Ca2(+)-dependent amylase secretion from pancreatic acinar cells occurs without activation of phospholipase C linked G-proteins

Secretory granule exocytosis

Regulated exocytosis of secretory granules or dense-core granules has been examined in many well-characterized cell types including neurons, neuroendocrine, endocrine, exocrine, and hemopoietic cells and also in other less well-studied cell types. Secretory granule exocytosis occurs through mechanisms with many aspects in common with synaptic vesicle exocytosis and most likely uses the same basic protein components. Despite the widespread expression and conservation of a core exocytotic machinery, many variations occur in the control of secretory granule exocytosis that are related to the specialized physiological role of particular cell types. In this review we describe the wide range of cell types in which regulated secretory granule exocytosis occurs and assess the evidence for the expression of the conserved fusion machinery in these cells. The signals that trigger and regulate exocytosis are reviewed. Aspects of the control of exocytosis that are specific for secretory granules compared with synaptic vesicles or for particular cell types are described and compared to define the range of accessory control mechanisms that exert their effects on the core exocytotic machinery.

Polarized calcium and calmodulin signaling in secretory epithelia

This review examines polarized calcium and calmodulin signaling in exocrine epithelial cells. The calcium ion is a simple, evolutionarily ancient, and universal second messenger. In exocrine epithelial cells, it regulates essential functions such as exocytosis, fluid secretion, and gene expression. Exocrine cells are structurally polarized, with the apical region usually dedicated to secretion. Recent advances in technology, in particular the development of videoimaging and confocal microscopy, have led to the discovery of polarized, subcellular calcium signals in these cell types. The properties of a rich variety of local and global calcium signals have now been described in secretory epithelial cells. Secretagogues stimulate apical-to-basal waves of calcium in many exocrine cell types, but there are some interesting exceptions to this rule. The shapes of intracellular calcium signals are determined by the distribution of calcium-releasing channels and mechanisms that limit calcium elevation. Polarized distribution of calcium-handling mechanisms also leads to transcellular calcium transport in exocrine epithelial cells. This transport can deliver considerable amounts of calcium into secreted fluids. Multicellular polarized calcium signals can coordinate the activity of many individual cells in epithelial secretory tissue. Certain particularly sensitive cells serve as pacemakers for initiation of intercellular calcium waves. Many calcium signaling pathways involve activation of calmodulin. This ubiquitous protein regulates secretion in exocrine cells and also activates interesting feedback interactions with calcium channels and transporters. Very recently it became possible to directly study polarized calcium-calmodulin reactions and to visualize the process of hormone-induced redistribution of calmodulin in live cells. The structural and functional polarity of secretory epithelia alongside the polarity of its calcium and calmodulin signaling present an interesting lesson in tissue organization.

Characteristics and mechanism of enzyme secretion and increase in [Ca2+]i in Saikosaponin(I) stimulated rat pancreatic acinar cells

AIM

This investigation was to reveal the characteristics and mechanism of enzyme secretion and increase in [Ca2+]i stimulated by saikosaponin(I) (SA(I)) in rat pancreatic acini.

METHODS

Pancreatic acini were prepared from male Wistar rats. Isolated acinar cells were suspended in Eagle's MEM solution. After adding drugs, the incubation was performed at 37 degrees for a set period of time. Amylase of supernatant was assayed using starch-iodide reaction. Isolated acinar single cell was incubated with Fura-2/AM at 37 degrees, then cells were washed and resuspended in fresh solution and attached to the chamber. Cytoplasm [Ca2+]i of a single cell was expressed by fluorescence ratio F340/F380 recorded in a Nikon PI Ca2+ measurement system.

RESULTS

Rate course of amylase secretion stimulated by SA(I) in rat pancreatic acini appeared in bell-like shape. The peak amplitude increased depended on SA(I) concentration. The maximum rate responded to 1 x 10(-5)mol/L SA(I) was 13.1-fold of basal and the rate decreased to basal level at 30 min. CCK-8 receptor antagonist Bt(2)-cGMP markedly inhibited amylase secretion stimulated by SA(I) and the dose-effect relationship was similar to that by CCK-8. [Ca2+]i in a single acinar cell rose to the peak at 5 min after adding 5 x 10(-6)mol/L SA(I) and was 5.1-fold of basal level. In addition, there was a secondary increase after the initial peak. GDP could inhibit both the rate of amylase secretion and rising of [Ca2+]i stimulated by SA(I) in a single pancreatic acinar cell.

CONCLUSION

SA(I) is highly efficient in promoting the secretion of enzymes synthesized in rat pancreatic acini and raising intracellular [Ca2+]i. Signaling transduction pathway of SA(I) involves activating special membrane receptor and increase in cytoplasm [Ca2+]i sequentially.

Identification of SNAREs involved in regulated exocytosis in the pancreatic acinar cell

The molecular basis of exocytotic membrane fusion in the pancreatic acinar cell was investigated using an in vitro assay that measures both zymogen granule-plasma membrane fusion and granule-granule fusion. These two fusion events were differentially sensitive to Ca(2+), suggesting that they are controlled by different Ca(2+)-sensing mechanisms. Botulinum neurotoxin C (BoNT/C) treatment of the plasma membranes caused cleavage of syntaxin 2, the apical isoform of this Q-SNARE, but did not affect syntaxin 4, the basolateral isoform. BoNT/C also cleaved syntaxin 3, the zymogen granule isoform. BoNT/C treatment of plasma membranes abolished granule-plasma membrane fusion, whereas toxin treatment of the granules reduced granule-plasma membrane fusion and abolished granule-granule fusion. Tetanus toxin cleaved granule-associated synaptobrevin 2 but caused only a small reduction in both granule-plasma membrane fusion and granule-granule fusion. Our results indicate that syntaxin 2 is the isoform that mediates fusion between zymogen granules and the apical plasma membrane of the acinar cell. Syntaxin 3 mediates granule-granule fusion, which might be involved in compound exocytosis. In contrast, the major R-SNARE on the zymogen granule remains to be identified.

A cell-free system for Ca2+-regulated exocytosis

The reconstitution of a membrane fusion event in a cell-free system makes possible a biochemical investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying it. We have developed an in vitro assay for the fusion of pancreatic zymogen granules with the plasma membrane. The lipid-soluble fluorescent probe octadecylrhodamine is loaded into the granule membrane, and the granules are then incubated with unlabeled plasma membranes. Membrane fusion results in a dilution of the probe, which is detected through the dequenching of its fluorescence. The properties of the in vitro fusion event are impressively similar to those of exocytosis from permeabilized pancreatic acini, indicating that dequenching is detecting a physiologically relevant process. In particular, exocytotic membrane fusion both in vitro and in permeabilized acini is stimulated by Ca2+ with an EC50 of 1 microM, and enhanced by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) with an EC50 of 10-20 microM. Another parallel between the two systems is the incomplete inhibition of fusion/exocytosis by tetanus toxin, despite complete cleavage of synaptobrevin 2 on the zymogen granule membrane. Recently, the in vitro assay for membrane fusion has been used to indicate a role in the control of exocytosis for syncollin, a granule membrane protein that binds to syntaxin in a Ca2+-sensitive manner. The assay should continue to provide information about this exocytotic membrane fusion event in the future.

The two phases of regulated exocytosis in permeabilized pancreatic acini are modulated differently by heterotrimeric G-proteins

In this study we examined the influence on AlF4- and GTP gamma S on amylase secretion from alpha toxin permeabilized pancreatic acini. AlF4- only activates heterotrimeric G-proteins, whereas GTP gamma S activates both small ras-like GTP-binding proteins and heterotrimeric G-proteins (Kahn, R. A., J. Biol. Chem., 266, 15595-15597, 1991). GTP gamma S, but not AlF4-, significantly stimulated Ca2(+)-independent amylase secretion, suggesting that a small GTP-binding protein controls regulated exocytosis distal to the site of action of Ca2+. In contrast, both AlF4- and GTP gamma S modulated Ca(2+)-dependent amylase secretion. AlF4- and GTP gamma S stimulated the initial rapid, ATP-independent, phase of Ca(2+)-dependent secretion but inhibited the second slower sustained, ATP-dependent, phase of release. There were significant differences in the GTP gamma S requirements for the stimulation and inhibition of Ca(2+)-dependent amylase secretion, consistent with GTP gamma S activating separate heterotrimeric G-proteins to modulate each phase of the Ca(2+)-dependent secretory response. Our studies also indicated that neither G-protein is a member of the Gi/o class of heterotrimeric G-proteins.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide inhibits Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from permeabilized pancreatic acini by blocking the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis

At present little is known about how the low-affinity cholecystokinin receptor inhibits secretagogue-stimulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acinar cells. To examine this question we have determined how cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) influences Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized pancreatic acini. CCK8 significantly inhibited Ca2+-stimulated amylase secretion. The inhibitory actions of CCK8 were completely blocked by the addition of JMV-180, a specific antagonist for the low-affinity CCK8 receptor. Previous studies have shown that Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized acini has two distinct phases [Padfield and Panesar (1997) Am. J. Physiol. 36, G655-660]. There is an initial rapid phase of secretion which represents release from exocytotic sites primed by MgATP prior to permeabilization. This is followed by a slower sustained phase of secretion which, in part, reflects the MgATP-dependent repriming of the exocytotic machinery. CCK8 did not influence the initial rapid phase of the Ca2+-dependent secretory response, but inhibited the second slower sustained phase. Moreover, CCK8 was shown to inhibit the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis in the acini. These results indicate that the low-affinity CCK receptor blocks stimulated amylase secretion by inhibiting the MgATP-dependent repriming of exocytosis.

Overexpression of Rab3D enhances regulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acini of transgenic mice

Rab3D, a member of the ras-related GTP-binding protein Rab family, is localized to secretory granules of various exocrine tissues such as acinar cells of the pancreas, chief cells of the stomach, and parotid and lacrimal secretory cells. To elucidate the function of Rab3D in exocytosis, we have generated transgenic mice that over-express Rab3D specifically in pancreatic acinar cells. Hemagglutinin-tagged Rab3D was localized to zymogen granules by immunohistochemistry, and was shown to be present on zymogen granule membranes by Western blotting; both results are similar to previous studies of endogenous Rab3D. Secretion measurements in isolated acinar preparations showed that overexpression of Rab3D enhanced amylase release. Amylase secretion from intact acini of transgenic mice 5 min after 10 pM cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK) stimulation was enhanced by 160% of control. In streptolysin-O-permeabilized acini of transgenic mice, amylase secretion induced by 100 microM GTP-gamma-S was enhanced by 150%, and 10 microM Ca2+-stimulated amylase secretion was augmented by 206% of that of the control. To further elucidate Rab3D involvement in stimulus-secretion coupling, we examined the effect of CCK on the rate of GTP binding to Rab3D. Stimulation of permeabilized acini with 10 pM CCK increased the incorporation of radiolabeled GTP into HA-tagged Rab3D. These results indicate that overexpression of Rab3D enhances secretagogue-stimulated amylase secretion through both calcium and GTP pathways. We conclude that Rab3D protein on zymogen granules plays a stimulatory role in regulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acini.

The secretory granule protein syncollin binds to syntaxin in a Ca2(+)-sensitive manner

The membrane proteins synaptobrevin, syntaxin, and SNAP-25 form the core of a ubiquitous fusion machine that interacts with the soluble proteins NSF and alpha-SNAP. During regulated exocytosis, membrane fusion is usually strictly controlled by Ca2+ ions. However, the mechanism by which Ca2+ regulates exocytosis is still unclear. Here we show that the membranes of exocrine secretory granules contain an 18-kDa protein, syncollin, that binds to syntaxin at low Ca2+ concentrations and dissociates at concentrations known to stimulate exocytosis. Syncollin has a single hydrophobic domain at its N-terminus and shows no significant homology with any known protein. Recombinant syncollin inhibits fusion in vitro between zymogen granules and pancreatic plasma membranes, and its potency falls as Ca2+ concentration rises. We suggest that syncollin acts as a Ca2(+)-sensitive regulator of exocytosis in exocrine tissues.

Association of nucleoside diphosphate kinase with pancreatic zymogen granules: effects of local GTP generation on granule membrane characteristics

It is well established that both GTP-binding proteins and phosphoproteins are involved in the control of exocytosis in the exocrine pancreas. Exocytotic membrane fusion is stimulated by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, and the phosphorylation states of several proteins, including at least one on the zymogen granule membrane, are known to change during exocytosis. We show here that a nucleoside diphosphate kinase is associated with the cytoplasmic face of pancreatic zymogen granules. This enzyme behaves as a phosphoprotein of apparent molecular mass 21 kDa on SDS/polyacrylamide gels, and is able to produce GTP by using ATP to phosphorylate endogenous GDP. GTP production by nucleoside diphosphate kinase is stimulated by the wasp venom peptide mastoparan, both through a direct action on the enzyme and through its ability to increase the availability of endogenous GDP. Two effects of the GTP produced by nucleoside diphosphate kinase are demonstrated: phosphorylation of a 37 kDa zymogen granule protein on histidine residues, and stimulation of the fusion of zymogen granules with pancreatic plasma membranes in vitro. These results suggest that granule-associated nucleoside diphosphate kinase is able to maintain local GTP concentrations, and raise the possibility that it might be involved in the control of exocytosis in the pancreatic acinar cell.

Differential effects of G-protein activators on 5-hydroxytryptamine and platelet-derived growth factor release from streptolysin-O-permeabilized human platelets

In this paper we have used streptolysin O (SLO)-permeabilized human platelets to examine the G-protein(s) that control Ca2+-independent secretion from alpha and dense-core granules. As shown for electropermeabilized platelets, Ca2+ alone stimulated a concentration-dependent increase in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (dense-core-granule marker) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (alpha-granule marker) release from the SLO-permeabilized cells. The EC50 values of Ca2+-dependent 5-HT and PDGF release were 5 microM and 10 microM respectively. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) (100 microM) stimulated Ca2+-independent release from both alpha and dense-core granules. In contrast, AlF4- had no effect on Ca2+-independent release from either alpha or dense-core granules. Neither GTP[S] nor AlF4- appeared to have a significant effect on Ca2+-dependent release from alpha and dense-core granules. GTP[S] can activate both heterotrimeric and low-molecular-mass G-proteins, whereas AlF4- activates only heterotrimeric G-proteins. Our results, therefore suggest that secretion in the human platelet is regulated by a small G-protein. Both GTP[S]- and Ca2+-dependent secretion were effected by extending the time between permeabilization with SLO and stimulation of secretion. GTP[S]-stimulated secretion from alpha and dense-core granules decreased rapidly after permeabilization. In contrast, Ca2+-dependent 5-HT and PDGF release ran down at a much lower rate. These observations indicate that GTP[S] and Ca2+ act through parallel pathways to stimulate secretion from SLO-permeabilized platelets.

Pancreatic plasma membranes: promiscuous partners in membrane fusion

We have developed a system in which the fusion of pancreatic plasma membranes with zymogen granules can be studied in vitro. We show here that pancreatic plasma membranes fuse not only with pancreatic zymogen granules but also with parotid secretory granules. In contrast, parotid membranes fuse only with parotid granules and not with pancreatic granules. The extent of fusion is insensitive to Ca2+ for all combinations of plasma membranes and granules. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), on the other hand, stimulates fusion of pancreatic membranes with both pancreatic granules and parotid granules, but inhibits fusion between parotid membranes and parotid granules.

Effects of guanine nucleotides on bombesin-stimulated signal transduction in rat pancreatic acinar cells

To study the role of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) in bombesin receptor signal transduction, we investigated the effects of guanine nucleotide analogues and of the G protein activator NaF on bombesin-induced amylase release, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) production and release of intracellular Ca2+ in rat pancreatic acini. In digitonin-permeabilized acini, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S), a well-known activator of G proteins, potentiated bombesin-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 production and increased amylase release at low bombesin concentrations (< 10 nM). By contrast, GTP gamma S decreased bombesin-stimulated amylase release at high bombesin concentrations (> 10 nM). Fluoride (10 mM), another G protein activator, had similar effects to GTP gamma S on amylase release. However, unlike GTP gamma S it had no effect on Ins(1,4,5)P3 production and release of intracellular Ca2+ induced by high bombesin concentrations. GDP and its analogues, such as 2'-desoxyguanosine 5'-diphosphate (dGDP) or guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP beta S), inhibit activation of G proteins. GDP and dGDP both inhibited amylase release and Ins(1,4,5)P3 production at all bombesin concentrations tested. In contrast, GDP beta S mimicked the effects of GTP gamma S on bombesin-stimulated amylase release and Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation. In conclusion, we suggest that bombesin receptor-mediated signal transduction involves G proteins in pancreatic acini. The correlation between inhibition of maximum-stimulated enzyme secretion and further increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 production in response to GTP gamma S at high bombesin concentrations suggests that overstimulation of phospholipase C inhibits amylase release. The discrepant effects of GDP and of GDP beta S on phospholipase C activity and amylase release might be due to the ability of GDP beta S, but not of GDP to activate G proteins persistently after phosphorylation by G protein-associated GDP kinases.

Receptor-operated Ca2+ signaling and crosstalk in stimulus secretion coupling

In the cells of higher eukaryotic organisms, there are several messenger pathways of intracellular signal transduction, such as the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate/Ca2+ signal, voltage-dependent and -independent Ca2+ channels, adenylate cyclase/cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, guanylate cyclase/cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate, diacylglycerol/protein kinase C, and growth factors/tyrosine kinase/tyrosine phosphatase. These pathways are present in different cell types and impinge on each other for the modulation of the cell function. Ca2+ is one of the most ubiquitous intracellular messengers mediating transcellular communication in a wide variety of cell types. Over the last decades it has become clear that the activation of many types of cells is accompanied by an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) that is thought to play an important part in the sequence of events occurring during cell activation. The Ca2+ signal can be divided into two categories: receptor- and voltage-operated Ca2+ signal. This review describes and integrates some recent views of receptor-operated Ca2+ signaling and crosstalk in the context of stimulus-secretion coupling.

Involvement of a phosphoprotein on the zymogen granule membrane in the control of regulated exocytosis in the exocrine pancreas

The pancreatic acinar cell is one of a number of cell types in which phosphoproteins are believed to be involved in the control of regulated exocytosis. We have examined the effects of three agents that affect secretion in the acinar cell on the phosphorylation states of proteins on the zymogen granule membrane. We show that Ca2+ and GTP gamma S, which stimulate secretion, also stimulate the phosphorylation of a protein of M(r) 45,000 (p45) on isolated zymogen granules. On the other hand, the protein kinase inhibitor genistein inhibits both secretion and phosphorylation of p45. For all three agents, p45 phosphorylation is affected over concentration ranges identical to those that affect secretion. The stimulatory effect of GTP gamma S and the inhibitory effect of genistein are also seen when the phosphorylation state of p45 on granules within permeabilized cells is examined. Ca2+, however, over the same concentration range, now causes dephosphorylation of p45. Furthermore, the time-course of this effect is similar to that of Ca(2+)-triggered secretion. Phosphorylation of p45 is exclusively on serine, with no detectable phosphorylation on either threonine or tyrosine. We propose that exocytosis in pancreatic acini is controlled at least in part through the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of p45, with dephosphorylation acting as a trigger for exocytosis.

Effects of calyculin A on amylase release in streptolysin-O permeabilized acinar cells

The effects of the phosphatase inhibitors calyculin A and okadaic acid on amylase release from streptolysin-O permeabilized rat pancreatic acini were investigated. Both agents induced similar biphasic effects with moderate potentiation of calcium-stimulated amylase release at medium and strong inhibition at higher concentrations. Calyculin A was thirty times more potent than okadaic acid and at 100 nM totally inhibited calcium-induced amylase release while 3 microM okadaic acid reduced amylase release by 78%. 100nM calyculin A also completely inhibited GTP gamma S-potentiated amylase release and partially inhibited phorbol ester potentiated secretion. The data indicate that inhibition of a serine/threonine phosphatase, probably a type 1 phosphatase, leads to inhibition of calcium-induced amylase release in permeabilized pancreatic acini.

Protein kinase A modulates Ca(2+)- and protein kinase C-dependent amylase release in permeabilized rat pancreatic acini

The role of protein kinase A (PKA) in the release of amylase from permeabilized pancreatic acini was investigated. Addition of cyclic AMP (cAMP) to permeabilized acini resulted in a potentiation of Ca(2+)-dependent amylase release, shifting the Ca2+ dose/response curve leftwards. As with protein kinase C (PKC) activation, this is due to an increase in the time of active discharge. The effect of cAMP was shown to be blocked by two inhibitors of PKA, H89 and the PKI-(5-24)-peptide. At low concentration, cAMP synergizes from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), while at optimal concentrations cAMP and PMA are additive. PKA and PKC appear to work via similar, but not identical mechanisms.

Fusion between rat pancreatic zymogen granules and plasma membranes. Modulation by a GTP-binding protein

At the moment, little is known about the molecular characteristics of the final step in the process of regulated exocytosis, i.e. the fusion of the membrane of a secretory vesicle with the plasma membrane. We have reconstituted this fusion event in vitro, using zymogen granules and plasma membranes from the exocrine pancreas of the rat. The membranes of zymogen granules were loaded with the lipid-soluble fluorescent probe octadecylrhodamine B, at a concentration that resulted in self-quenching of its fluorescence. The granules were then incubated with pancreatic plasma membranes at 37 degrees C, and fusion was measured through the dilution-dependent de-quenching of the fluorescence of the probe. Zymogen granules fused with pancreatic plasma membranes, but not with plasma membranes from liver or chromaffin cells; granules also fused with unlabelled granule membranes. The fusion of granules with plasma membranes was unaffected by variation of the Ca2+ concentration over a wide range, but fusion of granules with both plasma membranes and zymogen granule membranes was stimulated by GTP and, more potently, by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]). The effect of GTP[S] was to increase the extent of fusion occurring at low concentrations of plasma membranes, without affecting the maximum signal obtained at high membrane concentrations. Pre-incubation of the plasma membranes with GTP[S] also enhanced their ability to fuse with zymogen granules. Our results indicate that membrane fusion during exocytosis may be under the direct control of a GTP-binding protein.

Activation of protein kinase C is not an absolute requirement for amylase release from permeabilized rat pancreatic acini

The effect of protein kinase C (PKC) on amylase discharge from streptolysin-O-permeabilized rat pancreatic acini was investigated. Addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to permeabilized cells potentiated Ca(2+)-stimulated release, but had no effect on discharge at non-stimulatory Ca2+ concentrations. PMA markedly shifted the Ca(2+)-concentration-dependence of amylase discharge to the left, by enhancing the time over which the permeabilized cells release. This effect was inhibited by both staurosporine and PKC-19-31-amide peptide inhibitor, indicating that the effect of PMA was due to its action on PKC. Staurosporine also partially inhibited amylase release at the optimal concentration of Ca2+; this effect was not replicated by the more specific PKC-19-31-amide peptide inhibitor and may be due to an effect on another second-messenger system. PKC appears to be an important modulator of release in pancreatic acini, but its activation is not an absolute requirement for Ca(2+)-dependent amylase discharge.

Freeze-fracture analysis of the effects of intermediates of the phosphatidylinositol cycle on fusion of rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes

While searching for the identity of the effector of the putative GTP-binding protein involved in fusion of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cell-free incubation conditions were found permitting fusion in a GTP-independent manner. Membrane fusion was obtained using medium required to study synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI). We now report on the effects of various co-factors and intermediates of the PI cycle on the interaction of rough microsomes. By freeze-fracture, fusion of rough microsomes was defined as the appearance of fracture-planes of membrane larger than those of unincubated membrane. Cytosine triphosphate (CTP, 3 mM) in the presence of 2 mM MnCl2 was most effective in stimulating fusion. Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) at the same concentration, could substitute for CTP to stimulate fusion, ATP, ITP, UTP and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) could not. When combined together in the same medium CTP potentiated the effect of GTP. Arachidonic acid (20 micrograms/ml) also stimulated fusion in the presence of MnCl2. This led to the appearance of large fracture-planes of membrane with a heterogeneous distribution of intramembranous particles. Other saturated fatty acids at the same concentration did not stimulate fusion. Phosphatidylinositol (PI, 50 micrograms) and 2 mM MnCl2 had a similar effect as arachidonic acid and MnCl2 in stimulating fusion. The PI effect was largely augmented in the presence of CTP. Our results are consistent with the concept that metabolism of phospholipids may modulate GTP-dependent fusion of RER membranes.

Inhibition by mepacrine and amylase secretion from intact and permeabilized rat pancreatic acini

In intact rat pancreatic acini, the phospholipase A2 inhibitor mepacrine did not affect basal amylase release but dose-dependently inhibited the carbachol (IC50 65 microM) and CCK-8 (IC50 210 microM)-stimulated amylase release. In permeabilized acini, mepacrine shifted the dose-response curve for calcium to the right by a factor 2 and inhibited the release of amylase stimulated by GTPrS. From these results we conclude that carbachol, CCK-8 and GTPrS probably activate a phospholipase A2 closely coupled to exocytosis.

A synthetic peptide of the rab3a effector domain stimulates amylase release from permeabilized pancreatic acini

In this study we have employed a synthetic peptide of the rab3a effector domain, rab3AL, to examine whether a rab-like low molecular weight GTP-binding protein is involved in protein release from the rat pancreatic acinar cell. The peptide was found to be a potent stimulator of amylase release from streptolysin-O-permeabilized pancreatic acini, with an EC50 of approximately 60 microM. Stimulation of amylase discharge by rab3AL did not occur using either intact acini or permeabilized acini depleted of ATP. In contrast, a different effector domain peptide of the rab2 protein, rab2AL, a peptide with distinct sequence homology to rab3AL, was unable to stimulate amylase release, suggesting the specificity of the rab3AL response to rab3-like proteins. rab3AL stimulated release at [Ca2+] that were nonstimulatory in the absence of the peptide (10 nM). rab3AL potentiated the effect of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate on amylase secretion and decreased the amount of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate required for maximal secretion, suggesting that these two agents interact to modulate a distal step(s) of secretion. The above results provide functional evidence for the role of a rab-like low molecular weight GTP-binding protein and its effector protein(s) in the control of protein release from pancreatic acini. Because the discharge response to rab3AL is near the maximal obtainable from permeabilized acini, our results would suggest that rab3-like proteins control an important step in regulated secretion of amylase.

cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of RER proteins from rat liver: relationship with GTP-dependent membrane fusion

Incubation of stripped rough microsomes (SRM) with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) permitted specific phosphorylation of seven proteins having relative molecular mass values of 55, 35, 23, 22.5, 22, 18.5 and 16.5 kDa (P55, P35 etc.). By two dimensional gel analysis, we compared these phosphoproteins with low-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins and revealed that P23 and P22.5 co-migrated with known GTP-binding proteins. Next we examined the effect of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation on a GTP-dependent membrane function, membrane fusion. Quantitative analysis indicated no difference in the amount of membrane fusion obtained whether SRM were incubated in the absence or in the presence of PKA. Thus several rough microsomal proteins underwent cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and this post-translational modification did not affect GTP-dependent membrane fusion in a cell free system.

Modulation of phospholipase A2 activity in zymogen granule membranes by GTP[S]; evidence for GTP-binding protein regulation

In membranes associated with purified pancreatic zymogen granules, GTP[S] elicited a concentration-dependent activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which was converted to inhibition in the presence of added Ca2+. The GTP-binding protein inhibitor GDP[S] blocked both the stimulatory and inhibitory actions of GTP[S]. We conclude that in zymogen granule membranes GTP-binding proteins exert a dual regulation of PLA2 activity.

GTP-dependent membrane fusion during hepatocarcinogenesis and liver regeneration

Rough microsomes were isolated from homogenates of livers of rats bearing hepatomas as well as from homogenates of livers of rats 24 and 48 h after partial hepatectomy. When incubated in the presence of GTP in a cell-free system to assay membrane fusion these membranes were observed to have a greater capacity (1.4 to 5 fold) for GTP-dependent fusion than homologous membranes from control non-proliferating liver tissue. The enhanced GTP-dependent membrane fusion may reflect changes in membrane properties related to cell proliferation.