help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fowlkes, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Serra, D. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fowlkes, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Serra, D. M.
Endocrinology Vol. 138, No. 6 2280-2285
Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Heparin-Binding, Highly Basic Regions within the Thyroglobulin Type-1 Repeat of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-Binding Proteins (IGFBPs) -3, -5, and -6 Inhibit IGFBP-4 Degradation1

John L. Fowlkes, Kathryn M. Thrailkill, Carlos George-Nascimento, Carlyn K. Rosenberg and Delila M. Serra

Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine (J.L.F., K.M.T.), Lexington, Kentucky 40536; Bios-Chile (C.G-N), Santiago, Chile; and the Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center (C.K.R., D.M.S.), Durham, North Carolina 27710

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: John L. Fowlkes, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, J462 Kentucky Clinic, 740 South Limestone Avenue, Lexington, KY 40536-0284.


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
MC3T3-E1 murine osteoblasts produce insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4)-degrading proteinase activity, which is inhibited by IGFBP-3 and a highly basic, C-terminal domain of IGFBP-3. Of all the other five IGFBPs, IGFBP-5 and -6 share the highest degree of homology with this domain of IGFBP-3; therefore, we investigated whether these two IGFBPs inhibit IGFBP-4 degradation. Both IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 inhibit the degradation of 125I-IGFBP-4 by MC3T3-E1-conditioned media, and their inhibitory effects are variably reversed by IGFs. Synthetic peptides containing highly basic, C-terminal regions of IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 inhibit 125I-IGFBP-4 degradation, as does an homologous IGFBP-3 peptide, yet each peptide displays a different IC50, with the IGFBP-5 peptide being the most potent and the IGFBP-6 peptide being the least potent. In contrast, a homologous, yet neutral, IGFBP-4 peptide does not inhibit 125I-IGFBP-4 proteolysis, confirming the role of basic residues in the inhibitory process. The IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 peptides, each of which contains the heparin-binding consensus sequence XBBBXXBX, bind heparin, yet the IGFBP-3 and -5 peptides bind heparin with the highest affinities, whereas the IGFBP-6 peptide binds heparin with ~10-fold less affinity. Consistent with these regions being involved in proteinase inhibition, heparin completely reverses their inhibitory effects on 125I-IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Together, these data demonstrate that IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 can function as IGF-reversible inhibitors of IGFBP-4 proteolysis, likely through homologous, highly basic, heparin-binding domains contained within the conserved thyroglobulin type-1 motif present in the C-termini of these IGFBPs.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
INSULIN-LIKE growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is a potent inhibitor of IGF activity (for reviews see Refs. 1–4); however, the inhibitory effects of IGFBP-4 on IGF action can be significantly diminished via proteolysis of the binding protein by an IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase, resulting in IGFBP-4 fragments that have little or no affinity for IGFs (5, 6). IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase activity now has been reported in cell lines from a wide variety of sources (5, 6, 7, 8, 9), suggesting that its role in regulating IGF bioavailability may be widespread. Recent data suggest that the activity of the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase is tightly controlled. For instance, Conover et al. have reported that phorbol esters up-regulate an inhibitor of the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase in fibroblasts (10). Although the nature of the induced inhibitor(s) is not clear, we recently have demonstrated that another IGFBP, i.e. IGFBP-3, can function as an inhibitor of the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cultures and that the inhibitory effect of IGFBP-3 is reversible in the presence of IGF-I or IGF-II (11). Furthermore, these studies demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of IGFBP-3 on IGFBP-4 proteolysis can be mimicked by a synthetic peptide containing a C-terminal sequence of IGFBP-3 that binds heparin and several other glycosaminoglycans (11, 12).

Analysis of this C-terminal region of IGFBP-3 reveals that all of the known six IGFBPs share some degree of homology in this domain, in that they all contain a domain consensus pattern consistent with a thyroglobulin type-1 motif (13). However, only IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 possess a cryptic heparin-binding consensus sequence within this region. Herein, we have determined whether IGFBP-5 and/or IGFBP-6, the two IGFBPs with the greatest degree of homology with this highly basic domain of IGFBP-3, might inhibit IGFBP-4 degradation, and we have explored potential mechanisms involved in their inhibitory activities.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Materials
Recombinant human (rh)IGFBP-4, rhIGFBP-5, and rhIGFBP-6 were produced in a baculovirus expression system using full-length complementary DNAs for each IGFBP (13). rhIGFBP-3 produced in Escherichia coli (rhIGFBP-3) was kindly provided by Dr. Christopher Maack, Celtrix Pharmaceuticals, Santa Clara, CA (14). rhIGF-I was kindly provided by Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, and rhIGF-II was generously supplied by Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN. Heparin (6 kDa) was purchased from Sigma, St. Louis, MO. Reagents used for SDS-PAGE were purchased from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, CA. Na125I, low-molecular weight markers, and Hyperfilm-ECL were obtained from Amersham Corp., Arlington Heights, IL. Growth media and cell culture reagents were obtained from GIBCO-BRL Laboratories, Grand Island, NY.

MC3T3-E1 cell culture and conditioned media
Stock cultures of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were maintained in {alpha}-MEM containing 10% (vol/vol) FBS, penicillin (100 U/ml), and streptomycin (100 U/ml), as previously described (15). Stock cultures were subcultured every three days. Cells from four 150-cm2 flasks were used to a seed a 2-liter Nunc cell factory and were grown to 80–90% confluence. To prepare conditioned media, the cells were washed three times with Dulbecco’s PBS; then 1.5 liters of serum-free medium (DMEM/F12), containing antibiotics, were added to the cell factory for 48 h. This medium was collected, and serum-containing medium was added back to the cells for 48 h. This process was repeated until ~6 liters of conditioned media were obtained. The conditioned media were concentrated ~7-fold using Centricon-30 concentrators (Amicon, Beverly, MA).

Degradation of 125I-IGFBP-4 by MC3T3-E1-conditioned media
125I-rhIGFBP-4 proteinase assays, using cell-free conditioned media, were performed as described previously (5, 11). Briefly, 50-µl samples of MC3T3-E1 cell-free conditioned media were incubated with 125I-IGFBP-4 (~10,000 cpm; ~1 ng) at 37 C for 18–24 h. Proteolytic degradation of 125I-IGFBP-4 was terminated by the addition of an equal volume of 2x nonreducing sample buffer (16), followed by heating at 100 C for 3 min. Samples were separated under nonreducing conditions on 15% SDS-polyacrylamide gels, dried under vacuum, and autoradiographed to visualize intact and degraded 125I-IGFBP-4 fragments. For inhibition studies, various concentrations of rhIGFBP-3, rhIGFBP-4, rhIGFBP-5, rhIGFBP-6, rhIGF-I, rhIGF-II, synthetic peptides, and/or heparin were preincubated with MC3T3-E1-conditioned media for 3 h at 37 C before and during the in vitro 125I-rhIGFBP-4 protease assay.

Preparation of synthetic IGFBP peptides
Peptides consisting of amino acid sequences, contained in the highly conserved thyroglobulin type-1 motif of IGFBP-3, -4, -5, and -6, were produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis using 9-fluorenylmethoxy-carbonyl chemistry. The sequences are as follows: 1) 213CDKKGFYKKKQCRPSKGR230 from hIGFBP-3; 2) 183CDRNGNFHPKQCHPALDG200 from hIGFBP-4; 3) 199CDRKGFYKRKQCKPSRGR216 from hIGFBP-5; and 4) 166CDHRGFYRKRQCRSSQGQ183 from hIGFBP-6. All peptides were purified by HPLC and were demonstrated to be >=95% pure. Sequence verification was performed by electrospray mass spectrometry. The internal cysteine in all peptides was acetylmethylated. Synthetic peptides were tested for their ability to alter 125I-rhIGFBP-4 degradation by MC3T3-E1-conditioned media, as described above.

Solid-phase heparin-binding assay
The solid-phase peptide-binding assay was performed as described elsewhere (12). Briefly, 50-µl aliquots of various concentrations of synthetic peptides dissolved in carbonate buffer, pH 9.6, were absorbed onto 96-well tissue culture plates overnight at 4 C. The wells were then saturated for 1 h at room temperature with 100 µl/well PBS, pH 7.4, containing 3% BSA that had been denatured at 60 C for 30 min. The plate was washed with PBS, pH 7.4, containing 0.1% Tween 20 (PBST), then incubated for 3 h at room temperature with biotinylated heparin (bHep) diluted in PBST/0.2% BSA (final concentration 5 µg/ml). After washing the plate, 50 µl of streptavidin-conjugated horse radish peroxidase (Amersham), diluted 1:1000 in PBST/0.2% BSA, were added to each well and incubated for 1 h at room temperature. After a final wash, the peroxidase substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride (Sigma) was added, and the reaction was terminated with the addition of 2 M H2SO4. The plate was read in an automated plate reader at OD450.

Statistical analysis
Relative concentrations of intact 125I-rhIGFBP-4 and fragments of 125I-rhIGFBP-4 were determined by scanning densitometry (Beckman, Fullerton, CA). Graphic data were normalized to the proteolysis of 125I-rhIGFBP-4 observed in unconditioned media (i.e. 100% inhibition) and the proteolysis of 125I-rhIGFBP-4 observed in cell-free conditioned media (i.e. 100% proteolysis). All data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Statistical significance between groups was determined by paired Student’s t test. Curve-fitting and IC50 values were calculated using PRISM software (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA).


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis by IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 and its regulation by IGFs
MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts produce IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase activity consistent with a cation-dependent proteinase (11). This proteinase activity degrades 125I-IGFBP-4 (~28-kDa) into ~20- and ~14-kDa fragments (Fig. 1Go, A–D; lane 2). Figure 1Go shows that IGFBP-5 (Fig. 1Go, A and B; lane 3) and IGFBP-6 (Fig. 1Go, C and D; lane 3), added at a concentration of 2 µg/ml, significantly inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis. This concentration was chosen because IGFBP-3 at this concentration significantly inhibits IGFBP-4 proteolyis by MC3T3-E1-conditioned media (11). The addition of IGF-I only marginally reverses the effects of IGFBP-5 (Fig. 1AGo; lanes 4–7), whereas it reverses, more substantially, the inhibitory effects of IGFBP-6 (Fig. 1CGo; lanes 4–7). In contrast, IGF-II, when added instead of IGF-I, seems to be more potent than IGF-I in its ability to reverse the inhibitory effects of both IGFBP-5 (Fig. 1BGo; lanes 4–7) and IGFBP-6 (Fig. 1DGo; lanes 4–7).



View larger version (65K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Inhibition of 125I-IGFBP-4 proteolysis by IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 and its regulation by IGFs. 125I-IGFBP-4 was incubated with 50 µl MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-conditioned media (lanes 2–7) or 50 µl DMEM (lane 1) in the absence (lanes 1 and 2) or presence (lanes 3–7) of 100 ng IGFBP-5 (A and B) or 100 ng IGFBP-6 (C and D), as described in Materials and Methods. In addition, IGF-I (A and C) or IGF-II (B and D) was added to the incubations in the following amounts: lane 4, 10 ng; lane 5, 25 ng; lane 6, 50 ng; and lane 7, 100 ng. Lane 5 in each panel approximates a 1:1 molar ratio of IGF:IGFBP-5 or IGFBP-6.

 
Comparison of IGFBP synthetic peptides’ ability to inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis
To investigate whether the highly basic regions of IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 inhibit IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase activity, we examined the effects of synthetic peptides corresponding to these regions and their ability to inhibit proteinase activity and compared their effects to those of the homologous IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 peptides (Fig. 2Go). This region of each IGFBP is found within the conserved thyroglobulin type-1 motif and contains two of the four conserved cysteines (see Discussion for details). As shown in Fig. 3Go, synthetic peptides, containing sequences from IGFBP-3, -5, and -6, inhibited IGFBP-4 proteolysis in a dose-dependent manner, with the C-terminal peptide from IGFBP-5 being the most potent (IC50, 13 µM), whereas the IGFBP-6 peptide was the least potent of the three inhibitory peptides (IC50, 33 µM). In contrast to these three peptides, the IGFBP-4 peptide demonstrated little, if any, inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis. This demonstrates: 1) that the IGFBP-4 peptide does not contain critical structural elements necessary for inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis; and 2) that this peptide does not function as a competitive inhibitor of IGFBP-4 protease activity in the conditioned media, consistent with other studies showing that the IGFBP-4 cleavage sites in human IGFBP-4 are not present within this region (17).



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Schematic, demonstrating the homologous regions of IGFBPs-4, -5, and -6 with IGFBP-3, their calculated pI’s, and the heparin-binding consensus sequence in IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 (shaded boxes).

 


View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. Comparison with homologous C-terminal IGFBP synthetic peptides’ ability to inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Increasing amounts of synthetic peptides corresponding to the homologous, C-terminal regions from IGFBP-3 (•), IGFBP-4 ({blacksquare}), IGFBP-5 ({circ}), or IGFBP-6 (X) were incubated with 50 µl MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-conditioned medium in the presence of 125I-IGFBP-4. The degree of 125I-IGFBP-4 proteolysis was determined and inhibition curves and IC50 were calculated, as described in Materials and Methods. Values represent the mean ± SD.

 
Binding of bHep to IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 synthetic peptides
A solid-phase binding assay (using immobilized IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 peptides and bHep as ligand) was used to characterize the relative affinities of these domains for heparin. As shown in Fig. 4Go, all three peptides bound bHep in a dose-dependent fashion. The IGFBP-5 peptide demonstrated the highest affinity (EC50, 3.7 µg/ml of peptide; 185 ng/well), the IGFBP-3 peptide was intermediate in its affinity (EC50, 4.3 µg/ml of peptide; 215 ng/well), and the IGFBP-6 peptide demonstrated the lowest affinity for heparin (EC50, 49.0 µg/ml of peptide; 2450 ng/well). Using the same assay, the IGFBP-4 peptide showed little or no affinity for heparin (data not shown). Thus, all three highly-basic peptides, each of which contains a putative heparin-binding domain conforming to the consensus sequence XBBBXXBX (where X = any amino acid; and B = a basic amino acid), not only inhibited IGFBP-4 proteolysis, but also bound heparin (albeit with different affinities).



View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Binding of bHep to IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 synthetic peptides. Binding of bHep to increasing concentrations of immobilized synthetic peptides from IGFBP-3 (•), IGFBP-5 ({circ}), or IGFBP-6 (X) was performed and analyzed as described in Materials and Methods. The values represent the mean ± SD of three studies.

 
Effect of heparin on the inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis by IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 synthetic peptides
Because each inhibitory peptide bound heparin, we examined the effect of heparin on the ability of each peptide to inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Fig. 5Go demonstrates that heparin alone (lane 2) had no significant effect on IGFBP-4 proteolysis (compare lanes 1 and 2). In contrast, the IGFBP-3 peptide (lane 3), the IGFBP-5 peptide (lane 5), and the IGFBP-6 peptide (lane 7) markedly inhibited the degradation of IGFBP-4. However, when heparin (500 µg/ml) was included in the incubation (lanes 4, 6, and 8, respectively), all three inhibitory peptides were incapable of inhibiting IGFBP-4 proteolysis.



View larger version (45K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Effect of heparin on the inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis by IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 synthetic peptides. 125I-IGFBP-4 was digested with 50 µl MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-conditioned media in the absence (lanes 2, 3, 5, and 7) or presence (lanes 1, 4, 6, and 8) of 500 µg/ml heparin and with or without synthetic peptides from IGFBP-3 (lanes 3 and 4), IGFBP-5 (lanes 5 and 6), or IGFBP-6 (lanes 7 and 8), as described in Materials and Methods.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
In a wide variety of cells, IGFBP-4 has been shown to function as a potent inhibitor of IGF action (1, 2, 3, 4). One mechanism by which the effects of IGFBP-4 on IGF action are overcome is through the proteolytic degradation of IGFBP-4 by a proteinase(s) produced by a number of cells in vitro (5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Recently, we reported that the murine osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 produces IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase activity, which is inhibited by another IGFBP (i.e. IGFBP-3) and that the effects of IGFBP-3 can be reversed when IGFBP-3 is saturated by IGFs (11). Herein, we have demonstrated that two other IGFBPs (i.e., IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6) also inhibit IGFBP-4 degradation, and furthermore, that IGFs (in particular, IGF-II) can partially or completely reverse the inhibitory effects of these IGFBPs. It is interesting to note that IGF-I, which has lower affinity for IGFBP-6 than IGFBP-5, had a more pronounced effect on reversing the inhibitory effects of IGFBP-6. Although the underlying mechanism is unclear at this time, it is possible that even low affinity binding of IGF-I to IGFBP-6 may induce a conformational change in IGFBP-6 significant enough to reverse its inhibitory effects. Thus, these data suggest that the degree of IGFBP-4 proteolysis may be determined by both the amount of IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase present and the degree of saturated vs. unsaturated IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, and/or IGFBP-6 present in the pericellular milieu. Although the physiological ramifications of such a mechanism in vivo are currently unclear, these data suggest that controlling the extent of IGFBP-4 proteolysis may help fine-tune IGF bioavailability at the cell surface. For such a mechanism to come into play, however, sufficient concentrations of IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, and/or IGFBP-6 first would need to be present for inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis to occur. Even if present in adequate amounts, however, their inhibitory effects might be modified by their own proteolysis, glycosaminoglycans, and/or variable saturation with IGFs (11, 12). Though this paradigm seems complex, it suggests that IGFs, IGFBPs, and IGFBP-degrading proteinases may work through a variety of different avenues to tightly regulate IGF interactions at the cell surface.

The exact mechanisms by which IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, and IGFBP-6 inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis are only partially understood. Although each IGFBP might function as a competitive inhibitor of the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase, several lines of evidence suggest that this is unlikely. First, the IGFBP-4 proteinase activity in several cell lines has been shown to be specific to IGFBP-4 (1, 2, 3, 4); second, IGFBP-5 is degraded in MC3T3-E1 cells principally by MMPs, as is evidenced by the finding that tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases almost completely blocks IGFBP-5 degradation. In contrast, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases does not inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis by MC3T3-E1-conditioned media, strongly suggesting that the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase is different from those that degrade IGFBP-5 (Fowlkes and Serra, unpublished data); and third, IGFBP-6 has not been shown to be readily degraded in any biological fluids to date.

Alternatively, IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 may contain regions within the molecule that are capable of inhibiting IGFBP-4-degrading activity. In support of this hypothesis, we have shown that a highly homologous region within the C-terminal region of each of these three IGFBPs inhibits IGFBP-4 proteolysis, suggesting that this region likely plays a significant role in the inhibitory process. Though none of the IGFBPs or their synthetic peptides resemble known inhibitors of previously identified IGFBP-degrading proteases [such as the metalloproteinases (18), plasmin (19), or prostate-specific antigen (20)], this region of each IGFBP is contained within a larger consensus sequence, known as a thyroglobulin type-1 repeat, with the consensus pattern: [FYWHP]-x-P-x-C-x(3, 4)-G-x-[FYW]-x(3)-Q-C-x-(4, 10)-C-[FYW]-C-V-x(3, 4)-[SG] (the underlined sequence corresponds to the synthetic peptides; the consensus sequence was obtained from PROSITE). This motif is repeated 10 times in the N-terminal portion of the thyroglobulin molecule and single copies of the motif also are found in several other proteins, including: 1) the long form of the HLA class II associated invariant chain; 2) saxphillin, a transferrin-like protein from frog that binds the neurotoxin saxitoxin; 3) entactin (nidogen), a sulfated glycoprotein found associated with laminin in basement membranes; 4) the human pancreatic carcinoma marker proteins GA733–1 and GA733–2; 5) human testican, a testicular proteoglycan; 6) insectotoxin 12, found in scorpion venom; and 7) ECI, egg cysteine protease inhibitor, from chum salmon (from PROSITE and Refs. 21 and 22). Based on the findings of Yamashita and Konagaya (22), showing that ECI (a protein containing 74 amino acids) inhibited papain and cathepsin B, and our findings that IGFBP-3 inhibited IGFBP-4 proteolysis, Molina et al. have hypothesized that the thyroglobulin type-1 motifs may have a common function as internal, selective, and reversible proteinase inhibitors (21). This hypothesis would suggest that a number of proteins found throughout nature that contain thyroglobulin type-1 motifs might serve as regulators of a wide variety of proteolytic pathways. Interestingly, whereas this region of IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 inhibits the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase [a cation-dependent proteinase (11)], ECI inhibits the cysteine proteinases papain and cathepsin B, but not the serine proteinases trypsin or chymotrypsin, nor the cation-dependent proteinase m-calpain (22). Together, these data suggest that these domains may demonstrate distinct actions in their abilities to inhibit certain types of proteinase(s). Furthermore, they suggest that as proteinase inhibitors, these domains may function outside their traditional pathways. For instance, IGFBP-3 has been shown in several studies to demonstrate IGF-independent actions on cell growth and proliferation (reviewed in Refs. 2 and 3). Therefore, it is possible that IGFBP-3, functioning as a proteinase inhibitor, may participate in other proteolytic pathways necessary for normal cell replication. Such interactions deserve further investigation.

Although the thyroglobulin type-1 motif may be involved in the inhibitory activity of the IGFBPs, other variables also seem important in inhibiting the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase activity produced by MC3T3-E1 cells. This is evidenced by the finding that an IGFBP-4 peptide that contains the conserved thyroglobulin type-1 repeat motif (see Fig. 3Go) does not inhibit IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Comparison of this region among all four IGFBPs examined reveals one major difference: IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 contain a significant number of basic residues, giving these regions calculated pI’s >10 (see Fig. 3Go), whereas the homologous region from IGFBP-4 has few basic residues and has a calculated pI, which is essentially neutral. This would suggest that the charge of the region contributes significantly to its ability to inhibit proteinase activity. This is supported by studies that demonstrate that polymeric lysine is able to inhibit, to some extent, the degradation of IGFBP-4 by MC3T3-E1-conditioned media (Fowlkes and Serra, unpublished data). It is noteworthy that peptide concentrations necessary to achieve almost complete inhibition of IGFBP-4 degradation are significantly higher than those used for intact IGFBP-3, -5, and -6. This could occur for several reasons, including multimerization of peptides or insufficient secondary or tertiary structure of the peptides. Because the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase has not yet been purified, it is currently impossible to fully delineate the mechanisms by which these highly-basic regions inhibit IGFBP-4 degradation.

Within the thyroglobulin type-1 repeat of IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 resides a putative heparin-binding consensus sequence (Fig. 3Go). We have demonstrated previously that IGFBP-3 contains at least two domains capable of binding heparin and several other glycosaminoglycans; however, the heparin-binding, C-terminal domain demonstrates ~4-fold higher affinity for heparin than does the internal heparin-binding domain (12). In the present study, we have demonstrated that the homologous C-terminal domains from IGFBP-5 and -6 also bind heparin, and whereas the IGFBP-5 heparin binding domain binds heparin with the highest affinity among the 3 peptides tested, IGFBP-6 binds heparin with the weakest affinity. This would suggest that the two additional basic residues in both the IGFBP-3 and the IGFBP-5 peptides, which are distal to the heparin-binding consensus sequence (see Fig. 3Go), may contribute to the higher affinities of these two peptides for heparin. Furthermore, the lower affinity of the IGFBP-6 peptide for heparin may help clarify why IGFBP-6 does not seem to associate with cell monolayers (23, 24), because it may not associate readily with cell surface or extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans. Previously, synthetic peptides containing the C-terminal, heparin-binding domains from IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 have been shown to inhibit IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 binding to endothelial cell monolayers (23, 24). Furthermore, IGFBP-5, the best studied IGFBP in regards to its interaction with cell surfaces and extracellular matrix, has been shown not to associate with mouse osteoblasts when it lacks the C-terminal, heparin-binding domain (25); and point mutations of the basic amino acids present in the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of IGFBP-5 have been shown to significantly reduce its affinity for heparin (26) and extracellular matix (27). Thus, these highly basic, heparin-binding domains located within the thyroglobulin type-1 repeat of IGFBP-3, -5, and -6 may perform a variety of functions in addition to inhibiting the IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase. Taken together, these studies suggest that although all IGFBPs sequester IGFs, their roles in regulating IGF action may be much more complex, such that unsaturated IGFBP-3, -5, or -6 may perform very different functions, compared with their functions when they are partially or fully saturated with IGFs. The demonstration that IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 may serve similar functions to IGFBP-3 in controlling IGFBP-4 proteolysis emphasizes the precision and the redundancy that exist within IGF/IGFBP/IGFBP proteinase system.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant DK-02276 and partially by a grant from the Genentech Foundation for Growth and Development (to J.L.F.). Back

Received December 23, 1996.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Rechler MM 1993 Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Vitam Horm 47:1–114[Medline]
  2. Bach LA, Rechler MM 1995 Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Diabetes Rev 3:38–61
  3. Jones JI, Clemmons DR 1995 Insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins: biological actions. Endocr Rev 16:3–34[CrossRef][Medline]
  4. Rechler MM 1995 Non-receptor-binding proteins for insulin-like growth factors and other cytokines: modulators of peptide action. In: Weintraub BD (ed) Molecular Endocrinology: Basic Concepts and Clinical Correlations. Raven Press, New York, pp 155–180
  5. Fowlkes J, Freemark M 1992 Evidence for a novel insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-dependent protease regulating IGF-binding protein-4 in dermal fibroblasts. Endocrinology 131:2071–2076[Abstract]
  6. Conover CA, Kiefer MC, Zapf J 1993 Posttranslational regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 in normal and transformed human fibroblasts. Insulin-like growth factor dependence and biological studies. J Clin Invest 91:1129–1137
  7. Myers SE, Cheung PT, Handwerger S, Chernausek SD 1993 Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) enhanced proteolysis of IGF-binding protein-4 in conditioned medium from primary cultures of human decidua: independence from IGF receptor binding. Endocrinology 133:1525–1531[Abstract]
  8. Kamyar A, Pirola CJ, Wang HM, Sharifi B, Mohan S, Forrester JS, Fagin JA 1994 Expression and insulin-like growth factor-dependent proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 are regulated by cell confluence in vascular smooth muscle cells. Circ Res 74:576–585[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Durham SK, Kiefer MC, Riggs BL, Conover CA 1994 Regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 by a specific insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 proteinase in normal human osteoblast-like cells: implications in bone cell physiology. J Bone Miner Res 9:111–117[Medline]
  10. Conover CA, Clarkson JT, Bale LK 1993 Phorbol ester tumor promoters regulate insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 proteolysis. Endocrinology 133:1347–1351[Abstract]
  11. Fowlkes JL, Serra DM, Rosenberg CK, Thrailkill KM 1995 Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) functions as an IGF-reversible inhibitor of IGFBP-4 proteolysis. J Biol Chem 270:27481–27488[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Fowlkes JL, Serra DM 1996 Characterization of glycosaminoglycan-binding domains present in insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3. J Biol Chem 271:14676–14679[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Kiefer MC, Schmid C, Waldvogel M, Schläpfer I, Futo E, Masiarz FR, Green K, Barr PJ, Zapf J 1992 Characterization of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 4, 5 and 6 produced in yeast. J Biol Chem 267:12692–12699[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Sommer A, Maack CA, Spratt SK, Mascarenhas D, Tressel TJ, Rhodes ET, Lee R, Roumas M, Tatsuro GP, Flynn JA, Gerber N, Taylor J, Cudney H, Nanney L, Hunt TK, Spencer EM 1991 Molecular genetics and actions of recombinant insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3. In: Spencer EM (ed) Modern Concepts of Insulin-Like Growth Factors. Elsevier, New York, pp 715–728
  15. Thrailkill KM, Quarles LD, Nagase H, Suzuki K, Serra DM, Fowlkes JL 1995 Characterization of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5-degrading proteases produced throughout murine osteoblast differentiation. Endocrinology 136:3527–3533[Abstract]
  16. Laemmli UK 1970 Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head bacteriophage T. Nature 227:680–685[CrossRef][Medline]
  17. Conover CA, Durham SK, Zapf Z, Masiarz FR, Kiefer MC 1995 Cleavage analysis of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-dependent IGF-binding protein-4 proteolysis and expression of protease-resistant IGF-binding protein-4 mutants. J Biol Chem 270:4395–4400[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  18. Fowlkes JL, Enghild JJ, Suzuki K, Nagase H 1994 Matrix metalloproteinases degrade insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in dermal fibroblast cultures. J Biol Chem 269:25742–25746[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Campbell PG, Novak JF, Yanosick TB, McMaster JH 1992 Involvement of the plasmin system in dissociation of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein complex. Endocrinology 130:1401–1412[Abstract]
  20. Cohen P, Graves CBG, Peehl DM, Kamarei M, Giudice LC, Rosenfeld RG 1992 Prostate specific antigen is an IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) protease found in seminal plasma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 75:1046–1053[Abstract]
  21. Molina F, Pau B, Granier C 1996 The type-1 repeats of thyroglobulin regulate thyroglobulin degradation and T3, T4 release in thyrocytes. FEBS Lett 391:229–231[CrossRef][Medline]
  22. Yamashita M, Konagaya S 1996 A novel cysteine protease inhibitor of the egg of chum salmon, containing a cysteine-rich thyroglobulin-like motif. J Biol Chem 271:1282–1284[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. Bar RS, Boes M, Booth BA, Dake BL, Moser DR, Erondu NE 1994 Vascular endothelium, IGFs, and IGF binding proteins. In: Baxter RC, Gluckman PD, Rosenfeld RG (eds) The Insulin-like Growth Factors and Their Regulatory Proteins. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 237–244
  24. Booth BA, Boes M, Andress DL, Dake BL, Kiefer MC, Maack C, Linhardt RJ, Bar K, Caldwell EE, Weiler J, Bar RS 1995 IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 associate with endothelial cells: role of C-terminal heparin binding domain. Growth Regul 2:1–17
  25. Andress DL 1995 Heparin modulates the binding of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-5 to a membrane protein in osteoblast cells. J Biol Chem 270:28289- 28296[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  26. Arai T, Parker AJ, Busby Jr WH, Clemmons DR 1994 Heparin, heparan sulfate, and dermatan sulfate regulate formation of the insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein complexes. J Biol Chem 269:20388–20393[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  27. Parker A, Clarke JB, Busby Jr WH, Clemmons DR 1996 Identification of the extracellular matrix binding sites for insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5. J Biol Chem 271:13523–13529[Abstract/Free Full Text]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
H. P. Sorensen, R. R. Vives, C. Manetopoulos, R. Albrechtsen, M. C. Lydolph, J. Jacobsen, J. R. Couchman, and U. M. Wewer
Heparan Sulfate Regulates ADAM12 through a Molecular Switch Mechanism
J. Biol. Chem., November 14, 2008; 283(46): 31920 - 31932.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
M. Summan, G. L. Warren, R. R. Mercer, R. Chapman, T. Hulderman, N. Van Rooijen, and P. P. Simeonova
Macrophages and skeletal muscle regeneration: a clodronate-containing liposome depletion study
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2006; 290(6): R1488 - R1495.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol Biol EvolHome page
M. Novinec, D. Kordis, V. Turk, and B. Lenarcic
Diversity and Evolution of the Thyroglobulin Type-1 Domain Superfamily
Mol. Biol. Evol., April 1, 2006; 23(4): 744 - 755.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
V. C. Russo, B. S. Schutt, E. Andaloro, S. I. Ymer, A. Hoeflich, M. B. Ranke, L. A. Bach, and G. A. Werther
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-2 Binding to Extracellular Matrix Plays a Critical Role in Neuroblastoma Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion
Endocrinology, October 1, 2005; 146(10): 4445 - 4455.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J EndocrinolHome page
J M Fleming, B J Leibowitz, D E Kerr, and W S Cohick
IGF-I differentially regulates IGF-binding protein expression in primary mammary fibroblasts and epithelial cells
J. Endocrinol., July 1, 2005; 186(1): 165 - 178.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Endocrinol.Home page
S. J. Headey, D. W. Keizer, S. Yao, G. Brasier, P. Kantharidis, L. A. Bach, and R. S. Norton
C-Terminal Domain of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein-6: Structure and Interaction with IGF-II
Mol. Endocrinol., November 1, 2004; 18(11): 2740 - 2750.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
L. D. Payet, X.-H. Wang, R. C. Baxter, and S. M. Firth
Amino- and Carboxyl-Terminal Fragments of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein-3 Cooperate to Bind IGFs with High Affinity and Inhibit IGF Receptor Interactions
Endocrinology, July 1, 2003; 144(7): 2797 - 2806.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Bio.Home page
W. A. Price, B. M. Moats-Staats, and A. D. Stiles
Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines Regulate Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein Production by Fetal Rat Lung Fibroblasts
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., March 1, 2002; 26(3): 283 - 289.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. A. Weinzimer, T. B. Gibson, P. F. Collett-Solberg, A. Khare, B. Liu, and P. Cohen
Transferrin Is an Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-3 Binding Protein
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2001; 86(4): 1806 - 1813.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
G. R. Devi, D.-H. Yang, R. G. Rosenfeld, and Y. Oh
Differential Effects of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-Binding Protein-3 and Its Proteolytic Fragments on Ligand Binding, Cell Surface Association, and IGF-I Receptor Signaling
Endocrinology, November 1, 2000; 141(11): 4171 - 4179.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
S. Mazerbourg, J. Zapf, R. S. Bar, D. R. Brigstock, and P. Monget
Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-Binding Protein-4 Proteolytic Degradation in Bovine, Equine, and Porcine Preovulatory Follicles: Regulation by IGFs and Heparin-Binding Domain-Containing Peptides
Biol Reprod, August 1, 2000; 63(2): 390 - 400.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
N. R. Bhakta, A. M. Garcia, E. H. Frank, A. J. Grodzinsky, and T. I. Morales
The Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) I and II Bind to Articular Cartilage via the IGF-binding Proteins
J. Biol. Chem., February 25, 2000; 275(8): 5860 - 5866.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
V. Hwa, Y. Oh, and R. G. Rosenfeld
The Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein (IGFBP) Superfamily
Endocr. Rev., December 1, 1999; 20(6): 761 - 787.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
L. A. Maile, Z. P. Gill, C. M. Perks, and J. M. P. Holly
The Role of Cell Surface Attachment and Proteolysis in the Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-Independent Effects of IGF-Binding Protein-3 on Apoptosis in Breast Epithelial Cells
Endocrinology, September 1, 1999; 140(9): 4040 - 4045.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
S. Mazerbourg, J. Zapf, R. S. Bar, D. R. Brigstock, C. Lalou, M. Binoux, and P. Monget
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-4 Proteolytic Degradation in Ovine Preovulatory Follicles: Studies of Underlying Mechanisms
Endocrinology, September 1, 1999; 140(9): 4175 - 4184.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
S. M. Leal, S. S. Huang, and J. S. Huang
Interactions of High Affinity Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Proteins with the Type V Transforming Growth Factor-beta Receptor in Mink Lung Epithelial Cells
J. Biol. Chem., March 5, 1999; 274(10): 6711 - 6717.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fowlkes, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Serra, D. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fowlkes, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Serra, D. M.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals