6AGo). Root mean square deviation was only 1.24 Å. Then we built up a 20K-hGH model assuming the structural variable region would be restricted to the region of these six residues. The stability of this model was assessed by 50 psec molecular dynamics simulation surrounded by 7 Å explicit water, where it was demonstrated that only the loop region moved whereas the four helices remained an initial coordinate (data not shown). Next we built up a 1:2 complex model of 20K-hGH with hGH-BP by substituting 22K-hGH of the 1:2 complex model for 20K-hGH, followed by molecular minimization (Fig. 6BGo). A conformational difference between 20K- and 22K-hGH was seen only in the loop (E30-S47 in 20K-hGH; E30-S62 in 22K-hGH) connecting helix 1 with helix 2. The contact surface area of 20K-hGH with hGH-BP 1 was calculated to be 1150 Å2, which was approximately 200 Å2 smaller than that of 22K-hGH (1350 Å2). In contrast, the contact surface area of 20K-hGH with hGH-BP 2 was unchanged. Next, we estimated hydrophobic interactive regions in the interface between 22K-hGH and hGH-BP 1 based on the previously reported crystal structure (11). Consequently, we found two regions by searching hydrophobic residues that interact with each other within 5 Å: one is composed of W104 (hGH-BP 1), W169 (hGH-BP 1), P61 (22K-hGH), F176 (22K-hGH), and I179 (22K-hGH), while the other is composed of two pairs of interaction between W76 (hGH-BP 1) and P48 (22K-hGH), and between P106 (hGH-BP 1) and L45 (22K-hGH). In 20K-hGH, the latter region was found to be quite changed due to the deleted 15 residues. Accordingly, P48 (22K-hGH) seemed to be replaced by L37 (20K-hGH), and L45 (22K-hGH) was replaced by P33 (20K-hGH), as shown in Fig. 6CGo. Furthermore, in previous work, four salt bridges between 22K-hGH and hGH-BP 1 such as K41 (22K-hGH) or R167 (22K-hGH) and E127 (hGH-BP 1), D171 (22K-hGH) and R43 (hGH-BP 1), E56 (22K-hGH) and R71 (hGH-BP 1), and R64 (22K-hGH) and D164 (hGH-BP 1) (11, 19), were also demonstrated. However, the 20K-hGH model could not form one salt bridge among them due to the lack of K41 (22K-hGH). Nevertheless, R152 (20K-hGH) next to E127 (hGH-BP1) is likely to replace K41 (22K-hGH). From these data, we can predict that site 1 binding affinity of 20K-hGH could be reduced even though three residues (P33 and L37 in hydrophobic interaction; R152 in salt bridge) in 20K-hGH can partially compensate for a deficit of 200 Å contact surface area.



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Figure 6. Homology Model of 20K-hGH

A, A possible loop structure searched from Brookhaven protein database. Six residues from N32 to L37 in 20K-hGH are represented by a loop structure (red) based on a region (F37-A42) in exo-1,4 ß-D-glycanase. The crystal structure of 22K-hGH was shown as a ribbon diagram form (white). B, Schematic diagram of the model of 20K-hGH complexed with hGH-BP in a 1:2 stoichiometry. The structures of 20K-hGH (yellow), hGH-BP1 (red), and hGH-BP 2 (green) are shown. The region specific to 22K-hGH is shown in white, which corresponds to residues E30-S62. This model includes neither N-terminal residues F1-K31 (hGH-BP 1 and 2) nor C-terminal residues Q235-Q238 (hGH-BP 1) and S237-Q238 (hGH-BP 2), since these residues do not seem to be involved in self-stability and intermolecular binding. C, Hydrophobic interaction domains in site 1 region different between 22K-hGH (left) and 20K-hGH (right). The carbons and hydrogens of residues belonging to hGH-BP 1 are shown in red, those to 22K-hGH in white, and 20K-hGH in yellow. Commonly, oxygens are shown in green, and nitrogens in cyano.

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 REFERENCES
 
In the present study, we have demonstrated that 20K-hGH shows a unique dose-response curve with Ba/F3-hGHR cells using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. At low concentrations, 20K-hGH has the same bioactivity relative to 22K-hGH but has a less self-inhibitory effect at high concentrations. Additionally, 1 and 10 nM recombinant hGH-BP inhibit the bioactivity of 20K-hGH less than that of 22K-hGH. These findings are compatible with the result from gel filtration assay in which 20K-hGH differs from 22K-hGH in the stoichiometry of the complexes with both recombinant and native hGH-BP. That is, 20K-hGH forms no detectable 1:1 complex even though it forms a 1:2 complex effectively. Finally, we have predicted the conformational structure of a 1:2 complex of 20K-hGH with hGHR by computer-aided homology modeling. It suggests that a conformational change occurs exclusively in its site 1 region, which may cause reduction of the site 1 affinity with site 2 affinity unchanged (summarized in Fig. 7Go).



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Figure 7. Hypothetical Model of 20K-hGH complexed with hGH and Plasma hGH-BP

A, Established model of 22K-hGH complexed with hGHR/plasma hGH-BP, which is based on both sequential receptor-dimerization model proposed by Fuh et al. (12) and the report by Baumann et al. (15). B, Hypothetical model of 20K-hGH. A conformational change due to the deletion of 15 residues is considered to cause the reduction of site 1 binding affinity of 20K-hGH. As a result, 20K-hGH poorly forms a 1:1 complex with hGHR/plasma hGH-BP, while it forms a 1:2 complex efficiently.

 
To measure the bioactivity of hGH isoforms, we have used a cell proliferation assay system with Ba/F3-hGHR cells that proliferates in response to hGH. Similar systems have already been developed and used by other groups, who documented the availability of these systems (14, 20, 21). Roswall et al. demonstrated that 20K-hGH has a similar bioactivity as 22K-hGH based on cell proliferation of FDC-P1-hGHR measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, which is consistent with our result. But they examined only up to 100 ng/ml (5 nM of 20K-hGH); therefore, self-inhibition was not observed (14).

The slight but significant inhibition of 20K-hGH bioactivity by 20K-hGH itself at 5 µM and by hGH-BP at 1 and 10 nM strongly suggests that 20K-hGH does form a 1:1 complex with hGHR/hGH-BP even if the amount might be quite low. A previous report has also shown that the recombinant hGH-BP at less than 10 nM competed significantly for the binding of [125I]20K-hGH to the IM-9 cells, but less than that of [125I]22K-hGH (22). These findings disagree with the result of our gel filtration study in which no clear peak of 20K-hGH 1:1 complex was detected. The inconsistency can be explained by the possibility that the amount of the resulting 1:1 complex of 20K-hGH may be too insignificant to be recognized as a single peak by detection systems such as fluorometry and EIA.

Gel filtration analysis using human plasma has provided direct evidence that 20K-hGH forms a 1:1 complex poorly with hGH-BP prevailing in human plasma while 22K-hGH forms it efficiently. We have obtained similar results in other samples of human and rat plasma (our unpublished data). Baumann et al. (23) have reported that 26–31% of pituitary-derived 20K-hGH, although less than that of 22K-hGH (39–59%), bound to human plasma hGH-BP. We speculate that such a higher binding potency of the pituitary-derived 20K-hGH might result from contamination with 22K-hGH and other impurities in natural 20K-hGH preparations.

The poor interaction of 20K-hGH with circulating hGH-BP may be associated with its plasma clearance rate, which still remains controversial. Earlier work demonstrated that pituitary-derived 20K-hGH had a much slower clearance rate than 22K-hGH in the rat (24); in contrast, another group reported contradictory data that recombinant methionylated 20K-hGH was cleared at a faster rate than 22K-hGH when injected with recombinant hGH-BP into the guinea pig (25). Furthermore, it was reported that 20K- and 22K-hGH had similar plasma half-lives in the mouse (26). Conclusive evidence in the human must await the results of clinical testing. However, our unpublished work suggests that plasma half-life of our recombinant 20K-hGH is slightly longer in the rat when injected intravenously.

As another possibility, 20K-hGH may exert a stronger in vivo effect than 22K-hGH on some tissues that release hGH-BP. Recently, human abdominal fat tissues have been reported to determine hGH-BP level in healthy nonobese adults (27). Therefore, abdominal fat seems to be one of the most likely candidates for the tissues on which 20K-hGH may exert a stronger effect than 22K-hGH.

Computer-aided homology modeling helps us to speculate the molecular mechanism by which 20K-hGH poorly forms 1:1 complex with hGHR/hGH-BP while it can efficiently form a 1:2 complex. The calculated 20K-hGH model has shown that the 15-residue deletion causes a conformational change exclusively in the loop between helix 1 and helix 2, which leads to reduction of the contact surface area of its site 1 with hGH-BP 1 by 200 Å2 even though three residues (P33, L37, and R52) can compensate for the deficit to some extent, suggesting that the site 1 affinity of 20K-hGH might be reduced relative to that of 22K-hGH. Baumann et al. (28) reported that pituitary-derived 20K-hGH interacted weakly (Ka = 1.2 x 107 M-1) with human plasma binding component compared with 22K-hGH (Ka = 2–3 x 108 M-1). Hansen et al. also presented similar data from direct binding to 0.6 nM recombinant hGH-BP deriving from human IM-9 lymphocytes (Kd = 18.2 nM in 20K-hGH; Kd = 2.8 nM in 22K-hGH) (22). These previous data support the speculation that site 1 affinity of 20K-hGH might be reduced. Other notable evidence comes from the previously reported gel filtration assay using a genetically engineered 22K-hGH mutant (K172A/F176A) that was decreased in site 1 affinity (14). The mutant dimerized recombinant hGH-BP to the same extent as 22K-hGH at the concentrations of 110 nM 22K-hGH and 360 nM hGH-BP; however, significant dissociation of the mutant complex occurred when the complexes were diluted. Finally, mutant complex was totally dissociated at 1 nM, where 22K-hGH exists predominantly as a 1:1 complex. The dissociation pattern of K172A/F176A, which is very similar to that of 20K-hGH, indicates that a reduction in site 1 affinity would have a remarkable effect on the generation of a 1:1 complex. However, the bioactivity of K172/F176A evaluated in cell proliferation assay was more than 1000 times lower than that of 22K-hGH (13); therefore, the bioactivity of 20K-hGH should be distinquished from that of K172A/F176A. Earlier simulation showed that a reduction in site 1 affinity of 22K-hGH would lead to a shift in the dose-response curves to the right (29), but this cannot be adaptable to 20K-hGH. We speculate the reason as follows. The simulation is valid on the assumption that the site 2 affinity is kept constant, but as one possibility, a conformation of 20K-hGH/hGHR 1 complex may be more advantageous to hGHR 2 binding than 22K-hGH/hGHR 1 complex. Indeed, the binding affinities for hGHR expressed on Ba/F3 cells are the same between 20K- and 22K-hGH (0.38 ± 0.075 nM and 0.40 ± 0.039 nM, respectively) regardless of its putative reduction of 20K-hGH site 1 affinity. Since virtually all 22K-hGH is demonstrated to form a 1:2 complex with cell surface hGHR, the binding affinity of 20K-hGH for the cell surface hGHR is likely to represent its competence to dimerize the receptor, while the affinity for hGH-BP in a physiological range seems to represent its site 1 affinity only.

We also note the recent report that conformational changes after hGHR dimerization are required in hGHR for hGH signaling (30), which raise the possibility that a putatively unique conformational change in hGHR induced by 20K-hGH may result in a unique 20K-hGH signaling. Additional experiments, such as an x-ray structural analysis on 20K-hGH, will be needed to validate this hypothesis and are now being investigated.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 REFERENCES
 
Hormones
Highly purified recombinant 20K-hGH with an authentic amino acid sequence was prepared as described previously (17). As for the 22K-hGH sample, a commercially supplied recombinant one with an authentic amino acid sequence (Genotropin, Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Sweden) was used.

EIA
Anti-22K-hGH and anti-20K-hGH polyclonal antibodies were prepared from the serum of rabbits immunized with recombinant 22K-hGH and 20K-hGH, respectively. Anti-22K-hGH monoclonal antibody (Lot A36020047P) was purchased from BiosPacific Inc. (Emeryville, CA). Anti-20K-hGH monoclonal antibody (NOREF>D05) not recognizing 22K-hGH was prepared in our laboratory (Y. Hashimoto, I. Ikeda, M. Ikeda, Y. Takahashi, M. Hosaka, H. Uchida, N. Kono, H. Fukui, T. Makino, M. Honjo, submitted) according to the standard method reported by Köhler and Milstein (31). Briefly, BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant 20K-hGH using Freund’s complete adjuvant (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, MI), and the spleen cells were fused with the P3X63Ag8 myeloma cell line (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD) using polyethylene glycol 4000 (GIBCO BRL, Gaithersburg, MD). Hybridoma clones were screened by measuring the binding of their generating monoclonal antibodies (50 ng/well) to 20K-hGH and 22K-hGH immobilized to microtiter plates (0.5 ng/well) via polyclonal antibodies. Finally, a monoclonal antibody (D05) that preferentially bound to 20K-hGH was selected. Data from BIAcore (Pharmacia Biosensor, Tokyo, Japan) showed that D05 had an apparent Kd for 20K-hGH of 280 pM and a cross-reactivity with 22K-hGH less than 0.1%. The sandwich EIA for quantitating 20K- or 22K-hGH was performed by utilizing a fully automated EIA analyzer (QUARTUS; Mitsui Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tokyo, Japan). In the assay, the monoclonal antibody (D05 for measuring 20K-hGH or A36020047P for 22K-hGH) immobilized to magnetic particles was used as the first antibody, and the anti-20K-hGH or the anti-22K-hGH polyclonal antibody labeled with horseradish peroxidase was used as the second antibody. Tetramethylbenzidine was used as a chromogen.

Plasmids
The mammalian expression plasmid pCXN2, which was a derivative of pCXN plasmid containing chicken ß-actin promoter and neomycin-resistant gene (32), was generously provided by Prof. J. Miyazaki (Osaka University). The construction of the pCXN2 containing hGHR cDNA (pCXN2-hGHR) was described previously (33). The construction of Escherichia coli expression plasmid pGHR30 containing coding region of the extracellular domain of hGHR (hGH-BP) was as follows. The hGH-BP cDNA fragment was amplified by PCR using hGHR cDNA as a template and was inserted into pGHR10 plasmid (17) in place of 20K-hGH cDNA under the downstream of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens neutral protease promoter and the modified neutral protease signal sequence.

Recombinant hGH-BP
The E. coli strain W3110 harboring pGHR30, which secreted hGH-BP into its periplasmic space, was constructed in this laboratory. It was grown at 30 C for 24 h in modified LB medium (20 g/liter polypepton, 10 g/liter yeast extract, 10 g/liter glycerol, 10 mg/liter tetracyclin and was adjusted to pH 7.0 with KOH). Cells were harvested by centrifugation, and the periplasmic fraction was prepared by osmotic shock (34). Solid ammonium sulfate was added to 277 g/liter, and the precipitate was collected by centrifugation at 10,000 x g for 30 min. The pellet was resuspended in PBS containing 1 mM PMSF, then dialyzed against the same buffer. The dialysate was applied to an 22K-hGH affinity column. The column was washed with PBS and then eluted with PBS containing 4 M MgCl2. The peak fractions were collected and dialyzed with 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.0) at 4 C overnight and applied to a Mono Q column (HR 10/10). The column was washed with 20 mM bis-Tris propane-HCl (pH 7.0) and eluted with a linear gradient of 0–0.1 M NaCl. The protein finally obtained was verified in its purity by SDS-PAGE, molecular size by Western analysis, and amino acid sequence on protein sequencer model PSQ-1 (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan).

Receptor Expression
Ba/F3 cells were purchased from RIKEN Cell Bank (Ibaraki, Japan). Ba/F3 cells were maintained in culture medium (RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% FCS, 50 µM 2-mercaptoethanol, 50 µg/ml streptomycin sulfate, 50 U/ml penicillin G, and 1 ng/ml recombinant mouse IL-3 (R & D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, MN). Fifty micrograms of pCXN2-hGHR were transfected into 1 x 107 Ba/F3 cells by being pulsed at 200 V, 960 µFarads in ice-cold Opti-MEM medium (GIBCO BRL). Cells expressing hGHR were cultured in selection medium (RPMI-1640 medium containing 1 mg/ml G418, 10% FCS, 50 µM 2-mercaptoethanol, 10 nM 22K-hGH, and antibiotics). Resultant hGH-responsive cells were examined for hGHR expression by binding assay to [125I]22K-hGH.

Competitive Displacement Binding Assay
Ba/F3-hGHR cells were incubated in the culture medium described above overnight to remove the hGH binding to the cell-surface receptor. Cells were incubated with [125I]20K-hGH or [125I]22K-hGH and a series of various concentrations of cold 20K- or 22K-hGH in HEPES buffer (50 mM HEPES, pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl, 10 mM CaCl2, 0.1% BSA). Cells were spun down and washed with ice-cold HEPES buffer, and their radioactivities were measured on a {gamma}-counter.

Cell Proliferation Assay
Ba/F3 cells expressing hGHR were grown in the selection medium to log phase (2 x 106 cells/ml) and were fasted before assay. Cells were incubated in the assay medium (RPMI-1640 supplemented with 5% FCS, 50 µM 2-mercaptoethanol, and antibiotics) for 4 h and were resuspended in a fresh assay buffer at densities of 8 x 105 cells/ml. Sample solution (50 µl) and cell suspension (50 µl) were mixed together into the well of a 96-well plate and incubated for 18 h. The measurements of cell proliferation were achieved using a MTT assay kit (CellTiter 96 Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay, Promega) according to the manufacturer’s protocol.

Gel Filtration Chromatography of Mixtures of 20K- or 22K-hGH with Recombinant hGH-BP
In the micromolar level experiment, the concentration of hGH-BP was fixed at 1.8 µM, and the ratios of hGH to hGH-BP were varied as 5:1, 2:1, 1:1, 0.5:1, and 0.25:1. The mixtures were incubated at 25 C for 15 min in 20 mM potassium phosphate (pH 6.8) containing 0.05% Tween 20, and the aliquots (50 µl) were applied to TSK-G2000 SWXL column ({phi} 7.8 x 300 mm) and eluted with the same buffer at 1.0 ml/min. Peaks were monitored on a fluorometer (Ex: 280 nm, Em: 340 nm).

In the nanomolar level experiment, the ratio of hGH to hGH-BP was fixed at 1:2, and the concentrations of hGH and hGH-BP were varied as 1.5 nM:3 nM, 7.5 nM:15 nM, 15 nM:30 nM, 75 nM:150 nM, and 150 nM:300 nM. Mixtures were incubated as described above, and the aliquots (100 µl) were applied to TSK-G2000 SWXL column ({phi} 7.8 x 300 mm). Eluted samples were fractionated at 0.25 ml/tube, after which hGH concentration in each fraction was measured by EIA using free 22K- or 20K-hGH as a standard. Therefore, the vertical scale represented the concentration relative to free 22K- or 20K-hGH.

Gel Filtration Chromatography of Mixtures of 20K- or 22K-hGH with Human Plasma
We modified a method previously described by Baumann et al. (23). Fresh heparinized human plasma was obtained from a normal 38-yr-old male volunteer. Original GH (20K- and 22K-hGH) concentration in this plasma, estimated by EIA, was less than 0.1 ng/ml. The plasma was incubated with 20K-or 22K-hGH (final 20 ng/ml) at 37 C for 45 min. The mixtures (1 ml) were then separated by gel filtration on 1 x 45-cm Sephadex G-100 column in 0.01 M Na phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, containing 0.14 M NaCl and 0.1% BSA at 4 C, and eluted fraction was pooled at 0.5 ml/tube. The hGH concentration in each fraction was measured by EIA using free 22K- or 20K-hGH as a standard.

Computer-Aided Homology Modeling
Because of some residues that could not be determined due to disorder or were modeled as an alanine residue in the previous 1:2 complex of 22K-hGH with hGH-BP (11), we built an initial structure for the complex as follows. First of all, undetermined residues were built up by Insight II/Search-Loop (Biosym/MSI, San Diego, CA) (35). Second, residues modeled as an alanine residue were replaced by authentic ones. Third, the side chains of these changed residues were optimized by Insight II/AutoRotamer (35). Homology model was built by using Insight II/Homology (36). All dynamics and minimization calculations were performed with Discover program (35), being the CVFF forcefield employed with a distance-dependent dielectric. Structural illustrations were created with the Insight II program (35). The surface area calculations were conducted by using the algorithm of Lee and Richards (37) with a rolling sphere of radius 1.4 Å. A loop homology was searched from Brookhaven protein database (PDB).

Statistics
Statistical significance was assessed with paired t tests, using Stat View 4.0 (Abacus Concepts, Inc., Berkeley, CA).


    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
We would like to thank Professor Jun-ichi Miyazaki (Osaka University) for providing pCXN2 plasmid.


    FOOTNOTES
 
Address requests for reprints to: Masaru Honjo, Ph.D., Life Science Laboratories, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., 1144 Togo, Mobara, Chiba 297, Japan.

Received for publication August 12, 1997. Revision received October 6, 1997. Accepted for publication October 24, 1997.


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 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
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