Regulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in mammalian cells. II. Effects of phospholipase C treatment on the activity and subcellular distribution of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase in Chinese hamster ovary and LM cell lines

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase was located in both the cytosolic and particulate fractions from Chinese hamster ovary cells. The activity of the cytosolic form of the enzyme was greatly enhanced by incubation with sonicated preparations of several different lipids, although incubations with either phosphatidylcholine or 1,2-sn-diolein did not increase activity. The activation of the cytidylyltransferase in Chinese hamster ovary cells treated with phospholipase C from Clostridium perfringens occurred with a concomitant shift in the subcellular distribution of the enzyme from cytosolic to particulate fractions. This shift was rapid and did not require protein synthesis. Removal of phospholipase C from the cell cultures resulted in a return to basal levels of incorporation of [3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine, a decrease in the activity of cytidylyltransferase, and a loss of the membrane-bound form of the enzyme. Similar experiments with LM cells, which are resistant to exogenous phospholipase C, showed no change in subcellular distribution of cytidylyltransferase, suggesting that the activation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase required a change in membrane phospholipid composition. The results presented are discussed in terms of a mechanism of regulation of phosphatidylcholine production involving monitoring of membrane phospholipid composition.     

Regulation of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in type II pneumonocytes.

Phosphatidylcholine synthesis by rat type II pneumonocytes was altered either by depleting the cells of choline or by exposing the cells to extracellular lung surfactant. Effects of these experimental treatments on the activity of a regulatory enzyme, CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase, were investigated. Although choline depletion of type II pneumonocytes resulted in inhibition of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, cytidylyltransferase activity (measured in cell homogenates in either the absence or presence of added lipids) was greatly increased. Activation of cytidylyltransferase in choline-depleted cells was rapid and specific, and was quickly and completely reversed when choline-depleted cells were exposed to choline (but not ethanolamine). Choline-dependent changes in enzymic activity were apparently not a result of direct actions of choline on cytidylyltransferase and they were largely unaffected by cyclic AMP analogues, oleic acid, linoleic acid or cycloheximide. The Km value of cytidylyltransferase for CTP (but not phosphocholine) was lower in choline-depleted cells than in choline-repleted cells. Subcellular redistribution of cytidylyltransferase also was associated with activation of the enzyme in choline-depleted cells. When measured in the presence of added lipids, 66.5 +/- 5.0% of recovered cytidylyltransferase activity was particulate in choline-depleted cells but only 34.1 +/- 4.5% was particulate in choline-repleted cells. An increase in particulate cytidylyltransferase also occurred in type II pneumonocytes that were exposed to extracellular surfactant. This latter subcellular redistribution, however, was not accompanied by a change in cytidylyltransferase activity even though incorporation of [3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine was inhibited by approx. 50%. Subcellular redistribution of cytidylyltransferase, therefore, is associated with changes in enzymic activity under some conditions, but can also occur without a resultant alteration in enzymic activity.     

CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase in human and rat lung: association in vitro with cytoskeletal actin

CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase activities were compared in saline homogenates of immature fetal (15-16 weeks gestation) and adult human lung. There were no differences in subcellular enzyme distribution, in Vmax activity, or in the phosphatidylglycerol-mediated stimulation of soluble enzyme activity. These results provide no support for a developmental translocation of cytidylyltransferase from a cytosolic to a microsomal location in human lung, such as that proposed to accompany the maturation of pulmonary surfactant phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in rat. Soluble cytidylyltransferase activity from human but not rat lung was increased after manipulation in vitro. Resolution of human H form (greater than 10(3) kDa) and L form (200 kDa) enzyme by gel filtration led to an activity increase of 200%. Incubation at 37 degrees C for 2 h increased soluble enzyme recovery, although prior centrifugal removal of generated actin-rich aggregates was necessary in adult lung fractions. In contrast, 85% of soluble rat lung cytidylyltransferase was actin aggregate-associated after incubation. The apparent heteroassociation of rat and human lung enzyme with actin in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) at 4 degrees C strongly suggested close in vitro and potential in vivo linkage. A partial co-purification of adult human lung cytidylyltransferase with actin was also consistent with this idea. We propose that some reported cytidylyltransferase translocation phenomena may be mediated by cytoskeletal interactions in vitro.     

Glucocorticoid stimulation of choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase activity in fetal rat lung: receptor-response relationships

A number of previous studies using in vivo and cultured fetal lung models have shown that the activity of choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, the enzyme which catalyzes a rate-limiting reaction in de novo phosphatidylcholine synthesis, is increased by glucocorticoids and other hormones which accelerate fetal lung maturation. To examine the mechanism of this glucocorticoid action further, we examined the effect of dexamethasone on cytidylyltransferase activity in cultured fetal rat lung explants and related it to specific dexamethasone binding. Dexamethasone stimulated cytidylyltransferase activity in the homogenate, microsomal and 105,000 X g supernatant fractions. The hormone did not alter the subcellular distribution of the enzyme, however; the bulk of the activity was in the supernatant fraction in both the control and dexamethasone-treated cultures. The dose-response curves for stimulation of cytidylyltransferase activity in the supernatant fraction and specific nuclear binding of dexamethasone were similar and both plateaued at approx. 20 nM. The EC50 for cytidylyltransferase stimulation was 6.6 nM and the Kd for dexamethasone binding was 6.8 nM. The relative potencies of various steroids for stimulating choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase and for specific nuclear glucocorticoid binding were the same: dexamethasone greater than cortisol = corticosterone = dihydrocorticosterone greater than progesterone. The stimulation by dexamethasone of cytidylyltransferase activity and of choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine were both abolished by actinomycin D. These data show that the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on fetal rat lung choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase activity is largely on the enzyme in the supernatant fraction and does not involve enzyme translocation to the microsomes as has been reported for cytidylyltransferase activation in some other systems. This effect of dexamethasone is a receptor-mediated process dependent on RNA and protein synthesis.     

Partial purification and characterization of CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase from castor bean endosperm

CTP: cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.15) has been purified approximately 600-fold from postgermination endosperm of castor bean. The enzyme was solubilized with n-octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside and then subjected to ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The Km's of the purified enzymatic activity were 0.37 and 1.1 mM for CTP and choline phosphate, respectively. Magnesium was required for activity. The purified cytidylyltransferase activity was inhibited by both phosphate and ATP. The extent of ATP inhibition was dependent on preincubation time, temperature, and Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentrations. The possible regulation of cytidylyltransferase in castor bean endosperm by protein phosphorylation is discussed.     

Localization and partial characterization of the extracellular proteins centrifuged from pea internodes

The proteins removed from the extracellular space of dark-grown pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) internode sections by centrifugation were studied. A large number of proteins were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These proteins ranged in size from 10 to 150 kdalton and their removal from the cell wall was greatly facilitated by the presence of salts of divalent and trivalent cations in the infiltration medium. Pulse-labelling experiments with [³⁵S)-methionine showed that many of the proteins extracted from the cell wall incorporated radioactivity and that treatment with indoleacetic acid (IAA) altered the pattern of radiolabel incorporation. One of the proteins centrifuged from pea internode sections possessed per-oxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) activity. The activity of this peroxidase increased less in auxin-treated internode segments than in untreated controls. Antibodies were raised to the total protein fraction extracted by centrifugation and used to localize antigens on protein blots. Most of the proteins centrifuged from pea internode sections were stained by a dye coupled to the cell wall antiserum. Light microscopic immunohistochemical studies showed that the proteins centrifuged from dark-grown pea internodes were localized almost exclusively in the cell wall and intercellular spaces of pea internode tissue. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry also showed that antibodies to extracted proteins penetrate into the apoplast of abraded pea internode segments and split pea stems. These antibodies did not influence growth of IAA-treated or control tissue.     

Purification of ctp: cholinephosphate cytidylyl-transferase from pea stems

CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.15) was purified from pea (Pisum sativum) stems. The purification involved ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, removal of proteases with α₂-macroglobulin and gel filtration. The purified enzyme had K_m values for phosphorylcholine and CTP of 2.1 mM and 0.55 mM respectively. It was found to have a pH optimum of 7.5, a requirement for Mg²⁺ and an M_r of 56000. It could not utilize phosphorylethanolamine and its activity was not stimulated by added phospholipids.     

Phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis by castor bean endosperm. Intracellular distribution and characteristics of CTP:ethanolaminephosphate cytidylyltransferase.

The intracellular distribution and catalytic properties of CTP: ethanolaminephosphate cytidylyltransferase from endosperm of castor bean (Ricinus communis L. var. Hale) have been studied. This enzyme was confined to membranes, with about 80% of the activity occurring in mitochondria and the rest in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) following sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The mitochondrial location of this enzyme was supported by further purifying mitochondria on Percoll density gradients. The mitochondrial cytidylyltransferase was detected largely in outer membrane fractions, and lost its activity after trypsin treatment, indicating that the active sites are exposed to the cytoplasm. Both mitochondrial and ER cytidylyltransferase required cations for activity; Mg2+ was preferred over Mn2+ and Ca2+. The pH optima both were 6.5. The apparent Km values for ethanolamine phosphate were 143 and 83 microM and those for CTP were 125 and 1010 microM, respectively, for the mitochondrial and ER activities. The mitochondrial cytidylyltransferase reached a maximal velocity of 3.0 nmol/min/mg protein, whereas ER cytidylyltransferase was 0.424 nmol/min/mg protein. These findings reveal that the majority of the cytidylyltransferase activity in castor bean endosperm is not closely associated with ethanolaminephosphotransferase (predominantly in ER) which catalyzes the subsequent reaction in the synthesis of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine by a nucleotide pathway. The possible roles of these enzymes in phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis in plants are discussed.     

Control of phosphatidylcholine synthesis in Hep G2 cells. Effect of fatty acids on the activity and immunoreactive content of choline phosphate cytidylyltransferase.

We examined the effect of fatty acids on phosphatidylcholine synthesis and cytidylyltransferase activity in Hep G2 cells. Treatment of Hep G2 cells with oleic acid caused an increase in the incorporation of [methyl-14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine and a corresponding decrease in radioactivity in choline phosphate using a pulse-chase procedure. This result is consistent with a fatty acid-induced increase in the cytidylyl-transferase step in the choline pathway. We measured cytidylyltransferase activity in membrane fractions and in cytosol (100,000 x g supernatant or soluble enzyme released by digitonin). The activity increased in both membrane and cytosol. Thus, an increase in total activity occurred. Cytidylyltransferase protein determined by Western blot immunoassay increased after oleic acid treatment. Immunotitration of cytidylyltransferase protein also indicated that an increase in enzyme protein resulted from oleic acid treatment. Cycloheximide did not prevent the oleic acid-induced increase in cytidylyltransferase activity. The increase in enzyme activity was apparent when we measured the activity in the presence or absence of lipid activators. Separation of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase into H- and L-forms showed that the increase in cytosolic activity was due to an increase in H-form. The amount of L-form did not change. We interpret these results to suggest that fatty acid treatment of Hep G2 cells promoted the formation of active cytidylyltransferase (H-form) from a preexisting inactive form. The increased activity was distributed between membranes and the lipoprotein form in cytosol (H-form).     

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase is a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase in vitro

The role of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation in the regulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity was investigated. Incubation of post mitochondrial supernatant with cAMP-dependent protein kinase (50 units) led to an increased (28%) recovery of the cytidylyltransferase in the cytosolic fraction, while incubation with an intestinal alkaline phosphatase (20 units) led to an increased (61%) recovery in the microsomal fraction. When pure cytidylyltransferase was incubated with washed microsomes in the presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (133 units), the enzyme associated with the supernatant fraction increased (3.12 +/- 0.02 to 3.77 +/- 0.03 nmol/min/ml) while that of the microsomal fraction decreased (1.36 +/- 0.01 to 0.56 +/- 0.05 nmol/min/ml) by 2.5-fold. The increase in the cytidylyltransferase activity in the supernatant corresponded to an increase in 32P incorporation into the cytidylyltransferase. Treatment with alkaline phosphatase (40 units) decreased the cytidylyltransferase activity in the supernatant (3.61 +/- 0.08 to 2.88 +/- 0.07 nmol/min/ml) while the activity in the microsomal fraction increased (0.56 +/- 0.08 to 1.16 +/- 0.06 nmol/min/ml) by 2-fold. The decrease in the cytidylyltransferase activity in the supernatant corresponded to a decrease in 32P incorporation into the cytidylyltransferase. Incubation of cytidylyltransferase with phosphatidylcholine vesicles in the presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (110 units) decreased the cytidylyltransferase activity by 30%. The decrease in cytidylyltransferase activity corresponded to an increase in 32P incorporation into the cytidylyltransferase. Treatment with alkaline phosphatase (20 units) resulted in a 41% increase in the cytidylyltransferase activity. The increase in cytidylyltransferase activity corresponded to a decrease in 32P incorporation into the cytidylyltransferase. Incubation of the cytidylyltransferase with [gamma-32P] ATP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase led to incorporation of 32P into the serine residues of cytidylyltransferase. If the cytidylyltransferase were preincubated with alkaline phosphatase prior to incubation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase, 2-fold more 32P (0.2 mol P/mol cytidylyltransferase) was incorporated into the cytidylyltransferase. Collectively, this data is in agreement with a role for reversible phosphorylation in the regulation of cytidylyltransferase.     

Subcellular localization of hexose kinases in pea stems: mitochondrial hexokinase

The subcellular localization of hexose phosphorylating activity in extracts of pea stems has been studied by differential centrifugation and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) was associated with the mitochondria, whereas fructokinase (EC 2.7.1.4) was in the cytosolic fraction. Some properties of the mitochondrial hexokinase were studied. The enzyme had a high affinity for glucose (K_m 76 micromolar) and mannose (K_m 71 micromolar) and a relatively low affinity for fructose (K_m 15.7 millimolar). The K_m for MgATP was 180 micromolar. The addition of salts stimulated the activity of the hexokinase. Al³⁺ was a strong inhibitor at pH 7 but not at the optimum pH (8.2). The enzyme was not readily solubilized but, in experiments with intact mitochondria, was susceptible to proteolysis. A location on the outer mitochondrial membrane is suggested for the hexokinase of pea stems.     

Regulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Chinese hamster ovary cells by reversible membrane association of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase

Treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with phospholipase C was previously shown to stimulate the CDP-choline pathway for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, and to cause activation of the CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase with a concomitant change in subcellular location of the enzyme (Sleight, R., and Kent, C. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 831-835). This paper presents a detailed analysis of the early events in the phospholipase C treatment, and provides evidence that the increased cytidylyltransferase activity causes the increased flux through the pathway. The time courses for the increase in cytidylyltransferase activity, increase in amount of membrane-associated enzyme, decrease in phosphocholine levels, and increase in phosphatidylcholine synthesis were similar, with all changes occurring within 30 min after addition of phospholipase C. These events preceded a decrease in cellular choline levels which correlated with a decreased capacity for choline uptake. The rate at which radioactive label was lost from pulse-labeled phosphocholine was the same as the rate at which label was incorporated into phosphatidylcholine, and these rates were stimulated 2.2-fold by phospholipase C treatment. We have also shown that the association of cytidylyltransferase with membranes was rapidly reversible when phospholipase C was removed from the cultures, and that the rate of decrease in phosphatidylcholine synthesis paralleled the rate of decrease in cytidylyltransferase activity. Cytidylyltransferase became reassociated with membranes when phospholipase C was added back to cultures from which it was previously removed. These results represent the first detailed account of the time frame involved in regulating phosphatidylcholine synthesis by the reversible association of cytidylyltransferase with cellular membranes.     

Dexamethasone increases the activity but not the amount of choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase in fetal rat lung

The activity of choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase is increased by glucocorticoids in late gestation fetal lung in association with increased phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. Previous indirect data had suggested that the stimulatory effect of the hormone was due to activation of existing enzyme rather than synthesis of new cytidylyltransferase protein. Using a rabbit antibody raised against purified rat liver choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, we have now quantitated the amount of the enzyme in fetal rat lung explants cultured with and without dexamethasone. Our results show that the hormone increased the activity of the enzyme but not the amount of cytidylyltransferase protein. Thus the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on cytidylyltransferase is due to activation of existing enzyme rather than induction of enzyme synthesis.     

Trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine inhibit phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase in HeLa cells

The influence of chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine on phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in HeLa cells was investigated. HeLa cells were prelabeled with [Me-3H]choline for 1 h. The cells were subsequently incubated with various concentrations of drugs. Both compounds were potent inhibitors of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, with 50% inhibition by 5 micron of either drug. Analysis of the radioactivity in the soluble precursors indicated a block in the conversion of phosphocholine to CDPcholine catalyzed by CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.15). Inhibition by these drugs was slowly reversed after incubation for more than 2 h, or was immediately abolished when 0.4 mM oleate was included in the cell medium or when the drug-containing medium was removed. The subcellular location of the cytidylyltransferase was unaffected by either drug, nor did the drugs alter the rate of release of cytidylyltransferase from HeLa cells by digitonin treatment. The drugs had a direct inhibitory effect on cytidylyltransferase activity in HeLa cell postmitochondrial supernatants. Half-maximal inhibition was achieved with 30 microM trifluoperazine and 50 microM chlorpromazine. These drugs did not change the apparent Km of the cytidylyltransferase for CTP or phosphocholine. Inhibition of cytidylyltransferase by these compounds was reversible with exogenous phospholipid or oleate in the enzyme assay. The data indicate that both drugs inhibit phosphatidylcholine synthesis by an effect on the cytidylyltransferase. The mechanism of action remains unknown at this time.     

Effect of NaF and okadaic acid on the subcellular distribution of CTP: phosphocoline cytidylyltransferase activity in rat liver

The effect of preincubation of rat liver post-mitochondrial supernatant with NaF and okadaic acid on the subcellular distribution of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity was investigated. NaF (20 mM) inhibited the time-dependent activation of cytidylyltransferase activity in post-mitochondrial supernatant. Subcellular fractionation of the post-mitochondrial supernatant revealed that cytidylyltransferase activity in the microsomal fraction was decreased and activity in the cytosolic fraction increased with time of preincubation with NaF compared to controls. Okadaic acid is a specific and potent inhibitor of type 1 and 2A phosphoprotein phosphatases. Preincubation of cytosol with 5 μM okadaic acid inhibited the time-dependent activation of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase activity. Preincubation of post-mitochondrial supernatants with 5 μM okadaic acid inhibited the time-dependent activation of cytidylyltransferase activity by 13% at 45 min and 16% at 60 min of preincubation compared to controls. Microsomal cytidylyltransferase activity was decreased 27% at 45 min and 31% at 60 min with a corresponding retention of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase activity of 21% at 45 min and 37% at 60 min of preincubation with okadaic acid compared to controls. We postulate that the activity of the type 1 and/or type 2A phosphoprotein phosphatases affect the subcellular distribution of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in rat liver.     

Isolation,characterisation and expression of a cDNA for pea cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase

In plants, phosphatidylcholine is the major phospholipid in extra-plastid membranes and is synthesised mainly by the CDP-choline pathway. Evidence from studies in animals, as well as in plants, suggests that the intermediate step catalysed by cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase (CPCT) has a major control in carbon flux to this lipid. We have isolated a full-length CPCT cDNA (designated PCT2) from Pisum sativum cv. Feltham First using an Arabidopsis probe and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The deduced amino acid of PCT2 is 48%, 43% and 76% identical to the rat, yeast and Brassica napus amino acid sequences, respectively. Expression of the CPCT protein in Escherichia coli confirmed the activity of the enzyme. Expression of the PCT2 mRNA in pea roots and stems was increased by treatment with 0.1 µM indole-3-acetic acid.     

Effect of NaF and okadaic acid on the subcellular distribution of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in rat liver

The effect of preincubation of rat liver post-mitochondrial supernatant with NaF and okadaic acid on the subcellular distribution of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity was investigated. NaF (20 mM) inhibited the time-dependent activation of cytidylyltransferase activity in post-mitochondrial supernatant. Subcellular fractionation of the post-mitochondrial supernatant revealed that cytidylyltransferase activity in the microsomal fraction was decreased and activity in the cytosolic fraction increased with time of preincubation with NaF compared to controls. Okadaic acid is a specific and potent inhibitor of type 1 and 2A phosphoprotein phosphatases. Preincubation of cytosol with 5 microM okadaic acid inhibited the time-dependent activation of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase activity. Preincubation of post-mitochondrial supernatants with 5 microM okadaic acid inhibited the time-dependent activation of cytidylyltransferase activity by 13% at 45 min and 16% at 60 min of preincubation compared to controls. Microsomal cytidylyltransferase activity was decreased 27% at 45 min and 31% at 60 min with a corresponding retention of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase activity of 21% at 45 min and 37% at 60 min of preincubation with okadaic acid compared to controls. We postulate that the activity of the type 1 and/or type 2A phosphoprotein phosphatases affect the subcellular distribution of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in rat liver.     

Cholecystokinin inhibits phosphatidylcholine synthesis via a Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent pathway in isolated rat pancreatic acini. A possible mechanism for diacylglycerol accumulation.

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and other pancreatic secretagogues on phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. When acini were incubated with [3H]choline in the presence of 1 nM CCK-octapeptide (CCK8) for 60 min, the incorporations of [3H]choline into both water-soluble choline metabolites and PC in acini were reduced by CCK8 to 74 and 41% of control, respectively. Pulse-chase study revealed that CCK8 reduced both the disappearance of phosphocholine and the synthesis of PC. Other Ca(2+)-mobilizing secretagogues such as carbamylcholine, bombesin, and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 also reduced PC synthesis to the same extent as did CCK8. When combined with 1 nM CCK8, A23187 or carbamylcholine did not further inhibit PC synthesis. Furthermore, W-7 or W-5, a calmodulin antagonist, reversed the inhibition by CCK8 of PC synthesis, suggesting that a Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent pathway may be involved in CCK-induced inhibition of PC synthesis in acini. By contrast, neither cAMP-dependent secretagogues such as secretin and dibutyryl cAMP nor a phorbol ester had any effect on PC synthesis in acini. Staurosporine or H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, did not affect the inhibition by CCK of PC synthesis. The analysis of enzyme activity involved in PC synthesis via CDP-choline pathway showed that CCK treatment of acini reduced CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in both cytosolic and particulate fraction, a finding consistent with the delayed disappearance of phosphocholine induced by CCK in pulse-chase study. By contrast, CCK treatment of acini did not alter the activities of choline kinase and phosphocholine transferase in acini. The extent of inhibition by CCK of cytidylyltransferase activity became much larger when subcellular fractions of acini were prepared in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors. In addition, W-7 reversed the inhibitory effect of CCK treatment on cytidylyltransferase activity in acini. When acini were labeled with [3H]myristic acid and chased, CCK8 (1 nM) reduced the synthesis of [3H]myristic acid-labeled PC to 27% of control after a 60-min chase period. This inhibition of PC synthesis induced by CCK was accompanied by a delayed disappearance of [3H]diacylglycerol, the radioactivity of which was 225% of control at 60 min. These results indicate that CCK inhibits PC synthesis by inducing both the reduction of choline uptake into acini and the inhibition of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity. Furthermore, the results suggest the possibility that the activation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent kinase in response to CCK may phosphorylate cytidylyltransferase thereby decreasing this enzyme activity in pancreatic acinar cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Inhibition of foetal pulmonary choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase under conditions favouring protein phosphorylation.

Choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.15) activity from 25- and 29-day-foetal rabbit lungs was inhibited in both the cytosolic and the microsomal fractions by preincubation with MgATP. The inhibition of the cytosolic enzyme was greater when measured with added phosphatidylglycerol (PG) than without (78-89% versus 50-55%), whereas the inhibition of the microsomal enzyme did not exhibit this distinction (66-72% versus 60-70%). When preincubated with the buffer alone, the cytosolic enzyme was activated to a greater extent by added PG than was the microsomal enzyme (13-14-fold versus 2-3-fold). However, after preincubation with MgATP, the cytosolic enzyme was activated to a smaller extent by added PG (3-6-fold). The inhibition of the enzyme by MgATP required a preincubation and was absent when ADP or AMP was substituted for ATP. Moreover, ATP analogues such as adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-methylene]triphosphate and adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate also failed to inhibit the enzyme when substituted for ATP in the preincubation. The inhibition by MgATP was not affected by including cyclic AMP in the preincubation, but Ca2+ ions alone or plus diacylglycerol in the preincubation increased the inhibition slightly. The inhibition was abolished by including an inhibitor of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase in the preincubation. These observations, taken collectively, point to the inhibition of foetal pulmonary cytidylyltransferase through the phosphorylation of a protein and suggest that this key enzyme in lung surfactant production may be regulated through this mechanism.     

Stimulation of cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase activity by estrogen in fetal rabbit lung is mediated by phospholipids

We have investigated the mechanism by which estrogen stimulates phosphatidylcholine synthesis in fetal rabbit lung. The hormone increased the activity of cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase in the 105 000 X g supernatant fraction but had no effect on the activities of this enzyme in the homogenate or other subcellular fractions. Although microsomal cytidylyltransferase has been reported to regulate phosphatidylcholine synthesis in other systems, and translocation of the enzyme from cytosol to microsomes has been reported in association with increased phosphatidylcholine synthesis, we found no evidence of this in the case of estrogen-stimulated phosphatidylcholine synthesis in the fetal lung. Cytosolic cytidylyltransferase activity was dependent on phospholipids. Extraction with acetone/butanol drastically reduced its activity as well as the stimulatory effect of estrogen. The activity and the effect of estrogen were restored on re-addition of lipids extracted with chloroform/methanol from additional supernatants. Fractionation of the total lipids revealed that the stimulatory effect was entirely associated with the phospholipids; neutral lipids and glycolipids did not stimulate. Treatment of the phospholipid fraction with phospholipase C abolished the stimulatory effect. The stimulatory effect of estrogen, however, could not be attributed to any individual phospholipid species but appeared to require the entire phospholipid mixture. We conclude that estrogen stimulates fetal lung phosphatidylcholine synthesis by increasing the activity of cytosolic cytidylyltransferase and this activation in turn is mediated by cytosolic phospholipids.