Anionic center of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2

The interaction between porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 and low-molecular fragments of its substrate -- lecithine was studied using gel-diffusion of the enzyme in lecithin-agarose plates. When the inhibitor was added, a decrease in the magnitude of cleared areas (l/l0) around the depots filled with enzyme solution was observed. A marked decrease in l/l0 in the presence of alpha- and beta-glycerophosphates supported the statement that the cathionic center is a part of the enzyme active site SII. The potent inhibition of phospholipase activity in the presence of phosphocholine, choline, acetylcholine, thiocholine and acylthiocholines suggests the existence of an anionic center SIII in the active site. This suggestion is supported by intensive inhibition of phospholipase activity by certain, aliphatic amines. It was shown that the center is spaced in the direction of the cathionic center. SII. The main contribution to the binding of the cathionic lecithin part ("head") with the anionic center SIII is probably provided by the ion-ionic interactions.     

Cytochemistry of nucleoproteids and some cathionic proteins in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with lung cancer.

In 40 patients with untreated lung cancer cytochemical studies of the peripheral blood leukocytes were conducted by means of a cytological method for the simultaneous staining of nucleoproteids (RNP and DNP) and some cathionic proteins (after Zvetkova and Zvetkov [60]). Changes were detected in the RNP cytoplasmic contents of lymphocytes, of which the most outstanding were the reduction and uneven distribution of RNP granules, their frequent extracellular expulsion by means of microclasmatoses, as well as changes in the staining of cathionic proteins of RNP accompanied by an increased nuclear chromatin condensation in the small and medium-sized lymphocytes. Parellel to reducing of the percentage of these cells in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced neoplastic disease an increased number of lymphoblastoid and monoblastoid cells is established with RNP diffusely stained, but reduced in quantity and localized in the cytoplasmic periphery and projections (compared to Downey type II atypical cells). By means of one of the variants of the method (modified type of Feulgen's reaction) a characteristic distribution and structuring of the nuclear chromatin is established in mono- and polymorphonuclear cells, most clearly expressed in the nuclei of monocytes and monoblastoid cells, as well as in nuclei of neutrophil granulocytes. In these cellular types a more specific nuclear modelling (microhypersegmentation) is observed resulting in multiple irregular nuclear projections on the nuclear surface, probably caused by subkaryolemal distribution of uneven chromatin thickenings. The changes are also recorded in the cathionic protein containing secondary cytoplasmic granules in granulocytes-neutrophils and eosinophils, probably associated with changes in the lysosomal and phagocytic functions of these cells in neoplastic diseases. The authors discuss the importance of the obtained results in connection with data on the participation of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the immune response to tumour antigenic stimuli during the course of the neoplastic process, as well as with data on the suppressive effect of antigenic (serum, viral) factors, possibly affecting the synthesis and the transport of cellular nucleoproteids (RNP and DNP) in leukocytes of cancer patients.     

GTP and GDP will stimulate platelet cytosolic phospholipase C independently of Ca2+

The hydrolysis of [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) by cytosolic phospholipase C from human platelets was determined. Cytosolic fractions were prepared from platelets that had or had not been preactivated with thrombin. Thrombin pretreatment did not affect cytosolic phospholipase C activity. In both cytosolic fractions, phospholipase C was activated by GTP and GTP gamma S. This action is observed in the presence of 2 mM EGTA. GDP was as effective as GTP in stimulating cytosolic phospholipase C in the presence of Ca2+ or EGTA. Partially purified phospholipase C obtained from platelet cytosol is activated by GTP, but not by GTP gamma S, in the presence of 2 mM EGTA. However, in the presence of 6 microM Ca2+, both GTP and GTP gamma S stimulated the partially purified phospholipase C. Our present information indicates that GTP and GDP have a direct effect on the cytosolic phospholipase C.     

Thrombin- and nucleotide-activated phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phospholipase C in human platelet membranes

Thrombin, nucleotides, and chelators elicited a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-P2) phospholipase C activity that was associated with human platelet membranes. Both alpha- and gamma-thrombin enhanced phospholipase C activity, whereas active site-inhibited alpha-thrombin did not stimulate PtdIns-P2 hydrolysis. PtdIns-P2 phospholipase C was also activated by nucleoside triphosphates, citrate, EDTA, and NaF. Magnesium was an inhibitor of PtdIns-P2 hydrolysis stimulated by nucleotides and chelators. Only PtdIns-P2 was degraded by the phospholipase C activated by alpha-thrombin, nucleotides, and chelators. The soluble fraction phospholipase C activity was also stimulated at low protein concentrations by nucleotides; however, soluble fraction phospholipase C activity cleaved both PtdIns-P2 and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and was inhibited by chelators, suggesting the presence of a different enzyme in this compartment. The pH optimum for the membrane-associated phospholipase C in the presence of alpha-thrombin or nucleotides was 6.0, and the PtdIns-P2 phospholipase C was inhibited by neomycin and high detergent concentrations. Guanine nucleotides did not synergistically activate phospholipase C in the presence of alpha-thrombin. The characteristics of the membrane-associated PtdIns-P2 phospholipase C suggest that this enzyme is involved in platelet activation by the low-affinity alpha- or gamma-thrombin-dependent pathway.     

Gonadotropin receptors in plasma membranes of bovine corpus luteum. II. Role of membrane phospholipids.

The role of phospholipids in the binding of 125I-choriogonadotropin to bovine corpus luteum plasma membranes has been investigated with the use of purified phospholipase A and phospholipase C to alter membrane phospholipids. The phospholipase C-digested plasma membrane preparation showed 85 to 90% inhibition of 125I-choriogonadotropin binding activity when 70% of the membrane phospholipid was hydrolyzed. Similarly treatment of plasma membranes with phospholipase A resulted in 45 to 55% hydrolysis of membrane phospholipid and almost 75% inhibition of receptor activity. Both these enzymes hydrolyzed membrane-associated phosphatidylcholine to a greater extent than phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Phosphorylaminoalcohols of phospholiphase C end products were completely released into the medium, while phospholipase A by-products remained associated with plasma membranes. Addition of a phospholipids suspension or liposomes to plasma membranes pretreated with phospholipase A and C did not restore gonadotropin binding activity. Soluble phosphorylcholine, phosphorylethanolamine, and phosphorylserine and insoluble diglyceride products of phospholipase C action had no effect on receptor activity. In contrast, end products of the phospholipase A action, such as lysophosphatides and fatty acids, inhibited both on the membrane-associated and solubilized receptor activity. Lysophosphatidylcholine was the most effective end product inhibiting the binding of gonadotropin to the receptor, followed by lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylserine. The inhibitory effects of phospholipase A or lysophosphatides were completely reversed upon removal of membrane-bound phospholipid end products by washing the membranes with defatted bovine serum albumin. However, phospholipase C inhibition could not be overcome by defatted albumin washings. Solubilization of plasma membranes with detergents which had been pretreated with phospholipase C partially restored the inhibited activity. It is concluded that the phospholipase-mediated inhibition of gonadotropin binding activity was due to hydrolysis and alterations of the phospholipid environment in the case of phospholipase C and by direct inhibition by end products in the case of phospholipase A.     

Factors affecting the phospholipase activity of Candida species in vitro

The phospholipase activity of 41 isolates of oral Candida species was determined by a plate assay. Seventy nine per cent of the C. albicans isolates were phospholipase producers whereas none of the C. tropicalis, C. glabrata or C. parapsilosis isolates produced the enzyme. The degree of phospholipase activity (Pz value) of individual isolates was remarkably constant despite the large variation in activity among different isolates. Experiments with 10 phospholipase positive C. albicans isolates indicate that phospholipase production in vitro is limited to a narrow pH range (c. 3.6-4.7) and is suppressed by increasing concentrations of sucrose and galactose in the media (r = 0.9). Hence, candidal phospholipases seem to play a complex role in the aetiopathology of human candidoses.     

An anion binding site in the active centre of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus

The bi-Zn2+-enzyme phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) is readilly inhibited by univalent anions. N.m.r. studies on the 113Cd-substituted enzyme showed the presence of an inert and a perturbable metal, neither of which seemed affected by I-. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed the binding of one I- to the enzyme 4.8 A from the nearest metal (too far for a metal-halide bond). Phospholipase C contains an arginine residue apparently necessary for substrate binding and I- partially protected against inactivation by an arginine reagent. Thus an arginine residue may represent the binding site for univalent anions in the enzyme active centre.     

Ethanol does not stimulate guanine nucleotide-induced activation of phospholipase C in permeabilized hepatocytes

Guanine nucleotides are thought to mediate the interaction of the receptors for calcium-mobilizing hormones and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. In the present study the characteristics of guanine nucleotide-dependent phospholipase C activation were studied in [3H]inositol-labeled permeabilized hepatocytes. The nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate stimulated the production of inositol phosphates by phospholipase C. The effect was concentration-dependent with half-maximal and maximal stimulation occurring with 0.6 and 10 microM GTP gamma S, respectively. The guanine nucleotide-induced stimulation of phosphoinositide breakdown was selective for phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate over phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate. The individual inositol phosphates formed after maximal GTP gamma S exposure were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was rapidly produced, followed by the formation of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. Ethanol is known to activate hormone-sensitive phospholipase C in intact rat hepatocytes. Ethanol (0.3 M) was ineffective in altering the characteristics of GTP gamma S-stimulated phospholipase C activation, in both digitonin-treated and sonicated hepatocytes. The metabolism of the various inositol phosphate isomers was unaffected by ethanol. The findings demonstrate the potential for the use of permeabilized hepatocytes in the analysis of phospholipase C activation by guanine nucleotides. Ethanol does not activate phospholipase C by altering this process.     

Isolation of hydrogen-oxidation gene from Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus and its expression in Pseudomonas oxalaticus

Antibodies against Bacillus cereus phospholipase C were prepared in rabbits and used to affinity purify a phosphatidylcholine-preferring phospholipase C from a human monocytic cell line. Affinity chromatography resulted in an approximately 3000-fold, one-step enrichment of phospholipase C. The human enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 40,000 daltons as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that this protein interacted specifically with the rabbit antibody raised against bacterial phospholipase C. The purified enzyme preferred phosphatidylcholine as a substrate, was neutral pH active and was inhibited by EGTA. These studies demonstrate that antibodies raised against bacterial phospholipase C may be useful in purifying phospholipase C from a human source.     

Influence of phospholipid environment on the phosphatidylethanolamine: ceramide-phosphorylethanolamine transferase activity in rat liver plasma membranes.

1. Plasma membranes were treated with phospholipase A2, phospholipase C or phospholipase D. The phosphatidylethanolamine:ceramide-phosphorylethanolamine transferase was deactivated by phospholipase C treatment, whereas phospholipase A2 and phospholipase D did not affect the enzyme. 2. Incorporation of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol into partially delipidated plasma membranes resulted in significant stimulation of the transferase, whereas inclusion of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine suppressed the enzyme activity. Our results suggest that phosphatidylserine is a regulator of sphingomyelin level in membranes. 3. The activity of phosphatidylethanolamine:ceramide-phosphorylethanolamine transferase was not influenced by the fluidity of its lipid environment.     

Production of diacylglycerol by exogenous phospholipase C stimulates CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in human neuroblastoma cells.

The involvement of endogenous diacylglycerol production in the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis by exogenous phospholipase C was examined using a neuroblastoma (LA-N-2) cell line. Phospholipase C treatment (0.1 unit/ml) of intact cells stimulated CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity significantly more effectively than did maximally effective concentrations of the synthetic diacylglycerol sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (1 mM). When added to cells together with phospholipase C, oleic acid, but not dioctanoylglycerol, further increased cytidylyltransferase activity with respect to phospholipase C treatment alone, indicating that the enzyme was not maximally activated by the lipase. This suggests that the lack of additivity of diacylglycerol and phospholipase C reflects a common mechanism of action. The time course of activation of cytidylyltransferase by phospholipase C paralleled that of [3H]diacylglycerol production in cells prelabeled for 24 h with [3H]oleic acid. Diacylglycerol mass was similarly increased. Significant elevations of [3H]oleic acid and total fatty acids occurred later than did the increases in cytidylyltransferase activity and diacylglycerol levels. No significant reduction in total or [3H]phosphatidylcholine was elicited by this concentration of phospholipase C, but higher concentrations (0.5 unit/ml) significantly reduced phosphatidylcholine content. The stimulation of cytidylyltransferase activity by phospholipase C or dioctanoylglycerol was also associated with enhanced incorporation of [methyl-14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine. Dioctanoylglycerol was more effective than phospholipase C at stimulating the formation of [14C]phosphatidylcholine, and the effects of the two treatments were additive. However, further analysis revealed that dioctanoylglycerol served as a precursor for [14C]dioctanoylphosphatidylcholine as well as an activator of cytidylyltransferase; and when corrections were made for this effect, the apparent additivity disappeared. The results indicate that the generation of diacylglycerol by exogenous phospholipase C (and possibly the subsequent production of fatty acids via diacylglycerol metabolism) activates cytidylyltransferase activity in neuronal cells under conditions in which membrane phosphatidylcholine content is not measurably reduced.     

Fas-mediated activation of phospholipase D is coupled to the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C in A20 cells.

The activation of phospholipase D in murine B cell lymphoma A20 cells treated with anti-Fas monoclonal antibody has been investigated. Fas cross-linking resulted in a both dose- and time-dependent increases in phospholipase D activity. There was a nearly maximum saturated rise in phospholipase D activity at the dose of 200 ng/ml anti-Fas monoclonal antibody showing a fourfold increase within 3 h. Fas activation also caused an approximately twofold increase of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activity and 1,2-diacylglycerol release, which could be blocked by 30 min pretreatment with the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C inhibitor D609 (50 microgram/ml). Pretreatment of D609 also effectively inhibited the translocation of protein kinase C betaI and betaII from the cytosol to the membrane and the activation of phospholipase D induced by Fas cross-linking, suggesting that 1, 2-diacylglycerol released from the cellular phosphatidylcholine pool through phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C plays a major role in protein kinase C/phospholipase D activation. Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody failed to elicit phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activation and any changes in the intracellular Ca2+ level in A20 cells, indicating that the phosphoinositide-mediated pathway is not involved in this Fas signaling. Therefore, these results suggest that Fas-mediated phospholipase D activation may be a consequence of primary stimulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and that phospholipase D may play a role in Fas cross-linking signaling downstream from phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C.     

Studies of the Ca2+ requirements for glucose- and carbachol-induced augmentation of inositol trisphosphate and inositol tetrakisphosphate accumulation in digitonin-permeabilized islets. Evidence for a glucose recognition site in insulin secretion

The metabolism of D-glucose is believed to initiate and regulate insulin secretion by islet beta-cells, although the identity of the metabolite which couples glucose metabolism to the cellular events involved in insulin secretion is unknown. An alternative hypothesis involves the presence of a glucoreceptor for which there has been no biochemical evidence. We have investigated whether glucose recognition by the beta-cell is coupled to phospholipase C. We have used digitonin-permeabilized, [3H]inositol-prelabeled islets to study glucose and carbachol activation of phospholipase C. In this model, carbachol recognition by its muscarinic receptor was coupled to phospholipase C activation. D-Glucose (but not L-glucose) also stimulated phospholipase C activity in these permeabilized islets. This effect was not due to glucose metabolism since glucose 6-phosphate did not affect phospholipase C activity and since phosphorylation of [3H]glucose was not detectable in digitonin-permeabilized islets. Glucose had no effect on the myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-5-phosphatase or 3-kinase activities. In the absence of agonist, free Ca2+ concentrations between 0.1 and 1 microM (as determined with a Ca2+-specific electrode) did not influence phospholipase C activity. Stimulation of phospholipase C activity by either carbachol or glucose required Ca2+ in the submicromolar range and was optimal at 0.5 microM free Ca2+.myo-Inositol-1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate production from permeabilized islets was synergistically augmented by Ca2+ (0.5-10 microM) and glucose. Phospholipase C activity in islets is therefore not directly activated by free Ca2+ concentrations in the submicromolar range. Furthermore, glucose per se activates phospholipase C activity independently of glucose metabolism. A working hypothesis based on these findings is that glucose is recognized by a site which is coupled to phospholipase C in islets.     

G protein regulation of phospholipase C activity in a membrane-solubilized system occurs through a Mg2(+)- and time-dependent mechanism

GTP-binding proteins have been implicated to function as key transducing elements in the mechanism underlying receptor activation of a membrane-associated phospholipase C activity. In the present study, the regulation of phospholipase C activity by GTP-binding proteins has been characterized in a detergent-solubilized system derived from bovine brain membranes. Guanosine-5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP-gamma-S) and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) stimulated a dose-dependent increase in phospholipase C activity with half-maximal activation at 0.6 microM and 10 microM, respectively. The maximal degree of stimulation due to Gpp(NH)p or GTP-gamma-S was comparable. 100 microM GTP had only a slight stimulatory effect on phospholipase C activity. Adenine nucleotides, 100 microM adenylyl-imidodiphosphate and ATP, did not stimulate phospholipase C activity, indicating that specific guanine nucleotide-dependent regulation of phospholipase C activity was preserved in the solubilized state. Gpp(NH)p or GTP-gamma-S stimulation of phospholipase C activity was time-dependent and required Mg2+.Mg2+ regulated the time course for activation of phospholipase C by guanine nucleotides and the ability of guanine nucleotides to promote an increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of phospholipase C. 200 microM GDP-beta-S or 5 mM EDTA rapidly reversed the activation due to GTP-gamma-S or Gpp(NH)p. These findings demonstrate that G protein regulation of phospholipase C activity in a bovine brain membrane- solubilized system occurs through a Mg2+ and time-dependent mechanism. Activation is readily reversible upon addition of excess GDP-beta-S or removal of Mg2+.     

Evidence for a catalytic role of phospholipase A in phorbol diester- and zymosan-induced mobilization of arachidonic acid in mouse peritoneal macrophages

Inositol phospholipid degradation and release of phospholipid-bound arachidonic acid was induced in intact peritoneal macrophages by exposure to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or zymosan particles. PMA, known to activate protein kinase C, selectively enhanced the deacylation of phosphatidylinositol (i.e., degradation by phospholipase A), while zymosan particles enhanced degradation via both phospholipase A and inositol lipid phosphodiesterase (phospholipase C). The release of arachidonic acid was found to correlate with the degradation of phosphatidylinositol by the phospholipase A pathway and could be dissociated from the phospholipase C-catalyzed cleavage of inositol phospholipids in several experimental situations: (i) when PMA was the stimulus, (ii) by the difference in Ca2+ dependence between the two enzymatic processes when zymosan was the stimulus and (iii) by the parallel inhibition by chlorpromazine of the phospholipase A pathway and arachidonic acid release, but not inositol phospholipid phosphodiesterase. In addition, phloretin, a reported inhibitor of protein kinase C, was found to inhibit arachidonic acid release and the deacylation of phosphatidylinositol. The results are consistent with a model in which arachidonic acid release is mediated by phospholipase(s) A and in which PMA or the phosphodiesterase-catalyzed degradation of phosphoinositides causes activation of the phospholipase A pathway via protein kinase C.     

Stimulation of phospholipase C by guanine-nucleotide-binding protein beta gamma subunits.

We have previously shown that soluble fractions obtained from human HL-60 granulocytes contain a phospholipase C which is markedly stimulated by the stable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[3-O-thio]triphosphate (Camps, M., Hou, C., Jakobs, K. H. and Gierschik, P. (1990) Biochem. J. 271, 743-748]. To investigate whether this stimulation was due to a soluble alpha subunit of a heterotrimeric guanine-nucleotide-binding protein or a soluble low-molecular-mass GTP-binding protein, we have examined the effect of purified guanine-nucleotide-binding protein beta gamma dimers on the phospholipase-C-mediated formation of inositol phosphates by HL-60 cytosol. We found that beta gamma subunits, purified from bovine retinal transducin (beta gamma t), markedly stimulated the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate by this phospholipase C preparation. The stimulation of phospholipase C by beta gamma t was not secondary to a phospholipase-A2-mediated generation of arachidonic acid, was prevented by the GDP-liganded transducin alpha subunit and was additive to activation of phospholipase C by guanosine 5'-[3-O-thio]triphosphate. Beta gamma t also stimulated soluble phospholipase C from human and bovine peripheral neutrophils, as well as membrane-bound, detergent-solubilized phospholipase C from HL-60 cells. Stimulation of soluble HL-60 phospholipase C was not restricted to beta gamma t, but was also observed with highly purified beta gamma subunits from bovine brain. Fractionation of HL-60 cytosol by anion-exchange chromatography revealed the existence of at least two distinct forms of phospholipase C in HL-60 granulocytes. Only one of these forms was sensitive to stimulation by beta gamma t, demonstrating that stimulation of phospholipase C by beta gamma subunits is isozyme specific. Taken together, our results suggest that guanine-nucleotide-binding protein beta gamma subunits may play an important and active role in mediating the stimulation of phospholipase C by heterotrimeric guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins.     

Effect of membrane perturbation on protein kinase C activation: treatment with exogenous phospholipase C decreases translocation of enzyme to cellular membranes

Incubation of mouse epidermal HEL-37 cells with C. perfringens phospholipase C for 30 min caused a partial loss of protein kinase C activity after 30 min incubation. Essentially all the kinase activity was present in the cytosolic fraction of both control and treated cells, despite the continued hydrolysis of phospholipid by the exogenous phospholipase. At shorter incubation times with phospholipase C (5 and 10 min) an association of protein kinase with particulate material was observed, presumably reflecting the accumulation of diacylglycerol. It is proposed that further incubation with phospholipase C renders the plasma membrane unable to bind protein kinase C and that already bound enzyme is destroyed by proteolysis.     

Lethal Toxin of Bacillus cereus I. Relationships and Nature of Toxin, Hemolysin, and Phospholipase

Bacillus cereus phospholipase was characterized as a phospholipase C by the analysis of lecithin degradation products by thin-layer and paper chromatography. Methanol in the growth menstruum inhibited completely the synthesis of phospholipase C, whereas the synthesis of lethal toxin and hemolysin were only partially inhibited. Dialysis of preformed B. cereus products against ethyl alcohol and methanol did not inactivate hemolytic, phospholipase C, or lethal activity. The hemolytic and lethal activities of culture filtrates were completely abolished by trypsin, but phospholipase C activity was resistant to inactivation. Lethal and phospholipase C properties of culture filtrates were resistant to inactivation at 45 C, whereas the hemolytic activity was completely destroyed. Lethal, hemolytic, and phospholipase C activities appeared simultaneously in a complex growth menstruum, but the kinetics of synthesis were different in all cases. Resolution of B. cereus filtrates on columns of Sephadex showed that the phospholipase C, hemolysin, and lethal toxin are distinct proteins. Evidence is also presented which suggests a correlation between the synthesis of B. cereus toxin and the period of transition from vegetative growth to sporulation. The activity of each B. cereus product was cation-independent, as opposed to cation-dependency of the phospholipase C and lethal activities of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin. Immunological cross-reactivity between the B. cereus products and C. perfringens alpha-toxin was not apparent; indeed, they were shown to be antigenically distinct.     

Beta gamma-subunit activation of G-protein-regulated phospholipase C.

The availability of purified G alpha 11 and the G-protein-regulated phospholipase C from turkey erythrocytes has allowed an examination of the direct effects of G-protein beta gamma-subunit on the components of the inositol lipid signaling system. Reconstitution of purified turkey erythrocyte or bovine brain beta gamma-subunit into phospholipid vesicles containing G alpha 11 inhibited AlF4- induced activation of phospholipase C. However, beta gamma-subunit at higher concentrations increased phospholipase C activity. This stimulatory effect of beta gamma-subunit on phospholipase C did not require the presence of the alpha-subunit. G alpha o had no effect on the catalytic activity of phospholipase C. However, coreconstitution of G alpha o and beta gamma-subunit shifted to the right the concentration-effect curve for beta gamma-subunit-promoted activation of phospholipase C. As was observed with G alpha 11, the increase in activity observed in the presence of beta gamma-subunit occurred as an increase in the maximal activity and with no change in the apparent affinity for Ca2+ for phospholipase C activation. The concentration dependence of G alpha 11 for activation of turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C and bovine brain phospholipase C-beta, as well as the concentration dependence of the two enzymes for activation by G alpha 11, were very similar. In contrast, beta gamma-subunit was a much less effective activator of bovine brain phospholipase C-beta than the turkey erythrocyte enzyme. The observation of direct effects of free beta gamma-subunit on phospholipase C extend the possibilities for receptor-mediated regulation of this signaling pathway.     

Phospholipase C activity in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: partial characterization and effect of indomethacin

Several hormones act at the cellular level to increase diacylglycerol via increased catabolism of phosphatidylinositol by phospholipase C. Diacylglycerol stimulates protein kinase C, leading to protein phosphorylation and hormone action. Since phospholipase C activity has not been well studied in man, we have established an assay for phospholipase C in human neutrophils. In this assay sonicates of neutrophils were incubated with L-3-phosphatidyl-[U 14C]-inositol and the incubation mixture extracted with chloroform/methanol. Following the additions of 2 mol/l KCl and chloroform, phospholipase C activity was determined by counting [14C] in the aqueous phase. The phospholipase C activity was linear with respect to time and the quantity of added enzyme. Optimum substrate concentration and pH were 2 mmol/l and 7.0, respectively. Optimal activity was dependent on Ca2+ (2 mmol/l) and deoxycholate (2 mmol/l). Naloxone, and PGD2, which affect various aspects of leucocyte function, had no significant effects on neutrophil PLC activity. The effects of various compounds with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity were also tested on this enzyme. Of these, mepacrine, lidocaine and indomethacin inhibited the enzyme activity. The inhibition by indomethacin was of the noncompetitive type with an apparent Km of 0.17 X 10(-6) mol/l and apparent Ki of 3.6 X 10(-6) mol/l. From these data we conclude that indomethacin is capable of inhibiting phospholipase C activity in neutrophils at clinically significant levels and that this may be relevant in the therapeutic action of this drug.