In vivo light-induced and basal phospholipase C activity in Drosophila photoreceptors measured with genetically targeted phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-sensitive ion channels (Kir2.1)

The phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2))-sensitive inward rectifier channel Kir2.1 was expressed in Drosophila photoreceptors and used to monitor in vivo PIP(2) levels. Since the wild-type (WT) Kir2.1 channel appeared to be saturated by the prevailing PIP(2) concentration, we made a single amino acid substitution (R228Q), which reduced the effective affinity for PIP(2) and yielded channels generating currents proportional to the PIP(2) levels relevant for phototransduction. To isolate Kir2.1 currents, recordings were made from mutants lacking both classes of light-sensitive transient receptor potential channels (TRP and TRPL). Light resulted in the effective depletion of PIP(2) by phospholipase C (PLC) in approximately three or four microvilli per absorbed photon at rates exceeding approximately 150% of total microvillar phosphoinositides per second. PIP(2) was resynthesized with a half-time of approximately 50 s. When PIP(2) resynthesis was prevented by depriving the cell of ATP, the Kir current spontaneously decayed at maximal rates representing a loss of approximately 40% loss of total PIP(2) per minute. This loss was attributed primarily to basal PLC activity, because it was greatly decreased in norpA mutants lacking PLC. We tried to confirm this by using the PLC inhibitor U73122; however, this was found to act as a novel inhibitor of the Kir2.1 channel. PIP(2) levels were reduced approximately 5-fold in the diacylglycerol kinase mutant (rdgA), but basal PLC activity was still pronounced, consistent with the suggestion that raised diacylglycerol levels are responsible for the constitutive TRP channel activity characteristic of this mutant.     

Light adaptation through phosphoinositide-regulated translocation of Drosophila visual arrestin

Photoreceptor cells adapt to bright or continuous light, although the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are incompletely understood. Here, we report a mechanism of light adaptation in Drosophila, which is regulated by phosphoinositides (PIs). We found that light-dependent translocation of arrestin was defective in mutants that disrupt PI metabolism or trafficking. Arrestin bound to PIP(3) in vitro, and mutation of this site delayed arrestin shuttling and resulted in defects in the termination of the light response, which is normally accelerated by prior exposure to light. Disruption of the arrestin/PI interaction also suppressed retinal degeneration caused by excessive endocytosis of rhodopsin/arrestin complexes. These findings indicate that light-dependent trafficking of arrestin is regulated by direct interaction with PIs and is required for light adaptation. Since phospholipase C activity is required for activation of Drosophila phototransduction, these data point to a dual role of PIs in phototransduction.     

Human neutrophil cytosolic phospholipase C: partial characterization.

The activity of neutrophil cytosolic phospholipase C on PIP2 and PI was compared employing [3H]inositol-labeled heat-inactivated membranes of differentiated HL-60 cells, into which tracer [32P]PIP2 was incorporated. Hydrolysis of PIP2 did not require Ca2+ and was stimulated when the content of PIP2 in the membrane was increased by incorporation of unlabeled inositol lipid. At equal concentrations of PI and PIP2 in the membrane, hydrolysis of PIP2 was faster and no evidence of competition between the two substrates was obtained. Incorporation of PI into PE-[32P]PIP2 vesicles, accelerated PIP2 hydrolysis also at conditions that favor hydrolysis of PI. Partial purification of neutrophil cytosolic PLC on Q Sepharose, phenyl Sepharose and heparin-Agarose columns is described. From heparin-Agarose column, two PLC activity peaks exhibiting different substrate specificities were eluted. The elution profile of the main PLC species from Superose 12 gel filtration column was compatible with an approx. 150 kDa protein.     

Dependence on the Lazaro phosphatidic acid phosphatase for the maximum light response

The Drosophila phototransduction cascade serves as a paradigm for characterizing the regulation of sensory signaling and TRP channels in vivo . Activation of these channels requires phospholipase C (PLC) and may depend on subsequent production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and downstream metabolites . DAG could potentially be produced through a second pathway involving the combined activities of a phospholipase D (PLD) and a phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphatase (PAP). However, a role for a PAP in the regulation of TRP channels has not been described. Here, we report the identification of a PAP, referred to as Lazaro (Laza). Mutations in laza caused a reduction in the light response and faster termination kinetics. Loss of laza suppressed the severity of the phenotype caused by mutation of the DAG kinase, RDGA , indicating that Laza functions in opposition to RDGA. We also showed that the retinal degeneration resulting from overexpression of the PLD was suppressed by elimination of Laza. These data demonstrate a requirement for a PLD/PAP-dependent pathway for achieving the maximal light response. The genetic interactions with both rdgA and Pld indicate that Laza functions in the convergence of both PLC- and PLD-coupled signaling in vivo.     

Al(3+)-mediated changes on membrane fluidity affects the activity of PI-PLC but not of PLC

We investigated whether Al(3+)-mediated changes in membrane fluidity can affect the activity of prokaryotic enzymes phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase C-phosphatidyl inositol specific (PI-PLC) in liposomes of phosphatidyl choline (PC), PC:phosphatidyl inositol (PI), or PC and polyphosphoinositides (PPI). Al(3+) (10-100 microM) promoted membrane rigidification, evaluated with the probes 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and Laurdan, and followed the order: PC:PPI>PC:PI>PC. Al(3+) (25 and 50 microM) did not affect PLC-mediated hydrolysis of PC, PI and PIP(2), but stimulated PIP hydrolysis (48.6%). PI-PLC did not affect PC, PI, and PIP concentrations, but caused a 67% decrease in PIP(2). Al(3+) significantly inhibited PIP(2) hydrolysis in a concentration-dependent (25-50 microM) manner. Results suggest that the inhibition of PIP(2) hydrolysis by Al(3+) could be partially due to a higher lipid packing induced by Al(3+) which could affect the interaction between the enzyme and its substrate.     

Essential role of PI3-kinase and phospholipase A2 in Dictyostelium discoideum chemotaxis

Chemotaxis toward different cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations was tested in Dictyostelium discoideum cell lines with deletion of specific genes together with drugs to inhibit one or all combinations of the second-messenger systems PI3-kinase, phospholipase C (PLC), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), and cytosolic Ca(2+). The results show that inhibition of either PI3-kinase or PLA2 inhibits chemotaxis in shallow cAMP gradients, whereas both enzymes must be inhibited to prevent chemotaxis in steep cAMP gradients, suggesting that PI3-kinase and PLA2 are two redundant mediators of chemotaxis. Mutant cells lacking PLC activity have normal chemotaxis; however, additional inhibition of PLA2 completely blocks chemotaxis, whereas inhibition of PI3-kinase has no effect, suggesting that all chemotaxis in plc-null cells is mediated by PLA2. Cells with deletion of the IP(3) receptor have the opposite phenotype: chemotaxis is completely dependent on PI3-kinase and insensitive to PLA2 inhibitors. This suggest that PI3-kinase-mediated chemotaxis is regulated by PLC, probably through controlling PIP(2) levels and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) activity, whereas chemotaxis mediated by PLA2 appears to be controlled by intracellular Ca(2+).     

Beta-lactamase inhibitors. The inhibition of serine beta-lactamases by specific boronic acids.

Two kinds of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) were purified from rat liver by acid precipitation and several steps of column chromatography. About 50% of the activity could be precipitated when the pH of the liver homogenate was lowered to pH 4.7. The redissolved precipitate yielded two peaks, PLC I and PLC II, in an Affi-gel Blue column, and each was further purified to homogeneity by three sequential h.p.l.c. steps, which were different for the two enzymes. The purified PLC I and PLC II had estimated Mr values of 140,000 and 71,000 respectively on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Both enzymes hydrolysed phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in a Ca2+- and pH-dependent manner. PLC I was most active at 10 microM- and 0.1 mM-Ca2+ for hydrolysis of PI and PIP2 respectively, whereas PLC II showed the highest activity at 5 mM- and 10 microM-Ca2+ for that of PI and PIP2 respectively. The optimal pH of the two enzymes also differed with substrates or Ca2+ concentration, in the range pH 5.0-6.0. Hydrolysis of phosphoinositides by these enzymes was completely inhibited by Hg2+ and was affected by other bivalent cations. From data obtained by peptide mapping and partial amino acid sequencing, it was clarified that PLC I and PLC II had distinct structures. Moreover, partial amino acid sequences of three proteolytic fragments of PLC I completely coincided with those of PLC-148 [Stahl, Ferenz, Kelleher, Kriz & Knopf (1988) Nature (London) 332, 269-272].     

The affinities of human platelet and Acanthamoeba profilin isoforms for polyphosphoinositides account for their relative abilities to inhibit phospholipase C.

In light of recent work implicating profilin from human platelets as a possible regulator of both cytoskeletal dynamics and inositol phospholipid-mediated signaling, we have further characterized the interaction of platelet profilin and the two isoforms of Acanthamoeba profilin with inositol phospholipids. Profilin from human platelets binds to phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate (PIP) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) with relatively high affinity (Kd approximately 1 microM for PIP2 by equilibrium gel filtration), but interacts only weakly (if at all) with phosphatidylinositol (PI) or inositol trisphosphate IP3) in small-zone gel-filtration assays. The two isoforms of Acanthamoeba profilin both have a lower affinity for PIP2 than does human platelet profilin, but the more basic profilin isoform from Acanthamoeba (profilin-II) has a much higher (approximately 10-microM Kd) affinity than the acidic isoform (profilin-I, 100 to 500-microM Kd). None of the profilins bind to phosphatidylserine (PS) or phosphatidylcholine (PC) in small-zone gel-filtration experiments. The differences in affinity for PIP2 parallel the ability of these three profilins to inhibit PIP2 hydrolysis by soluble phospholipase C (PLC). The results show that the interaction of profilins with PIP2 is specific with respect to both the lipid and the proteins. In Acanthamoeba, the two isoforms of profilin may have specialized functions on the basis of their identical (approximately 10 microM) affinities for actin monomers and different affinities for PIP2.     

TRP channels in Drosophila photoreceptors: the lipid connection

The light-sensitive current in Drosophila photoreceptors is mediated by transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, at least two members of which (TRP and TRPL) are activated downstream of phospholipase C (PLC) in response to light. Recent evidence is reviewed suggesting that Drosophila TRP channels are activated by one or more lipid products of PLC activity: namely diacylglycerol (DAG), its metabolites (polyunsaturated fatty acids) or the reduction in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)). The most compelling evidence for this view comes from analysis of rdgA mutants which are unable to effectively metabolise DAG due to a defect in DAG kinase. The rdgA mutation leads to constitutive activation of both TRP and TRPL channels and dramatically increases sensitivity to light in hypomorphic mutations of PLC and G protein.     

Basal B cell receptor-directed phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling turns off RAGs and promotes B cell-positive selection

PI3K plays key roles in cell growth, differentiation, and survival by generating the second messenger phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 activates numerous enzymes, in part by recruiting them from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. We find that in immature B lymphocytes carrying a nonautoreactive Ag receptor, PI3K signaling suppresses RAG expression and promotes developmental progression. Inhibitors of PI3K signaling abrogate this positive selection. Furthermore, immature primary B cells from mice lacking the p85alpha regulatory subunit of PI3K suppress poorly RAG expression, undergo an exaggerated receptor editing response, and, as in BCR-ligated cells, fail to progress into the G1 phase of cell cycle. Moreover, immature B cells carrying an innocuous receptor have sustained elevation of PIP3 levels and activation of the downstream effectors phospholipase C (PLC)gamma2, Akt, and Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Of these, PLCgamma2 appears to play the most significant role in down-regulating RAG expression. It therefore appears that when the BCR of an immature B cell is ligated, PIP3 levels are reduced, PLCgamma2 activation is diminished, and receptor editing is promoted by sustained RAG expression. Taken together, our results provide evidence that PI3K signaling is an important cue required for fostering development of B cells carrying a useful BCR.     

Characterization of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) activities have been partially purified from cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and analyzed for substrate specificity, calcium and pH requirements, and molecular weight. The purification procedure involved DEAE-cellulose and heparin-Sepharose chromatographies followed by Mono Q and size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography. This technique resolves multiple peaks of activity using phosphatidylinositol (PI) and PI 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) as substrates. The major peak was purified to near homogeneity as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PLC activity in vascular smooth muscle cells can be divided into two types based on their calcium and pH requirements, substrate preferences, and molecular weights. The low molecular weight PLC hydrolyzes both PI and PIP2, has a molecular mass of 58 kDa, requires the most calcium for full activation, and has a PI-pH profile that shifts slightly with calcium concentration. Screening a cDNA library with oligonucleotides directed against several of the known PLCs identified a highly expressed PLC cDNA that is 99% homologous to PLC-alpha, suggesting that this low molecular weight peak in fact corresponds to PLC-alpha. The high molecular mass peak (157 kDa) shows much greater activity against PI than PIP2, is active at lower calcium concentrations, and has a PI-pH optimum of 5.0 regardless of calcium concentration. Each of the PIP2 PLC activities is strongly dependent on the relative levels of calcium and pH in the assay buffer. These observations suggest that vascular smooth muscle contains both a high and low molecular weight PLC whose activities are affected markedly by the changes in calcium and pH accompanying hormonal stimulation of the cell.     

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta 1 binds with high affinity to phospholipid vesicles containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

We studied the binding of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta 1 (PLC-delta) to vesicles containing the negatively charged phospholipids phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phosphatidylserine (PS). PLC-delta did not bind significantly to large unilamellar vesicles formed from the zwitterionic lipid phosphatidylcholine (PC) but bound strongly to vesicles formed from mixtures of PC and PIP2. The apparent association constant for the putative 1:1 complex formed between PLC-delta and PIP2 was Ka congruent to 10(5) M-1. The binding strength increased further (Ka congruent to 10(6) M-1) when the vesicles also contained 30% PS. High-affinity binding of PLC-delta to PIP2 did not require Ca2+. PLC-delta bound only weakly to vesicles formed from mixtures of PC and either PS or phosphatidylinositol (PI); binding increased as the mole fraction of acidic lipid in the vesicles increased. We also studied the membrane binding of a small basic peptide that corresponds to a conserved region of PLC. Like PLC-delta, the peptide bound weakly to vesicles containing monovalent negatively charged lipids; unlike PLC-delta, it did not bind strongly to vesicles containing PIP2. Our data suggest that a significant fraction of the PLC-delta in a cell could be bound to PIP2 on the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane.     

Calcium influx via TRP channels is required to maintain PIP2 levels in Drosophila photoreceptors

The trp (transient receptor potential) gene encodes a Ca2+ channel responsible for the major component of the phospholipase C (PLC) mediated light response in Drosophila. In trp mutants, maintained light leads to response decay and temporary total loss of sensitivity (inactivation). Using genetically targeted PIP2-sensitive inward rectifier channels (Kir2.1) as biosensors, we provide evidence that trp decay reflects depletion of PIP2. Two independent mutations in the PIP2 recycling pathway (rdgB and cds) prevented recovery from inactivation. Abolishing Ca2+ influx in wild-type photoreceptors mimicked inactivation, while raising Ca2+ by blocking Na+/Ca2+ exchange prevented inactivation in trp. The results suggest that Ca2+ influx prevents PIP2 depletion by inhibiting PLC activity and facilitating PIP2 recycling. Without this feedback one photon appears sufficient to deplete the phosphoinositide pool of approximately 4 microvilli.     

Phospholipase C isoforms are localized at the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis

It has recently been demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is localized at the cleavage furrow in dividing cells and its hydrolysis is required for complete cytokinesis, suggesting a pivotal role of PIP2 in cytokinesis. Here, we report that at least three mammalian isoforms of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC), PLCdelta1, PLCdelta3 and PLCbeta1, are localized to the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Targeting of the delta1 isoform to the furrow depends on the specific interaction between the PH domain and PIP2 in the plasma membrane. The necessity of active PLC in animal cell cytokinesis was confirmed using the specific inhibitors for PIP2 hydrolysis. These results support the model that activation of selected PLC isoforms at the cleavage furrow controls progression of cytokinesis through regulation of PIP2 levels: induction of the cleavage furrow by a contractile ring consisting of actomyosin is regulated by PIP2-dependent actin-binding proteins and formation of specific lipid domains required for membrane separation is affected by alterations in the lipid composition of the furrow.     

Regulation of high molecular weight bovine brain neutral protease by phospholipids in vitro

The activity of the heat stable, glycosylated high molecular weight bovine brain neutral protease (HMW protease) is differentially regulated by phospholipids. While phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA) had only marginal stimulatory effect (40–75%) on the activity of HMW protease, lysophoshatidylcholine (lysoPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (lysoPA) activated the enzyme by more than two-fold. Both lysoPC and lysoPA exhibited concentration-dependent saturation kinetics for the activation of HMW protease. Surprisingly, phosphoinositides (phosphatidylinositol, PI; phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, PIP; and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, PIP₂) modulated the activity of protease differently: activation of the enzyme was higher with PIP (90%) as compared to PI (21%), whereas PIP₂ inhibited the enzyme (16%). The inhibition of the protease by PIP₂ was concentration-dependent. During receptor-coupled cell activation, phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) converts PC and PA to lysoPC and lysoPA, respectively; PI is converted to PIP₂ by successive enzymatic phosphorylation by PI 4-kinase and PIP 5-kinase; and phospholipase C (PLC) degrades PIP₂ to diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Therefore, the data suggest that HMW protease may be coupled to cell signal transduction where PLA₂, PI 4-kinase, PIP 5-kinase and PLC are involved.     

Purification of a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C from bovine brain

A soluble phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) was purified 58,000-fold from bovine brain. The enzyme, one of six distinct PLC activities detected in brain, accounted for approximately 15% of the soluble phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-phospholipase C (PIP2-PLC) activity in this tissue. The purification scheme included hydrophobic chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose and affinity chromatography on phosphatidylinositol-Sepharose (PI-Sepharose). The enzyme was specifically eluted from the PI-Sepharose with PI, calcium, and detergent. The purified PLC had an estimated molecular weight of 88,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and behaved as a monomeric protein during sedimentation on glycerol gradients. The enzyme required calcium for activity, exhibited a pH optimum of 6.5, and cleaved only phosphoinositides. The rates of PIP2 and phosphatidyl-4-monophosphate hydrolysis exceeded the rate of PI hydrolysis under all conditions tested. These properties are consistent with a potential role for this PLC in the early events involved in cellular calcium mobilization.     

Dynamic phospholipid signaling by G protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control a variety of fundamental cellular processes by regulating phospholipid signaling pathways. Essential for signaling by a large number of receptors is the hydrolysis of the membrane phosphoinositide PIP(2) by phospholipase C (PLC) into the second messengers IP(3) and DAG. Many receptors also stimulate phospholipase D (PLD), leading to the generation of the versatile lipid, phosphatidic acid. Particular PLC and PLD isoforms take differential positions in receptor signaling and are additionally regulated by small GTPases of the Ras, Rho and ARF families. It is now recognized that the PLC substrate, PIP(2), has signaling capacity by itself and can, by direct interaction, affect the activity and subcellular localization of PLD and several other proteins. As expected, the synthesis of PIP(2) by phosphoinositide 5-kinases is tightly regulated as well. In this review, we present an overview of how these signaling pathways are governed by GPCRs, explain the molecular basis for the spatially and temporally organized, highly dynamic quality of phospholipid signaling, and point to the functional connection of the pathways.     

A direct signaling role for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in the visual excitation process of microvillar receptors

In microvillar photoreceptors the pivotal role of phospholipase C in light transduction is undisputed, but previous attempts to account for the photoresponse solely in terms of downstream products of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis have proved wanting. In other systems PIP2 has been shown to possess signaling functions of its own, rather than simply serving as a precursor molecule. Because illumination of microvillar photoreceptors cells leads to PIP2 break-down, a potential role for this phospholipid in phototransduction would be to help maintain some element(s) of the transduction cascade in the inactive state. We tested the effect of intracellular dialysis of PIP2 on voltage-clamped molluscan photoreceptors and found a marked reduction in the amplitude of the photocurrent; by contrast, depolarization-activated calcium and potassium currents were unaffected, thus supporting the notion of a specific effect on light signaling. In the dark, PIP2 caused a gradual outward shift of the holding current; this change was due to a decrease in membrane conductance and may reflect the suppression of basal openings of the light-sensitive conductance. The consequences of depleting PIP2 were examined in patches of light-sensitive microvillar membrane screened for the exclusive presence of light-activated ion channels. After excision, superfusion with anti-PIP2 antibodies induced the appearance of single-channel currents. Replenishment of PIP2 by exogenous application reverted the effect. These data support the notion that PIP2, in addition to being the source of inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, two messengers of visual excitation, may also participate in a direct fashion in the control of the light-sensitive conductance.     

lazaro encodes a lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase that regulates phosphatidylinositol turnover during Drosophila phototransduction

An essential step in Drosophila phototransduction is the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate PI(4,5)P2 by phospholipase Cbeta (PLCbeta) to generate a second messenger that opens the light-activated channels TRP and TRPL. Although the identity of this messenger remains unknown, recent evidence has implicated diacylglycerol kinase (DGK), encoded by rdgA, as a key enzyme that regulates its levels, mediating both amplification and response termination. In this study, we demonstrate that lazaro (laza) encodes a lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase (LPP) that functions during phototransduction. We demonstrate that the synergistic activity of laza and rdgA regulates response termination during phototransduction. Analysis of retinal phospholipids revealed a reduction in phosphatidic acid (PA) levels and an associated reduction in phosphatidylinositol (PI) levels. Together our results demonstrate the contribution of PI depletion to the rdgA phenotype and provide evidence that depletion of PI and its metabolites might be a key signal for TRP channel activation in vivo.     

Isolation and characterization of two different forms of inositol phospholipid-specific phospholipase C from rat brain

Two different forms of inositol phospholipid-specific phospholipase C (PLC) have been purified 2810- and 4010-fold, respectively, from a crude extract of rat brain. The purification procedures consisted of chromatography of both enzymes on Affi-Gel blue and cellulose phosphate, followed by three sequential high performance liquid chromatography steps, which were different for the two enzymes. The resultant preparations each contained homogeneous enzyme with a Mr of 85,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. One of these enzymes (PLC-II) was found to hydrolyze phosphatidyl-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) at a rate of 15.3 mumol/min/mg of protein and also phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and phosphatidylinositol (PI) at slower rates. For hydrolysis of PI, this enzyme was activated by an acidic pH and a high concentration of Ca2+ and showed a Vmax value of 19.2 mumol/min/mg of protein. The other enzyme (PLC-III) catalyzed hydrolysis of PIP2 preferentially at a Vmax rate of 12.9 mumol/min/mg of protein and catalyzed that of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate slightly. The rate of PIP2 hydrolysis by this enzyme exceeded that of PI under all conditions tested. Neither of these enzymes had any activity on phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, or phosphatidic acid. These two enzymes showed not only biochemical but also structural differences. Western blotting showed that antibodies directed against PLC-II did not react with PLC-III. Furthermore, the two enzymes gave different peptide maps after digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. These results suggest that these two forms of PLC belong to different families of PLC.