Differential mechanisms of inositol phosphate generation at the receptors for bombesin and platelet-derived growth factor

Effects of GTP gamma S on muscarinic receptor-stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in permeabilized smooth muscle from the small intestine

1. Smooth muscle fragments from the longitudinal layer of the small intestine of the guinea-pig were permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin (alpha-toxin) and used to investigate the role of G-protein activation in the regulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. 2. The efficiency of alpha-toxin permeabilization was estimated by the release of [3H]-2-deoxyglucose ([3H]-2DG) after prior loading or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme release from the smooth muscle fragments. 3. In alpha-toxin-permeabilized smooth muscle, but not in non-permeabilized muscle, GTP gamma S induced time- and concentration-dependent increases in labelled inositol phosphates. Carbachol (CCh) increased labelled inositol phosphates in both permeabilized and non-permeabilized muscle, although the increases were greater in non-permeabilized smooth muscle. The response to 100 microM CCh was severely reduced by 0.5 microM atropine. 4. In permeabilized muscle the effects of GTP gamma S or CCh on inositol phosphate levels were reduced by treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) and completely inhibited by GDP beta S. 5. GTP gamma S caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the CCh-induced increases in the levels of labelled inositol phosphates. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP or Sp-cAMPs (adenosine-3',5'-cyclic phosphorothiolate-Sp) reduced the effects of CCh on inositol phosphate levels. 6. The results suggest that muscarinic AChR activation induces inositol phospholipid hydrolysis via more than one G-protein in this smooth muscle and that several mechanisms may contribute to the modulation of both stimulatory and inhibitory responses observed.

Mechanisms of ATP-induced Ca2+ signaling in osteoclasts

We investigate the mechanisms underlying the intracellular calcium pulse that occurs in response to extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in osteoclasts. We find that pre-loading of GDP-beta-S abolishes the response in Ca(2+)-free medium, demonstrating an internal release of Ca2+ via a pathway that involves a G protein. GDP-beta-S does not block in normal Ca(2+)-containing medium, suggesting that ATP also induces a Ca2+ influx across the cell membrane. We confirmed this using the Mn2+ quenching technique, which shows significant opening of Ca2+ channels. We find a smaller response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and 2-methylthio-ATP (2-MeSATP), but no response to beta, gamma-methylene-ATP (AMP-PCP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) or uridine triphosphate (UTP). Prior application of AMP and UTP, but not AMP-PCP, blocks the response to ATP. Our results indicate that the receptor is a P2 subtype that is not characteristic of any previously reported P2 receptor or combination of P2 receptors.

Association of guinea pig lung bombesin receptors with pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding proteins

The possible interaction of bombesin receptors with guanine nucleotide binding protein in guinea pig lung was studied. The non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanosine-5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) was shown to decrease [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding in a concentration-dependent manner. The specificity of this effect was assessed by examining the effects of other guanine nucleotides on this binding at a concentration of 1 mM. GMP and GDP weakly inhibited [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding (2 and 19%, respectively), whereas GTP, guanosine-5'-[beta-thio]triphosphate (GDP beta S), and 5-guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp) exhibited similar potencies, inducing 52%, 46%, and 43% inhibition of [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding respectively. Saturation experiments performed in the absence and presence of 100 microM GTP gamma S indicated the presence of a single population of receptors in both cases. However, the addition of GTP gamma S induced a marked decrease in the number of receptors (from 1.76 fmol/mg protein to 0.78 fmol/mg protein) without significantly altering the dissociation constant (Kd). These results provide evidence that bombesin receptors are coupled to a G-protein signal transduction pathway in guinea pig lung. We have further characterised this G-protein on the basis of its toxin sensitivity. Pretreatment of the lung membranes with either pertussis (10 micrograms/ml) or cholera toxin (50 micrograms/ml) was performed. Cholera toxin treatment did not affect the ability of GTP gamma S to inhibit [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding to guinea pig lung membranes. However, pertussis toxin treatment induced a decrease in binding and resulted in the inability of GTP gamma S to inhibit [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding in a concentration-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A comparison between muscarinic receptor occupancy, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation and Ca2+ mobilization in permeabilized SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Electrically permeabilized SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells have been used to examine the relationship between receptor occupation by muscarinic agonists, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) accumulation and Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores. The kinetics, concentration-dependence and guanine nucleotide-sensitivity of these responses have been characterized for the agonists, carbachol, arecoline and oxotremorine. Carbachol stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation and Ca2+ mobilization with an EC50 value approximately 50 microM, only slightly lower than the apparent affinity of this agonist for the "free" receptor (100 microM). Arecoline and oxotremorine were partial agonists, mobilizing 45 and 21% of the Ca2+ mobilized by carbachol, and yielded EC50 values for both Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ca2+ responses, similar to their binding affinity. Guanosine 5'-O-3 thio-triphosphate (GTP gamma S) markedly enhanced the responses elicited by all three agonists. Carbachol became significantly more potent for both Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation (EC50 = 4.1 microM) and Ca2+ mobilization (EC50 = 0.25 microM), revealing a separation of the dose-response relationships. GTP gamma S caused a smaller separation of the responses elicited by arecoline (Ca2+ mobilization EC50 = 0.9 microM; Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation EC50 = 3.6 microM), and only enhanced maximal responses for oxotremorine. These data reveal that the functional coupling of muscarinic receptors to activation of phosphoinositidase C and subsequent Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores is maintained after electrical permeabilization. Furthermore, this model has been used to reveal differences in the relative activities of muscarinic agonists and how they are influenced by a hydrolysis-resistant guanine nucleotide.

Map kinase activation in Swiss 3T3 cells stimulated with gastrin-releasing peptide is associated with increased phosphorylation of a 78,000 M(r) protein immunoprecipitated by anti-raf kinase anti-serum

Addition of 10 nM gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts induced a transient (1-2 min) tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase). Increased activity of 42,000 M(r) MAP kinase was detected with immunochemical methods; however, in situ kinase detection on renaturated SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel revealed activation of both 42,000 and 44,000 M(r) MAP kinase species. Furthermore, stimulation of 32P-labelled cells with 10 nM GRP for 2 min resulted in an increased phosphorylation of a protein with an approximate molecular mass of 78,000 M(r) in anti-raf kinase and anti-MAP kinase kinase immunoprecipitates of cytosolic extracts from 32P-labelled cells. The presented data demonstrated that GRP induces MAP kinase activation in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, and furthermore suggest a role for raf kinase in this process.

Streptolysin O-permeabilized cell system for studying trans-acting activities of exogenous nuclear proteins

Efficient transfer of exogenous proteins into culture animal cells can be achieved by Streptolysin O (SLO) permeabilization of plasma membranes. We used this method to establish an in vitro transcription system for early response genes. The promoters of many early response genes contain an essential DNA motif known as the Serum Response Element (SRE). Recent data has shown that this DNA sequence is recognized by Serum Response Factor (SRF) and its associated proteins. Our initial experiments showed that HeLa nuclear extracts induced the transcription of the c-fos gene in serum-starved murine fibroblasts which were permeabilized by either physical method (glass beads) or cytolytic pore-forming protein (SLO). Plasma membrane permeabilization presumably permits passive diffusion of macromolecules into target cells and we showed that a truncated SRF expressed in bacteria was translocated into the nucleus within 30 minutes after SLO permeabilization. HeLa crude extracts were fractionated in order to identify the active nuclear factors. SRF was purified by binding to Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA)-agarose but the active factors remained in the WGA-unbound fractions. Our results demonstrate that this permeabilized cell in vitro transcription system is simple, efficient and can be used to test crude nuclear fractions as well as purified proteins expressed in bacteria; it will be an useful tool for the reproduction of transcriptional regulation on chromatin templates in vitro as well as the investigation of the biochemical functions of specific transcription factors or signal transduction effectors.

Interaction between mitogens upon intracellular Ca2+ pools in murine fibroblasts

A comparison of the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and bombesin on intracellular Ca2+ stores was carried out in Swiss 3T3 cells loaded with Fura-2. It was found that the tumor promoter thapsigargin (Tg) almost completely inhibited both the PDGF- and the bombesin-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) rise, indicating that the two mitogens mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular pool(s) sensitive to the tumor promoter. It was also found that pre-treatment with PDGF almost totally and persistently (up to at least 30 min) inhibited the bombesin-, Tg- and ionomycin-induced rise in [Ca2+]i, whereas pre-treatment with bombesin had only a partial inhibitory effect on the PDGF, Tg and ionomycin [Ca2+]i response, both in the absence and in the presence of external Ca2+. On the other hand, vasopressin and bradykinin, which also stimulate hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in these cells, did not affect the [Ca2+]i response induced by the same agents. These results indicate that, despite the poor production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3), PDGF was capable of totally discharging and maintaining discharged the InsP3-sensitive stores of intracellular Ca2+, regardless of whether extracellular Ca2+ was present in the medium. Bombesin only partially caused this effect. On the contrary, bradykinin and vasopressin, after releasing intracellular Ca2+ allowed an almost total refilling of the pools. It is interesting to note that, at variance with PDGF and bombesin, neither bradykinin nor vasopressin are able to induce a mitogenic response in Swiss 3T3 cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor and alternative splicing: a review

The mitogenic and chemotactic potency of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has linked this polypeptide to the pathogenesis of several disease states including atherosclerosis and neoplasia. We have reviewed the recent literature on aspects relating to the structure, distribution and biology of PDGF and its high-affinity cell-surface and intracellular receptors. In addition to platelets, several normal and tumor cells secrete the mitogen in one or more of three possible dimeric configurations. Alternative splicing of exon 6 in PDGF A-chain RNA results in the formation of two protein species with different carboxy-termini. Initially, it was thought that the longer A-chain variant was processed only by transformed cells. However, recent evidence indicates that alternative splicing occurs in several cells which express the A-chain, including early Xenopus embryos. The functional significance of the exon 6 product, a highly basic region spanned by 18 amino acid residues (A194-211), is not precisely clear. We have summarized recent findings which implicate roles for A194-211 in the processing, secretion, and mitogenesis of the A-chain homodimer, nuclear transport signalling, and heparin binding. Thus, alternative splicing could play an important role in the modulation of the functional properties of the PDGF A-chain variants per se and in the complex interactive network of polypeptide growth factors and cytokines.

Activation of signal transduction in platelets by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate (vanadyl hydroperoxide)

The protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitor pervanadate (vanadyl hydroperoxide) stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation 29-fold more than did thrombin in intact and saponin-permeabilized platelets. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation preceded, or was coincident with, a fall in PtdIns(4,5)P2 levels, production of PtdIns(3,4)P2 and phosphatidic acid, mobilization of intracellular Ca2+, stimulation of protein kinase C-dependent protein phosphorylation, secretion of dense and alpha-granules, increased actin polymerization, shape change and aggregation which required fibrinogen and was mediated by increased surface expression of GPIIb-IIIa. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor RG 50864 totally prevented induction of tyrosine phosphorylation by pervanadate, as well as all other responses measured; in contrast, the inactive structural analogue, tyrphostin #1, had no effect. Dense-granule secretion induced by pervanadate required protein kinase C activity; however, aggregation and alpha-granule secretion were independent of protein kinase C. In saponin-permeabilized platelets pervanadate and thrombin stimulated phospholipase C activity by GTP-independent and GTP-dependent mechanisms respectively. We conclude that PTPases are important regulators of signal transduction in platelets.

A novel approach to detect toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in intact cells: its use to study the action of Pasteurella multocida toxin

Certain microbial toxins are ADP-ribosyltransferases, acting on specific substrate proteins. Although these toxins have been of great utility in studies of cellular regulatory processes, a simple procedure to directly study toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in intact cells has not been described. Our approach was to use [2-3H]adenine to metabolically label the cellular NAD+ pool. Labeled proteins were then denatured with SDS, resolved by PAGE, and detected by flurography. In this manner, we show that pertussis toxin, after a dose-dependent lag period, [3H]-labeled a 40-kD protein intact cells. Furthermore, incubation of the gel with trichloroacetic acid at 95 degrees C before fluorography caused the release of label from bands other than the pertussis toxin substrate, thus, allowing its selective visualization. The modification of the 40-kD protein was ascribed to ADP-ribosylation of a cysteine residue on the basis of inhibition of labeling by nicotinamide and the release of [3H]ADP-ribose from the labeled protein by mercuric acetate. Cholera toxin catalyzed the [3H]-labeling of a 46-kD protein in the [2-3H]adenine-labeled cells. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin before the labeling of NAD+ with [2-3H]adenine blocked [2-3H]ADP-ribosylation catalyzed by pertussis toxin, but not that by cholera toxin. Thus, labeling with [2-3H]adenine permits the study of toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in intact cells. Pasteurella multocida toxin has recently been described as a novel and potent mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cell and acts to stimulate the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides. The basis of the action of the toxin is not known. Using the methodology described here, P. multocida toxin was not found to act by ADP-ribosylation.

Characterization of the tyrosine phosphorylation of calpactin I (annexin II) induced by platelet-derived growth factor

Stimulation in vivo of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the presence of orthovanadate induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 39 kDa protein, identified as the phosphorylated slow-migrating form of calpactin I (annexin II) heavy chain, p36. In fact, in PDGF-stimulated cells, anti-(calpactin I) antibodies recognize a doublet of bands, p36 and p39, and the latter disappears upon treatment with phosphatase. In many regards phosphorylation of p39 differs from the rapid and transient phosphorylation of the PDGF receptor and of other substrates: (a) it has slower kinetics but is then stable for longer periods of time; (b) it occurs at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C; and (c) whereas most of the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins are associated with membrane-enriched preparations, membrane association of p39 only occurs in the presence of Ca2+. Moreover, calpactin I leaks out of permeabilized cells at 0.1 microM free Ca2+, whereas it remains associated with the cells at concentrations of Ca2+ greater than or equal to 1 microM. PDGF does not stimulate phosphoinositide turnover (and thus Ca2+ mobilization) at 4 degrees C; thus it can be suggested that the Ca(2+)-dependent translocation of the protein to membrane/cytoskeletal structures is a necessary condition for its phosphorylation. In addition, calpactin I may not be a direct substrate for the PDGF receptor kinase, but rather the substrate of another tyrosine kinase activated by the receptor.

Bombesin stimulates a high affinity GTPase activity in membranes of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Peptides of the bombesin family are mitogenic for Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and in these cells stimulate the turnover of polyphosphoinositides. Recent studies have suggested that G protein(s) may be involved in the signal transduction pathway triggered by bombesin. In this study we have found and characterized a high affinity GTPase activity stimulated by bombesin in membranes of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Our results support the involvement of a G protein in the response of Swiss 3T3 cells to bombesin.

Characterization of the murine pancreatic receptor for gastrin releasing peptide and bombesin

The murine pancreatic receptor for bombesin and gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) has been characterized. Analysis of the binding of 125I-GRP to membranes indicates a single class of sites (10(-13) mol/mg protein) with Kd of 43 pM. A 70 kDa membrane protein was cross-linked to 125I-GRP by bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate; labeling was blocked by GRP, GRP (14-27), AcGRP(20-27), GRP(18-27), bombesin and ranatensin, was partially blocked by [Leu13 psi (CH2NH)Leu14]bombesin and was unaffected by GRP(21-27) and GRP(1-16). The IC50 values for the competitive displacement of 125I-GRP from intact membranes by these peptides were similar to those obtained by the cross-linking experiments showing that the 70 kDa protein is the GRP receptor. The GRP receptor is G-protein coupled; divalent cations are required for high-affinity binding and nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs decrease receptor affinity. In minced pancreas, GRP caused a dose-dependent increase in inositol phosphates implicating phospholipase C in signal transduction. We suggest that the murine pancreatic receptor for bombesin/GRP is a 70 kDa membrane protein, is associated with a G-protein and stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover.

Receptor regulation of phosphoinositidase C

Numerous hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors regulate intracellular events by acting at cell surface receptors which are coupled to the generation of inositol phospholipid-derived intracellular messengers. Receptors trigger the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids by activating phosphoinositidase C (PIC) enzymes. At least four families of genes encode structurally distinct PIC enzymes and it is likely that distinct PIC isoenzymes participate in different pathways of signal transduction. Two different modes of receptor regulation have been identified and these involve distinct PIC isoenzymes. In the first of these, PIC-gamma is a substrate for growth factor receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. The second of these pathways involves PIC-beta plus other isoenzymes whose activities are regulated by G proteins in response to agonist binding to G protein-linked receptors. At least two types of G proteins regulate PIC activity and each may control the activity of different PIC isoenzymes.

Cyclic AMP agonists induce the phosphorylation of phospholipase C-tau and of a 76 kDa protein co-precipitated by anti-(phospholipase C-tau) monoclonal antibodies in BALB/c-3T3 cells. Relationship to inositol phosphate formation

Previous studies have demonstrated enhanced phosphorylation of phospholipase C-tau (PLC-tau), a key regulatory enzyme in phosphoinositide metabolism, in cells treated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor, both of which act via specific receptor tyrosine kinases. Our studies on BALB/c-3T3 cells show that agents that promote cellular cyclic AMP accumulation also increase the phosphorylation, specifically the serine phosphorylation, of this enzyme. Increased phosphorylation of PLC-t (2-3-fold) was evident within 5-10 min of addition of isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and either cholera toxin or forskolin to cells, and persisted for at least 3 h. Treatment of cells with cyclic AMP agonists also enhanced, with similar kinetics, the phosphorylation of a 76 kDa protein co-precipitated by anti-PLC-tau monoclonal antibodies. Brief exposure of cells to cholera toxin/IBMX or forskolin/IBMX decreased inositol phosphate formation induced by the GTP-binding protein (G-protein) activator aluminium fluoride by approx. 50%, but was without effect on PDGF-stimulated inositol phosphate formation. These findings suggest that PLC-tau, and perhaps the 76 kDa co-precipitated protein, are substrates of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in BALB/c-3T3 cells: however, the lack of effect of cyclic AMP elevation on PDGF-stimulated inositol phosphate formation indicates that the intrinsic activity of PLC-tau is unaltered by cyclic AMP-mediated phosphorylation.

myo-inositol metabolites as cellular signals

The discovery of the second-messenger functions of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, the products of hormone-stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, marked a turning point in studies of hormone function. This review focuses on the myo-inositol moiety which is involved in an increasingly complex network of metabolic interconversions, myo-Inositol metabolites identified in eukaryotic cells include at least six glycerophospholipid isomers and some 25 distinct inositol phosphates which differ in the number and distribution of phosphate groups around the inositol ring. This apparent complexity can be simplified by assigning groups of myo-inositol metabolites to distinct functional compartments. For example, the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase pathway functions to generate inositol phospholipids that are substrates for hormone-sensitive forms of inositol-phospholipid phospholipase C, whilst the newly discovered phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway generates lipids that are resistant to such enzymes and may function directly as novel mitogenic signals. Inositol phosphate metabolism functions to terminate the second-messenger activity of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, to recycle the latter's myo-inositol moiety and, perhaps, to generate additional signal molecules such as inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate. In addition to providing a more complete picture of the pathways of myo-inositol metabolism, recent studies have made rapid progress in understanding the molecular basis underlying hormonal stimulation of inositol-phospholipid-specific phospholipase C and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ mobilisation.

Evidence that the epidermal growth factor receptor and non-tyrosine kinase hormone receptors stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis by independent pathways

We have shown previously that exposure of a non-transformed continuous line of rat liver epithelial (WB) cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF), adrenaline, angiotensin II or [Arg8]vasopressin results in an accumulation of the inositol phosphates InsP1, InsP2 and InsP3 [Hepler, Earp & Harden (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7610-7619]. Studies were carried out with WB cells to determine whether the EGF receptor and other, non-tyrosine kinase, hormone receptors stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis by common, overlapping or separate pathways. The time courses for accumulation of inositol phosphates in response to angiotensin II and EGF were markedly different. Whereas angiotensin II stimulated a very rapid accumulation of inositol phosphates (maximal by 30 s), increases in the levels of inositol phosphates in response to EGF were measurable only following a 30 s lag period; maximal levels were attained by 7-8 min. Chelation of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA did not modify this relative difference between angiotensin II and EGF in the time required to attain maximal phospholipase C activation. Under experimental conditions in which agonist-induced desensitization no longer occurred in these cells, the inositol phosphate responses to EGF and angiotensin II were additive, whereas those to angiotensin II and [Arg8]vasopressin were not additive. In crude WB lysates, angiotensin II, [Arg8]vasopressin and adrenaline each stimulated inositol phosphate formation in a guanine-nucleotide-dependent manner. In contrast, EGF failed to stimulate inositol phosphate formation in WB lysates in the presence or absence of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), even though EGF retained the capacity to bind to and stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of its own receptor. Pertussis toxin, at concentrations that fully ADP-ribosylate and functionally inactivate the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase (Gi), had no effect on the capacity of EGF or hormones to stimulate inositol phosphate accumulation. In intact WB cells, the capacity of EGF, but not angiotensin II, to stimulate inositol phosphate accumulation was correlated with its capacity to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the 148 kDa isoenzyme of phospholipase C. Taken together, these findings suggest that, whereas angiotensin II, [Arg8]vasopressin and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors are linked to activation of one or more phospholipase(s) C by an unidentified G-protein(s), the EGF receptor stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis by a different pathway, perhaps as a result of its capacity to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma.

Oncogenes, malignant transformation, and modern medicine

During the past decade there have been remarkable strides in the understanding of the basic mechanism of cancer. It is now clear that there is a set of genes, known as oncogenes, that can cause cells to become malignant if their expression is altered, either by mutation or overexpression. The products of these genes include growth factors, growth factor receptors, signal tranduction proteins, and DNA binding proteins. The normal cellular counterparts of these genes play very important roles in the regulation of growth and proliferation by normal cells. Another set of genes, anti-oncogenes, also play an important role in preventing abnormal cell proliferation. The remarkable explosion of understanding of the pathophysiology of malignancy has led to a common unifying concept of malignant transformation that applies to all tumors. It is likely that these new insights will lead to improved and more specific treatments for malignant disease in the next decade.

Regulation of bombesin-stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate generation in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts by a guanine-nucleotide-binding protein

The stimulation of inositol phosphate generation by bombesin and GTP analogues was studied in Swiss 3T3 cells permeabilized by electroporation. Bombesin-stimulated inositol phosphate generation is potentiated by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) and inhibited by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate at all peptide concentrations tested, with no change in the EC50 value (concn. giving half-maximal response) for the agonist. Kinetic analysis showed that, although bombesin-stimulated [3H]InsP3 generation in [3H]inositol-labelled cells was rapid (maximal by 5-10 s), the response to GTP[S] alone displayed a distinct lag time of 20-30 s. This lag time was significantly decreased by the addition of bombesin, suggesting that in this system agonist-stimulated GTP/GDP exchange occurs. In addition, bombesin-stimulated generation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 mass at 10 s was enhanced by GTP[S] in the absence of a nucleotide response alone, a result consistent with this proposal. Pretreatment of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of bombesin-, but not GTP[S]-, stimulated inositol phosphate generation. Furthermore, although PMA pretreatment did not affect the lag time for InsP3 formation in response to GTP[S] alone, the degree of synergy between bombesin and the nucleotide was severely decreased at early time points. The results therefore demonstrate that the high-affinity bombesin receptor is coupled via a G-protein to phospholipase C in a manner consistent with a general model for receptor-G-protein interactions and that this coupling is sensitive to phosphorylation by protein kinase C.