Potent direct inhibition of mammalian phospholipase D isoenzymes by calphostin-c

Calphostin-c inhibits protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes by covalent modification of the lipid binding regulatory domain. Exposure of cells to calphostin-c elicits PKC independent effects including disruption of intracellular transport, growth inhibition, and stimulation of apoptosis suggesting actions at additional targets. Phospholipase D (PLD) enzymes are targets for activation by PKC. We have investigated the PKC isoenzyme selectivity for activation of two mammalian PLD enzymes, PLD1 and PLD2, by PKC. We examined the sensitivity of this process to widely used PKC inhibitors and report the surprising finding that calphostin-c is a potent direct inhibitor of PLD1 and PLD2. In vitro, calphostin-c inhibits activity of both PLD1 and PLD2 with an IC(50) of approximately 100 nM. Inhibition is not overcome by protein and lipid activators of these enzymes and does not involve blockade of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent PLD binding to substrate containing liposomes. Studies using a series of deletion and point mutants of the enzymes suggest that calphostin-c targets the PLD catalytic domain. Inhibition of PLD by calphostin-c in vitro involves stable and apparently irreversible modification of the enzyme. Activity of both PLD1 and PLD2 can be inhibited by calphostin-c treatment of intact cells in a manner that is independent of upstream actions of PKC. Our results suggest that inhibition of PLD1 and PLD2 may explain some of the PKC-independent effects of calphostin-c observed when the compound is applied to intact cells.