G-actin and F-actin levels at different stages of mouse erythroid differentiation

Monomeric (G-) actin and filamentous (F-) actin levels were determined in Triton X-100 extracts prepared from mouse erythroid cells at various stages of differentiation. G-actin and F-actin were found in the Triton-soluble fraction and in the Triton-insoluble fraction, respectively. G-actin levels in untreated and dimethyl sulfoxide-treated (differentiated) erythroleukemia cells, reticulocytes, and erythrocytes were 48, 33, 2.8, and 0.37 microgram/mg protein, respectively, and F-actin levels were 17, 35, 45, and 59 micrograms/mg protein, respectively. G-actin/F-actin ratios were successively lower in cells representing the more mature stages of development.     

Actin in B16 melanoma cells of differing metastatic potential : Effects of trypsin and serum

Actin is present in cells in monomeric and polymeric (filamentous) forms. Filamentous actin is distributed in Triton-soluble (cytosolic) and Triton-insoluble (cytoskeletal core) fractions. We have used the DNase 1 inhibition assay and immunofluorescence to investigate the distribution of actin in monomeric and polymeric forms in cloned B16 murine melanoma cell lines of low and high metastatic capacity. The protease trypsin caused rounding up and detachment of both cell lines within 5 min. This was associated with almost complete depolymerization of cytosolic actin filaments but the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton was not quantitatively affected by trypsin treatment. There were quantitative differences between the clones in their response to incubation in the presence or absence of 10% serum. The highly metastatic cell line contained 35% more actin when incubated in the presence of 10% serum, almost completely distributed to the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton, an effect not seen in the low metastatic cells.     

The effects of sulfhydryl inhibitors and cytochalasin on the cytoplasmic and cytoskeletal actin of human neutrophils

To better understand the changes that occur in cytoplasmic actin during cell movement, we studied the effect of inhibitors of cell movement on the molecular conformation of actin and its incorporation into the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton of human neutrophils. The sulfhydryl reactive compound N-ethylmaleimide caused an increase in cellular F-actin as measured by uptake of the F-actin specific fluorescent probe 7-nitrobenz-2-oxadiazole-phallacidin. However, N-ethylmaleimide reduced the amount of actin associated with the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton. Dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid, a sulfhydryl reagent that does not cross cell membranes efficiently, did not alter the F-actin content of neutrophils. The effect of N-ethylmaleimide was blocked by the presence of dithiothreitol, a donor of sulfhydryl groups. N-ethylmaleimide did not affect the polymerization of actin in a cell-free system. Cytochalasin B did not alter F-actin content of neutrophils but did decrease actin in cytoskeletons of resting neutrophils. Cytochalasin inhibited the increase in F-actin initiated by the chemoattractant N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine. We propose that N-ethylmaleimide blocks the stabilization of G-actin in cytoplasm, interferes with the incorporation of F-actin polymer into the cytoskeleton, and depolymerizes the cytoskeleton. In contrast cytochalasin stabilizes G-actin in the presence of chemotactic peptide. These data suggest that reversible conversion of G-actin to F-actin and incorporation of F-actin into the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton are important for neutrophil movement.     

Comparisons of Endothelial Cell G- and F-Actin Distribution in Situ and in Vitro

Numerous studies have described the F-actin cytoskeleton; however, little information relevant to C-actin is available. The actin pools of bovine aortic endothelial cells were examined using in situ and in vitro conditions and fluorescent probes for G-(deoxyribonuclease I.0.3 μM) or F-actin (phalloidin, 0.2 μM). Cells in situ displayed a diffuse G-actin distribution, while F-actin was concentrated in the cell periphery and in fine stress fibers that traversed some cells. Cells of subconfluent or just confluent cultures demonstrated intense fluorescence, with many F-actin stress fibers. Postconfluent cultures resembled the condition in situ; peripheral F-actin was prominent, traversing actin stress fibers were greatly reduced and fluorescent intensity was diminished. Postconfluency had little influence on G-actin. with only an enhancement in the intensity of G-actin punctate fluorescence. When post-confluent cultures were incubated with cytochalasin D (15 min; 10^--⁴ M), F-actin networks were disrupted and actin punctate and diffuse fluorescence increased. G-actin fluorescence was not altered by the incubation. Although its unstructured nature may account for the minor changes observed, the stability of the G-actin pool in the presence of notable F-actin modulations suggested that filamentous actin was the key constituent involved in these actin cytoskeletal alterations. A separate finding illustrated that the concomitant use of actin probes with image enhancement and fluorescent microscopy could reveal simultaneously the G- and F-actin pools within the same cell.     

The quantitation of G- and F-actin in cultured cells

An improved method to quantitate the amounts of filamentous (F-actin) and monomeric (globular) actin (G-actin) in cultured cells was developed. Cells are lysed into a myosin-containing buffer and F-actin is removed by centrifugation. The pelleted F-actin is then depolymerized to G-actin in a 1 mM ATP-containing buffer for 1 h before measuring the levels of G-actin using the DNase I inhibition assay. Partitioning of G-actin in the supernatant (greater than 95%) and recovery of actin in both fractions (greater than 85%) were measured by adding [3H]actin to cultured cells. Actin in the separated fractions is stable for at least 72 h at 0 degree C. Asynchronous monolayer cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells contain 2.5 +/- 0.2% of the total protein as actin with 72.4 +/- 5.7% as F-actin. About 10% of this F-actin is not associated with the readily sedimented Triton-cytoskeleton. CHO cells grown in suspension contain 55.8% of the actin as F-actin; following plating about 90 min is required for these cells to flatten and for the F-actin level to reach the monolayer value of about 70%.     

Binding of Protein Kinase C Isoforms to Actin in Aplysia

Abstract: Recently, two of the 10 vertebrate protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, PKCβII and PKCε, have been shown to bind specifically to actin filaments, suggesting that these kinases may regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we present evidence that two PKCs from the marine mollusk Aplysia californica , PKC Apl I, a Ca²⁺-activated PKC, and PKC Apl II, a Ca²⁺-independent PKC most similar to PKCε and η, also bind F-actin. First, they both cosedimented with purified actin filaments in a phorbol ester-dependent manner. Second, they both translocated to the Triton-insoluble fraction of the nervous system after phorbol ester treatment. PKC Apl II could also partially translocate to actin filaments and associate with the Triton-insoluble fraction in the absence of phorbol esters. Translocation to purified actin filaments was increased in the presence of a PKC inhibitor, suggesting that PKC phosphorylation reduces PKC bound to actin. Although both kinases bound F-actin, actin was not sufficient to activate the kinases. In support of a physiological role for actin-PKC interactions, immunochemical localization of PKC Apl II in neuronal growth cones revealed a striking colocalization with F-actin. Our results are consistent with a role for actin-PKC interactions in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics in Aplysia .     

Osteopontin stimulates gelsolin-associated phosphoinositide levels and phosphatidylinositol triphosphate-hydroxyl kinase.

Based on previous studies demonstrating activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxyl kinase (PI3-kinase) and stimulation of a change in cell shape, we examined the effect of osteopontin on the association of phospholipids with gelsolin, an actin-capping/severing protein. Osteopontin stimulated a rapid increase in phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol triphosphate levels associated with gelsolin in Triton-soluble fractions of cell lysates. The increased levels of phosphatidylinositol triphosphate associated with gelsolin were due to stimulation of PI3-kinase activity associated with gelsolin in the Triton-soluble fractions, and they were blocked by the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Osteopontin stimulated translocation of PI3-kinase from the Triton-insoluble to Triton-soluble gelsolin. Osteopontin also decreased Triton-soluble gelsolin/actin complexes consistent with actin uncapping, and increased F-actin levels, which were also blocked by wortmannin. The osteopontin effects were mediated through binding to the alpha(v)beta 3 integrin. Taken together, our studies indicate that osteopontin/alpha(v)beta 3-mediated changes in gelsolin-associated phosphoinositide levels and PI3-kinase activity are related to stimulation of F-actin formation in osteoclasts.     

Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms translocate to Triton-insoluble fractions in stimulated human neutrophils: correlation of conventional PKC with activation of NADPH oxidase.

The responses of human neutrophils (PMN) involve reorganization and phosphorylation of cytoskeletal components. We investigated the translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms to PMN cytoskeletal (Triton-insoluble) fractions, in conjunction with activation of the respiratory burst enzyme NADPH oxidase. In resting PMN, PKC-delta (29%) and small amounts of PKC-alpha (0.6%), but not PKC-betaII, were present in cytoskeletal fractions. Upon stimulation with the PKC agonist PMA, the levels of PKC-alpha, PKC-betaII, and PKC-delta increased in the cytoskeletal fraction, concomitant with a decrease in the noncytoskeletal (Triton-soluble) fractions. PKC-delta maximally associated with cytoskeletal fractions at 160 nM PMA and then declined, while PKC-alpha and PKC-betaII plateaued at 300 nM PMA. Translocation of PKC-delta was maximal by 2 min and sustained for at least 10 min. Translocation of PKC-alpha and PKC-betaII was biphasic, plateauing at 2-3 min and then increasing up to 10 min. Under maximal stimulation conditions, PKC isoforms were entirely cytoskeletal associated. Translocation of the NADPH oxidase component p47phox to the cytoskeletal fraction correlated with translocation of PKC-alpha and PKC-betaII, but not with translocation of PKC-delta. Oxidase activity in cytoskeletal fractions paralleled translocation of PKC-alpha, PKC-betaII, and p47phox. Stimulation with 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol resulted in little translocation of PKC isoforms or p47phox, and in minimal oxidase activity. We conclude that conventional PKC isoforms (PKC-alpha and/or PKC-betaII) may regulate PMA-stimulated cytoskeletal association and activation of NADPH oxidase. PKC-delta may modulate other PMN responses that involve cytoskeletal components.     

State of actin in gastric parietal cells

Remodeling of theapical membrane-cytoskeleton has been suggested to occur when gastricparietal cells are stimulated to secrete HCl. The present experimentsassayed the relative amounts of F-actin and G-actin in gastric glandsand parietal cells, as well as the changes in the state of actin onstimulation. Glands and cells were treated with a Nonidet P-40extraction buffer for separation into detergent-soluble (supernatant)and detergent-insoluble (pellet) pools. Two actin assays were used toquantitate actin: the deoxyribonuclease I binding assay to measureG-actin and F-actin content in the two pools and a simple Western blotassay to quantitate the relative amounts of actin in the pools.Functional secretory responsiveness was assayed by aminopyrineaccumulation. About 5% of the total parietal cell protein is actin,with about 90% of the actin present as F-actin. Stimulation of acidsecretion resulted in no measurable change in the relative amounts ofG-actin and cytoskeletal F-actin. Treatment of gastric glands withcytochalasin D inhibited acid secretion and resulted in a decrease inF-actin and an increase in G-actin. No inhibition of parietal cellsecretion was observed when phalloidin was used to stabilize actinfilaments. These data are consistent with the hypothesis thatmicrofilamentous actin is essential for membrane recruitment underlyingparietal cell secretion. Although the experiments do not eliminate theimportance of rapid exchange between G- and F-actin for the secretoryprocess, the parietal cell maintains actin in a highly polymerizedstate, and no measurable changes in the steady-state ratio of G-actin to F-actin are associated with stimulation to secrete acid.

     

Protein kinase C modulates actin conformation in human T lymphocytes

We studied the effect of activators and inhibitors of protein kinase C on actin conformation in human blood lymphocytes by flow cytometry and gel electrophoresis. PMA, 1-oleyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, and mezerein, activators of protein kinase C, caused an increase in lymphocyte F-actin within 2 to 5 min. After stimulation with PMA, lymphocytes formed pseudopods containing an increased concentration of F-actin and had an increase of actin in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction. Sphingosine and H-7, inhibitors of protein kinase C activation, inhibited the increase in F-actin induced by PMA. The increase in F-actin in response to PMA was striking in Th and Ts lymphocytes (2- to 3-fold increase), but B lymphocytes had only a slight increase (1.15-fold). Thus, activation of protein kinase C modulates actin conformation specifically in T lymphocytes.     

Mechanisms responsible for F-actin stabilization after lysis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes

While actin polymerization and depolymerization are both essential for cell movement, few studies have focused on actin depolymerization. In vivo, depolymerization can occur exceedingly rapidly and in a spatially defined manner: the F-actin in the lamellipodia depolymerizes in 30 s after chemoattractant removal (Cassimeris, L., H. McNeill, and S. H. Zigmond. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:1067-1075). To begin to understand the regulation of F-actin depolymerization, we have examined F-actin depolymerization in lysates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Surprisingly, much of the cell F-actin, measured with a TRITC-phalloidin-binding assay, was stable after lysis in a physiological salt buffer (0.15 M KCl): approximately 50% of the F-actin did not depolymerize even after 18 h. This stable F-actin included lamellar F-actin which could still be visualized one hour after lysis by staining with TRITC-phalloidin and by EM. We investigated the basis for this stability. In lysates with cell concentrations greater than 10(7) cells/ml, sufficient globular actin (G-actin) was present to result in a net increase in F-actin. However, the F-actin stability was not solely because of the presence of free G-actin since addition of DNase I to the lysate did not increase the F-actin loss. Nor did it appear to be because of barbed end capping factors since cell lysates provided sites for barbed end polymerization of exogenous added actin. The stable F-actin existed in a macromolecular complex that pelleted at low gravitational forces. Increasing the salt concentration of the lysis buffer decreased the amount of F-actin that pelleted at low gravitational forces and increased the amount of F-actin that depolymerized. Various actin-binding and cross-linking proteins such as tropomyosin, alpha-actinin, and actin-binding protein pelleted with the stable F-actin. In addition, we found that alpha-actinin, a filament cross-linking protein, inhibited the rate of pyrenyl F-actin depolymerization. These results suggested that actin cross-linking proteins may contribute to the stability of cellular actin after lysis. The activity of crosslinkers may be regulated in vivo to allow rapid turnover of lamellipodia F-actin.     

Actin polymerization induced by pulsed electric stimulation of bone cells in vitro

Electric field pulses, capacitively applied to tissue cultures of embryonic bone cells, were shown to induce changes in the state of cellular actin. Three actin states could be defined by DNAase I inhibition. A rapidly (20-30 s) inhibiting fraction, attributed to monomeric G-actin, amounts to 55% of total actin in nonstimulated cells. An additional fraction of 8% required approx. 20 min to reach full inhibition and was tentatively defined as polymeric 'F'-actin. The remaining 37% could be detected only after treatment of the cells with 0.75 M guanidine hydrochloride, which dissociates actin from all its protein interactions. This fraction, N-actin (network actin) is believed to represent F-actin integrated into some supramolecular structure, where it is not accessible to DNAase I. Upon short electric stimulation the distribution changed to 40% G-actin, 12% F-actin and 48% N-actin. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; an inhibitor of cAMP phosphodiesterase), depletion of extracellular calcium, and calmodulin inhibitors abolished this field effect.     

Effects of cytochalasin B on cell movements and chemoattractant-elicited actin changes of Dictyostelium

The actin-binding drug cytochalasin B (CB) was employed to study the stability and role of cytoskeletal actin following chemotactic stimulation of Dictyostelium discoideum. Intact amoebae were found to be impermeable to this drug, as shown by lack of inhibition of chemotactic movement in its presence and failure of [3H]CB to bind to intact amoebae. However, there were approx. 150 000 high affinity CB-binding sites per cell detectable after cell breakage and preparation of Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons. The effect of CB on cytoskeletons was to destabilize the second (25-45 sec) and third (60 sec) chemotactically-induced peaks of cytoskeletal actin accumulation and to reduce the actin levels to the low prestimulus amount. In contrast, the drug had no such action on the rapid (3-5 sec) actin peak. This peak appeared to be stable in the presence of CB added before or simultaneously with lysis of the cell. It was also observed that the instability of the second and third peaks to CB gradually decreased after cell lysis (as did the number of CB binding sites) such that if CB was added 5 min after lysis of the chemotactically stimulated amoebae it had no destabilizing effect. Evidence was obtained from experiments employing centrifugation of cytoskeletons at 100 000 g and from the use of the DNase I inhibition assay for G-actin, that the first (3-5 sec) actin peak of accumulation involved polymerization rather than just cross-linking of short filamentous actin fragments. The significance of these actin accumulation peaks is discussed and their timing correlated with events involved in chemotaxis.     

Regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by the actin cytoskeleton

In the present study, the association ofendothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with the actin cytoskeleton inpulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) was examined. We found thatthe protein contents of eNOS, actin, and caveolin-1 were significantly higher in the caveolar fraction of plasma membranes than in the noncaveolar fraction of plasma membranes in PAEC. Immunoprecipitation of eNOS from lysates of caveolar fractions of plasma membranes in PAECresulted in the coprecipitation of actin, and immunoprecipitation ofactin from lysates of caveolar fractions resulted in thecoprecipitation of eNOS. Confocal microscopy of PAEC, in which eNOS waslabeled with fluorescein, F-actin was labeled with Texasred-phalloidin, and G-actin was labeled with deoxyribonuclease Iconjugated with Texas red, also demonstrated an association betweeneNOS and F-actin or G-actin. Incubation of purified eNOS with purifiedF-actin and G-actin resulted in an increase in eNOS activity. Theincrease in eNOS activity caused by G-actin was much higher than thatcaused by F-actin. Incubation of PAEC with swinholide A, an actinfilament disruptor, resulted in an increase in eNOS activity, eNOSprotein content, and association of eNOS with G-actin and in a decrease in the association of eNOS with F-actin. The increase in eNOS activitywas higher than that in eNOS protein content in swinholide A-treatedcells. In contrast, exposure of PAEC to phalloidin, an actin filamentstabilizer, caused decreases in eNOS activity and association of eNOSwith G-actin and increases in association of eNOS with F-actin. Theseresults suggest that eNOS is associated with actin in PAEC and thatactin and its polymerization state play an important role in theregulation of eNOS activity.

     

Influence of the surface potential on the Michaelis constant of membrane-bound enzymes: effect of membrane solubilization

We have purified from a membrane fraction of bovine brain a calmodulin-binding protein (calspectin) that shares a number of properties with erythrocyte spectrin: It has a heterodimeric structure with M_r 240 000 and 235 000 and binds to (dimeric form) or crosslinks (tetrameric form) F-actin. We show that calspectin (tetramer) is capable of inducing the polymerization of G-actin to actin filaments by increasing nucleation under conditions where actin alone polymerizes at a much slower rate. Thus, brain calspectin behaves in the same manner as erythrocyte spectrin, supporting the idea that, in conjunction with actin oligomers it comprises the cytoskeletal meshwork underlying the cytoplasmic surface of the nerve cell.     

Rho-kinase induces association of adducin with the cytoskeleton in platelet activation

We examined whether adducin function is regulated through Rho-kinase after agonist stimulation in platelets. A variety of stimuli such as thrombin, STA(2) (a stable analog of TXA(2)), Ca(2+) ionophore, phorbol diester, and shear stress induced phosphorylation of alpha-adducin at Thr445. Preincubation with the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 in platelets inhibited agonist-induced phosphorylation of alpha-adducin. STA(2) stimulation led to a redistribution of adducin from Triton-insoluble (high speed) fraction (membrane skeleton) to Triton-insoluble (low speed) fraction (cytoskeleton) and detergent-soluble fraction. Phosphoadducin at Thr445 was selectively isolated in the cytoskeletal fraction, whereas phosphoadducin at Ser726 was mainly present in the Triton-soluble fraction. Y-27632 inhibition of STA(2)-induced alpha-adducin phosphorylation at Thr445 inhibited incorporation of alpha-adducin and spectrin into the platelet cytoskeleton, although Y-27632 did not affect phosphorylation of alpha-adducin at Ser726. These results suggest that Rho-kinase regulates the association of alpha-adducin and spectrin with the actin cytoskeleton in platelet activation.     

Regulation of Actin and Its mRNA by Thyroid Hormones in Cultures of Fetal Human Brain During Second Trimester of Gestation

Abstract: The effect of thyroid hormones (THs) on the expression of actin gene during fetal human brain development and the period of sensitivity to the hormones have been investigated. Developmental profile of actin in the cytoskeletal (CSK) and noncytoskeletal (non-CSK) fractions in the fetal cerebra showed a pronounced rise in the level of CSK actin at weeks 17–19. Northern blot analysis also revealed a sharp rise in the level of actin mRNA at weeks 16–18, temporally coinciding with the period of rise of THs and peak expression of TH receptors in the fetal brain. In organ cultures of weeks 13–23 fetal cerebra, THs elicited a general stimulation of CSK proteins at all ages studied with a preferential effect on actin at weeks 17–19. During this period, THs also stimulated the rate of synthesis of actin. Kinetics of induction of actin by TH in the non-CSK and CSK fractions in organ cultures of week 17 fetal cerebra showed an increased level of actin in both fractions within 1 h. Subsequently (at 5 and 18 h), induction was evident only in the insoluble CSK fraction, suggesting an effect of the hormone on the intracellular distribution of actin between the soluble non-CSK fraction and the insoluble CSK fraction. Correspondingly, in cultures of week 17 fetal cerebra, THs elicited an increase in actin mRNA level within 30 min of hormonal exposure. The overall results suggest that THs regulate the expression of actin gene by stimulating the rate of synthesis as well as intracellular distribution of actin during the mid phase of the second trimester of gestation.     

Cytoskeletal changes in platelets induced by thrombin and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA).

Changes in shape, and aggregation that accompanies platelet activation, are dependent on the assembly and reorganization of the cytoskeleton. To assess the changes in cytoskeleton induced by thrombin and PMA, suspensions of aspirin-treated,32P-prelabeled, washed pig platelets in Hepes buffer containing ADP scavengers were activated with thrombin, and with PMA, an activator of protein kinase C. The cytoskeletal fraction was prepared by adding Triton extraction buffer. The Triton-insoluble (cytoskeletal) fraction isolated by centrifugation was analysed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Incorporation of actin into the Triton-insoluble fraction was used to quantify the formation of F-actin. Thrombin-stimulated platelet cytoskeletal composition was different from PMA-stimulated cytoskeletal composition. Thrombin-stimulated platelets contained not only the three major proteins: actin (43 kDa), myosin (200 kDa) and an actin-binding protein (250 kDa), but three additional proteins of Mr56 kDa, 80 kDa and 85 kDa in the cytoskeleton, which were induced in by thrombin dose-response relationship. In contrast, PMA-stimulated platelets only induced actin assembly, and the 56 kDa, 80 kDa and 85 kDa proteins were not found in the cytoskeletal fraction. Exposure of platelets to thrombin or PMA induced phosphorylation of pleckstrin parallel to actin assembly. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, inhibited actin assembly and platelet aggregation induced by thrombin or PMA, but did not inhibit the incorporation of 56 kDa, 80 kDa and 85 kDa into the cytoskeletal fraction induced by thrombin. These three extra proteins seem to be unrelated to the induction of protein kinase C. We conclude that actin polymerization and platelet aggregation were induced by a mechanism dependent on protein kinase C, and suggest that thrombin-activated platelets aggregation could involve additional cytoskeletal components (56 kDa, 80 kDa, 85 kDa) of the cytoskeleton, which made stronger actin polymerization and platelet aggregation more.     

The actin released from profilin--actin complexes is insufficient to account for the increase in F-actin in chemoattractant-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Chemoattractant stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is associated with a nearly two-fold rise in actin filament content. We examined the role of the actin monomer sequestering protein, profilin, in the regulation of PMN actin filament assembly during chemoattractant stimulation using a Triton extraction method. Poly-L-proline-conjugated Sepharose beads were used to assess the relative concentration of actin bound to profilin with high enough affinity to withstand dilution (profilin-actin complex) and DNase I-conjugated beads to measure the relative concentration of actin in the Triton-soluble fraction not bound to profilin. Actin associated with the Triton-insoluble fraction (F-actin) was also measured. In unstimulated PMN, the relative concentration of actin bound to profilin was maximum. After FMLP stimulation, profilin released actin monomers within 10 s, with the profilin-actin complex concentration reaching a nadir by 40 s and remaining low as long as the cells were exposed to chemoattractant (up to 30 min). If FMLP was dissociated from PMN membrane receptors using t-BOC, actin reassociated with profilin within 20 s. Quantitative analysis of these reactions, however, revealed that profilin release of and rebinding to actin could account for only a small percentage of the total change in F-actin content. Determination of the total profilin and actin concentrations in PMN revealed that the molar ratio of profilin to actin was 1 to 5.2. When purified actin was polymerized in PMN Triton extract containing EGTA, removal of profilin from the extract minimally affected (12% reduction) the high apparent critical concentration at which actin began to assemble. Although profilin released actin at the appropriate time to stimulate actin assembly during exposure to chemoattractants, the concentration of profilin in PMN was insufficient to explain the high unpolymerized actin content in unstimulated PMN and the quantity of actin released from profilin too small to account for the large shifts from unpolymerized to polymerized actin associated with maximal chemoattractant stimulation.     

Involvement of cortactin and phosphotyrosine proteins in cell–cell contact formation in cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells

Phosphotyrosine proteins involvement, particularly cortactin, was studied in cell–cell contacts of cultured bovine corneal endothelial (BCE) cells. These proteins, including α-catenin, vinculin and cortactin, are localized at cell–cell contacts separate from the cortical actin ring. Approximately 50% of cortactin isoforms p80 and p85 were associated with the Triton-insoluble fraction while phosphotyrosine proteins were in the soluble fraction. Disruption of cell–cell contacts by EDTA treatment was associated with a decrease in cortactin isoforms p80 (26%) and p85 (57%). Cortactin isoform p85 was phosphorylated at Y⁴⁶⁶, expressed in reattaching cells and associated with the Triton-soluble fraction, whereas cortactin isoform p80 was phosphorylated at Y⁴²¹ and associated with the Triton-insoluble fraction. In sub-confluent cultures, pY⁴²¹-cortactin was localized at the leading edge and pY⁴⁶⁶-cortactin at a perinuclear area. In confluent cultures both pY⁴⁶⁶- and pY⁴²¹-cortactin isoforms were localized at the cell–cell contacts. In conclusion, in BCE cells, the most prominent appearance of cortactin was at the cell–cell contacts separate from the cortical actin ring. Isoform p80 was phosphorylated at Y⁴²¹ and associated with the Triton-insoluble fraction and isoform p85 was phosphorylated at Y⁴⁶⁶ and associated with the Triton-insoluble fraction.