Effects of trypsin on secretion stimulated by micromolar Ca2+ and phorbol ester in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells

1. Catecholamine secretion from digitonin-treated chromaffin cells is stimulated directly by micromolar Ca2+ in the medium. The permeabilized cells are leaky to proteins. 2. In this study trypsin (30-50 micrograms/ml) added to cells after digitonin treatment completely inhibited subsequent Ca2+-dependent catecholamine secretion. The same concentrations of trypsin did not inhibit secretion from permeabilized cells if trypsin was present only prior to cell permeabilization. 3. The data indicate that trypsin entered digitonin-treated chromaffin cells which were capable of undergoing secretion and that an intracellular, trypsin-sensitive protein is involved in secretion. Chymotrypsin was less potent but had effects similar to those of trypsin. 4. The enhancement of Ca2+-dependent secretion from permeabilized chromaffin cells induced by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was inhibited by trypsin added simultaneously with Ca2+ to permeabilized cells at concentrations (3-10 micrograms/ml) which had little or no effect on Ca2+-dependent secretion from cells untreated with TPA. Ca2+-dependent secretion in TPA-treated cells was reduced by trypsin only to the level that would have occurred in cells not treated with TPA. Trypsin reduced the large TPA-induced increment of membrane-bound protein kinase C.     

Protein phosphorylation and secretion in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells. Effects of micromolar Ca2+, phorbol esters, and diacylglycerol

The effects of phorbol esters, dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8), and micromolar Ca2+ on protein phosphorylation and catecholamine secretion in digitonin-treated chromaffin cells were investigated. [gamma-32P]ATP was used as a substrate for phosphorylation in the permeabilized cells. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhanced Ca2+-dependent catecholamine secretion from digitonin-permeabilized cells. The enhancement required MgATP. Only those phorbol esters which activate protein kinase C in vitro enhanced both catecholamine secretion and protein phosphorylation. DiC8, which activates protein kinase C in vitro and mimics phorbol ester effects in situ, also enhanced both catecholamine secretion and protein phosphorylation. Preincubation of intact cells with TPA or DiC8 was necessary for maximal effects on both catecholamine secretion and protein phosphorylation in subsequently digitonin-treated chromaffin cells. The TPA-induced enhancement of protein phosphorylation was almost entirely Ca2+-independent, whereas DiC8-induced enhancement of protein phosphorylation was mainly Ca2+-dependent. Micromolar Ca2+ alone also enhanced the phosphorylation of a large number of proteins. Most of the proteins phosphorylated in response to TPA or potentiated by DiC8 in combination with Ca2+ were also phosphorylated by micromolar Ca2+ in the absence of exogenous protein kinase C activators. In intact cells, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) induced Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation of at least 17 proteins which were detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. All of the proteins phosphorylated upon incubation with 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium were phosphorylated upon incubation with micromolar Ca2+ in digitonin-treated cells. These results demonstrate that TPA- or DiC8-enhanced Ca2+-dependent catecholamine secretion is associated with enhanced protein phosphorylation which is probably mediated by protein kinase C and that activation of protein kinase C modulates catecholamine secretion from digitonin-treated chromaffin cells.     

Ca2+ influx causes rapid translocation of protein kinase C to membranes. Studies of the effects of secretagogues in adrenal chromaffin cells

In bovine adrenal chromaffin cells nicotinic stimulation or a depolarizing concentration of K+ caused a rapid, transient translocation to membranes of as much as 14% of the total cellular protein kinase C activity. The quantitative relationship between membrane-bound protein kinase C and Ca2+-dependent secretion was determined in cells rendered leaky by digitonin treatment. Intact cells were incubated with various concentrations of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to activate and cause translocation of protein kinase C to membrane before permeabilization in the presence of Ca2+. For the same amount of membrane-bound protein kinase C, a similar degree of enhancement of Ca2+-dependent secretion occurred in cells incubated for 1 or 30 min with TPA. Translocation of as little as 2-3% of the cellular protein kinase C to the membrane enhanced Ca2+-dependent secretion by 25-30%. Muscarinic agonists caused a 5% increase in membrane-bound protein kinase C at 2 s which rapidly reversed. Nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-mediated increases in membrane-bound protein kinase C were additive at 10 s and synergistic at 3 min. Muscarinic stimulation enhanced nicotinic receptor-dependent secretion. Prior incubation with TPA caused a similar enhancement of nicotinic-mediated secretion. The data indicate that protein kinase C which is translocated within seconds of stimulation of the cells with a nicotinic agonist or elevated K+ probably enhances the secretory response immediately or soon after exocytosis begins. In addition, the muscarinic receptor-mediated enhancement of nicotinic receptor-stimulated secretion may be due to newly activated protein kinase C.     

Loss and Ca2+-Dependent Retention of Scinderin in Digitonin-Permeabilized Chromaffin Cells: Correlation with Ca2+-Evoked Catecholamine Release

Exposure of chromaffin cells to digitonin causes the loss of many cytosolic proteins. Here we report that scinderin (a Ca(2+)-dependent actin-filament-severing protein), but not gelsolin, is among the proteins that leak out from digitonin-permeabilized cells. Chromaffin cells that were exposed to increasing concentrations (15-40 microM) of digitonin for 5 min released scinderin into the medium. One-minute treatment with 20 microM digitonin was enough to detect scinderin in the medium, and scinderin leakage levelled off after 10 min of permeabilization. Elevation of free Ca2+ concentration in the permeabilizing medium produced a dose-dependent retention of scinderin. Results were confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy of digitonin-permeabilized cells. Subcellular fractionation of permeabilized cells showed that scinderin leakage was mainly from the cytoplasm (80%); the remaining scinderin (20%) was from the microsomal fraction. Other Ca(2+)-binding proteins released by digitonin and also retained by Ca2+ were calmodulin, protein kinase C, and calcineurins A and B. Scinderin leakage was parallel to the loss of the chromaffin cell secretory response. Permeabilization in the presence of increasing free Ca2+ concentrations produced a concomitant enhancement in the subsequent Ca(2+)-dependent catecholamine release. The experiments suggest that: (1) scinderin is an intracellular target for Ca2+, (2) permeabilization of chromaffin cells with digitonin in the presence of micromolar Ca2+ concentrations retained Ca(2+)-binding proteins including scinderin, and (3) the retention of these proteins may be related to the increase in the subsequent Ca(2+)-dependent catecholamine release observed in permeabilized chromaffin cells.     

Activation of protein kinase C is not required for exocytosis from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The effects of protein kinase C(19-31), Ca/CaM kinase II(291-317), and staurosporine

We examined whether protein kinase C activation plays a modulatory or an obligatory role in exocytosis of catecholamines from chromaffin cells by using PKC(19-31) (a protein kinase C pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptide), Ca/CaM kinase II(291-317) (a calmodulin-binding peptide), and staurosporine. In permeabilized cells, PKC (19-31) inhibited the phorbol ester-mediated enhancement of Ca2(+)-dependent secretion as much as 90% but had no effect on Ca2(+)-dependent secretion in the absence of phorbol ester. The inhibition of the phorbol ester-induced enhancement of secretion by PKC (19-31) was correlated closely with the ability of the peptide to inhibit in situ phorbol ester-stimulated protein kinase C activity. PKC(19-31) also blocked 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced phosphorylation of numerous endogenous proteins in permeabilized cells but had no effect on Ca2(+)-stimulated phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase. Ca/CaM kinase II(291-317), derived from the calmodulin binding region of Ca/calmodulin kinase II, had no effect on Ca2(+)-dependent secretion in the presence or absence of phorbol ester. The peptide completely blocked the Ca2(+)-dependent increase in tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation but had no effect on TPA-induced phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in permeabilized cells. To determine whether a long-lived protein kinase C substrate might be required for secretion, the lipophilic protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, was added to intact cells for 30 min before permeabilizing and measuring secretion. Staurosporine strongly inhibited the phorbol ester-mediated enhancement of Ca2(+)-dependent secretion. It caused a small inhibition of Ca2(+)-dependent secretion in the absence of phorbol ester which could not be readily attributed to inhibition of protein kinase C. Staurosporine also inhibited the phorbol ester-mediated enhancement of elevated K(+)-induced secretion from intact cells while it enhanced 45Ca2+ uptake. Staurosporine inhibited to a small extent secretion stimulated by elevated K+ in the absence of TPA. The data indicate that activation of protein kinase C is modulatory but not obligatory in the exocytotoxic pathway.     

Interaction of protein kinase C with chromaffin granule membranes: effects of Ca2+, phorbol esters and temperature reveal differences in the properties of the association and dissociation events

Interaction of protein kinase C with chromaffin granule membranes has been studied as a means of investigating the translocation of protein kinase C from cytosol to intracellular membrane surfaces, which is believed to occur during secretion. Protein kinase C in an adrenal medullary soluble fraction was found to bind reversibly to granule membranes in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. Association and dissociation events were sensitive to Ca2+ concentrations in the low micromolar range, and the Ca2+ sensitivity of both processes was increased when the membranes had been preincubated with the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA). Binding of protein kinase C to granule membranes occurred at 0 and 37 degrees C, irrespective of whether the membranes had been preincubated with TPA. However, dissociation of protein kinase C from granule membranes that had been preincubated with TPA occurred only at 37 degrees C and not at 0 degree C, even though dissociation of the enzyme from membranes which had not been preincubated with TPA would occur at both 37 and 0 degrees C. These effects of TPA were not reproduced by 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha PDD), a phorbol ester which does not activate protein kinase C. Soluble protein kinase C activity also associated with chromaffin granules in a Ca2+-dependent manner in an adrenal medullary homogenate, indicating that granules can compete with other intracellular membranes for the binding of protein kinase C. Results obtained with this model system differ from other systems where the interaction of protein kinase C with plasma membranes has been studied and have general implications for studies performed on the translocation of protein kinase C in intact cells and for the role of protein kinase C in stimulus-secretion coupling in the chromaffin cell.     

Arachidonic Acid Release and Catecholamine Secretion from Digitonin-Treated Chromaffin Cells: Effects of Micromolar Calcium, Phorbol Ester, and Protein Alkylating Agents

The relationship between catecholamine secretion and arachidonic acid release from digitonin-treated chromaffin cells was investigated. Digitonin renders permeable the plasma membranes of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells to Ca2+, ATP, and proteins. Digitonin-treated cells undergo exocytosis of catecholamine in response to micromolar Ca2+ in the medium. The addition of micromolar Ca2+ to digitonin-treated chromaffin cells that had been prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid caused a marked increase in the release of [3H]arachidonic acid. The time course of [3H]arachidonic acid release paralleled catecholamine secretion. Although [3H]arachidonic acid release and exocytosis were both activated by free Ca2+ in the micromolar range, the activation of [3H]arachidonic acid release occurred at Ca2+ concentrations slightly lower than those required to activate exocytosis. Pretreatment of the chromaffin cells with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of 10 microM Ca2+-stimulated [3H]arachidonic acid release and exocytosis. The IC50 of NEM for both [3H]arachidonic acid release and exocytosis was 40 microM. The IC50 of BPB for both events was 25 microM. High concentrations (5-20 mM) of Mg2+ caused inhibition of catecholamine secretion without altering [3H]arachidonic acid release. A phorbol ester that activates protein kinase C, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), caused enhancement of both [3H]arachidonic acid release and exocytosis. The findings demonstrate that [3H]arachidonic acid release is stimulated during catecholamine secretion from digitonin-treated chromaffin cells and they are consistent with a role for phospholipase A2 in exocytosis from chromaffin cells. Furthermore the data suggest that protein kinase C can modulate both arachidonic acid release and exocytosis.     

Control of exocytosis from adrenal chromaffin cells

1. Calcium-dependent exocytosis of catecholamines from intact and digitonin-permeabilized bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was investigated. 2. 45Ca2+ uptake and secretion induced by nicotinic stimulation or depolarization in intact cells were closely correlated. The results provide strong support for Ca2+ entry being the trigger for exocytosis. 3. Experiments in which the H+ electrochemical gradient across the intracellular secretory granule (chromaffin granule) membrane was altered indicated that the gradient does not play an important role in exocytosis. 4. Ca2+ entry into the cells is associated with activation of phospholiphase C and a rapid translocation of protein kinase C to membranes. 5. The plasma membrane of chromaffin cells was rendered permeable to Ca2+, ATP, and proteins by the detergent digitonin without disruption of the intracellular secretory granules. In this system in which the intracellular milieu can be controlled, micromolar Ca2+ directly stimulated catecholamine secretion. 6. Treatment of the cells with phorbol esters and diglyceride, which activate protein kinase C, enhanced phosphorylation and subsequent Ca2+-dependent secretion in digitonin-treated cells. 7. Phorbol ester-induced secretion could be specifically inhibited by trypsin. The experiments indicate that protein kinase C modulates but is not necessary for Ca2+-dependent secretion.     

Stimulation of insulin release by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in the clonal cell line RINm5F despite a lowering of the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration

The effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on the handling of Ca2+ and insulin release were investigated in the clonal insulin-producing cell line RINm5F. The presence of the phorbol ester lowered the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ and suppressed the increase obtained by depolarization with high concentrations of K+. Despite the lowering in cytoplasmic Ca2+ by TPA, there was a concomitant stimulation of insulin release indicating that one feature of protein kinase C activation is to make the secretory system more sensitive to Ca2+. Furthermore, there was no interaction of TPA with the mechanisms responsible for inositol 1,4,5-tris(phosphate) induced Ca2+ release or Ca2+ uptake in permeabilized cells. Although TPA slightly depolarized the RINm5F cells there was no interference with K+-induced depolarization. It is suggested that an additional effect of protein kinase C activation in these cells, is to stimulate the extrusion of Ca2+ over the plasma membrane.     

The phorbol ester TPA enhances A23187--but not carbachol- and high K+-induced catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The effect of the phorbol ester TPA on catecholamine secretion was studied in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The pretreatment of chromaffin cells with TPA caused the enhancement of catecholamine secretion induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187. By contrast, neither carbachol- nor high K+-induced secretion was changed by TPA pretreatment. These results support the concept that protein kinase C plays an important role as a factor transducing the Ca2+ signal to the exocytotic process of catecholamine secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.     

Differential effects of protein kinase C activators on carbamylcholine- and high K+-induced rises in intracellular free calcium concentration in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells

Pretreatment of adrenal chromaffin cells with protein kinase C activators, i.e. 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and 1-oleoyl 2-acetyl glycerol (OAG), partially inhibited carbamylcholine (CCh)-induced rise in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The apparent IC50 values of TPA and OAG were 3 nM and 25 microM, respectively. The effect of TPA on the CCh-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was overcome by pretreatment of the cells with a protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinidinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine hydrochloride (H-7). In contrast, KCl-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was not affected by pretreating the cells with TPA or OAG. An inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate failed to affect the CCh-induced rise in [Ca2+]i. CCh-induced 45Ca2+ uptake was also partially inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with TPA or OAG, but KCl-induced 45Ca2+ uptake was not affected by these pretreatments. These results indicate that protein kinase C activation causes an uncoupling of signal transduction between the nicotinic receptors and Ca2+ channels.     

Synergistic actions of Ca2+ and the phorbol ester TPA on K+-induced catecholamine release from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Enhancement of Ca2+-dependent high K+-evoked catecholamine secretion was observed after pretreatment of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells with the phorbol ester 4B-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) in the absence of added extracellular Ca2+. This effect of TPA was not reproduced when the secretagogues acetylcholine, nicotine, or veratrine were substituted for high K+. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the role of protein kinase C in stimulus-secretion coupling in the chromaffin cell.     

Catecholamine secretion from digitonin-treated PC12 cells. Effects of Ca2+, ATP, and protein kinase C activators

PC12 cells, a cloned rat pheochromocytoma cell line, were treated with digitonin to render the plasma membrane permeable to ions and proteins. At a cell density of 2-6 X 10(5) cells/cm2, incubation with 7.5 microM digitonin permitted a Ca2+-dependent release of 25-40% of the catecholamine within 18 min in the presence of 10 microM Ca2+. Half-maximal secretion occurred at 0.5-1 microM Ca2+. PC12 cultures at lower cell densities were more sensitive to digitonin and gave more variable results. Secretion in the presence of digitonin and Ca2+ began after a 2-min lag and continued for up to 30 min. When cells were treated for 3 min in digitonin and then stimulated with Ca2+ in the absence of digitonin, secretion occurred in the same manner but without the initial lag. Optimal secretion from PC12 cells was also dependent upon the presence of Mg2+ and ATP. Permeabilized PC12 cells exhibited a slow time-dependent loss of secretory responsiveness which was correlated with the release of a cytosolic marker, lactate dehydrogenase (134 kDa). This suggests that digitonin permeabilization allows soluble constituents necessary for secretion to leave the cell in addition to allowing Ca2+ and ATP access into the cell interior. Ca2+-dependent secretion was completely inhibited by exposure of digitonin-permeabilized cells to 100 micrograms/ml trypsin (27 kDa), whereas secretion was only slightly inhibited by trypsin exposure prior to digitonin treatment. Thus, an intracellular, trypsin-sensitive protein is probably involved in secretion. The data also indicate that the same population of digitonin-treated cells which responded to Ca2+ was permeable to a 27-kDa protein. 1,2-Dioctanoylglycerol and phorbol esters which activate protein kinase C enhanced the Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent secretion in digitonin-permeabilized PC12 cells. Thus, protein kinase C appears to be involved in the regulation of catecholamine secretion from permeabilized PC12 cells.     

Dual actions of phorbol esters on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations and reconstitution with ionomycin of acute thyrotropin-releasing hormone responses

We have used phorbol esters, such as 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), to study the actions of protein kinase C (a TPA receptor) on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations [( Ca2+]i) and hormone secretion in rat pituitary cells (GH cells), and to elucidate the role of diacylglycerol (a protein kinase C activator) in thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) action. TPA had a dual action on [Ca2+]i, inducing a stimulatory phase from 300 (basal) to 420 nM, which was interrupted in 30-60 s by an inhibitory phase which transiently lowered [Ca2+]i to 240 nM and rose in 3-10 min to yield the stimulatory phase. TPA-mediated changes in [Ca2+]i were induced by other phorbol esters and mezerein but not by phorbol or activators of kinases different from protein kinase C. Both phases of TPA action on [Ca2+]i were abolished by 5-min pretreatment with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) (1.33 mM) or Ca2+ channel antagonists (verapamil or nifedipine). TPA also enhanced the rate of sustained hormone secretion without inducing a burst of hormone release (unlike TRH). Also, stimulation of secretion by TPA was not inhibited by Ca2+ channel antagonists and was resistant (10%) to EGTA. Simultaneous addition of TPA with the ionophore ionomycin (100 nM) reconstituted a TRH-like spike, nadir and plateau of [Ca2+]i. Ionomycin generated the spike in [Ca2+]i by releasing TRH-sensitive Ca2+ stores, while TPA induced the nadir (inhibitory phase), and a nifedipine/verapamil-sensitive plateau of [Ca2+]i (stimulatory phase). Concurrent (but not separate) addition of ionomycin and TPA also reconstituted a TRH-like burst of hormone secretion. These and previous results indicate that activation of protein kinase C by TPA or diacylglycerol (which is elevated by TRH) and a simultaneous spike in [Ca2+]i are required for burst secretion. Diacylglycerol may also mediate the TRH-induced nadir and plateau of [Ca2+]i; the latter process contributes to Ca2+-dependent stimulation of steady secretion by TRH.     

Factors influencing chelator-stable, detergent-extractable, phorbol diester-induced membrane association of protein kinase C. Differences between Ca2+-induced and phorbol ester-stabilized membrane bindings of protein kinase C

One of the early events associated with the treatment of cells by tumor promotor phorbol esters is the tight association of protein kinase C to the plasma membrane. To better understand the factors that regulate this process, phorbol ester-induced membrane binding of protein kinase C was studied using homogenates, as well as isolated membranes and purified enzyme. Addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) to the homogenates of parietal yolk sac cells and NIH 3T3 cells in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in plasma membrane binding of protein kinase C which subsequently remained bound to the membrane independent of Ca2+. Although protein kinase C was activated by TPA in the absence of Ca2+ and by diolein in the presence of Ca2+, both these agents when added to homogenates under these respective conditions had no effect on membrane association of protein kinase C. However, under these conditions relatively weak binding of protein kinase C was found if purified protein kinase C was used with isolated membranes. Binding studies using purified protein kinase C and washed membranes showed that the binding of the TPA-kinase complex to membranes required phospholipids and reached saturation at 0.1 unit (24 ng of protein kinase C)/mg of parietal yolk sac cell membrane protein. Phorbol ester treatment of cells in media with and without Ca2+ showed that the TPA-induced increase in membrane-associated protein kinase C was regulated by Ca2+ levels even in intact cells. TPA-stabilized membrane binding of protein kinase C differs in several aspects from the previously reported Ca2+-induced reversible binding. TPA-stabilized binding of protein kinase C to isolated membranes is temperature dependent, relatively high in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction, saturable at physiological levels of protein kinase C, requires the presence of both membrane protein(s) and phospholipids, and further requires the addition of phospholipid micelles. In contrast, Ca2+-induced reversible binding is more rapid, not appreciably influenced by temperature, not selective for a particular subcellular fraction, not saturable with physiological amounts of protein kinase C, exhibits trypsin-insensitive membrane binding sites, and requires membrane phospholipids but not added phospholipid micelles.     

Opposing effects of calcium entry and phorbol esters on fusion of chick muscle cells

Studies utilizing cultured muscle cells have shown that myoblast fusion requires extracellular Ca2+ and involves transient coordinated changes in cell membrane topography and cytoskeletal organization. However, neither the mechanisms by which Ca2+ influences these changes nor its cellular sites of action are known. We have investigated the effects of Ca2+ channel modulators and phorbol esters on fusion of embryonic chick myoblasts in culture. Myoblast fusion was inhibited by the Ca2+ channel blockers D600 and nitrendipine and stimulated by the Ca2+ channel activator Bay K 8644. We have obtained evidence that the tumor promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibits fusion through activation of protein kinase C. Myoblasts prevented from fusing by Ca2+ channel blockers or TPA display a distinctive elongated morphology that is characteristic of cells prevented from fusion by Ca2+ deprivation. The inhibition of fusion by D600 and TPA is significantly diminished in the presence of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. TPA arrest of myoblast fusion was found to be accompanied by an increase in phosphorylation of the 20-kDa light chain of cytoplasmic myosin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The effects of TPA on myoblast fusion and phosphorylation of myosin light chain were mimicked by the cell permeant diacylglycerol sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, a potent activator of protein kinase C. The present results suggest that activators of protein kinase C block fusion by interfering with a Ca2+ signal transduction pathway and that this interference may be associated with a protein kinase C catalyzed inhibitory phosphorylation of myosin light chain.     

Protein kinase C-mediated negative-feedback inhibition of unstimulated and bombesin-stimulated polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in Swiss-mouse 3T3 cells.

Bombesin-related peptides stimulate a rapid increase in polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in Swiss-mouse 3T3 cells. These peptides generate an increase in the efflux of 45Ca2+ from pre-labelled cells, a response consistent with an inositol trisphosphate-mediated mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. The bombesin-stimulated release of cellular 45Ca2+ is inhibited by tumour-promoting phorbol esters (e.g. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, TPA). Although there are several possible sites of action at which this effect might occur, our results indicate that TPA induces an uncoupling of bombesin-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) without decreasing cellular binding of bombesin. In cultured cells, protein kinase C can be down-modulated by a prolonged incubation of the cells with phorbol esters. Such pretreatment greatly decreased the inhibitory effect of TPA on bombesin-stimulated PIP2 hydrolysis, suggesting that this action of the phorbol ester is mediated via protein kinase C. Since diacylglycerol is an endogenous activator of protein kinase C and a direct product of PIP2 hydrolysis, these results suggest that protein kinase C inhibition of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis may function as a negative-feedback pathway. Cells in which protein kinase C has been down-modulated show elevated basal and bombesin-stimulated production of inositol phosphates, providing evidence that such a feedback loop limits polyphosphoinositide turnover in both unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated cells.     

Protein kinase C-activated calcium channel in the osteoblast-like clonal osteosarcoma cell line UMR-106

The effects of protein kinase C stimulation on free cytosolic Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) were studied in Fura 2-loaded UMR-106 cells. Stimulation of the protein kinase C with the tumor-promoting phorbol esters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and phorbol 12,13-diacetate or 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol was followed by an increase in [Ca2+]i. The protein kinase C-induced increase in [Ca2+]i has a lag period, the duration of which was dependent on the stimulant and medium Ca2+ concentrations. With 2 microM TPA, the rise in [Ca2+]i peaked within 1.5 min, after which [Ca2+]i returned partially toward base line. The increase in [Ca2+]i was absolutely dependent on the presence of medium Ca2+ and was inhibited by the Ca2+ channel blockers nicardipine and verapamil. Cell stimulation also results in Ca2+ release from intracellular pool(s) which appears to be mediated by a Ca2+-dependent Ca2+ release mechanism. The reduction in [Ca2+]i was due to channel inactivation. Pretreatment of the cells with 1 nM TPA, 2 units/ml parathyroid hormone (PTH), or 15 microM forskolin blocked the effect of 2 microM TPA on [Ca2+]i. TPA and PTH were more potent inhibitors than was forskolin. The properties of this channel are compared to the cAMP-independent PTH-stimulated Ca2+ channel present in these cells.     

Ca2+-stimulated catecholamine release from alpha-toxin-permeabilized PC12 cells: biochemical evidence for exocytosis and its modulation by protein kinase C and G proteins

Two possible cellular pathways of catecholamines from the chromaffin vesicles of PC12 cells to the surrounding medium are explored in this study. The direct one circumventing the cytoplasm can be activated in alpha-toxin-permeabilized cells with micromolar levels of free Ca2+. Catecholamine metabolites formed in the cytoplasm (i.e., 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol) are neither formed nor released from the cells under these conditions. However, when vesicular catecholamines were discharged into the cytoplasm by addition of the ionophore nigericin, such metabolites are formed and released into the medium independent of Ca2+. Both types of experiments provide direct evidence for the operation of Ca2+-induced exocytosis of dopamine and noradrenaline in permeabilized PC12 cells. The Ca2+ dependence of dopamine or noradrenaline release, as measured by the determination of the endogenous catecholamines using the high-performance liquid chromatography technique, exhibits two different phases. One is already activated below 1 microM free Ca2+ and plateaus at 1-5 microM free Ca2+, while a second occurs in the presence of larger amounts of free Ca2+ (10-100 microM). Ca2+-induced catecholamine release from the permeabilized cells can be modulated in different ways: It is enhanced by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and the diacylglycerol 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol provided Mg2+/ATP is present, and it is inhibited by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate). The latter effect is abolished by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin but not by cholera toxin. Thus, it appears that Ca2+-induced exocytosis can be modulated via the protein kinase C system, as well as via GTP binding proteins.