Neuroendocrine-specific protein C (NSP-C): subcellular localization and differential expression in relation to NSP-A

A mouse monoclonal antibody RNL-4, as well as rabbit polyclonal antiserum POL-8 were raised against a synthetic peptide, encompassing the first twenty unique amino-terminal amino acid residues of NSP-C. The specificity of both immunoreagents was established in an ELISA assay using the synthetic peptide and by their immunoreactivity to NSP-C fusion proteins. Immunofluorescence analysis of COS-1 cells, transfected with NSP-C cDNA, showed staining of the endoplasmic reticulum with RNL-4 and POL-8. No cross-reactivity of these reagents with NSP-A or NSP-B was seen. Immunohistochemical studies in normal human tissues showed expression of NSP-C in tissues of neural and neuroendocrine origin, i.e. neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system, the neurohypophysis, adrenal medulla, adenohypophysis, pars intermedia, and in sporadic neuroedocrine cells of the lung. Expression of NSP-C was found in several small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines, in non-SCLC cell lines with neuroendocrine features, but not in typical non-SCLC cell lines. Also, in a neuroblastoma cell line NSP-C expression was observed. Immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation studies with RNL-4 and POL-8 identified the 23 kDa NSP-C polypeptide in these cell lines. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that also in these cell lines NSP-C is located at the endoplasmic reticulum, as shown before for NSP-A and NSP-B. In some of the cell lines coexpression of NSP-A and NSP-C was observed, while in others only one of the two could be detected. The differential expression of NSP-A and NSP-C in these cell lines is confirmed by immunoblotting and was also evident at the mRNA level. When NSP-A and NSP-C were coexpressed, the number of NSP-C-positive cells was always less than the number of NSP-A-positive cells. A partial colocalization of NSPs was observed in the endoplasmic reticulum. Cell fractionation studies revealed that both proteins are retained in the membranous fraction of the cell, from which they can be solubilized by Triton X-100. Immunoprecipitation analyses under native conditions indicate that NSP-C does not need to associate with NSP-A to form high molecular weight NSP-reticulons.