Acute effects of tumor-promoting phorbol esters on hepatic intermediary metabolism

Insulin-mimetic actions of phorbol ester in cultured adult rat hepatocytes. Lack of phorbol-ester-elicited inhibition of the insulin signal

The actions of the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on glucose metabolism, amino acid transport and enzyme inductions were studied in primary cultures of adult-rat hepatocytes and compared with the effects of insulin. PMA and insulin stimulated glycolysis 5- and 7-fold respectively. The half-maximal effective dose of PMA was 60 nM. Stimulation of glycolysis was accompanied by an insulin- or PMA-dependent and okadaic acid-sensitive activation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and pyruvate kinase, as well as by an increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Glucose production from glycogen was decreased to 50% by PMA and to 15% by insulin, whereas glycogen synthesis was stimulated 2- and 7-fold respectively. PMA also increased aminoisobutyrate uptake, induced ornithine decarboxylase and counteracted the glucagon-dependent induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. PMA strongly antagonized the hormonal activation of glycogen synthesis, but all other insulin actions assayed were not decreased by the phorbol ester. Whereas additive effects of PMA and insulin were not detected, PMA and a simultaneous increase in the glucose concentration had additive effects on glycolysis and glycogen metabolism. Cell exposure to insulin resulted in receptor autophosphorylation and a more than 10-fold activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase. PMA did not alter these effects, and also had no effect on the receptor phosphorylation status in the absence of insulin. Long-term (15 h) pretreatment of the cells with PMA abolished all PMA effects, but not the insulin effects. It is concluded that PMA does not generally antagonize the action of insulin in differentiated adult hepatocytes, and that insulin and PMA may use related signal-transduction pathways.

Effects of exogenous phospholipase enzymes, arachidonic acid and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol on ketogenesis in isolated rat hepatocytes

Studies were conducted to see whether exogenous phospholipase C from Clostridium perfringens, phospholipase A2 from Crotalus adamanteus venom, arachidonic acid and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) mimic the anti-ketogenic action of vasopressin in isolated rat hepatocytes. Exogenous phospholipase C inhibited ketogenesis in the presence of 0.5 mM oleate. Experiments employing [1-14C]oleate, however, indicated that the mechanism involved in the anti-ketogenic action of exogenous phospholipase C is distinct from that of vasopressin. The decreased rate of the production of acid-soluble products from [1-14C]oleate in response to vasopressin could be explained by the sum of the increased rates of 14CO2 formation and [1-14C]oleate esterification. By contrast, exogenous phospholipase C suppressed not only the formation of acid-soluble products but also 14CO2 production and [1-14C]oleate esterification. Indeed, phospholipase C greatly inhibited [1-14C]oleate uptake into hepatocytes. It is suggested that the alteration of the architecture of plasma membrane by exogenous phospholipase C may lead to the disturbance of oleate uptake and consequent general suppression of oleate metabolism. Exogenous phospholipase A2, arachidonic acid and OAG increased ketogenesis regardless of the presence of oleate. The ketogenic effects may be attributed to the supply of fatty acids by these agents to hepatocytes.

Metabolic responsiveness to phorbol ester and activity of protein kinase C in isolated hepatocytes from partially hepatectomized rats

The ability of isolated rat hepatocytes to respond to phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) with acute stimulation of de novo fatty acid synthesis was markedly depressed at 4, 22 and 48 h after partial hepatectomy (PH). This desensitization was not due to surgical stress as shown by comparison with hepatocytes from sham-operated animals. Moreover, the total activity of protein kinase C (PK-C), the principal phorbol ester receptor, was not down-regulated at 22 h after partial hepatectomy. Partial hepatectomy rather caused a small but distinct shift in subcellular PK-C distribution toward the particulate fraction thereby suggesting a modest activation of PK-C. We conclude that the PH-induced desensitization to PMA occurs at a point beyond PK-C activation.

Insulin and phorbol ester stimulate phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase at similar sites in isolated adipocytes. Lack of correspondence with sites phosphorylated on the purified enzyme by protein kinase C

1. The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) stimulates fatty acid synthesis from glucose in isolated adipocytes with a half-maximal effect at 0.72 microM. In seven batches of cells, the maximal effects of TPA and insulin were 8.5 +/- 1.1-fold and 27.1 +/- 2.1-fold respectively. Insulin also stimulated fatty acid synthesis from acetate 8.9 +/- 0.5-fold (three experiments), but TPA did not significantly increase fatty acid synthesis from this precursor. 2. In contrast to insulin, TPA treatment of isolated adipocytes did not produce an activation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase which was detectable in crude cell extracts. 3. The total phosphate content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, isolated from adipocytes in the presence of protein phosphatase inhibitors, was estimated by 32P-labelling experiments to be 2.6 +/- 0.1 (5), 3.4 +/- 0.2 (5), and 3.8 +/- 0.2 (3) mol/mol subunit for enzyme from control, insulin- and TPA-treated cells respectively. Insulin and TPA stimulated phosphorylation within the same two tryptic peptides. 4. Purified acetyl-CoA carboxylase is phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C at serine residues which are recovered in three tryptic peptides, i.e. peptide T1, which appears to be identical with the peptide Ser-Ser(P)-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu-His-Leu-Val-Lys phosphorylated by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, and peptides Ta and Tb, which have the sequences Ile-Asp-Ser(P)-Gln-Arg and Lys-Ile-Asp-Ser(P)-Gln-Arg respectively, and which appear to be derived from a single site by alternative cleavages. None of these correspond to the peptides whose 32P-labelling increase in response to insulin or TPA. Peptides Ta/Tb are not significantly phosphorylated in isolated adipocytes, even after insulin or TPA treatment. Peptide T1 is phosphorylated in isolated adipocytes, but this phosphorylation is not altered by insulin or TPA. 5. These results show that TPA mimics the effect of insulin on phosphorylation, but not activation, of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, i.e. that these two events can be dissociated. In addition, phorbol ester stimulates phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in isolated adipocytes, but this is not catalyzed directly by protein kinase C, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase does not appear to be a physiological substrate for this kinase.

Dissimilar effects of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on fatty acid synthesis in isolated rat-liver cells

Exogenous 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) is known to mimic the action of tumour-promoting phorbol esters in various cell types. However, in isolated rat hepatocytes OAG depressed the rate of de novo fatty acid synthesis and the activity of the key enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2), in contrast to the pronounced stimulation of both parameters by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The inhibition by OAG appeared to be dose- and time-dependent. On the other hand, medium-chain 1,2-diacylglycerols like 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol did mimic the stimulatory action of PMA. The anomalous effect of OAG may well be explained by its metabolic breakdown leading to liberation of oleate and subsequent inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity by endogenously formed oleoyl-CoA. The stimulatory effects of both PMA and medium-chain diacylglycerols are likely to be mediated by protein kinase C.

Stimulation of phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Incubation of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulates the incorporation of [1,2-14C]ethanolamine into phosphatidylethanolamines. This stimulation is strongly dependent on the ethanolamine concentration in the medium and becomes apparent at ethanolamine concentrations above 25 microM. Treatment of hepatocytes with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate results in a decreased labelling of intracellular ethanolamine, ethanolaminephosphate and CDPethanolamine. Exposure of cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induces an increase of the activity of the enzymes CTP: ethanolaminephosphate cytidylyltransferase and ethanolaminephosphotransferase. These effects are accompanied by a decrease of the pool size of ethanolaminephosphate and CDPethanolamine and an increase of the level of diacylglycerols after 30 min of incubation in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Upon prolonged incubation, the CDPethanolamine and diacylglycerol pools are restored to the level found in untreated cells. These results indicate that stimulation of phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is probably exerted at the level of CTP : ethanolaminephosphate cytidylytransferase, although there may be an additional effect on the subsequent step of phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis, the formation of phosphatidylethanolamines from CDPethanolamine and diacylglycerols.

Effects of phorbol esters, A23187 and vasopressin on oleate metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes

Studies were conducted to compare the metabolic effects of vasopressin, 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and A23187 on ketogenesis and oleate metabolism in isolated hepatocytes from fed rats. Vasopressin inhibited the formation of acid-soluble products from [1-14C]oleate (0.25 mM, 0.5 mM and 1 mM), the inhibition being most marked at low (0.25 mM) concentration of oleate. Conversion of [1-14C]oleate into 14CO2 and esterified products was stimulated by vasopressin. The stimulatory effect of this hormone on 14CO2 production was most marked at high (1 mM) concentration of oleate, whereas that on [1-14C]oleate esterification was most marked at low (0.25 mM) concentration of oleate. These vasopressin actions were abolished when hepatocytes were incubated in the absence of calcium in the medium. Our results strongly suggest that both increase in esterification and increase in oxidation to CO2 contribute to the anti-ketogenic action of vasopressin when oleate is added as substrate, although the relative extent of their contribution varies according to the oleate concentration. The anti-ketogenic action of vasopressin was mimicked by PMA but not by A23187. PMA also caused a stimulation of [1-14C]oleate esterification although the effect was diminished at 1 mM [1-14C]oleate. A23187 failed to affect [1-14C]oleate esterification. The metabolic effects of PMA were elicited in the absence of extracellular calcium, too. Conversion of [1-14C]oleate into 14CO2 was only slightly increased by both PMA and A23187 when 1 mM [1-14C]oleate was added as substrate. The marked stimulatory effect of vasopressin on 14CO2 production from [1-14C]oleate was not reproduced even by the combination of PMA and A23187.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stimulation by a tumor-promoting phorbol ester of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in isolated rat hepatocytes

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2) in hepatocytes from meal-fed rats was activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. This activation can account for the PMA-induced stimulation of de novo fatty acid synthesis. Purified rat-liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase was found to be phosphorylated and activated by protein kinase C, thus providing a possible mechanism for the metabolic action of PMA in intact hepatocytes.

No synergism between ionomycin and phorbol ester in fatty acid synthesis by isolated rat hepatocytes

With hepatocytes in suspension, freshly isolated from meal-fed rats, no significant effect of ionomycin on the rate of de novo fatty acid synthesis was observed, whereas phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was strongly stimulatory. The combination of ionomycin and PMA produced the same stimulation as was seen with PMA alone. Stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by vasopressin was comparable and not additive to that observed with PMA, indicating that activation of protein kinase C is solely responsible for this metabolic effect of vasopressin. Both vasopressin and PMA increased acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Phorbol esters, but not epidermal growth factor or insulin, rapidly decrease soluble protein kinase C activity in rat hepatocytes

Exposure of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes to tumor-promoting phorbol esters like phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent translocation of protein kinase C from the soluble to the particulate fraction of the cells. No such disappearance of soluble protein kinase C activity was observed with either epidermal growth factor or insulin, indicating that activation of protein kinase C is not necessarily involved in the short-term metabolic action of physiological growth factors on rat hepatocytes.

Characterization of the phosphorylation of rat mammary ATP-citrate lyase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase by Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent multiprotein kinase and Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase

ATP-citrate lyase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase purified from lactating rat mammary gland are phosphorylated stoichiometrically by the calmodulin-dependent multiprotein kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle. The reactions are completely dependent on the presence of both Ca2+ and calmodulin. ATP-citrate lyase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase are also phosphorylated stoichiometrically by the Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) purified from bovine brain. Phosphorylation of these substrates is stimulated 6-fold and 40-fold respectively by Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine. The calmodulin-dependent and phospholipid-dependent protein kinases phosphorylate the same serine residue on ATP-citrate lyase that is phosphorylated by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. The sequence of the tryptic peptide containing this site on the mammary enzyme is identical with the sequence of the peptide containing the site on ATP-citrate lyase that is phosphorylated in isolated hepatocytes in response to insulin and/or glucagon. The calmodulin-dependent, phospholipid-dependent and cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinases phosphorylate distinct sites on acetyl-CoA carboxylase. However, one of the three phosphorylated tryptic peptides derived from enzyme treated with the phospholipid-dependent kinase is identical with the major phosphopeptide (T1) derived from enzyme treated with cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by the phospholipid-dependent protein kinase inactivates acetyl-CoA carboxylase in a similar manner to cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. With either protein kinase slightly greater phosphorylation and inactivation is seen after pretreatment of acetyl-CoA carboxylase with protein phosphatase-2A, but the effects of the protein phosphatase treatment are not completely reversed. Inactivation by the phospholipid-dependent protein kinase is Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent, is reversed by protein phosphatase-2A, and correlates with the degree of phosphorylation. The relevance of these findings to insulin- and growth-factor-promoted phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in intact cells is discussed.

Stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in isolated rat hepatocytes

The tumor-promoting agent 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA) is shown to be a potent stimulator of fatty acid synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. The maximal effect of TPA is seen at 10(-6) M, and the concentration for half-maximal effect is ca. 10(-8) M. Stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by TPA is shown not to require the presence of extracellular Ca++. TPA produces a significant increase in lactate and pyruvate accumulation. The possible involvement of protein kinase C in short-term regulation of fatty acid synthesis in the liver is discussed.

Purified pyruvate kinases type M2 from unfertilized hen's egg are substrates of protein kinase C

To characterize pyruvate kinase isoenzymes from cells with the capability to proliferate, this enzyme was purified from yolk and vitelline membrane of unfertilized hen's egg. Pyruvate kinase type M2 from vitelline membrane was obtained in a homogeneous form after a 1150-fold purification to a specific enzymatic activity of 450 mumol X min-1 X mg-1. It was saturated half-maximally with phosphoenolpyruvate at KPPrv0.5 = 0.36 mM phosphoenolpyruvate and was activity by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and L-serine at suboptimal substrate concentrations. After 11 000-fold purification to a specific enzymatic activity of 60 mumol X min-1 X mg-1, the pyruvate kinase isoenzymes type M2 (KPPrv0.5 = 0.32 mM) and M1 (KPPrv0.5 = 0.04 mM) were obtained from the yolk substance. Kinetic differences were noted between the pyruvate kinase type-M2 isoenzymes from vitelline membrane and yolk. A comparison of the amino acid composition of the purified pyruvate kinase isoenzymes from hen's egg revealed that all isoenzymes were related to pyruvate kinase type M1 from chicken breast muscle. The M2-type isoenzyme from vitelline membrane was related to the M2-type isoenzyme from chicken tumors, but was not related to the M2-type pyruvate kinase from chicken lung or liver. Protein kinase C from chicken oviduct phosphorylated in vitro both pyruvate kinase M2 isoenzymes from the unfertilized hen's egg preferably at serine and less at threonine residues. Pyruvate kinase type M1 from egg yolk was a weak substrate of protein kinase C. An activation of pyruvate kinase type M2 from vitelline membrane was observed at suboptimal concentrations of phosphoenolpyruvate under the conditions of phosphorylation, in the presence of phosphatidylserine.