Induction of 32- and 34-kDa stress proteins by sodium arsenite, heavy metals, and thiol-reactive agents

Challenge of human or murine melanoma cells with sodium arsenite, heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺), or thiol-reactive agents (p-chloromercuribenzoate and iodoacetamide) induced the synthesis of four stress proteins with molecular masses of 100, 90, 72 (a doublet), and 32 (human) or 34 (murine) kDa. Enhanced expression of the 32- and 34-kDa polypeptides (p32 and p34) preceded or paralleled the synthesis of the other stress proteins. Hyperthermia, the calcium ionophore A23187, and amino acid analogs (L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid and L-canavanine) induced the formation of the major stress proteins, but failed to increase synthesis of p32 and p34. Characterization of the dose and time dependence of p32 and p34 synthesis in human (A375) and murine (B16-F10) melanoma cells, respectively, indicated that these proteins were subject to similar regulatory mechanisms. Electrophoretic analysis of stressed cells pulsed with different metabolic precursors revealed that p32 and p34 were radiolabeled with [³⁵S]methionine or ³H-amino acids but not by [³H]mannose or [³⁵S]cysteine. Polyclonal antibodies raised against human p32 cross-reacted with murine p34. These data suggest that p32 and p34 are closely regulated human and murine gene products, respectively, whose synthesis can be modulated by thiol-reactive reagents. Induction of p32 and p34 by these agents, but not by heat shock, suggests that these proteins are a subset of stress-inducible gene products.