Epidermal growth factor-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase D and phospholipase C in human dermal fibroblasts

The enzymatic pathways for formation of 1,2-diradylglyceride in response to epidermal growth factor in human dermal fibroblasts have been investigated. 1,2-Diradylglyceride mass was elevated 2-fold within one minute of addition of EGF. Maximal accumulation (4-fold) occurred at 5 minutes. Since both diacyl and ether-linked diglyceride species occur naturally and may accumulate following agonist activation, we developed a novel method to determine separately the alterations in diacyl and ether-linked diglycerides following stimulation of fibroblasts with EGF. Utilizing this method, it was found that approximately 80% of the total cellular 1,2-diradylglyceride was diacyl, the remaining 20% being ether-linked. Addition of EGF caused accumulation of 1,2-diacylglyceride without alteration in the level of ether-linked diglyceride. Thus, the observed induction of 1,2-diradylglyceride by EGF was due exclusively to increased formation of 1,2-diacylglyceride. In cells labelled with [3H]choline, the water soluble phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis products, phosphorylcholine and choline, were increased 2-fold within 5 minutes of addition of EGF. No hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, or phosphatidylinositol was observed. Quantitation by radiolabel and mass revealed equivalent elevations in phosphorylcholine and choline, suggesting stimulation of both phospholipase C and phospholipase D activities. To identify the presence of EGF-induced phospholipase D activity, cells were labelled with exogenous [3H]1-0-hexadecyl, 2-acyl phosphatidylcholine and its conversion to phosphatidic acid in response to EGF determined. Radiolabelled phosphatidic acid was detectable in 15 seconds after addition of EGF and was maximal (3-fold) at 30 seconds. Consistent with the presence of EGF-induced phospholipase D activity, treatment of cells with EGF, in the presence of [14C]ethanol, resulted in the rapid formation of [14C]phosphatidylethanol, the product of phospholipase D-catalyzed transphosphatidylation. The formation of phosphatidylethanol, which competes for the formation of phosphatidic acid by phospholipase D, did not diminish the induction of 1,2-diglyceride by EGF. These data suggest that the phosphatidic acid formed by phospholipase D-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is not a major precursor of the observed increased 1,2-diglyceride. Thus, the induction of 1,2-diacylglycerol by EGF may occur primarily via phospholipase C-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine.     

Bombesin stimulates the rapid activation of phospholipase A2-catalyzed phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in Swiss 3T3 cells.

In Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts bombesin stimulated the release of arachidonic acid in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Arachidonate levels were significantly elevated after only a 2-s stimulation with the agonist. Furthermore, by measuring the arachidonate content of cellular phospholipids after cell activation, it was shown that there was selective depletion from phosphatidylcholine over the same time course. The corresponding production of lysophosphatidylcholine suggested the involvement of a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase A2. Initial arachidonic acid release was not dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium, not activated by treatment of the cells with thapsigargin, and was unaffected by down-regulation of protein kinase C activity, or by treatment of the cells with the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine. These data strongly suggest that occupation of the bombesin receptor is closely coupled to activation of phospholipase A2 which results in the rapid release of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine.     

A novel vasoactive peptide endothelin stimulates mitogenesis through inositol lipid turnover in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Endothelin, a novel vasoactive peptide derived from endothelial cells (Yanagisawa, M., Kurihara, H., Kimura, S., Tomobe, Y., Kobayashi, M., Mitsui, Y., Yazaki, Y., Goto, K., and Masaki, T. (1988) Nature 332, 411-415), acts as a potent mitogen in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. The effect is dose-dependent with a half-maximal effect obtained at approximately 3 x 10(-11) M and is synergistically enhanced by a low concentration of insulin-like growth factor-I. Endothelin specifically binds to a single class of high affinity receptors in intact Swiss 3T3 cells and stimulates phospholipase C with the production of second messengers inositol trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol, leading to biphasic increases in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, as measured with a fluorescent indicator fura-2, phosphorylation of a putative cellular substrate of 80 kDa for protein kinase C, and transient expression of cellular protoonocogenes, c-fos and c-myc. Mitogenic effect of endothelin is markedly attenuated in phorbol ester-pretreated, protein kinase C-depleted cells. Endothelin-induced inositol phosphates production is not affected by removal of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that endothelin-induced phospholipase C activation is not the result of stimulation of Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. These composite results indicate that the inositol lipid signaling pathway plays an important role in endothelin-induced mitogenesis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. The mitogenic effect of endothelin is considerably smaller than that of bombesin, another well characterized mitogen acting through the inositol lipid pathway, despite comparable potencies in eliciting initial second messenger signals. In endothelin-treated cells, an increase in cellular 1,2-diacylglycerol content is transient, and cellular cyclic AMP content is reduced. By contrast, bombesin induces a more prolonged increase in cellular 1,2-diacylglycerol content and a slight increase in cellular cyclic AMP content. Because both 1,2-diacylglycerol and cyclic AMP are thought to serve as signals for promoting DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, these differences in the signal generation may contribute to the differences in potencies between the two mitogens.     

Regulation of bombesin-stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate generation in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts by a guanine-nucleotide-binding protein.

The stimulation of inositol phosphate generation by bombesin and GTP analogues was studied in Swiss 3T3 cells permeabilized by electroporation. Bombesin-stimulated inositol phosphate generation is potentiated by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) and inhibited by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate at all peptide concentrations tested, with no change in the EC50 value (concn. giving half-maximal response) for the agonist. Kinetic analysis showed that, although bombesin-stimulated [3H]InsP3 generation in [3H]inositol-labelled cells was rapid (maximal by 5-10 s), the response to GTP[S] alone displayed a distinct lag time of 20-30 s. This lag time was significantly decreased by the addition of bombesin, suggesting that in this system agonist-stimulated GTP/GDP exchange occurs. In addition, bombesin-stimulated generation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 mass at 10 s was enhanced by GTP[S] in the absence of a nucleotide response alone, a result consistent with this proposal. Pretreatment of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of bombesin-, but not GTP[S]-, stimulated inositol phosphate generation. Furthermore, although PMA pretreatment did not affect the lag time for InsP3 formation in response to GTP[S] alone, the degree of synergy between bombesin and the nucleotide was severely decreased at early time points. The results therefore demonstrate that the high-affinity bombesin receptor is coupled via a G-protein to phospholipase C in a manner consistent with a general model for receptor-G-protein interactions and that this coupling is sensitive to phosphorylation by protein kinase C.     

Guanine nucleotides stimulate hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol and polyphosphoinositides in permeabilized Swiss 3T3 cells

Hydrolysis-resistant analogues of GTP specifically stimulate the formation of [3H]inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphates by saponin-permeabilized Swiss 3T3 cells prelabelled with [3H]inositol. Each inositol phosphate is formed largely by hydrolysis of its parent lipid and not by dephosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [(1,4,5)IP3]. Although hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is most sensitive to guanine nucleotides, hydrolysis of phosphatidyl-inositol (PI) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) is quantitatively more important. These results suggest that a guanine nucleotide-dependent regulatory protein(s) (G-protein) is involved in regulating the hydrolysis of PI and PIP, as well as PIP2, and so may allow formation of diacylglycerol (DG) without simultaneous production of (1,4,5)IP3 and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+.     

Vasopressin-induced polyphosphoinositide and phosphatidylcholine degradation in fibroblasts. Temporal relationship for formation of phospholipase C and phospholipase D hydrolysis products

Cultured fibroblasts (REF52 cells) were employed to investigate phospholipid degradation in response to vasopressin (VP) treatment. There have been few studies in fibroblasts which characterize the pattern and relationship of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and non-phosphoinositide hydrolysis elicited by VP. Here we demonstrate that VP-induced PIP2 hydrolysis is closely accompanied by phosphatidylcholine (PC) degradation by phospholipase D. Cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid showed rapid formation and diminution of [3H]diacylglycerol (DG) (5-15s) when treated with VP; this was accompanied by a reduction in polyphosphoinositide radioactivity. Radiolabeled inositol trisphosphate was generated with a similar time frame. In cells prelabeled with [3H]myristic acid, which is predominantly incorporated into cellular PC, VP elicited the generation of [3H]myristoyl phosphatidate (PA) as early as 15 s, in the absence of an increase in labeled DG. In the presence of ethanol the pattern of [3H]myristoyl phosphatidylethanol (PEt) formation coincided with [3H]myristoyl-PA formation in the absence of ethanol. PEt was similarly formed, in response to VP treatment, in cells prelabeled with 1-O-[3H]hexadecyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The formation of PC-derived [3H]myristoyl-DG was characterized by a lag period of approximately 1 min, after which DG increased steadily over a 10-min period. Biphasic formation of DG was observed in cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, and the formation of [3H]PA occurred in an uninterrupted fashion. Two protein kinase C agonists, phorbol diester and dioctanoylglycerol, elicited the formation of [3H]myristoyl-PEt. The inclusion of staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, blocked VP-induced [3H]myristoyl-PEt formation by 88%. These data demonstrate that VP elicits the coordinated hydrolysis of PIP2 by phospholipase C and PC hydrolysis by phospholipase D. This event results in the prolonged generation of PA and biphasic formation of DG. From the time courses shown, we hypothesize that the early generation of PA, heretofore ascribed to products of the polyphosphoinositide cycle, are in part derived from PC by phospholipase D.     

Platelet-activating factor mediates phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase D in human endometrium.

Human preimplantation embryos and endometrium secrete platelet-activating factor (PAF). The mechanism of phosphatidylcholine (PC) degradation stimulated by PAF was investigated in endometrial explants prelabeled with [methyl-3H]choline or preincubated with [3H]butan-1-ol. Analysis of the water-soluble metabolites of PAF-induced PC hydrolysis in secretory endometrium demonstrated that the stimulated generation of [3H]choline ([3H]Cho) precedes that of [3H]choline phosphate ([3H]ChoP) and [3H]glycerophosphocholine ([3H]GPC). Within 30 sec there was a rapid rise in PAF-induced [3H]Cho generation and by 2 min this had increased to 59.9% +/- 10.6% (p less than 0.02), with no effect upon [3H]ChoP and [3H]GPC during this period. Both [3H]GPC and [3H]ChoP, however, were increased at a later time point. The slower [3H]ChoP generation may suggest that PC-specific phospholipase C activation as well as delayed [3H]GPC rise may be due to PC-specific phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase activation. Phospholipase D activity was confirmed by the incorporation of high-specific-activity [3H]butan-1-ol into [3H]phosphatidylbutanol ([3H]PBut). The rapid generation of [3H]PBut, which paralleled the rise in intracellular [3H]Cho, strongly suggests that PC breakdown is catalyzed by the phospholipase D pathway. It is proposed that PAF induces PC hydrolysis as a consequence of an early phospholipase D-catalyzed breakdown of PC in human secretory endometrium. This may be an alternative source for prostaglandin synthesis and an important pathway essential for long-term activation of local cellular events at the time of implantation.     

Assessment of receptor-dependent activation of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by both phospholipase D and phospholipase C.

Enhancement of cellular phospholipase D (PLD)-1 and phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated hydrolysis of endogenous phosphatidylcholine (PC) during receptor-mediated cell activation has received increasing attention inasmuch as both enzymes can result in the formation of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). The activities of PLD and PLC were examined in purified mast cells by quantitating the mass of the water-soluble hydrolysis products choline and phosphorylcholine, respectively. Using an assay based on choline kinase-mediated phosphorylation of choline that is capable of measuring choline and phosphorylcholine in the low picomole range, we quantitated the masses of both cell-associated and extracellular choline and phosphorylcholine. Activating mast cells by crosslinking its immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc epsilon-RI) resulted in an increase in cellular choline from 13.1 +/- 1.2 pmol/10(6) mast cells (mean +/- SE in unstimulated cells) to levels 5- to 10-fold higher, peaking 20 s after stimulation and rapidly returning toward baseline. The increase in cellular choline mass paralleled the increase in labeled phosphatidic acid accumulation detected in stimulated cells prelabeled with [3H]palmitic acid and preceded the increase in labeled DAG. Although intracellular phosphorylcholine levels were approximately 15-fold greater than choline in unstimulated cells (182 +/- 19 pmol/10(6) mast cells), stimulation resulted in a significant fall in phosphorylcholine levels shortly after stimulation. Pulse chase experiments demonstrated that the receptor-dependent increase in intracellular choline and the fall in phosphorylcholine were not due to hydrolysis of intracellular phosphorylcholine and suggested a receptor-dependent increase in PC resynthesis. When the extracellular medium was examined for the presence of water-soluble products of PC hydrolysis, receptor-dependent increases in the mass of both choline and phosphorylcholine were observed. Labeling studies demonstrated that these extracellular increases were not the result of leakage of these compounds from the cytosol. Taken together, these data lend support for a quantitatively greater role for receptor-mediated PC-PLD compared with PC-PLC during activation of mast cells.     

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine liposomes by lysosomal phospholipase A is maximal at the phase transition temperature of the lipid substrate

We have measured the rate of hydrolysis of liposomes made of DL--dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and L--dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine by a soluble fraction of highly purified lysosomes isolated from rat liver. Phospholipids are hydrolyzed into lysophospho-lipids and fatty acids at a rate which is maximal near the temperature characteristic of the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition of the lipid bilayer. This strong influence of the physical properties of the substrate on the enzyme activity suggests a structural analogy between the lysosomal phospholipases of the A type (EC 3.1.1.32 and EC 3.1.1.4) and the pancreatic phospholipase A₂.     

Direct human T helper cell-induced B cell activation is not mediated by inositol lipid hydrolysis

The Ag-specific interaction between cloned allospecific human Th cells and class II MHC determinants on the surface of allogeneic B cells induces a significant fraction of resting B cells to express a B cell specific activation Ag BLAST-2 (CD23). On the other hand, cross-linking of B cell surface Ig R by Ag analogues does not lead to BLAST-2 expression. By utilizing the BLAST-2 induction assay as a positive control for efficient Th-B cell interaction, we have investigated the biochemical basis of human B cell activation mediated by Ag and Th cells. Our data demonstrate that ligands for sIg R, including F(ab')2 goat anti-human IgM and Staphylococcus aureus protein A, stimulate the metabolism of B cell membrane inositol lipids as assessed by: 1) increased [3H]inositol phosphates formation in myo-[3H]inositol-labeled B cells; 2) selective incorporation of [32P]orthophosphate into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol, but not into phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine; and 3) rapid increase in B cell cytoplasmic ionized Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). In contrast, direct Th-B cell interaction leads to high intensity BLAST-2 expression on the B cell surface but this response is not mediated by changes in inositol lipid metabolism or [Ca2+]i. Further, Th-B cell interaction does not affect the changes in B cell inositol lipid metabolism or [Ca2+]i triggered by sIg cross-linking. Taken together, our results suggest that Ag and Th cells induce different functional B cell responses by activating distinct second messenger systems within the B cell.     

Sphingomyelinase and cell-permeable ceramide analogs stimulate cellular proliferation in quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

Sphingomyelin or the products derived from its metabolism may constitute a signaling system involved in a variety of cellular processes. The activation of a plasma membrane neutral sphingomyelinase, which catalyzes the first step in sphingomyelin turnover, has been suggested to play an important role in cellular differentiation. We have studied the effect of exogenous staphylococcal sphingomyelinase on DNA synthesis and on the composition of membrane sphingolipids in quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Sphingomyelinase stimulated proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells and potentiated the mitogenic action of other growth factors, such as insulin, epidermal growth factor, and bombesin. Treatment with sphingomyelinase produced a significant decrease in sphingomyelin accompanied by a corresponding increase in ceramide levels. No significant increases were detected in the levels of products derived from ceramide, i.e. ceramide 1-phosphate, sphingosine, or sphingosine 1-phosphate. To further investigate the role of ceramide in cellular proliferation, we studied the effect of cell-permeable analogs of ceramide on DNA synthesis in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells. Both N-hexanoylsphingosine and N-acetylsphingosine at low concentrations stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and acted synergistically with a wide variety of growth factors known to induce proliferation of quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Similar effects were observed with bovine brain ceramides. These results suggest that ceramide may be involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation.     

Bombesin and phorbol ester stimulate phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase C: evidence for a role of protein kinase C

Bombesin caused a marked stimulation of 32Pi into phosphatidylinositol (PI), with no apparent lag, and into phosphatidylcholine (PC), after a lag of about 20 min. Stimulation was blocked by the bombesin receptor antagonist, [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11] substance P, indicating that the effects on both PI and PC were mediated through the same receptor. The tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and dioctanoylglycerol (diC8) both directly activate protein kinase C and in this report were shown to stimulate 32Pi incorporation into PC but not into Pl. In addition, TPA stimulated the release of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphocholine and the accumulation of [3H]diacyglycerol from prelabelled cells. These results strongly suggest that TPA activates a phospholipase C specific for PC. Pretreatment of cells with phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) for 24 h depleted cellular protein kinase C activity and inhibited the ability of TPA to induce these effects suggesting a direct involvement of protein kinase C. Similarly the bombesin stimulation of 32Pi into PC and of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphocholine release was inhibited by PDBu pretreatment. DiC8 and, to a lesser extent, TPA stimulated the translocation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylytransferase from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction. DiC8 also stimulated this translocation in cells depleted of protein kinase C. It was concluded that both bombesin and TPA activated protein kinase C leading to activation of a phospholipase C specific for PC.     

Apparent desensitization of Swiss 3T3 cells to the mitogens FGF and vasopressin

The growth factors FGF and vasopressin were found to have only a transient effect on confluent quiescent monolayers of Swiss 3T3 cells. Whether measured as cumulative entry into S-phase by autoradiography, or as cell division by time-lapse filming, the elevated rate of cell proliferation was maintained only over 10-15 hr. Several trivial or artifactual explanations for this transience were ruled out, including toxicity of 3H-thymidine; exhaustion or degradation of medium components, nutrients or growth factors (although some medium depletion was observed); and the generation during quiescence of cells incapable of division. We have also eliminated heritable variation in the capacity to respond to individual growth factors. However, unstable phenotypic heterogeneity in growth factor requirements between cells may play some part, as found elsewhere for the response to low concentrations of serum (Brooks et al, 1984). Cell populations that had ceased to respond to vasopressin recovered their sensitivity after 2-3 days' incubation in conditioned medium lacking vasopressin. The phenomenon thus resembles the mitogen-induced desensitization described by Collins and Rosengurt (1982, 1983). However, in our case, the loss of sensitivity was not selective for vasopressin but applied also to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and to prostaglandin F2 alpha. Furthermore, changes in responsiveness to vasopressin with time were associated with changes in cell density. Although some element of selective desensitization has not been ruled out, the transient response in our experiments can be accounted for in terms of unstable heterogeneity in growth factor requirements and/or in terms of density-dependent regulation of growth.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate is present in normal and transformed fibroblasts and is resistant to hydrolysis by bovine brain phospholipase C II

The transforming protein of polyoma virus, middle T antigen, associates with two cellular enzymes, pp60c-src, a protein tyrosine kinase, and a phosphatidylinositol kinase that forms phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. The formation of a ternary complex of these proteins is essential for complete transformation and maximal tumor induction by the virus. A mutant virus encoding an altered middle T protein that activates pp60c-src but fails to bind phosphatidylinositol kinase is partially defective in transformation. We have confirmed, using an enzymological method, that the product of the in vitro reaction catalyzed by middle T-pp60c-src-phosphatidylinositol kinase complexes is phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P), as previously reported (Whitman, M., Downes, C. P., Keeler, M., Keller, T., and Cantley, L. (1988) Nature 332, 644-646). PtdIns(3)P is present in normal as well as virus-infected and transformed cells at levels ranging from 0.6 to 2.6% of the major phosphatidylinositol phosphate isomer, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P). Steady-state levels of PtdIns(3)P do not appear to be affected by the expression of middle T in cells. PtdIns(3)P is not hydrolyzed by bovine brain phospholipase C II, which readily cleaves PtdIns(4)P and other phosphatidylinositols. This result underscores the likelihood that the metabolism of PtdIns(3)P is distinct from that of PtdIns(4)P and raises further questions regarding a possible role of PtdIns(3)P in normal and neoplastic cell growth.     

Mass measurement of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol in bombesin-stimulated Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts.

Two specific and selective assays were used to measure changes in the mass of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol in bombesin-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cells. The results demonstrate that the increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 was extremely rapid, but transient, returning to basal levels by 30 s. In contrast, the increase in sn-1,2-diacylglycerol was biphasic: the first phase mirrored the transient Ins(1,4,5)P3 response, whereas the second phase was sustained and occurred in the absence of elevated Ins(1,4,5)P3. The possible source of the second phase of diacylglycerol is discussed.     

Analysis of the water-soluble products of phosphatidylcholine breakdown by ion-exchange chromatography. Bombesin and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate) stimulate choline generation in Swiss 3T3 cells by a common mechanism.

A method for the rapid and quantitative separation of glycerophosphocholine, choline phosphate and choline upon ion-exchange columns is described. The method has been utilized to examine the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine breakdown in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells in response to bombesin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The stimulated generation of choline is shown to precede that of choline phosphate, with no effect upon glycerophosphocholine levels; but was attenuated in cells in which protein kinase C activity was down-regulated. The results thus suggest that stimulation of the cells with either bombesin or TPA activates phospholipase D-catalysed phosphatidylcholine breakdown by a common mechanism involving the activation of protein kinase C.     

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in phosphatidylcholine-cholate mixtures by porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2

Pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-catalyzed hydrolysis of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) in mixed PC-cholate systems depends upon composition, structure, and size of the mixed aggregates. The hydrolysis of PC-cholate-mixed micelles made of an equal number of PC and cholate molecules is consistent with a Km of about 1 mM and a turnover number of about 120 s-1. Increasing the cholate/PC ratio in the micelles results in a decreased initial velocity. Hydrolysis of cholate-containing unilamellar vesicles is very sensitive to the ratio of cholate to PC in the vesicles. The hydrolysis of vesicles with an effective cholate/PC ratio greater than 0.27 is similar to that of the mixed micelles. The time course of hydrolysis of vesicles with lower effective ratios is similar to that exhibited by pure dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) large unilamellar vesicles in the thermotropic phase transition region. In the latter two cases, the rate of hydrolysis increases with time until substrate depletion becomes significant. The reaction can be divided phenomenologically into two phases: a latency phase where the amount of product formed is a square function of time (P(t) = At2) and a phase distinguished by a sudden increase in activity. The parameter A, which describes the activation rate of the enzyme during the initial phase in a quantitative fashion, increases with increasing [PLA2], decreasing [PC], decreasing vesicle size, and increasing relative cholate content of the vesicles. The effect of [PLA2] and [PC] on the hydrolysis reaction is similar to that found with pure DPPC unilamellar vesicles in their thermotropic phase transition region. The effect of cholate on the hydrolysis reaction is similar to that of temperature variation within the phase transition of temperature variation within the phase transition of DPPC. These results are consistent with our previously proposed model, which postulates that activation of PLA2 involves dimerization of the enzyme on the substrate surface and that the rate of activation is directly proportional to the magnitude of lipid structural fluctuations. It is suggested that large structural fluctuations, which exist in the pure lipid system in the phase transition range, are introduced into liquid crystalline vesicles by the presence of cholate and thus promote activation of the enzyme.     

Expression of a mouse tyrosinase cDNA in 3T3 Swiss mouse fibroblasts

3T3 Swiss mouse fibroblast cell lines expressing tyrosinase, the critical enzyme in melanin synthesis, have been established by co-transfection of a mouse tyrosinase cDNA and a G418-resistance gene. Of sixty-three clones isolated, four are brown in colour, presumably due to synthesis of melanin. Expression of both the tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa oxidase activities of tyrosinase by these pigmented clones has been demonstrated directly by enzyme assays. Electron microscopic studies suggest that the brown pigment is located in membrane-bound cytoplasmic vesicles.     

Overexpression of phospholipase C-gamma in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts results in increased phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in response to platelet-derived growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.

Overexpression of phospholipase C-gamma in fibroblasts led to increased tyrosine phosphorylation of this enzyme in response to platelet-derived growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. This correlated with increased phosphoinositide release but not with enhanced mitogenicity. Thus, phospholipase C-gamma-mediated phosphoinositide metabolism may not be limiting in the signaling pathways initiated by these growth factors.