Investigation of adenylate energy charge, phosphorylation potential, and ATP concentration in cells stressed with starvation and heat

Using a metabolomics approach to investigate the sensitivity of a potential Arctic-invader and its Arctic sister-species to marine heatwaves and traditional harvesting disturbances

Coastal species are threatened by fishing practices and changing environmental conditions, such as marine heatwaves (MHW). The mechanisms that confer tolerance to such stressors in marine invertebrates are poorly understood. However, differences in tolerance among different species may be attributed to their geographical distribution. To test the tolerance of species occupying different thermal ranges, we used two closely related bivalves the softshell clam Mya arenaria (Linnaeus, 1758), a cold-temperate invader with demonstrated potential for establishment in the Arctic, and the blunt gaper Mya truncata (Linnaeus, 1758), a native polar species. Clams were subjected to a thermal stress, mimicking a MHW, and harvesting stress in a controlled environment. Seven acute temperature changes (2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27, and 32 °C) were tested at two harvesting disturbance intensities (with, without). Survival was measured after 12 days and three tissues (gills, mantle, and posterior adductor muscle) collected from surviving individuals for targeted metabolomic profiling. MHW tolerance differed significantly between species: 26.9 °C for M. arenaria and 17.8 °C for M. truncata, with a negligeable effect of harvesting. At the upper thermal limit, M. arenaria displayed a more profound metabolomic remodelling when compared to M. truncata, and this varied greatly between tissue types. Network analysis revealed differences in pathway utilization at the upper MHW limit, with M. arenaria displaying a greater reliance on multiple DNA repair and expression and cell signalling pathways, while M. truncata was limited to fewer pathways. This suggests that M. truncata is ill equipped to cope with warming environments. MHW patterning in the Northwest Atlantic may be a strong predictor of population survival and future range shifts in these two clam species. As polar environments undergo faster rates of warming compared to the global average, M. truncata may be outcompeted by M. arenaria expanding into its native range.

From OCR and ECAR to energy: Perspectives on the design and interpretation of bioenergetics studies

Biological energy transduction underlies all physiological phenomena in cells. The metabolic systems that support energy transduction have been of great interest due to their association with numerous pathologies including diabetes, cancer, rare genetic diseases, and aberrant cell death. Commercially available bioenergetics technologies (e.g., extracellular flux analysis, high-resolution respirometry, fluorescent dye kits, etc.) have made practical assessment of metabolic parameters widely accessible. This has facilitated an explosion in the number of studies exploring, in particular, the biological implications of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and substrate level phosphorylation via glycolysis (i.e., via extracellular acidification rate (ECAR)). Though these technologies have demonstrated substantial utility and broad applicability to cell biology research, they are also susceptible to historical assumptions, experimental limitations, and other caveats that have led to premature and/or erroneous interpretations. This review enumerates various important considerations for designing and interpreting cellular and mitochondrial bioenergetics experiments, some common challenges and pitfalls in data interpretation, and some potential "next steps" to be taken that can address these highlighted challenges.

Simultaneous detection of nicotinamide adenine nucleotides and adenylate pool to quantify redox and energy states in mAb-producing CHO cells by capillary electrophoresis

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are predominant in the production of therapeutic proteins to treat various diseases. Characterization and investigation of CHO cell metabolism in a quick and simple way could boost process and cell line development. Therefore, a method to simultaneously detect seven redox- and energy-related metabolites in CHO cells by capillary electrophoresis has been developed. An on-line focusing technique was applied to improve the peak shape and resolution by using a 50 μm × 44 cm uncoated fused silica capillary. Key parameters and their interactions were investigated by design of experiments (DoE) and optimized conditions were determined by desirability function as follows: 24 °C, 95 mM, and pH 9.4 of BGE. The method was validated to ensure sensitivity, linearity, and reproducibility. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.050 to 0.688 mg/L for seven metabolites, and correlation coefficients of linearity were all greater than 0.996. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of migration time and peak area were smaller than 0.872% and 5.5%, respectively, except for NADPH, and the recoveries were between 97.5 and 101.2%. The method was successfully applied to analyze the extracts from CHO cells under two different culture conditions. Graphical abstract.

Characterization of Cell Membrane Permeability In Vitro Part I: Transport Behavior Induced by Single-Pulse Electric Fields

Most experimental studies of electroporation focus on permeabilization of the outer cell membrane. Some experiments address delivery of ions and molecules into cells that should survive; others focus on efficient killing of the cells with minimal temperature rise. A basic method for quantifying electroporation effectiveness is measuring the membrane's diffusive permeability. More specifically, comparisons of membrane permeability between electroporation protocols often rely on relative fluorescence measurements, which are not able to be directly connected to theoretical calculations and complicate comparisons between studies. Here we present part I of a 2-part study: a research method for quantitatively determining the membrane diffusive permeability for individual cells using fluorescence microscopy. We determine diffusive permeabilities of cell membranes to propidium for electric field pulses with durations of 1 to 1000 μs and strengths of 170 to 400 kV/m and show that diffusive permeabilities can reach 1.3±0.4×10-8 m/s. This leads to a correlation between increased membrane permeability and eventual propidium uptake. We also identify a subpopulation of cells that exhibit a delayed and significant propidium uptake for relatively small single pulses. Our results provide evidence that cells, especially those that uptake propidium more slowly, can achieve large permeabilities with a single electrical pulse that may be quantitatively measured using standard fluorescence microscopy equipment and techniques.

High-throughput nucleoside phosphate monitoring in mammalian cell fed-batch cultivation using quantitative matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Current methods for monitoring multiple intracellular metabolite levels in parallel are limited in sample throughput capabilities and analyte selectivity. This article presents a novel high-throughput method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) for monitoring intracellular metabolite levels in fed-batch processes. The MALDI-TOF-MS method presented here is based on a new microarray sample target and allows the detection of nucleoside phosphates and various other metabolites using stable isotope labeled internal standards. With short sample preparation steps and thus high sample throughput capabilities, the method is suitable for monitoring mammalian cell cultures, such as antibody producing hybridoma cell lines in industrial environments. The method is capable of reducing the runtime of standard LC-UV methods to approximately 1 min per sample (including 10 technical replicates). Its performance is exemplarily demonstrated in an 8-day monitoring experiment of independently controlled fed-batches, containing an antibody producing mouse hybridoma cell culture. The monitoring profiles clearly confirmed differences between cultivation conditions. Hypothermia and hyperosmolarity were studied in four bioreactors, where hypothermia was found to have a positive effect on the longevity of the cell culture, whereas hyperosmolarity lead to an arrest of cell proliferation. The results are in good agreement with HPLC-UV cross validation experiments. Subsequent principal component analysis (PCA) clearly separates the different bioreactor conditions based on the measured mass spectral profiles. This method is not limited to any cell line and can be applied as a process analytical tool in biotechnological processes.

Extraction and quantification of adenosine triphosphate in mammalian tissues and cells

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is the "energy currency" of organisms and plays central roles in bioenergetics, whereby its level is used to evaluate cell viability, proliferation, death, and energy transmission. In this chapter, we describe an improved and efficient method for extraction of ATP from tissues and cells using phenol-based reagents. The chaotropic extraction reagents reported so far co-precipitate ATP with insoluble proteins during extraction and with salts during neutralization. In comparison, the phenol-based reagents extract ATP well without the risks of co-precipitation. The extracted ATP can be quantified by the luciferase assay or high-performance liquid chromatography.

An efficient extraction method for quantitation of adenosine triphosphate in mammalian tissues and cells

Firefly bioluminescence is widely used in the measurement of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) levels in biological materials. For such assays in tissues and cells, ATP must be extracted away from protein in the initial step and extraction efficacy is the main determinant of the assay accuracy. Extraction reagents recommended in the commercially available ATP assay kits are chaotropic reagents, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), perchloric acid (PCA), and ethylene glycol (EG), which extract nucleotides through protein precipitation and/or nucleotidase inactivation. We found that these reagents are particularly useful for measuring ATP levels in materials with relatively low protein concentrations such as blood cells, cultured cells, and bacteria. However, these methods are not suitable for ATP extraction from tissues with high protein concentrations, because some ATP may be co-precipitated with the insolubilized protein during homogenization and extraction, and it could also be precipitated by neutralization in the acid extracts. Here we found that a phenol-based extraction method markedly increased the ATP and other nucleotides extracted from tissues. In addition, phenol extraction does not require neutralization before the luciferin-luciferase assay step. ATP levels analyzed by luciferase assay in various tissues extracted by Tris-EDTA-saturated phenol (phenol-TE) were over 17.8-fold higher than those extracted by TCA and over 550-fold higher than those in EG extracts. Here we report a simple, rapid, and reliable phenol-TE extraction procedure for ATP measurement in tissues and cells by luciferase assay.

Functional and energetic characterization of P-gp-mediated doxorubicin transport in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

An assessment of energetic costs associated with P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated xenobiotic efflux is important in understanding the energy budgets, tradeoffs, and fitness of organisms inhabiting contaminated environments. Here, a functional characterization and determination of the energetic costs associated with doxorubicin (DOX) efflux was examined in isolated hepatocytes of rainbow trout. The accumulation and efflux of DOX were both concentration dependent. The efflux of DOX over a 3 h incubation period resulted in a significant decrease in intracellular ATP concentrations (maximum decrease 25%) compared to control baseline levels, while significant increases in concentrations of ADP (max. 26%), AMP (max. 36%) and inorganic phosphate (max. 11%). were observed. In addition, significant reductions in the adenylate energy charge ([AEC]: max 11%), and phosphorylation potential ([PP]: max. 53%) were shown in cells incubated with DOX compared to control cells. Inhibition of DOX efflux (max. 61%) by the non-competitive P-gp inhibitor tariquidar (XR9576), demonstrated that changes in ATP, ADP, AMP, inorganic phosphate concentrations, AEC and PP in DOX-exposed hepatocytes were mainly due to P-gp activity. Overall, these results indicate that the exposure of trout hepatocytes to DOX increases energetic and metabolic costs that are associated specifically with P-gp efflux activity.

Quantitating adenylate nucleotides in diverse organisms

Quantitation of cellular adenylate levels (i.e., ATP, ADP, AMP) has widespread applications in physiological, metabolic and energetic studies. We have compared classical adenylate extraction procedures (i.e., perchloric acid, boiling) with a previously unreported proteinase K-based extraction technique. Our results suggest that all three techniques are comparable in soft animal tissue, but proteinase K-based extractions consistently generated higher adenylate yields from a broad range of organisms, particularly those containing a cell wall (e.g., alga, bacteria, fungi, plant).

Pre-conditioning activates adenosine utilization in a cost-effective way during myocardial ischaemia

During pre-conditioning the interstitial concentration of adenosine, in contrast to lactate, presents a die-away curve-pattern for every successive episode of ischaemia. This die-away pattern might not necessarily be attributed to diminished adenosine production. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether pre-conditioning alters the metabolic turnover of adenosine as observed by the lactate production during ischaemia. Interstitial levels of metabolites in pre-conditioned (n=21) and non-preconditioned (n=21) porcine hearts were monitored with microdialysis probes inserted in both ischaemic and non-ischaemic tissue in an open chest heart model. Three subgroups perturbated with either plain microdialysis buffer (control), buffer containing adenosine (375 microM), or buffer containing deoxyadenosine (375 microM) were studied. All animals were subjected to 90 min of equilibrium microdialysis before 40 min of regional myocardial ischaemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Pre-conditioning consisted of four repetitive episodes of 10 min of ischaemia and 20 min of reperfusion. Significantly higher levels of inosine and lactate were found in the ischaemic tissue of the pre-conditioned subgroup receiving adenosine (P < 0.05) compared with the other two subgroups receiving deoxyadenosine and plain buffer, respectively. This difference was only valid for pre-conditioned ischaemic myocardium, and hence equal amounts of inosine and lactate were produced in the non-preconditioned ischaemic myocardium regardless of the presence of adenosine or deoxyadenosine. In the non-ischaemic myocardium baseline levels of metabolites were measured in all subgroups. Pre-conditioning favoured degradation of exogenous adenosine to inosine successively ending up in enhanced lactate production. This was probably because of the involvement of the hexose monophosphate pathway in the pre-conditioned ischaemic myocardium. This route may therefore be supplementary in energy metabolism as a metabolic flow can be started by adenosine ending up in lactate without initial adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) investment. Utilization of adenosine in this way may also explain the successive die-away pattern of adenosine seen in consecutive pre-conditioning cycles.

Intestinal energy metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion

BACKGROUND

In order to evaluate acute ischemic damage in the small intestine induced by superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) and subsequent reperfusion, changes in ATP, ADP, and AMP were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and changes in tissue blood flow were measured (from the serosal surface) by the laser doppler flow meter in a rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The superior mesenteric artery of the rat was occluded for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min and then reopened. Core temperature was maintained carefully at 37 +/- 0.3 degrees C.

RESULTS

All rats that underwent 90 and 120 min of SMAO died within 2 days, but those with 30 and 60 min of SMAO survived. ATP (10.39 +/- 0.90 micromol/g dry weight), ADP (3.34 +/- 0.33), and total adenine nucleotides (TAN; 14.08 +/- 0. 86) decreased with longer SMAO times. After 30 and 60 min of SMAO followed by reperfusion, recoveries of ATP and TAN were relatively good and ADP levels remained fairly steady, but little or no recovery of these levels was observed after 90 and 120 min of SMAO followed by reperfusion. There were linear correlations between the levels of ATP and TAN after 30 min of reperfusion and the time of SMAO. Tissue blood flow levels were constant during SMAO. After reperfusion, those levels were recovered along with the SMAO periods. But recovery rates compared with control values were not related with those of ATP. CONCLUSIONs. ATP and TAN levels, particularly at 30 min after reperfusion, seemed to be in good agreement with the tissue damage and the viability of the small intestine. We propose that the measurement of these levels may be useful for the evaluation of intestinal damage and viability.

Energy metabolism in human melanoma cells under hypoxic and acidic conditions in vitro

The response to treatment and the malignant progression of tumours are influenced by the ability of the tumour cells to withstand severe energy deprivation during prolonged exposure to hypoxia at normal or low extracellular pH (pHe). The objective of the present work was to demonstrate intertumour heterogeneity under conditions of microenvironment-induced energy deprivation and to investigate whether the heterogeneity can be attributed to differences in the capacity of the tumour cells to generate energy in an oxygen-deficient microenvironment. Cultures of four human melanoma cell lines (BEX-c, COX-c, SAX-c, WIX-c) were exposed to hypoxia in vitro at pHe 7.4, 7.0 or 6.6 for times up to 31 h by using the steel-chamber method. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess adenylate energy charge as a function of exposure time. Cellular rates of glucose uptake and lactate release were determined by using standard enzymatic test kits. The adenylate energy charge decreased with time under hypoxia in all cell lines. The decrease was most pronounced shortly after the treatment had been initiated and then tapered off. BEX-c and SAX-c showed a significantly higher adenylate energy charge under hypoxic conditions than did COX-c and WIX-c whether the pHe was 7.4, 7.0 or 6.6, showing that tumours can differ in the ability to avoid energy deprivation during microenvironmental stress. There was no correlation between the adenylate energy charge and the rates of glucose uptake and lactate release. Intertumour heterogeneity in the ability to withstand energy deprivation in an oxygen-deficient microenvironment cannot therefore be attributed mainly to differences in the capacity of the tumour cells to generate energy by anaerobic metabolism. The data presented here suggest that the heterogeneity is rather caused by differences in the capacity of the tumour cells to reduce the rate of energy consumption when exposed to hypoxia.

Is post-hypoxic-ischemic cell damage associated with excessive ATP consumption rather than a failure of ATP production?

Secondary cell damage after ATP depletion due to hypoxia or ischemia is clinically important because it correlates with residual effects; post-hypoxic-ischemic fits can be associated with later cerebral palsy. The mechanisms involved in delayed secondary cell damage are not clear, possibly because extensive relevant evidence is often fragmented. However, a sequence of changes can be suggested; this cross-linked sequence is tentatively outlined in this review. The outline suggests explanations for otherwise ill-understood clinical disturbances such as the loss of inhibitory control in damaged cells and the well documented reduction of cellular ATP. Loss of control may be due to reduced synthesis of control proteins and the reduced ATP concentration may be due to increased energy consumption.

Heat response of HT29 cells depends strongly on perfusion--a 31P NMR spectroscopy, HPLC and cell survival analysis

A model system of perfused human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT29) encapsulated in alginate was used to examine metabolic response to heat therapy with 31P NMR spectroscopy, HPLC and cell survival analysis. The presented data show, that perfused (medium flow during hyperthermia) and non-perfused (no medium flow during hyperthermia) cells are very difficult in their sensitivity to hyperthermia. Under equivalent experimental conditions with respect to medium pH, oxygen and nutrient concentration, encapsulated perfused HT 29 cells display a significantly lower thermal sensitivity than non-perfused cells. This reduced sensitivity of perfused cells is characterized by an increased cell survival and relative ATP concentration, and reduced drop of the NTP/Pi ratio in the long-term follow up towards zero. The relative ATP concentration determined by HPLC after hyperthermia is correlated with the clonogenic survival fraction. There is a direct relationship, depending on the specific experimental conditions (perfused, non-perfused). For perfused cells only a slight dependency of survival and relative ATP concentration on heat dose is observed. In consequence, the correlation between survival and relative ATP concentration is weak, described by log(SFperf) = 0.7*[ATP-12.4, R2 = 0.79, p < 0.04. For non-perfused cells the correlation is stronger resulting in a relationship of log(SFno perf) = 0.6*[ATP]-9.0, R2 = 0.98, p < 0.0002. Altogether, the presented data suggest that the relative ATP concentration measured by HPLC after hyperthermia might be predictive for cell survival. On the other hand, a dependence between cell survival and long-term changes of NTP/Pi has been found. The results confirm the importance of tumour perfusion for hyperthermia-induced metabolic changes and cytotoxicity and therefore, for the therapeutic outcome.

Is there a critical tissue oxygen tension for bioenergetic status and cellular pH regulation in solid tumors?

Bioenergetic and metabolic status have been correlated with tissue oxygenation in murine fibrosarcomas (FSaII) of varying sizes (44-600 mm3). Ratios of beta-nucleoside triphosphates to inorganic phosphate (beta NTP/P) and phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate (PCr/P(i)) ratios derived from 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were positively correlated to median tissue O2 tension (pO2) values using O2-sensitive needle electrodes. pH declined during growth with intracellular acidosis being evident in tumors > 350 mm3. Whereas lactic acid formation greatly contributed to this decline in small and medium-sized tumors, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis and slowing down of the activities of pumps involved in cellular pH regulation seem to be major factors responsible for intracellular acidification in bulky tumors. PCr levels decreased at an early growth stage, whilst ATP concentrations dropped in bulky malignancies only, coinciding with a decrease in adenylate energy charge and a substantial rise in the levels of total P(i). On average, median pO2 values of ca. 10 mmHg represent a critical threshold for energy metabolism. At higher median O2 tensions, levels of ATP, phosphomonoester (PME) and total P(i) were relatively constant. This coincided with intracellular alkalosis or neutrality and stable adenylate ratios. On average, median pO2 values < 10 mmHg coincided with intracellular acidosis, ATP depletion, a drop in energy charge and rising P(i) levels.

Energy economy of human uterine muscle strips under different in vitro conditions and its dependence on tissue redox potential

OBJECTIVE

To study the energy economy of human myometrium in vitro.

STUDY DESIGN

Myometric biopsies were kept for 10 min or 4 h in a buffer solution at +4 degrees C before preparation into 'early' and 'late' strips, respectively. The strips were perifused at +37 degrees C for different periods of time. Adenylates, energy charge (EC), adenosine and NAD+ were determined in individual strips.

RESULTS

Mean EC and ATP values were low, the 'late' strips displaying 5% and 20% lower values than the 'early' strips, respectively. During perifusion the EC increased slightly, ADP decreased significantly and the strips began to contract. A correlation fitting a multiplicative function was evident between EC and NAD+ (r = 0.89, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Human myometrium, being operative at an unusually low EC level, maintained its energy economizing and contractile functions in vitro for 4 h, displaying a tight relationship between EC and NAD+, suggestive of a compromised energy balance.

Heat stress stimulates high affinity GTPase in cervical carcinoma cells

A primary cellular site involved in heat shock response of eukaryotic cells is located in plasma membranes. The mechanism by which heat shock is sensed and the signals that trigger heat shock response remain an enigma. We aim to determine the role of guanine-nucleotide binding proteins (G)-proteins in mediating heat shock response in eukaryotic cells. The effect of heat shock on high affinity GTPase activity in presence or absence of modulators of G-proteins, such as pertussis toxin was studied by measuring GTPase catalyzed release of 32[Pi] from gamma-32[P]GTP. The effect of pertussis toxin on induction of heat shock proteins in cells subjected to thermal stress was studied by SDS-PAGE analysis of 35[S]-methionine labelled cellular proteins. Exposure of cultured human malignant cells to thermal stress (43 degrees C) resulted in a significant increase in activity of high affinity GTPase in the membranes (P < 0.001). This response to heat shock was inhibited by prior exposure of the cells to nanogram concentrations of pertussis toxin, suggesting the involvement of G-proteins in mediating heat shock response. To characterize this G-protein dependence further, we assayed thermal stress stimulated high affinity GTPase activity in cells pretreated with antisera (AS/7) raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the last 10 amino acids of alpha-subunit of inhibitory G-protein (Gi). A partial reduction in heat shock induced stimulation of GTPase activity was observed in the presence of this antisera. The pertussis toxin treated cells did not show induction of heat shock proteins in response to thermal stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Step-down heating of human melanoma xenografts: effects of the tumour microenvironment

Thermosensitisation by step-down heating (SDH) has previously been demonstrated in experimental rodent tumours. The purpose of the study reported here was to investigate whether the SDH effect in tumours in part may be attributed to heat-induced alterations in the capillary network and/or the microenvironment. Two human melanoma xenograft lines differing substantially in vascular parameters were selected for the study. A thermostatically regulated water bath was used for heat treatment. The conditioning treatment (44.5 degrees C or 45.5 degrees C for 15 min) was given in vivo, whereas the test treatment (42.0 degrees C for 45, 90, 135 or 180 min) was given either in vitro or in vivo. Treatment response was measured in vitro using a cell clonogenicity assay. Fraction of occluded vessels following heat treatment was assessed by examination of histological sections from tumours whose vascular network was filled with a contrast agent. Tumour bioenergetic status and tumour pH were measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The conditioning heat treatments caused significant vessel occlusion, decreased tumour bioenergetic status and decreased tumour pH in both tumour lines. The SDH effect measured when the test treatment was given in vivo was significantly increased relative to that measured when the test treatment was given in vitro. The magnitude of the increase showed a close relationship to fraction of occluded vessels, tumour bioenergetic status and tumour pH measured 90 min after treatment with 44.5 degrees C or 45.5 degrees C for 15 min. The increased SDH effect in vivo was probably attributable to tumour cells that were heat sensitive owing to the induction of low nutritional status and pH during the conditioning treatment. Consequently, the SDH effect in some tumours may in part be due to heat-induced alterations in the microenvironment. This suggests that SDH may be exploited clinically to achieve increased cell inactivation in tumours relative to the surrounding normal tissues.

Formation of tight junctions and desmosomes protects MDCK cells against hyperthermic killing

Cell density is known to modify the survival of mammalian cells exposed to elevated temperatures. We have examined the role that cell-cell contact plays in this phenomenon. The formation of cell-cell contact is carried out by cells' junctional complex, i.e., tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions. Lack of formation of tight junctions and desmosomes, or their opening, could interfere with the functions and structures of cell membrane. Membrane damage is at least partially responsible for cell death at elevated temperatures. MDCK cells with high density plated in low calcium medium form confluent monolayers devoid of the formation of tight junctions and desmosomes but quickly assemble them after Ca2+ restoration. We used MDCK cells and the calcium switch technique to investigate effects of cell-cell contact and, independently, of cell density on hyperthermic cell killing. We found that MDCK cells that formed tight junctions and desmosomes were more resistant to hyperthermic treatment than those that did not. Blocking the formation pathway of tight junctions made cells sensitive to heat. Cells growing at lowdensity showed almost the same survival as did cells at high density in the absence of the formation of tight junctions and desmosomes. The results suggest that the formation of tight junctions and desmosomes play a more important role in determining hyperthermic response than does density per se. The formation of tight junctions and desmosomes appears to protect cells modestly against hyperthermic killing.

Intracellular acidosis in murine fibrosarcomas coincides with ATP depletion, hypoxia, and high levels of lactate and total Pi

Bioenergetic and metabolic status of murine FSaII tumours were evaluated using 31P MRS, acid extracts ('global' techniques) and quantitative bioluminescence ('microregional' assay). Data obtained from s.c. tumours of varying sizes (44-600 mm3) have been correlated with the oxygenation status evaluated using O2-sensitive needle electrodes. beta-NTP/Pi and phosphocreatine (PCr)/Pi ratios derived from 31P MRS were positively correlated to the median tissue pO2 values. pH declined during growth with intracellular acidosis being evident in tumours > 350 mm3. Whereas lactic acid formation greatly contributed to this decline in small- and medium-sized tumours, ATP hydrolysis and slowing down of the activities of pumps involved in pHi regulation seem to be major factors responsible for intracellular acidification in bulky tumours. PCr levels decreased at an early growth stage, whilst ATP concentrations dropped in bulky malignancies only, coinciding with a decrease in adenylate energy charge and a substantial rise in the levels of total Pi. MRS observable (mobile) Pi was consistently lower than [Pi] measured in acid extracts. On average, median pO2 values of ca 10 mmHg represent a critical threshold for energy metabolism. At higher median O2 tensions, levels of ATP, phosphomonoester and total Pi were relatively constant. This coincided with intracellular alkalosis or neutrality and stable adenylate ratios. On average, median pO2 values < 10 mmHg coincided with intracellular acidosis, ATP depletion, a drop in energy charge and rising Pi levels.

Increased thermal aggregation of proteins in ATP-depleted mammalian cells

In an attempt to understand the influence of the intracellular environment on protein stability, the thermal denaturation of various reporter proteins was examined within cultured mammalian cells. Loss of solubility and of enzymatic activities were taken as indicators of thermal denaturation. Photinus pyralis luciferase, Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, the 70-kDa constitutive heat-shock proteins and the 68-kDa dsRNA-dependent protein kinase are found mostly in the supernatant fractions of centrifuged lysates from control unshocked mammalian cells. However, when cells are lysed after heat shock, a proportion of the reporter molecules is found to be aggregated to the nuclear pellets. This insolubilization does not affect all cellular proteins; many of them remain unaffected by heat shock. The heat-induced insolubilization of all four reporter proteins is markedly enhanced when the intracellular ATP concentration is drastically decreased after inhibition of both oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. Although ATP molecules bind to luciferase and protect it from thermal inactivation in vitro, the consequences of strong ATP depletion on luciferase thermal stability within the cells are found to be much greater than expected from in vitro data. The 70-kDa constitutive heat-shock proteins and the 68-kDa protein kinase are ATP-binding proteins but ATP depletion also considerably increases the aggregation of beta-galactosidase to the nuclear pellets, although this enzyme is not known to be an ATP-binding molecule. Insolubilization of all four reporter proteins occurs in ATP-depleted cells even at normal growing temperatures (37 degrees C). Protein denaturation may be enhanced either by the aggregation and disappearance of the intracellular 'free' chaperones or by the trapping of unfolded protein molecules on chaperones; the chaperone/unfolded protein complexes could not dissociate in the absence of ATP. Enhanced protein denaturation due to ATP depletion is proposed to account for the greater heat sensitivity of ATP-depleted cells and for the ability of mitochondrial uncouplers to trigger a heat-shock response in some cells.

Microregional distributions of glucose, lactate, ATP and tissue pH in experimental tumours upon local hyperthermia and/or hyperglycaemia

Microregional distributions of glucose, lactate and ATP concentrations as well as tissue pH values were determined in subcutaneous rat tumours during normothermia and normoglycaemia, and upon local hyperthermia (HT) and/or hyperglycaemia (HG). Experiments were performed in order to investigate whether, and to what extent, these adjuvant therapeutic measures applied alone or in combination can modify the bioenergetic and metabolic status, parameters that are known to markedly influence the therapeutic response of tumours to heat. Local HT was performed in a saline bath (44 degrees C/2 h) and HG was induced by i.v. infusion of glucose for 2.5 h (blood glucose levels during heating: 35-40 mM). Immediately after treatment, the microregional distributions of glucose, lactate and ATP concentrations were assessed using quantitative bioluminescence and single-photon counting. In corresponding histological sections the fraction of tumour tissue with changes indicating cellular damage was determined. For comparison, global levels of glucose, lactate, ATP, ADP and AMP were measured using enzymatic assays or HPLC. Tumour tissue pH values were recorded immediately after treatment with miniaturised needle glass pH electrodes. Upon HT alone, the microregional glucose distribution remained unchanged. Lactate concentrations significantly increased, resulting in a pH drop of about 0.20 pH units. Mean ATP concentrations decreased without an obvious change in the shape of the distribution curve. The fraction of tumour tissue showing cellular damage increased from 18% (in control tumours) to 27%. Upon HG alone, mean glucose and lactate levels in the tumours increased. Glucose, lactate and pH distributions became broader. Lactate accumulation results in a severe tumour acidosis (mean pH = 6.22). Mean ATP concentrations marginally decreased despite a higher glucose availability, probably because of poorer ATP yield resulting from changes in metabolic channelling (Crabtree effect). The fraction of tumour tissue exhibiting cellular damage was 23%. Following the combined treatment (HT/HG), glucose and lactate levels, and tissue pH were similar to those seen upon HG alone. However, ATP concentrations were lowest under this condition. The variation of tumour ATP concentrations is substantially reduced with only a few tumour areas remaining with ATP levels of at least 0.6 mumol/g. The ATP depletion upon HT/HG is accompanied by a drastic increase in the fraction of tissue areas exhibiting cellular damage to 61%. It may therefore be concluded that only the combined treatment can deplete ATP to such an extent that a pronounced cytotoxic effect is achieved.

Plasma membrane activities retained after lethal heat shock

Cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were examined to determine if heat killing could be attributed to severe damage in the plasma membrane. Three independent transport activities of the plasma membrane were measured. Glucose transport into the cells (measured with the non-metabolizable analogue 3-O-methyl-D-glucose) was stimulated rather than inhibited by heat. Most of the stimulation was found after non-toxic heat doses. Although amino acid transport (measured with the non-metabolizable analogue 2-aminoisobutyric acid) was slightly inhibited by heat, heat-sterilized cells were able to accumulate high intracellular concentrations. Cellular uptake of the nucleoside uridine was unaffected for at least 4 h after heating. In contrast, its incorporation into RNA was immediately inhibited. To further study plasma membrane damage, cells were either heated or treated with drugs which localize to the plasma membrane, ionophore A23187 or amphotericin B. The mode of cell killing by heat was radically different from that of the two drugs: heat-sterilized cells retained a phase-bright morphology and excluded the viability dye trypan blue while drug-killed cells rapidly became phase-dark and absorbed the dye. These results add to a growing list of plasma membrane activities which are retained in heat-sterilized cells, and suggest that the initial thermal damage responsible for cell killing is at an alternate site(s).

Induction of thermotolerance and heat-shock protein synthesis during nutritional deprivation

Under various conditions of heating, H35 cells were submitted to acute nutritional deprivation by omitting a number of substrates (L15D medium). At 37 degrees C cell death starts after a lag-period of 3-5 h. During hypothermia cell death is delayed, whereas during hyperthermia it is accelerated especially as a result of thermosensitization. In L15D the ATP level decreases approximately 3 times faster in combination with hyperthermia than at 37 degrees C. In non-thermotolerant cells thermosensization is very high at 41 degrees C and decreases with increasing temperature; in thermotolerant cells it is comparatively decreased at 41 degrees C and increased at 42.5 degrees C and above. In response to a heat shock of 30 min at 42.5 degrees C only 10% of the cell population expresses acute thermotolerance after incubation at 37 degrees C in L15D as compared to nearly 100% in complete medium (L15C). Chronic development of thermotolerance appears to be even more repressed in the presence of L15D, which partly explains the high thermosensitization at 41 degrees C. Changes in the rate of protein synthesis for combinations of nutritional deprivation and hyperthermia show a correlation with the cell survival data. Development of acute thermotolerance in L15D is accompanied by an increase in heat-shock protein synthesis relative to total protein. At 41 degrees C in L15D no heat-shock protein induction could be detected. Of the omitted substrates only glutamine can effectively abolish thermosensitization and the effects of L15D on protein and heat-shock protein synthesis depending on the condition of the cells, thermotolerant or non-thermotolerant, and to a different extent for the various proteins considered.

Sensitization to hyperthermia by 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine iodide: a positive correlation with DNA damage and negative correlations with altered cell morphology, oxygen consumption inhibition, and reduced ATP levels

The cyanine dye 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC5(3)) (concentrations of 0.5 microgram/ml to 5.0 micrograms/ml) was shown to be a potent sensitizer of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to hyperthermic cell killing at 43.0 degrees C or 45.5 degrees C, while exhibiting no cytotoxicity at 37.0 degrees C. Sensitization to hyperthermic cell killing was accompanied by an increase in damage to the DNA, as measured by DNA unwinding. The increased DNA damage correlated qualitatively with the enhanced heat killing induced by DiOC5(3). This correlation was better in cells heated at 43.0 degrees C than in those heated at 45.5 degrees C. DiOC5(3) is known to affect other cellular functions. It inhibits electron transport, uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, and inhibits calcium ATPases. The effects of DiOC5(3) on oxygen consumption and ATP content were therefore measured at 37.0 degrees C and at hyperthermic temperatures. The results demonstrated that inhibition of oxygen consumption and reduction of cellular ATP levels played no role in inducing heat sensitization in DiOC5(3)-treated cells, or in causing cell death in cells treated with heat alone.

Relationship of changes in pH and energy status to hypoxic cell fraction and hyperthermia sensitivity

The relative concentrations of nucleotide triphosphates, creatine phosphate, inorganic phosphate, and pH have been evaluated as a function of tumor volume in a murine fibrosarcoma (FSaII) by 31P NMR spectroscopy. As the tumor volume increased from 60-1250 mm3, the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate systemically decreased. This decrease paralleled a decrease in the ratio of nucleotide triphosphate to inorganic phosphate in the same tumor volume range. The tumor pH as measured by 31P NMR decreased slightly with tumor growth. A pH of 7.17 +/- 0.07 (n = 17) was found for tumors between 60 and 150 mm3, whereas for tumors greater than 900 mm3, a pH of 7.05 +/- .03 (n = 6) was noted. Intermediate size tumors (151-900) had a pH of 7.12 +/- 0.09 (n = 18). The change in tumor energy status with tumor volume inversely paralleled the change in tumor radiobiologic hypoxic cell fraction and suggested a causal relationship between tumor nutrient status and energy status. Tumor thermal sensitivity also increased with tumor volume, suggesting a relationship between pH, energy status, and thermal sensitivity, as has been demonstrated under in vitro conditions. Each NMR parameter was found to correlate significantly with tumor volume independent of the other NMR parameters.

A critical appraisal of the association between energy charge and cell damage

The association between the energy charge and cellular damage caused by metabolic inhibitors was investigated in a cellular system of quiescent fibroblasts. The cell damage was assessed by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) which indicates a severe change of membrane integrity. Inhibition of glycolysis resulted in release of LDH when the energy charge decreased below 0.5 at an ATP level of 10% of the original level. If oxidative phosphorylation was inhibited, the energy charge decreased to 0.1-0.35 (dependent on the type of inhibitor) a long time before release of LDH, and no change occurred in the energy charge when release of LDH started. The ATP level was 0.5-2% of the original at this time. Even a decrease of the energy charge to 0.1 could be reversed to a normal level, and at the same time the morphological cellular changes were fully reversed and no release of LDH occurred. The conclusion is that no simple correlation between energy charge and cell survival exists. The different levels of ATP at which release of LDH started after inhibition of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation indicate a special role of glycolysis in maintaining the membrane function and integrity. This was emphasized by measuring the potassium loss of the cells which was much more marked after inhibition of glycolysis.

Effects of heat and other inducers of the stress response on protein degradation in Chinese hamster and Drosophila cells

Many recent studies have suggested that heat and other inducers of the heat shock (stress) response in eukaryotic cells might result in the generation of abnormal proteins which would result in the overloading of protein degradation systems and the stabilization of proteins involved in positively regulating heat shock (hs) gene expression. In this study we have examined the effects different heat treatments and other hs inducers have on protein degradation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and Drosophila Kc and Schneider cells. We have found that intermediate temperatures which induced the hs response (42 degrees C in CHO and 34 degrees C in Kc cells) did increase protein degradation rates whereas, higher temperatures which also induced the hs response (45 degrees C in CHO and 37 degrees C in Kc cells) initially increased but then decreased protein degradation rates. While these results are consistent with a model in which the protein degradation system is being overloaded and/or components of it are being depleted, we have found several conditions which induce hs proteins which rule out this mechanism. Exposure of either cell type to amino acid analogs (5 mM canavanine or 5 mM S-aminoethyl cysteine) resulted in the rapid degradation of those proteins which had incorporated the analogs in both CHO and Drosophila cells. However, the addition of analogs had little or no effect on the degradation of preexisting proteins, indicating that the introduction of abnormal proteins probably didn't overload the protein degradation system(s). The addition of 100 microM cadmium sulfate or 100 microM sodium arsenite had little or no effect on protein degradation rates in CHO cells even though both were good inducers of the hs proteins. Thus, exposure to inducers of the hs response does not universally increase protein degradation rates nor does it stabilize preexisting proteins. Therefore, the degradation of abnormal proteins is probably not involved in inducing the hs genes.

Effects of hyperthermia on the intracellular pH and membrane potential of Chinese hamster ovary cells

The effects of hyperthermia (exposure to 41-47 degrees C) on the intracellular pH and membrane potential have been studied using Chinese hamster ovary HA-1 cells. Our goal was to determine whether intracellular pH changes or changes in membrane potential correlated with cell killing. The intracellular pH (pHi) was measured using the DMO partitioning technique. A rapid acidification of the intracellular environment was observed at all the elevated temperatures studied. The pHi reached a plateau value of approximately 6.9, and started reversing towards normal values upon prolonged exposure to heat. Similar patterns were seen for delta pH (pHi-pHo). The membrane potential difference (delta psi) was measured using the fluorescence quenching of 3,3-dipropylthio-carbocyanine, and calibrated using a 86Rb+ diffusion potential. We found that delta psi falls to zero only upon prolonged exposure to temperatures above 43 degrees C. When the external pH was changed from normal values the drop in delta psi occurred more readily. Development of thermotolerance resulted in an increase in the time required to make delta psi change by half. The changes in delta psi were shown to be irreversible. When the proton electrochemical gradient (delta mu H+) was calculated using the measured values of delta psi and delta pH, the trends observed were the same as those seen for delta psi. The changes observed for pHi can be accounted for by the changes in the pK values of the components involved in the intracellular buffering. The changes in delta psi and delta mu H+ may reflect the physical breakdown of the transmembrane H+ gradients, which may be the actual mechanical process of cell death. No correlation of cell survival with the measured parameters was observed.

A role for reduced oxygen species in heat induced cell killing and the induction of thermotolerance

A model suggesting a role for superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in heat induced cytotoxicity and development of thermotolerance is proposed: (1) Heat shock increases cellular generation of O2- and H2O2 in proportion to the severity of the heat shock. (2) Heat induced generation of O2- or H2O2 in excess of the ability of the antioxidant enzymes to remove these toxic species causes heat induced cell injury and cytotoxicity. This damage is caused by lipid peroxidation, leading to disruption of the cytoskeleton and calcium metabolism. (3) The flux of O2- and H2O2 generated by heat shock induces the synthesis of additional antioxidant enzymes. Other treatments which induce thermotolerance also cause oxidative stress and induce the antioxidant enzymes. The ability of various agents to modify heat induced cytotoxicity and development of thermotolerance is reviewed in light of this model.

Amino acid pools in CHL V79 cells during induction of thermotolerance: reduction in free intracellular glutamine

The amino acid pools in Chinese hamster lung V79 cells were measured as a function of time during hyperthermic exposure at 40.5 degrees and 45.0 degrees C. Sixteen of the 20 protein amino acids were present in sufficient quantity to measure accurately. The total amino acid pool and all individual amino acids, except glutamine, remained relatively constant for at least 90 min at 40.5 degrees C and for 30 min at 45 degrees C. The glutamine pool decreased rapidly to 20% of its control value within 30 min at 40.5 degrees C with a T1/2 = 15 min. At 45 degrees C, the decrease was 36%. Thermotolerance developed at 40.5 degrees C with a T1/2 = 30 min; thus, glutamine depletion preceeds the development of thermotolerance. The depletion of glutamine is probably due to increased metabolism and oxidation of glutamine through the TCA cycle at hyperthermic temperatures. Glutamine, as is true for other amino acids, was shown to protect proteins from thermal inactivation and V79 cells from hyperthermic killing when added in excess (4-10 mM) to the medium during heat stress. However, the stability of the total amino acid pool during the development of thermotolerance indicates that resistance to heat does not result from the accumulation of amino acids which then protect against thermal damage. The effects of the large decrease in the glutamine pool are unknown, although glutamine depletion may act as a signal for part of the heat shock response.

Comparison of intracellular pH measurements by 31P NMR and weak acid partitioning in Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts

Intracellular pH measurements obtained by 31P NMR and DMO partitioning are compared. A continuous-flow culture system was used to measure the intracellular pH of Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts in response to changes in the extracellular pH. These measurements were repeated with the CHO cells in suspension and under similar experimental conditions using the weak acid partitioning technique employing 14C-DMO. It is shown that the pHi values are identical, within experimental error, for both techniques in the 6.80-7.70 pH range, with the DMO technique giving slightly more acidic intracellular pH in the 6.00-6.80 range. It is concluded that both techniques give similar values for intracellular pH in the physiological range, with the DMO partitioning giving more acidic values at pH's less than 6.80. The range of validity for pHi measurements using 31P NMR lies between 6.70 and 7.50.

Characterization of oxygen-tolerant Chinese hamster ovary cells. II. Energy metabolism and antioxidant status

Further characteristics of an oxygen-tolerant variant of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-99) capable of stable proliferation at 99% O2/1% CO2, and O2 level that is lethal to the parental line (CHO-20), are described. Previous work has revealed that CHO-99 cells have 2- to 4-fold increased activities of superoxide dismutases, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, and substantially increased relative volumes of mitochondria and peroxisomes. To document possible additional mechanisms of O2 tolerance we compared CHO-20 cells growing at 20% O2 (normoxia) and CHO-99 cells at 99% O2 (normobaric hyperoxia). We show the following: (1) the estimated total (oxidative and glycolytic) ATP production in CHO-99 cells was 36% decreased. ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation was 52% lower in CHO-99 cells, while the relative contribution from glycolysis was increased from 6% to 30%. The ATP content was 29% lower in CHO-99 cells, the adenylate energy charge being also significantly decreased, indicating that energy production through oxidative phosphorylation is compromised in CHO-99 cells. Cyanide-resistant respiration was 4-fold higher in CHO-99 cells, probably reflecting, at least partly, the increased peroxisomal activity in these cells. (2) The level of reduced glutathione was several fold increased in CHO-99 cells, oxidized glutathione being unaltered; (NADPH + NADP+) levels were elevated 2.7-fold, while the ratio of NADPH to NADP+ was increased almost two-fold. These changes were associated with a 50% increased metabolism of glucose through the hexose monophosphate pathway. (3) No evidence was obtained for an increased steady-state level of endogenous lipid peroxidation in CHO-99 cells, in spite of a 50% increased content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipid fraction.

Effect of hyperthermia on electron transport in Ehrlich ascites tumor mitochondria

The effect of hyperthermia (1 hr, 41 degrees C) on the functional properties of Ehrlich ascites tumor mitochondria was investigated. Mitochondria isolated from Ehrlich ascites tumor after exposure of whole cells to 41 degrees C for 1 hr still phosphorylate and maintain a normal acceptor control ratio (ACR). The temperature decreases state 4 and ADP-and FCCP-stimulated respiration on various substrates entering at three energy-conserving sites of the respiratory chain. The inhibition of oxygen consumption by NAD- and FAD-linked substrates was 40% for state 4 and 70% for ADP- or FCCP-stimulated respiration. State 4 and FCCP-stimulated respiration of mitochondria on TMPD + ascorbate was affected 38% and 45%, respectively. ATPase activity was unaffected by hyperthermia, indicating that under these experimental conditions, the inhibition of ADP-stimulated respiration does not depend on an effect on either Fo F1-ATPase or adenine translocase, the activity of which is required for ATP entry prior to ATPase activity. Because of the inability to detect a specific site of action of temperature, it is conceivable that hyperthermia might inhibit substrate oxidation by altering some components of the inner mitochondrial membrane, which regulates the kinetic properties of the membrane-associated enzymes.

Modulation of cellular heat sensitivity by specific amino acids

When either plateau-phase or exponentially growing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are incubated in amino acid-free medium, the cells become sensitized to killing by heat. For cells deprived of amino acids for 12 h survival decreases from 1 X 10(-2) for controls to 1 X 10(-6) for the deprived cells, following heating at 45 degrees C for 38 min. The survival of these sensitized cells is rapidly increased by the addition of a single amino acid just prior to heating. Of the 21 amino acids which are added in purified form to make McCoy's 5a medium, 12 show no protective effect, four have a small protective effect, and either alanine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, or theronine raise survival to a level similar to that of the control cells. The nonmetabolizable alanine analogue, 2-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), increases survival of amino acid-deprived cells as effectively as each member of the group of five listed above, suggesting that metabolic conversion of the amino acids is not required for their protective effect. The data suggest that an increase in the intracellular concentrations of specific amino acids, independent of any change in cellular ATP content or the rate of protein synthesis, enables these cells to become quickly more resistant to killing by heat. We also conclude that the amino acid concentrations in poorly vascularized regions of some tumors should be considered, along with the oxygen, glucose, and proton concentrations, as factors which determine cellular survival following hyperthermia.

Microinjection of ubiquitin: changes in protein degradation in HeLa cells subjected to heat-shock

Ubiquitin was radiolabeled by reaction with 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent and introduced into HeLa cells using erythrocyte-mediated microinjection. The injected cells were then incubated at 45 degrees C for 5 min (reversible heat-shock) or for 30 min (lethal heat-shock). After either treatment, there were dramatic changes in the levels of ubiquitin conjugates. Under normal culture conditions, approximately 10% of the injected ubiquitin is linked to histones, 40% is found in conjugates with molecular weights greater than 25,000, and the rest is unconjugated. After heat-shock, the free ubiquitin pool and the level of histone-ubiquitin conjugates decreased rapidly, and high molecular weight conjugates predominated. Formation of large conjugates did not require protein synthesis; when analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis, the major conjugates did not co-migrate with heat-shock proteins before or after thermal stress. Concomitant with the loss of free ubiquitin, the degradation of endogenous proteins, injected hemoglobin, BSA, and ubiquitin was reduced in heat-shocked HeLa cells. After reversible heat-shock, the decrease in proteolysis was small, and both the rate of proteolysis and the size of the free ubiquitin pool returned to control levels upon incubation at 37 degrees C. In contrast, neither proteolysis nor free ubiquitin pools returned to control levels after lethal heat-shock. However, lethally heat-shocked cells degraded denatured hemoglobin more rapidly than native hemoglobin and ubiquitin-globin conjugates formed within them. Therefore, stabilization of proteins after heat-shock cannot be due to the loss of ubiquitin conjugation or inability to degrade proteins that form conjugates with ubiquitin.

Heat stress stimulates inositol trisphosphate release and phosphorylation of phosphoinositides in CHO and Balb C 3T3 cells

Exposure of eukaryotic cells to elevated temperature leads to profound switches in cell metabolism and gene expression which may be involved in cellular homeostatic mechanisms. We have investigated the effect of heat shock (45 degrees C) on the metabolism of the phosphoinositides, a class of phospholipids involved in the function of Ca2+ -linked membrane receptors. Heat shock led to stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover in HA1-CHO and Balb C 3T3 cells, resulting in the rapid accumulation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3). Mitogenic and alpha 1 adrenergic stimulation, with serum or phenylephrine, led to similar increases in IP3. Heat shock also caused rapid increase in phosphorylation of polyphosphoinositides (PPI). Prolonged exposure to heat greater than 15 min at 45 degrees C led to progressive cellular toxicity which was associated with depletion of PPI. This decline in PPI concentration appeared to result from inhibition of PPI resynthesis. In this respect, heat may resemble some other types of cellular stresses in stimulating membrane phospholipases to deplete classes of membrane phospholipids. The induction of PPI turnover may, therefore, be involved in both pleiotropic responses to brief heat shock and toxicity resulting from prolonged thermal stress.