digitonin and Pheochromocytoma

The effect of the hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogs, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and guanylyl imidodiphosphate (GMPPNP), on norepinephrine (NE) secretion from digitonin-permeabilized rat pheochromocytoma cells, PC12, was examined. Although secretion in the presence of saturating Ca2+ (10 microM) was not affected by GTP gamma S or GMPPNP, secretion in the absence of Ca2+ was stimulated by these GTP analogs. Secretion induced by saturating concentrations of GTP gamma S or GMPPNP was approximately 80% of that induced by 10 microM Ca2+. Half-maximum stimulation was induced by 30 microM GTP gamma S or GMPPNP. Both Ca2(+)-stimulated and GTP gamma S-stimulated secretion were ATP dependent and inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. The GTP gamma S-stimulated secretion of NE from permeabilized PC12 cells does not appear to result from either the release of Ca2+ or the activation of protein kinase C. Activation of protein kinase C by pretreatment of intact cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate caused a 50% increase in both Ca2(+)-stimulated and GTP gamma S-stimulated secretion. Cholera and pertussis toxins did not affect Ca2(+)-stimulated or GTP gamma S-stimulated NE secretion. Guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) and GTP inhibited GTP gamma S-stimulated secretion but not Ca2(+)-stimulated secretion. The inability of GDP beta S to inhibit Ca2(+)-stimulated secretion indicates that the process affected by GTP gamma S is not an essential step in the Ca2(+)-stimulated pathway.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Ethylmaleimide; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Guanosine Triphosphate; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; Hydrolysis; Kinetics; Norepinephrine; Pheochromocytoma; Rats; Signal Transduction; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Thionucleotides; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Permeabilisation of PC12 cells with digitonin allowed a direct study of the intracellular action of botulinum neurotoxin A, one of a group of dichain proteins produced by Clostridium botulinum that causes the fatal neuroparalytic condition, botulism. Release of [3H]noradrenaline from these permeabilised cells could be evoked by Ca2+ and this was inhibited specifically by the neurotoxin in a dose-dependent manner (half-maximal dose approximately 2 nM under the conditions used). Inclusion of the reducing agent dithiothreitol (up to 10 mM) had no effect on the level of inhibition. Moreover, electrophoretic analysis showed that this treatment of the toxin in the native state caused negligible reduction of inter-chain disulphide bonds. Toxin-induced blockade of neurotransmitter release was incomplete and could not be overcome by increased Ca2+ concentration (100 microM). The observed toxin-insensitivity of the release from intact PC12 cells must result from inefficient toxin uptake, relative to that in peripheral cholinergic neurones. Refolded light chain alone inhibited exocytosis to the same degree and with similar potency to that of the intact neurotoxin, an effect not altered by the heavy chain. This inhibitory activity of the light chain in PC12 cells accords with observations made in permeabilised chromaffin cells [(1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 10354-10360; (1989) FEBS Lett. 255, 391-394] but contrasts with invertebrate neurones, where intracellular injection of the same preparations of both chains were necessary for inhibition of quantal release of acetylcholine [(1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 4090-4094]. These collective findings may signify an interesting difference in the release process in such diverse systems or denote a dissimilarity in the transport or processing of the toxin when applied into intact neurones or cells permeabilised by detergent or streptolysin.

Topics: Animals; Botulinum Toxins; Calcium; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Dithiothreitol; Mice; Norepinephrine; Pheochromocytoma; Potassium; Rats; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Adenosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) was used to examine the role of phosphorylation in the regulation of norepinephrine secretion by digitonin-permeabilized PC12 cells. While most kinases will use ATP gamma S to thiophosphorylate proteins, thiophosphorylated proteins are relatively resistant to dethiophosphorylation by protein phosphatases. Norepinephrine secretion by permeabilized PC12 cells was ATP- and Ca2+-dependent but resistant to calmodulin antagonists. Half-maximum secretion was obtained in 0.75 microM Ca2+. Permeabilized PC12 cells were incubated with ATP gamma S in the absence of Ca2+, the ATP gamma S was removed, and norepinephrine secretion was determined. Preincubation with ATP gamma S increased the amount of norepinephrine secreted in the absence of Ca2+, but it had no effect on the amount released in the presence of Ca2+. After a 15-min preincubation in 1 mM ATP gamma S, there was almost as much secretion in the absence of Ca2+ as in its presence. Inclusion of ATP in the preincubation inhibited the effect of ATP gamma S. Ca2+ stimulated the rate of modification by ATP gamma S as brief preincubations with ATP gamma S in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in higher levels of Ca2+-independent secretion than did preincubations with ATP gamma S in the absence of Ca2+. Similarly, brief preincubations of permeabilized cells with ATP in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in elevated levels of Ca2+-independent secretion. Secretion of norepinephrine from ATP gamma S-treated cells was ATP-dependent. These results suggest that norepinephrine secretion by PC12 cells is regulated by a Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation. Once this phosphorylation has occurred, secretion is still ATP-dependent, but it no longer requires Ca2+.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Kinetics; Norepinephrine; Pheochromocytoma; Phosphorylation; Rats

We have used a permeabilized cell assay and a synthetic peptide substrate (KRTLRR) to specifically monitor the activity of protein kinase C in PC12 cells preincubated with nerve growth factor (NGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or phorbol esters. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with 1 microM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or 1 microM phorbol dibutyrate stimulated the rate of KRTLRR peptide phosphorylation 4.8- and 2.6-fold, respectively. Furthermore, pretreatment of cells with NGF or EGF transiently increased the KRTLRR peptide kinase activity. Peak stimulations of KRTLRR peptide kinase (1.3-2-fold) were observed after 1-5 min of growth factor treatment and returned to control levels within 15-20 min. The KRTLRR peptide kinase activity fulfilled two criteria of protein kinase C. A synthetic peptide inhibitor of protein kinase C inhibited both growth factor- and phorbol ester-stimulated KRTLRR peptide kinase activity. In addition, growth factors and phorbol esters failed to stimulate KRTLRR peptide kinase activity in cells rendered protein kinase C-deficient by long-term treatment with 1 microM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. In contrast to the transient activation of protein kinase C, ribosomal S6 kinase, assayed with the synthetic peptide RRLSSLRA, was persistently activated by NGF and EGF. The findings indicate that protein kinase C serves an early and transient role in the molecular actions of NGF and EGF in PC12 cells.

Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Cell Line; Digitonin; Epidermal Growth Factor; Kinetics; Nerve Growth Factors; Pheochromocytoma; Phorbol Esters; Protein Kinase C; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

The effects of agents that inhibit receptor-mediated endocytosis on type I (slow or high-affinity) and type II (fast or low-affinity) NGF binding have been examined in rat PC12 cells. Compounds interfering with endocytosis eliminate type I NGF binding; those interfering with acidification of endosomal vesicles cause increased type I binding at the expense of type II binding. Measurement of NGF binding during and after treatment with inhibitors indicates that NGF receptors rapidly cycle from the cell surface into an undefined endocytotic compartment and back to the surface with little degradation of receptor or NGF, consistent with a model in which NGF receptors are rapidly and reversibly endocytosed or sequestered; those receptors free on the surface represent type II NGF receptors, while those in the process of endocytosis represent type I NGF receptors. The type I and type II NGF receptor species can be interconverted by agents that can manipulate the position of the receptor in the internalization cycle.

Topics: Animals; Arsenicals; Chloroquine; Digitonin; Endocytosis; Monensin; Nerve Growth Factors; Pheochromocytoma; Rats; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Catecholamine secretion from PC-12 cells can be triggered by agents that increase intracellular Ca2+ and is enhanced by phorbol esters and agents that elevate intracellular cAMP concentrations. In mutant PC-12 cells lacking cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A) in which protein kinase C (PK-C) was down-regulated, Ca2+-dependent secretion occurred normally but was no longer enhanced by cAMP or phorbol esters. In digitonin-permeabilized PC-12 cells that lacked PK-C and PK-A, a range of calmodulin (CaM) inhibitors failed to block Ca2+-triggered catecholamine release. Moreover, Mn2+, a CaM activator, failed to trigger catecholamine release whereas Ba2+, which does not activate CaM, supported secretion. These results indicate that the basic mechanism of stimulus/secretion coupling in PC-12 cells does not absolutely require a regulated protein phosphorylation- or calmodulin-dependent step.

Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Calcium Channel Blockers; Calmodulin; Catecholamines; Cations, Divalent; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Kinetics; Mutation; Pheochromocytoma; Protein Kinases

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is known to cause parkinsonism by killing dopaminergic neurons; the toxic substance is a metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+). PC12 cells, which are dopaminergic, are killed in culture by MPTP and MPP+ but at concentrations much higher than that required to kill affected neurons in vivo. However, at low concentrations (10-100 microM), MPP+ caused an increased production of lactate by PC12 cells. MPP+-treated PC12 cells exhibited decreased mitochondrial respiration. Mitochondria from the treated cells respired normally in the presence of added succinate but not beta-hydroxybutyrate, a finding indicating that MPP+ inhibits the oxidation of some substrates selectively. MPP+ was more effective in killing the cells when glycolysis was reduced with 2-deoxyglucose or by lowering the glucose content of the culture medium. Under these conditions, MPP+ inhibited ATP synthesis and depleted cellular stores of ATP. A PC12 variant that is even more resistant to MPTP and MPP+ than are wild-type cells has been isolated. The MPTP-resistant variant is also more resistant to the lethal effects of oligomycin, antimycin A, and rotenone. This variant exhibited altered lactate production and mitochondrial respiration. It is suggested that some brain neurons that accumulate MPP+ without being killed by it may also have an energy metabolism somewhat different from that of more sensitive neurons.

Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Cell Survival; Digitonin; Dopamine; Drug Resistance; Glycolysis; Monoamine Oxidase; Neurotoxins; Oxygen Consumption; Pheochromocytoma; Pyridines; Rats; Succinate Dehydrogenase

Release of norepinephrine from PC12 cells can be stimulated by free Ca2+ in micromolar concentrations after permeabilization with 10 micrograms/ml of digitonin. This release is time and temperature dependent, half-maximal at 0.3 microM Ca2+, and, after washing out of endogenous ATP, half-maximal at about 0.5 mM MgATP when exogenously added. Similar results were obtained with bovine adrenal chromaffin cells using the same protocol. Support for the idea that the mechanism of release from both permeabilized cell types is still exocytosis is demonstrated at the electron microscopic level by immunolabeling chromaffin granule membrane antigens that were introduced into the plasma membrane following stimulation. Electron micrographs furthermore demonstrate that chromaffin granules retain typical dense cores after permeabilization, indicating that leakiness of catecholamines from the granules was not a major factor. Pores, formed by digitonin in the plasma membranes, were utilized to introduce antibodies into such exocytosis-competent cells. Anti-actin and anti-chromaffin granule membrane antibodies show a staining pattern similar to conventionally fixed and stained preparations. Our results demonstrate that pores formed by digitonin do not impair the process of exocytosis although they are big enough to allow macromolecules to pass in both directions. The digitonin-permeabilized cell is therefore an ideal in vitro system with which to study the fusion process between chromaffin granules and the plasma membrane.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane Permeability; Chromaffin Granules; Digitonin; Exocytosis; Immunohistochemistry; Intracellular Membranes; Membrane Fusion; Microscopy, Electron; Norepinephrine; Pheochromocytoma; Rats; Tumor Cells, Cultured

PC12 cells, a cloned rat pheochromocytoma cell line, were treated with digitonin to render the plasma membrane permeable to ions and proteins. At a cell density of 2-6 X 10(5) cells/cm2, incubation with 7.5 microM digitonin permitted a Ca2+-dependent release of 25-40% of the catecholamine within 18 min in the presence of 10 microM Ca2+. Half-maximal secretion occurred at 0.5-1 microM Ca2+. PC12 cultures at lower cell densities were more sensitive to digitonin and gave more variable results. Secretion in the presence of digitonin and Ca2+ began after a 2-min lag and continued for up to 30 min. When cells were treated for 3 min in digitonin and then stimulated with Ca2+ in the absence of digitonin, secretion occurred in the same manner but without the initial lag. Optimal secretion from PC12 cells was also dependent upon the presence of Mg2+ and ATP. Permeabilized PC12 cells exhibited a slow time-dependent loss of secretory responsiveness which was correlated with the release of a cytosolic marker, lactate dehydrogenase (134 kDa). This suggests that digitonin permeabilization allows soluble constituents necessary for secretion to leave the cell in addition to allowing Ca2+ and ATP access into the cell interior. Ca2+-dependent secretion was completely inhibited by exposure of digitonin-permeabilized cells to 100 micrograms/ml trypsin (27 kDa), whereas secretion was only slightly inhibited by trypsin exposure prior to digitonin treatment. Thus, an intracellular, trypsin-sensitive protein is probably involved in secretion. The data also indicate that the same population of digitonin-treated cells which responded to Ca2+ was permeable to a 27-kDa protein. 1,2-Dioctanoylglycerol and phorbol esters which activate protein kinase C enhanced the Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent secretion in digitonin-permeabilized PC12 cells. Thus, protein kinase C appears to be involved in the regulation of catecholamine secretion from permeabilized PC12 cells.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Catecholamines; Cell Line; Clone Cells; Digitonin; Kinetics; Pheochromocytoma; Phorbol Esters; Protein Kinase C; Rats

The membrane-permeabilizing effects of streptolysin O, staphylococcal alpha-toxin, and digitonin on cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells were studied. All three agents perturbed the plasma membrane, causing release of intracellular 86Rb+ and uptake of trypan blue. In addition, streptolysin O and digitonin also damaged the membranes of secretory vesicles, including a parallel release of dopamine. In contrast, the effects of alpha-toxin appeared to be strictly confined to the plasma membrane, and no dopamine release was observed with this agent. The exocytotic machinery, however, remained intact and could be triggered by subsequent introduction of micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ into the medium. Dopamine release was entirely Ca2+ specific and occurred independent of the presence or absence of other cations or anions including K+ glutamate, K+ acetate, or Na+ chloride. Ca2+-induced exocytosis did not require the presence of Mg2+-ATP in the medium. The process was insensitive to pH alterations in the range pH 6.6-7.2, and appeared optimal at an osmolarity of 300 mosm/kg. Toxin permeabilization seems to be an excellent method for studying the minimal requirements for exocytosis.

Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Toxins; Calcium; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Dopamine; Exocytosis; Hemolysin Proteins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Osmolar Concentration; Pheochromocytoma; Radioisotopes; Rats; Rubidium; Streptolysins