Isoform-specific inhibition of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels by protein kinase C in adrenal chromaffin cells

Selective protein kinase C (PKC) activators and inhibitors were used to investigate the involvement of specific PKC isoforms in the modulation of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels (VSCCs) in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Exposure to the phorbol ester phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) inhibited the Ca(2+) currents elicited by depolarizing voltage steps. This inhibition was occluded by the PKC-specific inhibitor Ro 31-8220 but remained unaffected by G? 6976, a selective inhibitor of conventional PKC isoforms. PDBu treatment caused the translocation of PKC-alpha and -epsilon isoforms from cytosol to membranes. PKC-iota and -zeta showed no signs of translocation. It is concluded that VSCCs are specifically inhibited by the activation of PKC-epsilon in chromaffin cells. This may be relevant to the action of phospholipase-linked receptors involved in the control of Ca(2+) influx, both in catecholaminergic cells and other cell types.