| Abstract: | The effects of the potent tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) metabolism were investigated in the neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cell line NG108-15. TPA (100 nM) stimulated by 150-200% the release into the medium of 3H radioactivity from cells that had been pre-labelled with 3H]choline. H.p.l.c. analysis of the medium revealed that TPA stimulated the release of only free 3H]choline (212 +/- 11% of control), without affecting such other labelled metabolites as 3H]phosphocholine and 3H]glycerophosphocholine. This effect was concentration-dependent, with a half-maximal effect obtained at 27.5 +/- 6.8 nM, and was observable as early as 5-10 min after exposure to TPA. The TPA-induced release of 3H]choline into the medium was accompanied by a small and variable decrease in cellular 3H]PtdCho (to 93 +/- 4% of control). However, the radioactivity associated with water-soluble cellular choline metabolites (mainly 3H]phosphocholine and 3H]glycerophosphocholine) remained unchanged. TPA also stimulated the release of 3H]choline derived from 3H]PtdCho that had been produced via the methylation pathway from 3H]methionine. These data suggest that phosphatidylcholine may serve as the source of free choline released from the cells in response to TPA. The possible enzymic mechanisms underlying this response are discussed. |
