Stimulation of Phospholipase D Activity in Human Neuroblastoma (LA-N-2) Cells by Activation of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors or by Phorbol Esters: Relationship to Phosphoinositide Turnover

We have investigated the coupling of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) to phospholipid hydrolysis in a human neuroblastoma cell line, LA-N-2, by measuring the formation of 3H-inositol phosphates (3H-IP) and of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt) in cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol and [3H]oleic acid. The muscarinic agonist carbachol (CCh) stimulated the phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated formation of 3H-IP in a time- and dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 40-55 microM). In addition, in the presence of ethanol (170-300 mM), CCh elevated levels of [3H]PEt [which is regarded as a specific indicator of phospholipase D (PLD) activity] by three- to sixfold. The effect of CCh on PEt formation also was dose dependent (EC50 = 50 microM). Both effects of CCh were antagonized by atropine, indicating that they were mediated by mAChR. Incubation of LA-N-2 cells with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 0.1 microM; 10 min) increased [3H]PEt levels by up to 10-fold. This effect was inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor staurosporine (1 microM) or by pretreatment for 24 h with 0.1 microM PMA, by 74% and 65%, respectively. In contrast, the effect of CCh on PEt accumulation was attenuated by only 28% in the presence of staurosporine (1 microM). In summary, these results suggest that, in LA-N-2 neuroblastoma cells, mAChR are coupled both to phosphoinositide-specific PLC and to PLD. PKC is capable of stimulating PLD activity in these cells; however, it is not required for stimulation of the enzyme by mAChR activation.     

Pertussis Toxin-Insensitive G Protein Mediates Carbachol Activation of Phospholipase D in Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

In the present study, an activation mechanism for phospholipase D (PLD) in [3H]palmitic acid-labeled pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in response to carbachol (CCh) was investigated. PLD activity was assessed by measuring the formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), the specific marker of PLD activity, in the presence of 0.5% (vol/vol) ethanol. CCh caused a rapid accumulation of [3H]-PEt, which reached a plateau within 1 min, in a concentration-dependent manner. The [3H]PEt formation by CCh was completely antagonized by atropine, demonstrating that the CCh effect was mediated by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR). A tumor promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), also caused an increase in [3H]-PEt content, which reached a plateau at 30-60 min after exposure, but an inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, did not. Although a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, staurosporine (5 microM), blocked PMA-induced [3H]PEt formation by 77%, it had no effect on the CCh-induced formation. These results suggest that mAChR-induced PLD activation is independent of PKC, whereas PLD activation by PMA is mediated by PKC. NaF, a common GTP-binding protein (G protein) activator, and a stable analogue of GTP, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), also stimulated [3H]PEt formation in intact and digitonin-permeabilized cells, respectively. GTP, UTP, and CTP were without effect. Furthermore, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) significantly inhibited CCh- and GTP gamma S-induced [3H]PEt formation in permeabilized cells but did not inhibit the formation by PMA, and staurosporine (5 microM) had no effect on [3H]PEt formation by GTP gamma S.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of muscarinic receptor-linked phospholipase D activation by association with tubulin

Mammalian phospholipase D (PLD) is considered a key enzyme in the transmission signals from various receptors including muscarinic receptors. PLD activation is a rapid and transient process, but a negative regulator has not been found that inhibits signal-dependent PLD activation. Here, for the first time, we report that tubulin binding to PLD2 is an inhibition mechanism for muscarinic receptor-linked PLD2 activation. Tubulin was identified in an immunoprecipitated PLD2 complex from COS-7 cells by peptide mass fingerprinting. The direct interaction between PLD2 and tubulin was found to be mediated by a specific region of PLD2 (amino acids 476-612). PLD2 was potently inhibited (IC50 <10 nM) by tubulin binding in vitro. In cells, the interaction between PLD2 and tubulin was increased by the microtubule disrupting agent nocodazole and reduced by the microtubule stabilizing agent Taxol. Moreover, PLD2 activity was found to be inversely correlated with the level of monomeric tubulin. In addition, we found that interaction with and the inhibition of PLD2 by monomeric tubulin is important for the muscarinic receptor-linked PLD signaling pathway. Interaction between PLD2 and tubulin was increased only after 1-2 min of carbachol stimulation when carbachol-stimulated PLD2 activity was decreased. The expression of the tubulin binding region of PLD2 blocked the later decrease in carbachol-induced PLD activity by masking tubulin binding. Taken together, these results indicate that an increase in local membrane monomeric tubulin concentration inhibits PLD2 activity, and provides a novel mechanism for the inhibition of muscarinic receptor-induced PLD2 activation by interaction with tubulin.     

Calcium rather than protein kinase C is the major factor to activate phospholipase D in FMLP-stimulated rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. Possible involvement of calmodulin/myosin L chain kinase pathway.

In the present study, we first investigated which of the factors, protein kinase C (PKC) or Ca2+, plays an important role in activation of phospholipase D (PLD) of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils stimulated by the chemoattractant FMLP. PLD activity was assessed by measuring [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), the unambiguous marker of PLD, generated by [3H]lyso platelet-activating factor-prelabeled neutrophils in the presence of ethanol. PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, augmented the plateau level of [3H]PEt produced in FMLP-stimulated cells, although they had no effect on the initial rate of the formation. Furthermore, it was found that the FMLP-stimulated [3H]PEt formation was inhibited by pretreatment of cells with PMA, a PKC activator, and exposure of cells to staurosporine before PMA pretreatment moderately blocked the PMA inhibition. Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, as well as FMLP, stimulated [3H]PEt formation, accompanied by a decrease in [3H]phosphatidylcholine, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Both FMLP and ionomycin absolutely required extracellular Ca2+ to increase [3H]PEt formation. These results imply that elevated intercellular Ca2+ by FMLP stimulation is the major factor for PLD activation and that PKC rather negatively regulates the enzyme activity. Interestingly, a calmodulin inhibitor, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- naphthalenesulfonamide, and a myosin L chain kinase inhibitor, 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-h exahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride, both inhibited the ionomycin- and FMLP-stimulated [3H]PEt formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Results obtained in this study suggest that, in FMLP-stimulated rabbit peritoneal neutrophils, increased intracellular Ca2+ activates PLD through calmodulin/myosin L chain kinase pathway and, thereafter, the enzyme activation is turned off by simultaneously activated PKC.     

Rapid protein kinase C-dependent activation of phospholipase D leads to delayed 1,2-diglyceride accumulation

We have shown previously that the major source of diglyceride (DG) formed following muscarinic receptor (mAChR) stimulation of 1321N1 astrocytoma cells is phosphatidylcholine (PC) rather than the phosphoinositides (Martinson, E. A., Goldstein, D., and Brown, J. H. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14748-14754). We have also noted that there is a delay of several minutes before significant DG accumulation is observed. In the present work, we examine the time course and mechanism of PC hydrolysis in response to mAChR stimulation. Treatment of 1321N1 cells with carbachol results in increases in radiolabeled choline, phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt), metabolites that are products of phospholipase D (PLD) action on PC. These products are all formed within 15 s of mAChR stimulation and reach a plateau within 30-60 s. The time course of PEt formation suggests that PLD is no longer activated after several minutes of mAChR stimulation. Thus there is a discrepancy between the rapid and transient activation of PLD and the delayed accumulation of DG. It appears that most of the DG is formed through the action of PLD, since propranolol (which inhibits the conversion of PA to DG) and down-regulation of protein kinase C (which prevents activation of PLD by carbachol) both markedly inhibit DG production. Using a protocol in which cells are stimulated with carbachol for only one minute (a period during which PLD and PA formation are maximally activated), we show that DG mass continues to increase following removal of agonist. We suggest that the rapid and transient activation of PLD results in delayed accumulation of DG due to the relatively slow conversion of PA to DG by PA phosphatase.     

A role for rho-kinase in rho-controlled phospholipase D stimulation by the m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.

Stimulation of phospholipase D (PLD) by membrane receptors is now recognized as a major signal transduction pathway involved in diverse cellular functions. Rho proteins control receptor signaling to PLD, and these GTPases have been shown to directly stimulate purified recombinant PLD1 enzymes in vitro. Here we report that stimulation of PLD activity, measured in the presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, by RhoA in membranes of HEK-293 cells expressing the m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) is phosphorylation-dependent. Therefore, the possible involvement of the RhoA-stimulated serine/threonine kinase, Rho-kinase, was investigated. Overexpression of Rho-kinase and constitutively active Rho-kinase (Rho-kinase-CAT) but not of kinase-deficient Rho-kinase-CAT markedly increased m3 mAChR-mediated but not protein kinase C-mediated PLD stimulation, similar to overexpression of RhoA. Expression of the Rho-inactivating C3 transferase abrogated the stimulatory effect of wild-type Rho-kinase, but not of Rho-kinase-CAT. Recombinant Rho-kinase-CAT mimicked the phosphorylation-dependent PLD stimulation by RhoA in HEK-293 cell membranes. Finally, the Rho-kinase inhibitor HA-1077 largely inhibited RhoA-induced PLD stimulation in membranes as well as PLD stimulation by the m3 mAChR but not by protein kinase C in intact HEK-293 cells. We conclude that Rho-kinase is involved in Rho-dependent PLD stimulation by the G protein-coupled m3 mAChR in HEK-293 cells. Thus, our findings identify Rho-kinase as a novel player in the receptor-controlled PLD signaling pathway.     

Phospholipase D mimics platelet-derived growth factor as a competence factor in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Recent studies have suggested the importance of phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism in growth factor-stimulated cells. In these cells, PC is hydrolyzed not only by PC-specific phospholipase C but also by phospholipase D (PLD). In the present investigation, we show that the simple addition of PC-hydrolyzing PLD from Streptomyces chromofuscus to the culture medium of vascular smooth muscle cells elicits choline release into the medium accompanied by the formation of phosphatidic acid. In the presence of ethanol, this treatment elicits a formation of phosphatidylethanol (PEt) at the expense of phosphatidic acid. Furthermore, we show here that exogenous addition of S. chromofuscus PLD induces a marked DNA synthesis in quiescent vascular smooth muscle cells. This DNA synthesis induced by S. chromofuscus PLD is, like platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-elicited DNA synthesis, largely dependent on the presence of insulin. In addition, S. chromofuscus PLD-induced PEt formation and DNA synthesis were not affected by protein kinase C down-regulation, whereas PDGF-induced PEt formation and DNA synthesis were significantly inhibited. These observations strongly suggest that protein kinase-dependent activation of PLD is involved in mitogenic signal in PDGF-stimulated cells and that exogenously added PLD acts as a competence factor in the same way as PDGF.     

Evidence for protein kinase C independent activation of phospholipase D by phorbol esters in lymphocytes

Recently it was reported that tumor-promoting phorbol esters stimulate the production of phosphatidylethanol (PEt) in lymphocytes through the activation of phospholipase D (PLD). However, it remains unclear whether this activation is mediated through protein kinase (PKC). The study reported here shows that tumor promoters 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), phorbol dibutyrate (PDBU), 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DOPP), 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate-20-acetate (DOPPA) and mezerin activated PLD, as measured by the formation of PEt, whereas Concanavalin A (ConA) had no effect. Inhibitors of PKC, sphingosine (2 x 10(-6) M - 5 x 10(-6) M), H-7, HA1004 (5 x 10(-7) - 5 x 10(-6) M) and K252a (1 x 10(-7) - 1 x 10(-6) M) failed to block the PEt synthesis induced by TPA. In fact, sphingosine increased it. Other PKC activators, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) and dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8) had no effect on lymphocyte PLD activity. Analysis of the phospholipid contents after stimulation by TPA showed that only phosphatidylcholine (PC) was significantly decreased. Interestingly, TPA activated PLD in intact cells but not in lysates or subcellular fractions. These observations suggest that stimulation of PLD-catalyzed PEt synthesis by TPA is not solely mediated through PKC activation.     

Identification of phosphatidylcholine-selective and phosphatidylinositol-selective phospholipases D in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Intact cells and cell-free systems were employed to characterize phospholipase D (PLD) activity in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. In cells prelabeled with [3H]glycerol, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) elicited phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis by PLD, as shown by the prolonged formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol (PEt) and an accompanying decrease in [3H]PC. In contrast, bradykinin elicited rapid formation of [3H]PEt (approximately 1 min) accompanied by a decrease in [3H]phosphatidylinositol (PI). When the agonists were administered simultaneously, [3H]PEt formation was biphasic. In cells prelabeled with [3H] choline, at times less than 1 min, bradykinin failed to induce significant change in [3H]choline release. Bradykinin-induced formation of [3H]PEt in the [3H]glycerol-labeled cells was strictly dependent on extracellular Ca2+, whereas TPA-induced formation of [3H]PEt did not require extracellular Ca2+. Cell-free assays for PLD were used to assess the enzyme location, substrate specificity, and cofactor requirements. The PC-PLD activity (PEt formation) against [3H]stearoyl-PC was primarily localized in the 440 x g pellet (membrane- and nuclear-associated), preferred PC as a substrate, required detergent, and was not influenced by Ca2+ at low concentrations but was inhibited by Ca2+ in excess of 0.5 mM. The PI-PLD activity against [3H]stearoyl-PI was found largely in the 100,000 x g supernatant (cytosol), was strictly Ca(2+)-dependent, and did not require detergent. From these data, we conclude that MDCK cells contain two PLD subtypes: 1) a membrane-associated, PC-selective enzyme that responds to TPA resulting in prolonged hydrolysis of PC (the PC-PLD is Ca(2+)-independent, but requires detergent); 2) a cytosolic, PI-selective enzyme that responds rapidly but transiently to bradykinin (the PI-PLD requires Ca2+ but not detergent).     

Activation of phospholipase D in normodense human eosinophils

Normodense human eosinophils have been labeled in 1-0-alkyl-phosphatidylcholine (alkyl-PC) with 32P by incubating isolated cells with alkyl-[32P]lysoPC. Stimulation of these 32P-labeled cells with C5a, A23187 or PMA in the presence of 0.5% ethanol resulted in time- and dose-dependent formation of alkyl-[32P]phosphatidic acid (alkyl-[32P]PA) and alkyl-[32P]phosphatidylethanol (alkyl-[32P]PEt). Because cellular ATP does not contain 32P, alkyl-[32P]PA must have been formed by the hydrolytic action of phospholipase D (PLD) and not by the combined actions of phospholipase C and DG kinase. Regardless of the stimulating agent, alkyl-[32P]PEt formation paralleled that of alkyl-[32P]PA, suggesting that alkyl-PEt was the result of a PLD-catalyzed transphosphatidylation reaction between alkyl-PC and ethanol. These data provide the first definitive proof of receptor- and nonreceptor-mediated activation of PLD in normodense eosinophils derived from human blood.     

Activation of phospholipase D by endothelin-1 and other pharmacological agents in rabbit iris sphincter smooth muscle

The stimulation of phospholipase D (PLD) activity by endothelin-1 (ET1) was investigated in rabbit iris sphincter perlabelled with [³H]myristic acid. In the presence of 0.5% ethanol, ET1 caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in the production of [³H]phophatidylethanol ([³H]PEt). Within 30 s the peptide increased PEt formation by 30% and after 5 min increased it by 140%. The ₅₀ value for ET1-stimulated PEt formation was found to be 30 nM. This value is appreciably lower than the ₅₀ we previously obtained for ET1-induced inositol triphosphate production (45 nM), but considerably higher than that for arachidonic acid release (1 nM). PEt formation was significantly stimulated by prostaglandin F₂₀, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), chloroform, A23187 and A1F₄⁻, but it was not affected by carbachol or the platelet-activating factor. PDBu-stimulated PEt formation was blocked by staurosporine and it was not potentiated by A23187. Staurosporine had no effect on ET1-stimulated PEt formation. Our data indicate that ET1 stimulation of PLD occurs independently of protein kinase C activation, phospholipase C activation and intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization, and phospholipase A₂ activation. In this tissue the ET1 receptor is probably coupled to the three phospholipases through several G-proteins, and this appears to be species and receptor type specific.     

Activation of phospholipase D by chemotactic peptide in HL-60 granulocytes

Activation of phospholipase D (PLD) has been investigated in dimethylsulfoxide differentiated HL-60 granulocytes labeled in endogenous 1-0-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkyl-PC) by incubation with [3H]alkyl-lysoPC. Stimulation of these labeled cells with the chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), induces rapid generation of [3H]phosphatidic acid (PA) and slower formation of [3H]diglyceride, suggesting hydrolysis of alkyl-PC by PLD. A unique feature of PLD is its ability to transfer the phosphatidyl moiety of phospholipids to alcohols (transphosphatidylation). This characteristic has been exploited to identify PLD activity. For example, when ethanol is present during stimulation of the HL-60 cells, [3H]phosphatidylethanol (PEt) is formed with a concomitant decrease in [3H]PA. Cells incubated with [32P]orthophosphate to label the terminal phosphate of ATP do not incorporate 32P into PEt, consistent with the [3H]PEt not being synthesized from [3H]diglyceride. In contrast, [3H]PA arises from both PLD and diglyceride kinase activities. Furthermore, PEt synthesis closely parallels PA formation and both are inhibited by an fMLP receptor antagonist, suggesting that both PA and PEt are derived from agonist-stimulated PLD action. These observations are consistent with phospholipase D-catalyzed breakdown of alkyl-PC in fMLP- stimulated granulocytes.     

Regulation of phospholipase D in HL-60 granulocytes. Activation by phorbol esters, diglyceride, and calcium ionophore via protein kinase- independent mechanisms

It has recently been demonstrated that the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe activates phospholipase D (PLD) in dimethyl sulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 granulocytes to produce phosphatidic acid (PA) and, in the presence of ethanol, phosphatidylethanol (PEt) (Pai, J.-K., Siegel, M. I., Egan, R. W., and Billah, M. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 12472-12477). We now report that biologically active phorbol esters, a cell-permeable diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), and calcium ionophore A23187 are also potent inducers of PLD in these HL-60 granulocytes. HL-60 granulocytes have been selectively labeled in 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkyl-PC) with 32P by incubating the cells with alkyl-[32P]lyso-phosphatidylcholine (PC). When these labeled cells are treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, OAG, or A23187, alkyl-[32P]PA is formed. Because cellular ATP has not been labeled with 32P, the formation of alkyl-[32P]PA conclusively demonstrates PLD activation by these agents. In the presence of 0.5% ethanol, phorbol esters, OAG, and A23187 also induce formation of alkyl-[32P]PEt, demonstrating that the activated PLD catalyzes transphosphatidylation between the phosphatidyl moiety of the alkyl-[32P]PC and ethanol. Formation of alkyl-[32P]PA and alkyl-[32P]PEt in response to these various agents occurs in a time- and dose-dependent manner and exhibits differential Ca2+ requirements. Based on experiments with both [3H]alkyl-PC and alkyl-[32P]PC, it is concluded that alkyl-PA and alkyl-PEt formed in response to PMA, OAG, or A23187 are derived exclusively from PLD action on alkyl-PC. Furthermore, subthreshold concentrations of PMA (0.5-2.0 nM) or OAG (1.0-25 microM) combined with subthreshold levels of A23187 (15-60 nM) induce the formation of alkyl-[32P]PA and alkyl-[32P]PEt, suggesting that receptor-mediated activation of PLD might involve cooperative interactions between Ca2+ and diglyceride. Although PLD is activated by agents that also activate protein kinase C, the protein kinase C inhibitor, K252a, inhibits PMA-induced protein phosphorylation but causes only partial inhibition of PLD activation. We conclude that phorbol esters, OAG, and A23187 activate PLD in HL-60 granulocytes via protein kinase-independent as well as protein kinase-dependent mechanisms.     

Enhancing effect of wortmannin on muscarinic stimulation of phospholipase D in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.

Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), enhanced carbachol-induced formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), a marker of phospholipase D (PLD) activity, in [3H]palmitic acid-labeled PC12 cells. The apparent EC50 value was 1.5 microM, and the effect was maximal at 3 microM and slightly attenuated at higher concentration. Wortmannin alone had no significant effect on [3H]PEt formation. The enhancing effect of wortmannin was observed at the initial increasing phase of [3H]PEt formation but not at the subsequent plateau phase. Wortmannin enhanced also phorbol ester-induced PLD activation. Although the precise mechanism remains to be clarified, these results suggest that MLCK may be involved in PLD regulation in PC12 cells.     

Phospholipase D catalyzes phospholipid metabolism in chemotactic peptide-stimulated HL-60 granulocytes

There exists circumstantial evidence for activation of phospholipase D (PLD) in intact cells. However, because of the complexity of phospholipid remodeling processes, it is essential to distinguish PLD clearly from other phospholipases and phospholipid remodeling enzymes. Therefore, to establish unequivocally PLD activity in dimethyl sulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 granulocytes, to demonstrate the relative contribution of PLD to phospholipid turnover, and to validate the hypothesis that the formation of phosphatidylethanol is an expression of PLD-catalyzed transphosphatidylation, we have developed methodologies to label HL-60 granulocytes in 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkyl-PC) with 32P without labeling cellular ATP. These methodologies involve (a) synthesis of alkyl-lysoPC containing 32P by a combination of enzymatic and chemical procedures and (b) incubation of HL-60 granulocytes with this alkyl-[32P] lysoPC which enters the cell and becomes acylated into membrane-associated alkyl-[32P]PC. Upon stimulation of these 32P-labeled cells with the chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), alkyl-[32P]phosphatidic acid (alkyl-[32P]PA) is formed rapidly. Because, under these conditions, cellular ATP has not been labeled with 32P, alkyl-[32P]PA must be formed via PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis of alkyl-[32P]PC at the terminal phosphodiester bond. This result conclusively demonstrates fMLP-induced activation of PLD in HL-60 granulocytes. These 32P-labeled HL-60 granulocytes have also been stimulated in the presence of ethanol to produce alkyl-[32P]phosphatidylethanol (alkyl-[32P]PEt). Formation of alkyl-[32P]PEt parallels that of alkyl-[32P]PA with respect to time course, fMLP concentration, inhibition by a specific fMLP antagonist (t-butoxycarbonyl-Met-Leu-Phe), and Ca2+ concentration. These results strongly support the hypothesis that in HL-60 granulocytes, PEt is formed via PLD-catalyzed transphosphatidylation. Moreover, using HL-60 granulocytes double-labeled by incubation with [3H]alkyl-lysoPC and alkyl-[32P]lysoPC, it has been established that the early (30 s) appearance of alkyl-PA is due primarily to PLD, not phospholipase C as previously thought, and that alkyl-PEt is formed exclusively by PLD. These results constitute the first direct evidence for receptor-linked activation of PLD, leading to the generation of PA and PEt in an intact cell system.     

Oxotremorine-M potentiates NMDA receptors by muscarinic receptor dependent and independent mechanisms

Muscarinic acetylcholine M1 receptors play an important role in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and cortex. Potentiation of NMDA receptors as a consequence of muscarinic acetylcholine M1 receptor activation is a crucial event mediating the cholinergic modulation of synaptic plasticity, which is a cellular mechanism for learning and memory. In Alzheimer's disease, the cholinergic input to the hippocampus and cortex is severely degenerated, and agonists or positive allosteric modulators of M1 receptors are therefore thought to be of potential use to treat the deficits in cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease. In this study we developed a simple system in which muscarinic modulation of NMDA receptors can be studied in vitro. Human M1 receptors and NR1/2B NMDA receptors were co-expressed in Xenopus oocytes and various muscarinic agonists were assessed for their modulatory effects on NMDA receptor-mediated responses. As expected, NMDA receptor-mediated responses were potentiated by oxotremorine-M, oxotremorine or xanomeline when the drugs were applied between subsequent NMDA responses, an effect which was fully blocked by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. However, in oocytes expressing NR1/2B NMDA receptors but not muscarinic M1 receptors, oxotremorine-M co-applied with NMDA also resulted in a potentiation of NMDA currents and this effect was not blocked by atropine, demonstrating that oxotremorine-M is able to directly potentiate NMDA receptors. Oxotremorine, which is a close analogue of oxotremorine-M, and xanomeline, a chemically distinct muscarinic agonist, did not potentiate NMDA receptors by this direct mechanism. Comparing the chemical structures of the three different muscarinic agonists used in this study suggests that the tri-methyl ammonium moiety present in oxotremorine-M is important for the compound's interaction with NMDA receptors.     

An indirect pathway of receptor-mediated 1,2-diacylglycerol formation in mast cells. I. IgE receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase D

The current studies explore the role of phospholipase D (PLD) in mast cell activation. Although most investigators believe that receptor-mediated accumulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) occurs by phospholipase C hydrolysis of phosphoinositides, our previous work indicated a modest role for these substrates and suggested that phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the more likely substrate. PLD cleaves the terminal phosphodiester bond of phospholipids to yield phosphatidic acid (PA), but in the presence of ethanol, it transfers the phosphatidyl moiety of the phospholipid substrate to ethanol producing phosphatidylethanol (PEt); a reaction termed transphosphatidylation. In purified rat mast cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, [3H]palmitic acid, or 1-O-[3H]alkyl-lysoPC, a receptor-associated increase in PLD activity was initially suggested by the rapid accumulation of labeled PA, although other mechanisms might be involved. PLD activity was assessed more directly by the production of labeled PEt by PLD-mediated transphosphatidylation in the presence of ethanol. IgE receptor cross-linking resulted in a 3- to 10-fold increase in PLD activity during the 10 min after stimulation, approximately 50% of which occurred during the first two min. PEt formation was dependent on the concentration of ethanol and was maximal at 0.5%. At concentrations of ethanol greater than or equal to 0.2%, receptor-dependent formation of PA was reduced suggesting that the ethanol promoted transphosphatidylation at the expense of hydrolysis. The dose-related decline in PA accumulation seen in the presence of ethanol was similar to ethanol-mediated inhibition of exocytosis suggesting that receptor-mediated PA formation may be of regulatory importance. These observations indicate that PLD-mediated formation of PA occurs in stimulated mast cells and, in conjunction with separate findings of PA phosphohydrolase conversion of PA to DAG in mast cells, suggest that a major mechanism of DAG formation during mast cell activation is PC----PA----DAG.     

Molecular species analysis of a product of phospholipase D activation. Phosphatidylethanol is formed from phosphatidylcholine in phorbol ester- and bradykinin-stimulated PC12 cells.

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters or calcium-mobilizing receptor ligands stimulate phosphatidylcholine breakdown and in many cells this is accompanied by phospholipase D (PLD) activation. We tested whether or not a direct relationship exists between these two phenomena. Pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were stimulated with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate or with the calcium-mobilizing receptor ligand bradykinin in media containing 1% ethanol. The fatty acid composition of the molecular species of phosphatidylethanol (PEt), a product of PLD activation, formed in stimulated cells was compared with the molecular species of endogenous phospholipids isolated from unstimulated PC12 cells. PEt was isolated and analyzed by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) in the negative ion mode. Fatty acid composition and headgroup structure of the major PEt molecular ions were confirmed by linked scan analysis. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol were isolated from unstimulated cells and converted into phosphatidic acids using PLD. Mass spectra of the respective phosphatidic acids were obtained by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry as described above. The molecular species of PEt formed in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate- and bradykinin-stimulated PC12 cell were identical to those of phosphatidylcholine isolated from untreated cells.     

Endothelin-1 activates phospholipase D and thymidine incorporation in fibroblasts overexpressing protein kinase C beta 1.

Endothelins (ETs) are a family of extremely potent vasoconstrictor peptides. In addition, ET-1 acts as a potent mitogen and activates phospholipase C in smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. We examined the effects of ET-1 on phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism and thymidine incorporation in control Rat-6 fibroblasts and in cells that overexpress protein kinase C beta 1 (PKC). PC pools were labeled with [3H]myristic acid, and formation of phosphatidylethanol (PEt), an unambiguous marker of phospholipase D (PLD) activation, was monitored. ET-1 stimulated much greater PEt formation in the PKC overexpressing cells. ET-1 action was dose-dependent with a half-maximal effect at 1.0 x 10(-9) M. With increasing ethanol concentrations, [3H]PEt formation increased at the expense of [3H]phosphatidic acid (PA). Propranolol, an inhibitor of PA phosphohydrolase, increased [3H]PA accumulation and decreased [3H]diacylglycerol (DAG) formation. These data are consistent with the formation of [3H]DAG from PC by the sequential action of PLD and PA phosphohydrolase. Phorbol esters are known to stimulate thymidine incorporation and PLD activity to a greater extent in PKC overexpressing cells than in control cells. ET-1 also stimulates thymidine incorporation to a greater extent in the PKC overexpressing cells. The effect of ET-1 on thymidine incorporation into DNA in the overexpressing cells was also dose-dependent with a half-maximal effect at 0.3 x 10(-9) M. Enhanced PLD activity induced by ET-1 in the overexpressing cells may contribute to the mitogenic response, especially in light of a possible role of the PLD product, PA, in regulation of cell growth.     

Coincident signalling between the Gi/Go-coupled delta-opioid receptor and the Gq-coupled m3 muscarinic receptor at the level of intracellular free calcium in SH-SY5Y cells

In SH-SY5Y cells, activation of delta-opioid receptors with [D-Pen(2,5)]-enkephalin (DPDPE; 1 microM) did not alter the intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration [Ca(2+)](i). However, when DPDPE was applied during concomitant Gq-coupled m3 muscarinic receptor stimulation by carbachol or oxotremorine-M, it produced an elevation of [Ca(2+)](i). The DPDPE-evoked increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was abolished when the carbachol-sensitive intracellular Ca(2+) store was emptied. There was a marked difference between the concentration-response relationship for the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) by carbachol (EC(50) 13 microM, Hill slope 1) and the concentration-response relationship for carbachol's permissive action in revealing the delta-opioid receptor-mediated elevation of [Ca(2+)] (EC(50) 0.7 mM; Hill slope 1.8). Sequestration of free G protein beta gamma dimers by transient transfection of cells with a beta gamma binding protein (residues 495-689 of the C terminal tail of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2) reduced the ability of delta opioid receptor activation to elevate [Ca(2+)](i). However, DPDPE did not elevate either basal or oxotremorine-M-evoked inositol phosphate production indicating that delta-opioid receptor activation did not stimulate phospholipase C. Furthermore, delta-opioid receptor activation did not result in the reversal of muscarinic receptor desensitization, membrane hyperpolarization or stimulation of sphingosine kinase. There was no coincident signalling between the delta-opioid receptor and the lysophosphatidic acid receptor which couples to elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in SH-SY5Y cells by a PLC-independent mechanism. In SH-SY5Y cells the coincident signalling between the endogenously expressed delta-opioid and m3 muscarinic receptors appears to occur in the receptor activation-Ca(2+) release signalling pathway at a step after the activation of phospholipase C.