Inhibition of protein kinase C-dependent cellular proliferation by interaction of endogenous ganglioside GM1 with the B subunit of cholera toxin

In quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, the B subunit of cholera toxin, a protein which binds specifically to ganglioside GM1 on the cell surface, stimulates DNA synthesis and potentiates the effects of several other growth factors such as insulin, epidermal growth factor, bombesin, and even unfractionated serum. In contrast to its synergistic effect with other known growth factors, the B subunit markedly inhibited DNA synthesis induced by the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The inhibitory effect of the B subunit was observed even in the presence of insulin, which greatly potentiates the mitogenic response to TPA or the B subunit. In contrast to the effect of the B subunit, calcium ionophores and cholera toxin stimulated DNA synthesis induced by TPA. The antagonism between the B subunit and TPA is not simply due to their abilities to modify their mutual binding sites or known effector systems. TPA did not block the early rise in cytosolic free calcium in response to the B subunit, and conversely, the B subunit did not modify the ability of TPA to activate protein kinase C. However, in protein kinase C-deficient cells, the antagonistic effect between TPA and the B subunit was abolished. In addition, there was no indication for the involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in the antagonism. Maximum inhibition was found when the B subunit was added 2 h after the addition of TPA. Significant inhibition was still evident when the time of addition of the B subunit was delayed until 6 h after the addition of TPA. This suggests that the cross-talk between signal transduction induced through endogenous gangliosides and protein kinase C is a late step in mitogenesis.     

Mastoparan, a novel mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cells, stimulates pertussis toxin-sensitive arachidonic acid release without inositol phosphate accumulation

Mastoparan, a basic tetradecapeptide isolated from wasp venom, is a novel mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cells. This peptide induced DNA synthesis in synergy with insulin in a concentration-dependent manner; half-maximum and maximum responses were achieved at 14 and 17 microM, respectively. Mastoparan also stimulated DNA synthesis in the presence of other growth promoting factors including bombesin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and platelet-derived growth factor. The synergistic mitogenic stimulation by mastoparan can be dissociated from activation of phospholipase C. Mastoparan did not stimulate phosphoinositide breakdown, Ca2+ mobilization or protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of a major cellular substrate or transmodulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. In contrast, mastoparan stimulated arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin E2 production, and enhanced cAMP accumulation in the presence of forskolin. These responses were inhibited by prior treatment with pertussis toxin. Hence, mastoparan stimulates arachidonic acid release via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in Swiss 3T3 cells. Arachidonic acid, like mastoparan, stimulated DNA synthesis in the presence of insulin. The ability of mastoparan to stimulate mitogenesis was reduced by pertussis toxin treatment. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that mastoparan stimulates reinitiation of DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells and indicate that this peptide may be a useful probe to elucidate signal transduction mechanisms in mitogenesis.     

Possible involvement of a GTP-binding protein, the substrate of islet-activating protein, in receptor-mediated signaling responsible for cell proliferation

Serum-induced DNA synthesis, as measured by increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation, in Swiss mouse 3T3 fibroblasts was markedly inhibited by exposure of the cells to islet-activating protein (IAP), pertussis toxin. The inhibition was well correlated with the toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation of a membrane GTP-binding protein with Mr = 41,000. The IAP-induced inhibition of cell growth was characterized by the following two features. First, the inhibition was selective to certain growth factors. DNA synthesis in 3T3 cells was supported by a combination of one of the competence factors and a progression factor such as insulin or epidermal growth factor. IAP was inhibitory when thrombin, fibroblast growth factor, prostaglandin F2 alpha, or phosphatidic acid was employed as a competence factor, but was not inhibitory when DNA synthesis was induced by combined addition of cholera toxin or phorbol ester with insulin. Second, IAP-induced inhibition was still observed when the toxin was added to cell culture 1-6 h later than the addition of the IAP-sensitive competence factors, which triggered rapid cellular responses such as adenylate cyclase inhibition, releases of inositol trisphosphate and arachidonic acid, and 45Ca influx within several minutes (Murayama, T., and Ui, M. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7226-7233; Murayama, T., and Ui, M. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 5522-5529). Thus, IAP substrate GTP-binding protein(s) appears to be involved in the duration of rapid signals or the occurrence of new slow signals which are responsible for growth factor-induced cell proliferation. The site of the involvement may be proximal to protein phosphorylation by phorbol ester-activated and cAMP-dependent kinases.     

Inhibition of bombesin-induced mitogenesis by pertussis toxin: dissociation from phospholipase C pathway

Prior incubation of quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 cells with pertussis toxin selectively inhibited the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by peptides of the bombesin family. While pertussis toxin blocked mitogenesis at an early stage in the action of the peptide, the toxin did not impair the rapid stimulation of polyphosphoinositide breakdown, Ca2+ mobilization or activation of protein kinase C promoted by bombesin. Thus, inhibition of bombesin-induced mitogenesis by pertussis toxin can be dissociated from inactivation of the phospholipase C signalling pathway.     

Pertussis toxin inhibits EGF-, phorbol ester- and insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis in BALB/c3T3 cells: evidence for post-receptor activation of Gi alpha

The contribution of the GTP-binding protein, Gi, to EGF, phorbol dibutyrate (PdBu)-, and insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis was examined in BALB/c3T3 cells. Pertussis toxin inhibited DNA synthesis by each agonist, particularly at suboptimal agonist concentrations, but the inhibition could be partially overcome with higher agonist concentrations and combinations of these agonists. This suggested that (1) some, but not all, of the mitogenic signals for all three agonists were transduced by Gi (2) Gi may be activated by post-receptor mechanisms involving protein kinase C. Gi alpha-specific antibodies and ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin using 32P-NAD each labelled a single protein band, representing one or more species of Gi alpha. Pertussis toxin treatment increased the synthesis of Gi alpha. These results are discussed in relation to possible direct effects of Gi alpha on nuclear control during division.     

Enhancement of differentiation of cultured adipogenic cells (TA1) by pertussis toxin.

Differentiation of adipocytes is controlled by a variety of hormones and growth factors. To investigate the possible role of GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) in the process of adipose conversion, we studied the effect of pertussis toxin on differentiation of the fibroblast/adipocyte cell line (TA1). Pertussis toxin potentiated dexamethasone- and indomethacin-induced adipocyte differentiation in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Addition of dibutyryl cAMP or forskolin inhibited adipose conversion, indicating that an abolishment of inhibitory control of adenylate cyclase is not responsible for the action of pertussis toxin. The B oligomer of the toxin did not mimic the effect of the holotoxin. Pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of 40,000 molecular mass protein of the membrane fraction was dose-dependently inhibited by the pretreatment of the cells with the toxin. These results indicate the possible involvement of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins in adipogenesis.     

Alpha-adrenergic inhibition of rat pancreatic beta-cell replication and insulin secretion is mediated through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein regulating islet cAMP content.

The rate of DNA synthesis, insulin secretion and cAMP content in isolated pancreatic islets were markedly inhibited by long-term exposure to the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine and the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol. Pertussis toxin or the stimulatory cAMP analog Sp-cAMPS increased DNA synthesis and insulin secretion in the absence of the adrenergic agents. Pertussis toxin blocked the inhibitory actions of these agents on DNA synthesis, insulin secretion and cAMP content, and a similar protection was imposed by Sp-cAMPS. Thus, long-term alpha-adrenergic stimulation interferes with signaling through pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein(s) and, by decreasing the islet cAMP content, inhibits beta-cell DNA synthesis and insulin secretion.     

Inhibition by pertussis toxin of guanyl nucleotides exchange on transducin in bovine rod cell membranes

The effect of pertussis toxin on GTP-binding protein of bovine rod cell outer segments (transducin) was studied. Pertussis toxin was shown to ADP ribosylate either alpha subunit of free transducin or transducin-GDP complex, whereas GTP and its analogue Gpp(NH)p strongly inhibit ADP ribosylation of transducin. Pertussis toxin inhibits rod outer segment membrane GTPase and GTPase of homogeneous transducin by 40% and 70-80%, respectively. Activation of rod cell cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by transducin is reduced after its preincubation with pertussis toxin. In transducin modified by pertussis toxin, 83% of GDP becomes tightly bound and cannot be exchanged with Gpp(NH)p. The stabilization of complex transducin-GDP after ADP ribosylation can explain the inhibitory effect of pertussis toxin on GTP hydrolysis by transducin, and on phosphodiesterase activation by guanyl nucleotides.     

Serotonin-induced deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells involves a novel, pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway

Serotonin-induced DNA synthesis in bovine aortic smooth muscle cells was totally abolished by pretreatment of cultures with 5 ng/ml pertussis toxin. The half maximally effective concentration of toxin was approximately 10 pg/ml. Pertussis toxin did not affect platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated DNA synthesis and actually enhanced the mitogenic effect of the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Pertussis toxin did not inhibit serotonin-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation or increases in intracellular calcium or cAMP concentrations under conditions sufficient to completely inhibit serotonin-induced (3H)thymidine incorporation. These results demonstrate that a novel, pertussis-sensitive pathway is required for serotonin-, but not platelet-derived growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells. The pertussis-sensitive step does not involve cAMP, phosphoinositide hydrolysis, mobilization of intracellular calcium, or phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase C activity.     

Pertussis Toxin-Catalyzed ADP-Ribosylation: Effects on the Coupling of Inhibitory Receptors to the Adenylate Cyclase System

Abstract

The adenylate cyclase system consists of stimulatory and inhibitory hormone and drug receptors coupled through different GTP-binding proteins to a catalytic unit, responsible for the synthesis of cAMP from ATP. Pertussis toxin blocks the effect of inhibitory agonists on the catalytic unit by enzymatically inactivating the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (G_i). Study of the inhibitory arm of the cyclase system has been facilitated by the dissection of the overall process of hormonal inhibition of cAMP formation into a series of reactions characteristic of the individual protein components of this complex system; pertussis toxin has proven to be a useful tool with which to study these individual reactions. Exposure of cells or membranes to pertussis toxin in the presence of NAD results in ADP-ribosylation of a 41,000 Da subunit of G_i. ADP-ribosylation of G_i has a number of effects on the overall and partial reactions of the cyclase system, including a loss of a) hormonal inhibition of cAMP formation, b) hormonal stimulation of GTPase and c) agonist-induced release of membrane-bound guanyl nucleotides. In addition, in toxin-treated membranes, the affinity of inhibitory receptors for agonist but not antagonist is decreased with no significant change in receptor number.     

Coupling of TGF-beta-induced mitogenesis to G-protein activation in AKR-2B cells

We have investigated the signal transduction mechanisms by which TGF-beta stimulates proliferation of AKR-2B murine fibroblasts. Enhanced incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into TGF-beta challenged cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by pertussis toxin. EGF stimulated DNA synthesis was unaffected. Parallel biochemical analysis of pertussis toxin-challenged cells revealed that TGF-beta-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis was associated with ADP-ribosylation of a 41 kDa membrane component and a concomitant decrease in TGF-beta stimulated GTPase activity. These data, along with the observation that Gpp(NH)p decreases the affinity of the TGF-beta receptor for its ligand, strongly suggest that a GTP-binding protein is involved in TGF-beta-induced mitogenesis in AKR-2B cells.     

Effect of pertussis toxin on water metabolism in the rat

Pertussis toxin administered to rats resulted in a polyuric state that was due to enhanced renal water excretion. Pertussis toxin also induced a defect in renal water conservation. These abnormalities in renal water excretion could not be attributed to polydipsia, impaired synthesis and/or release of arginine vasopressin or renal tubular dysfunction with solute diuresis. No evidence of pertussis toxin-induced renal tubular damage was present. These results indicate that pertussis toxin induces nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and this defect occurs at the level of the renal collecting tubule.     

Pertussis toxin as a probe of neutrophil activation

In reviewing our own and other work, it is clear that pertussis toxin treatment of neutrophils causes a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of granule enzyme secretion induced by formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe), C5a, leukotriene (LT) B4 and platelet-activating factor (PAF). Chemotaxis, O2- generation, aggregation, and arachidonic acid production induced by fMet-Leu-Phe are also inhibited by pertussis toxin. Granule enzyme release caused by A23187 or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is not inhibited. The inhibition of neutrophil function correlates closely with the NAD-ribosylation of a 41,000-dalton protein in the neutrophil plasma membrane, presumably the GTP-binding regulatory protein Ni. Pertussis toxin treatment prevents or obtunds the increased influx of Ca2+ induced by fMet-Leu-phe and LTB4, but not that caused by stimulation of neutrophils with PAF. Pertussis toxin prevents the receptor-induced breakdown of polyphosphoinositides in intact neutrophils and isolated membrane and prevents or decreases the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and 1,2-diacylglycerol. The hypothesis advanced by us and others is that pertussis toxin interacts with a GTP-binding regulatory protein identical or similar to Ni, which couples receptor-chemotactic factor interaction to phospholipase C activation. Inhibition of the activation prevents the production of IP3 and the resulting release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and of 1,2-diacylglycerol and thus, the activation of protein kinase C. The lack of these two mediators is the immediate cause of the depression of neutrophil activation resulting from pertussis toxin. Some of the limitations and uncertainties of our present knowledge with respect to this hypothesis are discussed.     

Pertussis toxin inhibits autophosphorylation and activation of the insulin receptor kinase.

Pertussis toxin is an ADP-ribosyltransferase which alters the function of some of the GTP-binding proteins and inhibits some actions of insulin. In vivo, pertussis toxin (2 micrograms/ml/2h) inhibited insulin-stimulated tyrosyl autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor by 50% in FaO cells, and nearly completely inhibited phosphorylation of the cellular insulin receptor substrate pp185. Similarly, insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation and kinase activity of the insulin receptor purified on wheat germ agglutinin-agarose from pertussis toxin-treated FaO cells was diminished 50%; however, treatment of cells with the catalytically inactive B-oligomer of the toxin had no effect on receptor tyrosine kinase activity in vitro. Pertussis toxin did not alter insulin binding or the cellular levels of ATP, cAMP, and cGMP. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of the insulin receptor from intact cells with anti-insulin receptor antibodies showed that pertussis toxin did not increase the phosphorylation of serine or threonine residues in the insulin receptor. These results suggest that pertussis toxin can modulate signal transduction of insulin at the level of the insulin receptor kinase.     

Lysophosphatidate-induced cell proliferation: identification and dissection of signaling pathways mediated by G proteins

Lysophosphatidate (LPA), the simplest natural phospholipid, is highly mitogenic for quiescent fibroblasts. LPA-induced cell proliferation is not dependent on other mitogens and is blocked by pertussis toxin. LPA initiates at least three separate signaling cascades: activation of a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein mediating phosphoinositide hydrolysis with subsequent Ca2+ mobilization and stimulation of protein kinase C; release of arachidonic acid in a GTP-dependent manner, but independent of prior phosphoinositide hydrolysis; and activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi protein mediating inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The peptide bradykinin mimics LPA in inducing the first two responses but fails to activate Gi and to stimulate DNA synthesis. Our data suggest that the mitogenic action of LPA occurs through Gi or a related pertussis toxin substrate and that the phosphoinositide hydrolysis-protein kinase C pathway is neither required nor sufficient, by itself, for mitogenesis. The results further suggest that LPA or LPA-like phospholipids may have a novel role in G protein-mediated signal transduction.     

Isolation of GTP-binding proteins from myeloid HL-60 cells. Identification of two pertussis toxin substrates

We have isolated the major GTP-binding proteins from myeloid HL-60 cell plasma membranes. Two pertussis toxin substrates with similar apparent molecular masses of 40 and 41 kDa, respectively, are contained in these preparations, with both proteins being ADP-ribosylated to a similar extent. Partial chymotryptic proteolysis of fractions containing the [32P]ADP-ribosylated 40-kDa GTP-binding protein alpha subunit demonstrated production of 32P-labeled peptides of 28 and 16 kDa which were not observed after partial proteolysis of fractions containing solely the 41-kDa protein. Similarly, mild acid hydrolysis produced an additional 28-kDa fragment only from fractions containing the 40-kDa protein. The results presented here indicate the presence of two distinct pertussis toxin substrates in myeloid cells. The 41-kDa pertussis toxin substrate is likely to represent the alpha subunit of the inhibitory GTP-binding regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase, whereas the 40-kDa substrate may represent the alpha subunit of the GTP-binding protein which is coupled to chemoattractant receptors. In addition to the pertussis toxin substrates, an additional major peak of guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate-binding activity closely corresponded to the appearance of a 23-kDa protein.     

Studies on the mechanisms of signalling and inhibition by pertussis toxin of fibroblast growth factor-stimulated mitogenesis in Balb/c 3T3 cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulates mitogenesis of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblast cells. This stimulation may be mediated by multiple signal pathways as it is accompanied by the formation of inositol phosphates, activation of PKC (protein kinase C) and a decrease in intracellular cAMP levels. The multiple positive and negative pathways implicated for FGF-induced mitogenesis may interact and each may contribute in varying degrees to the final cellular response. At least two types of G-proteins may be involved in the intracellular signalling pathways of FGF. Pertussis toxin blocks FGF and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) induced. PKC-mediated mitogenesis and also the associated fall in intracellular cAMP levels. However, pertussis toxin has no effect upon FGF-induced inositol phosphates formation. Thus, inhibition of mitogenesis by pertussis toxin may involve pertussis toxin sensitive G-proteins which may affect at least two separate putative signal pathways involving adenylate cyclase and protein kinase C. Pertussis toxin insensitive G-proteins may also be involved in coupling the FGF receptor to phosphoinositidase C.     

A GTP-binding protein in rat liver nuclei serving as the specific substrate of pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation.

The ADP-ribosyl moiety of NAD was transferred to a 40-kDa protein when rat liver nuclei were incubated with pertussis toxin. The 40-kDa substrate in the nuclei displayed unique properties as follows, some of which were apparently distinct from those observed with the toxin-substrate GTP-binding protein (Gi) in the liver plasma membranes. 1) The nuclear 40-kDa protein was recognized with antibodies reacting with the alpha-subunits (alpha i-1 and alpha i-2) of Gi, but not with anti-Go-alpha-subunit antibody. 2) The nuclear protein had a higher mobility than alpha-subunit of the plasma membrane-bound Gi upon electrophoresis with a urea/sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gel. 3) The nuclear protein was not extracted from the nuclei with 1% Triton X-100, whereas Gi was easily solubilized from the plasma membranes. 4) There was a beta gamma-subunit-like activity in the nuclei, which was assayed by an ability to support pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a purified alpha-subunit of Gi. Moreover, a 36-kDa protein in the nuclei was recognized with antibody raised against purified beta-subunits of Gi. 5) Pertussis toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation of the nuclear protein was selectively inhibited by the addition of a nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue, and its inhibitory action was competitively blocked by the simultaneous addition of GDP or its analogues, as had been observed with plasma membrane-bound Gi. It thus appeared that a novel form of alpha beta gamma-trimeric GTP-binding protein serving as the substrate of pertussis toxin was present in rat liver nuclei. In order to examine a possible role of the nuclear GTP-binding protein, rats were injected with carbon tetrachloride, a necrosis inducer of hepatocytes. There was a marked increase in the nuclear substrate activity from 3-6 days after the injection, without a significant change in the activity of Gi in the plasma membranes. The time course of the increase corresponded with a recovering stage from the hepatocyte necrosis. These results suggested that the nuclear GTP-binding protein found in the present study might be involved at some stages in the hepatocyte growth.     

Bombesin induction of c-fos and c-myc proto-oncogenes in Swiss 3T3 cells: significance for the mitogenic response

Bombesin is a potent mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cells and acts synergistically with insulin and other growth factors. We show here that addition of bombesin to quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells causes a striking increase in the levels of c-fos and c-myc mRNAs. Enhanced expression of c-fos (122 +/- 14-fold) occurred within minutes of peptide addition followed by increased expression of c-myc (82 +/- 16-fold). The concentrations of peptide required for half-maximal increase in the levels of c-fos and c-myc mRNAs were 1.0 and 0.9 nM, respectively. The peptide [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11] substance P which inhibits the binding of bombesin to its receptor and bombesin-stimulated DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells blocked the increase in c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels promoted by bombesin. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by long-term exposure to phorbol esters prevented c-fos and c-myc induction by bombesin. This and other results indicate that the induction of these proto-oncogenes by bombesin could be mediated by the coordinated effects of protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization. The marked synergistic effect between bombesin and insulin was used to assess whether the increase in the induction of c-fos and c-myc is an obligatory event in cell activation. In the presence of insulin, bombesin stimulated DNA synthesis at subnanomolar concentrations but had only a small effect on c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels. This apparent dissociation of mitogenesis from proto-oncogene induction was even more dramatic in 3T3 cells with down-regulated protein kinase C. In these cells bombesin stimulated DNA synthesis in the presence of insulin but failed to enhance c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels at comparable concentrations. Thus, the induction of c-fos and c-myc may be a necessary step in the mitogenic response initiated by ligands that act through activation of protein kinase C but the expression of these proto-oncogenes may not be an obligatory event in the stimulation of mitogenesis in 3T3 cells by mitogens that utilise other signalling pathways.     

Multiple signal transduction pathways lead to extracellular ATP-stimulated mitogenesis in mammalian cells: I. Involvement of protein kinase C-dependent and -independent pathways

We recently reported that extracellular ATP was mitogenic for Swiss 3T3, 3T6, and A431 cells (Huang et al.: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:7904-7908, 1989). Here we examined the possible involvement of activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway in the mechanism of action of extracellular ATP. A potent synergistic stimulation of DNA synthesis in quiescent cultures of 3T3 and 3T6 cells was observed when ATP was presented in combination with growth factors that activate PKC, such as bombesin, vasopressin, or tumor-promoting phorbol esters. This finding suggests that ATP and these mitogens do not act through a common mechanism. In contrast, ATP was unable to show synergism with phorbol esters in A431 cells. We discovered striking differences when we examined the kinetics of formation of diacylglycerol (DAG) stimulated by ATP among these cell lines. Thus, ATP stimulated a sustained biphasic increase of DAG in A431 cells, but only a rapid transient increase of DAG formation was observed in 3T3 and 3T6 cells. The breakdown of phosphatidylcholine was stimulated by ATP in A431 cells; however, a significantly reduced effect was displayed in 3T6 cells. Furthermore, we found that the diacylglycerol-kinase inhibitor, 1-monooleoylglycerol, greatly potentiated ATP-stimulated DNA synthesis in A431 cells. Finally, down-regulation of PKC by long-term exposure to phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) prevented stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by bombesin, vasopressin, or phorbol esters in 3T3 or 3T6 cells, while it had no such effect on ATP-stimulated mitogenesis in the presence of insulin or epidermal growth factor. On the other hand, PDBu-mediated down-regulation of PKC partially inhibited [3H [thymidine incorporation stimulated by ATP in A431 cells. Taken together, we conclude that a protein kinase C-dependent pathway is partially involved in ATP-stimulated DNA synthesis in A431 cells, but a protein kinase C-independent pathway exists in 3T3 and 3T6 cells. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited the sustained phase of DAG formation and the breakdown of phosphatidylcholine stimulated by ATP in A431 cells. This suggests involvement of a PTX-sensitive G protein.