Lysophosphatidic acid inhibits gap-junctional communication and stimulates phosphorylation of connexin-43 in WB cells: possible involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) was shown to be a powerful inhibitor of gap-junctional communication between cultured rat liver WB cells, as determined by the transfer of Lucifer Yellow, with 50% inhibition obtained at about 0.3 microM LPA. Inhibition of communication was rapid (5 min) and was maintained for at least 80 min. After incubation for 3 h with LPA, communication competence was partially restored and dye transfer was refractory to further addition of LPA. Communication in LPA-refractory cells retained sensitivity to inhibition by phorbol ester and by epidermal growth factor (EGF). LPA-induced inhibition was associated with phosphorylation of connexin-43 protein, as detected by slower migration of the protein detected on Western blots, which could be eliminated by incubation of samples with alkaline phosphatase. A close correspondence was observed between the time- and dose-dependency of LPA effects on communication and the induction of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase). Activation of both the 42 kDa and 44 kDa subspecies were confirmed by mobility shifts on Western blots using an anti-(MAP kinase R1) (erk 1-III) antibody and by fractionation on Mono Q columns. Cells pretreated with phorbol ester for 24 h were insensitive to phorbol ester inhibition of communication or activation of MAP kinase, but retained their sensitivity to LPA. The results indicate that LPA initiates the activation of protein kinase cascades in WB cells that are probably independent of protein kinase C and identifies connexin-43 as one substrate for the activated kinases.
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
C S
CS
Hill
S Y
SY
Oh
S A
SA
Schmidt
K J
KJ
Clark
A W
AW
Murray
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000819:agonists / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000819:agonists / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D018031:Connexin 43; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; C017475:lucifer yellow; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate