title: Lutropin-dependent protein phosphorylation and steroidogenesis in rat tumour Leydig cells.
abstract: Tumour Leydig cells have been incubated in the presence or absence of lutropin (luteinizing hormone, ;LH'). Stimulation of cells with lutropin (1000ng/ml) in the presence of 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (0.25mm) resulted in increased steroid production and increased protein phosphorylation. When pregnenolone metabolism was inhibited, basal pregnenolone production was 26.9+/-7.4ng/60min per 10(6) cells; stimulated production was 156.1+/-39.5ng/60min per 10(6) cells (means+/-s.d., n=4). Lutropin-dependent phosphorylated proteins of molecular mass 17000, 22000, 24000, 33000 and 57000Da were detected. A significant increase of [(32)P]P(i) incorporation into these phosphorylated proteins was observed concomitant with the increased pregnenolone production. The occurrence of the phosphoproteins in nuclei, mitochondria and postmitochondrial-supernatant was investigated. The 17000Da phosphoprotein was found in the nuclear fraction, whereas the 22000, 24000, 33000 and 57000Da phosphoproteins were localized in the postmitochondrial-supernatant fraction. Of the cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage activity, 80.3+/-6.1% (mean+/-s.d., n=5) was present in the mitochondrial fraction isolated from tumour Leydig cells, and this activity was 2.5-fold increased when cells had been preincubated with lutropin/1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (basal production: 194.6+/-28.6ng/30min per mg of protein; lutropinstimulated production: 498.8+/-91.5ng/30min per mg of protein; means+/-s.d., n=3). The similarities in the kinetics of the phosphorylation of proteins and the pregnenolone production after addition of lutropin/1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine indicate that the phosphoproteins could be involved in the lutropin-dependent increase in steroidogenesis in tumour Leydig cells. It remains to be demonstrated, however, to what extent the phosphoproteins outside the mitochondria can influence the cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage activity inside the mitochondria.
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D011284:Pregnenolone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine