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The subcellular locations of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1 and -2 (PGHS-1 and -2) were determined by quantitative confocal fluorescence imaging microscopy in murine 3T3 cells and human and bovine endothelial cells using immunocytofluorescence with isozyme-specific antibodies. In all of the cell types examined, PGHS-1 immunoreactivity was found equally distributed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope (NE). PGHS-2 immunoreactivity was also present in the ER and NE. However, PGHS-2 staining was twice as concentrated in the NE as in the ER. A histofluorescence staining method was developed to localize cyclooxygenase/peroxidase activity. In quiescent 3T3 cells, which express only PGHS-1, histofluorescent staining was most concentrated in the perinuclear cytoplasmic region. In contrast, histochemical staining for PGHS-2 activity was about equally intense in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, a pattern of activity staining distinct from that observed with PGHS-1. Our results indicate that there are significant differences in the subcellular locations of PGHS-1 and PGHS-2. It appears that PGHS-1 functions predominantly in the ER whereas PGHS-2 may function in the ER and the NE. We speculate that PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 acting in the ER and PGHS-2 functioning in the NE represent independent prostanoid biosynthetic systems.

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H (PGH) synthases 1 and 2 are both membrane-associated proteins localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope. The carboxyl terminal tetrapeptides of PGH synthases 1 and 2 are of the form -P/STEL. These sequences are similar to the -KDEL retention signal sequence characteristic of many proteins localized to the ER. To determine if the -PTEL sequence (residues 597-600) functions as an ER retention signal for ovine PGH synthase-1, we prepared and analyzed five mutants (L600N, L600R, L600V, E599Q, and delta 597), all having modifications that would be expected to alter the subcellular location of PGH synthase-1 if the -PTEL sequence were involved in ER targeting. Native ovine PGH synthase-1 and each of the five mutants were subcloned into the pSVT7 expression vector and were expressed transiently in cos-1 cells. The L600N, L600R, E599Q, and delta 597 mutants retained both cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities. Moreover, when subjected to immunocytofluorescent staining, cos-1 cells expressing native and mutant enzymes showed similar patterns of fluorescence corresponding to ER and nuclear envelope localization. Finally, culture media bathing cos-1 cells transfected with native or mutant PGH synthases were tested for secreted PGH synthase-1 protein by Western blotting, but no PGH synthase-1 was detected in any of the culture media. Our results demonstrate that mutations in the C-terminal sequence-PTEL do not change the subcellular location of ovine PGH synthase-1. Thus, targeting of PGH synthase-1 to the ER can occur independent of its -PTEL sequence.