Stimulation of secretion in permeabilized PC12 cells by adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate: possible involvement of nucleoside diphosphate kinase

Reduction of invasion in human fibrosarcoma cells by ribosomal protein S3 in conjunction with Nm23-H1 and ERK

RpS3 is a component of the 40S ribosomal subunit of eukaryotes and also plays a role as a base damage endonuclease. Nm23-H1 encodes nucleoside diphosphate kinase A and acts as a suppressor of metastasis in certain human tumors. RpS3 interacted with nm23-H1, and the two proteins were colocalized in the cell periphery and cytoplasm. The 190th leucine of rpS3, and the 118th histidine and the 120th serine of nm23-H1 play key roles in the interaction of two proteins, respectively. The expression of rpS3 reduced the secretion of MMP-9 and the invasive potential in HT1080 cells. Additionally, the phosphorylated ERK was reduced by the expression of rpS3. In MCF7 cells, where the ERK pathway is inactivated and MMPs are not secreted and the ERK pathway can be activated by PMA, the PMA-induced ERK phosphorylation was reduced by the expression of rpS3. However, the L190A mutant of rpS3, which did not interact with nm23-H1, did not inhibit the invasive potential, the secretion of MMP-9, and the activation of the ERK pathway in HT1080 cells and PMA-activated MCF7 cells. These results suggest that rpS3 inhibits invasion via blocking the ERK pathway and MMP-9 secretion; the results also suggest that the interaction of rpS3 and nm23-H1 appears to be critical in this inhibition.

Phosphorylation of geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphates by Nm23 proteins/nucleoside diphosphate kinases

The biochemical mechanism(s) by which Nm23 proteins/nucleoside diphosphate kinases suppress tumor metastasis, inhibit cell motility, and affect cellular differentiation are not known. Here we report that Nm23 proteins can phosphorylate geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphates to give triphosphates. Wild type Nm23-H1 had higher geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphate kinase activities than did mutants of Nm23-H1 that do not inhibit cell motility. The phosphorylation of farnesyl pyrophosphate appears to occur in vivo as cells with an elevated level of Nm23-H1 contained more farnesyl triphosphate than did control cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report that farnesyl triphosphate exists in cells. The phosphorylation of farnesyl pyrophosphate by Nm23 proteins could alter isoprenoid metabolism, and cells with an elevated level of Nm23 proteins were found to contain more farnesylated 46- and 24-kDa proteins than did control cells. The phosphorylation of geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphates by Nm23 proteins provides a novel mechanism by which these proteins might exert their biological effects.

ATP dependence of Na+/H+ exchange. Nucleotide specificity and assessment of the role of phospholipids

We studied the ATP dependence of NHE-1, the ubiquitous isoform of the Na+/H+ antiporter, using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique to apply nucleotides intracellularly while measuring cytosolic pH (pHi) by microfluorimetry. Na+/H+ exchange activity was measured as the Na(+)-driven pHi recovery from an acid load, which was imposed via the patch pipette. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts stably transfected with NHE-1, omission of ATP from the pipette solution inhibited Na+/H+ exchange. Conversely, ATP perfusion restored exchange activity in cells that had been metabolically depleted by 2-deoxy-D-glucose and oligomycin. In cells dialyzed in the presence of ATP, no "run-down" was observed even after extended periods, suggesting that the nucleotide is the only diffusible factor required for optimal NHE-1 activity. Half-maximal activation of the antiporter was obtained at approximately 5 mM Mg-ATP. Submillimolar concentrations failed to sustain Na+/H+ exchange even when an ATP regenerating system was included in the pipette solution. High ATP concentrations are also known to be required for the optimal function of other cation exchangers. In the case of the Na/Ca2+ exchanger, this requirement has been attributed to an aminophospholipid translocase, or "flippase.". The involvement of this enzyme in Na+/H+ exchange was examined using fluorescent phosphatidylserine, which is actively translocated by the flippase. ATP depletion decreased the transmembrane uptake of NBD-labeled phosphatidylserine (NBD-PS), indicating that the flippase was inhibited. Diamide, an agent reported to block the flippase, was as potent as ATP depletion in reducing NBD-PS uptake. However, diamide had no effect on Na+/H+ exchange, implying that the effect of ATP is not mediated by changes in lipid distribution across the plasma membrane. K-ATP and ATP gamma S were as efficient as Mg-ATP in sustaining NHE-1 activity, while AMP-PNP and AMP-PCP only partially substituted for ATP. In contrast, GTP gamma S was ineffective. We conclude that ATP is the only soluble factor necessary for optimal activity of the NHE-1 isoform of the antiporter. Mg2+ does not appear to be essential for the stimulatory effect of ATP. We propose that two mechanisms mediate the activation of the antiporter by ATP: one requires hydrolysis and is likely an energy-dependent event. The second process does not involve hydrolysis of the gamma-phosphate, excluding mediation by protein or lipid kinases. We suggest that this effect is due to binding of ATP to an as yet unidentified, nondiffusible effector that activates the antiporter.

Association of nucleoside diphosphate kinase with pancreatic zymogen granules: effects of local GTP generation on granule membrane characteristics

It is well established that both GTP-binding proteins and phosphoproteins are involved in the control of exocytosis in the exocrine pancreas. Exocytotic membrane fusion is stimulated by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, and the phosphorylation states of several proteins, including at least one on the zymogen granule membrane, are known to change during exocytosis. We show here that a nucleoside diphosphate kinase is associated with the cytoplasmic face of pancreatic zymogen granules. This enzyme behaves as a phosphoprotein of apparent molecular mass 21 kDa on SDS/polyacrylamide gels, and is able to produce GTP by using ATP to phosphorylate endogenous GDP. GTP production by nucleoside diphosphate kinase is stimulated by the wasp venom peptide mastoparan, both through a direct action on the enzyme and through its ability to increase the availability of endogenous GDP. Two effects of the GTP produced by nucleoside diphosphate kinase are demonstrated: phosphorylation of a 37 kDa zymogen granule protein on histidine residues, and stimulation of the fusion of zymogen granules with pancreatic plasma membranes in vitro. These results suggest that granule-associated nucleoside diphosphate kinase is able to maintain local GTP concentrations, and raise the possibility that it might be involved in the control of exocytosis in the pancreatic acinar cell.

Phosphotransfer reactions as a means of G protein activation

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) serve to transduce information from agonist-bound receptors to effector enzymes or ion channels. Current models of G protein activation-deactivation indicate that the oligomeric GDP-bound form must undergo release of GDP, bind GTP and undergo subunit dissociation, in order to be in active form (GTP bound alpha subunits and free beta gamma dimers) and to regulate effectors. The effect of receptor occupation by an agonist is generally accepted to be promotion of guanine nucleotide exchange thus allowing activation of the G protein. Recent studies indicate that transphosphorylation leading to the formation of GTP from GDP and ATP in the close vicinity, or even at the G protein, catalysed by membrane-associated nucleoside diphosphate kinase, may further activate G proteins. This activation is demonstrated by a decreased affinity of G protein-coupled receptors for agonists and an increased response of G protein coupled effectors. In addition, a phosphorylation of G protein beta subunits and consequent phosphate transfer reaction resulting in G protein activation has also been demonstrated. Finally, endogenously formed GTP was preferentially effective in activating some G proteins compared to exogenous GTP. The aim of this report is to present an overview of the evidence to date for a transphosphorylation as a means of G protein activation (see also refs [1 and 2] for reviews).

Activation of GTP formation and high-affinity GTP hydrolysis by mastoparan in various cell membranes. G-protein activation via nucleoside diphosphate kinase, a possible general mechanism of mastoparan action

The wasp venom, mastoparan (MP), is a direct activator of reconstituted pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins and of purified nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) [E.C. 2.6.4.6.]. In HL-60 membranes, MP activates high-affinity GTPase [E.C. 3.6.1.-] and NDPK-catalyzed GTP formation, but not photolabeling of G-protein alpha-subunits with GTP azidoanilide; this suggests that the venom activates G-proteins in this system indirectly via stimulation of NDPK. Moreover, the MP analogue, mastoparan 7 (MP 7), is a much more effective activator of reconstituted G-proteins than MP, whereas with regard to NDPK and GTPase in HL-60 membranes, the two peptides are similarly effective. In our present study, we investigated NDPK- and G-protein activation by MP in membranes of the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, the human erythroleukemia cell line, HEL, the rat basophilic leukemia cell line, RBL 2H3, and the hamster ductus deferens smooth muscle cell line, DDT1MF-2. All these membranes exhibited high NDPK activities that were increased by MP. Compared to basal GTP formation rates, basal rates of high-affinity GTP hydrolysis in cell membranes were low. MP activated high-affinity GTP hydrolysis in cell membranes but did not enhance incorporation of GTP azidoanilide into G-protein alpha-subunits. As with HL-60 membranes, MP and MP 7 were similarly effective activators of NDPK and GTPase in SH-SY5Y membranes. Pertussis toxin inhibited MP-stimulated GTP hydrolyses in SH-SY5Y- and HEL membranes, whereas NDPK activations by MP were pertussis toxin-insensitive. Our data suggest that indirect G-protein activation via NDPK is not restricted to HL-60 membranes but is a more general mechanism of MP action in cell membranes. Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of alpha-subunits may inhibit the transfer of GTP from NDPK to G-proteins. NDPK may play a much more important role in transmembrane signal transduction than was previously appreciated and, moreover, the GTPase of G-protein alpha-subunits may serve as GDP-synthase for NDPK.

Phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase by nucleoside diphosphate kinase

Rat liver nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) and PC12 cell cytosol were used to determine whether NDPK could function as a protein kinase. NDPK was phosphorylated on its catalytic histidine using [gamma-32P]ATP, and the phosphorylated NDPK separated from [gamma-32P]ATP. The addition of phosphorylated NDPK to dialyzed PC12 cell cytosol resulted in the phosphorylation of a protein with a subunit molecular mass of about 120 kDa. This phosphorylation appeared to occur by a direct transfer of a phosphoryl group from the catalytic histidine of NDPK to a histidine on the 120-kDa protein. The 120-kDa protein was partially purified and shown by peptide sequencing to be ATP-citrate lyase. ATP-citrate lyase is the primary source of cytosolic acetyl-CoA. NDPK phosphorylated the histidine at the catalytic site of ATP-citrate lyase. This histidine can also be phosphorylated by ATP, and its phosphorylation is the first step in the conversion of citrate and CoA to oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA by ATP-citrate lyase. The level of phosphorylation of PC12 cell ATP-citrate lyase by phosphorylated NDPK was comparable with that by ATP. Thus, in addition to its nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity, NDPK can function as a protein kinase.

Inhibition by cromoglycate and some flavonoids of nucleoside diphosphate kinase and of exocytosis from permeabilized mast cells

1. The anti-allergic compound, cromoglycate, is reported to possess affinity for, and to suppress the autophosphorylation of a 72kDa protein having the sequence of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK). 2. We have tested the ability of cromoglycate, and a panel of ten structurally related flavonoids of plant origin, to inhibit the NDPK reaction and the exocytotic process of permeabilized mast cells. The conditions of permeabilization (use of an isotonic medium based on sodium glutamate) were selected to ensure that NDPK activity would be an essential component in the induction of Ca(2+)-induced exocytosis in which ATP is required for generation of GTP. For comparison, we also measured the inhibition of exocytosis induced by GTP-gamma-S; this proceeds in the absence of ATP and bypasses the need for NDPK activity. 3. We found that cromoglycate does not discriminate between Ca2+ and GTP-gamma-S-induced exocytosis and is a poor inhibitor of NDPK activity. Concentrations in the millimolar range are required for inhibition of all these functions. By comparison, many of the flavonoids are effective at concentrations in the micromolar range. 4. While we were unable to discern any systematic relationships between their ability to inhibit the three functions, two compounds, quercetin and genistein, inhibit Ca(2+)-induced, but not GTP-gamma-S-induced exocytosis. Inhibition of the late stages of the stimulus-response pathway in mast cells by these compounds is therefore likely to be due to inhibition of NDPK and the consequent failure to generate GTP.