The role of calcium ion as a mediator of the effects of angiotensin II, catecholamines, and vasopressin on the phosphorylation and activity of enzymes in isolated hepatocytes.

Angiotensin II, catecholamines, and vasopressin are thought to stimulate hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis via a cyclic AMP-independent mechanism that requires calcium ion. The present study explores the possibility that angiotensin II and vasopressin control the activity of regulatory enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism through Ca2+-dependent changes in their state of phosphorylation. Intact hepatocytes labeled with [32P]PO43- were stimulated with angiotensin II, glucagon, or vasopressin and 30 to 33 phosphorylated proteins resolved from the cytoplasmic fraction of the cell by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide slab gels. Treatment of the cells with angiotensin II or vasopressin increased the phosphorylation of 10 to 12 of these cytosolic proteins without causing measurable changes in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Glucagon stimulated the phosphorylation of the same set of 11 to 12 proteins through a marked increase in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity. The molecular weights of three of the protein bands whose phosphorylation was increased by these hormones correspond to the subunit molecular weights of phosphorylase (Mr = 93,000), glycogen synthase (Mr = 85,000), and pyruvate kinase (Mr = 61,000). Two of these phosphoprotein bands were positively identified as phosphorylase and pyruvate kinase by affinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation, respectively. Incubation of hepatocytes in a Ca2+-free medium completely abolished the effects of angiotensin II and vasopressin on protein phosphorylation but did not alter those of glucagon. Treatment of hepatocytes with angiotensin II, glucagon, or vasopressin stimulated phosphorylase activity by 250 to 260%, inhibited glycogen synthase activity by 50%, and inhibited pyruvate kinase activity by 30 to 35% (peptides) to 70% (glucagon). The effects of angiotensin II and vasopressin on the activity of all three enzymes were completely abolished if the cells were incubated in a Ca2+-free medium while those of glucagon were not altered. The results imply that angiotensin II, catecholamines, and vasopressin control hepatic carbohydrate metabolism through a Ca2+-requiring, cyclic AMP-independent pathway that leads to the phosphorylation of important regulatory enzymes.     

Evidence for the activation of the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in response to hormones that increase intracellular Ca2+

The phosphorylation state of six cytoplasmic proteins is increased following treatment of isolated rat hepatocytes with hormones that elevate free intracellular Ca2+ levels (Garrison, J. C. and Wagner, J. D. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13135-13143). Tryptic 32P-phosphopeptide maps of two of the substrates, pyruvate kinase and a 49,000-dalton protein, the major 32P-labeled protein in hepatocytes, were prepared following stimulation of cells with vasopressin, a Ca2+-linked hormone. Peptide maps of the 49,000-dalton protein phosphorylated in vitro with the recently identified multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase contained phosphopeptides identical to those observed in the intact cell, suggesting that this kinase is activated in response to Ca2+-mobilizing hormones. Similar in vitro phosphorylation experiments with pyruvate kinase suggested that the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase can phosphorylate not only the serine residues observed following vasopressin stimulation of the intact cell but also additional threonine residues. Both pyruvate kinase and the 49,000-dalton protein are also phosphorylated in the hepatocyte in response to glucagon and in vitro by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Both vasopressin and glucagon appear to stimulate the phosphorylation of identical serine residues in pyruvate kinase but only vasopressin enhances the phosphorylation of certain sites in the 49,000-dalton protein. Comparison of the tryptic phosphopeptide maps of these substrates phosphorylated in vitro with either the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase or the cAMP-dependent protein kinase suggests that the Ca2+-dependent kinase can phosphorylate unique sites in both substrates. It appears to share specificity at other sites with the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Overall, the results suggest that the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase plays an important role in the response of the hepatocyte to a Ca2+ signal.     

Synergistic stimulation of the Ca2+ influx in rat hepatocytes by glucagon and the Ca2+-linked hormones vasopressin and angiotensin II

Glucagon was added to isolated rat hepatocytes, either alone or together with vasopressin or angiotensin II, and the effects on the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate were investigated. Addition of glucagon alone which increased cyclic AMP content of the cells slightly increased the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate. When glucagon was added together with vasopressin or angiotensin II--both of which when added separately increase the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate but did not affect the cellular content of cyclic AMP--the measured initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate was larger than the sum of that seen with each hormone alone. This indicates that glucagon and Ca2+-linked hormones synergistically enhanced the Ca2+ influx in rat hepatocytes. These effects of glucagon can be mimicked by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin, suggesting that cyclic AMP augments both the resting Ca2+ and the vasopressin- or angiotensin II-stimulated influx. Measurement of the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate as a function of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration indicated that the increase in the Ca2+ influx resulting from single or combined glucagon and vasopressin administration occurred through a homogeneous population of Ca2+ gates. These hormones were found to raise both the apparent Km for external Ca2+ and the apparent Vmax of the Ca2+ influx. The maximal increase in these two parameters was observed when the two hormones were added together. This suggests that glucagon and vasopressin synergistically stimulate the same Ca2+ gating mechanism. The dose-response curves for the action of glucagon or vasopressin applied in the presence of increasing concentrations of vasopressin or glucagon, respectively, showed that each hormone increases the maximal response to the other without affecting its ED50. It is proposed that glucagon and the Ca2+-linked hormones control the cellular concentration of two intermediates which are both necessary to allow Ca2+ entry into the cells.     

Studies on the hepatic calcium-mobilizing activity of aluminum fluoride and glucagon. Modulation by cAMP and phorbol myristate acetate

The effects of submaximal doses of AlF4- to mobilize hepatocyte Ca2+ were potentiated by glucagon (0.1-1 nM) and 8-p-chlorophenylthio-cAMP. A similar potentiation by glucagon of submaximal doses of vasopressin, angiotensin II, and alpha 1-adrenergic agonists has been previously shown (Morgan, N. G., Charest, R., Blackmore, P. F., and Exton, J. H. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 81, 4208-4212). When hepatocytes were pretreated with the protein kinase C activator 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA), the effects of AlF4- to mobilize Ca2+, increase myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and activate phosphorylase were attenuated. Treatment of hepatocytes with PMA likewise inhibits the ability of vasopressin, angiotensin II, and alpha 1-adrenergic agonists to increase IP3 and mobilize Ca2+ (Lynch, C. J., Charest, R., Bocckino, S. B., Exton, J. H., and Blackmore, P. F. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2844-2851). In contrast, the ability of AlF4- or angiotensin II to lower cAMP or inhibit glucagon-mediated increases in cAMP was unaffected by PMA. The ability of AlF4- to lower cAMP was attenuated in hepatocytes from animals treated with islet-activating protein, whereas Ca2+ mobilization was not modified. These results suggest that the lowering of cAMP induced by AlF4- and angiotensin II was mediated by the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase, whereas Ca2+ mobilization was not. Addition of glucagon, forskolin, or 8CPT-cAMP to hepatocytes raised IP3 and mobilized Ca2+. Both effects were blocked by PMA pretreatment, whereas cAMP and phosphorylase a levels were only minimally affected by PMA. The mobilization of Ca2+ induced by cAMP in hepatocytes incubated in low Ca2+ media was not additive with that induced by maximally effective doses of vasopressin, angiotensin II, or alpha 1-adrenergic agonists, indicating that the Ca2+ pool(s) affected by agents which increase cAMP is the same as that affected by Ca2+-mobilizing hormones which do not increase cAMP. These findings support the proposal that AlF4- mimics the effects of the Ca2+-mobilizing hormones in hepatocytes by activating a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Np) which couples the hormone receptors to a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)-specific phosphodiesterase. They also suggest that Np, PIP2 phosphodiesterase, or a factor involved in their interaction is activated following phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and inhibited after phosphorylation by protein kinase C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The role of Ca2+ and cyclic AMP in the phosphorylation of rat-liver soluble proteins by endogenous protein kinases

Rat liver soluble proteins were phosphorylated by endogenous protein kinase with [gamma-32P]ATP. Proteins were separated in dodecyl sulphate slab gels and detected with the aid of autoradiography. The relative role of cAMP-dependent, cAMP-independent and Ca2+-activated protein kinases in the phosphorylation of soluble proteins was investigated. Heat-stable inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibits nearly completed the phosphorylation of seven proteins, including L-type pyruvate kinase. The phosphorylation of eight proteins is not influenced by protein kinase inhibitor. The phosphorylation of six proteins, including phosphorylase, is partially inhibited by protein kinase inhibitor. These results indicate that phosphoproteins of rat liver can be subdivided into three groups: phosphoproteins that are phosphorylated by (a) cAMP-dependent protein kinase or (b) cAMP-independent protein kinase; (c) phosphoproteins in which both cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent protein kinase play a role in the phosphorylation. The relative phosphorylation rate of substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase is about 15-fold the phosphorylation rate of substrates for cAMP-independent protein kinase. The Km for ATP of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase kinase is 8 microM and 38 microM, respectively. Ca2+ in the micromolare range stimulates the phosphorylation of (a) phosphorylase, (b) a protein with molecular weight of 130 000 and (c) a protein with molecular weight of 15 000. The phosphate incorporation into a protein with molecular weight of 115 000 is inhibited by Ca2+. Phosphorylation of phosphorylase and the 15 000-Mr protein in the presence of 100 microM Ca2+ could be completely inhibited by trifluoperazine. It can be concluded that calmodulin is involved in the phosphorylation of at least two soluble proteins. No evidence for Ca2+-stimulated phosphorylation of subunits of glycolytic or gluconeogenic enzymes, including pyruvate kinase, was found. This indicates that it is unlikely that direct phosphorylation by Ca2+-dependent protein kinases is involved in the stimulation of gluconeogenesis by hormones that act through a cAMP-independent, Ca2+-dependent mechanism.     

The liver plasma membrane Ca2+ pump: hormonal sensitivity

The liver plasma membrane Ca2+ pump is supposed to extrude cytosolic calcium out of the cell. This system has now been well defined on the basis of its plasma membrane origin, its high affinity Ca2+ -stimulated ATPase activity, its Ca2+ transport activity, its phosphorylated intermediate. The liver calcium pump appears to be a target of hormonal action since it has been shown that glucagon and calcium mobilizing hormones namely alpha 1-adrenergic agonists, vasopressin, angiotensin II inhibit this system. The present review details the mechanism of calcium pump inhibition by glucagon and points out its difference from the inhibition process induced by calcium mobilizing hormones. We conclude that the inhibitory action of the Ca2+ mobilizing hormones and glucagon on the liver plasma membrane Ca2+ pump might play a key role in the actions of these hormones by prolonging the elevation in cytosolic free Ca2+.     

Angiotensin II stimulates protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in a calcium-dependent manner.

Cellular responses to epidermal growth factor (EGF) are dependent on the tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity of the cell-surface EGF receptor. Previous studies using WB rat liver epithelial cells have detected at least 10 proteins whose phosphotyrosine (P-Tyr) content is increased by EGF. In this study, we have examined alternate modes of activating tyrosine phosphorylation. Treatment of WB cells with hormones linked to Ca2+ mobilization and protein kinase C (PKC) activation, including angiotensin II, [Arg8]vasopressin, or epinephrine, stimulated rapid (less than or equal to 15-s) and transient increases in the P-Tyr content of several proteins (p120/125, p75/78, and p66). These proteins, detected by anti-P-Tyr immunoblotting, were similar in molecular weight to a subset of EGF-sensitive P-Tyr-containing proteins (P-Tyr-proteins). The increased P-Tyr content was confirmed by [32P]phosphoamino acid analysis of proteins recovered by anti-P-Tyr immunoprecipitation. Elevating intracellular [Ca2+] with the ionophore A23187 or ionomycin or with the tumor promoter thapsigargin mimicked the effects of hormones on tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas treatment with a PKC-activating phorbol ester did not. In addition, responses to angiotensin II were not diminished in PKC-depleted cells. Ca2+ mobilization, measured by fura-2 fluorescence, was coincident with the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in response to angiotensin II or thapsigargin. Loading cells with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N ,N ,N' , N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) inhibited the appearance of all P-Tyr-proteins in response to angiotensin II, thapsigargin, or ionophores, as well as two EGF-stimulated P-Tyr-proteins. The majority of EGF-stimulated P-Tyr-proteins were not affected by BAPTA. These studies indicate that angiotensin II can alter protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in a manner that is secondary to, and apparently dependent on, Ca2+ mobilization. Thus, ligands such as EGF and angiotensin II, which act through distinct types of receptors, may activate secondary pathways involving tyrosine phosphorylation. These results also raise the possibility that certain growth-promoting effects of Ca2+ -mobilizing agents such as angiotensin II may be mediated via tyrosine phosphorylation.     

The effects of glucagon, catecholamines, and the calcium ionophore A23187 on the phosphorylation of rat hepatocyte cytosolic proteins.

Recent experiments have demonstrated that stimulation of rat hepatocyte alpha-adrenergic receptors alters the activity of enzymes known to be regulated by cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. These events apparently occur without an increase in the activity of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. The present study compared the effects of glucagon and catecholamines on the incorporation of radioactive phosphate into cytosolic proteins obtained from intact rat hepatocytes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis resolved 27 phosphorylated bands in the molecular weight range 220,000 to 29,000. Treatment of the intact hepatocytes with glucagon or cyclic nucleotides increased the phosphorylation of 12 of these bands. Incubation of unlabeled cytoplasmic proteins with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP leads to the phosphorylation of 11 proteins. The molecular weights of these proteins were very similar to those altered by glucagon treatment of intact cells. Stimulation of the alpha-receptor with norepinephrine, epinephrine, or phenylephrine in the presence of 20 micrometer propranolol caused an increase in the phosphorylation of at least 10 of the same 12 phosphorylated bands stimulated by glucagon. The increase in phosphorylation mediated by alpha-receptors was only 50 to 60% of that observed with glucagon and occurred in the absence of any change in the level of adenosone 3':5'-monophosphate. The effects of alpha-receptor stimulation could be completely antagonized by 20 micrometer ergotamine or 20 micrometer phentolamine. Treatment of the cells with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in an attempt to mimic alpha-receptor function increased the phosphorylation of 4 of the phosphoproteins altered by glucagon or catecholamines. The effects of the ionophore depended on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ ion and were similar in magnitude to those of catecholamines. It is concluded that alpha-receptor occupation alters the activity of an adenosin 3':5'-monophosphate-independent protein kinase or phosphatase with a specificity similar to those affected by cyclic nucleotides.     

Control of glycogen synthase phosphorylation in isolated rat hepatocytes by epinephrine, vasopressin and glucagon

Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated in a medium containing 0.1 mM [32P]phosphate (0.1 mCi/ml) before exposure to epinephrine, glucagon or vasopressin. 32P-labeled glycogen synthase was purified from extracts of control or hormone-treated cells by the use of specific antibodies raised to rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that a single 32P-labeled polypeptide, apparent Mr 88000, was removed specifically by the antibodies and corresponded to glycogen synthase. Similar electrophoretic analysis of CNBr fragments prepared from the immunoprecipitate revealed that 32P was distributed between two fragments, of apparent Mr 14000 (CB-1) and 28000 (CB-2). Epinephrine, vasopressin or glucagon increased the 32P content of the glycogen synthase subunit. CB-2 phosphorylation was increased by all three hormones while CB-1 was most affected by epinephrine and vasopressin. These effects correlated with a decrease in glycogen synthase activity. From studies using rat liver glycogen synthase, purified by conventional methods and phosphorylated in vitro by individual protein kinases, it was found that electrophoretically similar CNBr fragments could be obtained. However, neither cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase nor three different Ca2+-dependent enzymes (phosphorylase kinase, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and protein kinase C) were effective in phosphorylating CB-2. The protein kinases most effective towards CB-2 were the Ca2+ and cyclic-nucleotide-independent enzymes casein kinase II (PC0.7) and FA/GSK-3. The results demonstrate that rat liver glycogen synthase undergoes multiple phosphorylation in whole cells and that stimulation of cells by glycogenolytic hormones can modify the phosphorylation of at least two distinct sites in the enzyme. The specificity of the hormones, however, cannot be explained simply by the direct action of any known protein kinase dependent on cyclic nucleotide or Ca2+. Therefore, either control of other protein kinases, such as FA/GSK-3, is involved or phosphatase activity is regulated, or both.     

A study of the mechanism of glucagon-induced protein phosphorylation in isolated rat hepatocytes using (Sp)-cAMPS and (Rp)-cAMPS, the stimulatory and inhibitory diastereomers of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphorothioate

Maximal doses of glucagon increase the phosphorylation state of 12 cytosolic proteins in isolated hepatocytes from fasted rats (Garrison, J. C., and Wagner, J. D. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13135-13143). Incubation of hepatocytes with lower concentrations of glucagon indicates that a hierarchy of substrates exists with the concentration of glucagon required for half-maximal increases in phosphorylation varying 5-15-fold. The proteins whose phosphorylation state is most sensitive to low concentrations of glucagon are pyruvate kinase and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, both of which play key roles in the regulation of gluconeogenesis. Treatment of hepatocytes with (Sp)-cAMPS, the stimulatory diastereomer of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphorothioate, mimics the response seen with glucagon. When hepatocytes are pretreated with the cAMP antagonist, (Rp)-cAMPS, the phosphorylation response is abolished at low concentrations of glucagon, and the dose of glucagon required for half-maximal stimulation of phosphorylation is increased 5-10-fold. The (Sp)-cAMPS-stimulated increases in phosphorylation state are also blunted by (Rp)-cAMPS. These results provide direct pharmacological evidence for the activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in response to glucagon in the intact cell. Although low doses of glucagon appear to stimulate protein phosphorylation via the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, high doses of glucagon also cause a small increase in the concentration of free intracellular Ca2+ in hepatocytes. The glucagon-stimulated increases in the level of Ca2+ can be mimicked by (Sp)-cAMPS and inhibited by pretreatment with (Rp)-cAMPS. These results suggest that glucagon can elevate intracellular Ca2+ via cAMP and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Regulation of gluconeogenesis by norepinephrine, vasopressin, and angiotensin II: a comparative study in the absence and presence of extracellular Ca2+1

In hepatocytes isolated from fasted rats, vasopressin and angiotensin II stimulate the rate of gluconeogenesis from lactate or pyruvate in a Ca2+-dependent manner similar to that previously reported for norepinephrine. Actions of the peptide hormones on gluconeogenesis from glycerol or sorbitol, reduced substrates that require oxidation before they enter the gluconeogenic pathway at triosephosphate, also resemble those of norepinephrine. Stimulation of glucose production from these substrates is observed only in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Actions of the peptide hormones on gluconeogenesis from dihydroxyacetone or fructose, the oxidized counterparts of glycerol and sorbitol, respectively, do not resemble those of norepinephrine. While norepinephrine enhances rates of glucose production from dihydroxyacetone or fructose in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, vasopressin and angiotensin II are ineffective either in the absence or presence of extracellular Ca2+. When the oxidation-reduction state in hepatocytes metabolizing dihydroxyacetone is altered by adding an equimolar concentration of ethanol (to provide cytosolic reducing equivalents), the results are similar to those obtained when cells are incubated with the reduced counterpart of dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, i.e., the peptide hormones cause an apparent increase in the rate of glucose production in a Ca2+-dependent manner. If, on the other hand, hepatocytes are incubated with glycerol or sorbitol and an equimolar concentration of pyruvate (to provide a cytosolic hydrogen acceptor), the peptide hormones, unlike norepinephrine, are ineffective in stimulating gluconeogenesis in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. These results indicate that whereas many of the actions of vasopressin and angiotensin II are similar to those of alpha 1-adrenergic agents, there are major differences in the manner in which the hormones act at various sites to regulate gluconeogenesis.     

Synergistic stimulation of Ca2+ uptake by glucagon and Ca2+-mobilizing hormones in the perfused rat liver. A role for mitochondria in long-term Ca2+ homoeostasis.

A perfused liver system incorporating a Ca2+-sensitive electrode was used to study the long-term effects of glucagon and cyclic AMP on the mobilization of Ca2+ induced by phenylephrine, vasopressin and angiotensin. At 1.3 mM extracellular Ca2+ the co-administration of glucagon (10 nM) or cyclic AMP (0.2 mM) and a Ca2+-mobilizing hormone led to a synergistic potentiation of Ca2+ uptake by the liver, to a degree which was dependent on the order of hormone administration. A maximum net amount of Ca2+ influx, corresponding to approx. 3800 nmol/g of liver (the maximum rate of influx was 400 nmol/min per g of liver), was induced when cyclic AMP or glucagon was administered about 4 min before vasopressin and angiotensin. These changes are over an order of magnitude greater than those induced by Ca2+-mobilizing hormones alone [Altin & Bygrave (1985) Biochem. J. 232, 911-917]. For a maximal response the influx of Ca2+ was transient and was essentially complete after about 20 min. Removal of the hormones was followed by a gradual efflux of Ca2+ from the liver over a period of 30-50 min; thereafter, a similar response could be obtained by a second administration of hormones. Dose-response measurements indicate that the potentiation of Ca2+ influx by glucagon occurs even at low (physiological) concentrations of the hormone. By comparison with phenylephrine, the stimulation of Ca2+ influx by vasopressin and angiotensin is more sensitive to low concentrations of glucagon and cyclic AMP, and can be correlated with a 20-50-fold increase in the calcium content of mitochondria. The reversible uptake of such large quantities of Ca2+ implicates the mitochondria in long-term cellular Ca2+ regulation.     

Phosphorylation of keratin intermediate filaments by protein kinase C, by calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Keratins, constituent proteins of intermediate filaments of epithelial cells, are phosphoproteins containing phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. We examined the in vitro phosphorylation of keratin filaments by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. When rat liver keratin filaments reconstituted by type I keratin 18 (molecular mass 47 kDa; acidic type) and type II keratin 8 (molecular mass 55 kDa; basic type) in a 1:1 ratio were used as substrates, all the protein kinases phosphorylated both of the constituent proteins to a significant rate and extent, and disassembly of the keratin filament structure occurred. Kinetic analysis suggested that all these protein kinases preferentially phosphorylate keratin 8, compared to keratin 18. The amino acid residues of keratins 8 and 18 phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C were almost exclusively serine, while those phosphorylated by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II were serine and threonine. Peptide mapping analysis indicated that these protein kinases phosphorylate keratins 8 and 18 in a different manner. These observations gave the way for in vivo studies of the role of phosphorylation in the reorganization of keratin filaments.     

On the role of calcium as second messenger in liver for the hormonally induced activation of glycogen phosphorylase.

We have studied the mode of action of three hormones (angiotensin, vasopressin and phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic agent) which promote liver glycogenolysis in a cyclic AMP-independent way, in comparison with that of glucagon, which is known to act essentially via cyclic AMP. The following observations were made using isolated rat hepatocytes: (a) In the normal Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate medium, the hormones activated glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) to about the same degree. In contrast to glucagon, the cyclic AMP-independent hormones did not activate either protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) or phosphorylase b kinase (EC 2.7.1.38). (b) The absence of Ca2+ from the incubation medium prevented the activation of glycogen phosphorylase by the cyclic AMP-independent agents and slowed down that induced by glucagon. (c) The ionophore A 23187 produced the same degree of activation of glycogen phosphorylase, provided that Ca2+ was present in the incubation medium. (d) Glucagon, cyclic AMP and three cyclic AMP-dependent hormones caused an enhanced uptake of 45Ca; it was verified that concentrations of angiotensin and of vasopressin known to occur in haemorrhagic conditions were able to produce phosphorylase activation and stimulate 45Ca uptake. (e) Appropriate antagonists (i.e. phentolamine against phenylephrine and an angiotensin analogue against angiotensin) prevented both the enhanced 45Ca uptake and the phosphorylase activation. We interpret our data in favour of a role of calcium (1) as the second messenger in liver for the three cyclic AMP-independent glycogenolytic hormones and (2) as an additional messenger for glucagon which, via cyclic AMP, will make calcium available to the cytoplasm either from extracellular or from intracellular pools. The target enzyme for Ca2+ is most probably phosphorylase b kinase.     

Phosphorylation of type-L pyruvate kinase in intact hepatocytes. Localisation of the phosphorylation site in response to both glucagon and the Ca2+-linked agonist phenylephrine

Pyruvate kinase is one of the enzymes which can be phosphorylated by stimulation of the cell with either glucagon or Ca2+-linked hormones. Whether these two classes of hormones phosphorylate the same site on the enzyme is unclear. Our results demonstrate that isolation of [32P]phosphorylated type-L pyruvate kinase from glucagon-treated hepatocytes followed by aspartyl-prolyl cleavage yields a [32P]phosphorylated peptide of Mr 17,000. This fragment is also phosphorylated in response to the Ca2+-mediated agonist phenylephrine.     

Stimulation by vasopressin, angiotensin and oxytocin of gluconeogenesis in hepatocyte suspensions.

1. In hepatocytes from starved rats, vasopressin, angiotensin (angiotensin II) and oxytocin stimulated gluconeogenesis from lactate by 25--50%; minimal effective concentrations were about 0.02pM, 1 nM and 0.2 nM respectively. 2. Vasopressin and angiotensin also stimulated gluconeogenesis from alanine, pyruvate, serine and glycerol. EGTA decreased gluconeogenesis from these substrates. 3. Hormonal stimulation of gluconeogenesis from lactate was abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. 4. Insulin did not prevent stimulation of gluconeogenesis by vasopressin or angiotensin. 5. The potency of the stimulatory effects of vasopressin and angiotensin on hepatic gluconeogenesis suggests they are operative in vivo. Also, the data suggest that Ca2+ plays a role in the stimulation by these hormones.     

Vasoconstrictor-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

In cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells, angiotensin II induced tyrosine phosphorylation of at least 9 proteins with molecular masses of 190, 117, 105, 82, 79, 77, 73, 45 and 40 kDa in time- and dose-dependent manners. Other vasoconstrictors such as [Arg]vasopressin, 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of the same set of proteins as angiotensin II. The tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins was mimicked by the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate, and the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. These results demonstrate that the vasoconstrictors stimulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells and suggest that the tyrosine phosphorylation reactions are the events distal to the activation of protein kinase C and Ca2+ mobilization in the intracellular signalling pathways of the vasoconstrictors.     

Membrane localization of myocardial type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity

Crude cardiac membrane vesicles were separated into subfractions of sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum. The subfractions were used to determine the origin and type of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity present in myocardial membranes. A cyclic AMP-binding protein of molecular weight 55,000 was covalently labeled with the photoaffinity probe 8-azido adenosine 3',5'-mono[32P]phosphate, and found to copurify with the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity of sarcolemma, and away from the (Ca2+ + K+)-ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Endogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity also copurified with sarcolemma. Protein substrates phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity had apparent molecular weights of 21,000 and 8000 and were present in both sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum. However, while addition of cyclic AMP alone resulted in phosphorylation of sarcolemma proteins, both cyclic AMP and exogenous, soluble cyclic AMP-dependent kinase were required for phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins. Addition of the calcium-binding protein, calmodulin, to either sarcolemma or sarcoplasmic reticulum resulted in phosphorylation of the 21,000 and 8000-dalton proteins, as well. The results suggest that cardiac sarcolemma contains an intrinsic type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity that is not present in sarcoplasmic reticulum. On the other hand, Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity is present in both sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum.     

Angiotensin II inhibits hepatic cAMP accumulation induced by glucagon and epinephrine and their metabolic effects

Incubation of isolated hepatocytes containing normal Ca2+ levels with angiotensin II, vasopressin or A23187 caused significant inhibition of the cAMP response to glucagon. Angiotensin II also inhibited cAMP accumulation induced by either glucagon or epinephrine in Ca2+-depleted hepatocytes. When submaximal doses of hormone were employed such that cell cAMP was elevated only 3-4-fold (approximately 2 pmol cAMP/mg wet wt cells) inhibition by angiotensin II was correlated with a decrease in phosphorylase activation. The data demonstrate that inhibition of hepatic cAMP accumulation results in reduced metabolic responses to glucagon and epinephrine and do not support the contention that the hepatic actions of glucagon are independent of cAMP.     

Inositol phosphate release and steroidogenesis in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. Comparison of the effects of endothelin, angiotensin II and vasopressin.

Endothelin has steroidogenic activity in adrenal glomerulosa cells, as do two other vasoconstrictor peptides, angiotensin II and vasopressin. The steroidogenic activities of angiotensin II and vasopressin are probably mediated via the phosphatidylinositol-turnover pathway and associated changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Endothelin caused a steroidogenic response, which was small compared with that to angiotensin II and quantitatively similar to the vasopressin response. Cytosolic free Ca2+ responses were similarly higher to angiotensin II than to either of the other two peptides. However, total inositol phosphate responses to endothelin and angiotensin II were similar when these were measured over 20 min, and were quantitatively greater than the vasopressin response. A detailed study has been made of the phosphatidylinositol-turnover response to endothelin in comparison with responses to angiotensin II and vasopressin. Each of the three peptides produced a rapid and transient rise in Ins(1,4,5)P3 (max. 5-15 s), followed by a slow sustained rise. Ins(1,4,5)P3 was metabolized by both dephosphorylation and phosphorylation pathways, but the relative importance of the two metabolic pathways was different under stimulation by each of the three peptides. These findings show that adrenal glomerulosa cells can distinguish between the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover by three different effectors. These differences in the pathway may be associated with the observed different steroidogenic and Ca2+ responses to the three peptides.