Purification and characterization from rat liver cytosol of a GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) for liver 24K G, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein, with properties similar to those of smg p25A GDI

A regulatory protein for a liver GTP-binding protein (G protein) with a molecular weight value of 24,000 (24K G), which we have recently purified, was purified to near-homogeneity from rat liver cytosol and characterized. This regulatory protein, designated here as GDP dissociation inhibitor for 24K G (24K G GDI), inhibited the dissociation of GDP from and the subsequent binding of GTP to 24K G. 24K G GDI was inactive for other ras p21/ras p21-like small G proteins including c-Ha-ras p21, rhoB p20, smg p21B, and smg p25A. 24K G was, however, recognized by bovine brain smg p25A GDI which regulated the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of smg p25A. By analyses of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), immunoblotting with anti-smg p25A GDI antibody, two-dimensional PAGE, and C4 column chromatography, 24K G GDI showed physical properties very similar to those of smg p25A GDI. The peptide map and the partial amino acid sequences of 24K G GDI were not identical with those of smg p25A GDI. Among the 83 residues, 2 amino acids were different between rat liver 24K G GDI and bovine brain smg p25A GDI. These results indicate that there is a specific regulatory protein for 24K G, 24K G GDI, in rat liver cytosol and that 24K G GDI has close similarity to smg p25A GDI.     

Regulation of reversible binding of smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein, to synaptic plasma membranes and vesicles by its specific regulatory protein, GDP dissociation inhibitor

We have previously purified from bovine brain cytosol a novel regulatory protein for smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein. This protein, named smg p25A GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), regulates the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of smg p25A by inhibiting the dissociation of GDP from and thereby the subsequent binding of GTP to it. We have also previously found that smg p25A is mainly localized in presynaptic plasma membranes and vesicles and moderately in presynaptic cytosol in rat brain synapses. In this paper, we have studied the possible involvement of smg p25A GDI in the localization of smg p25A in the cytosol, plasma membranes, and vesicles in rat brain synapses. Both the GDP- and GTP-bound forms of smg p25A bound to the synaptic membranes and vesicles. smg p25A GDI inhibited the binding of the GDP-bound form of smg p25A, but not that of the GTP-bound form, to the synaptic membranes and vesicles. Moreover, smg p25A GDI induced the dissociation of the GDP-bound form, but not that of the GTP-bound form, of both endogenous and exogenous smg p25As from the synaptic membranes and vesicles. smg p25A GDI made a complex with the GDP-bound form of smg p25A with a molar ratio of 1:1, but not with the GTP-bound or guanine nucleotide-free form. These results suggest that smg p25A reversibly binds to synaptic plasma membranes and vesicles and that this reversible binding is regulated by its specific GDI.     

A mammalian inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange protein (GDP dissociation inhibitor) for smg p25A is active on the yeast SEC4 protein.

Evidence is accumulating that smg p25A, a small GTP-binding protein, may be involved in the regulated secretory processes of mammalian cells. The SEC4 protein is known to be required for constitutive secretion in yeast cells. We show here that the mammalian GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), which was identified by its action on smg p25A, is active on the yeast SEC4 protein in inhibiting the GDP/GTP exchange reaction and is capable of forming a complex with the GDP-bound form of the SEC4 protein but not with the GTP-bound form. These results together with our previous findings that smg p25A GDI is found in mammalian cells with both regulated and constitutive secretion types suggest that smg p25A GDI plays a role in both regulated and constitutive secretory processes, although smg p25A itself may be involved only in regulated secretory processes. These results also suggest that a GDI for the SEC4 protein is present in yeast cells.     

Tissue and subcellular distributions of an inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange protein (GDI) for smg p25A by use of its antibody

We have recently purified from bovine brain cytosol to near homogeneity a GDP/GTP exchange protein for smg p25A, named smg p25A GDI, that inhibits the dissociation of GDP from and the subsequent binding of GTP to smg p25A. In the present study, we made an antiserum against smg p25A GDI and studied its tissue distribution in rat and its subcellular distribution in rat cerebrum by use of this antiserum. smg p25A GDI was found in secretory cells with both regulated and constitutive secretion types. Since smg p25A was previously found in only secretory cells with a regulated secretion type, this result suggests that small GTP-binding proteins different from smg p25A but recognized by smg p25A GDI are present in secretory cells with a constitutive secretion type, and that smg p25A GDI is involved in both regulated and constitutive secretory processes. In subcellular fractionation analysis of rat cerebrum, smg p25A GDI was mostly found in the cytosol fraction of neuron body and synaptosome. In synaptosome, it was mainly found in the synaptic cytosol.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel type of regulatory protein (GDI) for smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein.

We recently purified to near homogeneity a novel type of regulatory protein for smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein, from bovine brain cytosol. This regulatory protein, named smg p25A GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), regulates the GDP-GTP exchange reaction of smg p25A by inhibiting dissociation of GDP from and subsequent binding of GTP to it. In the present studies, we isolated and sequenced the cDNA of smg p25A GDI from a bovine brain cDNA library by using an oligonucleotide probe designed from the partial amino acid sequence of purified smg p25A GDI. The cDNA has an open reading frame that encodes a protein of 447 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 50,565. This Mr is similar to those of the purified smg p25A GDI estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, which are about 54,000 and 65,000, respectively. The isolated cDNA is expressed in Escherichia coli, and the encoded protein exhibits GDI activity. smg p25A GDI is hydrophilic overall, except for one hydrophobic region near the N terminus. smg p25A GDI shares low amino acid sequence homology with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC25-encoded protein, which has been suggested to serve as a factor that regulates the GDP-GTP exchange reaction of the yeast RAS2-encoded protein, but not with the beta gamma subunits of GTP-binding proteins having an alpha beta gamma subunit structure, such as Gs and Gi. The smg p25A GDI mRNA was present in various tissues, including not only tissues in which smg p25A was detectable but also tissues in which it was not detectable. This fact has raised the possibility that smg p25A GDI interacts with another G protein in tissues in which smg p25A is absent.     

Involvement of a small GTP-binding protein (G protein) regulator, small G protein GDP dissociation stimulator, in antiapoptotic cell survival signaling

Small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator (Smg GDS) regulates GDP/GTP exchange reaction of Ki-Ras and the Rho and Rap1 family members and inhibits their binding to membranes. In fibroblasts, Smg GDS shows mitogenic and transforming activities in cooperation with Ki-Ras. However, the physiological function of Smg GDS remains unknown. Here we show that mice lacking Smg GDS died of heart failure shortly after birth, not resulting from developmental heart defects but from enhanced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes triggered by cardiovascular overload. Furthermore, neonatal thymocytes and developing neuronal cells underwent apoptotic cell death. Smg GDS-/- thymocytes were susceptible to apoptotic inducers, such as etoposide and UV irradiation. Smg GDS-/- thymocytes were protected from etoposide-induced cell death by ex vivo transduction of the Smg GDS cDNA. These phenotypes partly coincide with those observed in Ki-Ras-deficient mice, suggesting that Smg GDS is involved in antiapoptotic cell survival signaling through Ki-Ras.     

Purification and characterization from bovine brain cytosol of a protein that inhibits the dissociation of GDP from and the subsequent binding of GTP to smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein

A novel regulatory protein for smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein, was purified to near homogeneity from bovine brain cytosol. This regulatory protein, designated here as smg p25A GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), inhibited the dissociation of GDP, but not of guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTPgamma S), from smg p25A. smg p25A GDI also inhibited the binding of GTPgamma S to the GDP-bound form of smg p25A but not of that to the guanine nucleotide-free form. GDI did not stimulate the GTPase activity of smg p25A and by itself showed neither GTPgammaS-binding nor GTPase activity. GDI was inactive for other ras p21/ras p21-like GTP-binding proteins including c-Ha-ras p21, rhoB p20, and smg p21. The Mr value of GDI was estimated to be about 54,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, about 65,000 from the S value (4.5 S), and about 82,000 by gel filtration. The isoelectric point of GDI was about pH 5.6. The activities of GDI were killed by tryptic digestion or heat boiling. These results indicate that bovine brain cytosol contains a regulatory protein for smg p25A that inhibits the dissociation of GDP from and thereby the subsequent binding of GTP to this protein.     

Rabphilin-3A, a putative target protein for smg p25A/rab3A p25 small GTP-binding protein related to synaptotagmin.

In a previous study (H. Shirataki, K. Kaibuchi, T. Yamaguchi, K. Wada, H. Horiuchi, and Y. Takai, J. Biol. Chem. 267:10946-10949, 1992), we highly purified from bovine brain crude membranes the putative target protein for smg p25A/rab3A p25, a ras p21-related small GTP-binding protein implicated in neurotransmitter release. In this study, we have isolated and sequenced the cDNA of this protein from a bovine brain cDNA library. The cDNA had an open reading frame encoding a protein of 704 amino acids with a calculated M(r) of 77,976. We tentatively refer to this protein as rabphilin-3A. Structural analysis of rabphilin-3A revealed the existence of two copies of an internal repeat that were homologous to the C2 domain of protein kinase C as described for synaptotagmin, which is known to be localized in the membrane of the synaptic vesicle and to bind to membrane phospholipid in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. The isolated cDNA was expressed in COS7 cells, and the encoded protein was recognized with an anti-rabphilin-3A polyclonal antibody and was identical in size with rabphilin-3A purified from bovine brain by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Moreover, both rabphilin-3A purified from bovine brain and recombinant rabphilin-3A made a complex with the GTP gamma S-bound form of rab3A p25 but not with the GDP-bound form of rab3A p25. Immunoblot and Northern (RNA) blot analyses showed that rabphilin-3A was highly expressed in bovine and rat brains. These results indicate that rabphilin-3A is a novel protein that has C2 domains and selectively interacts with the GTP-bound form of rab3A p25.     

The small GTP-binding proteins in the cytosol of insulin-secreting cells are complexed to GDP dissociation inhibitor proteins.

Ras-related small GTP-binding proteins (SMGs) exist in a cytosolic and a membrane-bound pool. The mechanism regulating the intracellular distribution of SMGs remains to be elucidated. We have, therefore, investigated the properties of SMGs expressed in cells of the insulin-secreting lines RINm5F and HIT-T15. Phase-partitioning analysis revealed that smg25A/rab3A as well as all the SMGs in the 23-27 kDa range, labeled by radioactive GTP after blotting, were hydrophobic, regardless of their subcellular distribution. In contrast, the cytosolic forms of ADP ribosylation factor, rho, and CDC42 were hydrophilic. The cytosolic pool of the 23-27-kDa group, including smg25A/rab3A, sedimented in a sucrose density gradient as complexes with an apparent M(r) of about 80,000, whereas rho and CDC42 were recovered in 45-kDa complexes. ARF, however, was uncomplexed (M(r) close to 20,000). The 80-kDa aggregates were likely to be formed by 1:1 complexes with the regulatory protein smg25/GDP dissociation inhibitor (smg25/GDI). In fact, pure smg25/GDI by sucrose gradient exhibited a molecular mass of 55 kDa, but cosedimented with the 80-kDa complexes in cytosolic extracts of insulin-secreting cells. Moreover, purified smg25/GDI was able to extract the SMGs of the 23-27-kDa group from the membranes. Similarly, in cytosolic extracts, rho/GDI cosedimented with the 45-kDa aggregates. Blocking the synthesis of isoprenoid groups with lovastatin resulted in the appearance in the cytosol of SMGs that were hydrophilic. These SMGs were found to sediment with an apparent M(r) close to 25,000 and to be unable to form complexes with smg25/GDI. Lovastatin treatment also caused the accumulation of the noncomplexed form of CDC42 but not of rho proteins. We propose that 1) except for ARF, all the SMGs detected in the cytosol of insulin-secreting cells are associated in 1:1 complexes with their regulatory proteins; 2) the different SMGs can be subdivided into functional groups according to the regulatory protein bound to them; 3) the formation of the 80-kDa complexes with smg25/GDI and of the CDC42 complexes with rho/GDI necessitate the correct carboxyl-terminal post-translational modification of the SMGs.     

Presence and some characterization of GDP dissociation inhibitors for a low Mr GTP-binding protein, ram p25, in rat spleen cytosol.

Two proteinous factors, designated here as ram p25 GDP dissociation inhibitor (I) and (II) (ram-GDI (I) and (II)), were detected in the cytosolic fraction of rat spleen, which inhibited the initial dissociation of GDP from ram p25 produced by E. coli by causing characteristic lag. They had very weak effects on the rate of dissociation of GDP after the lag, and did not affect the mode of the dissociation of 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) from ram p25. By gel filtration, the molecular masses of ram-GDI (I) and (II) were calculated to be 90 KDa and 40 KDa, respectively. These ram-GDIs did not affect the GDP-dissociation of Ha-ras protein produced in E. coli.     

Role of the C-terminal region of smg p21, a ras p21-like small GTP-binding protein, in membrane and smg p21 GDP/GTP exchange protein interactions

Limited proteolysis with trypsin of smg p21B, a ras p21-like small GTP-binding protein having the same putative effector domain as ras p21s, produced the N-terminal fragment and the C-terminal tail of Lys-Lys-Ser-Ser-geranylgeranyl-Cys methyl ester. The Mr values of the intact smg p21B, the N-terminal fragment, and the C-terminal tail were estimated to be about 22,000, 20,500, and less than 1,000, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both the GDP- and GTP-bound forms of the intact smg p21B bound to various membranes and phosphatidylserine-linked Affi-Gel. However, both the GDP- and GTP-bound forms of the N-terminal fragment failed to bind to membranes and phosphatidylserine-linked Affi-Gel. In contrast, the C-terminal tail bound to membranes and phosphatidylserine-linked Affi-Gel. The N-terminal fragment contained a GDP/GTP-binding and GTPase domain and exhibited these two activities, but the C-terminal tail did not show any such activity. A GTPase-activating protein for smg p21 stimulated the GTPase activity of both the intact smg p21B and the N-terminal fragment. In contrast, a GDP/GTP exchange protein for smg p21, named GDP dissociation stimulator, stimulated the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of the intact smg p21B but not that of the N-terminal fragment. These results indicate 1) that smg p21B is composed of at least two functionally different domains, the N-terminal GDP/GTP-binding and GTPase domain and the C-terminal membrane-binding domain, 2) that smg p21B binds to membranes through its C-terminal hydrophobic and basic domain, and 3) that this C-terminal domain is also essential for the smg p21 GDP dissociation stimulator action but not for the smg p21 GTPase-activating protein action.     

Molecular cloning of the cDNA for stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein for smg p21s (ras p21-like small GTP-binding proteins) and characterization of stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein.

We have recently purified to near homogeneity the stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein for smg p21s (ras p21-like GTP-binding proteins) from bovine brain cytosol. This regulatory protein, named GDP dissociation stimulator (GDS), stimulates the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of smg p21s by stimulating the dissociation of GDP from and the subsequent binding of GTP to them. In this study, we have isolated and sequenced the cDNA of smg p21 GDS from a bovine brain cDNA library by using an oligonucleotide probe designed from the partial amino acid sequence of the purified smg p21 GDS. The cDNA has an open reading frame encoding a protein of 558 amino acids with a calculated Mr value of 61,066, similar to the Mr of 53,000 estimated for the purified smg p21 GDS by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The isolated cDNA is expressed in Escherichia coli, and the encoded protein exhibits smg p21 GDS activity. smg p21 GDS is overall hydrophilic, but there are several short hydrophobic regions. The smg p21 GDS mRNA is present in bovine brain and various rat tissues. smg p21 GDS has low amino acid sequence homology with the yeast CDC25 and SCD25 proteins, which may regulate the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of the yeast RAS2 protein, but not with ras p21 GTPase-activating protein, the inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins (GDP dissociation inhibitor) for smg p25A and rho p21s, and the beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins such as Gs and Gi.     

A Drosophila homolog of bovine smg p25a GDP dissociation inhibitor undergoes a shift in isoelectric point in the developmental mutant quartet.

The Drosophila developmental mutation quartet causes late larval lethality and small imaginal discs and, when expressed in the adult female, has a lethal effect on early embryogenesis. These developmental defects are associated with mitotic defects, which include a low mitotic index in larval brains and incomplete separation of chromosomes in mitosis in the early embryo. quartet mutations also have a biochemical effect, i.e., a basic shift in isoelectric point in three proteins. We have purified one of these proteins, raised an antibody to it, and isolated and sequenced its cDNA. At the amino acid level, the sequence shows 68% identity and 81% similarity to bovine smg p25a GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), a regulator of ras-like small GTPases of the rab/SEC4/YPT1 subfamily. The correlation between a basic shift in isoelectric point in Drosophila GDI in quartet mutant tissue and the quartet developmental phenotype raises the possibility that a posttranslational modification of GDI is necessary for its function and that GDI function is essential for development.     

Localization of smg p25A/rab3A p25, a small GTP-binding protein, at the active zone of the rat neuromuscular junction.

smg p25A is a small G protein which has been suggested to regulate neurotransmitter release from the synapses. We investigated here the ultrastructural localization of this small G protein in the rat neuromuscular junction by an immunoperoxidase method. The results showed that smg p25A was distributed non-uniformly on the presynaptic plasma membrane and among the synaptic vesicles with the focal accumulation on the discrete presynaptic sites which corresponded to the active zones, the regions of the presynaptic plasma membrane specialized for the exocytosis of the synaptic vesicles. This unique distribution of smg p25A suggests that it plays an important role in the attachment and fusion of the synaptic vesicles with the active zones.     

Role of the C-terminal region of smg p25A in its interaction with membranes and the GDP/GTP exchange protein.

smg p25A is a ras p21-like small GTP-binding protein which is implicated in the regulated secretory processes. We have recently found that bovine brain smg p25A is geranylgeranylated at its C-terminal region. In this study, we examined the function(s) of the C-terminal region of smg p25A. Limited proteolysis of bovine brain smg p25A with Achromobacter protease I produced an N-terminal fragment and a C-terminal tail. The Mrs of intact smg p25A, the N-terminal fragment, and the C-terminal tail were estimated to be about 24,000, 20,000, and less than 2,000, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The N-terminal fragment contained the consensus amino acid sequences for GDP/GTP-binding and GTPase activities and showed these activities with kinetic properties similar to those of the intact protein but did not bind to plasma membranes or phosphatidylserine-linked Affigel under conditions in which the intact protein bound to them. The C-terminal tail neither contained the consensus amino acid sequences for GDP/GTP-binding and GTPase activities nor bound to plasma membranes or phosphatidylserine-linked Affigel. The GDP/GTP exchange protein specific for smg p25A, named GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), made a complex with the GDP-bound form of the intact smg p25A at a molar ratio of 1:1 and thereby inhibited its GDP/GTP exchange reaction but neither made a complex with the N-terminal fragment or the C-terminal tail nor affected the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of the N-terminal fragment. We expressed smg p25A in Escherichia coli and purified it to near homogeneity. This bacterial protein was not geranylgeranylated. Bacterial smg p25A did not bind to plasma membranes or phosphatidylserine-linked Affigel. smg p25A GDI neither made a complex with bacterial smg p25A nor affected its GDP/GTP exchange reaction. These results suggest that the N-terminal region of smg p25A has GDP/GTP-binding and GTPase activities but lacks the ability to interact with membranes and smg p25A GDI, that the C-terminal region of smg p25A plays important roles in its interaction with membranes and smg p25A GDI, and that some modifications of the C-terminal region, such as geranylgeranylation, which are absent in bacterial smg p25A, are important for these interactions.     

Localization and subcellular distribution of smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein, in rat brain

We have made a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes smg p25A among many ras p21/ras p21-like GTP-binding proteins thus far purified from bovine brain membranes. By use of this antibody, we have investigated the localization and subcellular distribution of smg p25A in rat brain by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and by immunoblotting. By light microscopic immunocytochemistry, specific immunoreactivity is widely distributed, most abundant in neuropil, weak in neuronal somata, and absent from white matter. By electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, intense labeling is demonstrated on most of the synapses and concentrated in the presynaptic area where synaptic vesicles are observed. Presynaptic plasma membranes are weakly labeled but mitochondria, postsynaptic plasma membranes, and postsynaptic densities are unlabeled. In subcellular fractionation analysis of cerebrum, about one-fifth of smg p25A is found in the soluble cytosol fraction and the rest is found in the particulate fraction. About half of the particulate-bound smg p25A is recovered in the P2 fraction containing synaptosomes, mitochondria, and myelin, among which a major portion of smg p25A is recovered in the synaptosomal fraction. In the synaptosomal fraction, smg p25A is concentrated about 8-fold in the fraction containing synaptic vesicles and about 3-fold in the fraction containing synaptic plasma membranes compared with the original homogenate. smg p25A is present at a low level in the fraction containing synaptosomal soluble substances but almost absent from the fractions containing intrasynaptosomal mitochondria or post-synaptic densities. These results suggest that smg p25A plays important roles in the regulation of synaptic functions such as exo-endocytotic recycling of synaptic vesicles during neurotransmitter release.     

Phosphorylation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase of a human platelet Mr 22,000 GTP-binding protein (smg p21) having the same putative effector domain as the ras gene products

We have purified to near homogeneity a Mr 22,000 GTP-binding protein from human platelet membranes and identified it as the smg-21 gene product (smg p21), having the same putative effector domain as the ras gene products, which we have purified to near homogeneity from bovine brain membranes and characterized. This purified human platelet smg p21 was phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. About one mol of phosphate was maximally incorporated into one mol of the protein. Only serine residue was phosphorylated. Both the guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)-triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-bound and GDP-bound forms were phosphorylated with the same reaction velocity. The phosphorylation of smg p21 affected neither its GTP gamma S-binding nor GTPase activity. Human platelet smg p21 was not phosphorylated by protein kinase C. A Mr 24,000 GTP-binding protein partially purified from human platelet membranes was not phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C.     

Tissue distribution of smg p25A, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein, studied by use of a specific monoclonal antibody

We made a monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing smg p25A among many ras p21-like GTP-binding proteins and investigated the tissue distribution of smg p25A by use of this antibody. By immunoblot analysis, smg p25A was detected in rat brain and bovine adrenal medulla but not in bovine adrenal cortex or other rat tissues including thymus, spleen, lung, heart, liver and kidney. However, by immunocytochemical studies, smg p25A was detected not only in the synaptic areas of rat brain and the chromaffin cells of bovine adrenal medulla but also in the endocrine cells of rat pancreatic islets, the acinar cells of rat exocrine pancreas and the exocrine cells of rat submaxillary gland. These results suggest that smg p25A is involved in the regulation of secretory processes not only in synapses but also in other endocrine and exocrine secretory cells.     

Tissue-specific expression of a novel GTP-binding protein (smg p25A) mRNA and its increase by nerve growth factor and cyclic AMP in rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells

We have purified a novel GTP-binding protein, designated as the smg-25A protein (smg p25A), from bovine brain membranes and determined its primary structure. In the present studies, the smg-25A mRNA levels in various tissues have been studied. The 1.6-kilobase smg-25A mRNA is detected in rat brain by Northern blot analysis. This mRNA is not detected in other rat tissues including thymus, lung, heart, liver, small intestine, kidney, and skeletal muscle. The 1.6-kilobase smg-25A mRNA is also detected in bovine adrenal medulla but not in the cortex. Moreover, this mRNA is detected in rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells and its level increases after differentiation of the cells into sympathetic neuron-like cells in response to nerve growth factor or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. This mRNA level does not increase in response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate incapable of inducing differentiation. These results suggest that the smg-25A gene is specifically expressed in nerve tissues and that smg p25A plays a role in some neuronal functions.     

Evidence of GTP-binding protein regulation of phospholipase A2 activity in isolated human platelet membranes

G protein regulation of human platelet membrane phospholipase A2 activity was investigated at pH 8.0 and 9.0 by studying the effects of the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), and of F-/Al3+ ions on arachidonic acid (AA) release. The membrane acted as the source of the enzyme, the substrate, and the G protein. At pH 8.0, 10 and 100 microM GTP gamma S stimulated AA mobilization at least 6-fold. Optimum AA release conditions required 1 mM Ca2+ and 5 mM Mg2+. Nonspecific nucleotide effect was excluded since similar stimulatory effects on AA release were not observed by ATP, GTP, ADP, and NADP. Although at pH 9.0 the GTP gamma S-stimulated AA release was greater than at pH 8.0, it constituted only 26% of the total. At both pH values the effect of F- (10 mM) in the presence of Al3+ (2 microM) was similar to that of GTP gamma S. The G protein inhibitor, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), inhibited the GTP gamma S-stimulated AA release by about 80% at pH 8.0 and by 100% at pH 9.0. To determine a possible contribution to AA mobilization by the phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase pathway, the effects of neomycin, a phospholipase C inhibitor, were investigated. 100 microM neomycin did not inhibit the GTP gamma S-stimulated AA release at pH 8.0 and only slightly so (17%) at pH 9.0. At pH 8.0 in the presence of Ca2+ the released fatty acids consisted mainly of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids (80 and 8%, respectively). GTP gamma S had no effect on the fatty acid profile but only on their quantity. These results provide evidence of G protein regulation of phospholipase A2 activity in isolated platelet membranes.