Identification of cDNA clones encoding secretory isoenzyme forms: sequence determination of canine pancreatic prechymotrypsinogen 2 mRNA.

A cDNA library has been constructed from canine poly(A)+ mRNA. Clones containing cDNA inserts coding for prechymotrypsinogen 2 (isoelectric point = 7.1; Mr = 27,500), one of three canine pancreatic isoenzyme forms, were selected by colony hybridization using a cDNA probe synthesized from immunoselected prechymotrypsinogen 2 mRNA. To verify that cDNA clones code for prechymotrypsinogen 2 forms that translocate across rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes and fold into stable and identifiable secretory proteins, we conducted in vitro translation of hybrid-selected mRNA in the presence of microsomal membranes and optimal concentrations of glutathione and analyzed nascent translation products in their nonreduced state by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/NaDodSO4 gel electrophoresis and fluorography. A near full-length chymotrypsinogen 2 cDNA and its primed extension were used to determine the nucleotide sequence for the entire coding region of prechymotrypsinogen 2 mRNA and 87 residues, including a poly(A) addition signal, in the 3' nontranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence shows a 263-residue presecretory protein containing an 18-residue amino-terminal transport peptide (Met-Ala-Phe-Leu-Trp-Leu-Leu-Ser-Cys-Phe-Ala-Leu-Leu-Gly-Thr-Ala-Phe-Gly ), which we have previously shown to mediate the translocation of chymotrypsinogen 2 across the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Following the transport peptide is a 245-residue proenzyme, which shows 82% and 80% sequence identity with bovine chymotrypsinogens A and B, respectively. Conserved among the three zymogens are 10 Cys residues that form five disulfide bonds in bovine chymotrypsinogens A and B and the residues that are required for zymogen activation, substrate binding, and catalytic activity.