Expression and characterization of an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding domain of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-delta 1

Identification of myosin II as a binding protein to the PH domain of protein kinase B

Myosin II was identified as a binding protein to the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of protein kinase B (PKB) in CHO cell extract by using the glutathione S-transferase-fusion protein as a probe. When myosin II purified from rabbit skeletal muscle was employed, myosin II was shown to bind almost exclusively to the PH domain of PKB among the PH domain fusion proteins examined. The purified myosin II bound to the PH domain of PKB with a Kd value of 1.1 x 10(-7) M. Studies with a series of truncated molecules indicated that the whole structure of the PH domain is required for the binding of myosin II, and the binding to the PH domain was inhibited by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. These results suggest that myosin II is a specific binding protein to the PH domain of particular proteins including PKB.

Differential association of the pleckstrin homology domains of phospholipases C-beta 1, C-beta 2, and C-delta 1 with lipid bilayers and the beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are recognized in more than 100 different proteins, including mammalian phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes (isotypes beta, gamma, and delta). These structural motifs are thought to function as tethering devices linking their host proteins to membranes containing phosphoinositides or beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric GTP binding (G) proteins. Although the PH domains of PLC-delta and PLC-gamma have been studied, the comparable domains of the beta isotypes have not. Here, we have measured the affinities of the isolated PH domains of PLC-beta 1 and -beta 2 (PH-beta 1 and PH-beta 2, respectively) for lipid bilayers and G-beta gamma subunits. Like the intact enzymes, these PH domains bind to membrane surfaces composed of zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine with moderate affinity. Inclusion of the anionic lipid phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and inclusion of G-beta gamma subunits had little affect on their membrane affinity. In contrast, binding of PLC-delta 1 or its PH domain was highly dependent on PI(4,5)P2. We also determined whether these domains laterally associate with G-beta gamma subunits bound to membrane surfaces using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Affinities for G-beta gamma were in the following order: PH-beta 2 >/= PH-beta 1 > PH-delta 1; the affinities of the native enzyme were as follows: PLC-beta 2 >> PLC-delta 1 > PLC-beta 1. Thus, the PH domain of PLC-beta 1 interacts with G-beta gamma in isolation, but not in the context of the native enzyme. By contrast, docking of the PH domain of PLC-beta2 with G-beta gamma is comparable to that of the full-length protein and may play a key role in G-beta gamma recognition.

Use of phosphorofluoridate analogues of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate to assess the involvement of ionic interactions in its recognition by the receptor and metabolising enzymes

D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] analogues fluoridated at 4- or 5-phosphate or both were analysed to assess the involvement of ionic interactions between the phosphates of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and the proteins that recognize it, such as metabolic enzymes and the InsP3 receptor. These analogues were effective in inhibiting type I Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase activity with much the same potency as Ins(1,4,5)P3, although the enzyme showed a lower Km value as pH values increased. In contrast, the analogues were less potent ligands than Ins(1,4,5)P3 in both the assay of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to the receptors and the phosphorylation of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 catalysed by Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. These results suggest that ionic interactions with the dianionic 4- and 5-phosphates of Ins(1,4,5)P3 are involved in recognition by the receptor and the kinase, but not by the phosphatase.

Real-time visualization of PH domain-dependent translocation of phospholipase C-delta1 in renal epithelial cells (MDCK): response to hypo-osmotic stress

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged phospholipase C (PLC)-delta1 and its mutants were expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. GFP-PLC-delta1 or the GFP-tagged pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PLC-delta1 itself was found to be predominantly localized at the plasma membrane. The DeltaPH mutant or a site-directed mutant containing a PH domain which does not bind inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate and cannot hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate in vitro was seen only in the cytosol. In living MDCK cells hypo-osmotic stress caused a rapid dissociation of GFP-PLC-delta1 from the plasma membrane, which coincided with phosphoinositide breakdown. A PLC inhibitor, U73122, blocked this translocation, but depletion of extracellular Ca2+ had no effect. The translocation was reversed by replacement with an iso-osmotic buffer. Our results demonstrate that the PH domain plays a critical role in the membrane targeting of PLC-delta1 and that the intracellular distribution of the enzyme is regulated by osmotic stress-driven phosphoinositide turnover.

Families of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C: structure and function

A large number of extracellular signals stimulate hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate by phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). PI-PLC isozymes have been found in a broad spectrum of organisms and although they have common catalytic properties, their regulation involves different signalling pathways. A number of recent studies provided an insight into domain organisation of PI-PLC isozymes and contributed towards better understanding of the structural basis for catalysis, cellular localisation and molecular changes that could underlie the process of their activation.

Effects of mutations in pleckstrin homology domain on beta-adrenergic receptor kinase activity in intact cells

beta-Adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK) plays a pivotal role in phosphorylating and desensitizing G protein coupled receptors by virtue of pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-mediated membrane translocation. betaARK is localized to the specific membrane compartment by betagamma subunits of G proteins (Gbetagamma) and phosphatidylinositol phosphates that specifically and coordinately bind to the carboxyl and amino terminus half, respectively, of the betaARK PH domain. To determine the function of the betaARK PH domain in intact cells, various point mutations were incorporated in the betaARK PH domain and the constructs were tested for their ability to agonist-dependently phosphorylate the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor or alpha-adrenergic receptor in COS-7 cells. It was found that selected mutations (i.e., W643A, L647A, and an Ala-insertion following Trp643) completely abolished betaARK's ability to phosphorylate the receptors in whole-cell labeling experiments. These residues are located in the carboxyl-terminal alpha-helix of the PH domain that is essential for binding to Gbetagamma. This site-directed mutation study provides molecular information on the mechanism and significance of the betaARK PH domain function in the intact cell system.

Specificity and promiscuity in phosphoinositide binding by pleckstrin homology domains

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are small protein modules involved in recruitment of signaling molecules to cellular membranes, in some cases by binding specific phosphoinositides. We describe use of a convenient "dot-blot" approach to screen 10 different PH domains for those that recognize particular phosphoinositides. Each PH domain bound phosphoinositides in the assay, but only two (from phospholipase C-delta1 and Grp1) showed clear specificity for a single species. Using soluble inositol phosphates, we show that the Grp1 PH domain (originally cloned on the basis of its phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) binding) binds specifically to D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) (the PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 headgroup) with KD = 27.3 nM, but binds D-myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) or D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) over 80-fold more weakly. We show that this specificity allows localization of the Grp1 PH domain to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells only when phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) is activated. The presence of three adjacent equatorial phosphate groups was critical for inositol phosphate binding by the Grp1 PH domain. By contrast, another PH domain capable of PI 3-K-dependent membrane recruitment (encoded by EST684797) does not distinguish Ins(1,3,4)P3 from Ins(1,3,4,5)P3 (binding both with very high affinity), despite selecting strongly against Ins(1,4,5)P3. The remaining PH domains tested appear significantly less specific for particular phosphoinositides. Together with data presented in the literature, our results suggest that many PH domains bind similarly to multiple phosphoinositides (and in some cases phosphatidylserine), and are likely to be regulated in vivo by the most abundant species to which they bind. Thus, using the same simple approach to study several PH domains simultaneously, our studies suggest that highly specific phosphoinositide binding is a characteristic of relatively few cases.

FRIP, a hematopoietic cell-specific rasGAP-interacting protein phosphorylated in response to cytokine stimulation

The human IL-4 receptor contains a sequence (the 14R motif) centered on Y497 that, when phosphorylated, interacts with phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain proteins. Here, we describe a PTB domain protein, FRIP, that is phosphorylated in response to cytokine stimulation. FRIP is related to the rasGAP-associated protein p62dok and is bound by the N-terminal SH2 domain of rasGAP. The frip gene maps to the hairless (hr) locus on mouse chromosome 14. hr/hr mice exhibit lymphadenopathy, and their lymph node T cells proliferate more vigorously to anti-CD3 with IL-4 or IL-2 stimulation than +/hr T cells. FRIP expression is significantly reduced in T cells from hr/hr mice. FRIP may negatively regulate proliferation by acting as an adapter molecule between rasGAP and receptor complexes.

Pleckstrin homology domains: a common fold with diverse functions

Pleckstrin homology (PH) motifs are approximately 100 amino-acid residues long and have been identified in nearly 100 different eukaryotic proteins, many of which participate in cell signaling and cytoskeletal regulation. Despite minimal sequence homology, the three-dimensional structures are remarkably conserved. This review gives an overview of the PH domain architecture and examines the best-studied examples in an attempt to understand their function.

Phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase activates the beta2 integrin adhesion pathway and induces membrane recruitment of cytohesin-1

Signal transduction through phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI 3-kinase) has been implicated in the regulation of lymphocyte adhesion mediated by integrin receptors. Cellular phosphorylation products of PI 3-kinases interact with a subset of pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, a module that has been shown to recruit proteins to cellular membranes. We have recently identified cytohesin-1, a cytoplasmic regulator of beta2 integrin adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1. We describe here that expression of a constitutively active PI 3-kinase is sufficient for the activation of Jurkat cell adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and for enhanced membrane association of cytohesin-1. Up-regulation of cell adhesion by PI 3-kinase and membrane association of endogenous cytohesin-1 is abrogated by overexpression of the isolated cytohesin-1 PH domain, but not by a mutant of the PH domain which fails to associate with the plasma membrane. The PH domain of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), although strongly associated with the plasma membrane, had no effect on either membrane recruitment of cytohesin-1 or on induction of adhesion by PI 3-kinase. Having delineated the critical steps of the beta2 integrin activation pathway by biochemical and functional analyses, we conclude that PI 3-kinase activates inside-out signaling of beta2 integrins at least partially through cytohesin-1.

Mutation in the pleckstrin homology domain of the human phospholipase C-delta 1 gene is associated with loss of function

The delta-type phospholipase C (PLC) is thought to be evolutionally the most basal form in the mammalian PLC family. One of the delta-type isoforms, PLC-delta 1, binds to both phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) with a high affinity via its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. We report here a missense mutation in the region encoding the C-terminal PH domain of the human PLC-delta 1. This is also the first report of a mutation in the human PLC genes. A single base substitution (G to A) causes the amino acid replacement, Arg105 to His. Site-directed mutagenesis of the glutathione-S-transferase (GST)/PLC-delta 1 fusion protein changing Arg105 to His resulted in a fourfold decrease in the affinity of specific Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding and a reduction in PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysing activity to about 40% of that of the wild-type enzyme. This remarkable loss of function can be interpreted in terms of a conformational change in the PH domain.

Catalysis by phospholipase C delta1 requires that Ca2+ bind to the catalytic domain, but not the C2 domain

The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) by phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) is absolutely dependent on Ca2+. The PH domain truncated catalytic core of rat phospholipase C delta1 (PLC-delta1) has Ca2+ binding sites in its catalytic and C2 domains, and potential Ca2+ binding sites in two EF-hands. A catalytically inactive PLC-delta1 catalytic core bound with low affinity to PIP2-containing vesicles in the presence of Ca2+. A mutant PLC-delta1 has been engineered which lacks the C2 domain Ca2+ binding site and the surrounding loops known as the jaws. Isothermal calorimetric titration showed four Ca2+ ions bind to the wild-type PLC-delta1 catalytic core in solution but only one binds to the C2 domain jaws deletion mutant. The activity and Ca2+ dependence of wild-type and mutant phospholipase Cs were determined using substrate incorporated in detergent micelles and in large unilamellar vesicles. The activities of wild-type and mutant were identical to each other in both assay systems. Wild-type and the C2 jaws deletion mutant of PLC have Hill coefficients of 1.12-1.16 with respect to [Ca2+]. We conclude that a single Ca2+ bound to the catalytic domain is entirely responsible for the Ca2+ dependence of the basal activity of PLC-delta1.

Pleckstrin homology domain as an inositol compound binding module

Many of the proteins that participate in cell signalling contain structural modules involved in regulatory interactions between components of signal transduction cascades. One of such modules is the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, a region of approximately 120 amino acids that can form an electrostatically polarized tertiary structure. Several molecules such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate/phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, the betagamma-subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins and protein kinase C have been proposed as common ligands for the PH domain. Through these potential interactions, the PH domain has been proposed to play a role in membrane recruitment of proteins containing the PH domain, thus targeting them to appropriate cellular compartment or enabling them to interact with other components of the signal transduction pathway. In this review, we mainly focus on membrane targeting through the binding to inositol phosphates/phosphoinositides.

Smooth muscle aldolase C-bound inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate studied in vitro under physiological conditions

Our goal was to quantitate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) binding to aldolase C tetramer (aldolase4) and its displacement by inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) under conditions which approximated the in vivo state. Anions were found to have major effects. Decreasing [KCl] from 100 to 10mM, at 0 degrees C and pH 7.0, increased maximal Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to 1.0 to 2.4mol per mol aldolase4. At 10 and 30mEq/l [Cl-], an additional high affinity site was detected (Kds = 0.43 and 0.86 microM, respectively). Increasing concentrations of other anions (SO42-, propanoate-, HCO3-, acetate-) also inhibited binding, but effects would be minimal at concentrations of these anions present in the cytoplasm of living cells. Ins(1,3,4)P3 displacement of aldolase C-bound Ins(1,4,5)P3 was sensitive to [Cl-]; at 30mEq/l [Cl-] and 37 degrees C, Ins(1,3,4)P3 released 20% of bound Ins(1,4,5)P3 at concentrations of 100nM. Changing temperature from 0 to 37 degrees C increased Kds for Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding. Changes in free [Ca2+], [Mg2+], [Na+] and [K+] and changes in osmolality had no effect on Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to aldolase C. In vivo Ins(1,4,5)P3-aldolase4 binding at 30mEq/l [Cl-] and 37 degrees C were calculated for different [Ins(1,4,5)P3]free over the range 0.2 to 1.0 microM. For different cytoplasmic [Ins(1,4,5)P3]free. Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to aldolase4 was sufficient, if acutely released, to nearly double cytoplasmic [Ins(1,4,5)P3]free. We proposed a schema whereby release of aldolase C-bound Ins(1,4,5)P3 evoked by Ins(1,3,4)P3 amplifies effects of phospholipase C-formed Ins(1,4,5)P3.

Replacements of single basic amino acids in the pleckstrin homology domain of phospholipase C-delta1 alter the ligand binding, phospholipase activity, and interaction with the plasma membrane

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-delta1 (PLC-delta1) binds to both D-myo-inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) with high affinities. We have previously identified a region rich in basic amino acids within the PH domain critical for ligand binding (Yagisawa, H., Hirata, M., Kanematsu, T., Watanabe, Y., Ozaki, S., Sakuma, K., Tanaka, H., Yabuta, N., Kamata, H., Hirata, H., and Nojima, H. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 20179-20188; Hirata, M., Kanematsu, T., Sakuma, K., Koga, T., Watanabe, Y., Ozaki, S., and Yagisawa, H. (1994) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 205, 1563-1571). To investigate the role of these basic residues, we have performed site-directed mutagenesis replacing each of the basic amino acid in the N-terminal 60 residues of PLC-delta1 (Lys24, Lys30, Lys32, Arg37, Arg38, Arg40, Lys43, Lys49, Arg56, Lys57, and Arg60) with a neutral or an acidic amino acid. The effects of these mutations on the PH domain ligand binding properties and their consequence for substrate hydrolysis and membrane interactions of PLC-delta1 were analyzed using several assay systems. Analysis of [3H]-Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding, measurement of the binding affinities, and measurements of phospholipase activity using PtdIns(4,5)P2-containing phospholipid vesicles, demonstrated that residues Lys30, Lys32, Arg37, Arg38, Arg40, and Lys57 were required for these PLC-delta1 functions; in comparison, other mutations resulted in a moderate reduction. A subset of selected mutations was further analyzed for the enzyme activity toward substrate present in cellular membranes of permeabilized cells and for interaction with the plasma membrane after microinjection. These experiments demonstrated that mutations affecting ligand binding and PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis in phospholipid vesicles also resulted in reduction in the hydrolysis of cellular polyphosphoinositides and loss of membrane attachment. All residues (with the exception of the K43E substitution) found to be critical for the analyzed PLC-delta1 functions are present at the surface of the PH domain shown to contain the Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding pocket.

Genetic characterization of a phospholipase C gene from Candida albicans: presence of homologous sequences in Candida species other than Candida albicans

Phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes are essential in regulating several important cellular functions in eukaryotes, including yeasts. In this study, PCR was used to identify a gene encoding PLC activity in Candida albicans, using oligonucleotide primers complementary to sequences encoding highly conserved amino acid regions within the X domains of previously characterized eukaryotic phospholipase C genes. The nucleotide sequence of the C. albicans gene, CAPLC1 (2997 bp), was determined from a recombinant clone containing C. albicans 132A genomic DNA; it encoded a polypeptide of 1099 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 124.6 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of this polypeptide (CAPLC1) exhibited many of the features common to previously characterized PLCs, including specific X and Y catalytic domains. The CAPLC1 protein also exhibited several unique features, including a novel stretch of 18-19 amino acid residues within the X domain and an unusually long N-terminus which did not contain a recognizable EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding domain. An overall amino acid homology of more than 27% with PLCs previously characterized from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe suggested that the CAPLC1 protein is a delta-form of phosphoinositide-specific PLC (PI-PLC). PLC activity was detected in cell-free extracts of both yeast and hyphal forms of C. albicans 132A following 7 h and 24 h growth using the PLC-specific substrate p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholine (p-NPPC). In addition, CAPLC1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase PCR in both yeast and hyphal forms of C. albicans 132A at the same time intervals. Expression of CAPLC1 activity was also detected in extracts of Escherichia coli DH5 alpha harbouring plasmids which contained portions of the CAPLC1 gene lacking sequences encoding part of the N-terminus. Southern hybridization and PCR analyses revealed that all C. albicans and Candida dubliniensis isolates examined possessed sequences homologous to CAPLC1. Sequences related to CAPLC1 were detected in some but not all isolates of Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis tested, but not in the isolates of Candida krusei, Candida kefyr, Candida guillermondii and Candida lusitaniae examined. This paper reports the first description of the cloning and sequencing of a PLC gene from a pathogenic yeast species.

Distinct specificity in the binding of inositol phosphates by pleckstrin homology domains of pleckstrin, RAC-protein kinase, diacylglycerol kinase and a new 130 kDa protein

The pleckstrin homology domains (PH domains) derived from four different proteins, the N-terminal part of pleckstrin, RAC-protein kinase, diacylglycerol kinase and the 130 kDa protein originally cloned as an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding protein, were analysed for binding of inositol phosphates and derivatives of inositol lipids. The PH domain from pleckstrin bound inositol phosphates according to a number of phosphates on the inositol ring, i.e. more phosphate groups, stronger the binding, but a very limited specificity due to the 2-phosphate was also observed. On the other hand, the PH domains from RAC-protein kinase and diacylglycerol kinase specifically bound inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate most strongly. The PH domain from the 130 kDa protein, however, had a preference for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate. Comparison was also made between binding of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and soluble derivatives of their corresponding phospholipids. The PH domains examined, except that from pleckstrin, showed a 8- to 42-times higher affinity for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate than that for corresponding phosphoinositide derivative. However, all PH domains had similar affinity for inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate compared to the corresponding lipid derivative. The present study supports our previous proposal that inositol phosphates and/or inositol lipids could be important ligands for the PH domain, and therefore inositol phosphates/inositol lipids may have the considerable versatility in the control of diverse cellular function. Which of these potential ligands are physiologically relevant would depend on the binding affinities and their cellular abundance.

Binding of multiple ligands to pleckstrin homology domain regulates membrane translocation and enzyme activity of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are discrete structural modules present in numerous proteins involved in signal transduction processes. In the case of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK), PH domain-mediated binding of two ligands, the betagamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gbetagamma) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), has been shown to be required for the kinase function. In this study, the ability of Gbetagamma and PIP2 to affect membrane localization of betaARK is used to define the ligand binding characteristics of the betaARK PH domain. The binding of these ligands to the PH domain of the intact kinase is shown to be cooperative, Gbetagamma increasing the affinity of the PH domain for PIP2. Notably, although PIP2-dependent membrane association of betaARK is observed at high concentrations of this lipid, in the absence of Gbetagamma, no receptor phosphorylation is observed. Peptides derived from the receptor intracellular loop inhibit the receptor phosphorylation without affecting the membrane translocation of the kinase complex, suggesting that betaARK activity does not necessarily correlate with the amount of betaARK associated with the membrane. These results point to a distinct role for each PH domain ligand in betaARK-mediated receptor phosphorylation. Strikingly, the ligand binding characteristics of the isolated betaARK PH domain fused to glutathione S-transferase are very different from those of the PH domain of the intact kinase. Thus, in contrast to the native protein, the isolated PH domain binds Gbetagamma and PIP2 independently and with no apparent cooperativity. That protein environment plays an important role in determining the ligand binding characteristics of a particular PH domain highlights the potential risks of inferring mechanisms from studies of isolated PH domains.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C delta1 activity toward micellar substrates, inositol 1,2-cyclic phosphate, and other water-soluble substrates: a sequential mechanism and allosteric activation

The kinetics of full-length and PH domain truncated cloned PI-PLC delta1 from rat toward soluble substrates [inositol 1, 2-(cyclic)-phosphate (cIP) and glycerophosphoinositol phosphates (GPIPx)] as well as PI in detergent micelles provide the following insights into the mechanism of this enzyme. (i) That cIP is a substrate for the enzyme implies a two-step mechanism for PI hydrolysis [intramolecular phosphotransferase reaction to form cIP followed by cyclic phosphodiesterase activity to form inositol-1-phosphate (I-1-P)]. The dependence of enzyme activity on cIP is sigmoidal, suggesting a transition between less active and more active forms of the enzyme that is affected by substrate. (ii) Interfaces increase the kcat for cIP (but do not affect the cooperativity), and this allosteric activation requires an intact PH domain. (iii) Phosphorylation of the soluble inositol phosphodiesters GPI, GPIP, and GPIP2 enhances PI-PLC delta1 activity by dramatically increasing kcat and decreasing Km. For these phosphodiesters, the substrate saturation curve is no longer sigmoidal but hyperbolic, indicating the phosphorylated substrate can shift the enzyme to the activated form. (iv) Given the kinetic parameters for cIP hydrolysis and the constant ratio of cIP/I-1-P generated during PI hydrolysis, the cIP produced in situ is either released (and not readily rebound since its concentration is well below Km) or attacked by a water molecule for the generation of the acyclic product.

Protein kinase C and phospholipase C: bilayer interactions and regulation

Protein kinase C and phospholipase C are interfacially active modular enzymes that contain multiple membrane-binding domains. During the past two years, 3D structures and functional data have been reported for the key domains: pleckstrin homology, protein kinase C homology-1 and -2, and the phospholipase C catalytic domain. Roles for membrane bilayer structure and lipid microdomains have become clearly domains has shown how the domains work together to coordinate regulation.

The function of inositol high polyphosphate binding proteins

The inositol phosphate metabolism network has been found to be much more complex than previously thought, as more and more inositol phosphates and their metabolizing enzymes have been discovered. Some of the inositol phosphates have been shown to have biological activities, but little is known about their signal transduction mechanisms except for that of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. The recent discovery, however, of a number of binding proteins for inositol high polyphosphate [inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4), inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate, or inositol hexakisphosphate] enables us to speculate on the physiological function of these compounds. In this article we focus on two major issues: (1) the roles of inositol high polyphosphates in vesicular trafficking, especially exocytosis, and (2) pleckstrin homology domain-containing IP4 binding proteins involved in the Ras signaling pathway.

Phosphoinositide binding specificity among phospholipase C isozymes as determined by photo-cross-linking to novel substrate and product analogs

We tested for the presence of high-affinity phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and PI(3,4,5)P3 binding sites in four phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes (delta1, beta1, beta2, and beta3), by probing these proteins with analogs of inositol phosphates, D-Ins(1,4,5)P3, D-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, and InsP6, and polyphosphoinositides PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3, which contain a photoactivatable benzoyldihydrocinnamide moiety. Only PLC-delta1 was specifically radiolabeled. More than 90% of the label was found in tryptic and chymotryptic fragments which reacted with antisera against the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, whereas less than 5% was recovered in fragments that encompassed the catalytic core. In separate experiments, the isolated delta1-PH domain was also specifically labeled. Equilibrium binding of D-Ins(1,4,5)P3 to PLC-delta1 indicated the presence of a single, high-affinity binding site; binding of D-Ins(1,4,5)P3 to PLC-beta1, -beta2, or -beta3 was not detected. The catalytic activity of PLC-delta1 was inhibited by the product D-Ins(1,4,5)P3, whereas no inhibition of PLC-beta1, -beta2, or -beta3 activity was observed. These results demonstrate that the PH domain is the sole high-affinity PI(4,5)P2 binding site of PLC-delta1 and that a similar site is not present in PLC-beta1, -beta2, or -beta3. The data are consistent with the idea that the PH domain of PLC-delta1, but not the beta isozymes, directs the catalytic core to membranes enriched in PI(4,5)P2 and is subject to product inhibition.

Membrane binding and enzymatic activation of a Dbl homology domain require the neighboring pleckstrin homology domain

Dbl-homology (DH) domains are invariably located immediately N-terminal to a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. To understand the functional relationship between these two domains we expressed the DH domain alone, the PH domain alone, and the DH-PH combination of the invasion inducing protein Tiam-1 fused to glutathione-S-transferase (GST) or green fluorescent protein (GFP). We found that the GST-DH-PH and the GST-PH constructs bind to preparations of brain membranes and to the beta gamma subunits of trimeric G proteins in vitro, while the GST-DH and GST control do not. The GFP-DH-PH and GFP-PH constructs are localized to peripheral membranes of COS-7 cells in vivo, while GFP and GFP-DH domain constructs are found diffusely in the cytoplasm. The DH-PH domain combination activates Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) strongly, but the DH domain alone and the PH domain alone have little effect. We conclude that membrane localization and enzymatic activation of the DH domain require the adjacent PH domain.

Effect of sphingomyelin and its metabolites on the activity of human recombinant PLC delta 1

In an attempt to obtain sufficient quantities of pure phospholipase C delta 1 (PLC delta 1) necessary for structural and kinetic studies, human fibroblast PLC delta 1 was cloned in the pPROEX-1 vector, expressed in E. coli cells as a (6xHis) fusion protein and purified to homogeneity. From 11 of E. coli culture 21 mg of pure PLC delta 1 was obtained by a two-step purification procedure, which includes Ni(2+)-NAT agarose and Mono S cation exchange chromatography. Catalytic properties of recombinant PLC delta 1 with respect to activation by spermine and calcium ions and inhibition by sphingomyelin were similar to or identical to PLC delta 1 purified from rat liver. Calcium activation of PLC delta 1 was dependent on the presence of spermine. Half-maximal activity was attained at 250 and 170 nM of free Ca2+ in the presence and absence of spermine, respectively. Sphingomyelin and lysosphingomyelin were mixed type inhibitors with respect to PIP2. Ceramide inhibits PLC delta 1 very weakly. GM1, which is a ceramide bound glucosidically to the oligosaccharide moiety, was a strong non-competitive inhibitor of PLC delta 1. In the absence of spermine, sphingosine and phytosphingosine weakly activated PLC delta 1. The results indicate that the effect of sphingomyelin and its metabolites on PLC delta 1 activity depends on the presence of spermine. It is postulated that, among other factors, in vivo, activity of PLC delta 1 may depend on the turnover of sphingomyelin.

Phospholipase C isoforms delta 1 and delta 3 from human fibroblasts. High-yield expression in Escherichia coli, simple purification, and properties

Phospholipase C isoforms delta 1 and delta 3 (PLC delta 1 and delta 3) were expressed in Escherichia coli using the cDNA sequences from human fibroblasts. The enzymes were also expressed with the sequence Met-Gly-His6-Ser-Gly-Leu-Phe-Lys-Arg, a hexahistidine sequence followed by a Kex2 protease cleavage site, denoted as "-H6K2," attached to their amino termini. PLC delta 1, PLC delta 1-H6K2, PLC delta 3, PLC delta 3-H6K2 all expressed in highly active form. The H6K2-bearing isoforms were each purified to homogeneity in a single step, with yields of 90-100%, using agarose-iminodiacetic acid-Ni columns and imidazole buffer as eluting agent. Yields in terms of activity increased as the temperature of expression was decreased. Expression at 16 degrees C for 72 h yielded 33 mg of pure PLC delta 1-H6K2 and 13 mg of pure PLC delta 3-H6K2 per liter of culture. Removal of H6K2 from both isoforms with Kex2 protease resulted in little or no loss of activity. Expression of PLC isoforms bearing -H6K2 at the amino terminus resulted in about 12 times more activity than expression of the isoforms lacking -H6K2. PLC delta 3 is much less stable than PLC delta1. Successful purification and storage of PLC delta 3 depends on a suitable stabilizing medium. Both isoforms require 0.3 microM calcium ion for half-maximum activity. The specific activities of the isoforms expressed with and without -H6K2 are the same, as are their calcium saturation curves.

Cell signalling through guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) and phospholipases

Phospholipases are important enzymes in cell signal transduction since they hydrolyze membrane phospholipids to generate signalling molecules. Heterotrimeric guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) play a major role in their regulation by a variety of agonists that activate receptors with seven membrane-spanning domains. Phospholipases of the C type, which hydrolyze inositol phospholipids to yield inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, are regulated by the alpha and betagamma subunits of certain heterotrimeric G proteins as well as by receptor-associated and non-receptor-associated tyrosine kinases. Phospholipases of the D type, which hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidic acid, are regulated by members of the ADP-ribosylation factor and Rho subfamilies of small G proteins, and by protein kinase C and other factors. This review presents recent information concerning the molecular details of G protein regulation of these phospholipases.

Regulation of eukaryotic phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and phospholipase D

This review focuses on two phospholipase activities involved in eukaryotic signal transduction. The action of the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C enzymes produces two well-characterized second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. This discussion emphasizes recent advances in elucidation of the mechanisms of regulation and catalysis of the various isoforms of these enzymes. These are especially related to structural information now available for a phospholipase C delta isozyme. Phospholipase D hydrolyzes phospholipids to produce phosphatidic acid and the respective head group. A perspective of selected past studies is related to emerging molecular characterization of purified and cloned phospholipases D. Evidence for various stimulatory agents (two small G protein families, protein kinase C, and phosphoinositides) suggests complex regulatory mechanisms, and some studies suggest a role for this enzyme activity in intracellular membrane traffic.

Structural views of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C: signalling the way ahead

Recent structural studies of mammalian phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) have begun to shed light on the mechanism whereby this family of effector enzymes is able to hydrolyze phospholipid substrates to yield second messengers. PI-PLC isozymes employ a variety of modules (PH domain, EF-hand domain, SH2 domain, SH3 domain and C2 domain) that are common in proteins involved in signal transduction to reversibly interact with membranes and protein components of the signalling pathways.

The C2 domain calcium-binding motif: structural and functional diversity

The C2 domain is a Ca(2+)-binding motif of approximately 130 residues in length originally identified in the Ca(2+)-dependent isoforms of protein kinase C. Single and multiple copies of C2 domains have been identified in a growing number of eukaryotic signalling proteins that interact with cellular membranes and mediate a broad array of critical intracellular processes, including membrane trafficking, the generation of lipid-second messengers, activation of GTPases, and the control of protein phosphorylation. As a group, C2 domains display the remarkable property of binding a variety of different ligands and substrates, including Ca2+, phospholipids, inositol polyphosphates, and intracellular proteins. Expanding this functional diversity is the fact that not all proteins containing C2 domains are regulated by Ca2+, suggesting that some C2 domains may play a purely structural role or may have lost the ability to bind Ca2+. The present review summarizes the information currently available regarding the structure and function of the C2 domain and provides a novel sequence alignment of 65 C2 domain primary structures. This alignment predicts that C2 domains form two distinct topological folds, illustrated by the recent crystal structures of C2 domains from synaptotagmin 1 and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta 1, respectively. The alignment highlights residues that may be critical to the C2 domain fold or required for Ca2+ binding and regulation.

Inhibition of phospholipase D by a protein factor from bovine brain cytosol. Partial purification and characterization of the inhibition mechanism

A specific protein inhibitor of partially purified bovine brain phospholipase D (PLD) was identified from bovine brain cytosol. The PLD inhibitor has been enriched through several chromatographic steps and characterized with respect to size and mechanism of inhibition. The inhibitor showed an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa by Superose 12 gel exclusion chromatography and inhibited PLD activity with an IC50 of 7 nM. The inhibitor had neither proteolytic activity nor phospholipid-hydrolyzing activity. Because phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), which is included in substrate vesicles, is an essential cofactor for PLD, we examined whether the inhibition might be mediated by sequestration of PIP2. PIP2 hydrolysis by phospholipase C (PLC)-beta1 was not affected by the inhibitor and the inhibitor did not bind to substrate vesicles containing PIP2. In contrast, a PH domain derived from PLC-delta1, which could bind to PIP2, showed a nearly identical inhibition of both PLC-beta1 and PLD activities. Thus, the PLD inhibition by the inhibitor is due to the specific interaction with not PIP2 but PLD. The suppression of PLD activity by the inhibitor was largely eliminated by the addition of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and GTPgammaS. We propose that the inhibitor plays a negative role in regulation of PLD activity by PIP2 and ARF.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding to the pleckstrin homology domain of phospholipase C-delta1 enhances enzyme activity

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is a newly recognized protein module believed to play an important role in signal transduction. While the tertiary structures of several PH domains have been determined, some co-complexed with ligands, the function of this domain remains elusive. In this report, the PH domain located in the N terminus of human phospholipase C-delta1 (PLCdelta1) was found to regulate enzyme activity. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) was stimulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in a dose-dependent manner with an EC50 = 1 microM (0.3 mol%), up to 9-fold higher when 5 microM (1.5 mol%) of PIP2 was incorporated into the PI/phosphatidylserine (PS)/phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles (30 microM of PI with a molar ratio of PI:PS:PC = 1:5:5). Stimulation was specific for PIP2, since other anionic phospholipids including phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate had no stimulatory effect. PIP2-mediated stimulation was, however, inhibited by inositol 1,4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a modulatory role for this inositol. When a nested set of PH domain deletions up to 70 amino acids from the N terminus of PLCdelta1 were constructed, the deletion mutant enzymes all catalyzed the hydrolysis of the micelle forms of PI and PIP2 with specific activities comparable with those of the wild type enzyme. However, the stimulatory effect of PIP2 was greatly diminished when more than 20 amino acid residues were deleted from the N terminus. To identify the specific residues involved in PIP2-mediated enzyme activation, amino acids with functional side chains between residues 20 and 40 were individually changed to glycine. While all these mutations had little effect on the ability of the enzyme to catalyze the hydrolysis of PI or PIP2 micelles, the catalytic activity of mutants K24G, K30G, K32G, R38G, or W36G was markedly unresponsive to PIP2. Analysis of PIP2-stimulated PI hydrolysis by a dual substrate binding model of catalysis revealed that the micellar dissociation constant (Ks) of PLCdelta1 for the PI/PS/PC vesicles was reduced from 558 microM to 53 microM, and the interfacial Michaelis constant (Km) was reduced from 0.21 to 0.06 by PIP2. The maximum rate of PI hydrolysis (Vmax) was not affected by PIP2. These results demonstrate that a major function of the PH domain of PLCdelta1 is to modulate enzyme activity. Further, our results identify PIP2 as a functional ligand for a PH domain and suggest a general mechanism for the regulation of other proteins by PIP2.

Positive charge at position 549 is essential for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-hydrolyzing but not phosphatidylinositol-hydrolyzing activities of human phospholipase C delta1

Point mutagenesis, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis assays and equilibrium centrifugation PIP2 assays were used to study the functional roles of four highly conserved arginine residues in the Y region of human phospholipase C delta1 (PLCdelta1) (Arg-527, -549, -556, -701). Most of the mutant enzymes were either partially defective or fully active in their abilities to catalyze the hydrolysis of PI or PIP2. However, upon substitution of Arg-549 by glycine or histidine, the mutant enzyme was defective in its ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of PIP2, but it is still able to hydrolyze PI. Replacing Arg-549 with lysine had little effect on the level of PI and PIP2 hydrolytic activities of the mutant enzyme. The residual PIP2 hydrolyzing activity of R549H is highly dependent on pH. R549H showed 5-10% of the PIP2-hydrolyzing activity of the native enzyme between pH 5 and 7 and nondetectable PIP2-hydrolyzing activity at pH 8. The PIP2-hydrolyzing activity of R549G was not detectable at all pH values. Kinetic analysis of PLCdelta1-catalyzed PIP2 hydrolysis revealed that the micellar dissociation constant Ks and interfacial Michaelis constant Km were similar in the native, R549K, and R549H enzymes; but the specific activity at the saturated substrate mole fraction and infinite level of substrate (Vmax) of the R549H mutant were reduced by a factor of 15. PIP2 competitively inhibits the native enzyme to hydrolyze PI at both pH 7 and 8. However, PIP2 inhibits R549H only at pH 7.0 and does not inhibit R549G at either pH. Taken together, these results suggest that positive charge at position 549 of PLCdelta1 protein is essential for the enzyme to recognize and catalyze the hydrolysis of PIP2 but not PI.

Preparation and characterization of human recombinant protein 1/Clara cell M(r) 10,000 protein

Protein 1, which is identical to human Clara cell M(r) 10(4) protein, is a homodimeric, low molecular mass protein (M(r) 14,000) and an effective inhibitor of phospholipase A2 activity. We have expressed this protein in E. coli and characterized its physiochemical and biological properties. Using a pET expression system, about 1.7 mg of purified recombinant protein 1 was obtained from 250 ml of E. coli culture. The amino-terminal sequence of recombinant protein 1 up to the 20th residue was identical to that of native protein 1 except for an extra methionine at the amino-terminus. On reversed-phase HPLC, recombinant protein 1 eluted at the same retention time as native protein 1. The dose-response curves of recombinant protein 1 and native protein 1 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for protein 1 were identical. Recombinant protein 1 inhibited both porcine pancreas and cobra venom phospholipase A2 activities. These results indicated that recombinant protein 1 is structurally and biologically identical to native protein 1. We found that recombinant protein 1 also inhibits phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity.

C2 domain conformational changes in phospholipase C-delta 1

The structure of the PH-domain truncated core of rat phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta 1 has been determined at 2.4 A resolution and compared to the structure previously determined in a different crystal form. The stereochemical relationship between the EF, catalytic, and C2 domains is essentially identical. The Ca2+ analogue Sm3+ binds at two sites between the jaws of the C2 domain. Sm3+ binding ejects three lysine residues which bridge the gap between the jaws and occupy the Ca2+ site in the apoenzyme, triggering a conformational change in the jaws. The distal sections of the C2 jaws move apart, opening the mouth by 9 A and creating a gap large enough to bind a phospholipid headgroup.

Structure-function relationships of the mouse Gap1m. Determination of the inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate-binding domain

Gap1(IP4BP), one of a member of Ras GTPase-activating proteins, has been identified as a specific inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4)-binding protein (Cullen, P. J., Hsuan, J. J., Truong, O., Letcher, A. J., Jackson, T. R., Dawson, A. P., and Irvine, R. F. (1995) Nature 386, 527-530). In this paper we describe Gap1(m), which is closely related to Gap1(IP4BP), to also be an IP4-binding protein and show that the pleckstrin homology domain (PH) is the central IP4-binding domain by expressing fragments of the mouse Gap1(m) in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins and examining their activities. However, in addition to the PH domain, an adjacent GAP-related domain and carboxyl terminus are required for high affinity specific IP4 binding. The PH domain is highly conserved in the Gap1 family and also has striking homology to the amino-terminal region of Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Substitution of Cys for Arg at position 628 in the PH domain corresponding to the mutation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase observed in X-linked immunodeficiency mice results in a dramatic reduction of IP4 binding activity as well as phospholipid binding capacity of Gap1(m). This mutant also showed the GAP activity against Ha-Ras to be similar to that of the wild type Gap1(m). Our results suggest that the PH domain of Gap1(m) functions as a modulatory domain of GAP activity by binding IP4 and phospholipids.

Evidence that phospholipase delta1 is the effector in the Gh (transglutaminase II)-mediated signaling

A new class of GTP-binding protein transglutaminase II (Gh) couples to a 69-kDa phospholipase C (PLC). An 8-amino acid region (Leu665-Lys672) of the alpha-subunit of Gh (Galphah) is involved in interaction and activation of PLC, an observation that has now been used to characterize the 69-kDa PLC further. A 20-amino acid peptide corresponding to Leu654-Leu673 of Galphah was used to prepare an affinity resin. On incubation with a partially purified PLC preparation from rat liver membranes, the affinity resin-bound approximately69- and 85-kDa proteins were recognized by an antibody to the 69-kDa PLC. Both purified 69-kDa PLC and PLC-delta1 bound to the affinity resin; moreover, antibodies to PLC-delta1 recognized the 69-kDa PLC, and antibodies to the 69-kDa PLC recognized PLC-delta1. A synthetic peptide corresponding to Leu661-Lys672 of Galphah inhibited the binding of PLC-delta1 to the affinity resin and also stimulated PLC-delta1. Reconstitution of PLC-delta1 with GTPgammaS (guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate)-activated Gh resulted in activation of PLC-delta1. Antibodies to Galphah also coimmunoprecipitated PLC-delta1 upon activation of Gh. These findings indicate that PLC-delta1 is the effector of Gh-mediated signaling.

Arginine 343 and 350 are two active residues involved in substrate binding by human Type I D-myo-inositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase

The crucial role of two reactive arginyl residues within the substrate binding domain of human Type I D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) 5-phosphatase has been investigated by chemical modification and site-directed mutagenesis. Chemical modification of the enzyme by phenylglyoxal is accompanied by irreversible inhibition of enzymic activity. Our studies demonstrate that phenylglyoxal forms an enzyme-inhibitor complex and that the modification reaction is prevented in the presence of either Ins(1,4,5)P3, D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) or 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG). Direct [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to the covalently modified enzyme is dramatically reduced. The stoichiometry of labeling with 14C-labeled phenylglyoxal is shown to be 2.1 mol of phenylglyoxal incorporated per mol of enzyme. A single [14C]phenylglyoxal-modified peptide is isolated following alpha-chymotrypsin proteolysis of the radiolabeled Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The peptide sequence (i.e. M-N-T-R-C-P-A-W-C-D-R-I-L) corresponds to amino acids 340-352 of Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase. An estimate of the radioactivity of the different phenylthiohydantoin amino acid derivatives shows the modified amino acids to be Arg-343 and Arg-350. Furthermore, two mutant enzymes were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis of the two arginyl residues to alanine, and both mutant enzymes have identical UV circular dichroism (CD) spectra. The two mutants (i.e. R343A and R350A) show increased Km values for Ins(l,4,5)P3 (10- and 15-fold, respectively) resulting in a dramatic loss in enzymic activity. In conclusion, we have directly identified two reactive arginyl residues as part of the active site of Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase. These results point out the crucial role for substrate recognition of a 10 amino acids-long sequence segment which is conserved among the primary structure of inositol and phosphatidylinositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases.

Crystal structure of a mammalian phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C delta

Mammalian phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C enzymes (PI-PLC) act as signal transducers that generate two second messengers, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. The 2.4-A structure of phospholipase C delta 1 reveals a multidomain protein incorporating modules shared by many signalling proteins. The structure suggests a mechanism for membrane attachment and Ca2+-dependent hydrolysis of second-messenger precursors. The regulation and reversible membrane association of PI-PLC may serve as a model for understanding other multidomain enzymes involved in phospholipid signalling.

Expression, characterization, and crystallization of the catalytic core of rat phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase C delta 1

Phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase Cs (PI-PLCs) catalyze the calcium-dependent hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositides in response to diverse stimuli in higher eukaryotes. Mammalian PI-PLCs contain divergent regulatory regions, but all share three conserved regions: an N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, X, and Y. We report the high-level expression and characterization of a recombinant "catalytic core" of rat PI-PLC delta 1 that contains the catalytically essential X and Y regions, but not the PH domain. The expressed protein, PI-PLC delta delta 1-134, is catalytically active versus phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in deoxycholate micelles with a K(m) of 182 microM and a Vmax of 27 mumol/min/mg. PI-PLC delta delta 1-134 is monomeric and monodisperse as judged by dynamic light scattering. Far-UV CD indicates a structure with approximately 35% alpha-helix. A reversible change in the near-UV CD spectrum is observed on addition of calcium, suggesting that calcium can bind PI-PLC delta delta 1-134 in the absence of phospholipid. Triclinic crystals of PI-PLC delta delta 1-134 have been obtained that diffract beyond 2.4 A resolution under cryogenic conditions. Based on Vm = 2.72 Da/A3 and on the self-rotation function, there are two PI-PLC delta delta 1-134 molecules per asymmetric unit that are related to each other by a noncrystallographic axis of approximate twofold symmetry parallel to a.

Phosphoinositide kinases

Recently, a number of cDNA clones with homology to the catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase have been identified, and the sequence of the first cDNA clone encoding a phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase has been published. Use of both dominant-negative mutants of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and the inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 has identified a number of processes in which phosphoinositide 3-kinase participates, including cell motility, the Ras pathway, vesicle trafficking and secretion, and apoptosis. Several possible biochemical targets of phosphoinositides have been found.

Identification of a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-binding site in chicken skeletal muscle alpha-actinin

We previously reported that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) dramatically increases the gelating activity of smooth muscle alpha-actinin (Fukami, K., Furuhashi, K., Inagaki, M., Endo, T., Hatano, S., and Takenawa, T. (1992) Nature 359, 150-152) and that the hydrolysis of PIP2 on alpha-actinin by tyrosine kinase activation may be important in cytoskeletal reorganization (Fukami, K., Endo, T., Imamura, M., and Takenawa, T. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 1518-1522). Here we report that a proteolytic fragment with lysylendopeptidase comprising amino acids 168-184 (TAPYRNVNIQNFHLSWK) from striated muscle alpha-actinin contains a PIP2-binding site. A synthetic peptide composed of the 17 amino acids remarkably inhibited the activities of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1 and -delta 1. Furthermore, we detected an interaction between PIP2 and a bacterially expressed alpha-actinin fragment (amino acids 137-259) by PLC inhibition assay. Point mutants in which arginine 172 or lysine 184 of alpha-actinin were replaced by isoleucine reduced the inhibitory effect on PLC activity by nearly half. Direct interactions between PIP2 and the peptide (amino acids 168-184) or the bacterially expressed protein (amino acids 137-259) were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorvent assay. We also found this region homologous to the sequence of the PIP2-binding site in spectrin and the pleckstrin homology domains of PLC-delta 1 and Grb7. Synthetic peptides from the homologous regions in spectrin and PLC-delta 1 inhibited PLC activities. These results indicate that residues 168-184 comprise a binding site for PIP2 in alpha-actinin and that similar sequences found in spectrin and PLC-delta 1 may be involved in the interaction with PIP2.

Cloning of a phospholipase C-delta 1 of rabbit skeletal muscle

The phospholipase C isoform responsible for the increase in the total myoplasmic inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate concentration during tetanic contraction of isolated skeletal muscle and its mechanism of activation is not known. We have cloned and sequenced a phospholipase C cDNA of rabbit skeletal muscle coding for a protein of 745 amino acids with a molecular mass of 84,440 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits the phospholipase C-specific domains X and Y which according to current knowledge very likely represent the catalytic centre of the enzyme. An overall sequence homology of 88% to the phospholipase C-delta 1 of rat brain suggests that the encoded protein represents a phospholipase C-delta 1 isoform of rabbit skeletal muscle. Northern blot analysis shows, that this phospholipase C-delta is dominantly expressed in skeletal muscle, less strongly in smooth muscle (uterus) and lung and weakly in heart, kidney and brain. In the N-terminal part of the primary structure a consensus sequence for a canonical EF-hand Ca2+ binding domain can be identified together with a short positively charged motif which recently has been suggested to be essential for the binding of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. If these two domains which are unique for phospholipase C-delta are sufficient in establishing a mechanism for the activation of the enzyme, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation in skeletal muscle could be the consequence of an increase in myoplasmic Ca2+.

Ataxia and epileptic seizures in mice lacking type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor acts as an InsP3-gated Ca2+ release channel in a variety of cell types. Type 1 InsP3 receptor (IP3R1) is the major neuronal member of the IP3R family in the central nervous system, predominantly enriched in cerebellar Purkinje cells but also concentrated in neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region, caudate-putamen, and cerebral cortex. Here we report that most IP3R1-deficient mice generated by gene targeting die in utero, and born animals have severe ataxia and tonic or tonic-clonic seizures and die by the weaning period. An electroencephalogram showed that they suffer from epilepsy, indicating that IP3R1 is essential for proper brain function. However, observation by light microscope of the haematoxylin-eosin staining of the brain and peripheral tissues of IP3R1-deficient mice showed no abnormality, and the unique electrophysiological properties of the cerebellar Purkinje cells of IP3R1-deficient mice were not severely impaired.

Molecular cloning, splice variants, expression, and purification of phospholipase C-delta 4

Complementary DNAs encoding a previously unidentified phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) isozyme were cloned from a rat brain cDNA library by the polymerase chain reaction with degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on sequences common to three known delta-type PLC isozymes. The encoded polypeptide contains 772 amino acids (calculated molecular mass, 88,966 daltons) and is similar in primary structure to delta-type PLC isozymes, with overall sequence identities of 45% to PLC-delta 1, 72% to PLC-delta 2, and 47% to PLC-delta 3. Thus, the new PLC isozyme was named PLC-delta 4. Recombinant PLC-delta 4 was purified from extracts of HeLa cells that had been infected with vaccinia virus containing the corresponding cDNA. The purified protein exhibited an apparent molecular mass of 90 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The specific activity of PLC-delta 4 and its dependence on Ca2+ were similar to those of PLC-delta 1. The distribution of PLC-delta 4 in 16 different rat tissues was studied by immunoblot analysis with PLC-delta 4-specific antibodies of fractions obtained after an enzyme-enrichment procedure. The 90-kDa immunoreactive protein was detected unambiguously in only eight tissues and was present at concentrations that were low compared to those of other major PLC isozymes. A 93-kDa immunoreactive protein was also prominent in testis but was not detected in the other seven positive tissues. The 93-kDa enzyme appears to be derived from a splice variant of the mRNA that encodes the 90-kDa PLC-delta 4 and contains an additional 32 amino acids between the X and Y catalytic domains. Splice variants have not previously been detected for delta-type PLC isozymes.

The pleckstrin homology domain: an intriguing multifunctional protein module

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are a family of compact protein modules defined by sequences of roughly 100 amino acids. These domains are common in vertebrate, Drosophila, C. elegans and yeast proteins, suggesting an early origin and fundamental importance to eukaryotic biology. Many enzymes which have important regulatory functions contain PH domains, and mutant forms of several such proteins are implicated in oncogenesis and developmental disorders. Numerous recent studies show that PH domains bind various proteins and inositolphosphates. Here I discuss PH domains in detail and conclude that they form a versatile family of membrane binding and protein localization modules.

The inositol triphosphate receptor family

Specific receptors on intracellular membranes mediate the Ca2+ mobilization induced by the second messenger molecule D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3). Most cell types appear to contain multiple receptor isoforms. The review summarizes recent progress on IP3 receptor biology with a particular emphasis on distinctive structural and regulatory features of the individual isoforms.