Subcellular distribution of protein kinase C in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells

Control of aldosterone secretion: a model for convergence in cellular signaling pathways

Aldosterone secretion by glomerulosa cells is stimulated by angiotensin II (ANG II), extracellular K(+), corticotrophin, and several paracrine factors. Electrophysiological, fluorimetric, and molecular biological techniques have significantly clarified the molecular action of these stimuli. The steroidogenic effect of corticotrophin is mediated by adenylyl cyclase, whereas potassium activates voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels. ANG II, bound to AT(1) receptors, acts through the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3))-Ca(2+)/calmodulin system. All three types of IP(3) receptors are coexpressed, rendering a complex control of Ca(2+) release possible. Ca(2+) release is followed by both capacitative and voltage-activated Ca(2+) influx. ANG II inhibits the background K(+) channel TASK and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and the ensuing depolarization activates T-type (Ca(v)3.2) Ca(2+) channels. Activation of protein kinase C by diacylglycerol (DAG) inhibits aldosterone production, whereas the arachidonate released from DAG in ANG II-stimulated cells is converted by lipoxygenase to 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, which may also induce Ca(2+) signaling. Feedback effects and cross-talk of signal-transducing pathways sensitize glomerulosa cells to low-intensity stimuli, such as physiological elevations of [K(+)] (< or =1 mM), ANG II, and ACTH. Ca(2+) signaling is also modified by cell swelling, as well as receptor desensitization, resensitization, and downregulation. Long-term regulation of glomerulosa cells involves cell growth and proliferation and induction of steroidogenic enzymes. Ca(2+), receptor, and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases and mitogen-activated kinases participate in these processes. Ca(2+)- and cAMP-dependent phosphorylation induce the transfer of the steroid precursor cholesterol from the cytoplasm to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Ca(2+) signaling, transferred into the mitochondria, stimulates the reduction of pyridine nucleotides.

Synthetic oligopeptide substrates which fail to compete with H1 histone for type II and type III isoenzymes of protein kinase C

1. The oligopeptide AAASFKAKK which contains recognition motifs similar to that found in the surrounding of the site of H1 histone phosphorylated by protein kinase C is unable to compete with H1 histone for the type II and type III isoenzymes, though it is a good substrate for protein kinase C and it is able to compete with a physiological substrate of the enzyme. 2. Among several oligopeptides tested as an alternative substrate a very basic peptide proved to be the most effective inhibitor of H1 histone phosphorylation. This oligopeptide substrate contains basic recognition motifs at both sides of the phosphorylated residue at variance with the sequence of H1 histone in the surrounding of the phosphorylated site.

Angiotensin II exerts its effect on aldosterone production and potassium permeability through receptor subtype AT1 in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells

The stimulatory effect of angiotensin II (AT) on the accumulation of inositol phosphates and on aldosterone production is abolished by the AT1 selective receptor antagonist DuP753 while PD123177, an AT2 antagonist, is ineffective. Similarly, a depolarizing effect of AT (inhibition of K+/86Rb efflux) is prevented by DuP753. While mediators derived from phospholipase C activation have a central role in the stimulation of aldosterone production by AT, the effect of AT on K+ permeability is mimicked neither by elevation of cytoplasmic [Ca2+] by ionomycin nor by kinase C activation with phorbol ester. Our results suggest that AT stimulates phospholipase C and the subsequent steroid production by glomerulosa cells through AT1 receptors. In addition some events induced by the activation of AT1 receptors may not be mediated by the activation of phospholipase C.

Contrasting effects of sn-1,2-dioctanoyl glycerol as compared to other protein kinase C activators in adrenal glomerulosa cells

Angiotensin II acts on adrenal glomerulosa cells to induce the phospholipase C-mediated generation of inositol trisphosphate and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol as the major products of inositol phospholipid breakdown. This last product is known to activate protein kinase C, but its role in the action of angiotensin II on steroidogenesis has not been defined. We report herein that, in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells, protein kinase C activators, such as phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, mezerein and sn 1,2 oleoyl acetoylglycerol, each failed to increase steroidogenesis. These results contrast with our recent report on the enhancement of aldosterone output by sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8) [J. Steroid Biochem. 35 (1990) 19-33]. In addition, the difference between DiC8 and the other protein kinase activators was also observed in the pattern of 86Rb efflux from preloaded glomerulosa cells; only DiC8 mimicked the effect of angiotensin II on ion fluxes. Furthermore, staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, was capable of amplifying the aldosterone output induced by a maximally effective concentration of DiC8 or angiotensin II. These data suggest that the effect of the cell permeant DiC8 on aldosterone biosynthesis either is not mediated by protein kinase C activation, or is mediated by a phorbol ester-insensitive isoenzyme of protein kinase C.

Angiotensin II inhibits K(+)-induced Ca2+ signal generation in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells

The Ca2(+)-mobilizing hormone angiotensin II (AII) dose-dependently inhibited the K(+)-induced sustained increase of cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration in adrenal glomerulosa cells and caused a rapid decrease of cytoplasmic Ca2+ when added to cells already stimulated with K+. These effects of AII on the K(+)-induced Ca2+ signal were mimicked, although less effectively, by other Ca2(+)-mobilizing agonists such as [Arg8]vasopressin (AVP) and thapsigargin. Phorbol esters did not show such effects, nor did corticotropin (ACTH), a secretagogue acting via cyclic AMP. The K(+)-stimulated initial 45Ca2+ uptake, a measure of Ca2+ entry into glomerulosa cells, was also prevented by AII pretreatment, and was inhibited by AVP, but not by ACTH. The stimulatory effect of K+ on aldosterone production, however, was not inhibited by AII, and the AII-induced aldosterone production was further increased by increasing K+. These data indicate that AII is able to inhibit static increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ by inhibiting Ca2+ entry through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and, possibly, by activating Ca2+ extrusion from the cells. It is also concluded that the Ca2+ signal evoked by AII is very efficient in stimulating hormone secretion, and the secretory response of the cells becomes more sensitive to any further increase of Ca2+ entry through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

Adrenergic and calcium-mediated subcellular redistribution of protein kinase C in primary neuronal cultures

Incubation of primary neuronal cultures prepared from the brains of neonatal rats with 50 microM epinephrine resulted in the transient redistribution of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the particulate fraction. This effect occurred after 1 and 5 min of incubation and resulted in a decrease in cytosolic protein kinase C activity with a corresponding increase in particulate protein kinase C of approximately 30% and 15%, respectively. The epinephrine-stimulated translocation of protein kinase C was blocked by 1 microM prazosin indicating the involvement of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Further, inclusion of 0.1 microM Ca2+ in the homogenization buffer was found to significantly enhance the binding of protein kinase C to cellular membranes prepared from neuronal cultures. These results indicate that alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in neuronal brain cell cultures are linked to the activation of protein kinase C and that the mobilization of Ca2+ may enhance this effect.

sn-1,2 dioctanoylglycerol mimics the effects of angiotensin II on aldosterone production and potassium permeability in isolated bovine glomerulosa cells

In order to elucidate the possible role in glomerulosa cells of diacylglycerol released by angiotensin II we have studied the action of a synthetic diacylglycerol, sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8), on aldosterone production and potassium permeability in bovine adrenal cells. DiC8 elicited an increase in 86Rb efflux from cells previously equilibrated with the isotope. The action of DiC8 on the rate coefficient for 86Rb efflux was similar to that previously described for angiotensin II (Am. J. Physiol. 254 (1988) E144-149), i.e. DiC8 induced an immediate increase in 86Rb efflux followed by a sustained decrease in potassium permeability. This DiC8 induced inhibition was observed even in the presence of depolarizing concentrations of potassium. The effect of DiC8 on aldosterone secretion from adrenal glomerulosa cells was measured using a perifusion system. DiC8 (300 microM) caused a significant increase of aldosterone production, comparable to that seen with angiotensin II (100 nM). These results indicate that DiC8 has similar effects to angiotensin II on both potassium permeability and steroidogenesis, which suggests that activation of protein kinase C is involved in the changes of ionic permeability induced by this hormone in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells.

Two components of type III protein kinase C with different substrate specificities and a phospholipid-dependent but Ca2+-inhibited protein kinase in rat brain

The activities of rat brain protein kinase C isoenzymic fractions separated by hydroxyapatite chromatography were measured with histone H1 or the oligopeptide Ala-Ala-Ala-Ser-Phe-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-amide as substrates. The oligopeptide was a better substrate than histone H1 for nearly all of the protein kinase C fractions. Two subfractions of type III isoenzyme were resolved (IIIa and IIIb); type IIIb was characterized by a very low histone kinase activity compared to its peptide kinase activity. In some brain extracts a phospholipid-dependent but Ca2+-inhibited protein kinase was also observed which was eluted from the hydroxyapatite column between type II and III isoenzymes of protein kinase C.