Protein Degradation In Rat Hepatocytes Research Articles

Effect of carboxylic ionophores on lysosomal protein degradation in rat hepatocytes

Three different carboxylic ionophores (monensin, nigericin and lasalocid) were each found capable of causing a relatively complete block of the lysosomal (i.e., methylamine-sensitive) protein degradation in isolated rat hepatocytes. Monensin was found to be the most specific in action, as it had no effect on non-lysosomal degradation and did not bring about any substantial inhibition of protein synthesis. Morphometric examination of electron micrographs revealed that monensin causes an accumulation of early forms of autophagic vacuoles and blocks the swelling of lysosomes seen in the presence of methylamine. The results indicate that monensin inhibits lysosomal protein degradation by affecting lysosomal pH.

Stimulation by glucocorticoids of protein degradation in hepatocyte monolayers.

1. Protein degradation in rat hepatocytes in stationary monolayer culture was measured as release of radioactive trichloroacetic acid-soluble material from intracellular proteins labelled with [3H]leucine. 2. Glucocorticoids, but not other steroids, stimulated protein breakdown in the hepatocyte monolayers. The effects observed were greater when the cells were preincubated with the hormones, indicating that the stimulation was not immediate. In addition, the stimulation by glucocorticoids persisted for up to 4 h after hormone removal. 3. Cycloheximide and the lysosomotropic agents leupeptin and ammonia effectively blocked glucocorticoid stimulation of protein degradation. 4. Insulin blocked dexamethasone stimulation when added at the same time as the steroid, but not when added 3 h later. 5. Stimulation of protein breakdown by dexamethasone was additive with that by glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, suggesting that its mechanism of action is different from that of the latter two agents. 6. Total activities of several lysosomal enzymes were unaffected under conditions where protein breakdown was stimulated by either glucagon or dexamethasone. 7. It is suggested that, whereas glucagon, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and insulin modulate protein breakdown in these cells via changes in autophagocytosis, the stimulation by glucocorticoids is exerted independently, perhaps by stimulating the synthesis of membrane proteins essential to the autophagic process.