Ceramide-induced translocation of protein kinase C ζ in primary cultures of astrocytes

Abstract

The present research was undertaken to study the possible involvement of the atypical protein kinase C (PKC) ζ in ceramide signal transduction in primary cultures of rat astrocytes. As shown by Western blot analysis, translocation of immunoreactive PKCζ to the particulate fraction occurred upon exposure of astrocytes to cell-permeable ceramide analogs or to exogenous sphingomyelinase. The particulate fraction may correspond to a perinuclear area, as indicated by immunocytochemical techniques. Furthermore, treatment of cells with N-octanoylsphingosine led to an increased phosphorylation of PKCζ. Results thus show that stimulation of PKCζ may be one of the intracellular events triggered by activation of the sphingomyelin pathway.