The 45-kDa form of Pdx-1 does not result from post-translational modifications

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 May 30;370(2):225-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.03.071. Epub 2008 Mar 24.

Abstract

Pdx-1 is a key regulator of glucose-stimulated insulin gene transcription in beta-cells. The regulation of Pdx-1 in response to glucose has previously been associated with a remarkable shift in electrophoretic mobility on SDS-PAGE from 31 to 45kDa. This has been attributed to different post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, sumoylation or glycosylation. However, and in contrast with previous studies, we describe in this paper that Pdx-1 produced in Escherichia coli, by in vitro transcription/translation or exogenously expressed in eukaryotic cells, migrates with an apparent molecular mass of 45kDa despite a calculated mass of 31kDa. Moreover, we show that the migration of endogenous Pdx-1 obtained from a mouse beta-cell line as well as from human primary islets is not dependent on glucose concentration. Taken together, these data, validated by mass spectrometry techniques, establish that anomalous migration of Pdx-1 on SDS-PAGE does not result from post-translational modifications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Artifacts*
  • Cell Line
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins / chemistry*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein
  • Glucose