No abstract

The amino acid sequence of a nonsecretory ribonuclease isolated from human urine was determined except for the identity of the residue at position 7. Sequence information indicates that the ribonucleases of human liver and spleen and an eosinophil-derived neurotoxin are identical or very closely related gene products. The sequence is identical at about 30% of the amino acid positions with those of all of the secreted mammalian ribonucleases for which information is available. Identical residues include active-site residues histidine-12, histidine-119, and lysine-41, other residues known to be important for substrate binding and catalytic activity, and all eight half-cystine residues common to these enzymes. Major differences include a deletion of six residues in the (so-called) S-peptide loop, insertions of two, and nine residues, respectively, in three other external loops of the molecule, and an addition of three residues at the amino terminus. The sequence shows the human nonsecretory ribonuclease to belong to the same ribonuclease superfamily as the mammalian secretory ribonucleases, turtle pancreatic ribonuclease, and human angiogenin. Sequence data suggest that a gene duplication occurred in an ancient vertebrate ancestor; one branch led to the nonsecretory ribonuclease, while the other branch led to a second duplication, with one line leading to the secretory ribonucleases (in mammals) and the second line leading to pancreatic ribonuclease in turtle and an angiogenic factor in mammals (human angiogenin). The nonsecretory ribonuclease has five short carbohydrate chains attached via asparagine residues at the surface of the molecule; these chains may have been shortened by exoglycosidase action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Four major urine ribonuclease (RNase) activities, designated bands A-D, were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and activity staining. Bands A, B, and C have alkaline pH optima and display molecular weights of 31 000, 23 000, and 20 000, respectively, upon sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4) gel electrophoresis and weights of 44 000, 28 000, 22 000 upon gel filtration. Band D, with a pH optimum slightly below neutrality, has a molecular weight of 16 000 or 15 000, respectively, determined by the above methods. Band A, the most abundant activity in urine, is heterogeneous and resembles serum RNase 1 on electrophoresis and on phosphocellulose and Sephadex chromatography. Band B is similar to a minor, unnamed component of serum RNase activity while band C resembles serum RNase 3. Band D is similar to the leukocyte RNase-like activity of serum [Blank, A., & Dekker, C.A. (1981) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. Band A is present in urine at a concentration high than that of RNase 1 in serum. In contrast, urine counterparts of serum RNases 2, 4, and 5 are not apparent upon either phosphocellulose chromatography [see also Yamanaka, M., Akagi, K., Murai, K., Hirao, N., Fujimi, S.,& Omae, T. (1977) Clin. Chim. Acta 78, 191-201] or NaDodSO4 get electrophoresis; a urine counterpart of serum RNase 3 can be detected only by the more sensitive electrophoretic method. These results indicate that RNase 2-5 are processed differently by the kidney than RNase 1. After reconciliation of reported differences in their pH optima and molecular weights, five apparently diverse RNase preparations described in the literature can be related to band A activity and three preparations to band D. However, we are unable to confirm a previous report of a human urine enzyme indistinguishable from bovine pancreatic RNase A.