Okadaic acid identifies a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle controlling the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein Gi2

Inhibitors of serine/threonine protein phosphatases antagonize the antinociception induced by agonists of alpha 2 adrenoceptors and GABAB but not kappa-opioid receptors in the tail flick test in mice

We previously reported that serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPs) play a role in the antinociception induced by the mu-opioid receptor agonist morphine. In this study we evaluated the possible involvement of PPs on the antinociception induced by agonists of others G protein-coupled receptors in the tail flick test in mice. The subcutaneous administration of clonidine (0.25-4 mg/kg), baclofen (2-32 mg/kg) or U50,488H (2-16 mg/kg) (agonists of alpha(2) adrenoceptors, GABA(B) and kappa-opioid receptors, respectively) produced dose-dependent antinociception. The antinociceptive effects of clonidine and baclofen were antagonized in a dose-dependent way by the protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid (0.001-10 pg/mouse, i.c.v.) and cantharidin (0.001-10 ng/mouse, i.c.v.), and okadaic acid was 1000 times more potent than cantharidin in producing this effect. The effects of these drugs appear to be specifically due to the blockade of PPs, since L-norokadaone (an analogue of okadaic acid that has no effect on PPs) did not modify clonidine- or baclofen-induced antinociception over the wide range of doses used (0.001-1000 pg/mouse, i.c.v.). On the other hand, the antinociception induced by activation of kappa-opioid receptors with U50,488H was not modified by okadaic acid or cantharidin. In conclusion, our data support the idea that serine/threonine PPs are differentially involved in the antinociceptive effects of several agonists of G protein-coupled receptors in mice.

Heterologous desensitization of response mediated by selective PKC-dependent phosphorylation of G(i-1) and G(i-2)

This study examined the ability of protein kinase C (PKC) to induce heterologous desensitization by targeting specific G proteins and limiting their ability to transduce signals in smooth muscle. Activation of PKC by pretreatment of intestinal smooth muscle cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, cholecystokinin octapeptide, or the phosphatase 1 and phosphatase 2A inhibitor, calyculin A, selectively phosphorylated Galpha(i-1) and Galpha(i-2), but not Galpha(i-3) or Galpha(o), and blocked inhibition of adenylyl cyclase mediated by somatostatin receptors coupled to G(i-1) and opioid receptors coupled to G(i-2), but not by muscarinic M(2) and adenosine A(1) receptors coupled to G(i-3). Phosphorylation of Galpha(i-1) and Galpha(i-2) and blockade of cyclase inhibition were reversed by calphostin C and bisindolylmaleimide, and additively by selective inhibitors of PKCalpha and PKCepsilon. Blockade of inhibition was prevented by downregulation of PKC. Phosphorylation of Galpha-subunits by PKC also affected responses mediated by betagamma-subunits. Pretreatment of muscle cells with cANP-(4-23), a selective agonist of the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor, NPR-C, which activates phospholipase C (PLC)-beta3 via the betagamma-subunits of G(i-1) and G(i-2), inhibited the PLC-beta response to somatostatin and [D-Pen(2,5)]enkephalin. The inhibition was partly reversed by calphostin C. Short-term activation of PKC had no effect on receptor binding or effector enzyme (adenylyl cyclase or PLC-beta) activity. We conclude that selective phosphorylation of Galpha(i-1) and Galpha(i-2) by PKC partly accounts for heterologous desensitization of responses mediated by the alpha- and betagamma-subunits of both G proteins. The desensitization reflects a decrease in reassociation and thus availability of heterotrimeric G proteins.

Effects of serine/threonine protein phosphatases on ion channels in excitable membranes

This review deals with the influence of serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatases on the function of ion channels in the plasma membrane of excitable tissues. Particular focus is given to developments of the past decade. Most of the electrophysiological experiments have been performed with protein phosphatase inhibitors. Therefore, a synopsis is required incorporating issues from biochemistry, pharmacology, and electrophysiology. First, we summarize the structural and biochemical properties of protein phosphatase (types 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 3-7) catalytic subunits and their regulatory subunits. Then the available pharmacological tools (protein inhibitors, nonprotein inhibitors, and activators) are introduced. The use of these inhibitors is discussed based on their biochemical selectivity and a number of methodological caveats. The next section reviews the effects of these tools on various classes of ion channels (i.e., voltage-gated Ca(2+) and Na(+) channels, various K(+) channels, ligand-gated channels, and anion channels). We delineate in which cases a direct interaction between a protein phosphatase and a given channel has been proven and where a more complex regulation is likely involved. Finally, we present ideas for future research and possible pathophysiological implications.

Purification of A1 adenosine receptor-G-protein complexes: effects of receptor down-regulation and phosphorylation on coupling

We examined the effects of exposing A1 adenosine receptors (A1ARs) to an agonist on the stability and phosphorylation state of receptor-guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (R-G-protein) complexes. Non-denatured recombinant human A1ARs extended on the N-terminus with hexahistidine (His6) and the FLAG (Asp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys) epitope (H/F) were purified to near homogeneity from stably transfected Chinese-hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells. Purified receptors have pharmacological properties similar to receptors in membranes. G-proteins were co-purified with 15+/-2% of H/F-A1AR unless receptor-G-protein (R-G) complexes were uncoupled by pre-treating cell membranes with GTP. By silver staining, purified A1AR-G-protein complexes contain receptors, G-protein alpha and beta subunits and an unidentified 97 kDa protein. Pretreating intact cells with N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) for 24 h decreased both the total number of receptors measured in membranes and the number of purified A1ARs by about 50%. In contrast, pretreating cells with CPA decreased the number of R-G complexes measured in membranes (54+/-6%) significantly less than it decreased the number of purified R-G complexes (78+/-3%) as detected by 125I-N6-(4-aminobenzyl)adenosine binding or by Western blotting Gialpha2. The effect of CPA to decrease the fraction of receptors purified as R-G complexes was not associated with any change in low-level A1AR phosphorylation (found on serine), or low-level phosphorylation of G-protein alpha or beta subunits or the 97 kDa protein. These experiments reveal a novel aspect of agonist-induced down-regulation, namely a diminished stability of receptor-G-protein complexes that is manifested as uncoupling during receptor purification.

Signalling functions and biochemical properties of pertussis toxin-resistant G-proteins

Pertussis toxin (PTX) has been widely used as a reagent to characterize the involvement of heterotrimeric G-proteins in signalling. This toxin catalyses the ADP-ribosylation of specific G-protein alpha subunits of the Gi family, and this modification prevents the occurrence of the receptor-G-protein interaction. This review focuses on the biochemical properties and signalling of those G-proteins historically classified as 'PTX-resistant' due to the inability of the toxin to influence signalling through them. These G-proteins include members of the Gq and G12 families and one Gi family member, i.e. Gz. Signalling pathways controlled by these G-proteins are well characterized only for Gq family members, which activate specific isoforms of phospholipase C, resulting in increases in intracellular calcium and activation of protein kinase C (PKC), among other responses. While members of the G12 family have been implicated in processes that regulate cell growth, and Gz has been shown to inhibit adenylate cyclase, the specific downstream targets to these G-proteins in vivo have not been clearly established. Since two of these proteins, G12 alpha and Gz alpha, are excellent substrates for PKC, there is the potential for cross-talk between their signalling and Gq-dependent processes leading to activation of PKC. In tissues that express these G-proteins, a number of guanine-nucleotide-dependent, PTX-resistant, signalling pathways have been defined for which the G-protein involved has not been identified. This review summarizes these pathways and discusses the evidence both for the participation of specific PTX-resistant G-proteins in them and for the regulation of these processes by PKC.

Regulation of phosphorylation of Gi2 alpha protein controls the secretory response to isoproterenol in rat parotid tissues

Treatment of rat parotid tissues with 1 microM isoproterenol (IPR) for 10 min caused a 60% decrease in pertussis toxin (IAP)-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha and resulted in supersensitivity of amylase secretion from the tissues. However, conversely, IPR treatment for 30 min caused a 40% increase in IAP-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha, coupled with desensitization of amylase secretion. No changes in Gs function were observed in IPR-induced phenomena. Pretreatment with okadaic acid induced enhancement of the supersensitivity of amylase secretion and disappearance of the desensitization. These phenomena were accompanied with decreases in IAP-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha. IPR treatment for 30 min caused a 50% decrease in phosphorylation of Gi2 alpha immunoprecipitated with anti-G protein antiserum (AS/7) from [32P]Pi-labeled cells, but such treatment for 10 min caused a 40% increase in phosphorylation in the cells pretreated with okadaic acid. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of immunoprecipitates with AS/7 by protein kinase A (PKA) and alkaline phosphatase caused decreases and increases in IAP-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation, respectively, indicating the presence of PKA-mediated phosphorylation sites on Gi2 alpha. Thus, the control of the phosphorylation of Gi2 alpha is of importance and relevance in the regulation of biological processes and cellular responses.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes elicits the phosphorylation of hepatocyte Gi2 alpha at the protein kinase C site but not at the protein kinase A-controlled site

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes caused a profound increase in the steady-state level of phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of the adenylate cyclase inhibitory protein Gi2 in hepatocytes. Unlike hepatocytes from control animals, those from streptozotocin-diabetic animals showed no increase in the phosphorylation of Gi2 alpha in response to a challenge with the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate. However, a stimulatory effect of 8-bromo-cAMP on Gi2 alpha phosphorylation was evident in hepatocytes from diabetic animals but this was severely reduced compared with that observed in hepatocytes from normal animals. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping showed that Gi2 alpha in resting hepatocytes from diabetic animals was phosphorylated exclusively at the protein kinase C site (C-site) but no labelling was evident at the protein kinase A-regulated site (AN-site). Treatment of hepatocytes from diabetic animals with phorbol myristate acetate did not change this pattern of labelling. In contrast, challenge of hepatocytes from diabetic animals with 8-bromo-cAMP led to the appearance of a new labelled phosphopeptide that was consistent with labelling at the AN-site. Analysis of the C-site and AN-site phosphopeptides from hepatocytes of diabetic animals treated with 8-bromo-cAMP showed that the increase in labelling of Gi2 alpha caused by this ligand could be attributed almost entirely to labelling at the AN-site. Thus streptozotocin diabetes appears to cause enhanced labelling of hepatocyte Gi2 alpha by exclusively increasing phosphorylation at the C-site. It is suggested that the increased labelling at the C-site reflects an augmentation of the protein kinase C signalling system in hepatocytes from streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals. This may have wide-spread functional consequences for these cells and may result either from an increased protein kinase C activity and/or a reduction in protein phosphatase 1 and/or 2A activity.

Facilitation of T-type calcium current in bullfrog atrial cells: voltage-dependent relief of a G protein inhibitory tone

1. The properties of the low-threshold calcium current, ICa,T, were investigated in bullfrog isolated atrial cardiomyocytes using the whole-cell, patch-clamp technique under control conditions and during beta-adrenergic stimulation. 2. The intracellular application of GTP gamma S or adenosine-5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate (ATP gamma S), poorly hydrolysable analogues of GTP and ATP, respectively, barely affected ICa,T amplitude in control conditions. beta-Adrenergic stimulation effects were more marked in the presence of ATP gamma S. 3. The intracellular application of GDP beta S and ADP reduced ICa,T amplitude. In cells pretreated with pertussis toxin, ICa,T amplitude was significantly increased. In both conditions, the addition of isoprenaline was without effect. 4. Under both control and beta-adrenergic-stimulated conditions, a conditioning prepulse to +70 mV did not fully inactivate ICa,T; rather ICa,T facilitation often occurred after beta-adrenergic stimulation. 5. In GTP gamma S- and ATP gamma S-dialysed cells, ICa,T facilitation was generally observed after a prepulse; it was larger in the ATP gamma S dialysis. Facilitation was sustained but ended immediately upon cessation of conditioning prepulses. After beta-adrenergic stimulation, facilitation was more marked in GTP gamma S- than in ATP gamma S-dialysed cells. 6. ICa,T facilitation was prevented by the intracellular application of GDP beta S and by pertussis toxin pretreatment. 7. ICa,T facilitation developed markedly in the presence of intracellular cyclic AMP. This effect was prevented by pertussis toxin pretreatment of the cells. 8. It is thus proposed that ICa,T is under a double antagonistic control by both a Gs and a Gi protein. Furthermore, the double-pulse-induced facilitation of ICa,T results from a voltage-dependent relief of the Gi protein inhibitory tone. Such an effect is increased by protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation, presumably of the Gi protein.

Insulin and vasopressin elicit inhibition of cholera-toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in both hepatocytes and the P9 immortalized hepatocyte cell line through an action involving protein kinase C

Incubation of hepatocytes or the SV40-DNA-immortalized hepatocyte P9 cell line with cholera toxin led to a time-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase activity, which occurred after a defined lag period. When added together with cholera toxin, each of the hormones insulin and vasopressin was capable of attenuating the maximum stimulatory effect achieved by cholera toxin over a period of 60 min through a process which could be blocked by the compounds staurosporine and chelerythrine. Attenuating effects on cholera-toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity could also be elicited by using either the protein kinase C (PKC)-stimulating phorbol ester PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) or the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. Alkaline phosphatase treatment of membranes reversed the inhibitory effect of PMA. Cholera toxin also stimulated the adenylate cyclase activity of intact CHO (Chinese-hamster ovary) and NIH-3T3 cells, but this activity was insensitive to the addition of PMA. Overexpression of various PKC isoforms in CHO cell lines did not confer sensitivity to inhibition by PMA upon cholera-toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Rather, overexpression of the gamma isoform of PKC allowed PMA to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in CHO cells. It is suggested that the PKC-mediated phosphorylation of a membrane protein attenuates cholera-toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in hepatocytes and P9 cells. The cellular selectivity of such an action may be due to the target for this inhibitory action of PKC being a particular isoform of adenylate cyclase which provides the major activity in hepatocytes and P9 cells, but not in either CHO or NIH-3T3 cells.

Phosphorylation of Gz alpha by protein kinase C blocks interaction with the beta gamma complex

Gz alpha is a G protein alpha subunit with biochemical properties that distinguish it from other members of the G protein alpha subunit family. One such property is its ability to be stoichiometrically phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC), both in vitro and in intact cells. The site of this phosphorylation has been mapped to a region near the N terminus of Gz alpha, but no functional significance of the modification has been established. To investigate this question, we have developed a baculovirus/Sf9 cell expression system to produce Gz alpha. The protein purified from Sf9 cells is functional as assessed by its ability both to bind guanine nucleotide in a Mg(2+)-sensitive fashion and to serve as a substrate for phosphorylation by PKC. Furthermore, addition of the G protein beta gamma complex purified from bovine brain inhibits phosphorylation of Gz alpha in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, phosphorylation of Gz alpha inhibits its ability to interact with beta gamma subunits. These results establish a functional consequence for PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation of Gz alpha and suggest a mechanism for regulation of signaling through Gz by preventing reassociation of its subunits.

Insulin inhibits the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 in intact hepatocytes

Challenge of intact hepatocytes with insulin reduced the level of phosphorylated alpha-Gi-2 found under basal (resting) conditions. At maximally effective concentrations of insulin the steady-state labelling of alpha-Gi-2 was reduced by approximately 21%. Insulin achieved this in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, exhibiting an IC50 value of 109 +/- 22 pM. The increased labelling of alpha-Gi-2 seen after challenge of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was also attenuated by insulin. Treatment of hepatocytes with the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid increased the labelling of alpha-Gi-2 in a fashion which was insensitive to the action of insulin. It is suggested that insulin may reduce the level of phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 by stimulating intracellular protein phosphatase activity and that this action may offer a molecular explanation for the ability of insulin to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity in hepatocytes by increasing the level of non-phosphorylated alpha-Gi-2.

A role for protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation in eliciting glucagon desensitization in rat hepatocytes

An immobilized hepatocyte preparation was used to show that both vasopressin and glucagon could desensitize the ability of glucagon to increase intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations. This process was not dependent on any influx of extracellular Ca2+ and was not mediated by any rise in the intracellular level of Ca2+. The protein kinase C-selective inhibitors chelerythrine, staurosporine and calphostin C acted as potent inhibitors of the desensitization process but with various degrees of selectivity regarding their ability to inhibit the desensitizing actions of glucagon and vasopressin. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid was just as potent as vasopressin and glucagon in causing desensitization. Treatment of hepatocyte membranes with alkaline phosphatase restored to near control levels the ability of glucagon to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from both glucagon- and vasopressin-treated (desensitized) hepatocytes. It is suggested that the desensitization of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity involves a reversible phosphorylation reaction with the likely target being the glucagon receptor itself.

The cross-regulation of Gi-protein by cholera toxin involves a phosphorylation by protein kinase A

Pretreatment of alveolar macrophages with cholera toxin inhibits the release of arachidonic acid induced by the chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. The results presented here show that cholera toxin might exert its inhibitory effect through the phosphorylation of Gi alpha by protein kinase A (PKA). (1) Gi-proteins from cells pretreated with cholera toxin showed parallel increases in their sensitivity to ADP-ribosylation by toxins in vitro and in Gi alpha phosphorylation. By contrast, the Gi alpha concentration was unchanged. (2) Cholera toxin pretreatment also decreased the functional activity of Gi, as assessed by the inhibition (80%) of agonist-induced binding of guanosine-5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S]). (3) These effects of cholera toxin were blocked by a specific PKA inhibitor, N-(2-[methyl-amino]ethyl)-3-isoquinolinesulphonamide dihydrochloride (H8) and mimicked by a cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogue and a phosphatase inhibitor. (4) Gi alpha was also phosphorylated in vitro by the catalytic subunit of PKA. In contrast with other cell systems, the stimulation of protein kinase C seems to have no effect on the sensitivity of Gi to ADP-ribosylation or on its phosphorylation. Therefore, the phosphorylation of Gi-proteins by PKA seems to be the actual target of the negative control of arachidonic acid release via the cAMP-mediated pathway.

Multi-site phosphorylation of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein Gi-2 occurs in intact rat hepatocytes

A phosphorylated form of alpha-Gi-2 (the alpha-subunit of Gi-2), immunoprecipitated from hepatocytes under basal conditions, migrated as a single species of pI approximately 5.7, the labelling of which increased approximately 2-fold in cells challenged with either vasopressin or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA); agents which activate protein kinase C. In contrast, treatment of hepatocytes with 8-bromo-cyclic AMP produced a more acidic species of phosphorylated alpha-Gi-2 having a pI of approximately 5.4 and whose labelling was increased approximately 3-fold. Trypsin digestion of labelled alpha-Gi-2 isolated from hepatocytes under basal conditions identified, on two-dimensional peptide analyses, three positively charged phosphoserine-containing peptides (C1, C2 and C3), with only peptides C1 and C2 being evident upon less extensive digestion with trypsin. These are suggested to reflect a single site of phosphorylation, with proteolysis by trypsin being incomplete, and where C2 is larger than C1, which is larger than C3. An identical pattern of tryptic phosphopeptides was seen in hepatocytes treated with either vasopressin or PMA, although labelling of this group of peptides was increased by approximately 2-fold compared with the basal state. In contrast, treatment of hepatocytes with glucagon, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP or forskolin not only resulted in increased labelling of the 'basal' sites approximately 3-fold, but identified a novel positively charged tryptic phosphoserine-containing peptide (AN). All four tryptic peptides were susceptible to proteolysis by V8 protease. Treatment of labelled alpha-Gi-2 from basal and PMA-treated cells produced a pattern of peptides which was identical with those found when the tryptic phosphopeptide was treated with V8 protease. We tentatively suggest that, on alpha-Gi-2, Ser144 is phosphorylated through the action of protein kinase C and Ser207 is phosphorylated upon elevation of the intracellular concentrations of cyclic AMP.

Analysis of the adenylate cyclase signalling system, and alterations induced by culture with insulin, in a novel SV40-DNA-immortalized hepatocyte cell line (P9 cells)

An immortalized cell line, called P9, was derived from hepatocytes by transfection with SV40 DNA. These cells expressed enzyme activities characteristic of hepatocytes, namely glucose-6-phosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase, bilirubin glucuronyltransferase and both glucagon- and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities, albeit at decreased levels compared with native hepatocytes. Levels of the G-protein subunits alpha-Gi-2, alpha-Gi-3, G beta and the 'long' form of alpha-G2 (45 kDa) were approximately 4-fold higher relative to native hepatocytes, whereas those of the 'short' form of alpha-G2 (42 kDa) were lower by approximately 40%. Associated with this were marked alterations in the guanine nucleotide regulation of adenylate cyclase. Receptor-mediated stimulation, achieved by either PGE1 or glucagon, was apparent in P9 cells, although the latter was only evident upon amplification with forskolin. Glucagon-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in P9 cells did not exhibit desensitization, as in hepatocytes, nor was the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 evident. Culture of P9 cells with insulin led to a dose-dependent decrease (EC50 0.2 +/- 0.1 nM) in the ability of PGE1 to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity, with the maximum effect attained after approximately 6 h. A comparable attenuation of stimulation was seen for glucagon- and guanine-nucleotide-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. In cells cultured with insulin, lower levels of GTP were required to stimulate adenylate cyclase, ADP-ribosylation of the 45 kDa form of alpha-Gs with cholera toxin was attenuated, and the expression of both alpha Gi-2 and alpha-Gi-3 was increased. It is suggested that the expression of alpha-Gi-2 and alpha-Gi-3 may be directly regulated by the action of insulin in hepatocytes and P9 cells.

Studies on the properties of myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase and myo-inositol monophosphatase in bovine iris sphincter smooth muscle: effects of okadaic acid and protein phosphorylation

In bovine iris sphincter, myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) 5-phosphatase and myo-inositol 1-phosphate (IP1) monophosphatase are mainly localized in the microsomal and soluble fractions, respectively. Studies on the properties of these enzymes can be summarized as follows. (1) The microsomal IP3 5-phosphatase hydrolyzed IP3 to myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate with an apparent Km of 28 microM and Vmax of 32 nmol/min per mg protein. The IP1 monophosphatase in the soluble fraction hydrolyzed IP1 into free inositol with an apparent Km of 89 microM and Vmax of 7 nmol/min per mg protein. (2) IP3 5-phosphatase and IP1 monophosphatase had optimal pH values at 8.0 and 7.0, respectively. (3) Both enzymes required Mg2+ and their highest specific activities were at a cation concentration of 2 mM. (4) Ca2+ (> 0.5 microM) exerted an inhibitory effect on IP3 5-phosphatase activity, and marked inhibition (47%) was observed at a concentration of 10 microM. Higher concentrations of the cation (> 100 microM) were required to inhibit IP1 monophosphatase. (5) IP1 monophosphatase, but not IP3 5-phosphatase, was inhibited by Li+. Li+ had no effect on the contractile response in this smooth muscle. (6) Both enzymes were inhibited by ATP and by the thiol-blocking agent, disulfiram. In addition, thimerosal, a thiol reagent, also inhibited the IP3 5-phosphatase activity. (7) Protein phosphorylation of the microsomal and soluble fractions with PKA or PKC had no effect on the activities of these enzymes. (8) Okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase inhibitor, had no effect on the activity of IP3 5-phosphatase. However, in the intact iris sphincter the toxin significantly reduced the carbachol-induced IP3 production, 1,2-diacylglycerol formation, measured as phosphatidic acid, and caused muscle relaxation.

The pharmacology and function of central GABAB receptors

In conclusion, GABAB receptors enable GABA to modulate neuronal function in a manner not possible through GABAA receptors alone. These receptors are present at both pre- and postsynaptic sites and can exert both inhibitory and disinhibitory effects. In particular, GABAB receptors are important in regulating NMDA receptor-mediated responses, including the induction of LTP. They also can regulate the filtering properties of neural networks, allowing peak transmission in the frequency range of theta rhythm. Finally, GABAB receptors are G protein-coupled to a variety of intracellular effector systems, and thereby have the potential to produce long-term changes in the state of neuronal activity, through actions such as protein phosphorylation. Although the majority of the effects of GABAB receptors have been reported in vitro, recent studies have also demonstrated that GABAB receptors exert electrophysiological actions in vivo. For example, GABAB receptor antagonists reduce the late IPSP in vivo and consequently can decrease inhibition of spontaneous neuronal firing following a stimulus (Lingenhöhl and Olpe, 1993). In addition, blockade of GABAB receptors can increase spontaneous activity of central neurons, suggesting the presence of GABAB receptor-mediated tonic inhibition (Andre et al., 1992; Lingenhöhl and Olpe, 1993). Despite these electrophysiological effects, antagonism of GABAB receptors has generally been reported to produce few behavioral actions. This lack of overt behavioral effects most likely reflects the modulatory nature of the receptor action. Nevertheless, two separate behavioral studies have recently reported an enhancement of cognitive performance in several different animal species following blockade of GABAB receptors (Mondadori et al., 1992; Carletti et al., 1993). Because of their small number of side effects, GABAB receptor antagonists may represent effective therapeutic tools for modulation of cognition. Alternatively, the lack of overt behavioral effects of GABAB receptors may indicate that these receptors are more important in pathologic rather than normal physiological states (Wojcik et al., 1989). For example, a change in receptor affinity or receptor number brought on by the pathology could enhance the effectiveness of GABAB receptors. Of significance, CGP 35348 has been shown to block absence seizures in genetically seizure prone animals, while inducing no seizures in control animals (Hosford et al., 1992; Liu et al., 1992). Thus, GABAB receptors may represent effective sites for pharmacological regulation of absence seizures. Perhaps further behavioral effects of these receptors will become apparent only after additional studies have been performed using the highly potent antagonists that have been recently introduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

G proteins: critical control points for transmembrane signals

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) that are made up of alpha and beta gamma subunits couple many kinds of cell-surface receptors to intracellular effector enzymes or ion channels. Every cell contains several types of receptors, G proteins, and effectors. The specificity with which G protein subunits interact with receptors and effectors defines the range of responses a cell is able to make to an external signal. Thus, the G proteins act as a critical control point that determines whether a signal spreads through several pathways or is focused to a single pathway. In this review, I will summarize some features of the structure and function of mammalian G protein subunits, discuss the role of both alpha and beta gamma subunits in regulation of effectors, the role of the beta gamma subunit in macromolecular assembly, and the mechanisms that might make some responses extremely specific and others rather diffuse.

Okadaic acid-induced actin assembly in neutrophils: role of protein phosphatases

Activation of neutrophils results in morphological and functional alterations including changes in cell shape and initiation of motile behavior that depend on assembly and reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Phosphoproteins are thought to be key intermediates in the regulation of cytoskeletal alterations and whereas much attention has been directed at the role of protein kinases, relatively little information is available on the importance of phosphatases. To elucidate the role of protein phosphatases, we studied the effects of the phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid and calyculin A on the actin cytoskeleton of human neutrophils. Exposure of cells to okadaic acid resulted in assembly and spatial redistribution of actin, which peaked at 25 min and returned to baseline levels by 45 min, as assessed by flow cytometric analysis of NBD-phallacidin stained cells and confocal fluorescence microscopy, respectively. These effects correlated with an increase in protein phosphorylation, determined by incorporation of 32P into cellular proteins using SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Similar but more rapid responses were observed in electropermeabilized cells treated with okadaic acid or calyculin A. The dose dependence of these effects was compatible with a role for phosphatase type 1 as the target enzyme. These findings also suggested the presence of constitutively active protein kinases capable of effecting actin polymerization. Phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) has been postulated to promote actin assembly, but myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) appeared not to be involved because: (1) the effect of okadaic acid was not inhibited by the MLCK inhibitor KT5926 and (2) in permeabilized cells suspended in medium with free calcium [Ca2+] < 10 nM (conditions under which MLCK is inactive), the effect of okadaic acid persisted. The role of phosphatases in stimulus-induced actin assembly was assessed in cells preincubated with okadaic acid for 45 min, after F-actin levels had returned to baseline. Under these conditions, okadaic acid completely abrogated actin assembly induced by phorbol myristate acetate, platelet activating factor, and leukotriene B4, whereas the effects of the chemotactic peptide fMLP and opsonized zymosan (OpZ) were unaffected. We conclude that serine and threonine phosphatases exert a tonic negative influence on actin assembly and organization. Furthermore, divergent pathways seem to mediate the response to lipidic stimuli, on one hand, and fMLP and OpZ, on the other, as evidenced by the differential susceptibility to inhibition by okadaic acid.

Stimulatory and inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein involvement in stimulation of arachidonic-acid release by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and platelet-activating factor from guinea-pig alveolar macrophages. Differential receptor/G-protein interaction assessed by pertussis and cholera toxins

The involvement of guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) in the regulation of arachidonic-acid release induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) or platelet-activating factor (PAF) was examined in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages. We report that maximal release of arachidonic acid in permeabilized cells requires the simultaneous addition of the agonist (fMet-Leu-Phe or PAF) and of GTP (or GTP[S]). Prior treatment of cells with increasing concentrations of pertussis toxin induces a parallel decrease of arachidonic-acid release and of the labeling of a 40-kDa protein in membranes incubated with [32P]NAD and pertussis toxin. fMet-Leu-Phe, but not PAF, allows the ADP-ribosylation of a 40-KDa protein by cholera toxin in the presence of Mg2+. This effect is prevented by guanyl nucleotides and by prior treatment with pertussis toxin. The 40-kDa protein ADP-ribosylated seems to be alpha i1 and/or alpha i2. Stimulation of GTPase activity by fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF has the same amplitude and is completely inhibited by pertussis toxin, but only in part by cholera toxin. Prior treatment of alveolar macrophages with cholera toxin, which ADP-ribosylates Gs, inhibits PAF-stimulated and fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated arachidonic-acid release to the same extent, via a cAMP-protein-kinase-A cascade. The decreased responsiveness of alveolar macrophages previously treated with cholera toxin to fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF is associated with a strong increase of in-vitro [32P]NAD labeling of Gi proteins either by pertussis or by cholera toxin. This effect is mimicked by prior treatment of the cells with dibutyryl cAMP and okadaic acid, a protein-phosphatase inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of protein-kinase A in this process. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF receptors interact differently with Gi1/2 proteins in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages. Gi1/2 proteins are a possible target of the cross-regulation of arachidonic-acid release by a Gs-mediated pathway.

Protein kinase C sensitizes olfactory adenylate cyclase

Effects of neurotransmitters on cAMP-mediated signal transduction in frog olfactory receptor cells (ORCs) were studied using in situ spike recordings and radioimmunoassays. Carbachol, applied to the mucosal side of olfactory epithelium, amplified the electrical response of ORCs to cAMP-generating odorants, but did not affect unstimulated cells. A similar augmentation of odorant response was observed in the presence of phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). The electrical response to forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase (AC), was also enhanced by PDBu, and it was attenuated by the PKC inhibitor Goe 6983. Forskolin-induced accumulation of cAMP in olfactory tissue was potentiated by carbachol, serotonin, and PDBu to a similar extent. Potentiation was completely suppressed by the PKC inhibitors Goe 6983, staurosporine, and polymyxin B, suggesting that the sensitivity of olfactory AC to stimulation by odorants and forskolin was increased by PKC. Experiments with deciliated olfactory tissue indicated that sensitization of AC was restricted to sensory cilia of ORCs. To study the effects of cell Ca2+ on these mechanisms, the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of olfactory tissue was either increased by ionomycin or decreased by BAPTA/AM. Increasing cell Ca2+ had two effects on cAMP production: (a) the basal cAMP production was enhanced by a mechanism sensitive to inhibitors of calmodulin; and (b) similar to phorbol ester, cell Ca2+ caused sensitization of AC to stimulation by forskolin, an effect sensitive to Goe 6983. Decreasing cell Ca2+ below basal levels rendered AC unresponsive to stimulation by forskolin. These data suggest that a crosstalk mechanism is functional in frog ORCs, linking the sensitivity of AC to the activity of PKC. At increased activity of PKC, olfactory AC becomes more responsive to stimulation by odorants, forskolin, and cell Ca2+. Neurotransmitters appear to use this crosstalk mechanism to regulate olfactory sensitivity.

Regulation of renal epithelial sodium channels

The high selectivity, low conductance, amiloride-blockable, sodium channel of the mammalian distal nephron (i.e. cortical collecting tubule) is the site of discretionary regulation which allows maintainance of total body sodium balance. In order to understand the physiological events that participate in this regulation, we have used the patch-clamp technique which allows us to measure individual Na+ channel currents and permits access to the cytosolic side of the channel-protein as well as its associated regulatory components. Most of our experiments have utilized the A6 amphibian renal cell line, which when grown on permeable supports is an excellent model for the mammalian distal nephron. Different mechanisms have been examined: (1) regulation by hormonal factors such as Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) and aldosterone, (2) regulation by G-proteins, (3) modulation by protein kinase C (PK-C), and (4) modulation by products of arachidonic acid metabolism. Consistent with noise analysis of tight epithelial tissues, ADH treatment increased the number of active channels in apical membrane patches of A6 cells, without any apparent change in the open probability (Po) of the individual channels. Agents that increased intracellular cAMP mimicked the effects of ADH. In contrast, aldosterone was found to act through a dramatic increase in Po rather than through changes in channel density. Inhibition of methylation by deazaadenosine antagonizes the stimulatory effect of aldosterone. In excised inside-out patches GTP gamma S inhibits channel activity, whereas GDP beta S or pertussis toxin stimulates activity suggesting regulatory control by G-proteins. PK-C has been shown to contribute to 'feed-back inhibition' of apical Na+ conductance in tight epithelia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of phosphatase inhibitors and agents increasing cyclic-AMP-dependent phosphorylation on calcium channel currents in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurones: interaction with the effect of G protein activation

Ca2+ channel currents have been recorded in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurones. The amplitude of IBa(GTP gamma S), recorded in the presence of GTP[ gamma S] (200 microM) in the patch pipette solution, is enhanced by external application of forskolin (10 microM), and there is an increase in the proportion of the rapidly activating component of the current. When forskolin (1 microM) is present in the bathing solution at the start of recording, or when 8-bromocyclic AMP (100 microM) is present in the patch pipette solution, the amplitude and rate of activation of IBa(GTP gamma S) are also increased compared to control IBa(GTP gamma S). The effect is mimicked by internal application of a 5 microM solution of a phosphopeptide fragment of inhibitor 1 (I1 PP), which inhibits phosphatase 1. The enhancement of IBa(GTP gamma S) caused by I1PP is not additive with that due to forskolin. Furthermore, the enhancement due to I1PP is reversibly lost when the holding potential is shifted from -80 mV to -30 mV, as was the enhancement due to forskolin and 8-bromocyclic AMP. I1PP also produced a less marked stimulation of the control Ca2+ channel current in the absence of G protein activation. The results suggest that phosphorylation regulates the interaction between calcium channels and G proteins in these neurones, and that phosphatase 1 is tonically active to dephosphorylate the relevant protein(s).

Effect of okadaic acid on hormone- and mastoparan-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover in isolated rat hepatocytes

Okadaic acid is a potent and specific inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A which seems to be useful for identifying biological processes that are controlled by reversible phosphorylation of proteins. We report here that okadaic acid inhibits in isolated hepatocytes the stimulations of phosphoinositide turnover induced by epinephrine, angiotensin II and vasopressin. Mastoparan, a peptide toxin from wasp venom that mimics receptors by activating G-proteins, also stimulates the accumulation of inositol phosphates in hepatocytes. Interestingly, this action of mastoparan was also inhibited by okadaic acid. Our data indicate that okadaic acid inhibits the phosphoinositide turnover signal transduction system in hepatocytes at a level distal to the receptors.