Protein kinase C in human pheochromocytoma

Differential expression and subcellular localization of protein kinase C alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon isoforms in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells: modifications during differentiation

A decrease in protein kinase C activity caused either by treatment with inhibitors, such as staurosporine or H-7, or by prolonged exposure to phorbol diesters has been proposed to be involved in the early events of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell differentiation. Because eight distinct isoforms of protein kinase C with discrete subcellular and tissue distributions have been described, we determined which isoforms are present in SH-SY5Y cells and studied their modifications during differentiation. The alpha, beta 1, delta, and epsilon isoforms were present in SH-SY5Y cells, as well as in rat brain. Protein kinase C-alpha and -beta 1 were the most abundant isoforms in SH-SY5Y cells, and immunoreactive protein kinase C-delta and -epsilon were present in much smaller amounts than in rat brain. Subcellular fractionation and immunocytochemistry demonstrated that all four isoforms are distributed bimodally in the cytoplasm and the membranes. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that the alpha isoform is associated predominantly with the plasma membrane and the processes extended during treatment with 12-tetradecanoyl-13-acetyl-beta-phorbol or staurosporine, and that protein kinase C-epsilon is predominantly membrane-bound. Its localization did not change during differentiation. Western blots of total SH-SY5Y cell extracts and of subcellular fractions probed with isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies showed that when SH-SY5Y cells acquired a morphologically differentiated phenotype, protein kinase C-alpha and -epsilon decreased, and protein kinase C-beta 1 did not change. These data suggest distinct roles for the different protein kinase C isoforms during neuronal differentiation, as well as possible involvement of protein kinase alpha and epsilon in neuritogenesis.

Characterization and differential expression of protein kinase C isoforms in PC12 cells. Differentiation parallels an increase in PKC beta II

Nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment of PC12 cells induced a 2.8-fold increase in protein kinase C activity concomitant with differentiation and acquisition of neuritis. PKC protein isoforms were separated by sequential chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel/hydroxylapatite. A broad peak of PKC activity eluted which corresponded to the alpha PKC isoform. In control cells, message for all six PKC isoforms was detected and expressed as epsilon greater than zeta = gamma greater than delta greater than beta greater than alpha. Western blot of whole cell lysates revealed a large increase in the beta II, while slight changes were observed for the other five PKC isoforms during treatment (1-14 days) with NGF (50 ng/ml). In parallel, coordinate changes in the expression of the individual transcripts for the six isoforms occurred during NGF treatment. Induction and accumulation of PKC beta II may play a role in maintenance of neuronal morphology.