Activation of phospholipase D by ras proteins is independent of protein kinase C

Regulation of phospholipase D isoenzymes by transforming Ras and atypical protein kinase C-iota

The activation of phospholipase D (PLD) by transforming Ras is well documented. Although two distinct PLD isoforms, PLD1 and PLD2, have been cloned from mammalian cells, it has remained unclear whether both isoenzymes are activated by Ras and, if this is the case, whether they are stimulated by a common mechanism. In the present study we show that expression of transforming Ras in HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells enhanced the activity of endogenous PLD. Co-expression of Ras with either PLD1b or PLD2 resulted in elevated activities of both PLD isoenzymes in HC11 cells, indicating that transforming Ras was capable of activating both PLD isoforms in vivo. Ras-induced activation of PLD was resistant to the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X, which preferentially affects conventional- and novel-type PKCs, but sensitive to Ro-31-8220, which inhibits atypical PKCs more effectively. Co-transfection of atypical PKC-iota with either PLD1b or PLD2 led to a selective activation of PLD2 by PKC-iota, whereas PLD1b was not affected. PLD1b, however, was found to be a potent activator of PKC-iota, whereas PLD2 was less effective in this respect. The data suggest that PKC-iota acts upstream of PLD2 and that PLD1b is implicated in the activation of PKC-iota. The data are discussed as indicating a putative signalling cascade comprising Ras-->PLD1b-->PKC-iota-->PLD2. Evidence for the implication of this pathway in the transcriptional regulation of cyclin D1 is also presented.

Inhibition of ChoK is an efficient antitumor strategy for Harvey-, Kirsten-, and N-ras-transformed cells

An increasing amount of evidence suggests that elevated PCho levels are related to the transforming properties of the H-Ras oncoprotein. Based on these observations, we have designed an antitumor strategy using choline kinase, the enzyme responsible of PCho production, as a novel target for drug discovery. However, little relationship between this lipid-related pathway and the other two Ras members, N- and K-ras, has been established. Since N- and K-ras are the most frequently mutated ras genes in human tumors, we have analyzed the PC-PLD/ChoK pathway and the sensitivity to ChoK inhibition of all three ras-transformed cells. Here we demonstrate that transformation by the three Ras oncoproteins results in increased levels of PCho to a similar extent, resulting from a similar constitutive increase of ChoK activity. As well, sensitivity to choline kinase inhibitors as antiproliferative drugs is similar in cell lines transformed by each of the three ras oncogenes, being in all cases higher than parental, nontransformed cells. In addition, H, K and N-ras-induced alterations in PC metabolism is discussed. These results indicate that ChoK can be used as a general target for anticancer drug design against Ras-dependent tumorigenesis.

Regulation of the Src homology 2-containing inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP1 in HIP1/PDGFbeta R-transformed cells

It has been shown previously that the Huntingtin interacting protein 1 gene (HIP1) was fused to the platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor gene (PDGFbetaR) in leukemic cells of a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. This resulted in the expression of the chimeric HIP1/PDGFbetaR protein, which oligomerizes, is constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated, and transforms the Ba/F3 murine hematopoietic cell line to interleukin-3-independent growth. Tyrosine phosphorylation of a 130-kDa protein (p130) correlates with transformation by HIP1/PDGFbetaR and related transforming mutants. We report here that the p130 band is immunologically related to the 125-kDa isoform of the Src homology 2-containing inositol 5-phosphatase, SHIP1. We have found that SHIP1 associates and colocalizes with the HIP1/PDGFbetaR fusion protein and related transforming mutants. These mutants include a mutant that has eight Src homology 2-binding phosphotyrosines mutated to phenylalanine. In contrast, SHIP1 does not associate with H/P(KI), the kinase-dead form of HIP1/PDGFbetaR. We also report that phosphorylation of SHIP1 by HIP1/PDGFbetaR does not change its 5-phosphatase-specific activity. This suggests that phosphorylation and possible PDGFbetaR-mediated sequestration of SHIP1 from its substrates (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) and Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4)) might alter the levels of these inositol-containing signal transduction molecules, resulting in activation of downstream effectors of cellular proliferation and/or survival.

A low molecular weight factor from dividing cells activates phospholipase D in caveolin-enriched membrane microdomains

Phospholipase D (PLD) activity is elevated in Ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. This difference in PLD activity between Ras-transformed and nontransformed parental cells disappeared in isolated membranes from these cells. In reconstitution experiments, heat-denatured cytosolic fractions from Ras-transformed, but not parental, NIH 3T3 cells elevated PLD activity in isolated membranes. This heat-resistant PLD-stimulating activity from the Ras-transformed cells was sensitive to proteases and passed through a 1-kDa MW cutoff membrane, suggesting that the factor is a peptide of less than 10 amino acids. The ability of this PLD-stimulating factor, designated PLD-SF, to elevate PLD activity in isolated membranes was restricted to the caveolin-enriched light membranes, where many signaling molecules are localized. PLD-SF was also elevated in v-Src- and v-Raf-transformed cells and in serum-stimulated NIH 3T3 cells. PLD-SF was detected in a variety of rat tissues but was highest in testes, where a large percentage of cells are dividing. A similar low molecular weight PLD-stimulating activity was found in actively dividing, but not stationary yeast, cells. The data here provide evidence for a highly conserved PLD-stimulating peptide that is elevated in response to mitogenic stimuli.

Ras protein is involved in the physiological regulation of phospholipase D by platelet derived growth factor

Lipid-derived metabolites play an important role in the regulation of cell responses to external stimuli, including cell growth control, transformation and apoptosis. Phospholipase D (PLD) is one of the critical elements in the regulation of lipid metabolism and the generation of second messengers, some of them involved in cell growth control. Oncogenic Ras proteins affect the activity of PLD by two alternate mechanisms, involving a positive activation and a feedback negative loop. Here we investigate the involvement of the proto-oncogenic Ras protein in the physiological activation of PLD induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Over-expression of the wild type Ras protein or some of its regulatory components, such as Shc or Grb2, induces an amplification of PLD activation by PDGF challenge. Furthermore, blocking the endogenous Ras by expression of the dominant negative mutant, H-Ras-Asn17 completely eliminated the activation of PLD by PDGF. Thus, PDGF requires a complex system for PLD regulation implying the existence of at least two positive regulatory pathways, a Ras-dependent and a PKC-dependent mechanism. These results imply that PLD is an important element in signaling by Ras proteins that is altered after ras-induced transformation.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 stimulates phospholipase Cβ in adult cardiomyocytes

Although fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) plays an important role in cardioprotection and growth, little is known about the signals triggered by it in the adult heart. We therefore examined FGF-2-induced effects on phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) isozymes, which produce second messengers linked to the inotropic and hypertrophic response of the myocardium. FGF-2, administered by retrograde perfusion to the isolated heart, induced an increase in inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate levels in the cytosol, as well as an increase in total PI-PLC activity associated with sarcolemmal and cytosolic fractions. Furthermore FGF-2 induced a time-dependent elevation in cardiomyocyte membrane-associated PLC gamma1 and PLC β1 activities, assayed in immunoprecipitated fractions, and moreover, increased the membrane levels of PLC β1 and PLC β3. Activation of PLC β is suggestive of FGF-2-induced cross-talk between FGF-receptor tyrosine kinase and G-protein-coupled signaling in adult cardiomyocytes and underscores the importance of FGF-2 in cardiac physiology.Key words: FGF-2, signal transduction, PLC gamma, PLC β, cardiomyocytes.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 but not TPA activates PLD in Caco-2 cells via pp60(c-src) and RhoA

In the accompanying paper [Khare et al., Am. J. Physiol. 276 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 39): G993-G1004, 1999], activation of protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha) was shown to be involved in the stimulation of phospholipase D (PLD) by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1, 25(OH)2D3] and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in Caco-2 cells. Monomeric or heterotrimeric G proteins, as well as pp60(c-src) have been implicated in PLD activation. We therefore determined whether these signal transduction elements were involved in PLD stimulation by 1,25(OH)2D3 or TPA. Treatment with C3 transferase, which inhibits members of the Rho family of monomeric G proteins, markedly diminished the ability of 1,25(OH)2D3, but not TPA, to stimulate PLD. Brefeldin A, an inhibitor of ADP-ribosylation factor proteins, did not, however, significantly reduce the stimulation of PLD by either of these agents. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3, but not TPA, activated pp60(c-src) and treatment with PP1, a specific inhibitor of the pp60(c-src) family, blocked the ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 to activate PLD. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTx) markedly reduced the stimulation of PLD by either agonist. PTx, moreover, inhibited the stimulation of pp60(c-src) and PKC-alpha by 1,25(OH)2D3. PTx did not, however, block the membrane translocation of RhoA induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 or inhibit the stimulation of PKC-alpha by TPA. These findings, taken together with those of the accompanying paper, indicate that although 1,25(OH)2D3 and TPA each activate PLD in Caco-2 cells in part via PKC-alpha, their stimulation of PLD differs in a number of important aspects, including the requirement for pp60(c-src) and RhoA in the activation of PLD by 1,25(OH)2D3, but not TPA. Moreover, the requirement for different signal transduction elements by 1,25(OH)2D3 and TPA to induce the stimulation of PLD may potentially underlie differences in the physiological effects of these agents in Caco-2 cells.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and TPA activate phospholipase D in Caco-2 cells: role of PKC-alpha

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) both activated phospholipase D (PLD) in Caco-2 cells. GF-109203x, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, inhibited this activation by both of these agonists. 1,25(OH)2D3 activated PKC-alpha, but not PKC-beta1, -betaII, -delta, or -zeta, whereas TPA activated PKC-alpha, -beta1, and -delta. Chronic treatment with TPA (1 microM, 24 h) significantly reduced the expression of PKC-alpha, -betaI, and -delta and markedly reduced the ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 or TPA to acutely stimulate PLD. Removal of Ca2+ from the medium, as well as preincubation of cells with Gö-6976, an inhibitor of Ca2+-dependent PKC isoforms, significantly reduced the stimulation of PLD by 1,25(OH)2D3 or TPA. Treatment with 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate-20-acetate, which specifically activates PKC-betaI and -betaII, however, failed to stimulate PLD. In addition, the activation of PLD by 1,25(OH)2D3 or TPA was markedly reduced or accentuated in stably transfected cells with inhibited or amplified PKC-alpha expression, respectively. Taken together, these observations indicate that PKC-alpha is intimately involved in the stimulation of PLD in Caco-2 cells by 1,25(OH)2D3 or TPA.

Ral and Rho-dependent activation of phospholipase D in v-Raf-transformed cells

Phospholipase D (PLD) activity is commonly elevated in response to mitogenic signals. We reported previously that although the transformed phenotype induced by v-Src was dependent upon Raf-1, the PLD activity induced by v-Src was independent of Raf-1. This observation suggested to us that Raf would not likely be an activator of PLD. However, upon examination of PLD activity in v-Raf-transformed cells, surprisingly, we found that PLD activity is elevated to levels that were even higher than that observed in v-Src-transformed cells. To characterize the mechanism of v-Raf-induced PLD activity, we examined the dependence of v-Raf-induced PLD activity upon protein kinase C (PKC) the small GTPases Ral and Rho, which have all been implicated in the activation of PLD. The v-Raf-induced PLD activity was inhibited by dominant negative mutants for both Ral and Rho. The dependence upon Ral was particularly surprising since Ral is a downstream target of Ras, which is an upstream activator of Raf. Depleting cells of PKC by long term phorbol ester treatment actually increased PLD activity in v-Raf-transformed cells, indicating that v-Raf-induced PLD activity is not dependent on PKC. These data describe a novel mechanism for PLD activation by v-Raf that is independent of PKC, but dependent upon both Ral and Rho GTPases.

Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine are sources of diacylglycerol in ras-transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Ras-transformation of cells is accompanied by an increase of the level of diacylglycerol (DAG), which participates in the signal transduction pathways. DAG could be generated from phospholipids either by activation of phospholipase C or by a more complex pathway involving phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. To clarify which phospholipids produce DAG and which pathways are involved, we examined the DAG generating enzyme activities, using phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as substrates. The study showed that the breakdown of PC and more markedly of PE by phospholipases C and D was stimulated in membranes from ras-transformed cells. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was also elevated in oncogene-expressing cells. The increase in glycerol uptake was most pronounced in cells given PE, followed by PC. The fatty acid analysis revealed apparent similarities between the acyl chains of PE and DAG only in the transformed cells. These findings suggest that PE is a source of DAG in ras-fibroblasts but does not rule out the role of PC in DAG production, due to the activation of the PC-specific phospholipases C and D.

Activation of phospholipase D signaling pathway by epidermal growth factor in osteoblastic cells

The receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase D (PLD) is a major signaling pathway in several cell systems. This study determined the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on PLD activity in normal rat osteoblastic cells. Primary cultures were obtained from fetal rat calvaria by sequential collagenase digestion and seeded in BGJb media supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. PLD activity was assayed by the transphosphatidylation reaction in [H3]myristic acid (5 microCi/ml)-labeled cells treated with EGF in the presence of 5% ethanol and measuring the production of phosphatidylethanol (PEtOH). Lipids were extracted and separated by thin-layer chromatography, detected by iodine staining, and the areas of interest were scraped off and transferred to vials for scintillation counting. EGF significantly increased PEtOH production in a dose-dependent manner and at short (10-60 s) and long (up to 30 minutes) incubation periods (p < 0.05). Phosphatidic acid levels were also significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with unstimulated controls, but the levels were approximately 60% less than those of PEtOH. 4b-phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) also produced a significant increase in PEtOH levels when compared with unstimulated control cultures, but when PMA was added together with EGF, the production of PEtOH was reduced about 30%. Pretreatment of cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor H-7 caused a significant increase in PEtOH levels, compared with cells stimulated with EGF alone. Preincubation of cells with pertussis toxin produced a partial decrease in PEtOH levels. This study demonstrates that EGF activates the PLD signaling cascade in normal rat osteoblastic cells and that the pathway appears to involve, at least in part, a PKC- and Gi protein-dependent mechanism.

Functional association between Arf and RalA in active phospholipase D complex

Activation of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) by Arf has been implicated in vesicle transport and membrane trafficking. PLD1 has also been shown to be associated with the small GTPase RalA, which functions downstream from Ras in a Ras-RalA GTPase cascade that facilitates intracellular signal transduction. Although PLD1 associates directly with RalA, RalA has no effect upon the activity of PLD1. However, PLD1 precipitated from cell lysates with immobilized glutathione S-transferase-RalA fusion protein is active. This suggests the presence of an additional activating factor in the active RalA-PLD1 complexes. Because Arf stimulates PLD1, we looked for the presence of Arf in the active RalA-PLD1 complexes isolated from v-Src- and v-Ras-transformed cell lysates. Low levels of Arf protein were detected in RalA-PLD1 complexes; however, if guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate was added to activate Arf and stimulate translocation to the membrane, high levels of Arf were precipitated by RalA from cell lysates. Interestingly, deletion of 11 amino-terminal amino acids unique to Ral GTPases, which abolished the ability of RalA to precipitate PLD activity, prevented the association between RalA and Arf. Brefeldin A, which inhibits Arf GDP-GTP exchange, inhibited PLD activity in v-Src- and v-Ras-transformed cells but not in the nontransformed cells, suggesting that the association of Arf with RalA is required for the increased PLD activity induced by v-Src and v-Ras. These data implicate Arf in the transduction of intracellular signals activated by v-Src and mediated by the Ras-RalA GTPase cascade. Because both Arf and PLD1 stimulate vesicle formation in the Golgi, these data raise the possibility that vesicle formation and trafficking may play a role in the transduction of intracellular signals.

Specific inhibition of phorbol ester-stimulated phospholipase D by Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin and Clostridium difficile toxin B-1470 in HEK-293 cells. Restoration by Ral GTPases

Activation of m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells, leads to phospholipase D (PLD) stimulation, a process apparently involving Rho GTPases, as shown by studies with Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme and Clostridium difficile toxin B (TcdB). Direct activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol esters, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), also induces PLD stimulation, which is additive to the mAChR action and which is only poorly sensitive to inactivation of Rho proteins by TcdB. To study whether Ras-like GTPases are involved in PLD regulation, we studied the effects of the TcdB variant TcdB-1470 and Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin (TcsL), known to inactivate Rac and some members of the Ras protein family, on PLD activities. TcdB-1470 and TcsL did not affect basal PLD activity and PLD stimulation by mAChR or direct G protein activation. In contrast, PMA-induced PLD stimulation was inhibited by TcdB-1470 and TcsL in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, without alteration in immunologically detectable PKC isozyme levels. In membranes of HEK-293 cells pretreated with TcdB-1470 or TcsL, basal and stable GTP analog-stimulated PLD activities measured with exogenous phosphatidylcholine, in the presence or absence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, were not altered. In contrast, pretreatment with TcdB-1470 and TcsL, but not TcdB, strongly reduced PMA-stimulated PLD activity. The addition of recombinant Rac1, serving as glucosylation substrate for TcdB, TcsL, and TcdB-1470, did not restore PLD stimulation by PMA. Furthermore, PMA-stimulated PLD activity, suppressed by prior treatment with TcdB-1470 or TcsL, was not rescued by the addition of recombinant Ras (RasG12V) or Rap proteins, acting as glucosylation substrates for TcsL only (Ras) or TcdB-1470 and TcsL (Rap). In contrast, the addition of recombinant Ral proteins (RalA and RalB), glucosylation substrates for TscL and TcdB-1470, but not for TcdB, to membranes of TcdB-1470- or TcsL-treated cells fully restored PLD stimulation by PMA without altering the strict MgATP dependence of PMA-induced PLD stimulation. RalA-mediated restoration of PMA-stimulated PLD activity in membranes of TcsL-treated cells was not enhanced by coaddition of RasG12V. In conclusion, the data presented indicate that TcdB-1470 and TcsL selectively interfere with phorbol ester stimulation of PLD and suggest an essential role of Ral proteins in PKC signaling to PLD in HEK-293 cells.

Activation of phospholipase D by growth factors and oncogenes in murine fibroblasts follow alternative but cross-talking pathways

Phospholipase D (PLD) is activated by a variety of stimuli, including mitogenic stimulation by growth factors and oncogene transformation. Activation of PLD by growth factors requires protein kinase C (PKC) since depletion of the enzyme by down-regulation or direct inhibition by specific drugs completely abrogates this effect. Transformation by the ras and src oncogenes is also associated with an increase in basal PLD activity. However, this effect is not dependent on PKC, suggesting that growth factors and oncogenes may activate PLD by two independent mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that activation of PLD by phorbol esters is greatly enhanced in ras-transformed cells, suggesting synergistic activation of PLD by ras oncogenes and PKC. Also, ras-transformed cells showed a dramatic attenuation of the PLD activation induced by growth factors, although receptor function was still detectable. This attenuation paralleled the specific uncoupling of the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) pathway, indicating that activation of PLD by growth factors may be mediated by PI-PLC and PKC activation. Attenuation of PLD activation by platelet-derived growth factor was also observed in several oncogene-transformed cells, as well as the uncoupling of the PI-PLC pathway. Neither the co-operation with PKC activation nor the attenuation of the PLD response to growth factors in ras-transformed cells was a general consequence of cell transformation, since cells transformed by other oncogenes showed a normal response to either treatment. These results support the existence of at least two alternative signalling routes for the activation of PLD, one mediated by the PI-PLC/diacylglycerol/PKC pathway and a second one mediated by several oncogenes, independent of the PKC pathway, which synergizes with the PI-PLC/PKC-dependent pathway.