TY - JOUR
T1 - DNA binding to human leukocytes. Evidence for a receptor-mediated association, internalization, and degradation of DNA
AU - Bennett, R. M.
AU - Gabor, G. T.
AU - Merritt, M. M.
PY - 1985
Y1 - 1985
N2 - Previous studies have indicated that white blood cells possess DNA on their outer membranes. In this study we set out to determine whether exogenous DNA bound to cells in a fashion compatible with a ligand receptor union. Purified populations of white blood cells; neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMN), adherent mononuclear cells (ADMC), rosetting lymphocytes (E+ cells), and nonrosetting lymphocytes (E- cells) were incubated with radiolabeled lambda phage DNA in increasing concentrations. Binding of [3H]DNA was a saturable process and was inhibited by excess cold DNA and prior trypsinization of the cells. Rate zonal density centrifugation of purified cell membrane preparations confirmed that DNA was binding to the outer cell surface. The dissociation constant for all four cell types was ~10-9 M, and from 0.81 x 103 to 2.6 x 103 molecules of lambda phage DNA bound to each cell depending upon cell type. Binding was not competitively inhibited by RNA, polydeoxyadenylic acid-polydeoxythymidylic acid (poly[d(A)·d(T)], or mononucleotides. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamine gel electrophoresis (PAGE)-separated proteins from PMN, ADMC, E+, and E- cells were electrophoretically blotted onto nitrocellulose sheets; a probe of biotin-labeled DNA indicated a single species of DNA-binding molecule migrating in a position consistent with a molecular weight of 30,000. Isotopic and immunofluorescent studies indicate that DNA is internalized and degraded to oligonucleotides; this process is inhibited by cycloheximide. These results support the notion that there is a common binding site for DNA on white blood cells, that the stoichiometry of the association is compatible with a ligand receptor relationship, and that this apparent receptor is responsible for the endocytosis and degradation of exogenous DNA.
AB - Previous studies have indicated that white blood cells possess DNA on their outer membranes. In this study we set out to determine whether exogenous DNA bound to cells in a fashion compatible with a ligand receptor union. Purified populations of white blood cells; neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMN), adherent mononuclear cells (ADMC), rosetting lymphocytes (E+ cells), and nonrosetting lymphocytes (E- cells) were incubated with radiolabeled lambda phage DNA in increasing concentrations. Binding of [3H]DNA was a saturable process and was inhibited by excess cold DNA and prior trypsinization of the cells. Rate zonal density centrifugation of purified cell membrane preparations confirmed that DNA was binding to the outer cell surface. The dissociation constant for all four cell types was ~10-9 M, and from 0.81 x 103 to 2.6 x 103 molecules of lambda phage DNA bound to each cell depending upon cell type. Binding was not competitively inhibited by RNA, polydeoxyadenylic acid-polydeoxythymidylic acid (poly[d(A)·d(T)], or mononucleotides. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamine gel electrophoresis (PAGE)-separated proteins from PMN, ADMC, E+, and E- cells were electrophoretically blotted onto nitrocellulose sheets; a probe of biotin-labeled DNA indicated a single species of DNA-binding molecule migrating in a position consistent with a molecular weight of 30,000. Isotopic and immunofluorescent studies indicate that DNA is internalized and degraded to oligonucleotides; this process is inhibited by cycloheximide. These results support the notion that there is a common binding site for DNA on white blood cells, that the stoichiometry of the association is compatible with a ligand receptor relationship, and that this apparent receptor is responsible for the endocytosis and degradation of exogenous DNA.
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U2 - 10.1172/JCI112226
DO - 10.1172/JCI112226
M3 - Article
C2 - 3001145
AN - SCOPUS:0022338699
SN - 0021-9738
VL - 76
SP - 2182
EP - 2190
JO - Journal of Clinical Investigation
JF - Journal of Clinical Investigation
IS - 6
ER -