In situ regulation of cell-cell communication by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C

The effects of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A and protein kinase C on cell-cell communication have been examined in primary ovarian granulosa cells microinjected with purified components of these two regulatory cascades. These cells possess connexin43 ( 1)-type gap junctions, and are well-coupled electrotonically and as judged by the cell-to-cell transfer of fluorescent dye. Within 2–3 min after injection of the protein kinase A inhibitor (PKI) communication was sharply reduced or ceased, but resumed in about 3 min with the injection of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit. A similar resumption also occurred in PKI-injected cells after exposure to follicle stimulating hormone. Microinjection of the protein kinase C inhibitor protein caused a transient cessation of communication that spontaneously returned within 15–20 min. Treatment of cells with activators of protein kinase C, TPA or OAG for 60 min caused a significant reduction in communication that could be restored within 2–5 min by the subsequent injection of either the protein kinase C inhibitor or the protein kinase A catalytic subunit. With a longer exposure to either protein kinase C activator communication could not be restored and this appeared to be related to the absence of aggregates of connexin43 in membrane as detected immunologically. In cells injected with alkaline phosphatase communication stopped but returned either spontaneously within 20 min or within 2–3 min of injecting the cell with either the protein kinase A catalytic subunit or with protein kinase C. When untreated cells were injected with protein kinase C communication diminished or ceased within 5 min. Collectively these results demonstrate that cell-cell communication is regulated by both protein kinase A and C, but in a complex interrelated manner, quite likely by multiple phosphorylation of proteins within or regulating connexin-43 containing gap junctions.Abbreviations C catalytic subunit of protein kinase A - CKI protein kinase C inhibitor protein - Cx connexin protein - dbcAMP N⁶,2-O-dibutyryladenosine 3:5-cyclic monophosphate - OAG 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol - protein kinase A cAMP-dependent protein kinase - protein kinase C Ca²⁺-sensitive phospholipid-dependent protein kinase - PKI protein kinase A inhibitor protein - R regulatory subunit of protein kinase A - TRA 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate - 8Br-cAMP 8-bromoadenosine 3:5 cyclic monophosphate     

Structural distinction between soluble and particulate protein kinase C species

A number of peripheral membrane proteins functioning as regulatory enzymes are distributed between soluble and particulate fractions upon homogenization and subcellular fractionation. One such enzyme, the Ca²⁺/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, was analyzed in order to examine this characteristic of differential localization. The soluble and particulate forms of this enzyme were purified to relative homogeneity, and their biochemical and biophysical properties were analyzed and compared. Based on biochemical activities, the particulate form required lower phospholipid concentrations for maximal activation than for the soluble species. The particulate species had a more hydrophobic structure as demonstrated by a hydrophobic fluorescence probe, and had almost 50% more -helical structures according to secondary structure estimation, determined from far ultra-violet-circular dichroism spectra (200–250 nm). Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, specific lipid spectra were detected associated with the soluble protein kinase C species. Further analyses with a fluorescent neutral membrane probe suggested that there was more lipid associated with the purified particulate form, which was of a less mobile nature than those associated with the soluble species. These structural differences provide an explanation for the preferential localization of the enzyme and may prove to be the basis for distribution of other membrane-active peripheral membrane regulatory enzymes.     

Membrane protein kinase C activity rapidly increases in quiescent tsRSV-infected NRK cells upon reactivation of the mitogenic v-src protein kinase

The viral src protein kinase, pp60^v-src, is a powerful intracellular mitogen which can initiate and maintain the proliferation of quiescent cells in the absence of any exogenous growth factors. In an attempt to understand how pp60^v-src induces proliferation, we examined the early events in the G₀ to G₁ transition caused by the activation of a thermolabile v-src protein in quiescent, serum-starved tsRSV-transformed NRK cells. The reactivation of pp60^v-src, in the presence of exogenous growth factors, triggered a rapid biphasic surge of membrane-associated protein kinase C (PKC) activity. Unlike TPA-stimulated PKC activity, the pp60^v-src-induced increase in PKC was readily extracted from membranes by EGTA. The down-regulation of PKC activity in these quiescent cells by prolonged exposure to TPA strongly inhibited the ability of the reactivated v-src protein to stimulate DNA replication in serum-deficient medium, suggesting that PKC plays a role in the initial signal by which the viral enzyme induces the G₀ to G₁ transition in NRK cells.     

Regulation of guanylate cyclase activity by atrial natriuretic factor and protein kinase C

Summary The putative second messenger of certain atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) signal transductions is cyclic GMP. Recently, we purified a 180-kDa protein, apparently containing both ANF receptor and guanylate cyclase activities, and hypothesized that this is one of the cyclic GMP transmembrane signal transducers. The enzyme is ubiquitous and appears to be conserved. Utilizing the 180-kDa membrane guanylate cyclase, we now show that the 180-kDa guanylate cyclase is regulated in opposing fashions by two receptor signals—ANF stimulating it and protein kinase C inhibiting it. Furthermore, protein kinase C phosphorylates the 180-kDa enzyme. This suggests a novel switch on and switch off mechanism of the cyclic GMP signal transduction. Switch off represents the phosphorylation while switch on the dephosphorylation of the enzyme.     

Rapid purification and properties of protein kinase C from bovine adrenal medulla

Protein kinase C was purified from bovine adrenal medulla using a rapid procedure which resulted in an approximate 1500-fold increase in specific activity. The characteristics of the enzyme are reported and for the first time it is possible to compare the effects of TPA on secretion from intact and permeabilized cells with the effect of TPA on protein kinase C purified from the same secretory tissue.     

Association of diacylglycerol kinase zeta with protein kinase C alpha: spatial regulation of diacylglycerol signaling

Activation of PKC depends on the availability of DAG, a signaling lipid that is tightly and dynamically regulated. DAG kinase (DGK) terminates DAG signaling by converting it to phosphatidic acid. Here, we demonstrate that DGKzeta inhibits PKCalpha activity and that DGK activity is required for this inhibition. We also show that DGKzeta directly interacts with PKCalpha in a signaling complex and that the binding site in DGKzeta is located within the catalytic domain. Because PKCalpha can phosphorylate the myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) motif of DGKzeta, we tested whether this modification could affect their interaction. Phosphorylation of this motif significantly attenuated coimmunoprecipitation of DGKzeta and PKCalpha and abolished their colocalization in cells, indicating that it negatively regulates binding. Expression of a phosphorylation-mimicking DGKzeta mutant that was unable to bind PKCalpha did not inhibit PKCalpha activity. Together, our results suggest that DGKzeta spatially regulates PKCalpha activity by attenuating local accumulation of signaling DAG. This regulation is impaired by PKCalpha-mediated DGKzeta phosphorylation.     

Differential regulation of GLAST immunoreactivity and activity by protein kinase C: evidence for modification of amino and carboxyl termini

Many neurotransmitter transporters, including the GLT-1 and EAAC1 subtypes of the glutamate transporter, are regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) and these effects are associated with changes in cell surface expression. In the present study, the effects of PKC activation on the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) subtype of glutamate transporter were examined in primary astrocyte cultures. Acute (30 min) exposure to the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased (approximately 20%) transport activity but had the opposite effect on both total and cell surface immunoreactivity. Chronic treatment (6 or 24 h) with PMA had no effect on transport activity but caused an even larger decrease in total and cell surface immunoreactivity. This loss of immunoreactivity was observed using antibodies directed against three different cytoplasmic epitopes, and was blocked by the PKC antagonist, bisindolylmaleimide II. We provide biochemical and pharmacological evidence that the activity observed after treatment with PMA is mediated by GLAST. Two different flag-tagged variants of the human homolog of GLAST were introduced into astrocytes using lentiviral vectors. Although treatment with PMA caused a loss of transporter immunoreactivity, flag immunoreactivity did not change in amount or size. Together, these studies suggest that activation of PKC acutely up-regulates GLAST activity, but also results in modification of several different intracellular epitopes so that they are no longer recognized by anti-GLAST antibodies. We found that exposure of primary cultures of neurons/astrocytes to transient hypoxia/glucose deprivation also caused a loss of GLAST immunoreactivity that was attenuated by the PKC antagonist, bisindolylmaleimide II, suggesting that some acute insults previously thought to cause a loss of GLAST protein may mimic the phenomenon observed in the present study.     

Specifying protein kinase C functions in melanoma

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine protein kinases is a heterogeneous group of enzymes receiving and integrating signals involved in both normal melanocyte biology and melanoma pathology. Alterations in PKC enzyme expression and activation contribute to the malignant phenotype of melanoma in both oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles. Delineating the diverse and often context-dependent functions of PKC enzymes in melanocyte/melanoma biology is key to capitalize on these kinases as drug targets. This review summarizes several of the diverse functions of PKC in melanocyte and melanoma biology with a focus on PKC enzyme regulation and function.     

A low molecular weight substance purified from human placenta inhibits cAMP-dependent protein kinase and activates protein kinase C

We have purified from human placenta a low molecular mass substance that inhibits cAMP-dependent protein kinase and activates protein kinase C. This protein kinase regulator was purified in three steps: (1) homogenizing placentas in chloroform/methanol and extracting the regulator into water; (2) eluting a strong anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column with a quaternary gradient; and (3) eluting a reversed-phase HPLC column with a binary gradient. The regulator was found to be highly purified by HPLC, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry with a molecular mass of 703 Daltons by the latter procedure. The physical and biochemical properties of this protein kinase regulator suggest that it is a phospholipid but it did not co-elute by HPLC or by TLC with any of the known phospholipid activators of protein kinase C.     

Further evidence for abnormal protein kinase C regulation of macromolecule secretion in fibroblasts from cystic fibrosis patients

In comparison to skin fibroblasts from normal subjects, those from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF): (1) bound [20-³H] phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) with a higher affinity (K_d=25.8 vs 12.8 nM respectively) but expressed a similar number of total phorbol ester binding sites (about 2.5 pmol PDBu bound/mg of protein); (2) exhibited a faster and higher response to 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for the stimulation of [³⁵S]-labelled glycoconjutate release, but were equally sensitive to the synergistic effect of A23187 on this process; and (3) secreted glycoconjugates with similar [³⁵S]-sulfate and [¹⁴C]-leucine to [¹⁴C]-glucosamine labelling ratios. Taken together, these results provide further evidence for abnormal protein kinase C (PKC) regulation of macromolecule secretion in CF disease.Abbreviations BSA Bovine serum albumin - DBcAMP Dibutyryl cyclic AMP - DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium - DMSO Dimethylsulfoxide - LDH Lactate dehydrogenase - PBS Phosphate-buffered saline - PDBu 4-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate - 4-PDD 4-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate - PMA 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate - TCA Trichloroacetic acid     

Phosphorylation of aortic plasma membranes by protein kinase C

A calcium-sensitive, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) and its three isozymes were purified from rat heart cytosolic fractions utilizing a rapid purification method. The purified protein kinase C enzyme showed a single polypeptide band of 80 KDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and was totally dependent on the presence of Ca²⁺ and phospholipid for activity. Diacylglycerol was also found to stimulate enzymatic activity. Autophosphorylation of the purified PKC showed an 80 KDa polypeptide. The identity of the purified protein was also verified with monoclonal antibodies specific for PKC. Further fractionation of the purified PKC on a hydroxylapatite column yielded three distinct peaks of enzyme activity, corresponding to type I, II and III based on similar chromatographic behaviour as the rat brain enzyme. All three forms were entirely Ca^2– and phosphatidylserine dependent. Type II was found to be the most abundant. Type I was found to be highly unstable. PKC activity studies demonstrate that types II and III isozymic forms are different with respect to their sensitivity to Ca²⁺.Abbreviations PKC Protein Kinase C - SDS Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - PAGE Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis - K_m Michaelis constant - NBT Nitro-Blue Tetrazolium - BCIP 5-Bromo-4-Chloro-3-Indolyl Phosphate     

Tumor promoters accentuate phosphorylation of PO: Evidence for the presence of protein kinase C in purified PNS myelin

The effects of carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and chloroform on phosphorylation of PO was examined. The results of the dose response curve revealed that carbon tetrachloride (0.67%), methylene chloride (2%) and chloroform (1%) induced phosphorylation of PO by approximately 4, 6, and 12-fold, respectively. PO was found to be phosphorylated on the serine residue, and the phosphorylation of the serine residue was markedly increased when PO was phosphorylated in the presence of these compounds. Since tumor promoters, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform, have been shown to activate protein kinase C in platelets it is postulated that the increased phosphorylation of PO may result from the activation of myelin associated protein kinase C. The presence of phospholipid sensitive Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in purified nerve myelin was demonstrated by increased phosphorylation of PO in the presence of Ca²⁺ and phosphatidylserine.     

Ligation of Fc receptor of macrophages stimulates protein kinase C and antileishmanial activity

Fc receptors are known to express on the surface of mature monocytes macrophages and lymphocytes. In this study a ligand e.g. liposomal IgG (human IgG coupled to PE-liposome via carbodimide reaction) was developed to ligate the Fc receptor of macrophages. When liposomal IgG was incubated with macrophages at 37°C for 5 min, it induced the macrophage activation which suppress the parasite burden approximatley to an extent of 60%, 50% and 45%, when macrophages were infected with UR6, AG83 and GE1 strains of L-donovani respectively. Superior efficacy of liposomal IgG were achieved compared to the treatment with free IgG and free liposomes. The activity of protein kinase C (PKC) has been found to be higher in the Fc receptor targeted macrophage membrane fraction, suggesting its translocation from the cytosol. Staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) has been found to protect the parasite inside the macrophage indicating the role of PKC in the signaling process. The liposomal IgG treatment has been found to induce the generation of significant amount of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide which helped to suppress the parasite burden. Further when liposomal IgG were incubated with IFN- primed, LPS activated macrophages, a significant amount of NO release was also noticed, indicating its role in parasite killing. The above results suggest that Fc receptor mediated activation by liposomal IgG may be used as an alternative approach to kill parasites intracellularly.     

The relationship between the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition temperature in membranes and protein kinase C activity

A number of substances affect the activity of protein kinase C. Among uncharged and zwitterionic compounds, those which activate protein kinase C also lower the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition temperature of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine while substances which inhibit protein kinase C raise this transition temperature. Using this criteria, we have identified 3-chloro-5-cholestene, 5-cholan-24-ol and eicosane as new protein kinase C activators and have shown that Z-Ser-Leu-NH₂, Z-Gly-Leu-NH₂, Z-Tyr-Leu-NH₂, cyclosporin A and cholestan-3, 5, 6-triol are protein kinase C inhibitors.     

Characterization of the protein kinase activity in beet root plasma membranes

Two protein kinase activities were found in plasma membrane-enriched preparations from red beet ( Beta vulgarix L.). The kinases in these preparations produced the phosphorylation of several membrane polypeptides. These kinases also phosphorylated histone III-S and casein. The activities of two different kinases could be distinguished: one was half-maximally stimulated by 1 μ M free Ca²⁺ phosphorylated histone III-S better than casein, showed half-maximal activity at an ATP concentration of 0.071 m M . had an optimum pH of 7, and was poorly inhibited by GTP, CTP or UTP. Another, much lower, kinase activity that phosphorylated casein was also observed; it was Ca²⁺ independent, showed half-maximal activity at ATP concentrations of 0.017 and 0.287 m M , exhibited a broad pH optimum about pH 7 and was inhibited by GTP, CTP, UTP or GDP to a greater extent than the calcium-stimulated activity. When plasma membrane proteins were solubilized with lysophosphatidyicholine and treated with [γ-³²P]ATP at several dilutions, a 125-kDa polypeptide was autophosphorylated in the absence of Ca²⁺, while 77-, 71- and 65-kDa polypeptides were autophosphorylated in its presence. Autophosphorylation in gels after electrophoresis showed a Ca²⁺-stimulated phosphoprotein band at 64 kDa.