Arthrospira Platensis (Spirulina) Supplementation on Laying Hens' Performance: Eggs Physical, Chemical, and Sensorial Qualities

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of spirulina on laying hens' performances: Eggs' physical, chemical, and sensorial qualities. A total of 45 Lohman White hens, 44 weeks of age, were randomized into 3 groups of 15 birds. Hens were given 120 g/d of a basal diet containing 0% (control), 1.5%, and 2.5% of spirulina for 6 weeks. Albumen height and consequently Haugh unit were significantly affected by dietary supplementation of spirulina (p < 0.05) and by weeks on diet (p < 0.05). This supplement did not affect (p > 0.05) egg yolk weight or height. However, spirulina increased egg yolk redness (a*) from 1.33 (C) to 12.67 (D1) and 16.19 (D2) and reduced (p < 0.05) the yellowness (b*) parameter from 62.1(C) to 58.17 (D1) and 55.87 (D2). Egg yolks from hens fed spirulina were darker, more red, and less yellow in color than egg yolks from hens fed the control-diet (p < 0.0001). However, spirulina did not affect (p > 0.05) egg yolks' total cholesterol concentration. In conclusion, a significant enhancement of egg yolk color was found in response to spirulina supplementation. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the impact of spirulina on egg yolks' fatty acids profile.

Correction: Ghoreyshi, S.M.; et al. Effects of Dietary Supplementation of L-Carnitine and Excess Lysine-Methionine on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Immunity Markers of Broiler Chicken

L-carnitine as well as lysine and methionine are amino acids of important nutritional and nutraceutical interest and are used in nutritional strategies as dietary supplements to improve feed quality characteristics in animals and broiler chicken in particular. This study investigated the effect of different levels of L-carnitine and extra levels of lysine-methionine on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and some immune system markers. Two hundred seventy male Ross 308 broilers were a fed control diet (C) and eight different diets supplemented with an excess of amino acids. In the experimental diets, identified as D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8, extra L-carnitine, lysine, and methionine were added in excess with respect to the American National Research Council (NRC) recommendations: L-carnitine equal to NRC (D1), control diet supplemented with lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine equal to NRC (D2), control diet supplemented with lysine equal to NRC, methionine equal to NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D3), control diet supplemented control diet supplemented with lysine at 15% in excess of NRC, methionine at 15% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D4), control diet supplemented lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D5), control diet supplemented with lysine equal to NRC recommendations, methionine equal to NRC recommendations, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D6), control diet supplemented with lysine at 15% in excess of NRC, methionine at 15% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D7); and control diet supplemented with lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D8). During the starter and growth phases, feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). By contrast, body weight and FCR were both affected (p < 0.01) during the starter period. During the finisher phase, feed consumption was affected (p < 0.05) by dietary treatment. Feed intake of broilers fed on C, D3, D6, and D7 were statistically similar (p > 0.05) (1851.90, 1862.00, 1945.10, and 1872.80 g/pen/day, respectively) and were higher (p < 0.05) than 1564.40 g/pen/day (D5). With the exception of drumsticks, neck, back thoracic vertebrae, and proventriculus weights, the economical carcass segments were not affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary supplementation of amino acids. Duodenum and ileum weights and lengths decreased with amino acid supplementation (p < 0.05). IgT and IgG titers against Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBC) for both primary and secondary responses were not affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). Dietary amino acids supplementation did not affect IgM titer after the secondary challenge (p > 0.05) and had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on serum antibody titers in broilers vaccinated against Newcastle disease (NCD) and Gumboro 's disease at the 27th and 30th days, respectively.

Egg Yolk Antioxidants Profiles: Effect of Diet Supplementation with Linseeds and Tomato-Red Pepper Mixture before and after Storage

This study evaluated the effect of dietary incorporation of linseed alone or along with dried tomato paste-pepper powder mix on egg physical characteristics, antioxidant profiles, lipid oxidative status, and yolk coloration before and after storage at 4 °C for one month. Sixty Novogen White laying hens, 27 weeks-old, were divided into three groups and given 100 g/hen/day of a standard diet (C), standard diet containing 4.5% of ground linseed (L), linseed diet containing 1% of dried tomato paste and 1% of sweet red pepper (LTP). Linseeds increased (p < 0.05) egg yolk antioxidant capacity but not lipid oxidative stability (p > 0.05). However, dietary inclusion of LTP did not improve fresh egg yolk antioxidant activity and lipid oxidation stability (p > 0.05). With reference to the stored eggs, only antioxidant activity measured by phosphomolybdenum reduction and lipid oxidative stability were influenced (p < 0.05) by the dietary treatment. Fresh egg yolk of hens fed on linseeds tended to have a slightly more yellow, redder, and less light color than the eggs of hens fed with the control diet. Dietary supplementation of LTP increased (p < 0.05) the Roche yolk color fan (RYCF) score and redness (a*) and decreased (p < 0.05) lightness (L*) without affecting (p > 0.05) saturation (C*). Storage of hens’ eggs fed on the control diet did not influence (p > 0.05) yolk color.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of L-Carnitine and Excess Lysine-Methionine on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Immunity Markers of Broiler Chicken

L-carnitine as well as lysine and methionine are amino acids of important nutritional and nutraceutical interest and are used in nutritional strategies as diet supplements to improve feed quality characteristics in animals and broiler chicken in particular. This study investigated the effect of different levels of L-carnitine and extra levels of lysine-methionine on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and some immune system markers. Two hundred seventy male Ross 308 broilers were a fed control diet (C) and eight different diets supplemented with an excess of amino acids. In the experimental diets, identified as D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8, extra L-carnitine, lysine, and methionine were added in excess with respect to the American National Research Council (NRC) recommendations: L-carnitine equal to NRC (D1); control diet supplemented with lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine equal to NRC (D2); control diet supplemented with lysine equal to NRC, methionine equal to NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D3); control diet supplemented control diet supplemented with lysine at 15% in excess of NRC, methionine at 15% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D4); control diet supplemented lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D5); control diet supplemented with lysine equal to NRC recommendations, methionine equal to NRC recommendations, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D6); control diet supplemented with lysine at 15% in excess of NRC, methionine at 15% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D7); and control diet supplemented with lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D8). During the starter and growth phases, feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). By contrast, body weight and FCR were both affected (p < 0.001) during the starter period. During the finisher phase, feed consumption was affected (p < 0.05) by dietary treatment. Feed intake of broilers fed on C, D3, D6, and D7 were statistically similar (p > 0.05) (1851.90, 1862.00, 1945.10, and 1872.80 g/pen/day, respectively) and were higher (p < 0.05) than 1564.40 g/pen/day (D5). With the exception of drumsticks, neck, back thoracic vertebrae, and proventriculus weights, economical carcass segments were not affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary supplementation of amino acids. Duodenum and ileum weights and lengths decreased with amino acid supplementation (p < 0.05). IgT and IgG titers against Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBC) for both primary and secondary responses were not affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). Dietary amino acids supplementation did not affect IgM titer after the secondary challenge (p > 0.05) and had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on serum antibody titers in broilers vaccinated against Newcastle disease (NCD) and Gumboro ‘s disease at the 27th and 30th days, respectively.

Effect of Dietary Incorporation of Linseed Alone or Together with Tomato-Red Pepper Mix on Laying Hens' Egg Yolk Fatty Acids Profile and Health Lipid Indexes

This study evaluated the effect of linseed incorporation in laying hens’ feed (alone or along with a tomato-red pepper mix) on laying hens’ egg yolk fatty acids profile, as well as on their atherogenic (IA) and thrombogenic (IT) health lipid indexes, and the ratio between the hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (HH). Sixty 27 weeks-old Novogen White laying hens were divided into three groups and given 100 g/hen/day of a standard diet (Control, C) containing 4.5% of ground linseed (Linseed diet, L), containing 1% of dried tomato paste and 1% sweet red pepper (Lineseeds-Tomato-Pepper, LTP). The linseed dietary inclusion significantly reduced the egg yolk content of palmitic acid from 25.41% (C) to 23.43% (L) and that of stearic acid from 14.75% (C) to 12.52% (L). Feeding 4.5% ground linseed did not affect the egg yolk content of α-Linolenic acid but significantly increased the egg yolk concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from 0.011% (C) to 0.047% (L) and that of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from 1.94% (C) to 2.73% (L). The IA and the HH were not affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary addition of linseed, whereas the IT decreased (p < 0.05) from 1.16 (C) to 0.86 (L). Adding tomato-sweet red pepper mix to the linseed-supplemented feed did not affect the measured parameters as compared to the linseed dietary treatment.

The outer limiting membrane (OLM) revisited: clinical implications

Purpose

The outer limiting membrane (OLM) is considered to play a role in maintaining the structure of the retina through mechanical strength. However, the observation of junction proteins located at the OLM and its barrier permeability properties may suggest that the OLM may be part of the retinal barrier.

Material and methods

Normal and diabetic rat, monkey, and human retinas were used to analyze junction proteins at the OLM. Proteome analyses were performed using immunohistochemistry on sections and flat-mounted retinas and western blotting on protein extracts obtained from laser microdissection of the photoreceptor layers. Semi-thin and ultrastructure analyses were also reported.

Results

In the rat retina, in the subapical region zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), junction adhesion molecule (JAM), an atypical protein kinase C, is present and the OLM shows dense labeling of occludin, JAM, and ZO-1. The presence of occludin has been confirmed using western blot analysis of the microdissected OLM region. In diabetic rats, occludin expression is decreased and glial cells junctions are dissociated. In the monkey retina, occludin, JAM, and ZO-1 are also found in the OLM. Junction proteins have a specific distribution around cone photoreceptors and Müller glia. Ultrastructural analyses suggest that structures like tight junctions may exist between retinal glial Müller cells and photoreceptors.

Conclusions

In the OLM, heterotypic junctions contain proteins from both adherent and tight junctions. Their structure suggests that tight junctions may exist in the OLM. Occludin is present in the OLM of the rat and monkey retina and it is decreased in diabetes. The OLM should be considered as part of the retinal barrier that can be disrupted in pathological conditions contributing to fluid accumulation in the macula.

The role of PKCzeta in NMDA-induced retinal ganglion cell death: prevention by aspirin

Intravitreal NMDA injection has been shown to induce the excitotoxic loss of retinal cells. The retinal ganglion cell apoptosis induced by NMDA is thought to play an important role in retinal ischemia injury and NMDA-injected rat has been used as a model of neuronal loss in diseases such as glaucoma. In this experimental model, we studied the early effects of NMDA leading to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. PKCzeta regulates the NF-kappaB pathway in cellular responses to various stresses and we have shown that aspirin inhibits purified human PKCzeta. We therefore investigated the molecular mechanism by which retinal cells limit ocular injury following NMDA treatment. We found that the NMDA-induced apoptosis of ganglion cells was mediated, at least partly, by PKCzeta. This enzyme was activated early in the cellular response to NMDA. Prolonged activation was followed by PKCzeta cleavage, and nuclear translocation of the C-terminal region of this protein-a critical event for the survival of retinal cells. We also found that pretreatment with aspirin or the coinjection of NMDA with a specific PKCzeta inhibitor counteracted the effects of NMDA. These findings provide new insight into the role played by PKCzeta in neuronal loss in glaucoma.

QN1/KIAA1009: a new essential protein for chromosome segregation and mitotic spindle assembly

We previously reported the involvement of QN1 (quail neuroretina 1) protein in cell cycle control during retinal development. We show here that QN1 is an ATPase conserved through evolution, from fugu to humans. We show that chicken/quail QN1 protein is orthologous to the KIAA1009 protein in humans, the function of which was not known. We demonstrate here for the first time that QN1/KIAA1009 protein is located at the spindle poles of the mitotic apparatus and at centrosomes during mitosis. The siRNA-mediated depletion of KIAA1009 led to abnormal mitosis with chromosome segregation defects and abnormal centrosome separation leading to the death of PC12 and MCF7 cells. Thus, QN1/KIAA1009 is a new microtubule-associated ATPase involved in cell division.

Aspirin prevention of NMDA-induced neuronal death by direct protein kinase Cζ inhibition

Abstract Aspirin has been shown to protect against glutamate neurotoxicity via the nuclear factor kappaB pathway. Some studies have implicated the atypical protein kinase C (PKC) zeta (zeta) isoform in cell protection, but the mechanism involved remains unclear. We show here that aspirin exerts at least some of its effects through PKCzeta, decreasing the NMDA-induced activation, cleavage and nuclear translocation of this molecule. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) directly inhibited the protein kinase activity of PKCzeta, whereas salicylic acid did not. This direct effect of aspirin on purified human PKCzeta is consistent with PKCzeta inhibition preventing the NMDA-induced death of cortical neurones. Caspase-3 inhibition blocked the cleavage and nuclear translocation of PKCzeta, whereas caspase-1-inhibition did not. Thus, PKCzeta (protein kinase Mzeta) regulates nuclear events essential for the initiation of the apoptotic pathway. Aspirin protects cells against NMDA-induced apoptosis by means of a novel mechanism targeting PKCzeta, a key molecule in inflammatory responses and neurodegeneration.

Cloning and characterization of a novel transcription factor involved in cellular proliferation arrest: PATF

Cell cycle withdrawal involves several transcription factors such as E2Fs members that play a key role in cell growth control. Here we describe a novel putative bZIP transcription factor isolated from the retina and involved in neuronal proliferation arrest at the terminal differentiation: PATF (Proliferation Arrest Transcription Factor). We show that PATF associates with E2F4 protein and interacts with the E2F consensus site. PATF expression increases with establishment of quiescent state. Furthermore, the nuclear PATF localization like E2F4, depends on cell growth arrest. The decrease of PATF amount, using a retroviral antisense strategy, results in pursued neuroretina cell mitosis. Our results indicate that PATF could be a new molecular signal implicated in the final neuronal cell cycle withdrawal.

The expression of thyrotropin receptor in the brain

The regulation of the thyroid gland by TSH is mediated by a heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptor. Nonthyroid effects of TSH have been reported, and expression of its receptor has been described in adipocytes and lymphocytes. We have previously reported the existence of specific and saturable binding sites of TSH and specific TSH effects in primary cultured rat brain astroglial cells. We now report expression of the TSH receptor gene in these cells; the coding sequence of the corresponding complementary DNA is identical to that previously established in thyroid. Using specific antisense RNA probe, expression of this gene was detected in some isolated or clustered glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive primary cultured cells by in situ hybridization. With this technique, we further detected TSH receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in rat brain cryoslices in both neuronal cells and astrocytes. Its presence predominated in neuron-rich areas (pyriform and postcingulate cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamic nuclei) and was mostly colocalized with neuron-specific enolase. In astrocytes, this mRNA was detected in the ependymal cell layer and the subependymal zone, and several isolated cells were also found in the brain parenchyma. We also detected TSH receptor mRNA and protein in primary cultured human astrocytes. The protein was detected as well in both rat and human brain cryoslices. Together, these findings clearly demonstrate the expression of the TSH receptor gene in the brain in both neuronal cells and astrocytes.

TSH control of PKA catalytic subunit activity in thyroid cell cultures

The protein expression and the enzyme activity of the catalytic subunit (C) of the cAMP-dependent protein kinases were studied in porcine thyroid cell primary cultures stimulated with two doses of TSH (0.1 mU/ml and 1 mU/ml) for 1 to 3 days. In TSH-stimulated cells the desensitization of the catalytic subunit activity was accompanied by a simultaneous and parallel decrease of its immunoreactivity. The loss of catalytic subunit was rapid and reached its maximum after 1 day of culture. It is similar in the two subcellular compartments: cytosol and particulate extracts. Contrary to the observed loss of the C subunit protein molecules in TSH-stimulated cells, the expression of the Cbeta subunit mRNA in these cells was increased fivefold compared to controls, while no significant change was observed on the Calpha subunit mRNA. These results suggest that TSH controls the Cbeta subunits of PKA at two levels: at the transcriptional level it increases Cbeta mRNA expression, and at the translational or posttranslational level TSH decreases the amount and the activity of the Cbeta protein molecules.

Retinal dysplasia in mice lacking p56lck

The product of the proto-oncogene p56lck is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase member of the Src family. It is found in T cells (Marth et al., 1985, 1988) and in the mouse brain (Omri et al., 1996; Van Tan et al., 1996). In this report, we describe experiments showing that Lck is present in the mouse retina neurons. Lck gene expression was identified after isolating and sequencing the specific 5' and 3' part of the cDNA obtained by RT-PCR. In adult retina Lck immunoreactivity was most abundant in photoreceptor cells and within the outer plexiform layers. Staining was also observed in the inner nuclear and plexiform layers. In transgenic mice, the disruption of the Lck gene had serious consequences on the organization of the retina causing retinal dysplasia. These mice have partial retinal detachment with infolding and rosette formation in the photoreceptor sheet. These retinal abnormalities observed in Lck deficient mice lead to the loss of normal architecture of the photoreceptor and the inner nuclear layers, and provide an important role of Lck protein in the retina development. The lack of the Lck protein produces a spectrum of retinal pathology that resembles human retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Nectinepsin: a new extracellular matrix protein of the pexin family. Characterization of a novel cDNA encoding a protein with an RGD cell binding motif

We report the isolation and characterization of a novel cDNA from quail neuroretina encoding a putative protein named nectinepsin. The nectinepsin cDNA identifies a major 2.2-kilobase mRNA that is detected from ED 5 in neuroretina and is increasingly abundant during embryonic development. A nectinepsin mRNA is also found in quail liver, brain, and intestine and in mouse retina. The deduced nectinepsin amino acid sequence contains the RGD cell binding motif of integrin ligands. Furthermore, nectinepsin shares substantial homologies with vitronectin and structural protein similarities with most of the matricial metalloproteases. However, the presence of a specific sequence and the lack of heparin and collagen binding domains of the vitronectin indicate that nectinepsin is a new extracellular matrix protein. Furthermore, genomic Southern blot studies suggest that nectinepsin and vitronectin are encoded by different genes. Western blot analysis with an anti-human vitronectin antiserum revealed, in addition to the 65- and 70-kDa vitronectin bands, an immunoreactive protein of about 54 kDa in all tissues containing nectinepsin mRNA. It seems likely that the form of vitronectin found in chick egg yolk plasma by Nagano et al. ((1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 24863-24870) is the protein that corresponds to the nectinepsin cDNA. This new protein could be an important molecule involved in the early steps of the development.

The Lck tyrosine kinase is expressed in brain neurons

The lck gene product, p56lck, is a member of the src-related family of protein tyrosine kinases. It is known as lymphocyte specific and involved in thymocyte development and in the immune response mediated by the T cell receptor. We report that the lck gene is also expressed in adult mouse CNS and that brain p56lck is similar to the thymus protein. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry show that the lck gene is expressed in neurons throughout the brain in distinct regions, including hippocampus and cerebellum. In primary cultures from fetal mouse brain, neuronal cells are immunoreactive to Lck antiserum. This suggests that the lck gene product might be involved in a new signal transduction pathway in mouse brain.

CD4 expression in neurons of the central nervous system

CD4 is a member of the Ig gene super family expressed on the surface of many thymocytes and of a subset of T lymphocytes. Human CD4 is the receptor for HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120. Human and mouse CD4 transcripts are expressed in human and mouse central nervous system (CNS), but no corresponding proteins have been reported yet. We have analyzed mRNA expression and carried out immunological experiments on adult mouse brain with probes specific for the long and short CD4 transcripts and with antibodies monospecific for mouse CD4. The main result of these experiments is that the full length CD4 transcript and the CD4 protein are expressed coordinately in neurons throughout the adult mouse brain. CD4 immunoreactivity is also present in brain small vessel walls, ependymal cells, and choroid plexus. The brain mouse CD4 protein is indistinguishable from the thymus protein. In addition, we show that neuronal cells in primary cultures from human fetal CNS are immunoreactive to human CD4 mAbs.

Identification of four lipocortin proteins and phosphorylation of lipocortin I by protein kinase C in cytosols of porcine thyroid cell cultures

Four proteins of the lipocortin family, lipocortin I (35 kDa), lipocortin II (36 kDa), lipocortin V (32 kDa) and lipocortin VI (67-70 kDa), were identified in the cytosols of 2-day-old cultures of thyroid cells. Only lipocortin I was phosphorylated in vitro in fully differentiated, thyroid stimulating hormone-treated cells (0.1 mU/ml). Protein kinase C was the only kinase activity which phosphorylated lipocortin I. Phosphorylation shifted its pI from 6.9 to 6.6. The in vitro phosphorylation of lipocortin I was impaired in cultures exposed for 2 days to phorbol ester (10(-7) M), although it was present in both the cytosol and the particulate fraction of these cells.

Thyrotropin but not epidermal growth factor down-regulates the isozyme I (PKa I) of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in dog thyroid cells in primary cultures

The activity of the two cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKa I and PKa II) was evaluated in dog thyroid cells in primary cultures after a 6-day growth period induced by either thyrotropin (TSH) or epidermal growth factor (EGF). Although the total PKa activity was not affected in cells cultured in the presence of TSH or EGF, their actions on the PKa I and PKa II expressions were significantly different. The activity of PKa I was strongly inhibited by TSH (70-80%) while with EGF it was either stimulated or unaffected with respect to controls. The two mitogens did not have a significant effect on the activity of PKa II. Forskolin (Fk) mimicked the effect of TSH. The expression of the two regulatory subunits (R I and R II), evaluated by the covalent binding of 8-azido-cAMP, was similar to the expression of the corresponding catalytic activities, suggesting a coregulation of the catalytic and regulatory subunits from the same isozyme. After chronic stimulation by TSH, differentiated dog thyroid cells are almost completely deprived of PKa I.

Phorbol ester prevents the thyroid-stimulating-hormone-induced but not the forskolin-induced decrease of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in thyroid cell cultures

The potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) affects several thyroid cell functions and interacts with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) either by inhibiting or potentiating its action on different cellular parameters. Since phorbol ester acts mainly through the activation of protein kinase C, which is its receptor, we studied this activation and its interaction with TSH and forskolin in suspension cultures of porcine thyroid cells. In thyroid cell cultures, TPA has a dual effect on protein kinase C activity: immediately (2-5 min) after exposure of cells to TPA, it began to be translocated from the cytosol to the particulate fraction. The transfer of the cytosolic enzyme was total and could occur with or without a loss of activity. The translocated enzyme still needed Ca2+ and phospholipids for its activation. The basal activity increased transiently (2-4 h) in both the cytosol and particulate fractions during translocation. The peak activity in the particulate fraction was reached 10-30 min after exposure of cells to TPA, and was followed by down-regulation of protein kinase C and almost complete disappearance of its activity. The residual activity was about 13% of control after a 2-day exposure to TPA. It was unequally distributed between cytosol (4%) and particulate fraction (9%). Prolonged exposure of cells to TPA did not affect either the activity or the subcellular distribution of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. TPA interacted with TSH and prevented the decrease of this activity induced by prolonged exposure of cells to the hormone not only when it was introduced simultaneously with TSH, but also when it was added 24 h after TSH. However, the forskolin-induced decrease in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity was not prevented by the presence of TPA. TPA also affected the increases in cAMP accumulation mediated by TSH and forskolin. The TSH-induced increase was significantly stimulated by TPA after short contacts (5-15 min), while longer preincubations of cells with TPA provoked a very strong inhibition of the TSH action. However, the forskolin-induced stimulation of the cAMP accumulation was maintained and even further increased in the presence of TPA. Consequently, the actions of TSH and TPA are apparently interdependent, while those of forskolin and TPA seem to be parallel and independent. Neither TSH nor forskolin prevented the TPA-induced down regulation of protein kinase C. The biologically inactive phorbol ester analogue 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate had no effect on protein kinase C activity, and did not interact with either TSH or forskolin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Decrease in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in suspension cultures of porcine thyroid cells exposed to TSH or forskolin

Suspension cultures of porcine thyroid cells were used to study the action of TSH and forskolin (Fk) on cAMP-dependent (PKa) and Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent (PKc) protein kinase--enzymes which represent the key step in the transduction of extracellular signals. The PKa activity in cells cultured for 2 days in the presence of TSH was decreased to about 50% of control level with a TSH dose of 0.1 mU/ml. This decrease is dose dependent; only traces of PKa activity remained at very high doses of TSH (50 mU/ml). Similar results were obtained with Fk (10(-5) M), the adenylate cyclase activator. It decreased the PKa activity to the level obtained with 0.1-1.0 mU/ml TSH. The loss of the PKa activity was parallel in cytosol and particulate fractions, suggesting that there is no translocation of enzymes under the action of either TSH or Fk. Neither TSH nor Fk had any effect on PKc, which became the predominant activity in cells exposed to either of the regulators. The cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of endogenous proteins was lower in TSH- or Fk-treated cells than in controls, and was dependent, like the PKa activity, on the dose of TSH. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed the specific substrates of PKa in cultured thyroid cells. Proteins of 28, 30 and 33 kDa were regularly found, while 58 kDa protein was not present in all experiments. PAGE patterns showed that the decrease in endogenous phosphorylation in TSH- and Fk-treated cells was due to decreased labelling of PKa-specific substrates. The observed down-regulation of PKa activity could have an influence on the expression of thyroid cell differentiation.

Characteristics of thyroid protein kinase C. Different Ca2 requirement for the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins and of H1 histone

Thyroid protein kinase C (PKc) from cytosols of porcine and rat thyroid glands has been characterized using histone H1 or endogenous proteins as substrates. As in many other tissues histone H1 is by far the preferred exogenous substrate of thyroid PKc. Kinetic studies with H1 showed that, compared to rat thyroids, porcine glands are particularly rich in PKc, the predominant kinase activity in this tissue. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKa) level, on the contrary, is very similar in both rat and porcine thyroids. Consequently, for the same type of tissue, there may be great species differences in the PKc level and the ratios between PKc and PKa kinase activities. Chromatographic properties of thyroid PKc are similar to those described in other tissues (one major peak followed by a small shoulder) except that elution of the main peak can vary depending on the nature of the salt gradient (approximately 55 mM for NaCl and 15 mM for sodium phosphate). In the first case PKc is completely separated from the PKa activity, in the second it is coeluted with the peak of PKa type I. The one-dimensional PAGE pattern of proteins phosphorylated by porcine PKc is very similar to the pattern obtained by rat enzyme. Protein bands of 18 kDa, 22-25 kDa and 32-36 kDa are specific substrates of the thyroid PKc, after in vitro phosphorylation of cytosol proteins. A great difference in Ca2+ requirement for PKc activation was noted, depending whether histone H1 or endogenous proteins were substrates. As in other tissues, calcium was absolutely necessary for phosphorylation of histone H1 by PKc. The addition of calcium was not absolutely necessary when endogenous proteins were the substrates, either for the activation of the enzyme or for phosphorylation of the PKc-specific substrates. Almost the same rate of phosphorylation was obtained with or without calcium in the incubation medium. However the one-dimensional PAGE pattern of phosphorylated proteins was different in the presence or absence of calcium. While addition of calcium was not absolutely necessary for the phosphorylation of a great number of proteins by the PKc, its presence was indispensable for the phosphorylation of certain endogenous substrates. However, calcium alone, in the absence of phospholipids had no effect on the phosphorylation of these proteins. Endogenous proteins, phosphorylated by the PKc only when calcium was present, were resolved by the two-dimensional PAGE into several distinct spots with molecular masses of 32-35 kDa and pI range of 5-7.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Endogenous substrates of protein kinase C in experimentally induced and regressed rat thyroid goitres

The presence of endogenous substrates of the protein kinase C (PKc) in rat thyroid glands has been demonstrated in in vitro phosphorylated cytosolic proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Rat thyroid PKc specifically catalyzes the phosphorylation of the 35 kDa and 18 kDa proteins. These proteins were not labelled in the presence of Ca2+ alone, but they were phosphorylated when phospholipids alone were added. In hyperplastic glands the total phosphorylation of endogenous proteins is stimulated, due to the increased labelling of the 35 kDa and 18 kDa proteins. No extra phosphorylated bands were revealed by PAGE analysis. After suppression of growth activity the labelling of the two PKc-specific substrates was strongly inhibited.

Protein kinase C activity in experimentally developed and regressed rat thyroid goitres

The presence of protein kinase C activity in rat thyroid glands was demonstrated by kinetic studies, using lysine-rich histone as substrate. DE 52 cellulose chromatography resolved thyroidal protein kinase C activity into two peaks, the first eluting at 50 mM and the second at 150 mM salt solution. They contained respectively 40% and 60% of the total activity. In cytosols from experimentally induced goitres, which are hyperplastic tissues, protein kinase C activity rose 3-4-fold compared to control glands. In this tissue, protein kinase C seems to be present in reversibly activated form, since its activity was completely inhibited in the absence of calcium and phospholipids. After removal of growth stimulus, rapid involution of goitres occurred, producing a spectacular decrease in protein kinase C activity. In goitres regressed for 5 days, the level of protein kinase C was lower than in untreated control tissue. The protein kinase C activities in control glands and developed and regressed goitres were 1.88, 5.85 and 0.74 pmoles 32P/mg tissue, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate, for the first time, a direct correlation between the protein kinase C level and the thyroid gland growth activity induced by endogenous stimuli.

Thyroid hormones and fat cell phosphorylation

The phosphorylation of cytosolic and plasma membrane proteins was studied in isolated fat cells from euthyroid and thyroidectomized rats. The analysis, by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, of subcellular fractions of 32P-labelled fat cells revealed the presence of 10-12 phosphoprotein bands in the cytosol. The washed plasma membrane fraction contained 4 major phosphoproteins with estimated molecular weights of 70-67, 60, 42-40 and 26-22 kDa. Two-dimensional analysis of the 32P-labelled phosphoproteins showed that their isoelectric points were between 6.3 and 4.1. The profiles and the isoelectric points were similar in fat cells from euthyroid and thyroidectomized rats. The state of hypothyroidism did not affect the basal phosphorylation of fat cell proteins of the cytosolic or plasma membrane fractions. The incubation of fat cells from euthyroid rats in the presence of isoproterenol or dibutyryl adenosine cyclic monophosphate led to (a) an increase in the 32P labelling of cytosolic proteins which may be subunits of acetyl CoA carboxylase, ATP citrate lyase, hormone-sensitive lipase and other proteins, with apparent molecular weights between 50 and 42 kDa, and (b) an increase in the 32P labelling of plasma membrane proteins of 26-22 kDa. In the case of fat cells from hypothyroid rats, the dibutyryl adenosine cyclic monophosphate increased the 32P labelling of plasma membrane proteins, whereas in the presence of isoproterenol these reactions did not occur. These results show that thyroid hormones control the 32P labelling of proteins of the cytosol and plasma membrane fractions of rat fat cells and therefore, at least in some cases, the lipolytic and lipogenic pathways.