Incorporation Of 32Pi Research Articles

Effects of carbachol and pancreozymin (cholecystokinin-octapeptide) on polyphosphoinositide metabolism in the rat pancreas in vitro.

We studied the possibility that hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] may be the initiating event for the increase in [32P]Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid (PtdA) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) during carbachol and pancreozymin (cholecystokinin-octapeptide) action in the rat pancreas. After prelabelling acini for 2h, [32P]Pi incorporation into PtdA, PtdIns(4,5)P2 and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) had reached equilibrium. Subsequent addition of carbachol or pancreozymin caused 32P in PtdIns(4,5)P2 to decrease by 30-50% within 10-15 s, and this was followed by sequential increases in [32P]Pi incorporation into PtdA and PtdIns. Similar changes in 32P-labelling of PtdIns4P were not consistently observed. Confirmation that the decrease in 32P in chromatographically-purified PtdIns(4,5)P2 reflected an actual decrease in this substance was provided by the fact that similar results were obtained (a) when PtdIns(4,5)P2 was prelabelled with [2-3H]inositol, and (b) when PtdIns(4,5)P2 was measured as its specific product (glycerophosphoinositol bisphosphate) after methanolic alkaline hydrolysis and ion-exchange chromatography. The secretogogue-induced breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 was not inhibited by Ca2+ deficiency (severe enough to inhibit amylase secretion and Ca2+-dependent hydrolysis of PtdIns), and ionophore A23187 treatment did not provoke PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis. The increase in the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and the increase in [32P]Pi incorporation into PtdA commenced at the same concentration of carbachol in dose-response studies. Our findings suggest that the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 is an early event in the action of pancreatic secretogogues that mobilize Ca2+, and it is possible that this hydrolysis may initiate the Ca2+-independent labelling of PtdA and PtdIns. Ca2+ mobilization may follow these responses, and subsequently cause Ca2+-dependent hydrolysis of PtdIns and exocytosis.

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters stimulate the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in quiescent Reuber H35 hepatoma cells.

The addition of the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to serum-starved quiescent Reuber H35 hepatoma cells results in a rapid 5- to 11-fold increase in the incorporation of 32Pi into a Mr = 32,000 ribosomal protein. The Mr = 32,000 protein was the major phosphorylated protein extracted from isolated 80 S ribosomes and was identified as the 40 S ribosomal protein S6 based upon its migration in two-dimensional gels. Insulin, which has been demonstrated to increase the phosphorylation of S6 in a number of cell lines, caused a 10- to 20-fold increase in the incorporation of 32Pi into this Mr = 32,000 ribosomal protein. S6 phosphorylation was dose- and time-dependent being detected as early as 5 min following the addition of 1.6 microM TPA. Maximal phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 was achieved by 60 min and remained elevated for at least 90 min in the presence of TPA. The 50% effective dose for TPA was estimated to be 0.14 microM. Based upon the altered migration of S6 in pH 8.5 urea-polyacrylamide gels, it was demonstrated that the increased 32Pi labeling of S6 by TPA was due to a net increase in the incorporation of phosphates into the S6 molecule. Non-tumor-promoting phorbol esters were ineffective in increasing the phosphorylation of S6. In whole cells, exogenously added 1 mM 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-monophosphate failed to substantially increase phosphorylation of S6 suggesting that the TPA-induced phosphorylation of S6 occurs via a cyclic AMP-independent mechanism. The S6 amino acid residue phosphorylated in response to TPA was phosphoserine. A possible role for protein kinase C in the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 is discussed.

Role of flavonoids in suppressing the enhancement of phospholipid metabolism by tumor promoters

Quercetin, a ubiquitous flavonoid in plants, inhibited the incorporation of [ 32P]inorganic phosphate ( 32P i) into phospholipid of HeLa cells enhanced by 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent tumor promoter. Among the flavonoids tested luteolin was the most effective in inhibiting the action of TPA. Studies on structure-activity relationships demonstrated that more hydroxylated flavones and flavonols had stronger inhibitory effects. Quercetin and luteolin also inhibited enhancement of 32P i-incorporation into phospholipid by dihydroteleocidin B, another potent tumor promoter. The inhibitory effect of quercetin on the biological action of tumor promoters is interesting in relation to the non-carcinogenicity of this flavonoid in animals, in spite of its mutagenicity.

Effects of angiotensin II, K+, adrenocorticotropin, serotonin, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate, A23187, and EGTA on aldosterone synthesis and phospholipid metabolism in the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa.

Rat adrenal glomerulosa cells and capsules were incubated in vitro with angiotensin II (A-II), ACTH, K+, (Bu)2cAMP, (Bu)2cGMP, A23187, and serotonin to compare their effects on steroidogenesis and phospholipid metabolism. In both glomerulosa cells and capsules, A-II, ACTH, K+, (Bu)2cAMP, and serotonin enhanced aldosterone or corticosterone production, but only A-II, K+, and serotonin significantly and consistently increased the incorporation of [32P]Pi into phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). A-II, ACTH, K+, (Bu)2cAMP, and serotonin all provoked nearly 2- fold increases in PI mass in adrenal capsules. (Bu)2cGMP had relatively small effects, if any, on aldosterone production or glomerulosa phospholipid metabolism. In adrenal capsules, the effects of K+ on [32P]Pi incorporation into PA and PI were inhibited by EGTA, but the effects of A-II on [32P]Pi incorporation were not influenced by EGTA, despite observed inhibition of steroidogenesis. Cycloheximide also inhibited steroidogenesis, but ...

Temperature-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant defective in lipid biosynthesis.

A temperature-sensitive mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (DAM303) is described that exhibits an early defect in lipid biosynthesis at the restrictive growth temperature, 37 degrees C. This strain rapidly lost viability after 1 h of incubation at 37 degrees C, and this was accompanied by a significantly reduced incorporation of 32Pi into cellular lipid and an accumulation of [1-14C]acetate into the free fatty acid fraction. The temperature-sensitive DAM303 mutation failed to complement the sec13 mutation described by Novick et al. (Cell 21:205-215, 1980), and from analysis of invertase secretion in the temperature-sensitive DAM303 strain, it is clear that the loss of invertase secretion in the mutant occurs after the loss of phospholipid synthesis. Although the precise nature of the temperature-sensitive lesion in the DAM303 strain has still to be identified, the results from the study of this mutant indicate that a defect in lipid biosynthesis can be correlated with subsequent alterations in extracellular protein secretion and loss of other macromolecular functions including DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses. From studies of this mutant, two procedures of enriching for other temperature-sensitive mutants with defects in lipid biosynthesis have emerged: inositol overproduction and screening for increased buoyant densities.

Cyclic AMP treatment of Rous sarcoma virus-transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells increases phosphorylation of pp60src and increases pp60src kinase activity.

Treatment of growing Rous sarcoma virus-transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells with the cyclic AMP analog 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-bromo-cyclic AMP) stimulates the incorporation of 32Pi into the viral transforming protein pp60src. Based on one-dimensional and two-dimensional peptide analysis and phosphoamino acid analysis, the increase is on a single phosphoserine residue at the NH2 terminus of the protein. The phosphate incorporation increases during the first 4 h of treatment. The pp60src kinase activity in extracts of cells treated with 8-bromo-cyclic AMP was stimulated about 2- to 3-fold. This stimulation of kinase activity increased during the first 3 h of treatment with 1 mM 8-bromo-cAMP and the activity was increased in both the soluble and particulate fraction of the cells. These results suggest that cyclic AMP can modulate the activity of pp60src in transformed cells.

Rapid protein phosphorylation induced by phorbol ester in HL-60 cells. Unique alkali-stable phosphorylation of a 17,000-dalton protein detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Treatment of the leukemic promyelocytic cell line, HL-60, with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), has been shown to induce terminal differentiation of the cells into monocytes. We found that this effect involves a rapid increase in phosphorylation of a 17-kDa protein (pp17, pI approximately 5.5) and a 27-kDa protein (pp27, pI approximately 5.5) as detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Within 15 min there was 5- to 7-fold and 3- to 4-fold increase in the phosphorylation of pp17 and pp27, respectively. The rate of phosphorylation remained accelerated over a period of 60-min incubation with PMA. In contrast to these specific changes, there was no effect of PMA on total 32Pi incorporation into HL-60 cells during the same period. The phosphoester bond of the pp17, but not of pp27, revealed a remarkable stability to alkali treatment of the electrophoretic gels. However, phosphoamino acid analysis showed that both pp17 and pp27 proteins are phosphorylated only at serine residues. These two phosphoproteins were located exclusively in the cytosol and were absent from the crude membrane fraction. We further demonstrated that several inactive derivatives of phorbol ester failed to cause an increase in phosphorylation of pp17 and pp27, suggesting that these specific phosphorylation events are intimately related to the induction of differentiation in HL-60 cells by PMA.

Metabolic interconversion of dolichol and dolichyl phosphate during development of the sea urchin embryo.

The in vivo and in vitro synthesis and turnover of dolichol and dolichyl phosphate have been studied over the course of early development in sea urchin embryos. Synthesis of dolichol and dolichyl phosphate was studied in vivo and in vitro using [3H]acetate and [14C] isopentenylpyrophosphate, respectively, as precursors. Both the in vivo and in vitro results indicate that the principal labeled end product of de novo synthesis is the free alcohol, and that this alcohol is subsequently phosphorylated to produce dolichyl phosphate. The presence of 30 microM compactin inhibits the de novo synthesis of dolichol from [3H]acetate by greater than 90%, but has no effect on the incorporation of 32Pi into dolichyl phosphate for more than 6 h, thus suggesting that during this time interval the major source of dolichyl phosphate is preformed dolichol. The rate of turnover of the [3H]acetate-labeled polyisoprenoid backbone of dolichyl phosphate is very slow (t1/2 = 40-70 h). In contrast, the rate of loss of the [32P]phosphate headgroup is more rapid (t1/2 = 5.7-7.7 h) and increases over the course of development. Finally, dolichyl phosphate phosphatase activity has been measured in vitro. The activity of this enzyme, which can be distinguished from phosphatidic acid phosphatase, was found to increase as a function of development, in qualitative agreement with the increased turnover of 32P from dolichyl phosphate observed in vivo. These results suggest that the phosphate moiety of dolichyl phosphate is in a dynamic state, and that dolichol kinase and dolichyl phosphate phosphatase play key roles in regulating the cellular level of dolichyl phosphate.

Role of Ca2+ in phosphatidylinositol response and arachidonic acid release in formylated tripeptide- or Ca2+ ionophore A23187-stimulated guinea pig neutrophils.

The role of Ca2+ in phospholipid metabolism and arachidonic acid release was studied in guinea pig neutrophils. The chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (fMLP) activated [32P]Pi incorporation into phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid (PA) without any effects on the labeling of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS). This activation was observed in Ca2+-free medium. Even in the neutrophils severely deprived of Ca2+ with EGTA and Ca2+ ionophore A23187, the stimulated labeling was not inhibited. When [3H]arachidonic acid-labeled neutrophils were stimulated by fMLP, a loss of [3H]arachidonic acid moiety in PI and the resultant increase in [3H]arachidonyl-diacylglycerol (DG), -PA, and free [3H]arachidonic acid was marked within 3 min. With further incubation, a loss of [3H]arachidonic acid in PC and PE became significant. These results suggest the activation of phospholipase C preceded the activation of phospholipase A2. In Ca2+-free medium, the decrease in [3H]arachidonyl-PI and the increase in [3H]arachidonyl-PA were only partially inhibited, although the release of [3H]arachidonic acid and a loss of [3H]arachidonyl-PC and -PE was completely blocked. These results show that PI-specific phospholipase C was not as sensitive to Ca2+ deprivation as arachidonic acid cleaving enzymes, phospholipase A2, and diacylglycerol lipase. Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which is known as an inducer of secretion, also stimulated [32P]Pi incorporation into PI and PA, although the incorporation into other phospholipids, such as PC and PE, was inhibited. This stimulated incorporation seemed to be caused by the activation of de novo synthesis of these lipids, because the incorporation of [3H]glycerol into PA and PI was also markedly stimulated by Ca2+ ionophore. But the chemotactic peptide did not increase the incorporation of [3H]glycerol into any glycerolipids including PI and PA. Thus, it is clear that fMLP mainly activates the pathway, PI leads to DG leads to PA, whereas Ca2+ ionophore activates the de novo synthesis of acidic phospholipids. When [3H]arachidonic acid-labeled neutrophils were treated with Ca2+ ionophore, the enhanced release of arachidonic acid and the accumulation of [3H]arachidonyl-DG, -PA with a concomitant decrease in [3H]arachidonyl-PC, -PE, and -PI were observed. Furthermore, the Ca2+ ionophore stimulated the formation of lysophospholipids, such as LPC, LPE, LPI, and LPA nonspecifically. These data suggest that Ca2+ ionophore releases arachidonic acid, unlike fMLP, directly from PC, PE, and PI, mainly by phospholipase A2. When neutrophils were stimulated by fMLP, the formation of LPC and LPE was observed by incubation for more than 3 min. Because a loss of arachidonic acid from PI occurred rapidly in response to fMLP, it seems likely the activation of PI-specific phospholipase C occurred first and was followed by the activation of phospholipase A2 when neutrophils are activated by fMLP...

Phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol labelling in adipose tissue. The role of endogenously formed adenosine.

Incorporation of [32P]Pi into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol of hamster epididymal adipocytes was partially inhibited by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. This effect of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine was antagonized by isopropyl-N6-phenyladenosine but not by 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, prostaglandin E1 or clonidine. N6-Phenylisopropyladenosine did not affect incorporation of [32P]Pi into phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylinositol when 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine was not present. In contrast with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine inhibition of [32P]Pi incorporation into phospholipids, which was blocked only by N6-phenylisopropyladenosine, accelerated lipolysis was blocked by prostaglandin E1, clonidine and 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine as well as by N6-phenylisopropyladenosine. Phospholipid labelling was also decreased in the presence of adenosine deaminase, but not in the presence of isoprenaline (isoproterenol). The stimulatory effect of N6-phenylisopropyladenosine on [32P]Pi incorporation into phospholipids in cells exposed to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine was evident as soon as 3 min after addition of the adenosine analogue and maximum 10 min after its addition. As observed by others, [32P]Pi incorporation into phospholipids was increased by the alpha 1-selective agonist methoxamine. The stimulatory effect of methoxamine occurred with a time course similar to that of N6-phenylisopropyladenosine and was present at nearly equal magnitude in the absence or presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The inhibitory effects of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and adenosine deaminase on phospholipid labelling are attributed to blockade of the action, or to the enzymic removal, of adenosine formed in and released from the fat-cells during their incubation. Supporting this view is the selective reversal of the actions of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and of adenosine deaminase by N6-phenylisopropyladenosine. These findings suggest an important role for endogenous adenosine in regulation of phospholipid turnover in adipocytes.

Phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol labelling in adipose tissue. Relationship to the metabolic effects of insulin and insulin-like agents.

Exposure to phospholipase C increased the incorporation of [32P]Pi into phosphatidate, CMP-phosphatidate and phosphatidylinositol in rat adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes. A similar effect was observed in response to insulin and oxytocin. Theophylline, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and adenosine deaminase decreased [32P]Pi incorporation, and adenosine and N6-phenylisopropyladenosine reversed these effects. As with insulin, exposure of adipose tissue to phospholipase C stimulated oxidation of glucose, pyruvate and leucine and activated pyruvate dehydrogenase. Oxytocin and adenosine also mimicked the effects of insulin on leucine oxidation and pyruvate dehydrogenase. However, only insulin stimulated glycogen synthase activity, indicating that the regulation of synthase may be achieved by intracellular events distinct from those regulating changes in phospholipid metabolism, sugar transport and mitochondrial enzyme activities. It is postulated that exposure to phospholipase C forms diacylglycerol, which is phosphorylated to yield phosphatidate. The increased labelling of CMP-phosphatidate and phosphatidylinositol results from the conversion of phosphatidate into these lipids. The correlation between the effects of phospholipase C on phosphatidate synthesis and changes in adipose-tissue metabolism suggests the possibility that increased phosphatidate may directly or indirectly produce changes in membrane transport and enzyme activities. The pattern of phospholipid labelling produced by insulin, adenosine and oxytocin suggests that these stimuli may also increase phosphatidate synthesis, and, if so, changes in phospholipid metabolism could account for some of the metabolic actions of these stimuli.

Somatostatin release from dispersed hypothalamic cells—Effects of membrane depolarization, calcium and glucose deprivation

We have developed a new short term in vitro system to examine hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIF) release. Hypothalamic cells were obtained from normal rats after trypsin or collagenase aided dispersion and released immuno-reactive (IR) SRIF which eluted in 3 molecular weight (MW) forms on gel chromatography. The smallest MW form, which constituted the major peak, co-eluted with synthetic cyclic 1–14 SRIF on gel and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). After 24 h in culture in medium containing heat inactivated fetal calf serum, cell viability was demonstrated by two techniques, (1) vital staining with trypan blue, and (2) incorporation of 32Pi into phospholipids. SRIF release was also studied at this time which was optimal in terms of responsivity of the cells to depolarizing stimuli. SRIF release increased in a time dependent manner, over 3 h. Membrane depolarization, induced either by potassium chloride 56 mM or ouabain (the Na +, K +-ATPase inhibitor) 10 −6 M or greater, markedly stimulated SRIF release. Incubation at 4 °C, or in the presence of EDTA 0.05 M or verapamil, the calcium channel blocker, 50 μM abolished these stimulatory effects. Glucose deprivation was induced by the addition of 2-deoxy- d-glucose (2-DG) to the experimental medium. 2-DG, at concentrations of up to 200 mg%, had no significant effect on SRIF release during incubation periods of up to 1 h.

Increased synthesis and accumulation of phospholipids during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes.

Conversion of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to fully developed adipocytes in culture under the influence of dexamethasone, 1-methyl-3-isobutyl xanthine, and insulin offers a unique system to investigate differentiation-related changes in lipid metabolism. Depending on the type of isotopic precursors ([3H2]O, 32Pi, and [1-14C]acetate) used, a 10-170-fold increase in the rate of incorporation into lipid was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes which contained 5-10-fold higher amounts of cellular protein/culture than preadipocytes. In preadipocytes and adipocytes, the major lipids synthesized were phospholipids, triglycerides, and fatty acids. The rate of 32Pi incorporation into total lipids was 21-fold higher in adipocytes than that in preadipocytes, and 90% of the total radioactivity in both preadipocytes and adipocytes was contributed by phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The content of phospholipids was 7-8-fold higher/culture in adipocytes than that in preadipocytes, and 65 and 80% of the total phospholipids of preadipocytes and adipocytes, respectively, were composed of PC and PE. Based on DNA measurements, there was a 3-fold increase in phospholipids and an approximately 3-fold increase in protein/cell. During 3T3-L1 adipose conversion, a detectable increase in cellular protein, triglycerides, and phospholipids was observed on day 3 after induction and, thereafter, these constituents increased continuously up to day 11. Among the different phospholipids of both preadipocytes and differentiating 3T3-L1 cells, PC, PE, and PI exhibited significant changes in their rate of 32Pi incorporation during adipogenesis. While there was a continuous increase in the incorporation of 32Pi into PI, there was preferential incorporation of 32Pi into PC and PE, the significance of which is not clear. The increase in phospholipids and protein content during adipogenesis suggests that phospholipids are required for membrane biosynthesis.

Phosphatidic acid mimicks the muscarinic action of acetylcholine in cultured bovine chromaffin cells

In cultured bovine chromaffin cells, acetylcholine as well as muscarine stimulated the 32Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid, induced the efflux of 45Ca2+ from prelabelled cells, and, in parallel, elevated intracellular cyclic GMP content. Phosphatidic acid added to the medium also stimulated the efflux of 45Ca2+ and the synthesis of cyclic GMP in the cells in the same fashion as muscarinic agents, whereas it did not induce the secretion of catecholamines indicating that the effect of phosphatidic acid is specific to muscarinic action. The result supports the hypothesis that phosphatidic acid produced during phosphatidylinositol turnover is linked to the regulation mechanism of Ca2+ mobilization and cyclic GMP synthesis by muscarinic stimulation.

Endogenous protein phosphorylation by resting and activated human neutrophils

NADPH oxidase is an enzyme in the plasma membrane of the neutrophil that catalyzes the production of O2-, a species central to the oxygen- dependent killing mechanisms of this cell. The oxidase is dormant in resting cells and is activated upon the addition of a stimulus. Neutrophils of patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) manifest no oxidase activity when stimulated. The possible role of protein phosphorylation in the activation of NADPH oxidase was examined in normal and CGD neutrophils by measuring the incorporation of 32Pi into proteins as determined by gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. Resting neutrophils from normal subjects exhibit at least 40 distinct phosphoprotein bands. The level of phosphorylation of these bands was examined after the addition of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), opsonized zymosan, digitonin, N-formyl-methionyl- phenylalanine (FMLP), or NaF. PMA and opsonized zymosan increased the phosphorylation of a set of 6 protein bands. Digitonin and FMLP consistently caused the phosphorylation of 4 of these protein bands, while NaF failed to induce increased phosphorylation of any protein band. All activators tested caused the dephosphorylation of one specific protein band. The time course of phosphorylation (dephosphorylation) was examined using PMA as the activating agent. Increased phosphorylation of one protein band was evident by 12 sec after the addition of PMA. The most slowly phosphorylated protein band did not slow evidence of change until 5 min after the addition of PMA. Three of the phosphoproteins examined were phosphorylated either earlier than or concomitant with the activation of NADPH oxidase. CGD neutrophils were compared with normal cells for their ability to phosphorylate proteins in response to PMA. The phosphoprotein banding patterns of CGD neutrophils were identical with those of normal neutrophils in both the resting and activated states. The evidence presented shows that the phosphorylation of proteins is a prominent feature of neutrophil metabolism. The striking similarity of phosphorylation changes induced by the various activators tested suggests that protein phosphorylation may play a role in some aspects of neutrophil activation. Evidence was not obtained, however, regarding a link between protein phosphorylation and activation of NADPH oxidase.

Endogenous Protein Phosphorylation by Resting and Activated Human Neutrophils

NADPH oxidase is an enzyme in the plasma membrane of the neutrophil that catalyzes the production of O2-, a species central to the oxygen-dependent killing mechanisms of this cell. The oxidase is dormant in resting cells and is activated upon the addition of a stimulus. Neutrophils of patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) manifest no oxidase activity when stimulated. The possible role of protein phosphorylation in the activation of NADPH oxidase was examined in normal and CGD neutrophils by measuring the incorporation of 32Pi into proteins as determined by gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. Resting neutrophils from normal subjects exhibit at least 40 distinct phosphoprotein bands. The level of phosphorylation of these bands was examined after the addition of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), opsonized zymosan, digitonin, N-formyl-methionyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), or NaF. PMA and opsonized zymosan increased the phosphorylation of a set of 6 protein bands. Digitonin and FMLP consistently caused the phosphorylation of 4 of these protein bands, while NaF failed to induce increased phosphorylation of any protein band. All activators tested caused the dephosphorylation of one specific protein band. The time course of phosphorylation (dephosphorylation) was examined using PMA as the activating agent. Increased phosphorylation of one protein band was evident by 12 sec after the addition of PMA. The most slowly phosphorylated protein band did not slow evidence of change until 5 min after the addition of PMA. Three of the phosphoproteins examined were phosphorylated either earlier than or concomitant with the activation of NADPH oxidase. CGD neutrophils were compared with normal cells for their ability to phosphorylate proteins in response to PMA. The phosphoprotein banding patterns of CGD neutrophils were identical with those of normal neutrophils in both the resting and activated states. The evidence presented shows that the phosphorylation of proteins is a prominent feature of neutrophil metabolism. The striking similarity of phosphorylation changes induced by the various activators tested suggests that protein phosphorylation may play a role in some aspects of neutrophil activation. Evidence was not obtained, however, regarding a link between protein phosphorylation and activation of NADPH oxidase.

Enhanced incorporation of radioactive inorganic phosphate into phospholipids of HeLa cells by tumor promoters.

Teleocidin, a new tumor promoter, increased incorporation of radioactive inorganic phosphate (32Pi) into phospholipids in HeLa cells. This effect was detected within 1 h on incubation of the cells in medium containing teleocidin. The half-maximum effective dose of teleocidin was approximately 10 ng/ml. The main effect of teleocidin was on the incorporation of 32Pi into the phosphatidylcholine fraction, with a lesser effect on 32Pi incorporation into other phospholipid fractions. Increased incorporation of 32Pi into phospholipids was also observed on incubation of the cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), dihydroteleocidin B, or lyngbyatoxin A, which are all complete tumor promoters, and also with mezerein, which is an incomplete and second stage promoter. On the other hand, at concentrations of up to 1 microgram/ml, 4-O-methyl TPA and Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which are incomplete and first stage promoters, and phorbol, which has no promoting activity in skin carcinogenesis, did not cause any increased incorporation of 32Pi into phospholipid fractions of HeLa cells.

Cellular mechanism involved in the synthesis of cyclic GMP in nervous tissues.

Intracellular cyclic GMP content responds to the stimulation of muscarinic receptor in a variety of tissues. Several aspects of the cellular mechanism involved in the synthesis of cyclic GMP were investigated. 1. In cultured bovine chromaffin cells, acetylcholine as well as muscarine stimulated the 32Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid, induced Ca2+ mobilization across the cells, and, in parallel, elevated intracellular cyclic GMP content. Phosphatidic acid added to culture medium also stimulated the efflux and influx of Ca2+ and the synthesis of cyclic GMP in bovine chromaffin cells and in neuroblastoma cells in the same fashion as acetylcholine. 2. We have succeeded in a purification of an endogenous activator for guanylate cyclase from rat brain and identified it as L-arginine. L-Arginine, but not D-arginine, activated soluble guanylate cyclase 10- to 20-fold at a low concentration (1-2 X 10(-5) M). The activation of the enzyme by L-arginine seemed to require Ca2+. Calcium accumulated in cells in response to muscarinic stimulation would activate guanylate cyclase in collaboration with L-arginine. 3. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, we demonstrated the cellular and subcellular localizations of guanylate cyclase in rat brain. An intense reaction was observed in the brain regions which were rich in muscarinic receptor. Electron microscopic examination revealed that guanylate cyclase was concentrated in the postsynaptic perikaryon and dendrites of some type of neurons indicating its involvement in neural transmission.

The rapid polyphosphoinositide metabolism may be a triggering event for thrombin-mediated stimulation of human platelets

The metabolism of polyphosphoinositides was examined in human platelets activated by thrombin. The addition of thrombin to [ 3H]glycerol-labeled platelets induced an initial loss and a subsequent increase of the radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (TPI) without any significant change in phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (DPI). A marked enhancement of [ 32P]Pi incorporation into TPI occurred in parallel with an increase in this lipid content, which was accompanied with a conccurent decrease in phosphatidylinositol (PI). The rate of this subsequent increase in TPI was smaller than that observed in [ 3H]arachidonic acid-labeled platelets, suggesting that formed TPI in activated platelets may contain much greater amount of arachidonate than preexisting TPI in resting platelets. These data indicate that thrombin causes a rapid change in TPI metabolism (initial degradation of preexisting TPI and subsequent production of arachidonate-rich TPI), which might be a primary candidate to modulate thrombin-induced function in human platelets.

Increase in norepinephrine-induced formation of phosphatidic acid in rat vas deferens after denervation.

Surgical denervation of rat vas deferens causes supersensitivity in that the tissue sensitivity and the maximum response to a variety of agonists increase. To understand the molecular mechanism of supersensitivity in smooth muscle, norepinephrine(NE)-induced alteration in phospholipid metabolism was studied using control and denervated vasa deferentia. When the tissue was stimulated by NE, only [32P]Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid(PA) was increased in proportion to the increase in NE concentration without any significant effect on that into other phospholipids. This PA labeling was significantly accelerated by denervation. In the denervated tissue, PA labeling was stimulated by lower concentrations of NE and the maximum response to NE was increased compared to the control. The breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate(DPI) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-diphosphate (TPI) was also accelerated by NE. But the influence of denervation on this NE-induced DPI and TPI was not marked. Therefore, it is likely that denervation clearly enhanced NE-induced PA labeling without an appreciable effect on that of the other phospholipids. Furthermore, the absolute amount of PA was also increased by NE, and this increase was exaggerated by denervation. Considering that PA can behave as a Ca2+ ionophore in the plasma membrane, these results suggest that the stimulated accumulation of PA plays an important role in receptor-linked supersensitivity in smooth muscle.