A model for the regulation of the calmodulin-dependent enzymes erythrocyte Ca2+-transport ATPase and brain phosphodiesterase by activators and inhibitors.

Acidic phospholipids, unsaturated fatty acids and limited proteolysis mimic the activating effect of calmodulin on erythrocyte Ca2+-transport ATPase and on brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, as has been reported previously in several studies. Three different antagonists of calmodulin-induced activation of these enzymes were tested for their inhibitory potency on the stimulation produced by the other activators. Trifluoperazine and penfluridol were found to antagonize all the above mentioned types of activation of Ca2+-transport ATPase in the same concentration range. Both inhibitors also can reverse the activation of phosphodiesterase by oleic acid, phosphatidylserine and calmodulin at similar concentrations. However, in contrast with erythrocyte Ca2+-transport ATPase, activation of phosphodiesterase by limited tryptic digestion cannot be antagonized by penfluridol and trifluoperazine. Calmidazolium, formerly referred to as compound R 24571, was found to be a relatively specific inhibitor of calmodulin-induced activation of phosphodiesterase and Ca2+-transport ATPase, since antagonism of the other activators required much higher concentrations of the drug. The results suggest that the investigated drugs exert their inhibitory effect on calmodulin-regulated enzymes not solely via their binding to calmodulin but may also interfere directly with the calmodulin effector enzyme. In addition, a general mechanism of activation and inhibition of calmodulin-dependent enzymes is derived from our results.     

Subcellular fractionation of Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream forms with special reference to hydrolases

Bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei have been screened for the presence of enzymes that could serve as markers for the plasma membrane, flagellar pocket, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in order to study the subcellular organization of the digestive system of the parasite. Acetylesterase, acid DNase, acid phosphatase, acid phosphodiesterase, acid proteinase, acid RNase, alanine aminotransferase, galactosyl transferase, alpha-glucosidase, inosine diphosphatase and alpha-mannosidase were partially characterized and their assays optimized for pH-dependent activity, linearity of reaction with respect to incubation time and enzyme concentration, and the effect of inhibitors and activators. The association of these enzymes with particulate material and the presence of structural latency were investigated. Acid proteinase and alpha-mannosidase are particle-bound and latent in cytoplasmic extracts; they can be activated and solubilized in part by Triton X-100. Similar results were obtained for acid phosphatase, acid phosphodiesterase and inosine diphosphatase. Neutral alpha-glucosidase, though partly sedimentable, does not show latency and is readily solubilized by the detergent. Galactosyl transferase is firmly membrane-bound even in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100. Cell fractionation by differential centrifugation and density equilibration on sucrose gradients revealed that both alpha-mannosidase and acid proteinase are associated with organelles that band at a density of about 1.20 g/cm3. Inosine diphosphatase, galactosyl transferase, acid phosphatase and acid phosphodiesterase sediment predominantly as microsomal constituents equilibrating at densities between 1.13 and 1.15 g/cm3. In addition, inosine diphosphatase and galactosyl transferase exhibit considerable activity at higher densities (1.18-1.25 g/cm3). Neutral alpha-glucosidase is mainly recovered in the nuclear and microsomal fraction; its particulate part equilibrates as a single band at rho = 1.22 g/cm3. Acetylesterase and acid DNase are largely soluble, whereas acid RNase does not produce distinct sedimentation and banding profiles. In intact cells, neutral alpha-glucosidase and acid phosphatase appear to be highly accessible to their substrates. It is tentatively concluded that (a) acid proteinase and alpha-mannosidase are lysosomal enzymes, (b) acid phosphatase and acid phosphodiesterase are associated with the flagellar pocket and part of the former enzyme probably with the endoplasmic reticulum, (c) galactosyl transferase is a constituent of the Golgi apparatus, and (d) alpha-glucosidase may serve as a marker for the plasma membrane. Inosine diphosphatase may also be derived from the latter structure.     

Changes in conformation of spin-labeled calmodulin by phospholipids

Spin-labeled calmodulin was synthesized and the effects of phospholipids on its conformation were examined by ESR spectroscopy. Phosphatidylserine (0.1-1.0 mM) increased the signal intensity of the ESR spectrum of spin-labeled calmodulin and decreased the apparent rotational correlation time in the presence of 0.1 mM CaCl2. This change was reversed by addition of excess calcium, and in the absence of calcium phosphatidylserine did not change the spectrum, suggesting that the change in spin-labeled calmodulin brought about by phosphatidylserine was not induced by a hydrophobic interaction of the two, but by inhibition of the binding of calcium to calmodulin. L-Serine and O-phospho-L-serine had no effect on the ESR signals of spin-labeled calmodulin. The effects of various other phospholipids were also examined. Their inhibitory activities were in the order phosphatidic acid greater than phosphatidylserine greater than phosphatidylglycerol = phosphatidylinositol; phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine had no effect on the spectra. The effects of these phospholipids were dependent on their binding activities toward calcium. Furthermore, phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine at 1 mM reduced the activity of calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase by 16.4 and 8.7%, respectively. These findings indicate that spin-labeled calmodulin did not interact with the phospholipids by a hydrophobic interaction, but that calcium binding to spin-labeled calmodulin interfered with phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol, and some of these phospholipids inactivated calmodulin. Thus the activity of calmodulin may be regulated in part by some phospholipids.     

Acidic phospholipids and lysophospholipids stimulate cAMP phosphodiesterase of rat liver microsomal membranes

Acidic phospholipids and lysophospholipids modify cAMP phosphodiesterase activity of rat liver microsomal membranes to different extents, depending on the cAMP concentrations employed. At low concentrations, they activate the hormone-sensitive low-Km form of the enzyme through an increase of Vmax (diphosphatidylglycerol greater than phosphatidylglycerol greater than phosphatidic acid = lysophosphatidylserine greater than phosphatidylserine greater than lysophosphatidylcholine). At high concentrations, only lysophospholipids activate the high-Km form of phosphodiesterase through a marked increase in both Vmax and apparent Km for the cAMP.     

Effect of phospholipase C treatment on the activity of the particulate cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of rat brain

1. The activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) was studied in a 10,000 g particulate fraction prepared from rat brain. 2. Phospholipase C such as sphingomyelin choline phosphodiesterase (SMase), phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase (PIase) and phosphatidylcholine phosphohydrolase (PCase) were used to deplete phospholipid(s) from the particulate fraction and their effects on PDE activity were investigated. 3. Treatment with SMase or PIase did not affect PDE activity whereas treatment with PCase resulted in inhibition. 4. It was also found that the PCase used not only hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine but also other phospholipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin.     

Increased activity of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from frozen-thawed rat liver. A role of lysosomal protease in enzyme activation.

The activity of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (3':5'-cyclic-nucleotide 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17) in 105 000 X g supernatant fraction from frozen-thawed rat liver was 2.5 times higher than the corresponding preparation from fresh liver. This increased activity of frozen liver enzyme was accompanied by a decreased sensitivity of the enzyme to known activators such as alpha-tocopheryl phosphate and trypsin. Neither membrane-bound cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, nor supernatant cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase increased in frozen liver preparation. It is unlikely that the activator protein of phosphodiesterase participated in the observed change of enzyme activity. Among rat tissues so far tested, the increased level of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was noted only in tissues rich in lysosome content. In the recombination experiment where phosphodiesterase from fresh liver was incubated with lysosomal fraction, stimulation of the enzyme activity was observed with a concomitant loss of sensitivity to above-mentioned activators. Since the stimulation by lysosomal fraction was effectively inhibited by cathepsin B1 inhibitors, leupeptin and antipain, it was deduced cathepsin-B1 (EC 3.4.12.3) type protease(s) was the main causative of activating the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The freezing-thawing process of rat liver made the lysosomal membrane more permeable, and hence lysosomal proteases were released into soluble fraction during phosphodiesterase preparation. These results provide a warning not to use frozen liver for phosphodiesterase preparation, otherwise altered properties of the enzymes will be seen.     

Phospholipid modulation of low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity on rat adipocyte microsomes

The ability of nine phospholipids to alter the activity of low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was examined in microsomal fractions of rat adipocytes. The enzyme was activated by phosphatidylserine (21% at 300 microM) and phosphatidylglycerol (36% at 300 microM). The activation was concentration dependent over the range 1-1000 microM. Six other phospholipids were without effect. Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate inhibited the activity of the enzyme over the same range of concentrations (26% at 300 microM). Phosphatidylserine also activated a partially purified preparation of the enzyme, whereas phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate was ineffective. The mechanism of the activation of the enzyme by phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol involved an increase in the apparent Vmax of the enzyme, while the inhibition by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate was associated with an increase in the Km of the enzyme for substrate. The phospholipid modulators of low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity did not alter the activity of high-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The ability of phospholipids to alter the activity of low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in native membranes suggests a possible role for phospholipids in metabolic regulation.     

Activation of protein kinase C by lipoxin A and other eicosanoids. Intracellular action of oxygenation products of arachidonic acid

Arachidonic acid, linolenic acid and 14 different oxygenated fatty acid derivatives were tested as activators of human protein kinase C in vitro using histone as substrate. Lipoxin A (5,6,15L-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-eicosatetraenoic activated the kinase in the presence of calcium at 30 fold lower concentration (1 microM) than did arachidonic acid or 1,3-dioleoylglycerol. The methyl ester of lipoxin A and the free acids of leukotriene B4 as well as two lipoxin B isomers were without effect. In contrast, linolenic acid, leukotriene C4, certain mono- and dihydroxylated eicosanoids and one lipoxin B isomer had stimulatory effects, albeit at higher concentrations. The substrate specificity of protein kinase C activated by lipoxin A proved to be different from that of the phosphatidylserine or phorbol ester activated kinase. Results of the present study suggest that arachidonic acid derived oxygenation products, in particular lipoxin A, may serve as intracellular activators of protein kinase C.     

The cyclic diguanylic acid regulatory system of cellulose synthesis in Acetobacter xylinum. Chemical synthesis and biological activity of cyclic nucleotide dimer, trimer, and phosphothioate derivatives

An unusual compound, cyclic-bis(3'----5') diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP or cGpGp), is involved in the regulation of cellulose synthesis in the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum. This cyclic dinucleotide acts as an allosteric, positive effector of cellulose synthase activity in vitro (Ka = 0.31 microM) and is inactivated via degradation by a Ca2(+)-sensitive phosphodiesterase, PDE-A (Km = 0.25 microM). A series of 13 analogs cyclic dimer and trimer nucleotides were synthesized, employing a phosphotriester approach, and tested for the ability to mimick c-di-GMP as activators of cellulose synthase and as substrates for PDE-A. Seven of the synthetic compounds stimulate cellulose synthase activity and all of these activators undergo the Ca2(+)-inhibited degradation reaction. The order of affinities for synthase activators is cGpGp approximately cdGpGp approximately cGp(S)Gp (S-diastereomer) greater than cIpGp greater than cdGpdGp greater than cXpGp greater than cIpIp greater than cGp(S)Gp (R-diastereomer). Three cyclic dinucleotides of negligible affinity for either enzyme are cApAp, cUpUp, and cCpCp. This same order of affinities essentially pertains to the analogs as inhibitors of PDE-A activity, but at least one cyclic dinucleotide, cXpXp, which does not bind to cellulose synthase, is also a substrate for the degradation reaction, demonstrating that although the two enzymes share a similar, high degree of specificity for c-di-GMP, their cyclic dinucleotide binding sites are not identical. Phosphodiester bonds of activators in which an exocyclic oxygen is replaced with an atom of sulfur (cGp(S)Gp isomers) resist the action of PDE-A, and such derivatives may be prototypes for synthetic non-hydrolyzable c-di-GMP analogs.     

Comparison of phospholipid effects on insulin-sensitive low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in adipocyte plasma membranes and microsomes

Both adipocyte plasma membranes and microsomes possess insulin-sensitive low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. The activity of the enzyme from both sources was susceptible to activation by several anionic phospholipids. Activators of the plasma membrane enzyme were lysophosphatidylglycerol greater than lysophosphatidylcholine greater than lysophosphatidylserine greater than phosphatidylserine greater than phosphatidylglycerol. These same phospholipids activated the microsomal enzyme but the extent of activation by each phospholipid was reversed. Neutral phospholipids and other anionic phospholipids were without effect. The phospholipids had no effect on high Km cAMP phosphodiesterase in either membrane. The results suggest that the phospholipid headgroup was an important determinant for enzyme activation by phospholipid. The increased susceptibility of the plasma membrane enzyme to lysophospholipid may be attributed to a difference in the plasma membrane enzyme compared to the microsomal membrane enzyme or to differences in plasma membrane and microsomal membrane phospholipid composition and their ability to regulate low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase activity.     

Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phospholipase C activity by phosphatidic acid

Phosphatidic acid was a potent activator of the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-P2) phospholipase C activity associated with human platelet membranes. Lysophosphatidic acid was half as active as phosphatidic acid, and shortening the fatty acid chain reduced the effectiveness of the corresponding phosphatidic acid. Compounds lacking either the phosphate group (diacylglycerol or phorbol ester) or the fatty acid (glycerol phosphate) were not activators. When the negative charge was contributed by a carboxyl group (fatty acid or phosphatidylserine), stimulation of phospholipase C was weak but detectable. Structural analogs of phosphatidic acid (lipopolysaccharide, lipid A, and 2,3-diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate) were less effective but also enhanced PtdIns-P2 hydrolysis. Phosphatidic acid potentiated the activation of phospholipase C by alpha-thrombin, chelators, and guanine nucleotides. Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and PtdIns-P2 were also effective activators of PtdIns-P2 degradation. Other phospholipids were without effect. The production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol via the activation of phospholipase C provides a rationale for the cellular responses evoked by phosphatidic acid and the ability of this phospholipid to potentiate and initiate hormonal responses.     

The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol monolayers at an air/water interface by the calcium-ion-dependent phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase of pig brain.

1. The activity of Ca2+-dependent phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.10) of pig brain against [32P]phosphatidylinositol monolayers at an air/water interface has been measured. As the monolayer pressure was increased a sharp cut-off of enzymic hydrolysis occurred at 33 X 10(-3) N/m. 2. The addition of either phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol or oleyl alcohol increased the film pressure at which cut off occurred, as well as increasing the rate of hydrolysis at lower pressures. 3. The rate of hydrolysis, but not the cut-off pressure, was markedly increased by oleic acid and slightly increased by phosphatidylethanolamine. 4. Phosphatidylcholine, palmitoylcholine and octadecylamine decreased the cut-off pressure, as well as the enzymic activity below this pressure. 5. Stearic acid and stearyl alcohol had no effect on either the cut-off pressure or the activity. 6. All activators decreased the length of the lag phase before enzyme activity began, and phosphatidylcholine increased it. 7. These results are compared with the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of various amphiphiles observed previously with phosphatidylinositol dispersions [Irvine, Hemington & Dawson (1979) Eur. J. Biochem. 99, 525-530], and their possible relevance to the control of the phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase in vivo are discussed.     

Ontogenetic development of 3,5-adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase in guinea pig and rat ileum.

The postnatal development of phosphodiesterases with low and high Michaelis constants in guinea pig and rat ileum was studied. The tow types of phosphodiesterases were found to increase their activity post partum, and this increase was particulary pronounced in the rat. The rise in the enzyme activity took place mainly at the expense of the increase of the phosphodiesterase with high Km. In addition to the quantitative differences in the phosphodiesterase activity of yound and adult animals, considerable age differences were also observed in the sensitivity of the enzyme to inhibitors and activators. These data can contribute to the explanation of the differences in the action of some drugs influencing the phosphodiesterase in young and adult organisms.     

Response of three enzymes to oleic acid, trypsin, and calmodulin chemically modified with a reactive phenothiazine

Calmodulin was covalently modified with 10-(1-propionyloxysuccinimide)-2-trifluoromethylphenothiazine++ + to stoichiometries between 0 and 2 mol/mol in the presence of Ca2+. The modified calmodulins, oleic acid, and trypsin were assayed for their ability to activate pea plant NAD kinase, bovine brain 3',5'-cAMP phosphodiesterase, and human erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase. All modified calmodulins activated both phosphodiesterase and Ca2+-ATPase; at the highest concentration assayed, calmodulin modified with 2 mol of reagent/mol activated phosphodiesterase and Ca2+-ATPase to 53% and 100%, respectively, of the activation obtained with unmodified calmodulin. However, higher concentrations of the modified calmodulins were required to observe the same activation; at least 900-fold and 100-fold higher concentrations were required for the two enzymes, respectively. NAD kinase was not activated by any calmodulin labeled to a stoichiometry greater than 1 mol/mol even when a concentration equal to 17,000 times the apparent dissociation constant of calmodulin for NAD kinase was assayed. Therefore, the modified protein (and not some fraction resistant to labeling) is active toward the mammalian enzymes but inactive toward plant NAD kinase. The different response of the three enzymes to the chemical modification suggests that the enzymes may utilize different binding domains on calmodulin. NAD kinase also was not activated by other known activators of the two mammalian enzymes, namely lipids and limited proteolysis. In parallel experiments using the same agents on each enzyme, NAD kinase was the only enzyme of the three that was not activated by oleic acid and several other lipids or by limited trypsin digestion. These results show that NAD kinase possesses several attributes which would not be predicted by current models of the mechanism of activation of enzymes by calmodulin.     

An enzymatic assay for calmodulins based on plant NAD kinase activity

NAD kinase with increased sensitivity to calmodulin was purified from pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L., Willet Wonder). Assays for calmodulin based on the activities of NAD kinase, bovine brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and human erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase were compared for their sensitivities to calmodulin and for their abilities to discriminate between calmodulins from different sources. The activities of the three enzymes were determined in the presence of various concentrations of calmodulins from human erythrocyte, bovine brain, sea pansy (Renilla reniformis), mung bean seed (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek), mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), and Tetrahymena pyriformis. The concentrations of calmodulin required for 50% activation of the NAD kinase (K0.5) ranged from 0.520 ng/ml for Tetrahymena to 2.20 ng/ml for bovine brain. The K0.5's ranged from 19.6 ng/ml for bovine brain calmodulin to 73.5 ng/ml for mushroom calmodulin for phosphodiesterase activation. The K0.5's for the activation of Ca2+-ATPase ranged from 36.3 ng/ml for erythrocyte calmodulin to 61.7 ng/ml for mushroom calmodulin. NAD kinase was not stimulated by phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, cardiolipin, or palmitoleic acid in the absence or presence of Ca2+. Palmitic acid had a slightly stimulatory effect in the presence of Ca2+ (10% of maximum), but no effect in the absence of Ca2+. Palmitoleic acid inhibited the calmodulin-stimulated activity by 50%. Both the NAD kinase assay and radioimmunoassay were able to detect calmodulin in extracts containing low concentrations of calmodulin. Estimates of calmodulin contents of crude homogenates determined by the NAD kinase assay were consistent with amounts obtained by various purification procedures.     

Biochemical characterization of rat brain protein kinase C isozymes

Biochemical characteristics of three rat brain protein kinase C isozymes, types I, II, and III, were compared with respect to their protein kinase and phorbol ester-binding activities. All three isozymes appeared to be alike in their phorbol ester-binding activities as evidenced by their similar Kd for phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and requirements for Ca2+ and phospholipids. However, differences with respect to the effector-mediated stimulation of protein kinase activity were detectable among these isozymes. The type I enzyme could be stimulated by cardiolipin to a greater extent than those of the type II and III enzymes. In the presence of cardiolipin, the concentrations of dioleoylglycerol or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate required for half-maximal activation (A1/2) of the type I enzyme were nearly an order of magnitude lower than those for the type II and III enzymes. In the presence of phosphatidylserine, differences in the A1/2 of dioleoylglycerol and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate for the three isozymes of protein kinase C were less significant than those measured in the presence of cardiolipin. Nevertheless, the A1/2 of these two activators for the type I enzyme were lower than those for the type II and III enzymes. At high levels of phosphatidylserine (greater than 15 mol %), binding of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate to the type I enzyme evoked a corresponding stimulation of the kinase activity, whereas binding of this phorbol ester to the type II and III enzymes produced a lesser degree of kinase stimulation. For all three isozymes, the concentrations of phosphatidylserine required for half-maximum [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding were almost an order of magnitude less than those for kinase stimulation. Consequently, neither isozyme exhibited a significant kinase activity at lower levels of phosphatidylserine (less than 5 mol %) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (50 nM), a condition sufficient to promote near maximal phorbol ester binding. In addition to their different responses to the various activators, the three protein kinase C isozymes also have different Km values for protein substrates. The type I enzyme appeared to have lower Km values for histone IIIS, myelin basic protein, poly(lysine, serine) (3:1) polymer, and protamine than those for the type II and III enzymes. These results documented that the three protein kinase C isozymes were distinguishable in their biochemical properties. In particular, the type I enzyme, which is a brain-specific isozyme, is distinct from the type II and III enzymes, both have a widespread distribution among different tissues.     

Calcium-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from brain identification of phospholipids as calcium-independent activators.

Phosphatidyl inositol and lysophosphatidyl choline have been identified as activators of a partially purified brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase previously shown to be regulated in vitro by Ca²⁺ and a Ca²⁺-binding protein. Microgram quantities of either phospholipid produced a linear, immediate and reversible activation of the enzyme in the absence of Ca²⁺ and the Ca²⁺-dependent regulator (CDR). Fatty acids were also found to activate the phosphodiesterase to varying degrees, with oleic acid being the most effective. Phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine and lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine were not effective as activators. Only sodium dodecyl sulfate, of a variety of nonionic, cationic, and anionic detergents tested, activated the phosphodiesterase. Sodium dodecyl sulfate produced a modest degree of activation over a narrow concentration range, followed by enzyme denaturation at higher concentrations.The interaction of the phosphodiesterase with the phospholipid activators has been compared to its interaction with the Ca²⁺·CDR complex. Both Ca²⁺·CDR and lysophosphatidyl choline decreased the thermal stability of the enzyme to a similar extent. The apparent K_m of the lysophosphatidyl choline-dependent phosphodiesterase activity was approximately 30 μm with guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) as substrate and 1 mm with adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) as substrate. With increasing lysophosphatidyl choline concentration, the apparent K_m for each nucleotide remained unchanged while the V increased. The apparent K_d for Mg²⁺ of the lysophosphatidyl choline-dependent phosphodiesterase activity was approximately 3 μm and was unaffected by lysophosphatidyl choline concentration. Activation of the phosphodiesterase by lysophosphatidyl choline was characterized by a high degree of positive cooperativity, exhibiting a Hill coefficient of 3.8. Fluphenazine was a competitive inhibitor of both Ca²⁺·CDR and lysophosphatidyl choline activation of the enzyme.     

Isolation of two forms of an activator protein for the enzymic sphingomyelin degradation from human Gaucher spleen

Two activator proteins for sphingomyelin degradation were isolated from heat-treated extracts of human Gaucher spleen. The separation was based on the degree of affinity of the activators for ConA-Sepharose. Activator A1, which had affinity for ConA-Sepharose, was purified 1 430-fold, and activator A2, which had no affinity for ConA-Sepharose, 2 140-fold as compared with the original heat-treated extracts. The molecular masses of activator A1 and activator A2 were 6 000 and 3 500 Da, respectively, as determined by dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis, and approximately 5 000 Da as measured in the presence of 8M urea. The two activators had similar properties and a similar but not identical amino-acid composition. Both were shown to form a complex with sphingomyelin and stimulate the degradation of sphingomyelin by normal fibroblast homogenates and by an approximately 1 430-fold purified sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase ("acid sphingomyelinase") from normal human urine. This stimulation was greatly reduced after incubation with pronase E. The enzymic degradation of glucosylceramide and galactosylceramide was not affected by these activators.     

The calcium-dependent phosphatidylinositol-phosphodiesterase of rat brain. Mechanisms of suppression and stimulation.

1. The activity of the soluble, calcium-dependent phosphatidylinositol-specific phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.10) against [32P]phosphatidylinositol has been investigated. 2. KC1 (only at neutral pH), Mg2+, positively-charged proteins such as histone, and phospholipids containing a choline headgroup are all inhibitory to the enzyme. Choline-phospholipids cause a 90% inhibition at an equimolar ratio to phosphatidylinositol. 3. Other phospholipids (phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidic acid) are all potent stimulators of the enzyme: maximum stimulation being observed at a ratio of 1 mol activator/5--10 mol phosphatidylinositol. 4. Unsaturated amphiphiles such as oleic and oleoyl alcohol also stimulate the activity, maximum stimulation being observed at about an equimolar ratio to phosphatidylinositol. Saturated amphiphiles (such as stearic acid and stearoyl alcohol) are less effective. 5. The activation by acidic phospholipids and unsaturated amphiphiles appear to be independent as they are additive and, under certain conditions, synergistic. 6. Both types of stimulator (independently or together) can reverse the inhibition caused by histone or phosphatidylcholine. 7. Possible mechanisms of the suppression of the phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase in vivo, of its activation, and of the amplification of phosphatidylinositol breakdown are discussed.     

Calcium-independent activation of calcium ion dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by synthetic compounds: quinazolinesulfonamide derivatives

Quinazolinesulfonamides are synthetic compounds which calcium-independently stimulate Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. As this activation was observed with 2,4-dipiperidino-6-quinazolinesulfonamides but not with 4-piperidino-6-quinazolinesulfonamides, the activation seems to be dependent on the piperidine residue at the 2 and 4 position of the quinazoline ring, and the extent of hydrophobicity of each compound was thus enhanced. 2,4-Dipiperidino-6-quinazolinesulfonamide activates Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase in the absence of Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM). These quinazolinesulfonamides did not further enhance the activity of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase activated by the Ca2+-CaM complex. These compounds are also potent inhibitors of cyclic AMP and GMP phosphodiesterases. CaM antagonists such as N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), its derivatives, and chlorpromazine and prenylamine inhibited selectively the quinazolinesulfonamide-induced activations of the phosphodiesterase. These quinazolinesulfonamides, in a high concentration, had only a slight stimulatory effect on myosin light chain kinase activity. All these findings suggest that the quinazolinesulfonamides are calcium-independent activators of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase and they are proving to be useful tools for the study of CaM and phosphodiesterase, in vitro.