Isolated Rat Liver Plasma Membranes Research Articles

Localization of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase isoenzymes in rat liver plasma membrane domains

The presence of different isoenzymes of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase in isolated rat liver plasma membranes and their further distribution in plasma membrane domains was examined. Both wortmannin-sensitive and -insensitive PtdIns 4-kinase activities were detected in highly purified plasma membranes obtained by aqueous two-phase affinity partitioning. The wortmannin-sensitive enzyme was identified as the 230 kDa isoform by Western blotting, whereas the 92 kDa isoform was not detected in plasma membranes. The apparent molecular weights of these isoforms were 205 and 105 kDa on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but approximately 500 and 230 kDa respectively on gel filtration, suggesting that both enzymes either are dimers or composed of heterologous subunits. Approximately 25% of the total 230 kDa isoenzyme present in liver, and only ca 5% of the wortmannin-insensitive one, was associated with the plasma membrane fraction. Plasma membrane domains were isolated by a combination of sucrose and Nycodenz gradient centrifugations. The 230 kDa isoform was identified in the blood sinusoidal domain, but not in the bile canalicular one, and was also found in lateral plasma membranes. The wortmannin-insensitive isoenzyme was present only in this latter material. The functional implications of this distribution of PtdIns 4-kinase isoenzymes in plasma membrane regions are discussed.

Activatory effect of regucalcin on GTPase activity in rat liver plasma membranes.

The effect of regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, on guanosine-5'-triphosphatase (GTPase) activity in isolated rat liver plasma membranes was investigated. GTPase activity was significantly increased by the addition of Ca2+ (25-100 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Such an increase was not seen by other metals (Mg, Co, Zn, Cu, Ni and Mn) with 50 microM. The activatory effect of calcium (50 microM) was significantly decreased by calmodulin (2.5 and 5 microg/ml), indicating that it does not depend on calmodulin. The presence of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in GTPase activity. This increase was not significantly enhanced by calcium (50 microM). GTPase activity was significantly increased by dithiothreitol (DTT; 5 mM), a protecting reagent of thiol (SH)-groups, while it was decreased by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM; 5 mM), a modifying reagent of SH-groups. The effect of calcium or regucalcin in increasing GTPase activity was not seen in the presence of NEM. Also, the activatory effect of calcium or regucalcin on GTPase was not seen in the presence of vanadate, an inhibitor of protein phosphorylation, which could inhibit GTPase activity. Moreover, the effect of regucalcin was not seen in the presence of digitonin (0.01%), a solubilizing reagent of membranous lipids, while the effect of calcium was not inhibited by digitonin. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin has an activatory effect on GTPase activity independently of Ca2+ in rat liver plasma membranes.

Neonatal STZ model of type II diabetes mellitus in the Fischer 344 rat: characteristics and assessment of the status of the hepatic adrenergic receptors

The Fischer 344 rat was found to be extremely sensitive to the diabetogenic effects of neonatally injected streptozotocin (STZ): injection of 40–100 mg/kg STZ at 1.5 days postnatal produced in the adult graded levels of hyperglycemia in males but not the females. The optimal dose in the 1.5 day old male was 80 mg/kg: it produced hyperglycemia without affecting growth or thyroid status in the adult. The neonatally STZ-injected adult rat displayed characteristics consistent with type II diabetes: mild hyperglycemia accentuated by fasting or consumption of a high fat diet; little change in insulin levels; slight elevation in glucagon levels; no alterations in ketones. Using radioligand binding techniques to isolated rat liver plasma membranes, compared to the control state, the type II diabetic state was found to have: no effect on either α 2- or β-adrenergic receptor binding; a decrease in the major dominant α 1-adrenergic receptor, reflecting a decrease in receptor numbers but not their affinity; an increase in the plasma membrane calcium transport system, potentially depleting intracellular calcium stores essential for producing an α 1-adrenergic receptor response. Since the α 1-adrenergic receptor–calcium effector system is critical for the actions of catecholamines in the rat, these results suggest that the liver in the type II diabetic state may be refractory to the actions of catecholamines. We propose that the diabetes-evoked decrease in the dominant adrenergic receptor–effector system through which catecholamines act may be the cellular expression of defective glucocounterregulation in the diabetic state.

Stimulation of rat hepatic amino acid transport by burn injury

Burn injury accelerates hepatic amino acid metabolism, but the role of transmembrane substrate delivery in this response has not been investigated. We therefore studied the effects of cutaneous scald injury on the Na +-dependent transport of glutamine and alanine in isolated rat liver plasma membrane vesicles. Scald injury resulted in liver damage and a 1.4- to 2.3-fold and 1.5- to 2.8-fold stimulation of hepatic transport rates for glutamine and alanine, respectively, proportional to the total burned surface area (TBSA) after 24 hours. Enhanced uptake of glutamine and alanine was attributable to increases in the maximum velocity (V max) of system N and system A activities, respectively. Hepatic amino acid transport activity remained elevated in vesicles from burned animals after 72 hours, but the degree of stimulation (1.3- to 1.7-fold for glutamine and 1.3- to 1.6-fold for alanine) was less than that observed 24 hours after thermal injury. Liver function tests returned to control values after 72 hours as well, indicating rectification of hepatic damage. In contrast to the induction of hepatic system A and system N activity in catabolic states such as cancer and endotoxemia, further studies showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) failed to play a significant role in burn-stimulated amino acid transport rates. When combined with plasma liver enzyme profiles, early transient hepatic amino acid transporter stimulation may support amino acid—dependent pathways involved in the repair of burn-dependent hepatic damage.

Inhibitory Effects of Specific Apolipoprotein C-III Isoforms on the Binding of Triglyceride-rich Lipoproteins to the Lipolysis-stimulated Receptor

ApoC-III overexpression in mice results in severe hypertriglyceridemia due primarily to a delay in the clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. We have, in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, characterized a lipolysis-stimulated receptor (LSR). The apparent number of LSR that are available on rat liver plasma membranes is negatively correlated with plasma triglyceride concentrations measured in the fed state. We therefore proposed that the primary physiological role of the LSR is to contribute to the cellular uptake of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. We have now tested the effect of apoC-III on the binding of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to LSR. Supplementation of 125I-very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) with apoC-III inhibited the LSR-mediated binding, internalization, and degradation of 125I-VLDL in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Studies using isolated rat liver plasma membranes showed that enrichment of human VLDL and chylomicrons with synthetic or purified human apoC-III decreased their binding to the LSR by about 40%. Supplementation of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins under the same conditions with human apoC-II had no such inhibitory effect, despite the fact that this apoprotein bound as efficiently as apoC-III to these particles. Preincubation of LDL with apoC-III did not modify its binding to LSR. Partitioning studies using 125I-apoC-III showed that this lack of effect was due to apoC-III's inability to efficiently associate with LDL. Purified human apoC-III1 was as efficient as the synthetic nonsialylated form of apoC-III in inhibiting binding of VLDL to LSR. However, despite a 2-fold greater binding of apoC-III2 to VLDL, this isoform was a less efficient inhibitor of the binding of VLDL to LSR than apoC-III1 or nonsialylated apoC-III. Desialylation of apoC-III2 by treatment with neuraminidase increased the inhibition of VLDL binding to LSR to a level similar to that observed with apoC-III1 and nonsialylated apoC-III. We propose that apoC-III regulates in part the rate of removal of triglyceride-rich particles by inhibiting their binding to the LSR, and that the level of inhibition is determined by the degree of apoC-III sialylation.

Evidence for regulated dimerization of cell-cell adhesion molecule (C-CAM) in epithelial cells.

C-CAM is a Ca(2+)-independent cell adhesion molecule (CAM) belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Addition of chemical cross-linkers to isolated rat liver plasma membranes, intact epithelial cells and purified preparations of C-CAM stabilized one major C-CAM-containing product whose apparent molecular mass was approximately twice that of the C-CAM monomer. The failure to detect additional proteins after cleavage of the cross-linked species demonstrated that C-CAM exists as non-covalently linked dimers both in solution and on the cell surface. Dimerization occurred to the same extent in adherent monolayers and in single cell populations, indicating that dimer formation was the result of cis-interactions within the membranes of individual cells. Using isoform-specific anti-peptide antibodies, both C-CAM1 and C-CAM2 were found to be involved in dimerization, forming predominantly homo-dimeric species. Both calmodulin and Ca2+ ionophore modulated the level of dimer formation, suggesting a role for regulated self-association in the functional activity of C-CAM.

Effectors of the mammalian plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase system. Short-chain ubiquinone analogues as potent stimulators.

In the presence of effectors variations in the two recognized activities of the plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase system were studied in separate, specific in vitro assays. We report here that ubiquinone analogues that contain a short, less hydrophobic side chain than coenzyme Q-10 dramatically stimulate the NADH-oxidase activity of isolated rat liver plasma membranes whereas they show no effect on the reductase activity of isolated membranes. If measured in assays of the NADH:ferricyanide reductase of living cultured cells these compounds have only a limited effect; the oxidase activity of whole cells is not measurable in our hands. We have furthermore identified selective inhibitors of both enzyme activities. In particular, the NADH-oxidase activity can be significantly inhibited by structural analogues of ubiquinone, such as capsaicin and resiniferatoxin. The NADH:ferricyanide reductase, on the other hand, is particularly sensitive to pCMBS, indicating the presence of a sulfhydryl group of groups at its active site. The identification of these specific effectors of the different enzyme activities of the PMOR yields further insights into the function of this system.

Purinergic agonist and G protein stimulation of phospholipase D in rat liver plasma membranes. Independence from phospholipase C activation

Hormonal regulation of phospholipase D (PLD) was studied in isolated rat liver plasma membranes. Purinergic agents and a submaximal concentration of guanosine 5′-0-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS), a non-hydrolyzable analog of GTP, synergistically stimulate phosphatidylethanol formation, a measure of PLD activity. The rank order of efficacy for stimulation of PLD activity in the presence of 0.2 μM GTPγS was β, γ-methylene-ATP > adenosine 5′-0-(3-thiotriphosphate) = ATP = ADP = 2-methylthio-ATP > α, β-methylene-ATP = UTP. This pattern of activation does not conform to the series at known P 2 receptors. GTPγS stimulated PLD activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the GTPyS dose-response curve for phosphatidylethanol formation was shifted to the left by an analog of ATP. Activation of PLD by purinergic agents in the presence of GTPγS supports the involvement of a purinergic receptor of the P 2 class and a GTP-binding protein. Purinergic agents competitively inhibited [ 35S]adenosine 5′-0-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding to plasma membranes in the rank order adenosine 5′-0′(3-thiotriphosphate) > ATP > α, β-methylene-ATP = UTP ⪢ β γ-methylene-ATP = ADP. Stimulation of phosphoinositide phospholipase C (PI-PLC) by purinergic agents, as measured by release of radioactivity from endogenously myo[ 3H] inositol-labeled plasma membranes, occurred in the order α, β- methylene- ATP ⪢ 2- methylthio- ATP. β, γ-meth-ylene-ATP had little effect on PI-PLC activity. Different dose-response relationships for agonist-stimulation of PI-PLC and PLD indicate that activation of PI-PLC is not involved in stimulation of PLD in rat liver plasma membranes, and suggest that purinergic activation of PLD occurs via a pathway involving a G protein and a heretofore uncharacterized P 2 receptor.

Cyclic somatostatin analogs bind specifically to pI 6.1 carboxylesterase of rat liver cells

The hydrophobic cyclohexapeptide cyclo(Phe-Thr-Lys-Trp-Phe- dPro) (008), an analog of somatostatin with retro sequence, was previously shown to competitively inhibit the uptake of cholate and taurocholate into isolated rat liver cells. Conversely, the competitive uptake inhibition of 008 into isolated rat hepatocytes by bile acids confirmed the observation of common binding and transport sites by bile acids and cyclosomatostatin. Furthermore the transport characteristics of 008 uptake revealed a significant and rapid binding to cell membranes. In this context it was of special interest to investigate the specificity of the binding component since specific binding of the substrate to membrane proteins could be responsible for the low K m of 008-transport. Therefore, the cyclohexapeptide 008 could be used as the ligand in affinity chromatography in order to isolate such binding proteins. The gel matrix used did not interact non-specifically with octylglucoside-solubilized proteins from isolated rat liver plasma membranes. In affinity chromatography of octylglucoside-solubilized plasma membranes, two dominant proteins with apparent molecular masses of 60 and 58 kDa bound specifically to the 008 ligand. When used as ligands in affinity chromatography, these membrane-associated 60 and 58 kDa proteins bound exclusively to aromatic cyclopeptides, e.g. cyclosomatostatin 008, but not to linear peptides or taurocholate derivatives. The amino acid sequences of tryptic digests of the 008-affinity-purified 58 kDa protein were identical to the sequence of a microsomal pI 6.1 carboxylesterase. Immunofluorescence of intact hepatocytes showed that this xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme is also located in sinusoidal rat liver plasma membranes and could therefore account for the extensive and specific binding of the cyclosomatostatin to sinusoidal plasma membranes of rat liver.

Adenosine triphosphate-dependent copper transport in isolated rat liver plasma membranes.

The process of hepatobiliary copper (Cu) secretion is still poorly understood: Cu secretion as a complex with glutathione and transport via a lysosomal pathway have been proposed. The recent cloning and sequencing of the gene for Wilson disease indicates that Cu transport in liver cells may be mediated by a Cu transporting P-type ATPase. Biochemical evidence for ATP-dependent Cu transport in mammalian systems, however, has not been reported so far. We have investigated Cu transport in rat liver plasma membrane vesicles enriched in canalicular or basolateral membranes in the presence and absence of ATP (4 mM) and an ATP-regenerating system. The presence of ATP clearly stimulated uptake of radiolabeled Cu (64Cu, 10 microM) into canalicular plasma membrane vesicles and, to a lesser extent, also into basolateral plasma membrane vesicles. ATP-dependent Cu transport was dose-dependently inhibited by the P-type ATPase inhibitor vanadate, and showed saturation kinetics with an estimated Km of 8.6 microM and a Vmax of 6.9 nmol/min/mg protein. ATP-stimulated Cu uptake was similar in canalicular membrane vesicles of normal Wistar rats and those of mutant GY rats, expressing a congenital defect in the activity of the ATP-dependent canalicular glutathione-conjugate transporter (cMOAT). These studies demonstrate the presence of an ATP-dependent Cu transporting system in isolated plasma membrane fractions of rat liver distinct from cMOAT.

Cholesteryl ester transfer between high density lipoprotein and phospholipid bilayers.

High density lipoprotein-associated cholesteryl esters (HDL CE) are taken up by many cells without parallel uptake of HDL apoproteins, a pathway we have termed "selective uptake." The first step in this pathway, the reversible incorporation of HDL CE into the plasma membrane, is the subject of the present study. To examine the role of membrane proteins, the rate of HDL CE incorporation into isolated rat liver plasma membrane was compared with the rate of incorporation into synthetic membranes devoid of protein. Both membrane systems exhibited saturable uptake of CE, and at rates that were similar (t1/2 approximately 2 h, measured with 50 micrograms of HDL protein). Addition of unlabeled HDL to "chase" CE tracer from the biological and synthetic membranes revealed two kinetically distinct CE pools (t1/2 approximately 0.5 h and t1/2 approximately 30 h). Both biological and synthetic membranes accepted similar amounts of CE into both pools, with a maximum incorporation of 2-4 mol % relative to membrane phospholipids. CE transfer between HDL and membranes was kinetically second-order, in contrast to the first-order transfer of unesterified cholesterol. There was no evidence for direct participation of any apolipoprotein in CE uptake; CE in HDL or in protein-free microemulsions of similar particle size transferred to membranes at similar rates. To examine the possibility that CE transfer requires transient fusion of the HDL amphipathic coat with the membrane outer leaflet, radiolabeled cardiolipin was incorporated into either HDL particles or into synthetic membranes as an amphipathic coat marker that does not diffuse through the aqueous phase; transfer between HDL and membranes was not observed. Thus, CE are transferred between HDL and cell membranes in a collision-mediated process that does not involve amphipathic coat fusion and is not dependent on either membrane protein or apolipoproteins.

Lactoferrin activates plasma membrane oxidase and [formula omitted] antiport activity

Lactoferrin is a growth stimulant. The basis for this effect is not clear since it is not thought to be involved in iron uptake through endocytosis. Ferric lactoferrin supports external ferrous chelate formation by K562 and HeLa cells, and ferric lactoferrin stimulates the reduction of external ferric iron by cells. Ferric lactoferrin also stimulates NADH oxidase activity in isolated rat liver plasma membranes and stimulates amiloride sensitive proton release from K562 cells. The evidence that ferric lactoferrin can participate in oxidoreduction reactions at the plasma membrane leading to activation of Na + H + exchange provides an alternative explanation for the proliferative effect.

Inhibition of hepatic adenylate cyclase by NADH

Adenylate cyclase activity in isolated rat liver plasma membranes was inhibited by NADH in a concentration-dependent manner. Half-maximal inhibition of adenylate cyclase was observed at 120 μM concentration of NADH. The effect of NADH was specific since adenylate cyclase activity was not altered by NAD +, NADP +, NADPH, and nicotinic acid. The ability of NADH to inhibit adenylate cyclase was not altered when the enzyme was stimulated by activating the G s regulatory element with either glucagon or cholera toxin. Similarly, inhibition of G i function by pertussis toxin treatment of membrane did not attenuate the ability of NADH to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity to the same extent in the presence and absence of the Gpp(NH)p suggested that NADH directly affects the catalytic subunit. This notion was confirmed by the finding that NADH also inhibited solubilized adenylate cyclase in the absence of Gpp(NH)p. Kinetic analysis of the NADH-mediated inhibition suggested that NADH competes with ATP to inhibit adenylate cyclase; in the presence of NADH (1 mM) the K m ATP was increased from 0.24 ± 0.02 mM to 0.44 ± 0.08 mM high NADH concentrations to completely inhibit the enzyme suggest that NADH interacts at a site(s) on the enzyme to increase the K m for ATP by 2-fold and this inhibitory effect is overcome at high ATP concentrations.

Evidence for coenzyme Q function in transplasma membrane electron transport

Transplasma membrane electron transport activity has been associated with stimulation of cell growth. Coenzyme Q is present in plasma membranes and because of its lipid solubility would be a logical carrier to transport electrons across the plasma membrane. Extraction of coenzyme Q from isolated rat liver plasma membranes decreases the NADH ferricyanide reductase and added coenzyme Q 10 restores the activity. Piericidin and other analogs of coenzyme Q inhibit transplasma membrane electron transport as measured by ferricyanide reduction by intact cells and NADH ferricyanide reduction by isolated plasma membranes. The inhibition by the analogs is reversed by added coenzyme Q 10. Thus, coenzyme Q in plasma membranes may act as a transmembrane electron carrier for the redox system which has been shown to control cell growth.

Release of iron from diferric transferrin in the presence of rat liver plasma membranes: No evidence of a plasma membrane diferric transferrin reductase

The transfer of iron from diferric transferrin to bathophenanthroline disulfonate was measured under varying conditions by spectrophotometry and EPR spectroscopy. Intact rat hepatocytes efficiently mediated the transfer of iron from human diferric transferrin to bathophenanthroline disulfonate. Isolated rat liver plasma membranes, in contrast, failed to facilitate the reaction at pH 7.4 in the presence of NADH, although the membranes were able to reduce ferricyanide and to oxidize NADH. Oxidation of NADH was stimulated by diferric transferrin. However, ferricyanide reductase and transferrin-stimulated NADH oxidase activities were apparently not linked to release of iron from transferrin. Our results, together with theoretical considerations, show that the ability (or inability) of intact cells or isolated plasma membranes to facilitate the transfer of iron from transferrin to strong diferric iron chelators does not allow interferences about the existence of an iron reduction step as part of the process of cellular uptake of iron from transferrin.

Hepatobiliary transport of the anionic organomercury compound (mersalyl) is carrier mediated

The hepatobiliary excretion of the anionic organic mercury compound (mersalyl) was studied in the isolated perfused rat liver and in isolated rat liver plasma membrane vesicles. In the isolated perfused liver, mersalyl is immediately taken up from the perfusion medium and concentratively excreted into bile. Uptake is characterized by saturation kinetics (S) 0.5 = 20 μM, V max = 117 nmoles/min/g liver, cooperativity of mersalyl binding sites, stimulation by extracellular sodium and temperature dependence. Uptake of mersalyl into basolateral membrane vesicles also exhibits characteristics of a carrier mediated transport: saturation kinetics (S) 0.5 = 28 μM, max = 1.6 nmoles/min/mg protein, dependence on extravesicular sodium, cooperativity of mersalyl binding sites, temperature dependence and transstimulation by intravesicular non-radioactive mersalyl. Uptake was inhibited by α-naphthylacetic acid and mercapto group reagents, indicating involvment of mereapto groups on the carrier and a binding site for carboxylic anions. Data from the isolated perfused liver and from isolated basolateral vesicles indicate that mersalyl uptake into the liver is carrier mediated. Uptake mechanism and driving forces appear analogous to those for the uptake of chemically related compounds such as taurocholic acid. Therefore it is speculated that mersalyl may be transported by carrier molecules which apparently accept numerous chemically unrelated compounds.

Different membrane-bound forms of acetylcholinesterase are present at the cell surface of hepatocytes.

In the present study we have determinated the acetylcholinesterase molecular forms present in rat liver hepatocytes; we have also studied the association of acetylcholinesterase with the cell surface of the hepatocytes. Subcellular fractionation indicated that rough endoplasmic reticulum and plasma-membrane-enriched fractions contains G4 and G2 acetylcholinesterase forms bound to membranes. Hepatocytes incubated with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C released about 70% of the surface acetylcholinesterase. Sedimentation analysis showed that all the solubilized acetylcholinesterase activity comes exclusively from a G2 dimer. The G4 hydrophobic form of acetylcholinesterase accounts for the additional cell-surface activity. The existence of these two forms of acetylcholinesterase on the surface of hepatocytes was further established by analyzing the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C sensitivity of the acetylcholinesterase molecular forms present in isolated rat liver plasma membranes.

Membrane potential measurements in isolated rat liver plasma membrane vesicles: Effect of transmembrane ion concentration gradients

In isolated basolateral and canalicular rat liver plasma membrane vesicles the membrane potential (measured with DiS-C 2 (5)) varied with transmembrane concentration gradients of Na +, K + and Cl − revealing the following ion permeabilities: basolateral vesicles: P Na/P K: 0.76, P Cl/P K: 0.45 and canalicular vesicles: P Na/P K: 0.69, P Cl/P K: 0.56. The data indicate a permselectivity of P K > P Na > P Cl for both membranes.

Insulin inhibits pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G-proteins. Evidence for a novel interaction between insulin receptors and G-proteins.

Insulin modifies cellular responsiveness to some hormones which operate via guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins); also, G-proteins have been implicated in some actions of insulin. Using pertussis toxin-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylation of Gi as an index of G-protein conformation, we evaluated interaction of insulin receptors with G-proteins. In isolated rat liver plasma membranes, insulin treatment for 10 min inhibited [32P]ADP-ribosylation of Gi by 50%. This effect was half-maximal at 2 x 10(-8) M. A similar effect was observed with rat adipocyte plasma membranes with half-maximal effect at 1 x 10(-8) M. Pertussis toxin activity itself was uninfluenced by insulin, as ribosylation of tubulin or heat-treated bovine serum albumin was unaltered. Elevated Mg2+ diminished basal ADP-ribosylation, but insulin inhibition occurred at all Mg2+ levels between 0 and 1 mM. Insulin inhibition was independent of ATP (20 microM to 10 mM), and GTP (0-100 microM) concentrations. Because both protein kinase C and purified insulin receptor phosphorylate purified Gi in vitro, we examined Gi as a substrate for the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase in vivo. Triton-extracts of isolated rat hepatocytes which had been 32Pi labeled and treated with insulin were immunoprecipitated with a polyclonal anti-Gi antiserum. The dominant labeled phosphoprotein had a molecular weight of 42 kDa, consistent with the alpha-subunit of Gi, contained only phosphoserine, and was unaffected in its phosphorylation by insulin. These results indicate the existence of a novel pathway for physiological "cross-talk" between insulin and other hormones and further suggests that the insulin receptor may interact with regulatory G-proteins via biochemical mechanisms not directly involving the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor.

Transformation with SV40 virus prevents retinoic acid inhibition of plasma membrane NADH diferric transferrin reductase in rat liver cells

Retinoic acid inhibits the reduction of diferric transferrin through the transplasma membrane electron transport system on fetal rat liver cells infected with a temperature-sensitive SV40 virus when the cells are in the nontransformed state cultured at 40 degrees C. When the cells are in the transformed state (grown at the permissive 33 degrees C temperature), retinoic acid does not inhibit the diferric transferrin reduction. Inhibition of activity of nontransformed cells is specific for retinoic acid with only slight inhibition by retinol and retinyl acetate at higher concentrations. Isolated rat liver plasma membrane NADH diferric transferrin reductase is also inhibited by retinoic acid. The effect of transformation with SV40 virus to decrease susceptibility to retinoic acid inhibition stands in contrast to much greater adriamycin inhibition of diferric transferrin reduction in the transformed cells than in nontransformed cells.