Induction of specific storage organelles by von Willebrand factor propolypeptide

• Published in: Cell Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 403 - 413
• Main Authors: Wagner, Denisa D, Saffaripour, Simin, Bonfanti, Roberta, Sadler, J.Evan, Cramer, Elisabeth M, Chapman, Barbara, Mayadas, Tanya N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Inc 25.01.1991; Cell Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood coagulation. Blood cells; Blotting, Western; Cell Line; Coagulation factors; DNA - genetics; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular and cellular biology; Organelles - metabolism; Organelles - ultrastructure; Plasmids; Protein Precursors - genetics; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Restriction Mapping; Transfection; von Willebrand Factor - genetics; von Willebrand Factor - isolation & purification; Leader peptide; Heterologous system; Cell organelle; Secretion; Gene expression; C terminal-Sequence; Regulation(control); Cell line; Storage; Complementary DNA; Deletion; Property structure relationship; Willebrand factor; Coagulation factor
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90648-I

Endothelial cells store the multimeric adhesive glycoprotein von Willebrand factor (vWf), which promotes the formation of a platelet plug at the site of vessel injury. To investigate the packaging of vWf into the granules called Weibel-Palade bodies, we expressed pro-vWf cDNA and cDNA lacking the prosequence in a variety of cell lines. Storage granules formed only in cells that contain a regulated pathway of secretion. Furthermore, packaging required the prosequence. Pro-vWf, lacking the C-terminal region involved in interchain disulfide bonding, formed granules. We conclude that the signal for storage is universal in that an adhesive glycoprotein can be stored by a hormone-secreting cell; the storage of vWf is independent of its covalent multimeric structure; the unusual rod shape of Weibel-Palade bodies is due to vWf; and the vWf propolypeptide is necessary for the formation of vWf storage granules.