Depletion of intracellular calcium stores activates a calcium conducting nonselective cation current in mouse pancreatic acinar cells

Receptor-mediated Ca2+ release from inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ stores causes "capacitative calcium entry" in many cell types (Putney, J. W., Jr. (1986) Cell Calcium 7, 1-12; Putney, J. W., Jr. (1990) Cell Calcium 11, 611-624). We used patch-clamp and fluorescence techniques in isolated mouse pancreatic acinar cells to identify ion currents and cytosolic calcium concentrations under conditions in which intracellular Ca2+ stores were emptied. We found that depletion of Ca2+ stores activated a calcium-release-activated nonselective cation current (ICRANC) which did not discriminate between monovalent cations. ICRANC possessed a significant conductance for Ca2+ and Ba2+. It was not inhibited by La3+, Gd3+, Co2+, or Cd2+ but was completely abolished by flufenamic acid or genistein. In whole cell and cell-attached recordings, a 40-45 pS nonselective cation channel was identified which was activated by Ca2+ store depletion. Calcium entry as detected by single cell fluorescence measurements with fluo-3 or fura-2, showed the same pharmacological properties as ICRANC. We conclude that in mouse pancreatic acinar cells 40-45 pS nonselective cation channels serve as a pathway for capacitative Ca2+ entry. This entry pathway differs from the previously described ICRAC (Hoth, M., and Penner, R. (1992) Nature 355, 353-356) in its ion-selectivity, pharmacological profile, and single-channel conductance.

Different time courses of GTP[gamma-S]-induced exocytosis and current oscillations in isolated mouse pancreatic acinar cells

Exocytosis in isolated mouse pancreatic acinar cells was investigated using the dual-frequency method for measuring membrane capacitance and ionic conductances. Under control conditions, single exo- and endocytotic events could be resolved. The total cell capacitance slightly decreased to 98.7 +/- 0.9% of the initial cell capacitance within 10 min after establishing the whole-cell configuration. When guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiophosphate) (GTP[gamma-S] was added to the patch pipette, stepwise elevations in membrane capacitance occurred and the cell capacitance increased to 106.7 +/- 1.6% within 10 min. Exocytosis was also stimulated by GTP[gamma-S] when a Ca2+-free pipette solution supplemented with 1 to 10 mM ethylenebis(oxonitrilo) tetraacetate (EGTA) was used. Measurement of the DC current component in parallel with AC current analysis was used to isolate components of the Ca2+-dependent Cl- and monovalent cation conductances from the whole-cell conductance. These experiments demonstrate that in GTP[gamma-S]-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells: (1) activation of Cl- currents precedes that of cation currents, and (2) fusion of the zymogen granule membrane with the plasma membrane does not lead to incorporation of active Cl- or nonselective cation channels (>/= 10 pS).

Quantification of intraluminal free [Ca] in the agonist-sensitive internal calcium store using compartmentalized fluorescent indicators: some considerations

Many fluorescent Ca indicators, particularly those loaded as acetoxymethyl (AM)-ester derivatives, are known to become compartmentalized into organelles. This property can be exploited to measure changes in free [Ca] in subcellular compartments, including the inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate-sensitive store. However, quantitative measurement of free [Ca] within a particular compartment is complicated by the fact that dye may accumulate in a variety of organelles and, in many cases, by the Mg sensitivity of the indicator. Here the issue of the quantification of free [Ca] within the thapsigargin-sensitive store in BHK-21 fibroblasts using the low affinity Ca indicator, Mag-Fura-2, has been re-examined. At least 88 +/- 1.3% (SEM) of the compartmentalized dye was determined to be confined to the thapsigargin-sensitive store, with the remaining fraction accounted for by other compartments where [Ca] was below the detection limit for the dye (< 5 microM). In situ calibrations with ionophores indicated that the apparent free resting intraluminal [Ca] was 260 +/- 43 microM (SEM). Our analysis shows, however, that dye reporting from regions of low [Ca] contributes disproportionately to the Mag-Fura-2 ratio measured over the whole cell, potentially resulting in large underestimations of intraluminal [Ca] in agonist-sensitive stores. Free [Ca] in the agonist-sensitive store was calculated to be as high as 539 +/- 92 microM, assuming 12% of the Mag-Fura-2 to be in compartments where [Ca] was below 5 microM. In comparison, perturbations arising from the presence of Mg in stores are predicted to be relatively minor.

Tmp21 and p24A, two type I proteins enriched in pancreatic microsomal membranes, are members of a protein family involved in vesicular trafficking

We report here on the isolation, cloning, and expression of two Mr 21,000 proteins from rat pancreatic acinar cells, the rat-Tmp21 (transmembrane protein, Mr 21,000) and the rat-p24A. Both proteins are transmembrane proteins with type I topology and share weak but significant homology to one another (23% identity). We further show the cloning and characterization of the human homologs, hum-Tmp21, which is expressed in two variants (Tmp21-I and Tmp21-II), and hum-p24A. Tmp21 proteins and p24A have highly conserved COOH-terminal tails, which contain motifs related to the endoplasmic reticulum retention and retrieval consensus sequence KKXX. The rat-p24 sequence is identical to the hamster CHOp24, a recently characterized component of coatomer-coated transport vesicles, which defines a family of proteins (called the p24 family) proposed to be involved in vesicular transport processes (Stamnes, M. A., Craighead, M. W., Hoe, M. H., Lampen, N., Geromanos, S., Tempst, P., and Rothman, J. E.(1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 8011-8015). Sequence alignment and structural features identify the Tmp21 protein as a new member of this p24 family. Northern analysis of various tissues indicates that the Tmp21 proteins and the p24A protein are ubiquitously expressed. The integral membrane components Tmp21 and p24A are localized in microsomal membranes, zymogen granule membranes, and the plasma membrane and are absent from the cytosol. Both p24A and Tmp21 show weak homology to the yeast protein Emp24p, which recently has been shown to be involved in secretory protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. This leads us to conclude that the receptor-like Tmp21 and p24A are involved in vesicular targeting and protein transport.

Chloride and potassium conductances of mouse pancreatic zymogen granules are inversely regulated by a approximately 80-kDa mdr1a gene product

Cl- and cation conductances were characterized in zymogen granules (ZG) isolated from the pancreas of wild-type mice (+/+) or mice with a homozygous disruption of the multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein gene mdr1a (-/-). Cl- conductance of ZG was assayed in isotonic KCl buffer by measuring osmotic lysis, which was induced by maximal permeabilization of ZG membranes (ZGM) for K+ with valinomycin due to influx of K+ through the artificial pathway and of Cl- through endogenous channels. To measure cation conductances, ZG (pHi 6.0-6.5) were suspended in buffered isotonic monovalent cation acetate solutions (pH 7.0). The pH gradient was converted into an outside-directed H+ diffusion potential by maximally increasing H+ conductance of ZGM with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. Osmotic lysis of ZG was induced by H+ diffusion potential-driven influx of monovalent cations through endogenous channels and nonionic diffusion of the counterion acetate. ZGM Cl- conductances were not different in (-/-) and (+/+) mice (2.6 +/- 0.3 h-1 versus 3.1 +/- 0.2 h-1 (relative rate constant)). The nonhydrolyzable ATP analog adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-methylene)triphosphate (AMP-PCP) (0.5 mM) activated the Cl- conductance both in (+/+) and (-/-) mice. However, activation of Cl- conductance by AMP-PCP was reduced in (-/-) mice as compared with (+/+) mice (5.0 +/- 0.4 h-1 versus 7.6 +/- 0.7 h-1; p < 0. 005). In contrast, ZGM K+ conductance was increased in (-/-) mice as compared with (+/+) mice (14.2 +/- 2.0 h-1 versus 8.5 +/- 1.2 h-1; p < 0.03). In the presence of 0.5 mm AMP-PCP, which completely blocks K+ conductance but leaves a nonselective cation conductance unaffected, there was no difference between (-/-) and (+/+) mice (5.3 +/- 0.7 h-1 versus 3.2 +/- 0.5 h-1). In Western blots of ZGM from wild-type mice, a polyclonal MDR1 specific antibody labeled a protein band of approximately 80 kDa. In mdr1a-deficient mice, the intensity of this band was reduced to 39 +/- 7% of the wild-type signal. This indicates that a mdr1a gene product of approximately 80 kDa enhances the AMP-PCP-activated fraction of mouse ZGM Cl- conductance and reduces AMP-PCP-sensitive K+ conductance.

ATP regulates calcium leak from agonist-sensitive internal calcium stores

Under resting conditions, steady-state [Ca] in agonist-sensitive Ca stores reflects a balance between active uptake (usually mediated by a thapsigargin-sensitive Ca-ATPase of the SERCA family) and passive efflux of Ca. Even though this pump-leak cycle appears to be a common property of Ca-storing organelles, little is known about the nature of the leak pathway. Ca homeostasis in thapsigargin-sensitive internal Ca stores of single permeabilized BHK-21 fibroblasts was examined using digital image processing of compartmentalized mag-fura-2 (a low-affinity Ca indicator). It is shown here that the leak of Ca from internal stores is regulated specifically by the cytosolic ATP concentration. The rate of leak was 3.6 times slower in 0.375 mM[ATP] than in 4 mM [ATP] (Na or Mg salt). These effects were observed in the presence of 0 Ca/EGTA, thapsigargin, heparin, and ruthenium red, and therefore appear to be independent of the Ca-ATPase, the InsP(3) receptor and the ryanodine receptor. The ATP-stimulated leak was seen in a variety of cell types, including rat basophilic leukemia cells and mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Other nucleotides (ADP, GTP, CTP, and UTP) and nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs (AMP-PNP and ATPgammaS) did not reproduce the action of ATP. Changes in cellular metabolism and ensuing alterations in [ATP] will be expected to influence the filling state of internal Ca stores through effects on the passive leak pathway, potentially leading to modulation of Ca signaling and organellar function.

Capacitative Ca2+ influx and a Ca2+-dependent nonselective cation pathway are discriminated by genistein in mouse pancreatic acinar cells

We have investigated the effect of genistein on the hormone-stimulated Ca2+ influx and on a 28pS nonselective cation channel in mouse pancreatic acinar cells using the Ca2+ indicator fluo3 and the patch-clamp technique. The identity of the Ca2+ influx pathway has not been established in this cell type so far. Therefore we have investigated the Ca2+-dependent nonselective cation channel as a potential pathway for Ca2+ influx. Capacitative Ca2+ entry was induced by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores with 500nM acetylcholine or with the Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor 2,5di-tert- butylhydroquinone. In the presence of 100microM genistein, Ca2+ release was unimpaired, whereas Ca2+ influx was reversibly suppressed. Patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that genistein had no effect on Ca2+-activated nonselective cation channels, the activity of which was measured in excised membrane patches (inside/out) or in the whole-cell configuration. Therefore we conclude that this 28pS nonselective cation channel does not contribute to Ca2+ influx into mouse exocrine pancreatic cells. With the exception of genistein and tyrphostin 25, other tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as methyl-2,5-dihydroxycinnamate, lavendustin A, herbimycin A, and tyrphostin B56 were without effect on Ca2+ signalling. Thus, the involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the activation of the Ca2+ entry mechanism in mouse pancreatic acinar cells is unclear.

Characterization of single potassium channels in mouse pancreatic acinar cells

1. Single K(+)-selective channels with a conductance of about 48 pS (pipette, 145 mM KCl; bath, 140 mM NaCl + 4.7 mM KCl) were recorded in the patch-clamp whole-cell configuration in isolated mouse pancreatic acinar cells. 2. Neither application of the secretagogues acetylcholine (second messenger, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) or secretin (second messenger, cAMP), nor addition of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A to the pipette solution changed the activity of the 48 pS K+ channel. 3. Intracellular acidification with sodium propionate (20 mM) diminished activity of the 48 pS channel, whereas channel open probability was increased by cytosolic alkalization with 20 mM NH4Cl. 4. BaCl2 (5 mM), TEA (10 mM) or apamin (1 microM) added to the bath solution had no obvious effect on the kinetics of the 48 pS channel. Similarly, glibenclamide and diazoxide failed to influence the channel activity. 5. When extracellular NaCl was replaced by KCl, whole-cell recordings revealed an inwardly rectifying K+ current carried by a 17 pS K+ channel. 6. The inwardly rectifying K+ current was not pH dependent and could largely be blocked by Ba2+ but not by TEA. 7. Since the 48 pS K+ channel is neither Ca2+ nor cAMP regulated, we suggest that this channel could play a role in the maintenance of the negative cell resting potential.

Characterization of two different Ca2+ uptake and IP3-sensitive Ca2+ release mechanisms in microsomal Ca2+ pools of rat pancreatic acinar cells

We have examined the effect of the Ca2+ (Mg2+)-ATPase inhibitors thapsigargin (TG) and vanadate on ATP-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake into IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pools in isolated microsomes from rat pancreatic acinar cells. The inhibitory effect of TG was biphasic. About 40-50% of total Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by TG up to 10 nM (apparent Ki approximately 4.2 nM, Ca2+ pool I). An additional increase of inhibition up to 85-90% of total Ca2+ uptake could be achieved at 15 to 20 nM of TG (apparent Ki approximately 12.1 nM, Ca2+ pool II). The rest was due to TG-insensitive contaminating plasma membranes and could be inhibited by vanadate (apparent Ki approximately 10 microM). In the absence of TG, increasing concentrations of vanadate also showed two phases of inhibition of microsomal Ca2+ uptake. About 30-40% of total Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by 100 microM of vanadate (apparent Ki approximately 18 microM, Ca2+ pool II). The remaining 60-70% could be inhibited either by vanadate at concentrations up to 1 mM (apparent Ki approximately 300 microM) or by TG up to 10 nM (Ca2+ pool I). The amount of IP3-induced Ca2+ release was constant at approximately 25% over a wide range of Ca2+ filling. About 10-20% remained unreleasable by IP3. Reduction of IP3-releasable Ca2+ in the presence of inhibitors showed similar dose-response curves as Ca2+ uptake (apparent Ki approximately 3.0 nM for IP3-induced Ca2+ release as compared to approximately 4.2 nM for Ca2+ uptake at TG up to 10 nM) indicating that the highly TG-sensitive Ca2+ pump fills the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool I. At TG concentrations > 10 nM which blocked Ca2+ pool II the apparent Ki values were approximately 11.3 and approximately 12.1 nM, respectively. For inhibition by vanadate up to 100 microM the apparent Ki values were approximately 18 microM for Ca2+ uptake and approximately 7 microM for Ca2+ release (Ca2+ pool II). At vanadate concentrations up to 1 mM the apparent Ki values were approximately 300 and approximately 200 microM, respectively (Ca2+ pool I). Both Ca2+ pools I and II also showed different sensitivities to IP3. Dose-response curves for IP3 in the absence of inhibitors (control) showed an apparent Km value for IP3 at 0.6 microM. In the presence of TG (inhibition of Ca2+ pool I) the curve was shifted to the left with an apparent Km for IP3 at 0.08 microM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Monoclonal antibodies against MDR1 P-glycoprotein inhibit chloride conductance and label a 65-kDa protein in pancreatic zymogen granule membranes

The regulation of Cl- and cation conductances by the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-methylene)triphosphate (AMP-PCP) was characterized in isolated zymogen granules (ZG) from pancreatic acinar cells. ZG were purified from rat pancreas homogenate by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Cl- conductance was assayed by suspending ZG in isotonic KCl buffer and measuring osmotic lysis induced by maximal permeabilization of ZG membranes (ZGM) for K+ with the K+ ionophore valinomycin (Val). This resulted in influx of K+ through the artificial pathway and of Cl- through endogenous channels. To measure cation conductances ZG (pHi approximately 6) were suspended in pH 7 buffered isotonic monovalent cation acetate salts. The pH gradient was converted into an outside-directed H+ diffusion potential by maximally increasing H+ conductance of ZGM with the protonophore carbonyl cyanide p-chlorophenylhydrazone. Osmotic lysis of ZG was induced by H+ diffusion potential driven influx of monovalent cations through endogenous channels and non-ionic diffusion of the counterion acetate. In the absence of Val, ZG were stable in KCl buffer up to 2 h. AMP-PCP enhanced osmotic lysis approximately 4-fold compared to control, due to activation of Cl- conductance by AMP-PCP and K+ influx through an AMP-PCP-insensitive nonselective cation pathway, which could be blocked by 0.1 mM Ba2+, 0.5 mM quinine, or 0.2 mM flufenamate. In addition, a K+ and Rb+ selective cation conductance was found which was completely blocked by 0.5 mM AMP-PCP or 0.5 mM quinine. AMP-PCP induced Cl- conductance was strongly inhibited by two monoclonal antibodies against MDR1 P-glycoprotein (JSB-1 and C219; 5-10 micrograms/ml), but not by a monoclonal antibody against the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (M3A7; 5 micrograms/ml) or by mouse IgG. The AMP-PCP insensitive nonselective cation conductance was not blocked by monoclonal antibodies against MDR1 P-glycoprotein (MDR1). Immunoblot studies of ZG membranes revealed the presence of a major immunoreactive protein band of approximately 65 kDa with both monoclonal antibodies against MDR1, but no protein of the approximate size of MDR1 (approximately 170 kDa) was detected. We propose that the Cl- channel or a regulator of the channel, that is activated by the non-hydrolyzable ATP analog AMP-PCP in ZG membranes, is a member of the ATP binding cassette superfamily of transporters and may have homology to MDR1 P-glycoprotein.

Effects of agonists on p21ras and ras-related proteins in rat pancreatic acinar cells

This study shows the presence of seven different low-molecular-weight GTP binding proteins (smg proteins) with molecular masses between 18 and 27 kDa in subfractions of rat pancreatic acinar cells. After stimulation of isolated intact and permeabilized pancreatic acinar cells with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP), the diacylglycerol (DG) analogue 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), [alpha-32P]GTP binding to 21- to 22-kDa smg protein(s) in microsomal membranes (MM) was reduced, whereas the [alpha-32P]GTP binding to 23-kDa protein(s) was enhanced. In addition, prestimulation of permeabilized cells with GTP gamma S caused enhancement of [alpha-32P]GTP binding to a 19-kDa protein in MM [immunologically identified as the ADP-ribosylation factor (arf)]. In the presence of cytosol, direct addition of GTP gamma S to isolated MM resulted in an apparent translocation of the 19-kDa protein (arf) from the cytosol to membranes. This indicates increased association of arf with the membrane in its GTP-bound state. In CCK-OP-prestimulated acinar cells, [alpha-32P]GTP binding to plasma membrane-located 21- to 22-kDa proteins (immunologically identified as p21ras proteins) was enhanced, suggesting that there is an interrelationship between p21ras proteins and CCK receptors. Our results give evidence for a role of 19-kDa, 21- to 22-kDa, and 23-kDa smg proteins in cAMP-protein kinase A- and DG-protein kinase C-mediated stimulation of intracellular pathways in pancreatic acinar cells.

Bombesin receptors interact with Gi and p21ras proteins in plasma membranes from rat pancreatic acinar cells

This study investigates interaction of bombesin receptors with heterotrimeric guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins (G proteins) and monomeric small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins (smg proteins), respectively, in plasma membranes (PM) of rat pancreatic acinar cells. Addition of bombesin to isolated PM stimulated the incorporation of the photoaffinity analogue [alpha-32P]GTP-gamma-azidoanilide into Gi proteins of 40-41 kDa and reduced the pertussis toxin-induced ADP ribosylation of three 40-41 kDa proteins, which had been previously identified as Gi1, Gi2, and Gi3 (30). In PM isolated from bombesin-prestimulated acinar cells, binding of [alpha-32P]-GTP to PM proteins of 21-22 kDa and of a monoclonal antibody against p21ras proteins was increased. Two-dimensional separation of PM proteins revealed the presence of 18 or 19 differently charged smg proteins. The p21ras proteins could be separated into two differently charged proteins with isoelectric points of 5.58 and 5.79. In microsomal membranes (MM), [alpha-32P]GTP binding to yet unidentified 21-22 kDa smg proteins was decreased compared with membranes from unstimulated acinar cells. The data suggest that Gi proteins as well as p21ras proteins are involved in bombesin receptor-mediated signal transduction in the PM. Furthermore, 21-22 kDa smg proteins in MM might play a role in bombesin-induced stimulation of intracellular pathways that lead to enzyme secretion from pancreatic acinar cells.

Intravesicular acidification correlates with binding of ADP-ribosylation factor to microsomal membranes

The ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), a highly conserved low molecular weight GTP-binding protein, has been implicated to function in intracellular protein transport to and within the Golgi complex. In pancreatic acinar cells the ARF is confined to the cytoplasmic faces of trans-Golgi stack membranes, a compartment known to maintain a low intravesicular pH, which is established by a chloride-dependent MgATP-driven proton pump. The present study shows that MgATP (2mM), but neither adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate in the presence of Mg2+ nor ATP in the absence of Mg2+, increases transfer of ARF from the surrounding medium into the vesicle membranes. The specific vacuolar-type proton pump inhibitor bafilomycin B1 (10 nM), the protonophore carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (10 microM), and replacement of chloride in the incubation buffer by acetate or nitrate resulted in an almost complete inhibition of the MgATP-dependent association of ARF to the vesicle membranes. The results demonstrate that redistribution of ARF to the vesicle membrane correlates with the intravesicular pH established by a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase. The intravesicular pH appears to be one mechanism by which certain low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins become relocated from the cytosol to their specific membrane vesicles.

Smoking influences the atherogenic potential of low-density lipoprotein

The possible influence of smoking on the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its biological activity was investigated. Plasma LDL was prepared from healthy male smokers and nonsmokers, and oxidized with Cu (II) as prooxidant. Oxidized LDL from smokers generated significantly more lipid peroxidation products, so-called thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), when compared to oxidized nonsmoker LDL. Analysis of vitamin E levels in LDL obtained from both smokers and nonsmokers revealed that the vitamin E content of smoker LDL was significantly less than that of nonsmoker LDL. The amounts of cholesteryl esters formed in cultured P388. D.1 macrophages were greater in the presence of smoker LDL than with nonsmoker LDL. The data suggest that some of the proatherogenic effects of smoking may be related to oxidative modification of LDL and alteration of its biological activity.

Association of a 19- and a 21-kDa GTP-binding protein to pancreatic microsomal vesicles is regulated by the intravesicular pH established by a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase

Evidence suggests that certain ras-related small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins (smg-proteins) are involved in intracellular membrane trafficking and vesicle fusion. We have previously shown that intravesicular acidification due to a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase, which is Cl- dependent and highly sensitive to the specific inhibitor bafilomycin, enhances GTP-induced fusion of pancreatic microsomal vesicles (Hampe, W., Zimmermann, P., Schulz, I. 1990. FEBS Lett. 271:62-66). This process may involve function of smg-proteins. The present study shows that MgATP (2 mM), but neither MgATP gamma S nor ATP in the absence of Mg2+, increases association of 19- and 21-kDa smg-proteins to the vesicle membrane as monitored by their [ alpha-32P]GTP binding. The affinity of smg-proteins for [ alpha-32P]GTP was not altered by MgATP. Bafilomycin B1 (10(-8) M), the protonophore CCCP (10(-5) M), and replacement of Cl- in the incubation buffer by CH3COO- or NO3- resulted in an almost complete inhibition of the MgATP-dependent association of the 19- and 21-kDa smg-proteins to the vesicle membranes. Furthermore, the MgATP effect on both smg-proteins was found to be due to the intravesicular pH and not to the H+ gradient over the vesicle membrane. We conclude that association of a 19-kDa (immunologically identified as the ADP-ribosylation factor, arf) and a yet unidentified 21-kDa GTP-binding protein to vesicle membranes is regulated by the intravesicular pH established by a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase.

Effects of epidermal growth factor and calcium omission on cholecystokinin-stimulated Cl- conductance in rat pancreatic zymogen granules

Evidence suggests that cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)-induced activation of a Cl- conductance in the membrane of zymogen granules (ZG) is closely related to pancreatic enzyme secretion. Following stimulation of isolated pancreatic acinar cells with increasing concentrations of CCK-8, the Cl- conductance in the ZG from these acini increased, reached a maximum of 40 +/- 7% above basal Cl- conductance at 10(-12) M CCK-8, and then decreased at CCK-8 concentrations higher than 10(-9) M to a level comparable to the basal Cl- conductance. We had interpreted the inhibitory action of high CCK-8 concentrations to be due to the generation of high concentrations of diacylglycerol and/or its metabolites by an "overstimulation" of phospholipase C at supramaximal CCK-8 concentrations. We now show that EGF abolishes the downstroke of the dose response curve for CCK-8-induced ZG Cl- conductance and shifts the stimulatory response to higher CCK-8 concentrations. Similarly in a nominally "Ca(2+)-free buffer" (free [Ca2+] approximately 0.2 nM), stimulated Cl- conductance at 10(-12) M CCK-8 is nearly abolished and the decreased Cl- conductance at 10(-8) M CCK-8 is increased to the level of maximal stimulation at 10(-12) M CCK-8. We conclude that both EGF and low [Ca2+] affect CCK-8-induced ZG Cl- conductance by decreasing phospholipase C activity.

PGE2 regulates cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated Cl- conductance in isolated zymogen granules from rat pancreas

In this study we have examined the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, and a protein kinase A inhibitor (PKA-I) on the Cl- conductance in isolated zymogen granules (ZG) from cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) pre-stimulated pancreatic acini. The Cl- conductance in isolated ZG from CCK-8 pre-stimulated rat pancreatic acini increases with increasing CCK-8 concentrations and decreases at supramaximal CCK-8 concentrations. The basal and CCK-8-stimulated Cl- conductance in ZG is inhibited by pretreatment of acini with PGE2 (10(-6) M). This PGE2-induced inhibition is abolished in the presence of PKA-I (20 U/ml). Furthermore, pretreatment of acini with indomethacin (10(-5) M) or PKA-I (20 U/ml) abolishes the decrease in the CL- conductance at supramaximal CCK-8 concentrations (10(-9) M). We conclude that the inhibition of the CL- conductance in isolated ZG at high CCK-8 concentrations is mediated by an enhanced production of PGE2, and that PGE2 operates by stimulating adenylate cyclase (AC) with a consequent rise in cAMP and activation of PKA.

H+ uptake increases GTP-induced connection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate- and caffeine-sensitive calcium pools in pancreatic microsomal vesicles

Evidence suggests that GTP but not GTP gamma S activates Ca2+ movement between myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive and -insensitive Ca2+ pools (1). Measuring 45Ca2+ uptake into pancreatic microsomal vesicles we have determined the sizes of three different Ca2+ pools which release Ca2+ in response 1) to IP3, 2) to caffeine, and 3) to both IP3 and caffeine ("common" Ca2+ pool). In the presence of GTP the size of the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool is decreased whereas the "common" Ca2+ pool is increased as compared to control Ca2+ pool sizes in the presence of GTP gamma S. This effect of GTP is inhibited by bafilomycin B1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar type H+ ATPases (2). We conclude that GTP induced connection between IP3- and caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ pools is triggered by intravesicular acidification and involves function of small GTP-binding proteins, known to mediate interorganelle transfer.

Epidermal growth factor inhibits both cholecystokinin octapeptide-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production and [CA2+]i increase in rat pancreatic acinar cells

We have studied the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on both cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP)-induced inositol-1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) production and on cytosolic free calcium concentrations [Ca2+]i by fluorescence measurements in fura-2-loaded pancreatic acini. Our data show that EGF inhibits CCK-OP induced IP3 production by 40 +/- 9% and decreases CCK-OP induced rise in cytosolic Ca2+ by 41 +/- 9%. These data indicate that activation of EGF receptors leads to inhibition of CCK-OP induced stimulation of phospholipase C (PLC).

Guanosine nucleotides modulate the inhibitory effect of brefeldin A on protein secretion

Brefeldin A (BFA) causes rapid redistribution of Golgi proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leaving no definable Golgi-apparatus, and blocks transport of proteins from the ER to distal secretory compartments of the cell. Using pulse-chase experiments the present study shows that BFA (1 microgram/ml) inhibits basal and CCK-stimulated protein secretion in isolated pancreatic acinar cells by 65 +/- 6% and 84 +/- 5%, respectively. In isolated permeabilized cells higher concentrations of BFA (30 micrograms/ml) were necessary to obtain inhibition of protein secretion. In parallel experiments protein secretion was stimulated by GTP (1 mM). BFA had no inhibitory effect on protein secretion in the presence of GTP, indicating that BFA might act on a GTP-binding protein. Investigating the effect of BFA on small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins we observed that [alpha-32P]GTP binding to a 21 kDa protein in a subcellular fraction enriched in ER was increased in the presence of BFA. We conclude that this 21 kDa and possibly also other GTP-binding proteins may be the molecular target of Brefeldin A in pancreatic acinar cells.

Effects of cholecystokinin, cholecystokinin JMV-180 and GTP analogs on enzyme secretion from permeabilized acini and chloride conductance in isolated zymogen granules of the rat pancreas

Previous studies have shown that hormonal activation of the Cl- conductance in pancreatic zymogen granules (ZG) is closely related to enzyme secretion from acinar cells. We have now examined the role of guanine nucleotides in stimulated and unstimulated protein secretion from isolated digitonin-permeabilized pancreatic acini and in the Cl- conductance of isolated ZG. Protein secretion from permeabilized isolated acini, measured at 0.1 mM Ca2+, increased with increasing cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) concentrations and decreased at high CCK-8 concentrations. The maximum secretion, approximately twice the control level, was reached at 1 nM CCK-8. The CCK analog, CCK JMV-180, which supposedly acts as an agonist on high-affinity CCK receptors and as an antagonist on low-affinity CCK receptors, stimulated maximum enzyme secretion at a CCK JMV-180 concentration of 0.1 microM and no decrease in secretion was observed at higher CCK JMV-180 concentrations, 0.1 mM guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP [S]) also increased the protein release by approximately twice that of the control and shifted the CCK-8 concentration causing maximum stimulation from 1 nM to 0.01 nM. GTP[S] concentrations greater than 0.1 mM inhibited protein release evoked by an optimal concentration of 1 nM CCK-8, 0.1 mM GTP[S] had no pronounced effect on the protein secretion stimulated by low concentrations of CCK JMV-180, but inhibited protein secretion evoked by CCK JMV-180 concentrations greater than 0.1 microM. This indicates that guanosine-nucleotide-binding proteins [G protein(s)] coupling to CCK receptors also mediate both CCK-induced increases and CCK-induced decreases of enzyme secretion at low and high CCK concentrations, respectively. ZG were prepared on a Percoll gradient from CCK-8-stimulated or CCK-JMV-180-stimulated and unstimulated acini. Their Cl- conductances were estimated in the absence of Ca2+ and in the presence of 1 mM EGTA from the rate of decrease in absorbance following addition of the K+ ionophore valinomycin as a measure of ZG osmotic lysis. The Cl- conductance in ZG from CCK-8-stimulated and CCK-JMV-180-stimulated acini was maximally activated at 1 pM and 10 nM respectively. At higher agonist concentrations, Cl- conductance was decreased. Direct addition of 10 microM GTP[S] to isolated ZG from unstimulated acini increased the rate of lysis by approximately 40% of the control value. This effect was approximately additive to that of CCK-8 or of CCK JMV-180 prestimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Receptors for insulin interact with Gi-proteins and for epidermal growth factor with Gi- and Gs-proteins in rat pancreatic acinar cells

In rat pancreatic acinar cells epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin increase both basal and cholecystokinin (CCK-OP) stimulated amylase release in vitro (1) as a long term function of this tissue. Here we show that preincubation of isolated plasma membranes with EGF or with insulin leads to increased incorporation of the GTP-photoaffinity analogue [alpha-32P]GTP-gamma-azidoanilide into 40/41 kDa proteins and to reduction of pertussis toxin- (PT) catalyzed [alpha-32P]ADP-ribosylation of three 40/41 kDa proteins which had been previously identified as Gi1, Gi2 and Gi3 (2). In the presence of GTP gamma S, EGF- and insulin-induced inhibition of PT-mediated [alpha-32P]ADP-ribosylation of 40/41 kDa proteins is eliminated. EGF enhances cholera toxin- (CT) mediated ADP-ribosylation of all three 40/41 kDa Gi-proteins as well as of five 45 and four 48/50 kDa proteins, which had been previously identified as Gs-proteins (2), whereas insulin has no effect. We conclude from our data that both EGF and insulin interact with the same Gi-proteins as CCK-OP does, whereas EGF additionally interacts with nine Gs-proteins. It is likely that one, two or all three 40/41 kDa Gi-proteins are involved in insulin- and EGF-induced potentiation of CCK-OP-stimulated enzyme secretion. In addition interaction of EGF with Gs-protein could play a role in the potentiation of CCK-OP-induced enzyme secretion from pancreatic acinar cells.