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Query: EC:2.7.11.13 (
protein kinase C
)
49,245
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
The naturally occurring antioxidant boldine and its di-methoxy analogue glucine, as well as the drug antioxidant probucol, all inhibit TPA-induced downregulation of gap junctional intercellular communication in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells in dose-dependent manners. The compounds were essentially 100% inhibitory to the effect of TPA (10 nM) at 50 microM each. Analysis of the mechanism of the antitumor promotive action of these agents in vitro revealed that boldine and probucol (both at 10 microM) totally inhibited the TPA-induced accumulation of intracellular oxidants. Additionally, boldine, glaucine, and probucol, each at 50 microM, inhibited TPA-induced translocation of
protein kinase C
(
PKC
) to the particulate fraction of the cells, with concomitant inhibition of TPA-induced hyperphosphorylation of gap junctional
connexin 43
(cx43) and TPA-induced internalisation of cx43 protein from the plasma membrane of the cells. None of the compounds inhibited the binding of (3H)-PDBu to TPA-specific binding sites in the cells. The results indicate that antioxidant molecules, irrespective of structure, possess common antitumor promotive potential in this model of gap junctional intercellular communication. The data also indicate that the compounds may interfere with the promotive function of TPA, at least in part, by the destruction of oxidants within the cells. Xanthine oxidase was excluded as a major source of such intracellular oxidants because allopurinol (50 microM) did not significantly affect either the accumulation of oxidants in the cells or the downregulation of gap junctional communication in response to TPA. Taken together, these data also suggest that TPA-induced oxidants play a role in the translocation of
PKC
to cellular membranes and it is at this level where the antioxidants may interfere in TPA-induced downregulation of gap junctional function.
...
PMID:The inhibitory effects of boldine, glaucine, and probucol on TPA-induced down regulation of gap junction function. Relationships to intracellular peroxides, protein kinase C translocation, and connexin 43 phosphorylation. 750 66
Polyunsaturated fatty acids have attracted much interest due to their wide spectrum of biological activities which include the modulation of gap junctional communication (GJC). Since gap junctions play critical roles in maintaining the functional integrity of organs and tissues, and loss of intercellular communication is associated with a number of pathological conditions, we investigated the effects of the n-6 and n-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives on GJC in WB cells as determined by the ability of Lucifer Yellow-loaded cells to transfer the dye to neighbouring recipient cells. Studies were also conducted to investigate the possible mechanisms of action of the fatty acids. Treatment of cells with 10 microM arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) resulted in a rapid and transient loss of communication competence. The response to 20 microM 20:4 (n-6) was prolonged (> 210 min) but was readily reversible by washing the cells with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin. Cells which had regained their communication competence responded to further additions of 20:4 (n-6). The fatty acids, 18:3 (n-6), 20:5 (n-3), 22:6 (n-3) and the 15-hydroxy- and the 15-hydroperoxy-derivatives of 20:4 (n-6) were also powerful inhibitors of GJC, while 23:4 (n-6) was a relatively weak inhibitor. The saturated 20 carbon fatty acid, 20:0, and the methyl ester of 20:4 (n-6) were without effect. This illustrates the importance of unsaturation and the carboxyl group as structural requirements for activity. 20:4 (n-6)-induced inhibition of dye transfer was not attenuated by pretreating the cells with either phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or indomethacin, suggesting that regulation of gap junctional permeability by 20:4 (n-6) in WB cells was neither dependent on PMA-responsive isozymes of
protein kinase C
nor required the metabolism of the fatty acids by cyclo-oxygenase. However, the effect of 20:4 (n-6) was antagonized by preincubating WB cells with either nordihydroguaiaretic acid or (+/-)-isoproterenol and isobutylmethyl-xanthine. Western blot analysis of
connexin 43
(
Cx43
), the major gap junctional protein expressed in these cells, revealed no detectable changes to the electrophoretic mobility of
Cx43
even after 60 min of incubation in the presence of 20:4 (n-6). As expected, other inhibitors of gap junctional permeability including epidermal growth factor, phorbol ester or lysophosphatidic acid induced a retardation in the mobility of
Cx43
, indicating an enhancement in the phosphorylation of
Cx43
protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
...
PMID:Inhibition of gap junctional communication by polyunsaturated fatty acids in WB cells: evidence that connexin 43 is not hyperphosphorylated. 754 75
Short-term (10 min) effects of 100 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the
protein kinase C
(
PKC
) activator, on cardiac macroscopic (gj) and single channel (gamma j) gap junctional conductances were studied in pairs of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Under dual whole-cell (WC) or perforated patch (PP) voltage-clamp, gj increased by 15.5 +/- 7.2% (mean +/- SD, n = 9) and by 46.3 +/- 17.0% (n = 5), respectively. The latter difference is not related to intracellular calcium concentration, because raising the Ca2+ concentration in the electrode solution did not change the TPA-induced increase in gj observed under WC conditions. The inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (alpha PDD), did not affect gj. Single cardiac gap junction channel events, resolved in the presence of heptanol, indicated two gamma j sizes of 20 and 40-45 pS. Under control conditions, the larger events were most frequently observed. Whereas alpha PDD did not change this distribution, TPA shifted the gamma j distribution to the lower sizes. Diffusion of Lucifer Yellow (LY) and 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-CF), gap junction permeant tracers, was studied on small clusters of cardiomyocytes. Under control conditions, LY labeled 19.4 +/- 7.2 cells (mean +/- SD, n = 18) and 6-CF labeled 8.4 +/- 2.2 cells (n = 20). Whereas alpha PDD did not change the extent of dye transfer, TPA restricted the diffusion of LY to 2.8 +/- 1.3 cells (n = 11) and of 6-CF to 2.4 +/- 1.4 cells (n = 20). This suggests that permeability and single channel conductance of
connexin 43
channels are parallely related. Altogether, these results point to the opposite modulation of electrical and metabolic coupling of cardiac cells evoked by TPA.
...
PMID:TPA increases conductance but decreases permeability in neonatal rat cardiomyocyte gap junction channels. 755 55
Evidence is mounting supporting a role for oxidative stress in the mechanism of tumour promotion in response to agents such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In this paper we demonstrate that glutathione peroxidase-mimetic xenobiotics, ebselen, ebselen-glutathione, alpha-(phenylselenenyl) acetophenone and bis-(4-aminophenyl) telluride (at concentrations between 10 microM and 50 microM) all demonstrate protective effects on TPA-induced downregulation of gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. These effects were, in each case, diminished if the cells were depleted of their intracellular glutathione, and potentiated if glutathione was supplemented into the incubations. Additionally, bis-(4-aminophenyl) selenide and several N-substituted analogues, possessing potent antioxidant activity but being devoid of GSH peroxidase-mimetic activity, demonstrated remedial activity against TPA-induced downregulation of GJIC. Structure-activity relationships between these molecules showed a strong correlation to the oxidation potential of the selenium atom in the compound as the bis-(4-nitrophenyl)- and bis-(4-cyanophenyl)- derivatives, which possess poor antioxidant capacity and a half-wave redox potential well above +1.0 V, did not affect TPA-induced effects on GJIC. Examination of the mechanism of action of these redox-active compounds demonstrated correlations between their abilities to (i) prevent TPA-induced downregulation of GJIC, (ii) abolish the accumulation of intracellular oxidants and (iii) prevent the hyper-phosphorylation and internalization of
connexin 43
in the cells. The active compounds were also able to prevent the rapid, TPA-induced translocation of
protein kinase C
to the particulate fraction of the cells, without affecting phorbol ester binding. These data support a synergistic role for oxidants and other TPA-dependent responses within the cell in mediating the downregulation of GJIC. Such oxidative metabolism may play a role in the control of translocation of
protein kinase C
from the cytosol to membranes in response to TPA within these cells. Despite the nature of the in vitro test system studied, the data also clarify the molecular basis for a potential anti-tumour promotive effect of antioxidants, based on established redox chemistries of several series of structurally-related molecules.
...
PMID:Redox-active chalcogen-containing glutathione peroxidase mimetics and antioxidants inhibit tumour promoter-induced downregulation of gap junctional intercellular communication between WB-F344 liver epithelial cells. 763 9
We have examined the effect of protein kinase (
PKC
) depletion in SV40-transformed Djungarian hamster fibroblasts (DM15 cells) on the level of gap junction permeability. Cx43 electrophoretic mobility, and cell sensitivity to different uncoupling stimuli. After 24 hr exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the total
PKC
activity in DM15 cells was reduced to 20-25% in comparison with intact cells. In
PKC
-depleted cells the level of dye coupling was 30-40% higher than in the same untreated cultures. Western blot analysis revealed multiple forms of the gap junction protein
connexin 43
, which correspond to known phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of this protein. No decrease in the level of
connexin 43
phosphorylation after
PKC
depletion was observed. TPA (10(-7) g/ml), mezerein (10(-7) g/ml), teleocidin (10(-8) g/ml), Ca-ionophore A23187 (10(-6) g/ml), insecticide 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorphenyl)-ethane (DDT) (10(-4) g/ml), and nigericin (10(-5) M in hydrolysate lactalbumin solution, pH 6.3) induced a four-to six-fold decrease in the number of recipient cells in the dye-coupling assay.
PKC
-depleted cells became almost completely resistant to the uncoupling effect of mezerein, teleocidin, and A23187, as well as to new exposure to TPA, and became partially resistant to the effect of DDT. Nigericin inhibited intercellular communication between
PKC
-depleted cells to the same extent as between control cells. Thus, in the cell system studied,
PKC
plays a certain role in maintaining the basal level of gap junction permeability and has an important significance as a mediator of the uncoupling effects of such substances as TPA, mezerein, teleocidin, and Ca2+.
...
PMID:Role of protein kinase C in the regulation of gap junctional communication. 770 63
The aim of this study was to evaluate the rapid regulation of cell-cell communication by using the microinjection of purified cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A), the Ca(2+)-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (
protein kinase C
), or the inhibitor proteins (PKI and CKI) that are, respectively, specific for each of these enzymes. Gap junction phenotypes of myometrial tissue and cells were studied by means of immunocytochemistry with antibody to
connexin 43
(alpha 1; Cx43). Cells were enzymatically disaggregated from myometrium of nonpregnant, mid-pregnant (Day 14), and late-pregnant (Day 29) rabbit uteri (n = 8 per group) and seeded at high density such that after 4 days, cultures had the appearance of a cross-sectioned myometrium. Purified proteins and their subunits were microinjected, and intercellular communication was evaluated by monitoring Lucifer Yellow dye transfer. Cultures were treated with 0.5 mM 8Br-cAMP (8-bromo adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate) or 10 microM OAG (1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol), which, respectively, activate protein kinase A and
protein kinase C
. Immunoreactive Cx43 and cell-cell communication were examined 5 min to 2 h later. Cx43 was detected in myometrial cryosections and cultured cells by indirect immunofluorescence, and its expression increased with gestation. Exposure to 8Br-cAMP increased the amount of immunoreactive Cx43. Basal dye transfer was minimal in nonpregnant cells, increased in cells of mid-pregnant uteri, and was maximal in late-pregnant cells. Treatment with 8Br-cAMP enhanced transfer in mid- and late-pregnant cells but had no obvious effect on cells from nonpregnant animals. OAG treatment inhibited dye transfer in greater than 95% of the cells tested irrespective of pregnancy status. PKI inhibited cell-cell communication within 2 min and up to 40 min. Injection of free catalytic subunit of protein kinase A following PKI inhibition restored communication within 2-3 min, with maximal transfer in 4-5 min. Protein kinase C inhibited communication, which resumed in < 3 min after injection of CKI. We conclude that rabbit myometrial cells engage in Cx43-mediated cell-cell communication and that this process increases during pregnancy. Further, activators of protein kinase A or injected free catalytic subunit rapidly enhances cell-cell communication, whereas activators of
protein kinase C
or the enzyme itself diminishes this process.
...
PMID:Regulation of cell-cell communication mediated by connexin 43 in rabbit myometrial cells. 814 55
Gap junctional communication during the progression of cell cycle from quiescent G0 to S phase was examined in cultured clone 9 rat liver cells. The transfer of scrape-loaded fluorescent dye was suppressed immediately after the stimulation of cell cycle progression in a synchronized cell population. Northern blot analysis showed that the temporal disturbance of gap junctional communication in cells passing from G0 to S phase did not result from transcriptional down-regulation of
connexin 43
. It was also found that the
PKC
inhibitor, calphostin C, was able to restore intercellular communication in serum stimulated cells. Data suggest a control mechanism by
PKC
mediated phosphorylation in the regulation of gap junction function which is vulnerable to cell cycling. The loss of gap junctional communication correlated with the increased phosphorylation of
connexin 43
on serine residues in clone 9 cells.
...
PMID:PKC phosphorylation disrupts gap junctional communication at G0/S phase in clone 9 cells. 905 80
To address the relation between osteoblast growth and cell-to-cell communication, we examined the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), both potent stimulators of osteoblastic proliferation, on gap junctional intercellular communication between osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The level of intercellular communication was estimated by a photobleaching method. TPA inhibited the degree of intercellular communication in two different time-dependent manners. The early (< 1 h) inhibition by TPA was consistent with an increase in the phosphorylation of
connexin 43
(
Cx43
). The later inhibition was caused by reduction in the total amount of
Cx43
on the plasma membrane, due to the decrease in the level of
Cx43
transcripts. These qualitative and quantitative modulations by TPA were inhibited by a selective inhibitor of
protein kinase C
, GF109203X. bFGF also attenuated the gap junctional intercellular communication. However, short exposure (< 5 h) to bFGF did not affect the communication. The fact that the growth factor immediately stimulated the phosphorylation of
Cx43
indicates that the phosphorylation site(s) affected by bFGF was not involved in the inhibition of communication. The decrease in the intercellular communication level was detected by the longer exposure (> 8 h) to bFGF and paralleled the decline in the Cx-mRNA level. This inhibitory effect of bFGF was abolished by the addition of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A. Thus, gap junctional intercellular communication between osteoblasts was down-regulated by osteoblastic mitogens through different mechanisms of the modulation of
Cx43
.
...
PMID:Down-regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication between osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells by basic fibroblast growth factor and a phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate). 925 46
Accumulating evidence indicates that gap junctions, primarily composed of
connexin 43
(
Cx43
), are distributed extensively throughout bone. We have previously reported that in osteoblastic cells parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases both the steady-state levels of transcripts for
Cx43
and gap-junctional intercellular communication in a process involving cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We now present data showing that the mechanism of stimulation of
Cx43
gene expression by PTH involves an increased rate of
Cx43
gene transcription without affecting
Cx43
transcript stability in UMR 106 osteoblastic cells. Activation of the
protein kinase C
pathway is not involved in this process. Inhibiting translation consistently decreases the PTH-mediated stimulation of
Cx43
gene expression at all the times we tested (1-3 h). However, this effect is only partial, demonstrating that de novo protein synthesis is required for full stimulation. PTH increases the steady-state levels of
Cx43
mRNA in several osteoblastic cell lines, albeit to different levels. We were unable to detect PTH stimulation in ROS 17/2.8 osteoblastic cells, suggesting that the effect of PTH on
Cx43
gene expression may depend on the developmental state of the cell along the osteoblastic differentiation pathway. In the MC3T3-E1 preosteoblastic cell line, we find that PTH increases
Cx43
gene expression in proliferating and maturing osteoblastic cells, but not in nondividing, differentiated osteoblasts, where the basal level of
Cx43
gene expression is elevated. Unlike PTH, the osteotropic hormones 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 17beta-estradiol do not appear to affect
Cx43
gene expression in UMR 106 osteoblastic cells.
...
PMID:Parathyroid hormone up-regulation of connexin 43 gene expression in osteoblasts depends on cell phenotype. 942 Dec 33
In the Lewis rat model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), decreased immunodetectable connexin assembly into gap junctions and diminished intercellular communication are associated with the loss of thyroid function (hypothyroidism) that occurs prior to significant tissue destruction. The current study explores the hypothesis that the loss of
connexin 43
(
Cx43
)-mediated intercellular communication in these cells is caused by upregulation of
protein kinase C
(pKC) activity. Thyrocytes isolated from EAT rats exhibited a 78% increase in basal pKC activity; whereas, basal protein kinase A (pKA) activity was unchanged. Increased pKC activity was a result of increased isozyme protein levels. Thyroid cells expressed pKC isozymes gamma and lambda and had elevated levels of alpha (40%), beta (30%), delta (31%), and epsilon (25%) as quantified by western blot analyses. Furthermore, modulation of pKC activity inversely altered
Cx43
assembly and function in monolayer thyrocytes. For example, octoacetyl glycerol (OAG) treatment of normal thyrocyte monolayers to increase pKC activity resulted in deficient
Cx43
gap junction assembly and reduced intercellular communication indistinguishable from the deficits in EAT thyrocytes. Conversely, calphostin C inhibition of pKC activity in EAT thyrocyte monolayers restored these parameters to normal. Thus, pharmacological modulations of pKC activity in cultured thyrocytes support a causal relation between the changes in pKC activity and
Cx43
-mediated intercellular communication. Abnormalities in autoimmune diseased thyroid tissue (eg, increased pKC) appear to contribute to reduced intercellular coordination of thyroid follicles and thereby can affect subsequent thyroid function. The persistence of target cell abnormalities in the absence of infiltrating lymphocytes and their products supports an alternative mechanism by which thyroid function can be affected that does not depend on the loss of thyroid glandular epithelium.
...
PMID:Elevation of protein kinase C in thyrocytes isolated from a Lewis rat model of autoimmune thyroiditis prevents assembly of immunodetectable connexin43 gap junctions and reduces intercellular communication. 945 38
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