Strategy for Development of Site-Specific Ubiquitin Antibodies.

Protein ubiquitination is a key post-translational modification regulating a wide range of biological processes. Ubiquitination involves the covalent attachment of the small protein ubiquitin to a lysine of a protein substrate. In addition to its well-established role in protein degradation, protein ubiquitination plays a role in protein-protein interactions, DNA repair, transcriptional regulation, and other cellular functions.

Diacylglycerol kinase θ counteracts protein kinase C-mediated inactivation of the EGF receptor.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is negatively regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) signaling. Stimulation of A431 cells with EGF, bradykinin or UTP increased EGFR phosphorylation at Thr654 in a PKC-dependent manner. Inhibition of PKC signaling enhanced EGFR activation, as assessed by increased phosphorylation of Tyr845 and Tyr1068 residues of the EGFR.

Protein kinase C inhibits binding of diacylglycerol kinase-zeta to the retinoblastoma protein.

We previously showed that the retinoblastoma protein (pRB), a key regulator of G1 to S-phase transition of the cell cycle, binds to and stimulates diacylglycerol kinase-zeta (DGKzeta) to phosphorylate the lipid second messenger diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid. pRB binds to the MARCKS phosphorylation-site domain of DGKzeta that can be phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC). Here, we report that activation of PKC by phorbol ester inhibits DGKzeta binding to pRB.

The retinoblastoma family proteins bind to and activate diacylglycerol kinase zeta.

The retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is a tumor suppressor and key regulator of the cell cycle. We have previously shown that pRB interacts with phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases, lipid kinases that can regulate phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate levels in the nucleus. Here, we investigated pRB binding to another lipid kinase in the phosphoinositide cycle, diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) that phosphorylates the second messenger diacylglycerol to yield phosphatidic acid.

Translocation of diacylglycerol kinase theta from cytosol to plasma membrane in response to activation of G protein-coupled receptors and protein kinase C.

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) phosphorylates the second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid. We previously identified DGK as one of nine mammalian DGK isoforms and reported on its regulation by interaction with RhoA and by translocation to the plasma membrane in response to noradrenaline. Here, we have investigated how the localization of DGK, fused to green fluorescent protein, is controlled upon activation of G protein-coupled receptors in A431 cells.

Structure-activity relationship of diacylglycerol kinase theta.

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) phosphorylates the second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid (PA). Among the nine mammalian isotypes identified, DGKtheta is the only one with three cysteine-rich domains (CRDs) (instead of two) in its N-terminal regulatory region. We previously reported that DGKtheta binds to and is negatively regulated by active RhoA.

Diacylglycerol kinase theta binds to and is negatively regulated by active RhoA.

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) phosphorylates the second messenger diacylglycerol to yield phosphatidic acid. To date, very little is known about the regulation of DGK activity. We have previously identified the DGKtheta isotype, which is predominantly expressed in brain (Houssa, B.

Diacylglycerol generated by exogenous phospholipase C activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway independent of Ras- and phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase C: dependence on protein kinase C-zeta.

The role of diacylglycerol (DG) formation from phosphatidylcholine in mitogenic signal transduction is poorly understood. We have generated this lipid at the plasma membrane by treating Rat-1 fibroblasts with bacterial phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). This treatment leads to activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

Involvement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C in platelet-derived growth factor-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Rat-1 fibroblasts.

The role of phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis in activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was studied in Rat-1 fibroblasts. PDGF induced the transient formation of phosphatidic acid, choline, diacylglycerol (DG), and phosphocholine, the respective products of phospholipase D (PLD) and phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity, with peak levels at 5-10 min. PLD-catalyzed transphosphatidylation (with n-butyl alcohol) diminished DG formation at 5 min but not at later stages of PDGF stimulation.

Diacylglycerol kinase in receptor-stimulated cells converts its substrate in a topologically restricted manner.

The regulation of diacylglycerol (DG) kinase activity was studied in fibroblasts and Jurkat T cells. We questioned whether enzyme activity only depends on substrate availability or whether it requires receptor stimulation. To this end, we raised DG levels up to 15-fold by treatment of cells with bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC).

A myristoylated pseudosubstrate peptide, a novel protein kinase C inhibitor.

Synthetic peptides corresponding to the pseudosubstrate domains of protein kinase C (PKC) have been used as specific inhibitors of PKC in in vitro assays and permeabilized cell systems. However, their use in vivo was hampered by the impermeability of the plasma membrane for such peptides. Here, we show that N-myristoylation of the PKC pseudosubstrate nonapeptide Phe-Ala-Arg-Lys-Gly-Ala-Leu-Arg-Gln permits its use as an inhibitor of PKC in intact cells.

The biologically active phospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid, induces phosphatidylcholine breakdown in fibroblasts via activation of phospholipase D. Comparison with the response to endothelin.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a simple phospholipid that possesses hormone- and growth-factor-like properties. LPA initiates its action by inducing GTP-dependent phosphoinositide hydrolysis and inhibiting adenylate cyclase [van Corven, Groenink, Jalink, Eichholtz & Moolenaar (1989) Cell 59, 45-54]. Here we show that LPA stimulates rapid breakdown of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in Rat-1 fibroblasts.

Metabolic conversion of the biologically active phospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid, in fibroblasts.

Lysophosphatidic acid (3-sn-lysophosphatidic acid; LPA) can activate cells similar to hormones and growth factors. We have considered the question whether metabolic conversion of LPA taken up by the cell could be of any importance in this activation. Addition of [14C-glycerol]LPA to quiescent Rat-1 fibroblasts resulted in rapid formation of [14C]monoacylglycerol (MG), closely followed by accumulation of [14C]triacylglycerol.

Phospholipid metabolism in bradykinin-stimulated human fibroblasts. II. Phosphatidylcholine breakdown by phospholipases C and D; involvement of protein kinase C.

Bradykinin (BK) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) both stimulate the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in human fibroblasts, resulting in the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and diacylglycerol (DG) (Van Blitterswijk, W.J., Hilkmann, H.

Phospholipid metabolism in bradykinin-stimulated human fibroblasts. I. Biphasic formation of diacylglycerol from phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine, controlled by protein kinase C.

Stimulation of human fibroblasts with bradykinin (BK) results in the generation of diacylglycerol (DG) and phosphatidic acid (PA). Prelabeling of the cells with [3H]arachidonic acid and [14C]palmitic acid allowed us to quantitate these lipid second messengers and to determine their origin, i.e.

Purification, cDNA-cloning and expression of human diacylglycerol kinase.

Diacylglycerol (DG) kinase attenuates the level of the second messenger DG in signal transduction, and therefore possibly modulates protein kinase C (PKC). DG kinase was purified to homogeneity from human white blood cells, showing an Mr of 86 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. Two amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides from DG kinase were determined and degenerate oligonucleotides were prepared and used in the polymerase chain reaction.

Effect of dietary lipids on plasma lipoproteins and fluidity of lymphoid cell membranes in normal and leukemic mice.

Mice of the GR/A strain were fed four different isocaloric semipurified diets, enriched in either (1) saturated fatty acids (palm oil), or (2) polyunsaturated fatty acids (corn oil), or (3) palm oil plus cholesterol, or (4) a fat-poor diet containing only a minimal amount of essential fatty acids. We have studied the effects of these dietary lipids on the density profile and composition of the plasma lipoproteins and on the lipid composition and fluidity of (purified) lymphoid cell membranes in healthy mice and in mice bearing a transplanted lymphoid leukemia (GRSL). Tumor development in these mice occurred in the spleen and in ascites.

A metabolite of an antineoplastic ether phospholipid may inhibit transmembrane signalling via protein kinase C.

In our search for the mechanisms by which the drug 1-O-alkyl-2-O-methylglycero-3-phosphocholine (AMG-PC) inhibits tumor growth and metastasis, we have detected a metabolite, 1-O-alkyl-2-O-methylglycerol (AMG), in membranes of MO4 mouse fibrosarcoma cells grown in the presence of the drug. Synthetic AMG inhibited the activation of highly purified human protein kinase C by diacylglycerol in the presence of phosphatidylserine. Furthermore, AMG also inhibited the receptor-specific binding of 3H-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate to human HL-60 promyeloid leukemia cells in a dose-dependent fashion.

Alterations in biosynthesis and homeostasis of cholesterol and in lipoprotein patterns in mice bearing a transplanted lymphoid tumor.

The membrane fluidity of murine lymphoid GRSL tumor cells has been shown to depend on their site of growth in the host. Tumor cells located in ascites, in contrast to those in the enlarged spleen, show a very high plasma membrane fluidity, mainly due to a decreased level of cellular (membrane) cholesterol. Yet, the rate of cholesterol biosynthesis in the tumor cells as estimated by the activity of HMG-CoA reductase and the incorporation of [14C]acetate into cholesterol was extremely high when compared to various lymphoid cells in normal control mice.

Accumulation of HDL-like lipoproteins in the plasma low-density fractions of tumor-bearing mice.

Outgrowth of the transplanted GRSL lymphoma in GR mice yielded several-fold increased blood plasma levels of low- and very-low-density lipoproteins, while high-density lipoproteins were strongly reduced. Changes in cholesteryl ester fatty acid profiles indicated an accumulation of HDL-like particles rather than LDL in the low-density fractions. By intravenous injection of [14C]cholesteryl ester-labeled HDL into tumor-bearing mice, conversion of HDL into lipoproteins of low density was demonstrated.