Rapid accumulation of inositol trisphosphate reveals that agonists hydrolyse polyphosphoinositides instead of phosphatidylinositol.

The agonist-dependent hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids was investigated by studying the breakdown of prelabelled lipid or by measuring the accumulation of inositol phosphates. Stimulation of insect salivary glands with 5-hydroxytryptamine for 6 min provoked a rapid disappearance of [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] and [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) but had no effect on the level of [3H]phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns). The breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 was associated with a very rapid release of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], which reached a peak 5 1/2 times that of the resting level after 5 s of stimulation. This high level was not maintained but declined to a lower level, perhaps reflecting the disappearance of PtdIns(4,5)P2. 5-Hydroxytryptamine also induced a rapid and massive accumulation of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2]. The fact that these increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,4)P2 precede in time any increase in the level of inositol 1-phosphate or inositol provides a clear indication that the primary action of 5-hydroxytryptamine is to stimulate the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 to yield diacylglycerol and Ins(1,4,5)P3. The latter is then hydrolysed by a series of phosphomonoesterases to produce Ins(1,4)P2, Ins1P and finally inositol. The very rapid agonist-dependent increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,4)P2 suggests that they could function as second messengers, perhaps to control the release of calcium from internal pools. The PtdIns(4,5)P2 that is used by the receptor mechanism represents a small hormone-sensitive pool that must be constantly replenished by phosphorylation of PtdIns. Small changes in the size of this small energy-dependent pool of polyphosphoinositide will alter the effectiveness of the receptor mechanism and could account for phenomena such as desensitization and super-sensitivity.     

Proliferating or differentiating stimuli act on different lipid-dependent signaling pathways in nuclei of human leukemia cells

Previous results have shown that the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cell line responds to either proliferating or differentiating stimuli. When these cells are induced to proliferate, protein kinase C (PKC)-beta II migrates toward the nucleus, whereas when they are exposed to differentiating agents, there is a nuclear translocation of the alpha isoform of PKC. As a step toward the elucidation of the early intranuclear events that regulate the proliferation or the differentiation process, we show that in the HL-60 cells, a proliferating stimulus (i.e., insulin-like growth factor-I [IGF-I]) increased nuclear diacylglycerol (DAG) production derived from phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate, as indicated by the inhibition exerted by 1-O-octadeyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and U-73122 (1-[6((17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione), which are pharmacological inhibitors of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. In contrast, when HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate along the granulocytic lineage by dimethyl sulfoxide, we observed a rise in the nuclear DAG mass, which was sensitive to either neomycin or propranolol, two compounds with inhibitory effect on phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated DAG generation. In nuclei of dimethyl sulfoxide-treated HL-60 cells, we observed a rise in the amount of a 90-kDa PLD, distinct from PLD1 or PLD2. When a phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate-derived DAG pool was generated in the nucleus, a selective translocation of PKC-beta II occurred. On the other hand, nuclear DAG derived through PLD, recruited PKC-alpha to the nucleus. Both of these PKC isoforms were phosphorylated on serine residues. These results provide support for the proposal that in the HL-60 cell nucleus there are two independently regulated sources of DAG, both of which are capable of acting as the driving force that attracts to this organelle distinct, DAG-dependent PKC isozymes. Our results assume a particular significance in light of the proposed use of pharmacological inhibitors of PKC-dependent biochemical pathways for the therapy of cancer disease.     

Manganese Stimulates the Incorporation of [3H]Inositol into a Pool of Phosphatidylinositol in Brain That Is Not Coupled to Agonist-Induced Hydrolysis

Mn2+ greatly increases the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into phosphatidylinositol (PI) of brain and other tissues by stimulating the activity of a PI-myo-inositol exchange enzyme. This study examined the ability of norepinephrine (NE) and carbachol to stimulate the hydrolysis of [3H]PI formed in the absence and presence of Mn2+-stimulated [3H]inositol exchange. Rat cerebral cortical slices were incubated with myo-[3H]inositol for 60 min in an N-2-hydroxyethyl piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer without or with MnCl2 (1 mM). The tissue was washed and further incubated with unlabeled myo-inositol and LiCl (10 mM). Prelabeled slices were then incubated with NE (0.1 mM) or carbachol (1 mM) to induce agonist-stimulated [3H]PI hydrolysis. Mn2+ treatment resulted in eight- and sixfold increases in control levels of [3H]PI and [3H]inositol monophosphate [( 3H]IP), respectively. Both NE and carbachol stimulated [3H]IP formation in tissue prelabeled without or with manganese. However, the degree of stimulation (percentage of control values) was greatly attenuated in the presence of Mn2+. In the absence of Mn2+ treatment, NE decreased [3H]PI radioactivity in the tissue to 80% of control values. However, NE did not decrease [3H]PI radioactivity in the Mn2+-treated tissue. These data demonstrate that Mn2+ stimulates incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into a pool of PI in brain that has a rapid turnover but is not coupled to agonist-induced hydrolysis.     

Protein kinase C and T cell activation

Understanding the intracellular mechanisms by which binding of ligands, such as hormones and growth factors, to their specific receptors elicits the appropriate cellular response has long been a topic of great interest. Considerable excitement was generated when it was recognised that several receptor-ligand interactions operate via the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. This yields, at least, two 'second messengers', namely, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], which causes the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and 1,2-diacylglycerol (ac2Gro), which activates the serine/threonine-specific enzyme, protein kinase C(PKC), reviewed in [1] and [2]. The pertinent question that follows is, how do PKC activation and elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration evoke cell responses? In this review, attention has been focused on PKC, and the consequences of its activation in resting human T cells. Evidence that PKC activity is, at least partially, responsible for activation of resting human T cells will be examined, and some of the more recent research investigating how PKC activation elicits this cell response will be described.     

Analysis by base exchange of thyrotropin-releasing hormone responsive and unresponsive inositol lipid pools in rat pituitary tumor cells

We have shown that there is an inositol (Ins) lipid pool in cloned rat pituitary tumor (GH3) cells that is hydrolyzed in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and an unresponsive pool. Because others have suggested that incorporation of [3H]Ins by base exchange may not occur uniformly into Ins lipids in other cell types, we established conditions using permeabilized cells under which labeling occurs by Ins-phosphatidylinositol (PI) exchange in the absence of de novo PI synthesis to further characterize these pools in GH3 cells. In permeabilized cells incubated in buffer containing 10 mM Mg2+ and 0.1 mM CMP, [3H]Ins incorporation into lipids occurred by base exchange only. This was so because: 1) [3H]Ins incorporation into lipids displayed properties similar to that for release of 3H-labeled Ins by unlabeled Ins from PI in cells prelabeled in situ prior to permeabilization; and 2) there was no change in PI mass under these conditions. In permeabilized cells incubated in buffer with 0.1 mM [3H]Ins for 60 min, incorporation was 0.61 +/- 0.05 nmol of [3H]Ins/10(6) permeabilized cells, which amounted to 35% of PI, while the level of PI, measured as nonradioactive phosphorus, was 94 +/- 8.0% of control. Permeabilized GH3 cells were responsive to TRH. In cells prelabeled in situ and then permeabilized, TRH stimulated an increase in 3H-labeled Ins phosphates (IPs) in 20 min which was 10% of 3H radioactivity initially present in lipids. This increase in 3H-labeled IPs was 6.3 times the 3H radioactivity present in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate prior to stimulation. When prelabeled cells were exchanged with unlabeled Ins after permeabilization there was only a 10-16% decrease in 3H-labeled IP accumulation stimulated by TRH even though 3H-labeled lipids decreased to 52% of control. TRH did not affect labeling by [3H]Ins-PI exchange. In cells labeled by base exchange after permeabilization TRH stimulated a very small increase in 3H-labeled IPs of only 0.21 +/- 0.02% of 3H-labeled lipids in 20 min or only 7% of the 3H radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. These data show that in permeabilized GH3 cells base exchange can occur in the absence of de novo PI synthesis and that lipids that are preferentially labeled by base exchange comprise a pool that is less responsive to TRH than total Ins lipids.     

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

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

Regulation of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol second-messenger formation in thrombin-stimulated human platelets. Potentiation by protein kinase C inhibitors.

Stimulation of platelets with thrombin leads to rapid degradation of inositol phospholipids, generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and subsequent activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Previous studies indicated that prior activation of PKC with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) desensitizes platelets to thrombin stimulation, as indicated by a decreased production of inositol phosphates and decreased Ca2+ mobilization. This suggests that PKC activation generates negative-feedback signals, which limit the phosphoinositide response. To test this hypothesis further, we examined the effects of PKC activators and inhibitors on thrombin-stimulated DAG mass formation in platelets. Pretreatment with PMA abolishes thrombin-stimulated DAG formation (50% inhibition at 60 nM). Pretreatment of platelets with the PKC inhibitors K252a or staurosporine potentiates DAG production in response to thrombin (3-4-fold) when using concentrations required to inhibit platelet PKC (1-10 microM). K252a does not inhibit phosphorylation of endogenous DAG or phosphorylation of a cell-permeant DAG in unstimulated platelets, indicating that DAG over-production is not due to inhibition of DAG kinase. Sphingosine, a PKC inhibitor with a different mechanism of action, also potentiates DAG formation in response to thrombin. Several lines of evidence indicate that DAG formation under the conditions employed occurs predominantly by phosphoinositide (and not phosphatidylcholine) hydrolysis: (1) PMA alone does not elicit DAG formation, but inhibits agonist-stimulated DAG formation; (2) thrombin-stimulated DAG formation is inhibited by neomycin (1-10 mM) but not by the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor propranolol; and (3) no metabolism of radiolabelled phosphatidylcholine was observed upon stimulation by thrombin or PMA. These data provide strong support for a role of PKC in limiting the extent of platelet phosphoinositide hydrolysis.     

Differential effect on inositol-phospholipid hydrolysis, cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration, protein kinase C activity and protein phosphorylation of 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol growth-stimulated ascites tumor cells

This study shows that the membrane-permeable stereospecific 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), which is the analog of the natural 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG), can stimulate the growth of ascites tumor cells. OAG can fully replace high serum concentrations in the culture medium and stimulates DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Investigation of the protein kinase C (PKC) isolated from a Triton extract of a 100,000g membrane pellet revealed that OAG can directly activate this enzyme. Concomitantly the phosphorylation of several cytosolic proteins with the molecular weights of 26, 33, 49, 55, 64, and 90 kDa is observed which is also found in serum-stimulated cells. Since DAG as a second messenger molecule originates from the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides we have investigated the metabolism of these lipids after labeling the cells with [3H]inositol. In detail, we have measured the amount of radioactive inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and the phosphodiesterase hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The decreased radioactivity level of IP3 in OAG-stimulated cells as compared to non-growing cells (1-2% serum) indicates a feedback regulation of PIP2 hydrolysis which is substantiated by a profound reduction of PIP2-specific phospholipase C activity. The reduced IP3 formation has apparently no inhibitory effect on the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration of OAG-stimulated cells, suggesting that the Ca2+ release is not directly correlated to the amount of IP3, which is also demonstrated for the non-growing cells. These data indicate that OAG apparently has a duel effect on the inositol phospholipid-mediated signal transfer system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protein kinase C is differentially stimulated by Wnt and Frizzled homologs in a G-protein-dependent manner.

In studies of developmental signaling pathways stimulated by the Wnt proteins and their receptors, Xenopus Wnt-5A (Xwnt-5A) and a prospective Wnt receptor, rat Frizzled 2 (Rfz2), have been shown to stimulate inositol signaling and Ca2+ fluxes in zebrafish [1] [2] [3]. As protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms can respond to Ca2+ signals [4], we asked whether expression of different Wnt and Frizzled homologs modulates PKC. Expression of Rfz2 and Xwnt-5A resulted in translocation of PKC to the plasma membrane, whereas expression of rat Frizzled 1 (Rfz1), which activates a Wnt pathway using beta-catenin but not Ca2+ fluxes [5], did not. Rfz2 and Xwnt-5A were also able to stimulate PKC activity in an in vitro kinase assay. Agents that inhibit Rfz2-induced signaling through G-protein subunits blocked Rfz2-induced translocation of PKC. To determine if other Frizzled homologs differentially stimulate PKC, we tested mouse Frizzled (Mfz) homologs for their ability to induce PKC translocation relative to their ability to induce the expression of two target genes of beta-catenin, siamois and Xnr3. Mfz7 and Mfz8 stimulated siamois and Xnr3 expression but not PKC activation, whereas Mfz3, Mfz4 and Mfz6 reciprocally stimulated PKC activation but not expression of siamois or Xnr3. These results demonstrate that some but not all Wnt and Frizzled signals modulate PKC localization and stimulate PKC activity via a G-protein-dependent mechanism. In agreement with other studies [1] [2] [3]. [6] [7] these data support the existence of multiple Wnt and Frizzled signaling pathways in vertebrates.     

Characterization of an actin-myosin head interface in the 40-113 region of actin using specific antibodies as probes.

A method of membrane permeabilization of T lymphocytes with the bacterial cytotoxin streptolysin O has allowed the effect of guanine nucleotide analogues on phosphatidylinositol metabolism and protein kinase C (PKC) activation to be investigated. The data demonstrate that, in permeabilized cells, phosphorylation of the gamma subunit of the CD3 antigen can be induced in response to the PKC activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, the polyclonal mitogen phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and the stimulatory guanine nucleotide analogue guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]). Application of a pseudo-substrate inhibitor of PKC indicated that CD3gamma-chain phosphorylation induced in response to all three agonists was mediated by PKC. PHA and GTP[S] also stimulated inositol phospholipid turnover and inositol phosphate accumulation. The kinetics and concentration-dependence of PHA-induced inositol phospholipid hydrolysis correlated with PHA-induced CD3gamma phosphorylation, suggesting that PHA may regulate CD3gamma phosphorylation via diacylglycerol produced as a consequence of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. However, there was an inconsistency in that PHA induced greater (greater than 200%) levels of inositol phospholipid turnover than did GTP[S], but much weaker (less than 50%) levels of CD3-antigen phosphorylation. There was also a discrepancy between GTP[S] effects on phosphatidylinositol turnover and PKC activation, in that the half-maximal GTP[S] concentration for inositol phosphate production and CD3gamma-chain phosphorylation was 0.75 microM and 75 microM respectively. Moreover, 10 microM-GTP[S] induced maximal inositol phosphate production, but only 10% of maximal CD3gamma-chain phosphorylation. The data are consistent with the idea that other signal-transduction pathways, in addition to those involving inositol phosphate production, exist for the regulation of PKC in T lymphocytes.     

Insulin increases the synthesis of phospholipid and diacylglycerol and protein kinase C activity in rat hepatocytes

The effects of insulin on phospholipid metabolism and generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and on activation of protein kinase C in rat hepatocytes were compared to those of vasopressin and angiotension II. Insulin provoked increases in [3H]glycerol labeling of phosphatidic acid (PA), diacylglycerol (DAG), and other glycerolipids within 30 s of stimulation. Similar increases were also noted for vasopressin and angiotensin II. Corresponding rapid increases in DAG mass also occurred with all three hormones. As increases in [3H]DAG (and DAG mass) occurred within 30-60 s of the simultaneous addition of [3H]glycerol and hormone, it appeared that DAG was increased, at least partly, through the de novo synthesis of PA. That de novo synthesis of PA was increased is supported by the fact that [3H]glycerol labeling of total glycerolipids was increased by all three agents. Increases in [3H]glycerol labeling of lipids by insulin were not due to increased labeling of glycerol 3-phosphate, and were therefore probably due to activation of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. Unlike vasopressin, insulin did not increase the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. Insulin- and vasopressin-induced increases in DAG were accompanied by increases in cytosolic and membrane-associated protein kinase C activity. These findings suggest that insulin-induced increases in DAG may lead to increases in protein kinase C activity, and may explain some of the insulin-like effects of phorbol esters and vasopressin on hepatocyte metabolism.     

Uptake and phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol by rat liver nuclei. Role of phosphatidylinositol transfer protein

The incorporation of phosphatidyl[2-3H]inositol ([3H]PI) from vesicles or microsomal membranes into rat liver nuclei is greatly stimulated by phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PI-TP). The nuclei are able to phosphorylate [3H]PI, with the production of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP). Recovery of tritiated inositol trisphosphate, inositol phosphate, glycerophosphoinositol and inositol, suggests that in isolated nuclei a large set of enzymes of the PI cycle is present, similar to the enzymes involved in the plasma membrane PI cycle. Incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP shows that isolated nuclei are able to phosphorylate endogenous PI to PIP and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). In the presence of exogenous PI and detergent the synthesis of PIP is increased, indicating that in nuclei the PI pool is suboptimal for the PI-kinase activity. The present study suggests that PI-TP may be involved in providing substrates for PI metabolism at the nuclear level.     

Sphingomyelin synthases regulate production of diacylglycerol at the Golgi

SMS [SM (sphingomyelin) synthase] is a class of enzymes that produces SM by transferring a phosphocholine moiety on to ceramide. PC (phosphatidylcholine) is believed to be the phosphocholine donor of the reaction with consequent production of DAG (diacylglycerol), an important bioactive lipid. In the present study, by modulating SMS1 and SMS2 expression, the role of these enzymes on the elusive regulation of DAG was investigated. Because we found that modulation of SMS1 or SMS2 did not affect total levels of endogenous DAG in resting cells, whereas they produce DAG in vitro, the possibility that SMSs could modulate subcellular pools of DAG, once acute activation of the enzymes is triggered, was investigated. Stimulation of SM synthesis was induced by either treatment with short-chain ceramide analogues or by increasing endogenous ceramide at the plasma membrane, and a fluorescently labelled conventional C1 domain [from PKC (protein kinase C)] enhanced in its DAG binding activity was used to probe subcellular pools of DAG in the cell. With this approach, we found, using confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation, that modulation of SMS1 and, to a lesser extent, SMS2 affected the formation of DAG at the Golgi apparatus. Similarly, down-regulation of SMS1 and SMS2 reduced the localization of the DAG-binding protein PKD (protein kinase D) to the Golgi. These results provide direct evidence that both enzymes are capable of regulating the formation of DAG in cells, that this pool of DAG is biologically active, and for the first time directly implicate SMS1 and SMS2 as regulators of DAG-binding proteins in the Golgi apparatus.     

Insulin provokes co-ordinated increases in the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol phosphates and the phosphatidylinositol-glycan in BC3H-1 myocytes.

BC3H-1 myocytes were cultured in the presence of [3H]inositol or [3H]glucosamine during their entire growth cycle to ensure that all lipids containing inositol and glucosamine were labelled to isotopic equilibrium or maximal specific radioactivity. After such labelling, a lipid (or group of lipids), which was labelled with both inositol and glucosamine, was observed to migrate between phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol (PI) in two different t.l.c. systems. Insulin provoked rapid, sizeable, increases in the inositol-labelling of this lipid (presumably a PI-glycan), and these increases were similar to those observed in PI and PI phosphates. Our results indicate that insulin provokes co-ordinated increases in the net synthesis de novo of PI and its derivatives, PI phosphates and the PI-glycan, in BC3H-1 myocytes. This increase in synthesis of PI may serve as the mechanism for replenishing the PI-glycan during stimulation of its hydrolysis by insulin. Moreover, increases in the content of the PI-glycan may contribute to increases in the generation of head-group 'mediators' during insulin action.     

The de novo phospholipid effect of insulin is associated with increases in diacylglycerol, but not inositol phosphates or cytosolic Ca2+.

We have previously reported that insulin increases the synthesis de novo of phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and diacylglycerol (DAG) in BC3H-1 myocytes and/or rat adipose tissue. Here we have further characterized these effects of insulin and examined whether there are concomitant changes in inositol phosphate generation and Ca2+ mobilization. We found that insulin provoked very rapid increases in PI content (20% within 15 s in myocytes) and, after a slight lag, PIP and PIP2 content in both BC3H-1 myocytes and rat fat pads (measured by increases in 32P or 3H content after prelabelling phospholipids to constant specific radioactivity by prior incubation with 32Pi or [3H]inositol). Insulin also increased 32Pi incorporation into these phospholipids when 32Pi was added either simultaneously with insulin or 1 h after insulin. Thus, the insulin-induced increase in phospholipid content appeared to be due to an increase in phospholipid synthesis, which was maintained for at least 2 h. Insulin increased DAG content in BC3H-1 myocytes and adipose tissue, but failed to increase the levels of inositol monophosphate (IP), inositol bisphosphate (IP2) or inositol trisphosphate (IP3). The failure to observe an increase in IP3 (a postulated 'second messenger' which mobilizes intracellular Ca2+) was paralleled by a failure to observe an insulin-induced increase in the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ in BC3H-1 myocytes as measured by Quin 2 fluorescence. Like insulin, the phorbol diester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) increased the transport of 2-deoxyglucose and aminoisobutyric acid in BC3H-1 myocytes. These effects of insulin and TPA appeared to be independent of extracellular Ca2+. We conclude that the phospholipid synthesis de novo effect of insulin is provoked very rapidly, and is attended by increases in DAG but not IP3 or Ca2+ mobilization. The insulin-induced increase in DAG does not appear to be a consequence of phospholipase C acting upon the expanded PI + PIP + PIP2 pool, but may be derived directly from PA. Our findings suggest the possibility that DAG (through protein kinase C activation) may function as an important intracellular 'messenger' for controlling metabolic processes during insulin action.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor occupancy determines the fraction of the responsive pool of inositol lipids hydrolysed in rat pituitary tumour cells.

We report that there are distinct thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-responsive and -unresponsive pools of inositol (Ins) lipids in rat pituitary tumour (GH3) cells, and present evidence that the size of the responsive pool is determined by the number of activated TRH-receptor complexes. By use of an experimental protocol in which cycling of [3H]Ins is inhibited and resynthesis occurs with unlabelled Ins only, we were able to measure specifically the effects of TRH on the hydrolysis of the Ins lipids present before stimulation. A maximally effective dose of TRH (1 microM) caused a time-dependent decrease in 3H-labelled Ins lipids that attained a steady-state value of 42 +/- 1% of the initial level between 1.5 and 2 h. After 2 h, even though there was no further decrease in 3H-labelled Ins lipids, and no increase in [3H]Ins or [3H]Ins phosphates, turnover of Ins lipids, as assessed as incorporation of [32P]Pi into PtdIns, continued at a rate similar to that in cells incubated without LiCl or unlabelled Ins. These data indicate that Ins lipid turnover was not desensitized during prolonged TRH stimulation. Depletion of lipid 3H radioactivity by TRH occurred at higher TRH doses on addition of the competitive antagonist chlordiazepoxide. Addition of 1 microM-TRH after 3 h of stimulation by a sub-maximal (0.3 nM) TRH dose caused a further decrease in 3H radioactivity to the minimum level (40% of initial value). We propose that the TRH-responsive pool of Ins lipids in GH3 cells is composed of the complement of Ins lipids that are within functional proximity of activated TRH-receptor complexes.     

Platelet phosphoinositide turnover in streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Increased platelet aggregation and secretion in response to various agonists has been described in both diabetic humans and animals. Alterations in the platelet membrane fatty acid composition of phospholipids and changes in the prostacyclin and thromboxane formation could only partly explain the altered platelet function in diabetes. In the present study, we have examined the role of phosphoinositide turnover in the diabetic platelet function. We report alterations in 2-[³H] myo-inositol uptake, phosphoinositide turnover, inositol phosphate and diacylglycerol (DAG) formation, phosphoinositide mass, and phospholipase C activity in platelets obtained from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. There was a significant increase in the 2-[³H) myo-inositol uptake in washed platelets from diabetic rats. Basal incorporation of 2-[³H] myo-inositol into phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) or phosphatidylinositol (PI) in platelets obtained from diabetic rats was, however, not affected. Thrombin stimulation of platelets from diabetic rats induced an increase in the hydrolysis of [³²P]PIP₂ but indicated no change in the hydrolysis of [³²P]PIP and [³²P]PI as compared to their basal levels. Thrombin-induced formation of [³H]inositol phosphates was significantly increased in both diabetic as well as in control platelets as compared to their basal levels. This formation of [³H]inositol phosphates in diabetic platelets was greater than controls at all time intervals studied. Similarly, there was an increase in the release of DAG after thrombin stimulation in the diabetic platelets. Based on these results, we conclude that there is an increase in the transport of myoinositol across the diabetic platelet membrane and this feature, along with alterations in the hydrolysis of PIP₂, inositol phosphates and DAG in the diabetic platelets, may play a role in increased phosphoinositide turnover which could explain the altered platelet function in STZ-induced diabetes.     

Increased turnover of platelet phosphatidylinositol in schizophrenia.

The potential role of receptor-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis in a signal transduction mechanism has been increasingly recognized. Earlier studies have suggested a defect in alpha-adrenergic receptor function in the platelets of schizophrenic patients. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms for PI synthesis, breakdown, and regulation in schizophrenia. The present study was undertaken to investigate the metabolic turnover of inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates by incorporation of [3H]myoinositol or [32P]orthophosphate into resting and activated platelets of normal controls and schizophrenic patients with and without neuroleptic treatment. After 5 h incubation at 37 degrees C, the majority of [3H]myoinositol was incorporated into platelet PI. Following thrombin-induced platelet activation, there was rapid formation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates (IPs) with inositol monophosphate (IP1) being the most abundant product. The thrombin-induced formation of platelet IPs was found significantly higher in both haloperidol-stabilized and drug-free schizophrenics than in normal control subjects. When platelets were prelabeled with [32P]orthophosphates, thrombin-induced formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) was also significantly higher in haloperidol-stabilized schizophrenics than in normal controls. It is thought that thrombin-induced platelet activation is mediated through hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides (poly-PI). The present data thus may reflect an increased signal transduction in schizophrenia, which is mediated through neuroleptic-regulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis.     

Protein kinase C isoforms and lipid second messengers: a critical nuclear partnership?

A growing body of evidence, accumulated over the past 15 years, has highlighted that the protein kinase C family of isozymes is capable of translocating to the nucleus or is resident within the nucleus. The comprehension of protein kinase C isoform regulation within this organelle is under development. At present, it is emerging that lipid second messengers may play at least two roles in the control of nuclear protein kinase C: on one side they serve as chemical attractants, on the other they directly modulate the activity of specific isoforms. One of the best characterized lipid second messenger that could be involved in the regulation of nuclear PKC activity is DAG. The existence of two separate pools of nuclear DAG suggests that this lipid second messenger might be involved in distinct pathways that lead to different cell responses. Nuclear phosphatidylglycerol, D-3 phosphorylated inositol lipids and nuclear fatty acids are involved in a striking variety of critical biological functions which may act by specific PKC activation. The fine tuning of PKC regulation in cells subjected to proliferating or differentiating stimuli, might prove to be of great interest also for cancer therapy, given the fact that PKC-dependent signaling pathways are increasingly being seen as possible pharmacological target in some forms of neoplastic diseases. In this article, we review the current knowledge about lipid second messengers that are involved in regulating the translocation and/or the activity of different protein kinase C isoforms identified at the nuclear level.