Interaction between protein kinase C and Exo1 (14-3-3 protein) and its relevance to exocytosis in permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells

The roles of protein kinase C (PKC) and Exo1 in exocytosis from digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells were explored by using exogenous purified proteins in a run-down/reconstitution system. The stimulatory action of Exo1 on exocytosis from run-down cells was found to be completely dependent on the continuous presence of exogenous MgATP, suggesting that it acts on the slow phase of exocytosis [Holz, Bittner, Peppers, Senter & Eberhard (1989), J. Biol. Chem. 264, 5412-5419]. Partially purified rat brain PKC was found to be able to stimulate Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis from run-down cells in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was indeed due to PKC and not a contaminant in the PKC fraction, since the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), under conditions in which control secretion was not affected, potentiated the effect of the exogenous PKC in stimulating secretion. Furthermore, although either PKC or Exo1 alone could stimulate exocytosis from run-down cells, the effect of combining the fractions was synergistic, as had previously been observed using PMA treatment combined with Exo1 incubation [Morgan & Burgoyne (1992) Nature (London) 355, 833-836]. The observed synergy between PKC and Exo1 was not due to PKC-mediated phosphorylation of Exo1, and Exo1 was found not to affect PKC activity in enzyme assays. We conclude that PKC and Exo1 act synergistically in the slow phase of Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis from adrenal chromaffin cells. Furthermore, PKC does not directly affect Exo1, but rather enhances the activity of Exo1 by a putative phosphorylation of another, unidentified, component of the exocytotic machinery which facilitates the action of Exo1 in exocytosis.

Histamine stimulates exocytosis in a sub-population of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Both nicotinic stimulation and histamine are able to raise cytosolic free calcium concentration in the majority of cells in a population of bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells to comparable levels. Nevertheless, histamine induces much less catecholamine secretion than does nicotine. In order to test whether this is due to heterogeneity in the responses of chromaffin cells to histamine we examined exocytosis in response to nicotine and histamine using an immunofluorescence method based on staining with anti-DBH to detect inserted secretory vesicle membrane. The results show that while up to 98% of the chromaffin cells in culture undergo exocytosis in response to nicotine, histamine stimulates exocytosis in only a sub-population of cells.

Exocytosis from permeabilized lactating mouse mammary epithelial cells. Stimulation by Ca2+ and phorbol ester, but inhibition of regulated exocytosis by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate

Lactating mouse mammary epithelial cells secrete large amounts of milk protein via constitutive or regulated exocytotic pathways. Secretion through both pathways was quantified by assaying the release of [35S]methionine-labelled trichloroacetic acid-precipitable proteins from digitonin-permeabilized secretory acini isolated from mammary glands of 10-day-post-partum lactating mice. Protein secretion from the isolated permeabilized cells was either Ca(2+)-dependent (regulated) or Ca(2+)-independent (constitutive). In both cases there was a requirement for ATP. Addition of the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a marked increase in the percentage protein secretion from the cells in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. However, the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) caused a partial inhibition of Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis, while having no significant effect on Ca(2+)-independent exocytosis. Thus the GTP[S] is exerting its effect on the regulated pathway at a site subsequent to protein sorting and packaging into secretory vesicles at the trans-Golgi network.

N-methyl-D-aspartate responses in rat cerebellar granule cells are modified by chronic depolarisation in culture

Following culture in high (25 mM) K+ conditions cerebellar granule cells only respond with a rise in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i after removal of external Mg2+. When granule cells are grown in low (5 mM) K+ N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) exerts a neurotrophic effect. We show that at the critical time for this effect NMDA will elicit a rise in [Ca2+]i in 5 mM K+ cultures even in the presence of Mg2+ and that growth in 25 mM K+ induces the rapid appearance of a Mg2+ block of NMDA receptors in granule cells. This suggests firstly, that a rise in [Ca2+]i could be involved in the neurotrophic effect of NMDA and secondly, that the characteristics of the NMDA responses in granule cells are modified as a result of growth under depolarising conditions.

Investigation of the role of microtubules in protein secretion from lactating mouse mammary epithelial cells

Disruption of microtubules has been shown to reduce protein secretion from lactating mammary epithelial cells. To investigate the involvement of microtubules in the secretory pathway in these cells we have examined the effect of nocodazole on protein secretion from mammary epithelial cells derived from the lactating mouse. Mouse mammary cells have extensive microtubule networks and 85% of their tubulin was in a polymeric form. Treatment with 1 micrograms/ml nocodazole converted most of the tubulin into a soluble form. In a continuous labelling protocol it was found that nocodazole did not interfere with protein synthesis but over a 5 h period secretion was markedly inhibited. To determine whether the inhibition was at the level of early or late stages of the secretory pathway mammary cells were pulse-labelled for 1 h to label protein throughout the secretory pathway before nocodazole treatment. When secretion was subsequently assayed it was found to be slower and only partially inhibited. These findings suggest that the major effect of nocodazole is on an early stage of the secretory pathway and that microtubules normally facilitate vesicle transport to the plasma membrane. An involvement of microtubules in vesicle transport to the plasma membrane is consistent with an observed accumulation of casein vesicles in nocodazole-treated cells. Exocytosis stimulated by the calcium ionophore ionomycin was unaffected by nocodazole treatment. We conclude from these results that the major effect of nocodazole is at an early stage of the secretory pathway, one possible target being casein vesicle biogenesis in the trans-Golgi network.

Proteins are secreted by both constitutive and regulated secretory pathways in lactating mouse mammary epithelial cells

Lactating mammary epithelial cells secrete high levels of caseins and other milk proteins. The extent to which protein secretion from these cells occurs in a regulated fashion was examined in experiments on secretory acini isolated from the mammary glands of lactating mice at 10 d postpartum. Protein synthesis and secretion were assayed by following the incorporation or release, respectively, of [35S]methionine-labeled TCA-precipitable protein. The isolated cells incorporated [35S]methionine into protein linearly for at least 5 h with no discernible lag period. In contrast, protein secretion was only detectable after a lag of approximately 1 h, consistent with exocytotic secretion of proteins immediately after passage through the secretory pathway and package into secretory vesicles. The extent of protein secretion was unaffected by the phorbol ester PMA, 8-bromo-cAMP, or 8-bromo-cGMP but was doubled by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. In a pulse-label protocol in which proteins were prelabeled for 1 h before a chase period, constitutive secretion was unaffected by depletion of cytosolic Ca2+ but ionomycin was found to give a twofold stimulation of the secretion of presynthesized protein in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Ionomycin was still able to stimulate protein secretion after constitutive secretion had terminated. These results suggest that lactating mammary cells possess both a Ca(2+)-independent constitutive pathway and a Ca(2+)-activated regulatory pathway for protein secretion. The same proteins were secreted by both pathways. No ultrastructural evidence for apocrine secretion was seen in response to ionomycin and so it appears that regulated casein release involves exocytosis. Ionomycin was unlikely to be acting by disassembling the cortical actin network since cytochalasin D did not mimic its effects on secretion. The regulated pathway may be controlled by Ca2+ acting at a late step such as exocytotic membrane fusion.

Intracellular Ca2+ and N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated neuritogenesis in rat cerebellar granule cell cultures

Week-old rat cerebellar granule cells were grown in the presence of the cell-permeable calcium chelating agent BAPTA-acetoxy methyl ester (BAPTA-AM) for the first 8 h in vitro. There was a dose-dependent inhibition of process outgrowth with an IC50 of approximately 5 microM. Neurite outgrowth could be partially recovered by the addition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 50 microM) to BAPTA-AM-treated cells. Phorbol ester stimulation of treated cells evoked a profound inhibition of neuritogenesis compared to a stimulatory effect on control cultures. The inhibition of growth caused by phorbol esters could not be reversed by NMDA co-addition. Neurites extended by BAPTA-AM-treated granule cells were thinner than in control cultures and did not form elaborate growth cones even when growth was stimulated by NMDA. The distribution of tyrosinated and acetylated alpha-tubulin in the processes of BAPTA-AM-treated cells appeared similar to that in controls. However, rhodamine-phalloidin labelling of microfilaments in the cell cultures emphasised the loss of an elaborate actin-rich growth cone in BAPTA-AM-treated cells even when neurite formation was partially recovered. These results indicate the importance of [Ca2+]i in the production of neurites from cerebellar granule cells in vitro.

Exo1 and Exo2 proteins stimulate calcium-dependent exocytosis in permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells

In many cell types an increase in cytosolic calcium is the main signal for the exocytotic release of stored secretory components such as hormones and neurotransmitters. The site of action of calcium in exocytosis is not known, neither are the participating molecules. In the case of the intracellular membrane fusions that occur during transport through early stages of the secretory pathway, several cytosolic and peripheral membrane proteins are necessary. Permeabilized cells have been useful in understanding the requirements for calcium and nucleotides in regulated exocytosis and under certain conditions there is leakage of soluble protein components and run-down of the exocytotic response. This system can be used to identify the soluble proteins involved in exocytosis, one candidate in chromaffin cells being annexin II (calpactin). Here we use this assay to identify two other cytosolic protein factors that regulate exocytosis in permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells, which we term Exo1 and Exo2. Exo1 from brain cytosol resolves on electrophoresis in SDS-polyacrylamide gels as a group of polypeptides of relative molecular mass approximately 30,000 and shares sequence homology with the 14-3-3 family of proteins. The ability of Exo1 to reactivate exocytosis is potentiated by protein kinase C activation and therefore Exo1 may influence the protein kinase C-mediated control of Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis.

N-methyl-D-aspartate stimulation of the survival of rat cerebellar granule cells in culture is not dependent upon increased c-fos expression and is not mimicked by protein kinase C activation

The role of c-fos expression and protein kinase C in the survival of cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells was investigated. Results from immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting suggest that increased c-fos expression is not essential for the survival of cells grown in low K+ media in the presence of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) at the critical time point when sensitivity to survival requirements develops. In addition the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to bring about survival of cells cultured in low K+ media in the absence of NMDA when given chronically, suggesting that protein kinase C activation alone is not sufficient to maintain granule cell survival in culture.

A distinct 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone-sensitive calcium store in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura 2 was used to monitor Ca2+ release induced by the Ins(1,4,5)P3-mobilizing agonist angiotensin II (Ag II), caffeine and 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone (tuBHQ), in intact bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Under low external Ca2+ conditions, tuBHQ, Ag II and caffeine elicited Ca2+ rises, indicating Ca2+ release from internal stores. Prior addition of Ag II had no noticeable effect on the extent of release of Ca2+ induced by tuBHQ. Stimulation of the cells with tuBHQ before either Ag II or caffeine, similarly had no effect on Ca2+ released by these two agonists. It was concluded, therefore, that there is a third intracellular Ca2+ store in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, distinct and non-overlapping, from those sensitive to caffeine or Ins(1,4,5)P3-mobilizing agonists.

Annexin II (calpactin I) in the mouse mammary gland: immunolocalization by light- and electron microscopy

To elucidate the putative role of annexin II (calpactin I) in the secretory function of mammary tissue its immunolocalization in the mammary gland of pregnant and lactating mice was investigated by light- and electron microscopy using the immunoperoxidase technique. A low level of fairly uniform annexin II staining was evident throughout the gland despite its mixed composition during pregnancy. In lactating tissue it was revealed that apparently mature alveoli contained a concentration of annexin II staining outlining their epithelium. The staining was localised by immuno-electron microscopy to the apical membrane of these alveolar epithelial cells and their microvillar extensions. There was also an apparent association of annexin II with vesicles of a range of sizes located near, or actually fused with, the apical membrane. Many of the small, stained vesicles could clearly be identified as casein-containing vesicles while the large vesicles were apparently associated with either casein granules or possibly lipid. The appearance of a selective concentration of annexin II in apparently actively secreting mammary epithelial cells, as revealed in this study, is consistent with a possible structural and/or functional role for this protein at the membranes participating in the secretion of protein and possibly lipid from these secretory cells.

Characterisation of distinct inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive and caffeine-sensitive calcium stores in digitonin-permeabilised adrenal chromaffin cells

The effect of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins-(1,4,5)P3] and caffeine on Ca2+ release from digitonin-permeabilised bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined by using the Ca2+ indicator fura-2 to monitor [Ca2+]. Permeabilised cells accumulated Ca2+ in the presence of ATP and addition of either Ins(1,4,5)P3 or caffeine released 17% or 40-50%, respectively, of the accumulated Ca2+, indicated by sustained rises in [Ca2+] in the cell suspension. Prior addition of Ins(1,4,5)P3 had no effect on the magnitude of the response to a subsequent addition of caffeine. The response to Ins(1,4,5)P3 was prevented by prior addition of caffeine or CaCl2, indicating that the Ins(1,4,5)P3 response was blocked by elevated [Ca2+]. The responses were essentially identical in the presence of the proton ionophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, indicating that the Ca2+ release was not from mitochondria or secretory granules and that a proton gradient was not required for Ca2+ accumulation into the Ins(1,4,5)P3- or caffeine-sensitive stores. Ca2+ release from the caffeine-sensitive store was selectively blocked by ryanodine. The Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive store was emptied by thapsigargin, which had no effect on caffeine responses. These data suggest that permeabilised chromaffin cells possess two distinct nonoverlapping Ca2+ stores sensitive to either Ins(1,4,5)P3 or caffeine and support previous conclusions that these stores possess different Ca2(+)-ATPases.

Relationship between arachidonic acid release and Ca2(+)-dependent exocytosis in digitonin-permeabilized bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The relationship between Ca2(+)-dependent arachidonic acid release and exocytosis from digitonin-permeabilized bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was investigated. The phospholipase A2 inhibitors mepacrine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and indomethacin had no effect on either arachidonic acid release or secretion. The phospholipase A2 activator melittin had no effect on secretion. The specific diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor RG80267 had no effect on secretion, but decreased basal arachidonic acid release to such an extent that the level of arachidonic acid in treated cells in response to 10 microM-Ca2+ was equivalent to that of control cells in the absence of Ca2+. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, was found to abolish Ca2(+)-dependent arachidonic acid release completely, but had only a slight inhibitory effect on Ca2(+)-dependent secretion. It is concluded that arachidonic acid is not essential for Ca2(+)-dependent exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells.

Stimulation of Ca2(+)-independent catecholamine secretion from digitonin-permeabilized bovine adrenal chromaffin cells by guanine nucleotide analogues. Relationship to arachidonate release

The effect of GTP analogues on catecholamine secretion and [3H]arachidonic acid release from digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells was examined. Several GTP analogues stimulated Ca2(+)-independent exocytosis, with the order of efficacy being XTP greater than ITP greater than guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) greater than guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]). The stimulatory effect of the GTP analogues appeared to be due to activation of a conventional GTP-binding protein, as it was inhibited by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]). In contrast, Ca2(+)-dependent exocytosis was only partially inhibited by high doses of GDP[S]. GTP did not stimulate Ca2(+)-independent exocytosis, but instead was found to inhibit secretion caused by micromolar Ca2+. Arachidonic acid (100 microM) also stimulated Ca2(+)-independent catecholamine secretion. Determination of the effect of GTP analogues on release of free [3H]arachidonic acid into the medium showed that it was stimulated by GTP[S] but inhibited by GTP, p[NH]ppG, ITP and XTP. The inhibition of [3H]arachidonic acid release by XTP was not prevented by GDP[S]. These results demonstrate that activation of a GTP-binding protein by certain GTP analogues can induce Ca2(+)-independent secretion in adrenal chromaffin cells and that the effect of GTP analogues on Ca2(+)-independent secretion can be dissociated from generation of arachidonic acid.

The caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ store in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells; an examination of its role in triggering secretion and Ca2+ homeostasis

The effect of caffeine on catecholamine secretion and intracellular free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined using single fura-2-loaded cells and cell populations. In cell populations caffeine elicited a large (approximately 200 nM) transient rise in [Ca2+]i that was independent of external Ca2+. This rise in [Ca2+]i triggered little secretion. Single cell measurements of [Ca2+]i showed that most cells responded with a large (greater than 200 nM) rise in [Ca2+]i, whereas a minority failed to respond. The latter, whose caffeine-sensitive store was empty, buffered a Ca2+ load induced by a depolarizing stimulus more effectively than those whose store was full. The caffeine-sensitive store in bovine chromaffin cells may be involved in Ca2+ homeostasis rather than in triggering exocytosis.

The non-tyrosinated M alpha 4 alpha-tubulin gene product is post-translationally tyrosinated in adult rat cerebellum

The distributions of the non-tyrosinated M alpha 4 alpha-tubulin gene product and its tyrosinated form M alpha 4 + Y were examined in immunoblots and sections of adult rat brain. In cerebellar sections, M alpha 4 and M alpha 4 + Y immunoreactivities were enriched in neurons, anti-M alpha 4 + Y labeling thus being more restricted in distribution than that of the general alpha-tubulin antibody YL1/2. The results indicate that the M alpha 4 gene product does not constitute the large non-tyrosinatable pool of alpha-tubulin in brain.

Differential accumulation of catecholamines, proenkephalin- and chromogranin A-derived peptides in the medium after chronic nicotine stimulation of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

We have used an antiserum to a synthetic peptide fragment of bovine chromogranin A (ChrgA)[Tyr0] bovine ChrgA (306-313): YLSKEWEDA, together with antibodies to proenkephalin-derived peptides, to measure the release of immunoreactive peptides from nicotine-stimulated cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Over a period of 6 hr the accumulation of YLSKEWEDA immunoreactivity and Met-enkephalin Arg6Gly7Leu8 (MERGL) immunoreactivity in the medium of 10 microM nicotine-stimulated cells was shown to be biphasic; the initial phase occurred in the first 15-30 min and the second phase reached a peak after 4 hr. In contrast, catecholamine release occurred monophasically over the initial 15-30 min. Investigation of the second phase of peptide accumulation revealed that it was due in part to nicotine-evoked exocytosis and in part to extracellular processing of high molecular weight precursor proteins.