okadaic-acid and edelfosine

Ceramide is a lipid second messenger that acts on multiple-target enzymes, some of which are involved in other signal-transduction systems. We have previously demonstrated that endogenous ceramide modifies the metabolism of brain ethanolamine plasmalogens. The mechanism involved was studied. On the basis of measurements of breakdown products, specific inhibitor effects, and previous findings, we suggest that a plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 is the ceramide target. Arachidonate-rich pools of the diacylphosphatidylethanolamine subclass were also affected by ceramide, but the most affected were plasmalogens. Concomitantly with production of free arachidonate, increased 1-O-arachidonoyl ceramide formation was observed. Quinacrine (phospholipase A2 inhibitor) and 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (CoA-independent transacylase inhibitor) prevented all of these ceramide-elicited effects. Therefore, phospholipase and transacylase activities are tightly coupled. Okadaic acid (phosphatase 2A inhibitor) and PD 98059 (mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor) modified basal levels of ceramide and sphingomyelinase-induced accumulation of ceramide, respectively. Therefore, they provided no evidence to determine whether there is a sensitive enzyme downstream of ceramide. The evidence shows that there are serine-dependent and thiol-dependent enzymes downstream of ceramide generation. Furthermore, experiments with Ac-DEVD-CMK (caspase-3 specific inhibitor) have led us to conclude that caspase-3 is downstream of ceramide in activating the brain plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Caspase 3; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Ceramides; Endothelin-1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flavonoids; Hydrolysis; Male; Okadaic Acid; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A2; Phospholipid Ethers; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Plasmalogens; Protein Phosphatase 2; Quinacrine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Signal Transduction; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase; Sphingosine

Covalent modification by phosphorylation is a characteristic of the P-glycoproteins expressed in multidrug-resistant cells. This report describes analysis of P-glycoprotein phosphorylation in multidrug-resistant human KB-V1 cells and a study of the relationship of phosphorylation and drug accumulation. In isolated membranes, phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein by purified protein kinase C (PKC) was rapid, and time-dependent dephosphorylation was inhibited by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of type 1 and type 2A protein phosphatases. In 32P-labeled intact KB-V1 cells, P-glycoprotein phosphorylation was stimulated by both 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of PKC, and okadaic acid. Two-dimensional thin layer tryptic phosphopeptide maps indicated that the sites of phosphorylation were similar in control, TPA-treated, and okadaic acid-treated cells and that they corresponded to those phosphorylated by PKC in vitro. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, and the PKC-selective inhibitors calphostin C and the alkyl-lysophospholipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine, inhibited P-glycoprotein phosphorylation in vitro and in intact cells. Drug accumulation assays demonstrated that in KB-V1 cells TPA caused a decrease, whereas staurosporine and calphostin C caused an increase, in accumulation of [3H]vinblastine. These compounds did not significantly alter [3H]vinblastine levels in drug-sensitive KB-3 cells. These results suggest that PKC is chiefly responsible for P-glycoprotein phosphorylation in KB-V1 cells, that membrane-associated protein phosphatases 1 and 2A are active in dephosphorylation of P-glycoprotein, and that phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein may be an important mechanism for modulation of drug-pumping activity.

Topics: Alkaloids; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Drug Resistance; Ethers, Cyclic; Humans; KB Cells; Membrane Glycoproteins; Naphthalenes; Okadaic Acid; Peptide Mapping; Phenotype; Phospholipid Ethers; Phosphopeptides; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Phosphorylation; Polycyclic Compounds; Protein Kinase C; Staurosporine; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Verapamil; Vinblastine