Metabolism of cholesterol, phosphatidylethanolamine and stearylamine analogues of GM1 ganglioside by rat glioma C6 cells

Tritium-labeled neoglycolipids consisting of the oligosaccharide of ganglioside GM1 attached to cholesterol (GM1OSNH-X-CHOL), phosphatidylethanolamine (GM1OS-PE) and stearylamine (GM1OSNHC18) were synthesized and their uptake and metabolism by GM1-deficient rat glioma C6 cells were determined. When the neoglycolipids were added to serum-free culture medium, all three were rapidly taken up by the cells and initially inserted into the plasma membrane based on their resistance to trypsin and their ability to bind cholera toxin. With time, the neoglycolipids underwent internalization as the ratio of cell-associated radioactivity to cell surface toxin binding increased; this process was slow for GM1OSNH-X-CHOL and GM1OS-PE and rapid for GM1OSNHC18. Analysis of lipids extracted from the cells indicated that the neoglycolipids also underwent metabolism to GD1aOS-based analogues. In addition, GM1OSNH-X-CHOL and GM1OSNHC18 were degraded to their GM2OS-based analogues, whereas GM2OS-PE was not detected. In contrast, large amounts of 3H were recovered in the medium from cells treated with GM1OS-PE and the label was associated with material that behaved neither as an oligosaccharide or a neoglycolipid. In the presence of monensin or chloroquine, metabolism of the three neoglycolipids was inhibited. Thus, GM1OS-based neoglycolipids were taken up by the cells, internalized and sorted both to the Golgi apparatus (sialylated to GD1aOS-based analogues) and to lysosomes (hydrolyzed to GM2OS-based analogues). The rate and extent of these processes, however, were strongly influenced by the nature of lipid moiety.

Desensitization of the human beta 1-adrenergic receptor. Involvement of the cyclic AMP-dependent but not a receptor-specific protein kinase

Human SK-N-MC neurotumor cells express beta 1- but not beta 2-adrenergic receptors. Following exposure of the cells to isoproterenol, there was no reduction in the maximum response of adenylyl cyclase to the agonist but a 3-fold shift to less sensitivity in the concentration response. This desensitization was very rapid and dose dependent; half-maximal effects occurred at 10 nM isoproterenol. A similar shift was observed when membranes from control cells were incubated with ATP and the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). No shift, however, was observed in intact cells exposed to either dibutyryl cyclic AMP or dopamine, which stimulates adenylyl cyclase in these cells through D1 dopamine receptors. To pursue the role of protein kinases in the desensitization process, cells were made permeable, loaded with a PKA inhibitor or with heparin, an inhibitor of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK), and exposed to isoproterenol. The PKA inhibitor but not heparin blocked the agonist-mediated desensitization. In contrast, desensitized human tumor cells (HeLa and A431), which express beta 2-adrenergic receptors, exhibited both a shift in concentration response and a reduction in maximum response; the former was blocked by the PKA inhibitor and the latter by heparin. Our results indicated that whereas both human beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors are susceptible to PKA, only the beta 2 receptors are susceptible to beta ARK. These differences in desensitization may be due to differences in receptor structure as the human beta 1 receptor has fewer potential phosphorylation sites for beta ARK in the carboxyl terminus than the human beta 2 receptor.

Neoglycolipid analogues of ganglioside GM1 as functional receptors of cholera toxin

We synthesized several lipid analogues of ganglioside GM1 by attaching its oligosaccharide moiety (GM1OS) to aminophospholipids, aliphatic amines, and cholesteryl hemisuccinate. We incubated GM1-deficient rat glioma C6 cells with each of the derivatives as well as native GM1 and assayed the cells for their ability to bind and respond to cholera toxin. On the basis of the observed increase in binding of 125I-labeled cholera toxin, it was apparent that the cells took up and initially incorporated most of the derivatives into the plasma membrane. In the case of the aliphatic amine derivatives, the ability to generate new toxin binding sites was dependent on chain length; whereas the C10 derivative was ineffective, C12 and higher analogues were effective. Increased binding was dependent on both the concentration of the neoglycolipid in the medium and the time of exposure. Cells pretreated with the various derivatives accumulated cyclic AMP in response to cholera toxin, but there were differences in their effectiveness. The cholesterol and long-chain aliphatic amine derivatives were more effective than native GM1, whereas the phospholipid derivatives were less effective. The distance between GM1OS and the phospholipid also appeared to influence its functional activity. The neoglycolipid formed by cross-linking the amine of GM1OS to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) with disuccinimidyl suberate was less effective than the neoglycolipid formed by directly attaching GM1OS to PE by reductive amination. Furthermore, insertion of a C8 spacer in the former neoglycolipid rendered it even less effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization and regulation of beta 1-adrenergic receptors in a human neuroepithelioma cell line

Intact human neuroepithelioma SK-N-MC cells bound the beta-adrenergic antagonist (-)-[3H]-CGP 12177 with a KD of 0.13 nM and a Bmax of 17,500 sites/cell. When the cells were exposed to beta-adrenergic agonists, they accumulated cyclic AMP in the following order of potency: isoproterenol much greater than norepinephrine greater than epinephrine, which is indicative of a beta 1-subtype receptor. Membranes prepared from the cells bound (-)-3-[125I]iodocyanopindolol with a KD of 11.5 pM. Inhibition of agonist-stimulated cyclic AMP production and competition binding experiments indicated that the beta 1-selective antagonists CGP 20712A and ICI 89,406 were much more potent than the beta 2-selective antagonist ICI 118,551. Analysis of the displacement curves indicated that the cells contained only beta 1-adrenergic receptors. Northern blot analysis of SK-N-MC mRNA using cDNA probes for the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors revealed the presence of a very strong beta 1-adrenergic receptor mRNA signal, while under the same conditions no beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA was observed. Thus, SK-N-MC cells appear to express a pure population of beta 1-adrenergic receptors. When the cells were exposed to isoproterenol, there was no observable desensitization during the first hour. After longer exposure, desensitization slowly occurred and the receptors slowly down-regulated to 50% of control levels by 24 h. Other agents that elevate cyclic AMP levels, such as forskolin, cholera toxin, and cyclic AMP analogues, caused no or little substantial receptor loss.

Centrally truncated neuropeptide Y analog acts as an agonist for Y1 receptors on SK-N-MC cells

The similarity of neuropeptide Y (NPY) to pancreatic polypeptide (PP), whose X-ray crystallographic structure is known, has allowed computer-assisted molecular modelling of NPY and predictions of its three-dimensional structure. Utilizing these techniques, Krstenansky et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 86 (1989) 4377-4381) reported that a centrally truncated analog of porcine NPY, [D-Cys7-Aoc8-17-Cys20]pNPY, which was designed to maintain the tertiary structure of the native molecule, bound to sites on membranes from mouse brain with even higher affinity than native NPY. As brain membranes may represent a heterogeneous mixture of receptor subtypes, we decided to characterize the activity of this analog on a defined cell line. SK-N-MC cells are a human epithelioma cell line with high-affinity receptors of the Y1 subtype which are coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase. (D-Cys7-Aoc8-17-Cys20]pNPY bound to receptors on SK-N-MC cells, but in contrast to membranes from mouse brain, with a lower affinity than pNPY. Furthermore, [D-Cys7-Aoc8-17-Cys20]pNPY was able to inhibit isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production in these cells. Therefore, it appears that the central amino acids deleted from this analog are not involved in NPY binding, and biological activity can be maintained by conservation of the tertiary structure of NPY around the binding surface.

Characterization of functional neuropeptide Y receptors in a human neuroblastoma cell line

We identified receptors for neuropeptide Y (NPY) on an established human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-MC, which are functionally coupled to adenylate cyclase through the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein of adenylate cyclase, Gi. Intact SK-N-MC cells bound radiolabeled NPY with a KD of 2 nM and contained approximately 83,000 receptors/cell. Unlabeled porcine and human NPY and structurally related porcine peptide YY (PYY) competed with labeled NPY for binding to the receptors. NPY inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation in SK-N-MC cells stimulated by isoproterenol, dopamine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, cholera toxin, and forskolin. NPY inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP production in a dose-dependent manner, with half-maximal inhibition at 0.5 nM NPY. Porcine and human NPY and porcine PYY gave similar dose-response curves. NPY also inhibited basal and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in disrupted cells. Pertussis toxin treatment of the cells completely blocked the ability of NPY to inhibit cyclic AMP production and adenylate cyclase activity. The toxin catalyzed the ADP-ribosylation of a 41-kDa protein in SK-N-MC cells that corresponds to Gi. The receptors on SK-N-MC cells appeared to be specific for NPY, as other neurotransmitter drugs, such as alpha-adrenergic, dopaminergic, muscarinic, and serotonergic antagonists, did not compete for either NPY binding or NPY inhibition of adenylate cyclase. Thus, SK-N-MC cells may be a useful model for investigating NPY receptors and NPY-mediated signal transduction.

Differential activation of the stimulatory and inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding proteins by fluoroaluminate in cells and in membranes

Fluoroaluminate had no effect on cAMP levels in cells but inhibited agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In membranes, fluoroaluminate stimulated adenylate cyclase activity between 1 and 10 mM but not at higher concentrations, and it inhibited agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity at concentrations greater than 1 mM. Fluoroaluminate is known to activate Gs and Gi, the guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins that stimulate and inhibit adenylate cyclase. G proteins are heterotrimeric, with unique alpha and common beta gamma subunits, and activation involves dissociation of alpha from beta gamma. Pertussis toxin catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of alpha i of heterotrimeric Gi but not free alpha i. Fluoroaluminate prevented pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi in cells and membranes, suggesting that Gi is activated by fluoroaluminate in both. Cholera toxin catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of the alpha s subunit of Gs. In cells, agonist often increased cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gs, but fluoroaluminate decreased ADP-ribosylation even in the presence of agonist, suggesting that Gs cannot be activated in the presence of fluoroaluminate. In membranes, both agonist and fluoroaluminate increased cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation, suggesting that Gs is activated by these agents. We conclude that fluoroaluminate activates Gi but not Gs in cells and activates both G proteins in membranes. The value of bacterial toxins in assessing the state of G protein in cells and membranes is demonstrated.

Comparison of the central and renal dopamine-1 receptor

The dopamine D-1 receptor from striatal membranes was compared with the dopamine DA-1 receptor from renal proximal tubules. The dopamine-1 receptors were solubilized with 1% sodium cholate and phospholipids after pretreatment with the dopamine-1 agonist, SKF R-38393. The soluble receptors were reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles after removal of sodium cholate. The receptors were studied by radioligand binding using the dopamine-1 antagonist [125I]-SCH 23982. The reconstituted dopamine D-1 and DA-1 receptor densities were similar. However, the affinity of the solubilized D-1 receptor was 17-fold greater than the solubilized DA-1 receptor. The affinity of membrane bound D-1 receptor to the radioligand was also greater than that noted for membrane bound DA-1 receptor. The mechanism for this difference remains to be determined.

Generation of cell surface neoganglioproteins. GM1-neoganglioproteins are non-functional receptors for cholera toxin

GM1 (II3Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer)-oligosaccharide was prepared from the ganglioside by ozonolysis and alkaline fragmentation, reductively aminated and coupled to the heterobifunctional cross-linker succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate. The resulting derivative reacted with free sulfhydryl groups and readily cross-linked to cell surface components on rat glioma C6 cells which are GM1-deficient. Attachment of the GM1-oligosaccharide derivative, which was monitored by increased binding of 125I-cholera toxin to the cells, was both time- and concentration-dependent. Prior treatment of the cells with dithiothreitol enhanced the attachment by generating additional free sulfhydryl groups. The affinity of cholera toxin for cells treated with the GM1-oligosaccharide derivative or with GM1 was similar. The nature of the newly generated toxin receptors was determined by Western blotting. Membranes from derivatized cells were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the resolved components were electrophoretically transferred to a nitrocellulose sheet which was overlain with 125I-cholera toxin. The toxin bound to a wide variety of membrane proteins, most of which were trypsin-sensitive. No such binding was observed using membranes from control cells. Although the GM1-neoganglioproteins newly generated on the surface of rat glioma C6 cells readily bound cholera toxin, the cells did not become more responsive to the toxin as measured by increased production of cyclic AMP or activation of adenylate cyclase. In contrast, cells exposed to GM1 became highly responsive to the toxin. Thus, neoganglioproteins on the cell surface appear to behave as nonfunctional receptors for cholera toxin.

A primate model of anterior segment ischemia after strabismus surgery. The role of the conjunctival circulation

Fornix conjunctival incisions in strabismus surgery may provide partial protection against anterior segment ischemia by preserving the perilimbal conjunctival-Tenon's circulation, which is disrupted with limbal conjunctival incisions. Six adult cynomolgus monkeys underwent tenotomies of three or four rectus muscles by making limbal conjunctival incisions in one eye and fornix incisions in the other. Iris fluorescein angiography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy were used to monitor changes. The eyes that had limbal incisions exhibited more severe anterior segment ischemic changes than the eyes that had fornix incisions in every instance of four rectus muscle surgery.

Identification and characterization of functional D1 dopamine receptors in a human neuroblastoma cell line

Dopamine stimulated human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells to accumulated cyclic AMP. The D1 agonist SKF (R)-38393 also stimulated cyclic AMP production whereas the response to dopamine was inhibited by the D1 antagonist SCH (R)-23390. Membranes from SK-N-MC cells bound the D1 ligand [125I]SCH 23982 with a Kd of 2.1 nM and a Bmax of 102 fmol/mg protein. Binding was displaced by dopamine, SKF 38393, and SCH 23390. Up to 40% of the receptors were in an agonist high affinity, guanine nucleotide-sensitive state, compared to only 6% in rat striatum. A D1 photoaffinity probe labeled a 72 kDa protein in both SK-N-MC and rat striatal membranes. Thus, SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells contain D1 dopamine receptors which are similar to those found in mammalian striatum, but which are more tightly coupled to adenylate cyclase. SK-N-MC cells may be a useful model to investigate the properties and regulation of D1 dopamine receptors.

Interaction of the B subunit of cholera toxin with endogenous ganglioside GM1 causes changes in membrane potential of rat thymocytes

The fluorescent anionic dye, bisoxonol, and flow cytometry have been used to monitor changes in the membrane potential of rat thymocytes exposed to the B subunit of cholera toxin. The B subunit induced a rapid hyperpolarization, which was due to activation of a Ca2+-sensitive K+ channel. Reduction of extracellular Ca2+ to less than 1 microM by the addition of [ethylene-bis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid immediately abolished the hyperpolarization caused by the B subunit. Cells treated with quinine and tetraethylammonium lost their ability to respond to the B subunit, whereas 4-aminopyridine did not have any effect. Thus, calcium-sensitive and not voltage-gated K+ channels appeared to be responsible for the hyperpolarization. The results of ion substitution experiments indicated that extracellular Na+ was not essential for changes in membrane potential. Further studies with ouabain, amiloride and furosemide demonstrated that electrogenic Na+/K+ ATPase, Na+/H+ antiporter and Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter, respectively, were not involved in the hyperpolarization process induced by the B subunit. Thus, crosslinking of several molecules of ganglioside GM1 on the cell surface of rat thymocytes by the pentavalent B subunit of cholera toxin modulated plasma membrane permeability to K+ by triggering the opening of Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels. A role for gangliosides in regulating ion permeability would have important implications for the function of gangliosides in various cellular phenomena.

Lipid signalling pathways in normal and ras-transfected NIH/3T3 cells

The role of ras oncogenes in cellular signalling pathways involving phospholipid breakdown was studied in untransfected and proto-H-ras and mutated H-, K- and N-ras transfected NIH/3T3 cells. When the cells were grown at low cell densities, all of the ras transfected cells had 2-4 fold higher diacylglycerol (DAG) levels compared to growing NIH/3T3 cells. At high cell densities, DAG levels decreased in the former and increased in contact inhibited NIH/3T3 cells. In this regard, only cells transformed by mutated cellular and viral H-ras oncogenes (but not by the H-ras proto-oncogene) had elevated DAG levels compared to contact inhibited NIH/3T3 cells. The basal levels of inositol phosphates in ras transfected cells were not significantly different from NIH/3T3 cells and did not vary with cell density. Thus, the elevated DAG levels are not a consequence of increased phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The latter was stimulated by serum and bombesin only in normal and proto-H-ras transfected cells. In contrast, stimulation by bradykinin was observed only in cells transformed by mutated cellular ras oncogenes. Furthermore, aluminum fluoride stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown in the latter cells indicating that there was no uncoupling of the G protein from phospholipase C. Treatment of ras transfected cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DB-cAMP), which causes an inhibition of growth and a reversal of the transformed morphology, did not alter the basal levels of inositol phosphates, DB-cAMP, however, did lower DAG levels in some of the transformed cell lines, but elevated DAG levels in low density NIH/3T3 cells. These findings indicate that the ras gene product p21 is not involved in phosphoinositide hydrolysis and that DAG levels do not correlate with cell growth in either normal or ras transfected NIH/3T3 cells. Thus, p21 appears to alter cell growth through mechanism(s) independent of lipid signalling pathways.

Muscarinic receptor-mediated increase in cAMP levels in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells

Stimulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells resulted in a 1.5-4 fold increase in intracellular cAMP levels. This unusual response was sensitive to atropine and pirenzepine but insensitive to pertussis toxin. It was observable regardless of whether basal, PGE1- or forskolin-stimulated cAMP levels were measured. The half-maximal concentration for carbachol-stimulation of cAMP levels (6 microM) was similar to that for the previously determined carbachol-induced stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover in these cells, suggesting that the former is mediated by the latter. These data indicate that cross-talk between the phosphoinositide turnover system and the adenylate cyclase system results in increased cAMP levels in SK-N-SH cells in response to muscarinic receptor stimulation.

Modulation of the beta-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase by chemical inducers of differentiation: effects on beta receptors and the inhibitory regulatory protein Gi

Several drugs known to induce differentiation in tumor cells were analyzed for their effects on the beta-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system in two human carcinoma cell lines, HeLa and A431. Each of the drugs was tested alone or in combination with sodium butyrate (NaBu), a known inducer of this signal transduction system. Puromycine amino nucleoside (PMAN) caused the largest increase in beta-adrenergic receptors in HeLa cells followed by hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA) whereas 5'-azacytidine (5AZC) was ineffective. In addition, PMAN but not the others acted together with NaBu to elevate receptor levels 12-fold over control values. In contrast, HMBA and 5AZC were much more effective on A431 cells, PMAN caused only a slight increase in beta receptors and none of the drugs acted in concert with NaBu. The increase in beta receptors was usually accompanied by a corresponding increase in isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. These effects of the drugs appeared to require protein synthesis as they were blocked by cycloheximide. In addition, some of the drugs caused a substantial decrease in basal adenylate cyclase activity. This effect on basal activity was abolished in cells treated with pertussis toxin, which ADP-ribosylates the inhibitory GTP-binding protein, Gi. Both HeLa and A431 cells contained a 41 kDalton substrate for the toxin which corresponds to the alpha subunit of Gi. The Gi subunit was ADP-ribosylated by the toxin to a similar extent in membranes from control and drug-treated cells. Thus, the drugs appear to induce quantitative changes in beta-adrenergic receptors and qualitative changes in Gi which results in a highly responsive beta-adrenergic-stimulated adenylate cyclase.

Duration of therapeutic levels of intravitreally injected liposome-encapsulated clindamycin in the rabbit

We investigated an intravitreal preparation of liposome-encapsulated clindamycin phosphate to determine the duration of therapeutic levels of the drug in the vitreous cavity. Twenty New Zealand albino rabbits were given an intravitreal injection of 750 micrograms/0.1 mL of encapsulated clindamycin (10 animals) or 800 micrograms/0.1 mL of nonencapsulated clindamycin (10 animals) and then were killed immediately or 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours later. The mean concentration of encapsulated clindamycin in the vitreous at 48 hours was 28.4 micrograms/mL, while that of nonencapsulated clindamycin at 24 hours was 2.3 micrograms/mL. The estimated elimination rate of nonencapsulated clindamycin was 3 hours, compared with approximately 10 hours for the encapsulated preparation. This drug delivery system warrants further investigation for possible use in humans.

Alteration of glycolipids in ras-transfected NIH 3T3 cells

Glycosphingolipid alterations upon viral transformation are well documented. Transformation of mouse 3T3 cells with murine sarcoma viruses results in marked decreases in the levels of gangliosides GM1 and GD1a and an increase in gangliotriaosylceramide. The transforming oncogenes of these viruses have been identified as members of the ras gene family. We analyzed NIH 3T3 cells transfected with human H-, K- and N-ras oncogenes for their glycolipid composition and expression of cell surface gangliosides. Using conventional thin-layer chromatographic analysis, we found that the level of GM3 was increased and that of GD1a was slightly decreased or unchanged, and GM1 was present but not in quantifiable levels. Cell surface levels of GM1 were determined by 125I-labeled cholera toxin binding to intact cells. GD1a was determined by cholera toxin binding to cells treated with sialidase prior to toxin binding. All ras-transfected cells had decreased levels of surface GM1 and GD1a as compared to logarithmically growing normal NIH 3T3 cells. Levels of GM1 and, to a lesser extent, GD1a increased as the latter cells became confluent. Using a monoclonal antibody assay, we found that gangliotriaosylceramide was present in all ras-transfected cells studied but not in logarithmically growing untransfected cells. Interestingly, gangliotriaosylceramide appeared when the latter cells became confluent. These results indicated that ras oncogenes derived from human tumors are capable of inducing alterations in glycolipid composition.

Effect of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine on beta-adrenergic receptors in cultured rat glioma C6 cells

Rat glioma C6 cells, cultured in the presence of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine, lost a significant number of beta-adrenergic receptors in a time- and dose-dependent manner. A similar loss was observed whether binding was determined on intact cells with the hydrophilic beta-adrenergic antagonist (+/-)-[3H]4-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxyl)benzimidazole-2-o n HCl ([3H]CGP-12177) or on cell lysates with the more hydrophobic antagonists [125I]iodocyanopindolol or [3H]dihydroalprenolol. When stimulated with the agonist isoproterenol, desipramine-treated cells accumulated less cyclic AMP than control cells. The affinity of the beta-adrenergic receptors for either antagonist or agonist was unchanged after desipramine treatment. Desipramine interacted only weakly with the receptors and competed for [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding with a Ki of 30 microM. The presence in the culture medium of alprenolol or propranolol, potent beta-adrenergic antagonists, however, did not prevent the reduction in receptors by desipramine. Desipramine also caused a loss of beta-adrenergic receptors from cells maintained in serum-free medium and the cells themselves did not contain or secrete endogenous catecholamines. Although desipramine is a potent inhibitor of catecholamine uptake, it appears unlikely that the observed loss of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat glioma C6 cells exposed to the drug is due to an increase in extracellular catecholamine levels or to a direct interaction with the receptors.

Down-regulation of protein kinase C in rat glioma C6 cells: effects on the beta-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase

Continuous exposure of rat glioma C6 cells to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) resulted in a time and dose dependent loss of [3H]phorbol dibutyrate binding sites and protein kinase C activity. Thus, by 24 h, the cells were essentially depleted of protein kinase C activity. In agreement with previous studies, TPA treatment caused a reduction in isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and a sequestration of beta-adrenergic receptors. Cells were treated with TPA for 24-48 h to completely down-regulate protein kinase C and then exposed to isoproterenol. Agonist-mediated desensitization of adenylate cyclase and sequestration of beta-adrenergic receptors occurred at similar rates in control and TPA-treated cells. In addition, agonist-mediated down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors was not impaired by the absence of protein kinase C activity. Although both agonists and phorbol esters cause desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase, agonist-mediated events can occur independently of protein kinase C.

Neuropeptide Y inhibits cardiac adenylate cyclase through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein

Neuropeptide Y, a major neuropeptide and potent vasoconstrictor, inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in cultured rat atrial cells as well as in atrial membranes. Prior treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin blocked the inhibitory action of neuropeptide Y. Pertussis toxin is known to uncouple the receptors for other inhibitors of adenylate cyclase by ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of Gi, the inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding component of adenylate cyclase. The toxin specifically catalyzed the ADP-ribosylation of a 41-kilodalton atrial membrane protein which corresponded to the Gi subunit. These results suggest that neuropeptide Y may mediate some of its physiological effects through specific receptors linked to the inhibitory pathway of adenylate cyclase.

Gangliosides as bimodal regulators of cell growth

The B subunit of cholera toxin, which binds specifically to several molecules of ganglioside galactosyl-(beta 1----3)-N-acetylgalactosyminyl(beta 1----4)-[N- acetylneuraminyl(alpha 2----3)]-galactosyl(beta 1----4)glucosyl(beta 1----1) ceramide (GM1) on the cell surface, stimulated DNA synthesis and cell division in quiescent, nontransformed mouse 3T3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the B subunit potentiated the response of the 3T3 cells to other mitogens, such as epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and insulin. This synergistic effect indicates that the B subunit does not act identically to any of these growth factors but probably modulates a common effector system crucial for cell proliferation. In distinct contrast, the B subunit inhibited the growth of ras-transformed 3T3 cells as well as rapidly dividing normal 3T3 cells. Thus, the same cells, depending on their state of growth, exhibited a bimodal response to the B subunit. We conclude that endogenous gangliosides may be bimodal regulators of positive and negative signals for cell growth.

Recent advances in identifying the functions of gangliosides

The recent development of several new approaches has proven extremely useful in identifying functions for gangliosides, the sialic-acid containing glycosphingolipids. The first is the incorporation of exogenous gangliosides into the plasma membrane of ganglioside-deficient cells. Using this approach, specific gangliosides have been identified as the receptors for certain bacterial toxins and viruses and as important factors in the organization of fibronectin into an extracellular matrix. The second approach has been a ligand blotting technique which allows detection of ganglioside-binding proteins such as toxins and antibodies. Gangliosides are separated by thin-layer chromatography and overlain with the protein of interest. Specific binding of the ligand to gangliosides can then be detected by either direct or indirect methods. The third approach is the use of the B or binding subunit of cholera toxin as a specific probe for endogenous plasma membrane ganglioside function. The ability of the B subunit to alter the growth of cells directly demonstrates a role for gangliosides as biotransducers of signals for the regulation of cell growth.

Expression of gangliosides as receptors at the cell surface controls infection of NCTC 2071 cells by Sendai virus

The involvement of gangliosides as receptors for Sendai virus was established previously using experimentally produced receptor-deficient cells. In the search for a naturally occurring counterpart, NCTC 2071 cells emerged as a likely candidate. These cells in their native state were not agglutinated nor infected by Sendai virus, but were infected by the virus when the gangliosides GD1a, GT1b, or GQ1b were supplied in the culturing medium. Preliminary analysis indicated that NCTC 2071 cells contained an unusually high ratio of sialoglycoproteins to gangliosides. A brief treatment of the cell surface with the protease trypsin made greater than 99% of the native monolayer susceptible to infection by the wild-type virus which contains the viral attachment protein HN. (Incubation of the trypsin-treated cells with a temperature-sensitive mutant missing HN produced no detectable infection.) The increased binding of cholera toxin, a ganglioside-specific probe, after incubation of the cells with trypsin and sialidase, was consistent with the hypothesis that gangliosides more complex than GM1 are on the surface of NCTC 2071 cells and that trypsin treatment increases their accessibility. The presence of receptor gangliosides in lipid extracts of NCTC 2071 cells was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography of the ganglioside fraction and by the binding of cholera toxin. These results demonstrate that cells containing receptor gangliosides may still be resistant to infection because these are not expressed properly at the cell surface as receptors for interaction with the HN protein of Sendai virus.