Detoxication of structurally diverse polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) o-quinones by human recombinant catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) via O-methylation of PAH catechols

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are environmental and tobacco carcinogens. Metabolic activation of intermediate PAH trans-dihydrodiols by aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) leads to the formation of electrophilic and redox-active o-quinones. We investigated whether O-methylation by human recombinant soluble catechol-O-methyltransferase (S-COMT) is a feasible detoxication step for a panel of structurally diverse PAH-catechols produced during the redox-cycling process. Classes of PAH non-K-region o-quinones (bay region, methylated bay region, and fjord region o-quinones) produced by AKRs were employed in the studies. PAH o-quinones were reduced to the corresponding catechols by dithiothreitol under anaerobic conditions and then further O-methylated by human S-COMT in the presence of S-[3H]adenosyl-l-methionine as a methyl group donor. The formation of the O-methylated catechols was detected by HPLC-UV coupled with in-line radiometric detection, and unlabeled products were also characterized by LC-MS/MS. Human S-COMT was able to catalyze O-methylation of all of the PAH-catechols and generated two isomeric metabolites in different proportions. LC-MS/MS showed that each isomer was a mono-O-methylated metabolite. 1H NMR was used to assign the predominant positional isomer of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol as the O-8-monomethylated catechol. The catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) varied among different classes of PAH-catechols by 500-fold. The ability of S-COMT to produce two isomeric products from PAH-catechols was rationalized using the crystal structure of the enzyme. We provide evidence that O-8-monomethylated benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol is formed in three different human lung cell lines. It is concluded that human S-COMT may play a critical role in the detoxication of PAH o-quinones generated by AKRs.     

Bile acids stimulate PKCalpha autophosphorylation and activation: role in the attenuation of prostaglandin E1-induced cAMP production in human dermal fibroblasts

The aim was to identify the specific PKC isoform(s) and their mechanism of activation responsible for the modulation of cAMP production by bile acids in human dermal fibroblasts. Stimulation of fibroblasts with 25-100 microM of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) led to YFP-PKCalpha and YFP-PKCdelta translocation in 30-60 min followed by a transient 24- to 48-h downregulation of the total PKCalpha, PKCdelta, and PKCepsilon protein expression by 30-50%, without affecting that of PKCzeta. Increased plasma membrane translocation of PKCalpha was associated with an increased PKCalpha phosphorylation, whereas increased PKCdelta translocation to the perinuclear domain was associated with an increased accumulation of phospho-PKCdelta Thr505 and Tyr311 in the nucleus. The PKCalpha specificity on the attenuation of cAMP production by CDCA was demonstrated with PKC downregulation or inhibition, as well as PKC isoform dominant-negative mutants. Under these same conditions, neither phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, p38 MAP kinase, p42/44 MAP kinase, nor PKA inhibitors had any significant effect on the CDCA-induced cAMP production attenuation. CDCA concentrations as low as 10 microM stimulated PKCalpha autophosphorylation in vitro. This bile acid effect required phosphatidylserine and was completely abolished by the presence of G?6976. CDCA at concentrations less than 50 microM enhanced the PKCalpha activation induced by PMA, whereas greater CDCA concentrations reduced the PMA-induced PKCalpha activation. CDCA alone did not affect PKCalpha activity in vitro. In conclusion, although CDCA and UDCA activate different PKC isoforms, PKCalpha plays a major role in the bile acid-induced inhibition of cAMP synthesis in fibroblasts. This study emphasizes potential consequences of increased systemic bile acid concentrations and cellular bile acid accumulation in extrahepatic tissues during cholestatic liver diseases.     

Regulation of phospholipase D2 activity by protein kinase C alpha

It has been well documented that protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in regulation of phospholipase D (PLD) activity. Although PKC regulation of PLD1 activity has been studied extensively, the role of PKC in PLD2 regulation remains to be established. In the present study it was demonstrated that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced PLD2 activation in COS-7 cells. PLD2 was also phosphorylated on both serine and threonine residues after PMA treatment. PKC inhibitors Ro-31-8220 and bisindolylmaleimide I inhibited both PMA-induced PLD2 phosphorylation and activation. However, G? 6976, a PKC inhibitor relatively specific for conventional PKC isoforms, almost completely abolished PLD2 phosphorylation by PMA but only slightly inhibited PLD2 activation. Furthermore, time course studies showed that phosphorylation of PLD2 lagged behind its activation by PMA. Concentration curves for PMA action on PLD2 phosphorylation and activation also showed that PLD2 was activated by PMA at concentrations at which PMA didn't induce phosphorylation. A kinase-deficient mutant of PKCalpha stimulated PLD2 activity to an even higher level than wild type PKCalpha. Co-expression of wild type PKCalpha, but not PKCdelta, greatly enhanced both basal and PMA-induced PLD2 phosphorylation. A PKCdelta-specific inhibitor, rottlerin, failed to inhibit PMA-induced PLD2 phosphorylation and activation. Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated an association between PLD2 and PKCalpha under basal conditions that was further enhanced by PMA. Time course studies of the effects of PKCalpha on PLD2 showed that as the phosphorylation of PLD2 increased, its activity declined. In summary, the data demonstrated that PLD2 is activated and phosphorylated by PMA and PKCalpha in COS-7 cells. However, the phosphorylation is not required for PKCalpha to activate PLD2. It is suggested that interaction rather than phosphorylation underscores the activation of PLD2 by PKC in vivo and that phosphorylation may contribute to the inactivation of the enzyme.     

Phorbol ester-induced G1 phase arrest selectively mediated by protein kinase Cdelta-dependent induction of p21

Although protein kinase C (PKC) has been widely implicated in the positive and negative control of proliferation, the underlying cell cycle mechanisms regulated by individual PKC isozymes are only partially understood. In this report, we show that PKCdelta mediates phorbol ester-induced G1 arrest in lung adenocarcinoma cells and establish an essential role for this novel PKC in controlling the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21. Activation of PKC with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in early G1 phase impaired progression of lung adenocarcinoma cells into S phase, an effect that was completely abolished by specific depletion of PKCdelta, but not PKCalpha. Although the PKC effect was unrelated to the inhibition of cyclin D1 expression, PKC activation significantly up-regulated p21 and down-regulated Rb hyperphosphorylation and cyclin A expression. Elevations in p21 mRNA and protein by PMA were mediated by PKCdelta but not PKCalpha. Studies using luciferase reporters also revealed an essential role for PKCdelta in the PMA-induced inhibition of Rb-dependent cyclin A promoter activity. Finally, we showed that the cell cycle inhibitory effect of PKCdelta is greatly attenuated by RNA interference-mediated knock-down of p21. Our results identify a novel link between PKCdelta and G1 arrest via p21 up-regulation and highlight the complexities in the downstream effectors of PKC isozymes in the context of cell cycle progression and proliferation.     

Diacylglycerol (DAG)-lactones, a new class of protein kinase C (PKC) agonists, induce apoptosis in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by selective activation of PKCalpha

Phorbol esters, the archetypical (PKC) activators, induce apoptosis in androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells. In this study we evaluate the effect of a novel class of PKC ligands, the diacylglycerol (DAG)-lactones, as inducers of apoptosis in LNCaP cells. These unique ligands were designed using novel pharmacophore- and receptor-guided approaches to achieve highly potent DAG surrogates. Two of these compounds, HK434 and HK654, induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells with much higher potency than oleoyl-acetyl-glycerol or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Moreover, different PKC isozymes were found to mediate the apoptotic effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and HK654 in LNCaP cells. Using PKC inhibitors and dominant negative PKC isoforms, we found that both PKCalpha and PKCdelta mediated the apoptotic effect of PMA, whereas only PKCalpha was involved in the effect of the DAG-lactone. The PKCalpha selectivity of HK654 in LNCaP cells contrasts with similar potencies in vitro for binding and activation of PKCalpha and PKCdelta. Consistent with the differences in isoform dependence in intact cells, PMA and HK654 show marked differences in their abilities to translocate PKC isozymes. Both PMA and HK654 induce a marked redistribution of PKCalpha to the plasma membrane. On the other hand, unlike PMA, HK654 translocates PKCdelta predominantly to the nuclear membrane. Thus, DAG-lactones have a unique profile of activation of PKC isozymes for inducing apoptosis in LNCaP cells and represent the first example of a selective activator of a classical PKC in cellular models. An attractive hypothesis is that selective activation of PKC isozymes by pharmacological agents in cells can be achieved by differential intracellular targeting of each PKC.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) ortho-quinone conjugate chemistry: kinetics of thiol addition to PAH ortho-quinones and structures of thioether adducts of naphthalene-1,2-dione.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) o-quinones are products of an NADP+ dependent oxidation of non-K-region trans-dihydrodiols catalyzed by dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.20). Since these PAH o-quinones could be detoxified by non-enzymatic or enzymatic conjugation with cellular thiols, their reactivity with 2-mercaptoethanol, cysteine and glutathione (GSH) was examined by ion-pair reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Second-order rate constants for the addition of these thiols to naphthalene-1,2-dione (NPQ) in water ranging from 4.9 x 10(3) - 1.1 x 10(4) min-1 M-1 and the reactions were complete within 10 min. When these reactions were conducted at near physiological pH (50 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0), the rate constants increased by 2-orders of magnitude. When benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione (BPQ) was substituted in these reactions the second-order rate constants decreased by 2-3 orders of magnitude and the reactions took several hours to reach completion. The decrease in reactivity can be explained by the presence of the bay region in BPQ. Methylation influenced the reactivity of PAH o-quinones with GSH and the following order of reactivity was observed: 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene-3,4-dione (7,12-DMBAQ) > 12-methyl-BAQ, 7-methyl-BAQ and BAQ > BPQ. Of these quinones 7,12-dimethyl-BAQ was almost equi-reactive with NPQ. This suggests that methyl substitution in the bay and peri regions enhances reactivity with GSH. Using NPQ as a model for other PAH o-quinones, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, L-cysteine and GSH conjugates of NPQ were synthesized and characterized by [1H]- and [13C]NMR. Evidence for Michael type 1,4-addition products was obtained in which the resultant adduct could exist as either a catechol or o-quinone. By contrast, L-cysteine was able to form adducts via S- or N-attack and N-attack gave a purple p-iminoquinone. There was no evidence for the formation of bis-N-acetyl-L-cysteinyl-, bis-glutathionyl adducts or phenolic coupled products. The toxicity of thiol conjugates of NPQ remains to be explored.     

Regulation of human PLD1 and PLD2 by calcium and protein kinase C

Numerous studies show that PLD is activated in cells by calcium and by protein kinase C (PKC). We found that human PLD1 and PLD2 expressed in Sf9 cells can be activated by calcium-mobilizing agonists and by co-expression with PKCalpha. The calcium-mobilizing agonists A23187 and CryIC toxin triggered large increases in phosphatidylethanol (PtdEth) production in Sf9 cells over-expressing PLD1 and PLD2, but not in vector controls. PLD activation by these agonists was largely dependent on extracellular calcium. Membrane assays demonstrated significant PLD1 and PLD2 activity in the absence of divalent cations, which could be enhanced by low levels of calcium either in the presence or absence of magnesium. PLD1 but not PLD2 activity was slightly enhanced by magnesium. Treatment of Sf9 cells expressing PLD1 and PLD2 with PMA resulted in little PtdEth production. However, a significant and comparable formation of PtdEth occurred when PLD1 or PLD2 were co-expressed with PKCalpha, but not PKCdelta, and was further augmented by PMA. In contrast to PLD1, co-expressing PLD2 with PKCalpha or PKCdelta further enhanced A23187-induced PtdEth production. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that PLD1 and PLD2 associated with the PKC isoforms in Sf9 cells. Furthermore, in membrane reconstitution assays, both PLD1 and PLD2 could be stimulated by calmodulin and PKCalpha-enriched cytosol. The results indicate that PLD2 as well as PLD1 is subject to agonist-induced activation in intact cells and can be regulated by calcium and PKC.     

Regulation of protein kinase C delta by phorbol ester, endothelin-1, and platelet-derived growth factor in cardiac myocytes

Protein kinase C (PKC) delta is regulated allosterically by phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol (which promote its translocation to the membrane) and by phosphorylation of Ser/Thr and Tyr residues. Although phosphorylation on Thr-505/Ser-643/Ser-662 may simply "prime" PKCdelta for activation, it could be regulatory. We examined the regulation of PKCdelta in cardiac myocytes by endothelin-1 (Gq protein-coupled receptor agonist) and platelet-derived growth factor (receptor tyrosine kinase agonist) in comparison with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). All increased phosphorylation of PKCdelta(Thr-505/Ser-643) and of Tyr residues, although to differing extents. De novo phosphorylation occurred mainly after translocation of PKCdelta to the particulate fraction, and phosphorylations of Thr-505/Ser-643 versus Tyr residues were essentially independent events. Following chromatographic separation of the PKCdelta subspecies, activities were correlated with immunoreactivity profiles of total and phosphorylated forms. In unstimulated cells, approximately 25% of PKCdelta lacked phosphorylation of Thr-505/Ser-643 and displayed minimal activity (assayed in the presence of phosphatidylserine/PMA following chromatography). Endothelin-1 or PMA (10 min) promoted Thr-505/Ser-643 phosphorylation of this pool, and this was associated with an increase in total recoverable PKCdelta activity. Meanwhile, in cells exposed to endothelin-1 or PMA, the overall pool of PKCdelta translocated rapidly (30 s) to the particulate fraction and was phosphorylated on Tyr residues. This was associated with an increase in lipid-independent activity (i.e. the phosphatidylserine/PMA requirement disappeared). For endothelin-1, Tyr phosphorylation of PKCdelta and the increase in phosphatidylserine/PMA-independent activity persisted after PKCdelta retrotranslocated to the soluble fraction. We concluded that, with this physiological agonist, PKCdelta becomes activated in the particulate fraction but retains activity following its retrotranslocation, presumably to phosphorylate substrates elsewhere.     

Direct binding and activation of protein kinase C isoforms by aldosterone and 17beta-estradiol

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a signal transduction protein that has been proposed to mediate rapid responses to steroid hormones. Previously, we have shown aldosterone directly activates PKCalpha whereas 17beta-estradiol activates PKCalpha and PKCdelta; however, neither the binding to PKCs nor the mechanism of action has been established. To determine the domains of PKCalpha and PKCdelta involved in binding of aldosterone and 17beta-estradiol, glutathione S-transferase fusion recombinant PKCalpha and PKCdelta mutants were used to perform in vitro binding assays with [(3)H]aldosterone and [(3)H]17beta-estradiol. 17beta-Estradiol bound both PKCalpha and PKCdelta but failed to bind PKC mutants lacking a C2 domain. Similarly, aldosterone bound only PKCalpha and mutants containing C2 domains. Thus, the C2 domain is critical for binding of these hormones. Binding affinities for aldosterone and 17beta-estradiol were between 0.5-1.0 nM. Aldosterone and 17beta-estradiol competed for binding to PKCalpha, suggesting they share the same binding site. Phorbol 12,13-dybutyrate did not compete with hormone binding; furthermore, they have an additive effect on PKC activity. EC(50) for activation of PKCalpha and PKCdelta by aldosterone and 17beta-estradiol was approximately 0.5 nM. Immunoblot analysis using a phospho-PKC antibody revealed that upon binding, PKCalpha and PKCdelta undergo autophosphorylation with an EC(50) in the 0.5-1.0 nm range. 17beta-Estradiol activated PKCalpha and PKCdelta in estrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and HCC-38, respectively), suggesting estrogen receptor expression is not required for 17beta-estradiol-induced PKC activation. The present results provide first evidence for direct binding and activation of PKCalpha and PKCdelta by steroid hormones and the molecular mechanisms involved.     

Surfactant phospholipid DPPC downregulates monocyte respiratory burst via modulation of PKC

Pulmonary surfactant phospholipids have been shown previously to regulate inflammatory functions of human monocytes. This study was undertaken to delineate the mechanisms by which pulmonary surfactant modulates the respiratory burst in a human monocytic cell line, MonoMac-6 (MM6). Preincubation of MM6 cells with the surfactant preparations Survanta, Curosurf, or Exosurf Neonatal inhibited the oxidative response to either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and zymosan or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) by up to 50% (P < 0.01). Preincubation of MM6 cells and human peripheral blood monocytes with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), the major phospholipid component of surfactant, inhibited the oxidative response to zymosan. DPPC did not directly affect the activity of the NADPH oxidase in a MM6 reconstituted cell system, suggesting that DPPC does not affect the assembly of the individual components of this enzyme into a functional unit. The effects of DPPC were evaluated on both LPS/zymosan and PMA activation of protein kinase C (PKC), a ubiquitous intracellular kinase, in MM6 cells. We found that DPPC significantly inhibited the activity of PKC in stimulated cells by 70% (P < 0.01). Western blotting experiments demonstrated that DPPC was able to attenuate the activation of the PKCdelta isoform but not PKCalpha. These results suggest that DPPC, the major component of pulmonary surfactant, plays a role in modulating leukocyte inflammatory responses in the lung via downregulation of PKC, a mechanism that may involve the PKCdelta isoform.     

Protein kinase C (PKC) delta regulates PKCalpha activity in a Syndecan-4-dependent manner

The phosphorylation state of Ser(183) in the cytoplasmic tail of syndecan-4 determines the binding affinity of the cytoplasmic tail to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), the capacity of the tail to multimerize, and its ability to activate protein kinase C (PKC) alpha. We sought to identify the kinase responsible for this phosphorylation and to determine its downstream effects on PKCalpha activity and on endothelial cell function. Among several PKC isoenzymes tested, only PKCalpha and -delta were able to specifically phosphorylate Ser(183) in vitro. However, studies in cultured endothelial cells showed that the phosphorylation level of syndecan-4 was significantly reduced in endothelial cells expressing a dominant negative (DN) PKCdelta but not a DN PKCalpha mutant. Syndecan-4/PIP(2)-dependent PKCalpha activity was significantly increased in PKCdelta DN cells, while PKCdelta overexpression was accompanied by decreased PKCalpha activity. PKCdelta-overexpressing cells exhibited a significantly lower proliferation rate and an impaired tube formation in response to FGF2, which were mirrored by similar observations in PKCalpha DN endothelial cells. These findings suggest that PKCdelta is the kinase responsible for syndecan-4 phosphorylation, which, in turn, attenuates the cellular response to FGF2 by reducing PKCalpha activity. The reduced PKCalpha activity then leads to impaired endothelial cell function. We conclude that PKCdelta regulates PKCalpha activity in a syndecan-4-dependent manner.     

Detoxication of Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione by Sulfotransferases (SULTs) in Human Lung Cells

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are environmental and tobacco carcinogens. Human aldo-keto reductases catalyze the metabolic activation of proximate carcinogenic PAH trans-dihydrodiols to yield electrophilic and redox-active o-quinones. Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione a representative PAH o-quinone is reduced back to the corresponding catechol to generate a futile redox-cycle. We investigated whether sulfonation of PAH catechols by human sulfotransferases (SULT) could intercept the catechol in human lung cells. RT-PCR identified SULT1A1, -1A3, and -1E1 as the isozymes expressed in four human lung cell lines. The corresponding recombinant SULTs were examined for their substrate specificity. Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione was reduced to benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol by dithiothreitol under anaerobic conditions and then further sulfonated by the SULTs in the presence of 3'-[(35)S]phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate as the sulfonate group donor. The human SULTs catalyzed the sulfonation of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol and generated two isomeric benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol O-monosulfate products that were identified by reversed phase HPLC and by LC-MS/MS. The various SULT isoforms produced the two isomers in different proportions. Two-dimensional (1)H and (13)C NMR assigned the two regioisomers of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol monosulfate as 8-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene-7-O-sulfate (M1) and 7-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene-8-O-sulfate (M2), respectively. The kinetic profiles of three SULTs were different. SULT1A1 gave the highest catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) and yielded a single isomeric product corresponding to M1. By contrast, SULT1E1 showed distinct substrate inhibition and formed both M1 and M2. Based on expression levels, catalytic efficiency, and the fact that the lung cells only produce M1, it is concluded that the major isoform that can intercept benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-catechol is SULT1A1.     

Metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon trans-dihydrodiols by ubiquitously expressed aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are metabolized to trans-dihydrodiol proximate carcinogens by CYP1A1 and epoxide hydrolase (EH). CYP1A1 or aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) from the 1C subfamily can further activate the trans-dihydrodiols by forming either anti-diol-epoxides or reactive and redox active o-quinones, respectively. To determine whether other AKR superfamily members can divert trans-dihydrodiols to o-quinones, the cDNA encoding human aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1) was isolated from hepatoma HepG2 cells using RT-PCR, subcloned into a prokaryotic expression vector, overexpressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity in milligram amounts. Studies revealed that AKR1A1 preferentially oxidized the metabolically relevant (-)-[3R,4R]-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene. AKR1A1 also displayed high utilization ratios (V(max)/K(m)) for the following PAH trans-dihydrodiols: (+/-)trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, (+/-)trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and (+/-)trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-5-methylchrysene. Multiple tissue expression (MTE) arrays were used to measure the co-expressed of CYP1A1, EH and AKR1A1. All the three enzymes co-expressed to sites of PAH activation. The high catalytic efficiency of AKR1A1 for potent proximate carcinogen trans-dihydrodiols and its presence in tissues that contain CYP1A1 and EH suggests that it plays an important role in this alternative pathway of PAH activation (supported by CA39504).     

Non-K-region o-quinones as enzyme-generated inactivators of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase

Homogeneous 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid/dihydrodiol dehydrogenase from rat liver cytosol catalyzes the NAD(P)+-dependent oxidation of non-K-region trans-dihydrodiols of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, many of which are proximate carcinogens. These reactions proceed with Km values in the millimolar range to yield highly reactive o-quinones that can be trapped as thioether adducts [Smithgall, T. E., Harvey, R. G., & Penning, T. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1814-1820]. The enzymatically generated o-quinones, e.g., naphthalene-1,2-dione and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione are potent inhibitors of the dehydrogenase, yielding IC50 values of 5.0 and 10.0 microM, respectively. Naphthalene-1,2-dione was found to be an efficient irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme and can inactivate equimolar concentrations of the dehydrogenase, yielding a t 1/2 for the enzyme of 10 s or less. By contrast (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene promotes a slower inactivation of the dehydrogenase, yielding a Kd of 70 microM and a limiting rate constant that corresponds to a t 1/2 at saturation of 23.2 min. Inactivation by this dihydrodiol has an obligatory requirement for NADP+. Examination of the kcat for the oxidation of (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene yields a partition ratio for the dihydrodiol of 200,000, suggesting that alkylation from the parent dihydrodiol is a rare occurrence. Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione, which is the product of the enzymatic oxidation of (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene, also promotes a time- and concentration-dependent inactivation of the dehydrogenase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Autophosphorylation suppresses whereas kinase inhibition augments the translocation of protein kinase Calpha in response to diacylglycerol

We have seen that protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) is transiently translocated to the plasma membrane by carbachol stimulation of neuroblastoma cells. This is induced by the Ca2+ increase, and PKCalpha does not respond to diacylglycerol (DAG). The unresponsiveness is dependent on structures in the catalytic domain of PKCalpha. This study was designed to investigate if and how the kinase activity and autophosphorylation are involved in regulating the translocation. PKCalpha enhanced green fluorescent protein translocation was studied in living neuroblastoma cells by confocal microscopy. Carbachol stimulation induced a transient translocation of PKCalpha to the plasma membrane and a sustained translocation of kinase-dead PKCalpha. In cells treated with the PKC inhibitor GF109203X, wild-type PKCalpha also showed a sustained translocation. The same effects were seen with PKCbetaI, PKCbetaII, and PKCdelta. Only kinase-dead and not wild-type PKCalpha translocated in response to 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol. To examine whether autophosphorylation regulates relocation to the cytosol, the autophosphorylation sites in PKCalpha were mutated to glutamate, to mimic phosphorylation, or alanine, to mimic the non-phosphorylated protein. After stimulation with carbachol, glutamate mutants behaved like wild-type PKCalpha, whereas alanine mutants behaved like kinase-dead PKCalpha. When the alanine mutants were treated with 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, all cells showed a sustained translocation of the protein. However, neither carbachol nor GF109203X had any major effects on the level of autophosphorylation, and GF109203X potentiated the translocation of the glutamate mutants. We, therefore, hypothesize that 1) autophosphorylation of PKCalpha limits its sensitivity to DAG and 2) that kinase inhibitors augment the DAG sensitivity of PKCalpha, perhaps by destabilizing the closed conformation.     

PKCdelta inhibits PKCalpha-mediated activation of phospholipase D1 in a manner independent of its protein kinase activity

The regulation of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) by protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms was analyzed in human melanoma cell lines. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced PLD1 activation was suppressed by the introduction of PKCdelta as well as its kinase-negative mutant in MeWo cells, which contain PKCalpha but lack PKCbeta. PLD activity was not affected by PKCdelta in G361 cells, which have PKCbeta but are deficient in PKCalpha. In MeWo cells introduced by PKCalpha and PLD1, the association of these proteins was observed, which was enhanced by the TPA treatment. In cells overexpressing PKCdelta in addition to PKCalpha and PLD1, TPA treatment increased the association of PKCdelta and PLD1, while it attenuated the association of PKCalpha and PLD1. These results indicate that PKCdelta inhibits TPA-induced PLD1 activation mediated by PKCalpha through the association with PLD1.     

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship of new isobenzofuranone ligands of protein kinase C

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of enzymes, which play important roles in intracellular signal transduction. We have designed novel PKC ligands having an isobenzofuranone template, based on the proposed interaction of DAG (1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol) with the PKCdelta C1B ligand-binding domain. Several isobenzofuranone derivatives were synthesized and their PKCalpha binding activities were evaluated. The pivaloyl derivative 1f was found to be a strong PKCalpha ligand, and the structure-activity relationship is well explained by our proposed binding model.     

Phorbol ester-induced apoptosis of C4-2 cells requires both a unique and a redundant protein kinase C signaling pathway

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) potently induces apoptosis of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Here, we show that C4-2 cells, androgen-hypersensitive derivatives of LNCaP cells, also are sensitive to PMA-induced apoptosis. Previous reports have implicated activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes alpha and delta in PMA-induced LNCaP apoptosis using overexpression, pharmacological inhibitors, and dominant-negative constructs, but have left unresolved if other isozymes are involved, if there are separate requirements for individual PKC isozymes, or if there is redundancy. We have resolved these questions in C4-2 cells using stable expression of short hairpin RNAs to knock down expression of specific PKC isozymes individually and in pairs. Partial knockdown of PKCdelta inhibited PMA-induced C4-2 cell death almost completely, whereas near-complete knockdown of PKCalpha had no effect. Knockdown of PKCepsilon alone had no effect, but simultaneous knockdown of both PKCalpha and PKCepsilon in C4-2 cells that continued to express normal levels of PKCdelta inhibited PMA-induced apoptosis. Thus, our data indicate that there is an absolute requirement for PKCdelta in PMA-induced C4-2 apoptosis but that the functions of PKCalpha and PKCepsilon in apoptosis induction are redundant, such that either one (but not both) is required. Investigation of PMA-induced events required for LNCaP and C4-2 apoptosis revealed that p38 activation is dependent on PKCdelta, whereas induction of retinoblastoma protein hypophosphorylation requires both PKC signaling pathways and is downstream of p38 activation in the PKCdelta pathway.     

Isoenzyme-selective regulation of SERCA2 gene expression by protein kinase C in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes

Patients with cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure display abnormally slowed myocardial relaxation, which is associated with downregulation of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2) gene expression. We previously showed that SERCA2 downregulation can be simulated in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) by treatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). However, NRVM express three different PMA-sensitive PKC isoenzymes (PKCalpha, PKCepsilon, and PKCdelta), which may be differentially regulated and have specific functions in the cardiomyocyte. Therefore, in this study we used adenoviral vectors encoding wild-type (wt) and kinase-defective, dominant negative (dn) mutant forms of PKCalpha, PKCepsilon, and PKCdelta to analyze their individual effects in regulating SERCA2 gene expression in NRVM. Overexpression of wtPKCepsilon and wtPKCdelta, but not wtPKCalpha, was sufficient to downregulate SERCA2 mRNA levels, as assessed by Northern blotting and quantitative, real-time RT-PCR (69 +/- 7 and 61 +/- 9% of control levels for wtPKCepsilon and wtPKCdelta, respectively; P < 0.05 for each adenovirus; n = 8 experiments). Conversely, overexpression of all three dnPKCs appeared to significantly increase SERCA2 mRNA levels (dnPKCdelta > dnPKCepsilon > dnPKCalpha). dnPKCdelta overexpression produced the largest increase (2.8 +/- 1.0-fold; n = 11 experiments). However, PMA treatment was still sufficient to downregulate SERCA2 mRNA levels despite overexpression of each dominant negative mutant. These data indicate that the novel PKC isoenzymes PKCepsilon and PKCdelta selectively regulate SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes but that neither PKC alone is necessary for this effect if the other novel PKC can be activated.