Gonadotropin-releasing hormone activates phospholipase D in ovarian granulosa cells

Dynamic Remodeling of Membranes and Their Lipids during Acute Hormone-Induced Steroidogenesis in MA-10 Mouse Leydig Tumor Cells

Lipids play essential roles in numerous cellular processes, including membrane remodeling, signal transduction, the modulation of hormone activity, and steroidogenesis. We chose steroidogenic MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells to investigate subcellular lipid localization during steroidogenesis. Electron microscopy showed that cAMP stimulation increased associations between the plasma membrane (PM) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and between the ER and mitochondria. cAMP stimulation also increased the movement of cholesterol from the PM compared to untreated cells, which was partially inhibited when ATPase family AAA-domain containing protein 3 A (ATAD3A), which functions in ER and mitochondria interactions, was knocked down. Mitochondria, ER, cytoplasm, PM, PM-associated membranes (PAMs), and mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) were isolated from control and hormone-stimulated cells. Lipidomic analyses revealed that each isolated compartment had a unique lipid composition, and the induction of steroidogenesis caused the significant remodeling of its lipidome. cAMP-induced changes in lipid composition included an increase in phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin levels in PAM and PM compartments, respectively; an increase in phosphatidylinositol in the ER, mitochondria, and MAMs; and a reorganization of phosphatidic acid, cholesterol ester, ceramide, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Abundant lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, were not affected by hormone treatment. Our data suggested that PM–ER–mitochondria tethering may be involved in lipid trafficking between organelles and indicated that hormone-induced acute steroid production involves extensive organelle remodeling.

Apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells: Intracellular pathways and differentiation

Follicular atresia in granulosa and theca cells occurs by apoptosis through weak hormonal stimulation. We have previously proposed an in vitro model to study this process by inducing apoptosis in BGC-1, a bovine granulosa cell line, and in primary cultures from ovaries with or without corpus luteum (CPGB+ and CPGB-, respectively), with different doses of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs (leuprolide acetate (LA) as agonist and antide as antagonist). BGC-1 represent immature granulosa cells, whereas CPGB represent different degrees of luteinization. Our aim was to evaluate the intracellular pathways involved in the GnRH regulation of apoptosis in BGC-1. Treatment with LA 100nM but not with antide led to an increase in BAX over BCL-2 expression, showing antagonism of antide. All treatments inhibited phospholipase-D (PLD) activity compared to control, implying agonist behavior of antide. Progesterone in vitro production and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) expression revealed different degrees of luteinization: BGC-1 were immature, whereas CPGB+ were less differentiated than CPGB-. We concluded that LA-induced apoptosis in BGC-1 occurs by activation of the mitochondrial pathway and by inhibition of PLD activity and that antide might work both as an antagonist of the intrinsic pathway and as an agonist of the extrinsic protection pathway by inhibiting PLD activity.

Somatostatin receptors signal through EFA6A-ARF6 to activate phospholipase D in clonal beta-cells

Somatostatin (SS) is a peptide hormone that inhibits insulin secretion in beta-cells by activating its G(i/o)-coupled receptors. Our previous work indicated that a betagamma-dimer of G(i/o) coupled to SS receptors can activate phospholipase D1 (PLD1) (Cheng, H., Grodnitzky, J. A., Yibchok-anun, S., Ding, J., and Hsu, W. H. (2005) Mol. Pharmacol. 67, 2162-2172). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying SS-induced PLD activation. We demonstrated the presence of ADP-ribosylation factor Arf1 and Arf6 in clonal beta-cells, HIT-T15. We also determined that the activation of PLD1 was mediated through Arf6. Overexpression of dominant-negative (dn) Arf6 mutant, Arf6(T27N), and suppression of mRNA levels using siRNA, both abolished SS-induced PLD activation, while overexpression of wild type Arf6 further enhanced this PLD activation. In contrast, overexpression of dn-Arf1 mutant Arf1(T31N) or dn-Arf5 mutant Arf5(T31N) failed to reduce SS-induced PLD activation. These findings suggested that Arf6, but not Arf1 or Arf5, mediates the effect of SS. We further determined the involvement of the Arf6 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) EFA6A, a GEF previously thought to be found predominantly in the brain, in the activation of PLD1 in HIT-T15 cells. Using Northern and Western blot analyses, both mRNA and protein of EFA6A were found in these cells. Overexpression of dn-EFA6A mutant, EFA6A(E242K), and suppression of mRNA levels using siRNA, both abolished SS-induced PLD activation, whereas overexpression of dn-EFA6B mutant, EFA6B(E651K), failed to reduce SS-induced PLD activation. In addition, overexpression of dn-ARNO mutant, ARNO(E156K), another GEF of Arf6, had no effect on SS-induced activation of PLD. Taken together, these results suggest that SS signals through EFA6A to activate Arf6-PLD cascade.

An iron-dependent bacterial phospholipase D reminiscent of purple acid phosphatases

Recombinant phospholipase D (PLD) from Streptomyces chromofuscus (scPLD) has been characterized using colorimetric assays, spectroscopic investigations, and site-directed mutagenesis. scPLD, which shows phosphodiesterase activity toward a wide variety of phospholipids and phosphatase activity toward p-nitrophenyl phosphate, exhibits a visible absorption band with lambda(max) at 570 nm. Metal ion analysis performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy shows the presence of approximately 1 equivalent of iron, 0.27 equivalent of manganese, and 0.1 equivalent of zinc per mole of protein as isolated. The metal ion content coupled with the visible absorption feature is compatible with the presence of Fe(3+)-tyrosinate coordination. When scPLD was dialyzed against solutions containing Mn(2+), Zn(2+) or EDTA, the Fe(3+) content was reduced to variable extents, and the residual specific activity correlated well with the residual iron content. Sequence homology with metal ion binding motifs in known alkaline phosphatases and purple acid phosphatase from red kidney bean shows that most of the residues involved in metal ion coordination are conserved among all the sequences considered. Mutation of some of these conserved residues (C123A, D151A, Y154F, and H391A) produced enzymes lacking iron with dramatically reduced PLD activity but little change in secondary structure or ability to bind to small unilamellar vesicles of phosphatidylcholine (with Ba(2+)) or phosphatidic acid. We suggest that scPLD is a member of a family of phosphodiesterase/phosphatases with structural and mechanistic similarity to iron-dependent purple acid phosphatases.

Propranolol inhibits hyphal development in Candida albicans

Propranolol was used to investigate the role of phosphatidic acid (PA) and diacylglycerol in the dimorphic transition in Candida albicans. Propranolol was able to inhibit the appearance of germ tubes without decreasing growth rate. Data suggest that inhibition of morphogenesis may be due to binding by propranolol of PA derived from PLD1 hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine.

Plasmalemma abscisic acid perception leads to RAB18 expression via phospholipase D activation in Arabidopsis suspension cells

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in the control of stomatal aperture by regulating ion channel activities and water exchanges across the plasma membrane of guard cells. Changes in cytoplasmic calcium content and activation of anion and outward-rectifying K(+) channels are among the earliest cellular responses to ABA in guard cells. In Arabidopsis suspension cells, we have demonstrated that outer plasmalemma perception of ABA triggered similar early events. Furthermore, a Ca(2+) influx and the activation of anion channels are part of the ABA-signaling pathway leading to the specific expression of RAB18. Here, we determine whether phospholipases are involved in ABA-induced RAB18 expression. Phospholipase C is not implicated in this ABA pathway. Using a transphosphatidylation reaction, we show that ABA plasmalemma perception results in a transient stimulation of phospholipase D (PLD) activity, which is necessary for RAB18 expression. Further experiments showed that PLD activation was unlikely to be regulated by heterotrimeric G proteins. We also observed that ABA-dependent stimulation of PLD was necessary for the activation of plasma anion current. However, when ABA activation of plasma anion channels was inhibited, the ABA-dependent activation of PLD was unchanged. Thus, we conclude that in Arabidopsis suspension cells, ABA stimulation of PLD acts upstream from anion channels in the transduction pathway leading to RAB18 expression.

Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 activity in apical plasma membranes from the rat parotid gland

An apical-enriched plasma membrane fraction (A-PM) was prepared from rat parotid gland by Mn2+ precipitation. In this fraction, phosphatidylcholine (PC) labelled at the sn-2 position was mainly decomposed into two labelled compounds (free fatty acid and 1,2-diacylglycerol) under Ca2+-free conditions. Studies using double-labelled PC and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (as a phospholipase D inhibitor) showed that they were produced through different pathways: free fatty acid was released by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) while 1,2-diacylglycerol may be produced by sequential action of phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphatase. The PLA2 in A-PM did not require Ca2+ for its activity and was highly activated by Triton X-100 and ATP. The inhibitor of the well-documented Ca2+-independent PLA2, bromoenol lactone, did not inhibit the PLA2 activity in A-PM. Although PLA2 activity was detected in other subcellular fractions, the highest specific activity was in A-PM. Its distribution among various fractions was roughly similar to that of the marker enzyme of apical plasma membranes. These findings suggested that Ca2+-independent PLA2 activity is present in apical plasma membranes from rat parotid gland. In addition, to clarify the involvement of the PLA2 in exocytosis, the fusion of exogenous PLA2-treated membranes with secretory granules was examined by fluorescence dequenching assay. This study clearly demonstrated the facilitation of fusion by PLA2 treatment, which suggests some involvement of apical PLA2 in saliva secretion.

Involvement of a novel Arabidopsis phospholipase D, AtPLDdelta, in dehydration-inducible accumulation of phosphatidic acid in stress signalling

Phospholipid metabolism is involved in plant responses to drought and salinity stress. To investigate the role of phospholipase D (PLD) and its product phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) in stress signalling, we isolated a novel PLD cDNA, designated AtPLDdelta, by screening a cDNA library prepared from dehydrated Arabidopsis thaliana. The AtPLDdelta protein, of 868 amino acids, has a putative catalytic domain and a C2 domain that is involved in Ca2+/phospholipid binding. The AtPLDdelta mRNA accumulated in response to dehydration and high salt stress. Histochemical analysis showed that the AtPLDdelta gene is strongly expressed in the vascular tissues of cotyledons and leaves under dehydration stress conditions. Under normal growth conditions, AtPLDdelta was expressed in roots, leaves, stems and flowers but not in siliques. We showed that dehydration stimulates the accumulation of PtdOH. The accumulation of PtdOH in response to dehydration was significantly suppressed in AtPLDdelta antisense transgenic plants. These results suggest that AtPLDdelta may be involved in PtdOH accumulation in the dehydration stress response.

GnRH receptor and apoptotic signaling

In addition to its hypophysiotropic action, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) can modify activity in extrapituitary organs and peripheral tumors. GnRH analogs are the preferred treatment for advanced and even metastatic or recurring carcinomas in vivo and in vitro. Hormone-responsive tumors undergo apoptosis with the appropriate stimulus; GnRH-induced tumor growth arrest may result from stimulated apoptotic cell death. The sensitivity of tumors and normal tissue to GnRH is strongly associated with the possession of receptors for GnRH as well as other hormonal control. Despite the lack of a precise apoptotic signaling cascade through GnRH receptors, biochemical events observed within a plasma membrane appear to constitute the most convincing evidence that the membrane event is primarily stimulated during cell activation by GnRH. GnRH receptors in tumors differ from those in pituitary gonadotrophs in some aspects, in particular with regard to the transmembrane signaling cascade. The intramembranous phenomena that occur independently of the contribution of other organelles upon tumoral GnRH receptor engagement include (i) activation of phosphotyrosine phosphatase and loss of phosphotyrosine from the endogenous membrane protein and (ii) phosphoinositide and perhaps sphingomyelin cleavage producing lipid-originated second messengers. GnRH has also been demonstrated to increase Fas ligand expression within plasma membrane, which is known to promote apoptotic cell death through attack on Fas-positive cells within tumors. The Fas-Fas ligand complex might, at least in part, account for the antiproliferative action of the hormone. An understanding of the relationship between the extracellular (hormonal) stimuli that leads to cell death and the intracellular events regulating growth arrest on GnRH action may fundamentally help clarify the therapeutic approach to all hormone-dependent carcinomas that respond to stimuli that lead to apoptosis. In this chapter, we review the recent literature and the results of our studies on GnRH-induced membrane events and summarize what is currently known about this promising antiproliferative function.

Changes in phospholipase D isoform activity and expression in multidrug-resistant human cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major cause of failure of cancer chemotherapy and is often associated with elevated expression of drug transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the cancer cells. MDR is, however, accompanied by additional biochemical changes including modifications of membrane composition and properties. We have shown that MDR is associated with a massive up-regulation of caveolin expression and an elevated surface density of caveolae. We report that phospholipase D (PLD), a constituent enzyme of caveolae and detergent-insoluble glycolipid-rich membranes (DIGs), is up-regulated in human MDR cancer cells. Lysates of HT-29-MDR human colon adenocarcinoma cells, MCF-7 AdrR human breast adenocarcinoma cells and the corresponding parental drug-sensitive cells, were fractionated on discontinuous sucrose density gradients. PLD activity was found to be enriched in low density fractions that contain DIGs and caveolar membranes, and the activity in these fractions was 4- to 6-fold higher in the MDR cells compared with the parental drug- sensitive cells. Utilizing specific antibodies to PLD1 and PLD2, the distribution of PLD isoforms along the gradient was determined and the PLD localized in DIGs and caveolar membranes has been identified as PLD2. Northern blot analysis of PLD1 and PLD2 mRNA levels has indicated that PLD2 mRNA is elevated in both HT-29-MDR and MCF-7 AdrR cells. PLD1 mRNA levels were either unchanged or reduced in the MDR cells. Finally, in vivo experiments have confirmed previous results showing that activation of PLD by phorbol esters is markedly potentiated in the MDR cells. We conclude that MDR is accompanied by an increase in PLD2 activity in DIGs and caveolar membranes.

Ras protein is involved in the physiological regulation of phospholipase D by platelet derived growth factor

Lipid-derived metabolites play an important role in the regulation of cell responses to external stimuli, including cell growth control, transformation and apoptosis. Phospholipase D (PLD) is one of the critical elements in the regulation of lipid metabolism and the generation of second messengers, some of them involved in cell growth control. Oncogenic Ras proteins affect the activity of PLD by two alternate mechanisms, involving a positive activation and a feedback negative loop. Here we investigate the involvement of the proto-oncogenic Ras protein in the physiological activation of PLD induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Over-expression of the wild type Ras protein or some of its regulatory components, such as Shc or Grb2, induces an amplification of PLD activation by PDGF challenge. Furthermore, blocking the endogenous Ras by expression of the dominant negative mutant, H-Ras-Asn17 completely eliminated the activation of PLD by PDGF. Thus, PDGF requires a complex system for PLD regulation implying the existence of at least two positive regulatory pathways, a Ras-dependent and a PKC-dependent mechanism. These results imply that PLD is an important element in signaling by Ras proteins that is altered after ras-induced transformation.

Production of lysophosphatidic acids by lysophospholipase D in human follicular fluids of In vitro fertilization patients

Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are known to be normal constituents of mammalian serum, and they mimic some biological effects of the serum. We previously reported that lysophospholipase D (LPLD) was involved in the accumulation of LPAs in incubated rat plasma and serum. In this study we detected, by gas-liquid chromatography, various molecular species of LPA in follicular fluids collected from women programmed for in vitro fertilization. When the follicular fluid was incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 h, persistent increases in the amounts of LPAs were observed concomitant with decreases in the amounts of the corresponding lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), although the concentrations of saturated LPCs increased in the first 6 h of incubation. These results suggest that human follicular fluid has LPLD activity, and this was confirmed by experiments with follicular fluids mixed with an exogenous radioactive LPC. The LPLD showed preference for unsaturated over saturated LPCs, similar to plasma LPLD, indicating that it originated from the circulation.

Localization of phospholipase D in detergent-insoluble, caveolin-rich membrane domains. Modulation by caveolin-1 expression and caveolin-182-101

The activation of cellular phospholipase D (PLD) is implicated in vesicular trafficking and signal transduction. Two mammalian PLD forms, designated PLD1 and PLD2, have been cloned, but their cellular localization and function are not fully understood. Here, we report that in HaCaT human keratinocytes, as well as other cell lines, PLD activity is highly enriched in low density, Triton X-100-insoluble membrane domains that contain the caveolar marker protein caveolin-1. Similar to other PLDs, the PLD activity in these membrane domains is stimulated by phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate and is inhibited by neomycin. Immunoblot analysis indicated that caveolin-rich membrane domains do not contain the PLD1 isoform. Stable transfection of mouse PLD2 in Chinese hamster ovary cells greatly increased PLD activity in these domains compared with PLD activity in control Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with vector alone. PLD activity is enriched in low density Triton-insoluble membrane domains also in U937 promonocytes, even though these cells do not express caveolin-1. In U937 cells, also, PLD1 is largely excluded from low density Triton-insoluble membrane domains. Expression of recombinant caveolin-1 in v-Src-transformed NIH-3T3 cells resulted in up-regulation of PLD activity in the caveolin-containing membrane domains. The caveolin scaffolding peptide (caveolin-182-101) modulated the caveolar PLD activity, causing stimulation at concentration of 1-10 microM and inhibition at concentrations >10 microM. We conclude that a PLD activity, which is likely to represent PLD2, is enriched in low density Triton-insoluble membrane domains. The effects of caveolin-1 expression and of the caveolin scaffolding peptide suggest that in cells that express caveolin-1, PLD may be targeted to caveolae. The possible functions of PLD in the dynamics of caveolae and related domains and in signal transduction processes are discussed.

Activation of phospholipase D by phosphatidic acid. Enhanced vesicle binding, phosphatidic acid-Ca2+ interaction, or an allosteric effect?

The activity of bacterial phospholipase D (PLD), a Ca2+-dependent enzyme, toward phosphatidylcholine bilayers was enhanced 7-fold by incorporation of 10 mol % phosphatidic acid (PA) in the vesicle bilayer. Addition of other negatively charged lipids such as phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylmethanol, and oleic acid either inhibited or had no effect on enzyme activity. Only negatively charged lipids with a free phosphate group, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and lyso-PA, had the same effect as PA on enzyme activity. Changes in vesicle curvature and fusion were not the reason for PA activation; rather, a metal ion-induced lateral segregation of PA in the vesicle bilayer correlated with PLD activation. Significant PA activation was also observed with monomer phosphatidylcholine substrate upon the addition of PA vesicles. The PA activation was caused by Ca2+.PA interacting with PLD at an allosteric site other than active site.

A potential role for ceramide in the regulation of mouse epidermal keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation

We have previously determined that sustained phospholipase D (PLD) activation is associated with differentiation induction in primary mouse epidermal keratinocytes. We therefore investigated the effect of two bacterial PLD on keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. We found that Streptomyces sp. PLD was much less potent at inhibiting proliferation than S. chromofuscus PLD, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.05 versus less than 0.001 IU per ml for S. chromofuscus PLD. Similarly, S. chromofuscus PLD stimulated transglutaminase activity more effectively and potently than S. sp. PLD. When we examined the formation of products by the two PLD, we found that the S. sp. PLD showed higher activity at all concentrations. Whereas the PLD from S. sp. is relatively inactive on sphingomyelin, S. chromofuscus PLD is known to hydrolyze both glycerophospholipids and sphingomyelin. Based on recent data indicating a role for ceramide in regulating cell growth and differentiation, we hypothesized that the ability of S. chromofuscus PLD to hydrolyze sphingomyelin might underlie its greater potency. Therefore, we examined the effect of exogenous sphingomyelinase and synthetic ceramides on DNA synthesis. We found that sphingomyelinase exhibited a potent concentration-dependent effect on [3H]thymidine incorporation, much like S. chromofuscus PLD. Synthetic cell-permeable ceramides (C6- and C2-ceramide) also concentration dependently inhibited DNA synthesis, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of approximately 12 microM. Finally, we obtained evidence suggesting that ceramide is generated in response to a physiologically relevant agent, because tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a known effector of sphingomyelin turnover in other systems and a cytokine that is produced and released by keratinocytes, increased ceramide levels in primary epidermal keratinocytes.

Phospholipase D activity is required for dimorphic transition in Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. In this report, the presence of a phospholipase D (PLD) activity in C. albicans, designated CaPLD1, is demonstrated. This is the first description of PLD activity in this organism. CaPLD1 activity was stimulated by inducers of dimorphic transition. Furthermore, transition was stimulated by the addition of exogenous PLD to cells. The addition of 1-propanol to the medium, which resulted in the production of phosphatidylpropanol by CaPLD1 at the expense of the usual product phosphatidic acid, delayed the yeast to hypha transition. These results suggest that CaPLD1 may be an important regulator of dimorphic transition in C. albicans.

Involvement of Rho family proteins in prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced phospholipase D activation in the osteoblast-like cell line MC3T3-E1

To examine the role of Rho family proteins in prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha)-mediated phospholipase D (PLD) activation of osteoblast-like cell line MC3T3-E1 cells, we used Toxin-B from Clostridium difficile, which inhibits Rho family proteins by monoglucosylation. Pretreatment of [3H]myristic acid-labeled MC3T3-E1 cells with Toxin B induced rounding-up of the cells and inhibited the PGF2 alpha-induced PLD activation by 60%, but not the phospholipase C (PLC) activation. Cytochalasin D also induced rounding the cells, but showed a small inhibition in the PLD activation. Brefeldin A (BFA) had marginal inhibitory effect on the PGF2 alpha-induced PLD activation. In digitonin-permeabilized MC3T3-E1 cells, [3H]P But formation was stimulated by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) or 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in the presence of Ca2+ (1 microM) and ATP (1 mM), and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) was also required for its full PLD activation. Pretreatment of the digitonin-permeabilized MC3T3-E1 cells with Toxin B reduced the GTP gamma S- and PMA-stimulated PLD activities by 80% and 60%, respectively. On the other hand, C3 toxin which inhibits Rho by ADP-ribosylation, exerted a partial inhibitory effect on the GTP gamma S-stimulated PLD activity. These results suggest that Cdc42 as well as RhoA appear to be involved in the PLD activation mediated by PGF2 alpha and also that the PLD activation may be independent of actin cytoskeleton in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Effect of wortmannin and 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002) on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced phospholipase D activation in differentiated HL60 cells: possible involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in phospholipase D activation

Phospholipase D (PLD) plays an important role in neutrophil activation. However, despite various proposed mechanisms, its detailed regulatory mechanism is not fully understood. The functional coupling between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and PLD was investigated in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells, using wortmannin, a fungal metabolite that is known as a selective inhibitor for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Treatment of cells with this drug inhibited the formation of both phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3), a product of PI 3-kinase, and phosphatidylbutanol (PBut), the specific product of transphosphatidylation due to PLD in the presence of butanol, with similar concentration dependence (IC50 = 30-70 nM). Another PI 3-kinase inhibitor, 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002) also inhibited PBut formation in a concentration-dependent manner. However, wortmannin failed to inhibit phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced PLD activation in whole cells and membrane PLD activity in an in vitro assay system, indicating that inhibition of fMLP-induced PLD activation by wortmannin was not due to its direct effect on PLD activity. These results suggest that a major part of inhibition of PLD activation by wortmannin might be mediated through its effect on PI 3-kinase.

Phospholipase D activity in the Tetrahymena pyriformis GL

Phospholipase D (PLD) is an enzyme which participates in the signaling mechanism cleaving phosphatidylcholine (PC) to choline and phosphatidic acid (PA). In Tetrahymena pyriformis GL this enzyme activity is enhanced by different kinds of agonists (sodium orthovanadate, sodium fluoride and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), and its activity can be inhibited by inhibitors such as pertussis toxin, calphostin C, genistein, trifluoperazine. These results suggest that the PLD signalling pathway is connected with the tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C, phosphatidylinositol and G-protein coupled signalling pathways. By demonstrating the PLD activity in Tetrahymena our knowledge on the signaling mechanisms at a unicellular level has been extended. The results support our view that most transducing mechanisms that are characteristic of mammalian cells are also in the protozoan Tetrahymena.

Dependence of intracellular signaling and neurosecretion on phospholipase D activation in immortalized gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

The excitability of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons is essential for episodic neuropeptide release, but the mechanism by which electrical activity controls GnRH secretion is not well characterized. The role of phospholipase D (PLD) in mediating the activity-dependent secretory pathway was investigated in immortalized GT1 neurons, which both secrete GnRH and express GnRH receptors. Activation of these Ca2+-mobilizing receptors was associated with transient hyperpolarization of GT1 cells, followed by sustained firing of action potentials. This was accompanied by an increase in PLD activity, as indicated by elevated phosphatidylethanol (PEt) production. GnRH-induced PEt production was reduced by inhibition of phospholipase C-dependent phosphoinositide hydrolysis by U73122 and neomycin, suggesting that signaling from phospholipase C led to activation of PLD. The intermediate role of protein kinase C (PKC) in this process was indicated by the ability of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to induce time- and dose-dependent increases in PEt and diacylglycerol, but not inositol trisphosphate, and by reduction of GnRH-induced PEt accumulation in PKC-depleted cells. Consistent with the role of action potential-driven Ca2+ entry in this process, agonist-induced PLD activity was also reduced by nifedipine and low extracellular Ca2+. Inhibition of the PLD pathway by ethanol and propranolol reduced diacylglycerol production and caused a concomitant fall in GnRH release. These data indicate that voltage-gated Ca2+ entry and PKC act in an independent but cooperative manner to regulate PLD activity, which contributes to the secretory response in GT1 cells. Thus, the electrical activity of the GnRH-secreting neuron participates in the functional coupling between GnRH receptors and PLD pathway.

Role of PLA2, PLC, and PLD in bradykinin-induced release of arachidonic acid in MDCK cells

The role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD) in the bradykinin (BK)-stimulated release of arachidonic acid (AA) was examined in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Release of AA, phosphorylcholine, choline, and phosphatidic acid (PA) or the transphosphatidylation product, phosphatidylethanol, was detected after 1 min of BK stimulation. A role for PC-PLC was confirmed with D609, which reduced BK-stimulated AA by 70%. Ethanol (EtOH), which blunts PA formation, diminished BK-stimulated AA release by 50%. Together, D609 and EtOH inhibited this release almost completely. Evidence indicated that diacylglycerol and PA can enhance PLA2 activity when added to cytosol extracts. The enzyme responsible for AA release was characterized as cPLA2, since PLA2 activity assayed in cell extracts was largely inhibited by an antibody to this enzyme. The membrane fraction PLA2 activity increased significantly in BK-stimulated cells. We conclude that BK signaling in MDCK cells is mediated by the lipid products of PC-PLC and PLD, increasing cPLA2 activity, possibly by causing perturbations in the bilayer structure of its substrate, by a direct effect on the enzyme or by activation of protein kinases such as protein kinase C.

1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 stimulation of phospholipases C and D in muscle cells involves extracellular calcium and a pertussis-sensitive G protein

The steroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] activates in chick myoblasts the breakdown of phosphoinositides by phospholipase C and the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase D. Extracellular Ca2+ requirement and GTP-binding protein mediation of 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent activation of phospholipases C and D were investigated in cells prelabelled with [3H]glycerol or [3H]arachidonic acid. Generation of diacylglycerol by phospholipase C and phosphatidylethanol by phospholipase D were shown to be dependent on extracellular calcium, since both responses were suppressed by EGTA and the Ca(2+)-channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil, and were mimicked by the calcium ionophore A23187. The G-protein activators guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) and AlF4- strongly enhanced diacylglycerol and phosphatidylethanol release in myoblasts while guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), which inhibits G-protein-mediated signals, abolished 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent diacylglycerol and phosphatidylethanol release. Bordetella pertussis toxin pretreatment suppressed the hormone action. These results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and phospholipase D in chick myoblasts is mediated by a pertussis-sensitive GTP-binding protein(s) and the influx of extracellular calcium.

Role of cdc25-C phosphatase in the immediate G2 delay induced by the exogenous factors epidermal growth factor and phorbolester

Studies on the link between cellular signalling and cell cycle control at the G2 checkpoint have shown that, in HeLa cells, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) rapidly inhibit the G2-M transition by preventing the key component of mitosis-promoting factor (MPF), p34cdc2, from expressing protein kinase activity. The kinase activity of active MPF is not inhibited; rather, the conversion of pre-MPF to MPF, i.e., the activating dephosphorylation of p34cdc2, at tyrosine is rapidly blocked (Barth and Kinzel, 1994, Exp. Cell Res. 212:383-388; 1995, J. Cell. Physiol., 162:44-51). The phosphatase responsible, cdc25-C, is activated by phosphorylation in mitotic cells starting at the G2-M transition in an autocatalytic loop with MPF (Hoffmann et al., 1993, EMBO J. 12:53-63). We now show that, concomitant with the prevention of MPF activation, EGF and TPA induced a reduction of the activity of cdc25-C in synchronized cultures. Furthermore, treatment of mitotic HeLa cells with TPA did not influence the kinase activity of MPF but caused a rapid decrease of the specific enzyme activity of cdc25-C, probably due to dephosphorylation of the enzyme, as indicated by reduced binding of monoclonal MPM-2 antibody specific for phosphoepitopes in M phase. Because of its inability to induce signalling during division, EGF failed to influence the activity of cdc25-C in mitotic cells. The scenario in cells late in G2 that are committed to enter mitosis may be as follows: In those cells where the signalling pathways responding to EGF as well as those responding to TPA are still open, cdc25-C is prevented by dephosphorylation from exceeding the threshold level of activity required to initiate the activation of and the autocatalytic feedback loop with p34cdc2 and to enter mitosis. Therefore, cdc25-C appears to represent part of an interface between cellular signalling and cell cycle control in G2 phase.

Regulation of phospholipase D by low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins

Phospholipase D (PLD) is believed to play an important role in cell signal transduction: PLD catalyzes the hydrolysis primarily of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to produce phosphatidic acid that may serve as a lipid second messenger. Although the mechanism of PLD activation has not yet been fully understood, a member of the low molecular weight GTP-binding protein (small G protein) superfamily, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), has been identified as a PLD-activating factor. In addition to ARF, we found that RhoA, another member of the small G proteins, activated rat brain PLD, and that ARF and RhoA synergistically stimulated the enzyme activity. When proteins of bovine brain cytosol were subjected to anion exchange column chromatography and then reconstituted with rat brain PLD partially purified from the membranes, fractions eluted at 60 mM NaCl, where ARF was not detected, activated the enzyme in a guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)-dependent manner. This PLD-stimulating activity seemed to be attributed to a small G protein RhoA. Evidence provided includes the findings that: (1) the partially purified preparation of the PLD-activating factor by subsequent column chromatographies contained a 22 kDa substrate for botulinum C3 exoenzyme ADP-ribosyltransferase; (2) the 22 kDa protein strongly reacted with anti-RhoA antibody; (3) the treatment of the partially purified PLD-activating factor with C3 exoenzyme and NAD together, but not individually, significantly inhibited the PLD-stimulating activity; and (4) recombinant isoprenylated RhoA activated the PLD. On the contrary, recombinant nonisoprenylated RhoA failed to activate the PLD. Interestingly, the partially purified PLD-activating factor and ARF synergistically activated rat brain PLD, and recombinant isoprenylated RhoA could substitute for the partially purified preparation. These results conclude that rat brain PLD is regulated by RhoA in concert with ARF, and that the post-translational modification of RhoA is essential for its function as the PLD activator.

Differential involvement of calcium channels and protein kinase-C activity in GnRH-induced phospholipase-C, -A2 and -D activation in a gonadotrope cell line (alpha T3-1)

The mode of action of GnRH on pituitary gonadotropes involves metabolism of phospholipids, protein kinase-C (PKC) and voltage sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCC) activation. We have studied the differential role of PKC and VSCC on the coupling of the GnRH receptor with phospholipases-C (PLC), -A2 (PLA2) and -D (PLD) activities in a gonadotrope cell line (alpha T3-1), by measuring the production of inositol phosphates (IPs), arachidonic acid (AA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt) respectively. We demonstrated that in these cells GnRH stimulated through a specific receptor, IPs formation, a rapid and sustained diacylglycerol generation, consequently AA release and a delayed PEt production in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to GnRH-induced PLC activity, the PLA2 and PLD stimulation by the neuropeptide involved Ca2+ mobilization via VSCC activation. BAY-K8644 a VSCC agonist significantly potentiated, while the VSCC antagonist nitrendipine markedly inhibited GnRH-induced AA release and PEt production. TPA, a phorbol ester which induced a rapid and important redistribution of PKC, although unable to elicit PLC or PLA2 stimulation, specifically provoked PLD activation in a PKC-dependent but Ca(2+)-independent manner. The PKC stimulation by TPA significantly inhibited the GnRH-stimulated IPs and AA formation, while it potentiated the GnRH-evoked PEt production. This negative feed-back of PKC on GnRH-Induced PLC and PLA2 activities was reversed when PKC was either down regulated after long TPA treatments or inhibited by the PKC inhibitors, staurosporine or GF109203X. The GnRH-induced PEt formation was markedly diminished in PKC depleted cells or after PKC inhibition. Under such conditions, both agonist and antagonist of VSCC became less effective in modulating the remaining GnRH-evoked PEt formation. These results suggest that PKC, in coordination with Ca2+, plays a key role in regulating the cross-talk between the multiple phospholipases implicated in the GnRH signal transduction.

Phenylarsine oxide (PAO)-mediated activation of phospholipase D in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells: possible involvement of calcium and protein kinase C

Addition of phenylarsine oxide (PAO) to [3H]oleic acid-labeled rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells gave rise to the remarkable formation of [3H]phosphatidylbutanol (PBut), a specific product of phospholipase D (PLD) activation. Preincubation of cells with 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (DMP) or dithiothreitol (DTT), compounds containing sulfhydryls, prevented PAO-stimulated [3H]PBut formation, indicating that PAO-stimulated PLD through interacting with vicinal thiol groups. Treatment of cells with PAO resulted in increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration without significant production of inositol phosphates. Removal of extracellular free Ca2+ by chelating with EGTA was found to inhibit [3H]PBut formation by PAO. Incubation of cells with 20 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 6 h caused down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) alpha and beta isozymes, whereas it had no effect on PKC delta, epsilon and zeta isozymes. Under this condition, decrease in PAO-stimulated [3H]PBut formation was observed to occur with a concomitant decrease in the level of PKC alpha and beta isozymes. These results suggest that a covalent bridge between vicinal thiol groups of cell surface proteins induced by PAO potentiates PLD activation and that PAO-induced PLD activation is regulated by Ca2+ and PKC alpha and/or beta isozymes.

Identification of diacylglycerol pyrophosphate as a novel metabolic product of phosphatidic acid during G-protein activation in plants

We provide evidence that phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) formed during signaling in plants is metabolized by a novel pathway. In much of this study, 32Pi-labeled Chlamydomonas cells were used, and signaling was activated by adding the G-protein activator mastoparan. Within seconds of activation, large amounts of [32P]PtdOH were formed, with peak production at about 4 min, when the level was 5-25-fold higher than the control. As the level of [32P]PtdOH subsequently decreased, an unknown phospholipid (PLX) increased in radiolabeling; before activation it was barely detectable. The chromatographic properties of PLX resembled those of lyso-PtdOH and CMP.PtdOH but on close inspection were found to be different. PLX was shown to be diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), the product of a newly discovered enzyme, phosphatidate kinase, whose in vitro activity was described recently (Wissing, J. B., and Behrbohm, H. (1993) Plant Physiol. 102, 1243-1249). The identity of DGPP was established by co-chromatrography with a standard and by degradation analysis as follows: [32P]DGPP was deacylated, and the product (glycerolpyrophosphate, GroPP) was hydrolyzed by mild acid treatment or pyrophosphatase to produce GroP and Pi as the only radioactive products. Since DGPP is the pyrophosphate derivative of PtdOH and is formed as the concentration of PtdOH decreases, we assumed that PtdOH was converted in vivo to DGPP. This was confirmed by showing that during a short labeling protocol while the specific radioactivity of DGPP was increasing, the specific radioactivity of the 32Pi derived from DGPP as above was higher than that of [32P]GroP. DGPP was also formed in suspension cultures of tomato and potato cells, and its synthesis was activated by mastoparan. Moreover, it was also found in intact tissues of a number of higher plants, for example, carnation flower petals, vetch roots, leaves of fig-leaved goosefoot, and common persicaria and microspores of rape seed. Our results suggest that DGPP is a common but minor plant lipid that increases in concentration when signaling is activated. Possible functions of DGPP in phospholpase C and D signaling cascades are discussed.

ARF-regulated phospholipase D: a potential role in membrane traffic

Phospholipase D activity is stimulated rapidly upon occupation of cell-surface receptors. One of the intracellular regulators of phospholipase D activity has been identified as ADP ribosylation factor (ARF). ARF is a small GTP binding protein whose function has been elucidated in vesicular traffic. This review puts into context the connection between the two fields of signal transduction and vesicular transport.

Release of gelatinase A (matrix metalloproteinase 2) induced by photolysis of caged phosphatidic acid in HT 1080 metastatic fibrosarcoma cells

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a putative novel messenger in signal transduction and membrane traffic. We have synthesized a photolyzable derivative of PA, termed caged PA (cPA), which may be utilized as a new tool in studies of PA-mediated cellular events. 1-(2-Nitrophenyl)diazoethane, synthesized from 2-nitroacetophenone, was reacted with dipalmitoyl-PA to yield a 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl ester of PA. Photolysis of the compound by ultraviolet light resulted in the formation of phosphatidic acid. The structure of the compound and of its photolytic products was verified by NMR spectroscopy. The utility of cPA was examined in HT 1080 metastatic fibrosarcoma cells, in which the formation of PA by phospholipase D was implicated in laminin-induced release of gelatinase A (matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2)). The uptake of cPA by HT 1080 cells reached a plateau after 120 min of incubation. Ultraviolet illumination of cPA-loaded cells for 5 s resulted in photolysis of 1.8% of the cell-incorporated cPA. The photolysis of cPA caused a 2-fold elevation in the release of MMP-2 to the medium, whereas nonphotolyzed cPA caused no change in MMP-2 release. Moreover, the effect of cPA photolysis was significantly higher than that obtained with extracellularly introduced PA. Thus, the effect of laminin on MMP-2 secretion can be mimicked by photolysis of cPA, suggesting a pivotal role for phospholipase D in laminin-induced cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis. These results indicate that cPA could serve as a unique tool for studying the cellular roles of PA.

Stimulation of protein and DNA synthesis in mouse C2C12 satellite cells: evidence for phospholipase D-dependent and -independent pathways

In C2C12 myoblasts, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated a phospholipase D (PLD) to degrade phosphatidylcholine (PC) as measured by the release of choline and an increase in the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) (or phosphatidylbutanol [PtdBuOH] in the presence of 0.5% butanol). Exogenous PLD also stimulated choline release, PA and PtdBuOH formation. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro-31-8220, and PKC downregulation significantly inhibited the effects of TPA but Ro-31-8220 had no effect on PLD action. Neither basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) or Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) increased PLD activity. All agonists stimulated protein synthesis during both a 90 min and a 6 hr incubation and increased RNA accretion after 6 hr. The response at 90 min was not inhibited by the transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D. Ro-31-8220 and PKC downregulation significantly inhibited all the effects of TPA. In contrast, Ro-31-8220 significantly inhibited the increase in RNA accretion elicited by PLD but had no effect on the ability of agonists other than TPA to enhance protein synthesis. All agonists also stimulated thymidine incorporation into DNA. The effects of EGF, bFGF, and PLD were rapid and transient whereas that of TPA was delayed and sustained. Ro-31-8220 and PKC downregulation significantly inhibited the response due to TPA. Furthermore, Ro-31-8220 also significantly inhibited the effects elicited by EGF and PLD but not that induced by bFGF. In differentiated myotubes, TPA and PLD, but not bFGF or EGF, again stimulated choline release and PtdBuOH formation. However, all agents failed to stimulate protein synthesis and RNA accretion. The data demonstrate the presence in C2C12 myoblasts, but not differentiated myotubes, of both a PLD-dependent and PLD-independent pathway(s) leading to the stimulation of protein synthesis, RNA accretion, and DNA synthesis.

Mastoparan-induced phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase D activation in human astrocytoma cells

1. The effect of mastoparan on phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis was examined in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Mastoparan (3-30 microM) caused an accumulation of diacylglycerol (DG) and phosphatidic acd (PA) accompanied by choline release in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. 2. In the presence of 2% n-butanol, mastoparan (3-100 microM) induced phosphatidylbutanol (PBut) accumulation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, suggesting that mastoparan activates phospholipase D (PLD). Propranolol (30-300 microM), a phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor, inhibited DG accumulation induced by mastoparan, supporting this idea. 3. Depletion of extracellular free calcium ion did not alter the effect of mastoparan on PLD activity. 4. A protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, calphostin C (1 microM), did not inhibit mastoparan-induce PLD activation but the ability of mastoparan to stimulate phospholipase D activity was decreased in the PKC down regulated cells. 5. PLD activity stimulated by mastoparan was not prevented by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (PT) or C3 ADP-ribosyltransferase. Furthermore, guanine nucleotides did not affect PLD activity stimulation by mastoparan in membrane preparations. 6. Mastoparan stimulated PLD in several cell lines such as RBL-2H3, RBL-1, HL-60, P388, endothelial cells, as well as 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. 7. These results suggest that mastoparan induces phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis by activation of PLD, not by activation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC); mastoparan-induced PLD activation is not mediated by G proteins.

Antigen-mediated phospholipase D activation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells: possible involvement of calcium/calmodulin

The differential implication of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in antigen- or PMA-induced phospholipase D (PLD) activation was investigated in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. In [3H]oleic acid-labeled cells, both antigen (100 ng/ml) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (100 nM) produced a specific product of PLD activation, [3H]phosphatidylbutanol (PBut) in the presence of butanol. Pretreatment of cells with a selective PKC inhibitor, Ro31-8425 (1-5 microM) inhibited PMA-stimulated PLD activity by 85%. In contrast, the antigen-stimulated PLD activity was much less sensitive to the inhibitor. RBL-2H3 cells express PKC alpha, beta, delta, epsilon and zeta isozymes and down-regulation of PKC by exposure to PMA (20 nM) for 1-2 h caused rapid decrease in PKC alpha and beta isozymes, leaving PKC delta, epsilon and zeta isozymes intact. Apparent decreases in the levels of PKC alpha and beta to about 50% were observed after adding 20 nM PMA for 1 h, when PMA-stimulated PLD activity was inhibited by up to 70%. Decrease in antigen-stimulated PLD activity was evident after 2 h PMA-treatment, when PKC alpha and beta decreased by nearly 70%. These results suggest that in the antigen-mediated PLD pathway PKC may be implicated but not play such a great role as PMA-stimulated pathway which is mediated through PKC alpha or beta. Then, we have examined the involvement of calcium/calmodulin (CaM) in PLD activation by antigen, since the antigen-stimulated PLD activation showed the absolute requirement for extracellular calcium. Preincubation of RBL-2H3 cells with a CaM antagonist W-7 (20 microM) inhibited the antigen-stimulated PLD activity by 90%, but W-5, a chlorine-deficient analogue of W-7 that only weakly interact with CaM, caused little inhibitory effect. Another non-specific CaM antagonist, trifluoperazine (TFP) also inhibited PLD activation. These results suggest that calcium/CaM may be involved in the antigen-stimulated PLD activation.

Regulation of phospholipase D by protein kinase C in human neutrophils. Conventional isoforms of protein kinase C phosphorylate a phospholipase D-related component in the plasma membrane

In a variety of intact cells, phorbol esters are known to activate phospholipase D. In a cell-free system consisting of plasma membrane and cytosol from human neutrophils, phorbol esters activated phospholipase D in an adenosine nucleotide triphosphate-dependent manner. ATP gamma S (adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate)) was 2-3-fold more effective than ATP, while ADP and AppNHp (adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate) were ineffective, and activation was blocked by the kinase inhibitor staurosporine. In cytosol deplete of protein kinase C by chromatography on threnoine-Sepharose, phorbol ester-dependent activation was lost, but was restored upon addition of purified rat brain protein kinase C. The target for phosphorylation was shown to be the plasma membrane plasma membrane was phosphorylated using ATP gamma S/phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and protein kinase C and was reisolated to remove activators. Upon adding nucleotide-depleted cytosol, activator-independent phospholipase D activity was seen. Using this prephosphorylation protocol, PKC-dependent activation of plasma membranes was found to require micromolar calcium, implicating a conventional protein kinase C. Using recombinant isoforms of protein kinase C, only the conventional isoforms showed significant activation, with the following rank order of potency: beta 1 > alpha > gamma; the beta 2, delta, epsilon, eta, and sigma isoforms showed little or no activity. Thus, conventional isoform(s) of protein kinase C activate neutrophil phospholipase D by phosphorylating a target protein located in the plasma membrane.

Activation of human endometrial phospholipase D by bradykinin

Bradykinin may act as a promoter of endometrial regeneration. In [3H]myristate-labelled endometrial stromal cells, bradykinin and tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) mediated activation of phospholipase D (PLD) as measured by the accumulation of [3H]phosphatidylbutanol ([3H]PtdBut). Kinetics of bradykinin-evoked PLD activation was rapid and transient, whereas the TPA response was relatively slow in onset. Bradykinin induced a dose-dependent (EC50 0.11 nM) [3H]PtdBut accumulation at concentrations at which it stimulated DNA synthesis. In [3H]inositol-labelled cells, bradykinin evoked a rapid increase in inositol phosphates which preceded the increase in [3H]PtdBut formation. Chronic pretreatment with 400 nM TPA abolished PLD activation to subsequent treatment with either TPA and bradykinin. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, strongly inhibited (IC50 96 nM) TPA-induced [3H]PtdBut formation, but bradykinin-stimulated [3H]PtdBut accumulation was only partially inhibited (IC50 65 microM). The effect of bradykinin and TPA on PLD activity was synergistic, suggesting that the two agents may act via different mechanisms. These results suggest PKC-dependent and independent pathways are involved in bradykinin-induced PLD activation and that the mitogenic activity of this vasoactive peptide on endometrial stromal cells may in part be mediated via the PLD pathway. This may have significance both to implantation and endometrial cancer.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate synthesis is required for activation of phospholipase D in U937 cells

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in signal transduction and membrane traffic. We have previously shown that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P2) stimulates in vitro partially purified brain membrane PLD activity, defining a novel function of PtdIns-4,5-P2 as a PLD cofactor. In the present study we extend these observations to permeabilized U937 cells. In these cells, the activation of PLD by guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) is greatly potentiated by MgATP. We have utilized this experimental system to test the hypothesis that MgATP potentiates PLD activation by G proteins because it is required for PtdIns-4,5-P2 synthesis by phosphoinositide kinases. As expected, MgATP was absolutely required for maintaining elevated phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P) and PtdIns-4,5-P2 levels in the permeabilized cells. In the presence of MgATP, GTP gamma S further elevated the levels of the phosphoinositides. The importance of PtdIns-4,5-P2 for PLD activation was examined by utilizing a specific inhibitory antibody directed against phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PtdIns 4-kinase), the enzyme responsible for the first step in the synthesis of PtdIns-4,5-P2. Anti-PtdIns 4-kinase completely inhibited PtdIns 4-kinase activity in vitro and reduced by 75-80% PtdIns-4-P and PtdIns-4,5-P2 levels in the permeabilized cells. In parallel, the anti-PtdIns 4-kinase fully inhibited the activation of PLD by GTP gamma S and caused a 60% inhibition of PLD activation by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, indicating that elevated PtdIns-4,5-P2 levels are required for PLD activation. This conclusion is supported by the fact that neomycin, a high affinity ligand of PtdIns-4,5-P2, also blocked PLD activation. Furthermore, the activity of PLD in U937 cell lysate was stimulated by PtdIns-4,5-P2 in a dose-dependent manner. The current results indicate that PtdIns-4,5-P2 synthesis is required for PLD activation in permeabilized U937 cells and strongly support the proposed function of PtdIns-4,5-P2 as a cofactor for PLD. In addition, the results further establish PtdIns-4,5-P2 as a key component in the generation of second messengers via multiple pathways including phosphoinositide-phospholipase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and PLD.

Role of phospholipase D in laminin-induced production of gelatinase A (MMP-2) in metastatic cells

Metastatic spread depends critically upon the invasiveness of tumor cells, i.e. their ability to breach basement membranes by elaborating and secreting specific proteolytic enzymes such as gelatinase A (MMP-2). Laminin is a major constituent of the extracellular matrix that can trigger production of MMP-2 in metastatic cells, but not in non-metastatic cells. The present study was designed to examine the role of phospholipase D (PLD) and its product, phosphatidic acid, in the intracellular signal transduction mechanisms that mediate induction of MMP-2 by laminin. Here we show that stimulation of tumor cells with laminin results in a time- and dose-dependent activation of PLD. Laminin-induced production of MMP-2 is attenuated by 1-butanol, a competitive substrate of PLD that reduces PLD-catalyzed production of PA. Moreover, phosphatidic acid itself can induce production of MMP-2 in metastatic tumor cells. MMP-2 can also be induced by exposing the cells to exogenous bacterial PLD. Elevated cellular phosphatidic acid induces MMP-2 in metastatic ras-transformed 3T3 fibroblasts but, like laminin, fails to do so in normal cells. These data indicate that laminin-induced activation of PLD and consequent generation of phosphatidic acid are involved in a signal propagation pathway leading to induction of MMP-2 and enhanced invasiveness of metastatic tumor cells.

Effects of phorbol ester and staurosporine on the actions of insulin-like growth factor-I on rat ovarian granulosa cells

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is able to stimulate ovarian granulosa cell steroidogenesis induced by gonadotopins. This gonadotropin-induced potentiation of IGF-I action appears to be due, at least in part, to a gonadotropin-induced increase in membrane-bound IGF-I receptor number and/or decrease in extracellular IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). Protein kinase C (PKC) has recently been reported to inhibit gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in rat ovarian granulosa cells. The role of PKC in the effects of IGF-I on gonadotropin action, however, is unknown. In this study, the effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, a PKC activator) and staurosporine (ST, a PKC inhibitor) on IGF-I action were studied using immature rat ovarian granulosa cells. Activation of PKC by PMA did not affect steroidogenesis or cAMP secretion in cells treated with or without IGF-I. On the other hand, inhibition of PKC by ST alone (10(-9)-10(-7)m) led to an increase in progesterone production in a dose- and time-dependent manner without affecting cAMP secretion. In the presence, but not absence, of ST, IGF-I was able to stimulate progesterone production in the absence of any gonadotropin. PMA decreased ST-induced steroidogenesis and essentially abolished ST-potentiated IGF-I stimulation of steroidogenesis, suggesting the effects of ST on IGF-I action involved a PKC-dependent mechanism. Unlike gonadotropin, ST did not change IGF-I receptor binding. However, ST significantly decreased a major IGF binding protein (IGFBP, ∼30kDa) which is likely to be IGFBP-5, whereas it increased a minor IGFBP (∼24kDa) which is likely to be IGFBP-4. Both effects of ST were dose- and time-dependent. Furthermore, ST inhibited the expression of mRNA for IGFBP-5 suggesting that ST decreased IGFBP-5 levels by inhibiting its transcription and/or decreasing the stability of its mRNA. Interestingly, ST also decreased mRNA levels of IGFBP-4 despite a significant increase in secreted IGFBP-4 levels. The mechanisms involved are not known. Activation of PKC by PMA had no acute effect on these IGFBPs. The regulation by ST of IGFBPs was not antagonized by PMA, and was not affected by PKC-down regulation. Thus, it is likely that ST induces granulosa cell steroidogenesis, potentiates the IGF-I stimulation of steroidogenesis and regulates IGFBP via both PKC-dependent and -independent pathways.

Regulation of phospholipase D activity by neutral lipids in egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine small unilamellar vesicles and by calcium ion in aqueous medium

Hydrolysis activity of phospholipase D from Streptomyces chromofuscus (PLD) was studied in small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC). The enzyme was associated with PC-SUV in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Both apparent maximum velocity, Vmax(app), and reciprocal of apparent Michaelis constant, i.e., apparent binding constant, 1/Km(app), increased with Ca2+ concentration, and the maximum values of these kinetic parameters were obtained at about 20 microM Ca2+. Incorporation of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG), cholesterol (Chol) or alpha-tocopherol (Toc) into PC-SUV induced shift of the antisymmetric PO2- stretching band of PC to lower frequency. The neutral lipids in SUV brought about increase of the Vmax(app) value (Yamamoto et al. (1993) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1145, 293-297). On the basis of these findings we discussed the regulation of PLD activity in terms of the Ca(2+)-dependent complex formation of PLD with SUV, and the enhancement of susceptibility of the P-O bond in PC molecule by neutral lipids.