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Showing papers on "Secretion published in 1993"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A 31-kb fragment of the large virulence plasmid of Shigella flexneri is necessary for bacterial entry into epithelial cells in vitro and lack of either IpaB or IpaD resulted in the release of larger amounts of the other Ipa polypeptides into the culture medium, which indicates that, in addition to their role in invasion, IPAB and Ipa D are each involved in the maintenance of the association of the Ipa proteins with the bacter
Abstract: A 31-kb fragment of the large virulence plasmid of Shigella flexneri is necessary for bacterial entry into epithelial cells in vitro. One locus of this fragment encodes the IpaA, -B, -C, and -D proteins, which are the dominant antigens of the humoral immune response during shigellosis. To address the role of the ipa genes, which are clustered in an operon, we constructed a selectable cassette that does not affect transcription of downstream genes and used this cassette to inactivate the ipaB, ipaC, and ipaD genes. Each of these nonpolar mutants was defective in entry and lysis of the phagocytic vacuole but was not impaired in adhesion to the cells. We showed that, like IpaB and IpaC, IpaD is secreted into the culture supernatant and that none of these proteins is necessary for secretion of the other two. This result differentiates the Ipa proteins, which direct the entry process, from the Mxi and Spa proteins, which direct secretion of the Ipa proteins. Moreover, lack of either IpaB or IpaD resulted in the release of larger amounts of the other Ipa polypeptides into the culture medium, which indicates that, in addition to their role in invasion, IpaB and IpaD are each involved in the maintenance of the association of the Ipa proteins with the bacterium.

744 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that 3- and 4-kDa peptides derived from amyloid precursor protein are normally secreted and evidence that glial cells are a major source of beta-amyloid production in the brain is provided.
Abstract: The cellular mechanism underlying the generation of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer disease and its relationship to the normal metabolism of the amyloid precursor protein are unknown. In this report, we show that 3- and 4-kDa peptides derived from amyloid precursor protein are normally secreted. Epitope mapping and radiolabel sequence analysis suggest that the 4-kDa peptide is closely related to full-length beta-amyloid and the 3-kDa species is a heterogeneous set of peptides truncated at the beta-amyloid N terminus. The beta-amyloid peptides are secreted in parallel with amyloid precursor protein. Inhibitors of Golgi processing inhibit secretion of beta-amyloid peptides, whereas lysosomal inhibitors have no effect. The secretion of beta-amyloid-related peptides occurs in a wide variety of cell types, but which peptides are produced and their absolute levels are dependent on cell type. Human astrocytes generated higher levels of beta-amyloid than any other cell type examined. These results suggest that beta-amyloid is generated in the secretory pathway and provide evidence that glial cells are a major source of beta-amyloid production in the brain.

585 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1993-Neuron
TL;DR: The caged calcium compound DM-nitrophen is used to investigate the kinetics of calcium-dependent secretion in bovine chromaffin cells and both secretion and movement of vesicles between pools appear to be [Ca2+]i sensitive.

516 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that PGE2 selectively and dose dependently inhibits IL-2 and IFN-gamma production by mitogenically stimulated human PBL and CD4+ TLC, although at low concentrations IL-4 production is not affected and IL-5 production is even up-regulated.
Abstract: PGE2 is a well known immunomodulator that has multiple effects on the immune system We demonstrate that PGE2 selectively and dose dependently inhibits IL-2 and IFN-gamma production by mitogenically stimulated human PBL and CD4+ TLC, although at low concentrations IL-4 production is not affected and IL-5 production is even up-regulated In the tested TLC, PGE2 induced a dramatic elevation (up to 85-fold) of the intracellular cAMP levels The action of PGE2 may, therefore, be associated with elevation of intracellular cAMP levels, affecting IL-4 and IL-5 differentially from IL-2 and IFN-gamma production To test this hypothesis we investigated cytokine production by TLC in the absence or presence of agents that affect cAMP levels, either directly (2'-O-dibutyrylcAMP) or through activation of adenylate cyclase (forskolin) or by blocking of phosphodiesterase (3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine) Similar to PGE2, forskolin, 2'-O-dibutyrylcAMP, and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine induced inhibition of IL-2 production by TLC and up-regulation of IL-5 production However, in contrast to PGE2, these agents suppressed IL-4 production although IFN-gamma production was only moderately affected No significant differences were found between intracellular cAMP levels of mitogenically stimulated Th1 cell clones, which predominantly secrete IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and those of Th2 cell clones, which mainly secrete IL-4 and IL-5 Our results indicate that PGE2 selectively modulates cytokine secretion profiles of human T cells and that elevation of cAMP levels has an important, but possibly not exclusive, regulatory role in this phenomenon

499 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Observations suggest that completely mature beta APP within the late Golgi and/or at the cell surface is a prerequisite for A beta production but processing within the lysosome might not be directly required.

499 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparison of the presently known export components of Bacillus species with those of Escherichia coli suggests that the mechanism of protein translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane is conserved among gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria differences are found in steps preceding and following the translocation process.

432 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that endogenously produced human IL-8 can act as an important growth factor for human melanoma cells and suggested that IL- 8 may play a role not only in immunomodulation but also in melanoma progression and metastatic spread.
Abstract: Normal melanocytes require a number of exogenous growth factors in contrast to most metastatic malignant melanomas. This investigation demonstrates that endogenously produced human IL-8 can act as an important growth factor for human melanoma cells. In the present study, six out of eight human melanoma cell lines tested secrete IL-8 protein into the culture supernatant. In two of these IL-8-secreting melanoma cell lines, SK-MEL 13 and SK-MEL 23, we have determined the IL-8 requirement for their proliferative capacity. These melanoma cell lines produced significant amounts of bioactive IL-8 as measured by the ELISA technique. Secretion of human IL-8 was inducible by IL-1 and by PMA. Human IL-8-specific mRNA was already detected in unstimulated melanoma cells. In addition, human IL-8-R mRNA could be detected for the first time in human melanoma cells. Exposure of the two melanoma cell lines in vitro to antisense oligonucleotides targeted against two different sites of human IL-8 mRNA-inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation in soft agar, and secretion of IL-8 protein into culture supernatant in a dose dependent fashion. Effects were reversible either by removal of the oligomers or by addition of exogenous IL-8 protein. In contrast, exposure to IL-8 sense probes or oligonucleotides in sense or antisense orientation specific for IL-7, TGF-alpha, TGF-beta, and MGSA had no such effect. A monospecific immune serum and two IL-8-specific mAb were also capable of inhibiting melanoma cell proliferation in the same manner. These results provide strong evidence for an autocrine IL-8 synthesis and for an IL-8-dependent proliferation in a subgroup of human melanomas. Furthermore, they suggest that IL-8 may play a role not only in immunomodulation but also in melanoma progression and metastatic spread.

420 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Nitric oxide mediates the inhibitory effects of cytokines on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by human islets and suggest that nitric oxide may participate in beta-cell dysfunction associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Abstract: Cytokines have been implicated as immunological effector molecules that mediate beta cell destruction associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In this report we demonstrate that the cytokine combination of human recombinant interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) induces the formation of nitric oxide by human islets. This combination of cytokines stimulates both the formation of the nitric oxide derivative, nitrite, and the accumulation of cGMP by human islets. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine prevents formation of both cGMP and nitrite. IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma are sufficient to induce nitric oxide formation by human islets, whereas TNF-alpha potentiates nitrite production. This combination of cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma) also influences insulin secretion by human islets. Pretreatment of human islets with low concentrations of this cytokine combination (IL-1 beta at 15 units/ml, 0.7 nM TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma at 150 units/ml) appears to slightly stimulate insulin secretion. Higher concentrations (IL-1 beta at 75 units/ml, 3.5 nM TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma at 750 units/ml) inhibit insulin secretion from human islets, and the inhibitory effect is prevented by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. This higher concentration of cytokines also induces the formation of an electron paramagnetic resonance-detectable g = 2.04 axial feature by human islets that is characteristic of the formation of an iron-dithio-dinitrosyl complex. The formation of this complex is prevented by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, thus confirming that this cytokine combination induces the formation of nitric oxide by human islets. These results indicate that nitric oxide mediates the inhibitory effects of cytokines on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by human islets and suggest that nitric oxide may participate in beta-cell dysfunction associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

406 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that the structural abnormality of delta F508CFTR affects not only the delivery of the protein to the plasma membrane, but also its stability therein, and suggest that overcoming the processing block at the endoplasmic reticulum may not suffice to restore normal Cl- conductance in CF.

384 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The polarized expression and activity of P-glycoprotein in Caco-2 cells is direct evidence for its secretory detoxifying function in the intestine, subserving at least one role of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier.

379 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The metabolism of triglyceride and of cholesteryl ester, in so far as both can be used as core lipids for apoB-containing LPs, are inextricably linked, and the shortage of one or both of these lipids could, by "allowing" increased intracellular degradation in the ER, inhibit the secretion of apo B.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that a third (Type III) secretory pathway exists in which protein secretion is signal sequence-independent and via the periplasm.


Journal ArticleDOI
09 Dec 1993-Nature
TL;DR: It is found that SEC14p, the yeast phosphatidylinositol transfer protein which is essential for constitutive secretion, can substitute for PEP3/PITP in priming and indicates that a role for phospholipid transfer proteins is conserved in the constitutive and regulated secretory pathways.
Abstract: ELUCIDATION of the reactions responsible for the calcium-regulated fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane in secretory cells would be facilitated by the identification of participant proteins having known biochemical activities. The successful characterization of cytosolic1–3 and vesicle4,5 proteins that may function in calcium-regulated secretion has not yet revealed the molecular events underlying this process. Regulated secretion consists of sequential priming and triggering steps which depend on ATP and Ca2+, respectively, and require distinct cytosolic proteins6. Characterization of priming-specific factors (PEP proteins) should enable the ATP-requiring reactions to be identified. Here we show that one of the mammalian priming factors (PEP3) is identical to phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP)7. The physiological role of PITP was previously unknown. We also find that SEC14p, the yeast phosphatidylinositol transfer protein which is essential for constitutive secretion8–10, can substitute for PEP3/PITP in priming. Our results indicate that a role for phospholipid transfer proteins is conserved in the constitutive and regulated secretory pathways.

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Jul 1993-Cell
TL;DR: In vivo evidence is provided that beta-COP has an important function in biosynthetic membrane traffic in mammalian cells by blocking transport of a temperature-sensitive vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (ts-O45-G) to the cell surface.

Journal Article
TL;DR: Test the possibility that secreted neuropeptides such as substance P (SP) may also influence mast cell-mediated late inflammatory events by modulating the production of one or several of these cytokines and results indicate that SP induces TNF-alpha mRNA expression and T NF-alpha secretion in a dose-dependent manner in a murine mast cell line, CFTL12.
Abstract: There is increasing evidence that the neurologic system is capable of modulating a wide range of immunologic responses, including certain inflammatory processes in the lung, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. It has been proposed that secreted neuropeptides such as substance P (SP) may mediate these neuroinflammatory interactions by binding to and stimulating immune cells such as mast cells and lymphoid cells. SP is secreted in a variety of tissues by an extensive network of neurosensory C and A5 fibers in response to a wide range of noxious stimuli and injury. Previous studies to examine the effect of SP on mast cells have focused on its role in triggering histamine release and mediating immediate hypersensitivity responses. Recently it was demonstrated that mast cells are also capable of secreting multiple cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, and GM-CSF. In this study we tested the possibility that SP may also influence mast cell-mediated late inflammatory events by modulating the production of one or several of these cytokines. Our results indicate that SP induces TNF-alpha mRNA expression and TNF-alpha secretion in a dose-dependent manner in a murine mast cell line, CFTL12. Likewise, SP stimulates TNF-alpha secretion in freshly isolated murine peritoneal mast cells. The induction of mast cell TNF-alpha is selective, since SP does not stimulate the production of IL-1, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, or GM-CSF in these cells. The CFTL 12 mast cell line constitutively expresses high levels of SP receptor mRNA which is not modulated by PMA/cycloheximide treatment or SP. These results further support the concept that the neurologic system modulates inflammatory events by neuropeptide-mediated mast cell cytokine release.

Journal ArticleDOI
09 Sep 1993-Nature
TL;DR: The identification of an integral membrane ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, UBC6, which localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with the cata-lytic domain facing the cytosol suggests that UBC 6 may mediate selective degradation of ER membrane proteins and that the protein translocation defect of sec61 may be caused by proteolysis of components of a structurally distorted mutant translocation apparatus.
Abstract: UBIQUITIN-conjugating enzymes function in selective proteolysis pathways and catalyse the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to proteolytic substrates1–4. Here we report the identification of an integral membrane ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. This enzyme, UBC6, localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with the cata-lytic domain facing the cytosol. ubc6 loss-of-function mutants sup-press the protein translocation defect caused by a mutation in SEC61, which encodes a key component of a multisubunit protein translocation apparatus of the ER5–11. The expression of the sec61 mutant phenotype requires both the activity of UBC6 and its localization at the ER membrane. This suggests that UBC6 may mediate selective degradation of ER membrane proteins and that the protein translocation defect of sec61 may be caused by proteolysis of components of a structurally distorted mutant translocation apparatus.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A set of accessory proteins are most likely involved in the secretion of pertussis toxin, and these proteins appear to be members of a family of proteins involved inThe secretion of macromolecules from bacteria.
Abstract: Mutants of Bordetella pertussis which are defective in secretion of pertussis toxin were isolated and characterized. The region of the B. pertussis chromosome identified by mutagenesis as playing a role in transport of pertussis toxin was sequenced. Analysis of this region revealed eight open reading frames, seven of which predict a protein exhibiting homology with one of the VirB proteins of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which are involved in the transport of the T-DNA molecule across bacterial and plant membranes. Thus a set of accessory proteins are most likely involved in the secretion of pertussis toxin, and these proteins appear to be members of a family of proteins involved in the secretion of macromolecules from bacteria.

Journal ArticleDOI
10 Sep 1993-Cell
TL;DR: The cloning of SNC2 is described and it is demonstrated that yeast lacking both SNC genes are deficient in normal bulk secretion, accumulate large numbers of post-Golgi vesicles, and display a variety of conditional lethal phenotypes.

Journal Article
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that proliferation and Ig secretion induced in the presence of CD40L can be modulated in a positive and negative fashion by soluble cytokines.
Abstract: Recombinant human CD40 ligand (hCD40L) was expressed on the surface of CV1/EBNA cells and examined for its ability to induce proliferation and Ig secretion from human B cells in the presence or absence of soluble cytokines. hCD40L was directly mitogenic in a dose-dependent fashion for purified tonsil B cells with maximal proliferation occurring at days 5 to 7. Proliferation induced by CD40L was significantly enhanced in the presence of IL-2, IL-4, or IL-10 and strongly suppressed by transforming growth factor-beta. Although IL-5, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma had no stimulatory effect in the presence of hCD40L alone, if IL-4 was also present in cultures, these cytokines enhanced the proliferative response above that seen with IL-4 alone. Interestingly, in the absence of IL-4, IFN gamma had an inhibitory effect on hCD40L-induced proliferation. Although CD40L alone did not enhance Ig secretion, addition of IL-2 or IL-10 to the cultures significantly elevated the levels of IgM, IgG1, and IgA that were observed. Addition of IL-4 to the cultures did not enhance secretion of these isotypes but had a weak inhibitory effect. However, CD40L-mediated induction of IgG4 and IgE was dependent on the presence of IL-4. Of the cytokines examined, only IL-10 enhanced IgE secretion under these conditions. Although transforming growth factor-beta only partially inhibited secretion of IgM, IgG1, and IgA, it was strongly suppressive for IgG4 and IgE production. Our data demonstrate that proliferation and Ig secretion induced in the presence of CD40L can be modulated in a positive and negative fashion by soluble cytokines. IL-2 and IL-10 specifically enhance IgM, IgG1, and IgA production although IL-4, despite costimulating B cell proliferation, does not augment secretion of these isotypes but provided an essential cosignal with CD40L for the production of IgG4 and IgE.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mxiD gene, whose expression, like that of the ipa operon, is regulated by temperature, is characterized and indicates that MxiD is an essential component of the Ipa secretion apparatus.
Abstract: The invasive phenotype of Shigella flexneri is conferred by a 220 kb virulence plasmid, pWR100, that encodes both the lpa proteins, which are involved in the entry process, and factors which are required for the export and correct localization of the lpa proteins. We have characterized the mxiD gene, whose expression, like that of the ipa operon, is regulated by temperature. After inactivation of mxiD, the mutant strain was unable to invade HeLa cells and to provoke keratoconjunctivitis in guinea-pigs. Analysis of culture supernatants indicated that wild-type S. flexneri secretes about nine polypeptides and that secretion of several of these, including lpaA, lpaB, and lpaC, is abolished in the mxiD mutant. Examination of the membrane proteins of the wild-type and mxiD strains suggested that MxiD is an outer membrane protein. Amino acid sequence comparison revealed that MxiD is homologous to the YscC protein of Yersinia enterocolitica and to the C-terminal region of the PulD protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Both YscC and PulD are involved in extracellular protein secretion. These results indicate that MxiD is an essential component of the lpa secretion apparatus.

Journal Article
TL;DR: These findings confirm the existence of a highly conserved family of peptides that are abundantly expressed in distinctive regions throughout the gastrointestinal tract in a highly cell-specific pattern reflecting a goblet cell differentiation pathway.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that tumor cell lines established from certain types of human carcinomas are capable of expressing and releasing IL‐6 and/or IL‐10, suggesting a role of these cytokines in solid‐tumor development and anti‐Tumor immunity.
Abstract: Recent data indicate a major role for IL-10 in suppressing immune and inflammatory reactions. To date, expression of human IL-10 has been attributed primarily to helper T lymphocytes, activated monocytes, and neoplastic B cells, and was often found to be associated with IL-6 expression. In this study we sought to determine whether non-hematopoietic human tumor cell lines produce IL-10 and, if so, what is the relationship between IL-10 and IL-6. Using ELISA, we determined IL-10 and IL-6 levels in culture supernatants of 48 cell lines established from carcinomas of the kidney, colon, breast and pancreas, malignant melanomas and neuroblastomas. IL-6 protein was secreted by 28 of the tumor cell lines; IL-10 was measurable in 15 cell lines. IL-6 secretion was maximal and most frequent in renal-cancer cell lines, while IL-10 production was found to be highest and most common among cell lines derived from colon carcinomas. IL-10 in conditioned medium of one of the colon carcinoma cell lines (CCL222) was bio-active, as demonstrated in the mouse MC/9 mast-cell-line assay and in human mixed-lymphocyte reactions. In both assays, IL-10 bio-activity was neutralized by an anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody. Expression of IL-6 and IL-10 was confirmed by RNA analysis using message amplification by PCR and sequencing of amplified cDNA. LPS, IL-1 alpha, and TNF-alpha strongly enhanced the release of IL-6 by RCC cells, but only marginally affected IL-10 production in colon-carcinoma cells. IL-10 secretion by colon-carcinoma cells was moderately stimulated by IFN-gamma and IL-4. Dexamethasone suppressed the release of IL-6, but had no inhibitory effect on IL-10 secretion. Our results demonstrate that tumor cell lines established from certain types of human carcinomas are capable of expressing and releasing IL-6 and/or IL-10, suggesting a role of these cytokines in solid-tumor development and anti-tumor immunity.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: IL-1, TNF-alpha and LPS, the endotoxin itself, can regulate local vascular tone and growth through the activation of CNP secretion from endothelial cells, indicating that CNP could be of clinical relevance as an autocrine/paracrine regulator from endotocyte cells for systemic and local cytokine-associated disorders, such as endotoxin shock and atherosclerosis.
Abstract: We previously demonstrated that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), originally isolated from the porcine brain, is produced by endothelial cells and proposed that CNP can exert local control over vascular tone and growth as a local regulator from endothelial cells. Since cytokines play pivotal roles in the control of vascular tone and structure, we have examined effects of various cytokines on CNP secretion from endothelial cells using the specific radioimmunoassay for CNP. While interleukin (IL)-2 had no significant effect on CNP secretion, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha stimulated CNP secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Among them, TNF-alpha, one of the key mediators for inflammation and vascular remodeling, induced more than two orders of magnitude increase in CNP secretion. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) potently stimulated CNP secretion. These results indicate that IL-1, TNF-alpha and LPS, the endotoxin itself, can regulate local vascular tone and growth through the activation of CNP secretion from endothelial cells. Therefore, CNP could be of clinical relevance as an autocrine/paracrine regulator from endothelial cells for systemic and local cytokine-associated disorders, such as endotoxin shock and atherosclerosis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that rab11p is associated with the trans‐Golgi network (TGN) and with TGN‐derived vesicles of both the constitutive and the regulated secretory pathway in PC12 cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
03 Dec 1993-Science
TL;DR: Results indicate that G alpha i3 functions to control regulated exocytosis in mast cells.
Abstract: Secretagogues of rat peritoneal mast cells, such as mastoparan and compound 48/80, induce mast cell exocytosis by activating directly the guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins that are required for exocytosis. The introduction of a synthetic peptide that corresponds to the carboxyl-terminal end sequence of G alpha i3 into the cells specifically blocked this secretion. Similar results were obtained when antibodies to this peptide were introduced. The G alpha i3 was located in both the Golgi and the plasma membrane, but only the latter source of G alpha i3 appeared to be essential for secretion. These results indicate that G alpha i3 functions to control regulated exocytosis in mast cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A third distinct pathway, involved in secretion of Yops, has been discovered in Yersinia, which has homology with pathways in plant pathogenic bacteria that are putatively involved in the secretion of proteins active on plant cells, such as harpin and possibly some avr gene products.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the prsA gene product is a membrane‐associated lipoprotein, presumably bound to the outer face of the cytoplasmic membrane, suggesting that PrsA protein is the rate‐limiting component of the secretion machinery, a finding that is of considerable biotechnological interest.
Abstract: Summary Mutations of the prsA gene of Bacillus subtilis have indicated that the gene is involved in protein secretion and it encodes a novel component of the cellular secretion machinery. We now demonstrate that the gene product is a membrane-associated lipoprotein, presumably bound to the outer face of the cytoplasmic membrane. Experiments to inactivate the prsA gene with insertions indicated that it is indispensable for viability. The cellular level of PrsA protein was shown to be decreased in prsA mutants with decreased level of exoproteins, consistent with an essential function in protein secretion. An increased amount of cellular PrsA protein was introduced by Increasing the copy number of prsA in B. subtilis. This enhanced, from six- to twofold, the secretion of α-amylases and a protease in strains, which expressed high levels of these exoenzymes. This suggests that PrsA protein is the rate-limiting component of the secretion machinery, a finding that is of considerable biotechnological interest.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The described properties and function of neutrophil CD14 suggest that it may directly participate in the acute inflammatory response and in endotoxin shock.
Abstract: CD14 is a myeloid cell differentiation Ag expressed primarily by monocytes and macrophages. CD14 has recently been shown to function as a receptor for a complex of LPS and LPS binding protein (LBP), an acute phase serum protein also present in normal serum in trace amounts. In the presence of LBP, LPS strongly activates monocytes via CD14 as measured by TNF secretion. This pathway of monocyte activation is thought to be a major contributor to the symptoms of endotoxin shock. Another major cell type involved in the response to Gram-negative infection is the neutrophil. Recent studies have shown that neutrophils also express CD14 and suggest that they can respond to LPS through a similar pathway. However, the biochemical nature of neutrophil CD14 has not previously been described. In this report, we have analyzed several biochemical characteristics of neutrophil CD14. We show that CD14 is actively synthesized by neutrophils as a glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol-anchored protein, indistinguishable in size from monocyte CD14. Furthermore, neutrophils, like monocytes, shed a smaller soluble form of CD14 into culture supernatants. In addition, like monocytes, neutrophils respond to LPS/LBP complexes via CD14 by releasing TNF-alpha. The described properties and function of neutrophil CD14 suggest that it may directly participate in the acute inflammatory response and in endotoxin shock.