G beta gamma directly binds to the carboxyl terminus of the G protein-gated muscarinic K+ channel, GIRK1

beta gamma Subunits of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G beta gamma) activate the inwardly rectifying muscarinic K+ channel, GIRK1. The significant role for the carboxyl (C) terminus of GIRK1 in this interaction has been suggested. However, it is still unknown whether G beta gamma directly interacts with GIRK1. To elucidate the molecular basis of G beta gamma-activation of GIRK1, we examined the binding properties of G beta gamma to the C terminus of GIRK1 cloned from mouse brain cDNA library (MB-GIRK1). The C terminus of MB-GIRK1 fused with glutathione S-transferase directly bound to purified G beta gamma. Incubation of the C terminus with Gi pretreated with GTP gamma S, but not with GDP, resulted in the binding of Gi beta gamma to the protein. Purified G alpha-GDP, but not G alpha-GTP gamma S, inhibited the binding of G beta gamma to the fusion protein. These results indicate that G beta gamma dissociated from G alpha may directly bind to the C terminus of GIRK1.

Enzyme properties of Aplysia ADP-ribosyl cyclase: comparison with NAD glycohydrolase of CD38 antigen

An ecto-enzyme of NAD glycohydrolase (NADase) induced by retinoic acid in HL-60 cells is attributed to the molecule of CD38 antigen [Kontani, K., Nishina, H., Ohoka, Y., Takahashi, K., and Katada, T. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 16895-16898]. CD38 antigen has an amino acid sequence homologous to Aplysia ADP-ribosyl cyclase which generates cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose (cADPR) and nicotinamide (NA) from beta-NAD+. On the basis of this sequence homology, we compared enzyme properties between CD38 NADase expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli and ADP-ribosyl cyclase purified from the ovotestis of Aplysia kurodai. 1) beta-NAD+ analogs, nicotinamide 1, N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide, and nicotinamide hypoxanthine dinucleotide, did not serve as good substrates for the ADP-ribosyl cyclase, suggesting that the intact adenine ring of beta-NAD+ was required for the cyclase-catalyzed reaction. On the other hand, CD38 NADase utilized the NAD analogs to form ADP-ribose and NA. 2) Kinetic analyses of the ADP-ribosyl cyclase reaction revealed that NA was first released from the substrate (beta-NAD+)-enzyme complex, followed by the release of another product, cADPR, which was capable of interacting with the free enzyme. 3) The enzyme reaction catalyzed by the ADP-ribosyl cyclase was fully reversible; beta-NAD+ could be formed from cADPR and NA with a velocity similar to that observed in the degradation of beta-NAD+. However, CD38 NADase did not catalyze the reverse reaction to form beta-NAD+ from ADP-ribopase and NA. 4) The CD38 NADase activity was, but the ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity was not, inhibited by dithiothreitol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Possible involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in protein transport into nuclei isolated from rat liver

Nuclear protein transport was inhibited in permeabilized HeLa cells which had been prepared after culture with pertussis toxin, suggesting that the pertussis toxin-sensitive protein(s) might be involved in the nuclear protein transport. To investigate the mechanism whereby pertussis toxin inhibited the nuclear protein transport, an accumulation of proteins containing a nuclear localization signal sequence (NLS) into isolated rat liver nuclei was investigated. The NLS-containing protein accumulation required ATP and cytosolic proteins, and was temperature- and wheat germ agglutinin-sensitive as had been observed in permeabilized cells. Non-hydrolyzable GTP analogues, such as guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate and guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate, but not ATP analogues, inhibited the NLS-containing protein accumulation in the isolated nuclei. The NLS-containing protein accumulation was also inhibited by prior treatment of the nuclei with pertussis toxin plus NAD, and the effect of pertussis toxin was blocked when guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate was simultaneously added during the pretreatment with pertussis toxin. The inhibition induced by pertussis toxin and the blockage by guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate were well correlated to ADP-ribosylation of 40-kDa protein in nuclear fraction. These results suggested that the nuclear pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein is involved in a pathway of nuclear protein transport.

Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins with digoxigenin-conjugated NAD. Identification of the proteins in plasma membranes and nuclei

ADP-ribose moiety containing digoxigenin was transferred by pertussis toxin (IAP) to the alpha subunit of Gi (Gi alpha) from digoxigenin-conjugated NAD (DIG-NAD) in a beta gamma subunit-dependent manner. ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha with DIG-NAD plus IAP was inhibited by native NAD. These results indicate that non-radiolabeled DIG-NAD also serves as the substrate for IAP-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G proteins. Using DIG-NAD and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody, IAP-sensitive G protein(s) was found to be exist in nuclei as well as plasma membranes of rat liver and HeLa cells. Thus, DIG-NAD is useful to identify pertussis toxin-substrate G proteins.

The mechanism of bradykinin-induced arachidonic acid release in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells phospholipase A2 activation by bradykinin and its regulation by protein kinase C and calcium

In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which bradykinin (BK) enhances [3H]arachidonic acid release in murine osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid. BK enhanced [3H]arachidonic acid release in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, when cells were stimulated in the presence, but not in the absence, of extracellular Ca2+. It appears that the BK-induced [3H]arachidonic acid release was attributed to the activation of phospholipase A2, since a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, mepacrine, significantly inhibited the BK enhancement of [3H]arachidonic acid release whereas a diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, RHC80267, failed to do so. Furthermore, it was found that a protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine, and down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged exposure of cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate inhibited the BK-induced [3H]arachidonic acid release. These results provide evidence that BK stimulation of MC3T3-E1 cells activates phospholipase A2 to liberate arachidonic acid by the mechanism which involves both Ca2+ and protein kinase C.

The phosphatase inhibitor 2,3-diphosphoglycerate interferes with phospholipase D activation in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils

In the present study, we examined the ability of the phosphatase inhibitors p-nitrophenyl phosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) to inhibit phospholipase D (PLD) activation in the rabbit peritoneal neutrophil. Also assessed were choline, a product of PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, and its metabolite phosphocholine. PLD activity was determined by measuring the accumulation, in the presence of ethanol, of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt) in neutrophils prelabeled with 1-O-[3H]octadecyl-2-lyso-snglycero-3-phosphocholine. Of the compounds tested, only DPG interfered with PLD activation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In contrast, it augmented fMLP-stimulated levels of [3H]inositol phosphates in myo-[3H]inositol-labeled neutrophils. DPG also prevented PLD activation by the calcium ionophore ionomycin and by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The suppression of PLD activation by DPG appeared to arise from direct interaction with the enzyme, as evidenced by a DPG competitive pattern of inhibition (Ki = 9.0 +/- 1.5 mM) for PLD from Streptomyces chromofuscus. These results suggest that DPG may be a useful tool for investigating the role of PLD in physiological function in a wide variety of cell types. Interestingly, DPG inhibited fMLP-induced N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase release and O2- generation by the cytochalasin B-primed neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it had minimal effect (at concentrations up to 5 mM) on O2- generation induced by fMLP in nonprimed cells. These results suggest that PLD plays an important role in fMLP stimulation of both N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase release and O2- generation in the primed neutrophils, but that a PLD-independent pathway plays the primary role in O2- generation by the nonprimed neutrophils.

Requirement of adenosine 5'-triphosphate and Ca2+ for guanosine 5'-triphosphate-binding protein-mediated phospholipase D activation in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

In digitonin-permeabilized PC12 cells labeled with [3H]palmitic acid, formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), a marker of phospholipase D (PLD) activity, was increased with increasing concentrations of Ca2+ in the presence of ATP, Mg2+ and ethanol. Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio-triphosphate) (GTP gamma S) significantly enhanced Ca(2+)-stimulated [3H]PEt formation. The effect of GTP gamma S was abolished when any one of Ca2+, ATP or Mg2+ was excluded. ATP could not be replaced by other nucleotides except for ADP. Thus, the GTP-binding protein-mediated PLD activation absolutely required both Ca2+ and Mg-ATP.

A protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine, activates phospholipase D via a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils

In rabbit peritoneal neutrophils prelabeled with [3H] lyso platelet-activating factor, a protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine (> 1 microM), increased [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt) level in the presence of ethanol in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, providing evidence for staurosporine activation of phospholipase D (PLD). The staurosporine activation of the enzyme absolutely required both extracellular calcium and cytochalasin B, and was almost completely inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (IAP). In a reconstituted system where the purified Gi1 had been incorporated into phospholipid vesicles, staurosporine activated GTPase activity of Gi1 in a concentration-dependent fashion, with a maximal 4-5-fold effect. ADP-ribosylation by IAP of Gi1 in vesicles significantly suppressed the staurosporine activation. As with the GTPase activity of Gi1, GTPase activities of other purified IAP-sensitive G proteins, such as Gi2 and G(o), were significantly stimulated by staurosporine, but the cholera toxin substrate Gs was appreciably less sensitive to the staurosporine stimulation. The staurosporine activation of GTPase was also observed in rabbit neutrophil membranes from control cells, but not in membranes from IAP-treated neutrophils. From these results, we conclude that the staurosporine activation of PLD in rabbit neutrophils is attributed to the direct activation of an IAP-sensitive G protein in a similar manner to receptors occupied by agonists. By contrast, staurosporine failed to activate phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) under the conditions in which it activated PLD, indicating that there exists a PLD activation pathway independent of PI-PLC. Furthermore, it was found that N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase release from the granules of intact neutrophils was evoked by staurosporine to almost the same extent as by fMLP (100 nM), but O2- generation was not affected. These results suggest a possibility that PLD pathway plays an important role in enzyme release, but is not sufficient for O2- generation, in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils.

Characterization of phospholipase D in a cell-free system of cultured cells derived from rat frontal cortex

The existence and regulation of phospholipase D (PLD) activity in cell-free system from primary cultured cells of fetal rat frontal cortex were investigated. PLD activity was detectable only in the presence of Triton X-100. Other detergents examined (deoxycholate, taurocholate, CHAPS, Tween 20, sodium dodecyl sulfate) caused only a small increase in PLD activity. Triton X-100 enhanced PLD activity maximally at 0.1% (w/v) and reduced at higher concentrations. The optimal pH was about 7.2. Both Ca2+ and Mg2+ inhibited PLD activity in a dose-dependent manner. When comparing the primary cultured cells with adult rat frontal cortices, all of the results of the primary cultured cells were in agreement with those of the frontal cortices. Moreover, the apparent Km value of the enzyme in primary cultured cells for phosphatidyl-choline was the same as that in rat frontal cortex. These results suggest that the same kinds of PLD exist in the primary cultured cells and the rat frontal cortex, and that the primary cultured cells are a good experimental model for analyzing the mechanism of PLD in neuronal system.

Pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein mediates carbachol activation of phospholipase D in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

In the present study, an activation mechanism for phospholipase D (PLD) in [3H]palmitic acid-labeled pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in response to carbachol (CCh) was investigated. PLD activity was assessed by measuring the formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), the specific marker of PLD activity, in the presence of 0.5% (vol/vol) ethanol. CCh caused a rapid accumulation of [3H]-PEt, which reached a plateau within 1 min, in a concentration-dependent manner. The [3H]PEt formation by CCh was completely antagonized by atropine, demonstrating that the CCh effect was mediated by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR). A tumor promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), also caused an increase in [3H]-PEt content, which reached a plateau at 30-60 min after exposure, but an inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, did not. Although a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, staurosporine (5 microM), blocked PMA-induced [3H]PEt formation by 77%, it had no effect on the CCh-induced formation. These results suggest that mAChR-induced PLD activation is independent of PKC, whereas PLD activation by PMA is mediated by PKC. NaF, a common GTP-binding protein (G protein) activator, and a stable analogue of GTP, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), also stimulated [3H]PEt formation in intact and digitonin-permeabilized cells, respectively. GTP, UTP, and CTP were without effect. Furthermore, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) significantly inhibited CCh- and GTP gamma S-induced [3H]PEt formation in permeabilized cells but did not inhibit the formation by PMA, and staurosporine (5 microM) had no effect on [3H]PEt formation by GTP gamma S.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium rather than protein kinase C is the major factor to activate phospholipase D in FMLP-stimulated rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. Possible involvement of calmodulin/myosin L chain kinase pathway

In the present study, we first investigated which of the factors, protein kinase C (PKC) or Ca2+, plays an important role in activation of phospholipase D (PLD) of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils stimulated by the chemoattractant FMLP. PLD activity was assessed by measuring [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), the unambiguous marker of PLD, generated by [3H]lyso platelet-activating factor-prelabeled neutrophils in the presence of ethanol. PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, augmented the plateau level of [3H]PEt produced in FMLP-stimulated cells, although they had no effect on the initial rate of the formation. Furthermore, it was found that the FMLP-stimulated [3H]PEt formation was inhibited by pretreatment of cells with PMA, a PKC activator, and exposure of cells to staurosporine before PMA pretreatment moderately blocked the PMA inhibition. Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, as well as FMLP, stimulated [3H]PEt formation, accompanied by a decrease in [3H]phosphatidylcholine, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Both FMLP and ionomycin absolutely required extracellular Ca2+ to increase [3H]PEt formation. These results imply that elevated intercellular Ca2+ by FMLP stimulation is the major factor for PLD activation and that PKC rather negatively regulates the enzyme activity. Interestingly, a calmodulin inhibitor, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- naphthalenesulfonamide, and a myosin L chain kinase inhibitor, 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-h exahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride, both inhibited the ionomycin- and FMLP-stimulated [3H]PEt formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Results obtained in this study suggest that, in FMLP-stimulated rabbit peritoneal neutrophils, increased intracellular Ca2+ activates PLD through calmodulin/myosin L chain kinase pathway and, thereafter, the enzyme activation is turned off by simultaneously activated PKC.

Calcium rather than protein kinase C is the major factor to activate phospholipase D in FMLP-stimulated rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. Possible involvement of calmodulin/myosin L chain kinase pathway

In the present study, we first investigated which of the factors, protein kinase C (PKC) or Ca2+, plays an important role in activation of phospholipase D (PLD) of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils stimulated by the chemoattractant FMLP. PLD activity was assessed by measuring [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), the unambiguous marker of PLD, generated by [3H]lyso platelet-activating factor-prelabeled neutrophils in the presence of ethanol. PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, augmented the plateau level of [3H]PEt produced in FMLP-stimulated cells, although they had no effect on the initial rate of the formation. Furthermore, it was found that the FMLP-stimulated [3H]PEt formation was inhibited by pretreatment of cells with PMA, a PKC activator, and exposure of cells to staurosporine before PMA pretreatment moderately blocked the PMA inhibition. Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, as well as FMLP, stimulated [3H]PEt formation, accompanied by a decrease in [3H]phosphatidylcholine, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Both FMLP and ionomycin absolutely required extracellular Ca2+ to increase [3H]PEt formation. These results imply that elevated intercellular Ca2+ by FMLP stimulation is the major factor for PLD activation and that PKC rather negatively regulates the enzyme activity. Interestingly, a calmodulin inhibitor, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- naphthalenesulfonamide, and a myosin L chain kinase inhibitor, 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-h exahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride, both inhibited the ionomycin- and FMLP-stimulated [3H]PEt formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Results obtained in this study suggest that, in FMLP-stimulated rabbit peritoneal neutrophils, increased intracellular Ca2+ activates PLD through calmodulin/myosin L chain kinase pathway and, thereafter, the enzyme activation is turned off by simultaneously activated PKC.

Characterization of cytosolic pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in mastocytoma P-815 cells

We have characterized a soluble pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive GTP-binding protein (G-protein) present in mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells. 65% of total ADP-ribosylation of PT substrate having a molecular mass of 40 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in cell homogenate was detected in the supernatant after centrifugation at 100,000 x g for 90 min. [32P]ADP-ribosylation of cytosolic PT substrate was significantly enhanced on the addition of exogenous beta gamma complex. The molecular mass of the cytosolic PT substrate was estimated to be about 80 kDa on an Ultrogel AcA 44 column, but the beta gamma complex was not detected in the cytosol by using the anti-beta gamma complex antibody. Furthermore, the cytosolic PT substrate was found to have some unique properties: [35S]GTP gamma S binding was not inhibited by GDP and [32P]ADP-ribosylation was not affected by GTP gamma S treatment. Only after the cytosolic PT substrate had been mixed with exogenous beta gamma complex, did it copurify with exogenous beta gamma complex by several column chromatographies including an Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B column. The PT substrate was identified as Gi2 alpha by Western blot analysis and peptide mapping with S. aureus V8 protease. These results suggest that Gi2 alpha without beta gamma complex exists with an apparent molecular mass of about 80 kDa in the cytosolic fraction of P-815 cells.

Activation and solubilization by Triton X-100 of membrane-bound phospholipase D of rat brain

In the present study, we examined the ability of detergents to stimulate and solubilize phospholipase D (PLD) of a particulate fraction of rat brain. PLD activity was assayed by measuring the [3H]choline produced from the exogenous substrate dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl[3H]choline (dipalmitoyl [3H]PC). In the absence of detergents, PLD activity was not detectable. Of the detergents examined, Triton X-100 was found to markedly enhance PLD activity, whereas other detergents including sodium deoxycholate, sodium cholate, CHAPS and Lubrol-PX caused only a small, if any increase in activity. Enhancement by Triton X-100 was maximal at 0.1-0.2% (w/v) and decreased at higher concentrations. The optimal pH was 7.1-7.3. Both Ca2+ and Mg2+ inhibited enzyme activity stimulated by Triton X-100 in a concentration-dependent manner. Triton X-100 effectively solubilized PLD from the particulate fraction of rat brain; more than 70% of the activity of the particulate fraction was extracted by 0.5-1.0% (w/v) Triton X-100. Furthermore, when the PLD activities in brains of three different species (rat, rabbit and bovine) were measured under optimal conditions, the activities were found to differ greatly. PLD activity was highest in rabbit brain, followed by rat and bovine brains; the activity in bovine brain was extremely low compared to the activities in rat and rabbit brains. We conclude that Triton X-100 is potentially useful for the purification of PLD and that rabbit and rat brains are the preferred sources.

Phospholipase D activation by platelet-activating factor, leukotriene B4, and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine in rabbit neutrophils. Phospholipase D activation is involved in enzyme release

Lipid chemoattractants, such as platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4, as well as the peptide chemoattractant FMLP, were found to stimulate [3H]phosphatidic acid ([3H]PA) formation in 1-O-[3H]octadecyl-lyso platelet-activating factor-labeled rabbit neutrophils. The stimulation of [3H]PA formation appears to result from the activation of phospholipase D (PLD), because in the presence of ethanol, chemoattractant stimulation produced [3H]phosphatidylethanol, the characteristic compound produced by PLD at the expense of [3H]PA formation. The PLD activation by all chemoattractants tested was primed by cytochalasin B and revealed a similar time dependence. However, lipid chemoattractants were less potent as compared with FMLP, and the maximal stimulation by the former was lower than that by the latter. From these results, it is concluded that the mechanism of PLD activation by lipid chemoattractants is similar to, but different from, that by FMLP. Cytochalasin B stimulated degranulation and [3H]PA formation in agonist-stimulated neutrophils, and their stimulations were well correlated. Ethanol inhibited both agonist-stimulated [3H]PA formation and degranulation in a concentration-dependent manner, but the inhibition in degranulation was much less than that in [3H]PA formation. These results suggest that PLD activation is involved in degranulation, but another signaling pathway may also be required for full stimulation of degranulation. When the radiolabeled neutrophils were stimulated by chemoattractants for 5 min, 1,2-[3H]diglyceride was found to accumulate. The accumulation was inhibited by either ethanol or the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor propranolol, which indicates that PA produced by PLD can be converted to 1,2-diglyceride by phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. Under these conditions, propranolol did not inhibit degranulation stimulated by chemoattractants. These results indicate that PA produced by PLD is more important than its metabolite diglyceride for the degranulation of rabbit neutrophils.

Phospholipase D activation by platelet-activating factor, leukotriene B4, and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine in rabbit neutrophils. Phospholipase D activation is involved in enzyme release

Lipid chemoattractants, such as platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4, as well as the peptide chemoattractant FMLP, were found to stimulate [3H]phosphatidic acid ([3H]PA) formation in 1-O-[3H]octadecyl-lyso platelet-activating factor-labeled rabbit neutrophils. The stimulation of [3H]PA formation appears to result from the activation of phospholipase D (PLD), because in the presence of ethanol, chemoattractant stimulation produced [3H]phosphatidylethanol, the characteristic compound produced by PLD at the expense of [3H]PA formation. The PLD activation by all chemoattractants tested was primed by cytochalasin B and revealed a similar time dependence. However, lipid chemoattractants were less potent as compared with FMLP, and the maximal stimulation by the former was lower than that by the latter. From these results, it is concluded that the mechanism of PLD activation by lipid chemoattractants is similar to, but different from, that by FMLP. Cytochalasin B stimulated degranulation and [3H]PA formation in agonist-stimulated neutrophils, and their stimulations were well correlated. Ethanol inhibited both agonist-stimulated [3H]PA formation and degranulation in a concentration-dependent manner, but the inhibition in degranulation was much less than that in [3H]PA formation. These results suggest that PLD activation is involved in degranulation, but another signaling pathway may also be required for full stimulation of degranulation. When the radiolabeled neutrophils were stimulated by chemoattractants for 5 min, 1,2-[3H]diglyceride was found to accumulate. The accumulation was inhibited by either ethanol or the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor propranolol, which indicates that PA produced by PLD can be converted to 1,2-diglyceride by phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. Under these conditions, propranolol did not inhibit degranulation stimulated by chemoattractants. These results indicate that PA produced by PLD is more important than its metabolite diglyceride for the degranulation of rabbit neutrophils.

Distinct cellular expression of pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding proteins in rat cerebellum

Immunohistochemical localization of pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding proteins in rat cerebellum was investigated using antibodies raised against purified G alpha o and synthetic peptides corresponding to specific sequences of G alpha i1, G alpha i2 and G alpha o was detected mostly in the molecular layer but not in the cell body of the Purkinje cells. G alpha i1 and G alpha i2 were found predominantly in the molecular layer and in addition in the cell body of the Purkinje cells. G alpha i3 was not detected in rat cerebellum. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that in the cerebellum membrane G alpha 0 was most abundant and surprisingly the amount of G alpha i2 was much higher than that of G alpha i1. Thus, each pertussis toxin substrate was found to be expressed differently in rat cerebellum. The different patterns of expression imply that each subtype of GTP-binding proteins may have a specific function in modulating the neuronal activity in rat cerebellum.

Antigen-induced phospholipase D activation in rat mast cells is independent of protein kinase C

In the present study, we investigated the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in antigen (Ag, DNP-Ascaris suum)-induced phospholipase D (PLD) activation of rat peritoneal mast cells. Phorbor myristate acetate (PMA) as well as Ag activated PLD as inferred by phosphatidylethanol (PEt) production. PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and H-7, however, failed to suppress PMA-stimulated PLD activation, suggesting that PLD activation by PMA is independent of PKC. By contrast, Ag-stimulated PLD activity was significantly reduced by staurosporine and slightly by H-7. Surprisingly, the inhibitors inhibited Ag-stimulated phospholipase C (PLC), correlated to the inhibition of PLD. These observations lead us to conclude that in Ag-stimulated mast cells 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) formed by PLC directly or indirectly stimulates PLD, independently of PKC.

Activation of phospholipase D in rabbit neutrophils by fMet-Leu-Phe is mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein that may be distinct from a phospholipase C-regulating protein

Stimulation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils, in which phosphatidylcholine was preferentially labeled with 1-O-[3H]octadecyl lyso platelet-activating factor, activated phospholipase D, resulting in the formation of [3H]PA from [3H]PC. A direct activator of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins), NaF, also stimulated [3H]PA formation. fMLP-stimulated [3H]PA formation was inhibited by pertussis toxin (IAP) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IAP also inhibited fMLP-stimulated IP3 formation, but the inhibition of IP3 formation was significantly greater than that of [3H]PA formation. These results indicate that activation of phospholipase D by fMLP in rabbit neutrophils is mediated by an IAP-sensitive G-protein that may be distinct from a phospholipase C-regulating protein.

Phospholipase B-like activity in rabbit brain membranes

1. Phospholipase B-like activity was found in rabbit brain membranes. 2. The activity was greatly enhanced by 0.025% (w/v) Triton X-100 and was inhibited by both Ca2+ and Mg2+. 3. With increasing pH of the reaction mixture, the activity was augmented. 4. The characteristics of the enzyme activity possibly suggest that phospholipase B in rabbit brain may be distinct from those previously reported.

Ischemia of rat brain decreases pertussis toxin-catalyzed [32P]ADP ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins (Gi1 and G0) in membranes

As an approach to understanding the molecular basis of the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia, we examined qualitative and quantitative changes in pertussis toxin substrates, Gi1 and G0, in the membrane of rat cerebral cortex after decapitation. Within 1 min after decapitation, the extent of pertussis toxin-catalyzed [32P]ADP ribosylation of the G proteins in the cerebral cortex membrane was significantly decreased and the magnitude of the decrease became slightly larger upon further incubation of the decapitated brain. Addition of guanine nucleotides, GTP and GDP, or the purified beta gamma subunits of transducin to the membranes of control and ischemic cerebral cortex stimulated [32P]ADP ribosylation of the G proteins. The stimulation of [32P]ADP ribosylation in the control situation by guanine nucleotides was almost to the same extent as that in ischemia. However, the stimulation by transducin beta gamma subunits was different; the control stimulation was greater than that in ischemia. In immunoblots probed with antibodies against Gi1 alpha, G0 alpha, and T beta, the immunoreactivity of the corresponding proteins in ischemia was similar to that in control, suggesting that the amounts of G proteins were not changed in ischemia. These results suggest that ischemia accelerates the dissociation of alpha-GDP-beta gamma to alpha-GDP and free beta gamma and causes the denaturation of the dissociated alpha-GDP, thereby decreasing [32P]ADP ribosylation.

A guanine nucleotide-binding protein in human astrocytoma

We compared, by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining, the distribution of the alpha subunit of Go in human normal brain tissue with that in human brain tumours of neuroectodermal origin. The ten tumour samples included seven high-grade astrocytomas (grades III and IV) and three low-grade astrocytomas (grade II). Immunoreactivity of high-grade astrocytomas with the alpha subunit of Go (Go alpha) antibody was lower than that of low-grade astrocytomas and normal white matter. In the immunohistochemical study, neoplastic cells in the astrocytomas were found to contain little or no significant Go alpha, although nonlesional white matter was strongly stained with Go alpha antibody. This study suggests that Go alpha antibody may assist in defining the boundary of an astrocytoma, and the difference in Go content may affect the alteration in the physical properties of the membrane, which exhibit, in part, the character of the transformation.

Comparison of stimulation by chemotactic formyl peptide analogs between GTPase activity in neutrophil plasma membranes and granule enzyme release from intact neutrophils

Stimulation by fMet-Leu-Phe analogs of GTPase activity in plasma membranes from rabbit neutrophils was compared with the stimulation of degranulation in intact neutrophils. All four formyl peptides examined (fMet-Leu-Phe-Phe, fMet-Leu-Phe, fNle-Leu-Phe, and fVal-Leu-Phe) were full agonists for both responses. Their ED50 values for the two responses correlated well, although those for GTPase stimulation were uniformly about tenfold greater. The specific antagonist tBoc-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe competitively inhibited both GTPase activity and degranulation stimulated by fMet-Leu-Phe; its Ki values were similar for the two responses. Pertussis toxin treatment, in contrast, inhibited the maximal stimulation of both responses by fMet-Leu-Phe with minimal shift in ED50. The inhibitory actions of tBoc-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe and pertussis toxin on GTPase activity thus paralleled the effects on degranulation. These observations substantiate the hypothesis that a guanine nucleotide-binding protein that is a pertussis toxin substrate couples the formyl peptide receptors to physiological function in the neutrophil.