Two growth factor signalling pathways in fibroblasts distinguished by pertussis toxin

The primary action of a family of mitogens including bombesin, bradykinin, vasopressin and alpha-thrombin is to activate the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides. Hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) by phospholipase C is mediated through coupling of surface receptors to a GTP-binding protein (Gp protein) which, in some cells, is inactivated by the toxin of Bordetella pertussis. It is not known whether this signalling pathway is involved in initiating DNA replication, whereas it has been firmly established that reinitiation of DNA synthesis can be triggered without activation of PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis by, for example, EGF (epidermal growth factor), FGF (fibroblast growth factor) and insulin/IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor-I), members of a class of mitogens known to activate receptor tyrosine kinases. Taking advantage of the fact that Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts respond to either class of mitogens and that their Gp protein appears to be sensitive to pertussis toxin, we have now analysed the toxin's effect on reinitiation of DNA synthesis and find that it inhibits up to 95% of thrombin-induced mitogenicity without affecting EGF- or FGF-induced DNA synthesis and proliferation. These findings strongly suggest that activation of PtdIns(4,5)P2-phospholipase C has a determinant function in growth control, and confirm the existence of alternative growth factor-signalling pathways independent of polyphosphoinositide breakdown.     

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation of Gs subunit and autonomous regulation of adenylate cyclase

Although cholera toxin induces a marked stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in rat adipocyte plasma membranes, the holotoxin induces only a slight increase of cyclic AMP accumulation in intact cells. A similar apparent anomaly is seen with pertussis toxin, which has been shown to inhibit the Gi subunit of adenylate cyclase, and has a greater effect on cAMP accumulation and lipolysis than the activation by cholera toxin of the Gs subunit. To understand better the way in which these bacterial toxins are modifying the adipocyte cells, we prepared adipocyte plasma membranes and submitted them to ADP-ribosylation by cholera and pertussis toxins. During the incubation of control cells, we found endogenous ADP-ribosylation of Gs as a result of sustained stimulation of Gi by adenosine. Our results point to a possible homoeostatic system in which the autonomous adjustment of the basal activity of Gs as a function of that of Gi, under the control of feedback inhibitory ligands, ensures a steady production of cAMP within the cell.     

Stimulation of specific GTP binding and hydrolysis activities in lymphocyte membrane by interleukin-2

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a polypeptide growth factor which stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes. The receptor for IL-2 is expressed on activated T lymphocytes, cloned IL-2 dependent cells and several other cell types. Analysis of the primary structure and of immune-precipitated receptor suggests that this molecule has no intrinsic signal transduction function, unlike other growth factors. IL-2 interaction with a high affinity receptor has been shown, however, to activate the calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PK-C) presumably via phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Members of a family of closely related guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) regulate a diverse group of metabolic events. Two of them, Gs and Gi, stimulate and inhibit adenylate cyclase activity respectively, and other G proteins are involved in diverse signal transduction system. Another member, Go, has no known function and activation of phospholipase C has been attributed to the action of an unidentified G protein, Gp. Since it has been observed that IL-2 inhibits the catalytic activity of adenylate cyclase and that agents such as PGE2 which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity inhibit the lymphoproliferative response to IL-2, association of GTP binding proteins with IL-2 signal transduction was investigated. In this report we describe for the first time the participation of a GTP binding protein in the action of a polypeptide growth factor, interleukin-2.     

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to GS protein alpha-subunit sequence accelerate differentiation of fibroblasts to adipocytes.

Fully-differentiated mouse 3T3-L1 fibroblasts accumulate large amounts of lipid at 7-10 days after induction by insulin or by dexamethasone and a methyl xanthine. G proteins mediate transmembrane signalling from a diverse group of cell-surface receptors to effector units that include phospholipase C, adenylyl cyclase and ion channels. They are also targets of regulation themselves. 3T3-L1 fibroblasts display marked changes in levels of G protein when induced to differentiate to adipocytes. Here we show that cholera toxin, which ADP-ribosylates and activates the G protein subunit Gs alpha, blocks the induction of differentiation, whereas increasing intracellular cyclic AMP directly with the dibutyryl analogue or indirectly with pertussis toxin or forskolin does not affect differentiation. Oligodeoxynucleotides antisense to the sequence encoding Gs alpha accelerate differentiation markedly. The time course of adipogenesis declined from 7-10 days in controls to roughly 3 days in cultures treated with antisense-Gs alpha oligodeoxynucleotides, whereas oligodeoxynucleotides, antisense to Gi alpha 1, Gi alpha 3, and sense and missense to Gs alpha, had no such effect. Antisense-Gs alpha alone induced differentiation by day 7, indicating that Gs alpha activity modulates differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells, acting in a new role which is independent of increased intracellular cAMP.     

Normal p21N-ras couples bombesin and other growth factor receptors to inositol phosphate production

Many receptors, in response to ligand activation, trigger inositol phospholipid breakdown, which leads to rapid intracellular responses. The sustained activation of this pathway is believed to be at least one of the factors involved in the stimulation of cell growth and there has been much speculation that certain oncogenes use this pathway to effect uncontrolled cellular proliferation. It has been suggested, by analogy with the receptor-mediated control of adenylate cyclase, that the receptor stimulation of inositol phospholipid metabolism is mediated through a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) called Gp (or Np). Although such a species has not been identified, there is now strong experimental evidence that this process is mediated by a G-protein distinct from the stimulatory and inhibitory G-proteins (Gs and Gi, respectively). The ras genes code for a plasma membrane protein, p21, whose only known biochemical property is a high-affinity GTPase activity. We show here that the expression of normal p21N-ras in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts leads to the coupling of certain growth factor receptors to stimulated inositol phosphate production. We propose that the N-ras proto-oncogene encodes a protein which couples the receptors for certain growth factors to the stimulation of phospholipase C. Thus, N-ras p21 may be the putative Gp or a functionally related protein.     

Na(+)/H(+ ) exchanger regulatory factor 2 directs parathyroid hormone 1 receptor signalling

The parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) is a class II G-protein-coupled receptor. PTH1R agonists include both PTH, a hormone that regulates blood calcium and phosphate, and PTH-related protein (PTHrP), a paracrine/autocrine factor that is essential for development, particularly of the skeleton. Adenylyl cyclase activation is thought to be responsible for most cellular responses to PTH and PTHrP, although many actions appear to be independent of adenylyl cyclase. Here we show that the PTH1R binds to Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factors (NHERF) 1 and 2 through a PDZ-domain interaction in vitro and in PTH target cells. NHERF2 simultaneously binds phospholipase C beta 1 and an atypical, carboxyl-terminal PDZ consensus motif, ETVM, of the PTH1R through PDZ1 and PDZ2, respectively. PTH treatment of cells that express the NHERF2 PTH1R complex markedly activates phospholipase C beta and inhibits adenylyl cyclase through stimulation of inhibitory G proteins (G(i/o) proteins). NHERF-mediated assembly of PTH1R and phospholipase C beta is a unique mechanism to regulate PTH signalling in cells and membranes of polarized cells that express NHERF, which may account for many tissue- and cell-specific actions of PTH/PTHrP and may also be relevant to signalling by many G-protein-coupled receptors.     

Cross-talk between cellular signalling pathways suggested by phorbol-ester-induced adenylate cyclase phosphorylation

Receptor-mediated activation of both adenylate cyclase and phosphatidylinositide hydrolysis systems occurs through guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins and ultimately leads to specific activation of either cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A or Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. Given the remarkable diversity of agents that influence cellular metabolism through these pathways and the similarities of their components, interactions between the two signalling systems could occur. In fact, stimulation of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a phorbol ester that activates protein kinase C, influences hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase. In some cells TPA induces desensitization of receptor-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase, whereas in others, such as frog erythrocytes, phorbol ester treatment results in increased agonist-stimulated as well as basal, guanine nucleotide- and fluoride ion-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. We show here that TPA produces phosphorylation of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase in frog erythrocytes. Moreover, purified protein kinase C can directly phosphorylate in vitro the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase purified from bovine brain. These results suggest that phosphorylation of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase by protein kinase C may be involved in the phorbol ester-induced enhancement of adenylate cyclase activity. In addition to providing the first direct demonstration of a covalent modification of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase, these results provide a potential biochemical mechanism for a regulatory link between the two major transmembrane signalling systems.     

Botulinum C2 toxin ADP-ribosylates actin

ADP-ribosylation of regulatory proteins is an important pathological mechanism by which various bacterial toxins affect eukaryotic cell functions. While diphtheria toxin catalyses the ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2, which results in inhibition of protein synthesis, cholera toxin and pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylate Ns and Ni, respectively, the GTP-binding regulatory components of the adenylate cyclase system, thereby modulating the bidirectional hormonal regulation of the adenylate cyclase. Botulinum C2 toxin is another toxin which has been reported to possess ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. This extremely toxic agent is produced by certain strains of Clostridium botulinum and induces hypotension, an increase in intestinal secretion, vascular permeability and haemorrhaging in the lungs. In contrast to botulinum neurotoxins, the botulinum C2 toxin apparently lacks any neurotoxic effects. Here we report that botulinum C2 toxin ADP-ribosylates a protein of relative molecular mass 43,000 (43K) in intact cells and in cell-free preparations. We present evidence that the 43K protein substrate is actin, which is apparently mono-ADP-ribosylated by the toxin. Botulinum C2 toxin also ADP-ribosylated purified liver G-actin, whereas liver F-actin was only poorly ADP-ribosylated and skeletal muscle actin was not ADP-ribosylated in either its G form or its F form. ADP-ribosylation of liver G-actin by botulinum C2 toxin resulted in a drastic reduction in viscosity of actin polymerized in vitro.     

Activation of Escherichia coli prohaemolysin to the mature toxin by acyl carrier protein-dependent fatty acylation

Haemolysin secreted by pathogenic Escherichia coli binds to mammalian cell membranes, disrupting cellular activities and lysing cells by pore-formation. It is synthesized as nontoxic prohaemolysin (proHlyA), which is activated intracellularly by a mechanism dependent on the cosynthesized HlyC. Haemolysin is one of a family of membrane-targeted toxins, including the leukotoxins of Pasteurella and Actinobacillus and the bifunctional adenylate cyclase haemolysin of Bordetella pertussis, which require this protoxin activation 1-5. HlyC alone cannot activate proHlyA, but requires a cytosolic activating factor6. Here we report the cytosolic activating factor is identical to the acyl carrier protein and that activation to mature toxin is achieved by the transfer of a fatty acyl group from acyl carrier protein to proHlyA. Only acyl carrier protein, not acyl-CoA, can promote HlyC-directed proHlyA acylation, but a range of acyl groups are effective.     

Pertussis toxin reverses adenosine inhibition of neuronal glutamate release

Adenosine and its analogues are potent inhibitors of synaptic activity in the central and peripheral nervous system. In the central nervous system (CNS), this appears to arise primarily by inhibition of presynaptic release of transmitters, including glutamate, which is possibly the major excitatory transmitter in the brain. In addition, postsynaptic effects of adenosine have been reported which would also serve to reduce neurotransmission. The mechanism by which adenosine inhibits CNS neurotransmission is unknown, although it appears to exert its effect via an A1 receptor which in some systems is negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition, we have examined the effect of pertussis toxin (PTX) on the ability of the stable adenosine analogue (-)phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) to inhibit glutamate release from cerebellar neurones maintained in primary culture. PTX, by ADP-ribosylating the nucleotide-binding protein Ni, prevents coupling of inhibitory receptors such as the A1 receptor to adenylate cyclase. As reported here, we found that PTX, as well as preventing inhibition of adenylate cyclase by PIA, also converts the PIA-induced inhibition of glutamate release to a stimulation. Our results suggest strongly that purinergic inhibitory modulation of transmitter release occurs by inhibition of adenylate cyclase.     

Hormonal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase through Gi-protein beta gamma subunits.

Agonist-bound receptors activate heterotrimeric (alpha beta gamma) G proteins by catalysing replacement by GTP of GDP bound to the alpha subunit, resulting in dissociation of alpha-GTP from the beta gamma subunits. In most cases, alpha-GTP carries the signal to effectors, as in hormonal stimulation and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by alpha s and alpha i respectively. By contrast, genetic evidence in yeast and studies in mammalian cells suggest that beta gamma subunits of G proteins may also regulate effector pathways. Indeed, of the four recombinant mammalian adenylyl cyclases available for study, two, adenylyl cyclases II and IV, are stimulated by beta gamma. This effect of beta gamma requires costimulation by alpha s-GTP. This conditional pattern of effector responsiveness led to the prediction that receptors coupled to many G proteins will mediate elevation of cellular cyclic AMP, provided that Gs is also active. We now confirm this prediction. Coexpression of mutationally active alpha s with adenylyl cyclase II converted agonists that act through 'inhibitory' receptors (coupled to Gi) into stimulators of cAMP synthesis. Experiments using pertussis toxin and a putative scavenger of beta gamma, the alpha subunit of transducin, suggest that beta gamma subunits of the Gi proteins mediated this stimulation. These findings assign a new signalling function to beta gamma subunits of Gi proteins, the conditional stimulation of cAMP synthesis by adenylyl cyclase II.     

Altered Gs and adenylate cyclase activity in human GH-secreting pituitary adenomas

Gs and Gi are guanine nucleotide-binding, heterotrimer proteins that regulate the activity of adenylate cyclase, and are responsible for transferring stimulatory and inhibitory hormonal signals, respectively, from cell surface receptors to the enzyme catalytic unit. These proteins can be directly activated by agents such as GTP and analogues, fluoride and magnesium. Decreased amounts of Gs and Gi, and even the absence of Gs, have been described, whereas an altered Gs has been reported in a cultured cell line (UNC variant of S49 lymphoma cells), but has never been observed in human disease states. We have found a profoundly altered Gs protein in a group of human growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas, characterized by high secretory activity and intracellular cyclic AMP levels. In the membranes from these tumours no stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by growth hormone-releasing hormone, by GTP or by fluoride was observed. Indeed, the last two agents caused an inhibition, probably mediated by Gi. In contrast, adenylate cyclase stimulation by Mg2+ was enormously increased. This altered pattern of adenylate cyclase regulation was reproduced when a cholate extract of the tumour membranes (which contains G proteins) was reconstituted with Gs-free, cyc- S49 cell membranes. Inasmuch as secretion from somatotrophic cells is known to be a cAMP-dependent function, the alteration of Gs could be the direct cause of the high secretory activity of the tumours in which it occurs.     

Subunits beta gamma of heterotrimeric G protein activate beta 2 isoform of phospholipase C.

The activation of heterotrimeric G proteins results in the exchange of GDP bound to the alpha-subunit for GTP and the subsequent dissociation of a complex of the beta- and gamma-subunits (G beta gamma). The alpha-subunits of different G proteins interact with a variety of effectors, but less is known about the function of the free G beta gamma complex. G beta gamma has been implicated in the activation of a cardiac potassium channel, a retinal phospholipase A2 (ref. 9) and a specific receptor kinase, and in vitro reconstitution experiments indicate that the G beta gamma complex can act with G alpha subunit to modulate the activity of different isoforms of adenylyl cyclase. Of two phospholipase activities that can be separated in extracts of HL-60 cells, purified G beta gamma is found to activate one of them. Here we report that in co-transfection assays G beta gamma subunits specifically activate the beta 2 and not the beta 1 isoform of phospholipase, which acts on phosphatidylinositol. We use transfection assays to show also that receptor-mediated release of G beta gamma from G proteins that are sensitive to pertussis toxin can result in activation of the phospholipase. This effect may be the basis of the pertussis-toxin-sensitive phospholipase C activation seen in some cell systems (reviewed in refs 13 and 14).     

A nucleotide regulatory site for somatostatin inhibition of adenylate cyclase in S49 lymphoma cells

The cyc- variants of S49 lymphoma cells have served as powerful tools for studying the components and mechanisms of hormone-induced adenylate cyclase stimulation, as these cells are deficient in the guanine nucleotide regulatory site (Ns) mediating hormone, guanine nucleotide, cholera toxin and fluoride-induced stimulations of the enzyme. Because of this deficiency, membranes of these cells have been used for reconstitution of the system by inserting the coupling component derived from other cell types. The hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase is not only stimulated by hormones but can also be inhibited by a wide variety of hormones and neurotransmitters, and there is some evidence that hormonal inhibition may be mediated by a distinct guanine nucleotide regulatory site. Studies in cyc- cells lacking a functional Ns may therefore answer this unresolved, important question. We have recently observed that stable GTP analogues can inhibit cyc- adenylate cyclase stimulated by purified, preactivated Ns or forskolin, which can activate adenylate cyclase even in the absence of a functional Ns (ref. 10). The data indicated that these Ns-deficient cells contain an inhibitory guanine nucleotide site, Ni. To strengthen this concept, we investigated whether the cyc- adenylate cyclase can be inhibited by a hormone. We report here that somatostatin decreases cyclic AMP levels in cyc- cells, inhibits the forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase and causes a concomitant increase in a high affinity GTPase activity in cyc- membranes. The data strongly suggest that both the hormone- and guanine nucleotide-induced adenylate cyclase inhibitions in cyc- cells are mediated by Ni and that the mechanisms of activation and inactivation of Ni are similar to those established for Ns.     

The GTP-binding protein, Go, regulates neuronal calcium channels

In neuronal cells, opioid peptides and opiates inhibit neurotransmitter release, which is a calcium-dependent process. They also inhibit adenylyl cyclase, presumably via the membrane signal-transducing component, Gi, a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein). No causal relationship between these two events has yet been demonstrated. Besides Gi, membranes of neuronal tissues contain large amounts of Go, a G-protein with unknown function. Both G-proteins are heterotrimers consisting of alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunits; the alpha-subunits can be ADP-ribosylated by an exotoxin from Bordetella pertussis (PT), which modification inhibits receptor-mediated activation of the G-protein. It was recently shown that noradrenaline, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibit the voltage-dependent calcium channels in dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia; this inhibition is mimicked by intracellular application of guanine nucleotides and blocked by PT, suggesting the involvement of a G-protein. Here we report an inhibitory effect of the opioid D-Ala2, D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) on the calcium current (ICa) in neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells (N X G cells). Pretreatment with PT almost completely abolishes the DADLE effect. The effect is restored by intracellular application of Gi and Go. As the alpha-subunit of Go (with or without beta-gamma complex) is 10 times more potent than Gi, we propose that Go is involved in the functional coupling of opiate receptors to neuronal voltage-dependent calcium channels.     

Abolition of the expression of inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein Gi activity in diabetes

Many cell-surface receptors for hormones appear to exert their effects on target cells by interacting with specific guanine nucleotide binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) which couple receptors to their second-messenger signal generation systems. A common intracellular second messenger, which is used by many hormones, is cyclic AMP. This is produced by adenylate cyclase, whose activity is controlled by two G-proteins, Gs which mediates stimulatory effects and Gi inhibitory effects on adenylate cyclase activity. In liver, the hormone glucagon increases intracellular cAMP concentrations by activating adenylate cyclase by a Gs-mediated process. This effect of glucagon is antagonised by the hormone insulin, although the molecular mechanism by which insulin elicits its actions is obscure. However, insulin receptors exhibit a tyrosyl kinase activity and appear to interact with G-proteins, perhaps by causing phosphorylation of them. In type I diabetes, circulating insulin levels are abnormally low, giving rise to gross perturbations of metabolism as well as to a variety of complications such as ionic disturbances, neuropathies of the nervous system, respiratory and cardiovascular aberrations and predisposition to infection. We show here that experimentally-induced type I diabetes leads to the loss of expression of Gi in rat liver. As it has been suggested that Gi may couple receptors to K+-channels as well as mediating the inhibition of adenylate cyclase, aberrations in the control of expression of this key regulatory protein in type I diabetes may be expected to lead to pleiotropic effects.     

Activation of the beta 1 isozyme of phospholipase C by alpha subunits of the Gq class of G proteins.

Many hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors, on binding to G protein-coupled receptors or receptors possessing tyrosine kinase activity, increase intracellular levels of the second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol. This is due to activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase(s) C (PLC), the isozymes of which are classified into groups, alpha, beta, gamma and delta. The beta, gamma and delta groups themselves contain PLC isozymes which have both common and unique structural domains. Only the gamma 1 isozyme has been implicated in a signal transduction mechanism. This involves association with, and tyrosine phosphorylation by, the ligand-bound epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors, probably by means of the PLC-gamma 1-specific src homology (SH2) domain. Because EGF receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 stimulates catalytic activity in vitro and G proteins have been implicated in the activation of PLC, we investigated which PLC isozymes are subject to G protein regulation. We have purified an activated G protein alpha subunit that stimulates partially purified phospholipase C and now report that this G protein specifically activates the beta 1 isozyme, but not the gamma 1 and delta 1 isozymes of phospholipase C. We also show that this protein is related to the Gq class of G protein alpha subunits.     

The G protein-gated atrial K+ channel is stimulated by three distinct Gi alpha-subunits

The guanine nucleotide-binding protein, Gi, which inhibits adenylyl cyclase, has recently been shown to have three subtypes of the alpha-subunit, termed Gi alpha-1, Gi alpha-2 and Gi alpha-3. They share 87-94% amino-acid sequence homology and so are difficult to separate from one another. Among other functions, purified preparations activate K+ channels but there is confusion over which of the subtypes activates the muscarinic K+ channels of the atrial muscle of the heart: Gi alpha-3, also termed Gk, has been shown to activate this channel but it is not clear whether Gi alpha-1 does or does not. To clarify this problem, we expressed the subtypes separately in Escherichia coli to eliminate contamination by other subtypes and tested the recombinant alpha- chains on atrial muscarinic K+ channels. Although we anticipated that only Gi alpha-3 would have Gk activity, to our surprise all three recombinant subtypes were active, from which we deduce that the Gi subtypes are multifunctional.     

Phospholipase Cgamma activates Ras on the Golgi apparatus by means of RasGRP1

Ras proteins regulate cellular growth and differentiation, and are mutated in 30% of cancers. We have shown recently that Ras is activated on and transmits signals from the Golgi apparatus as well as the plasma membrane but the mechanism of compartmentalized signalling was not determined. Here we show that, in response to Src-dependent activation of phospholipase Cgamma1, the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor RasGRP1 translocated to the Golgi where it activated Ras. Whereas Ca(2+) positively regulated Ras on the Golgi apparatus through RasGRP1, the same second messenger negatively regulated Ras on the plasma membrane by means of the Ras GTPase-activating protein CAPRI. Ras activation after T-cell receptor stimulation in Jurkat cells, rich in RasGRP1, was limited to the Golgi apparatus through the action of CAPRI, demonstrating unambiguously a physiological role for Ras on Golgi. Activation of Ras on Golgi also induced differentiation of PC12 cells, transformed fibroblasts and mediated radioresistance. Thus, activation of Ras on Golgi has important biological consequences and proceeds through a pathway distinct from the one that activates Ras on the plasma membrane.     

Growth inhibition by protein kinase C late in mitogenesis

The importance of alpha-thrombin in the clotting cascade is well-known, but it is also a potent mitogen. Like many other mitogens, thrombin causes receptor-mediated activation of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC), leading to the release of diacylglycerol and the subsequent activation of protein kinase C (refs 3-6). Protein kinase C is probably important in cell proliferation, as activation of this enzyme by phorbol esters promotes growth in many systems. Some growth factors have tyrosine kinase activity and function without activation of PLC or protein kinase C. In this report we show that alpha-thrombin retains its mitogenicity in vascular smooth muscle cells depleted of protein kinase C. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) is found to be a potent growth inhibitor when added to vascular smooth muscle cells with alpha-thrombin. Moreover, growth inhibition is maximal when protein kinase C is activated 4 hours after exposure to thrombin, long after the completion of 'early events' induced by thrombin. Thus, PMA probes an event late in the G1 phase of the cell cycle or at the G1-S transition.