title: In vitro activation of brain protein kinase C by the cannabinoids.
abstract: The cannabinoids have been shown to affect both membrane lipid ordering and the activities of several membrane-associated proteins. We have investigated the effects of the cannabinoids on protein kinase C, a lipid-dependent enzyme that functions as an important regulator of signal-transduction processes in the brain. The naturally occurring cannabinoid delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) increased the activity of protein kinase C isolated from rat forebrain at concentrations of 10 microM and above. 11-OH-delta 9-THC, cannabinol and cannabidiol also increased protein kinase C activity in the same concentration range. delta 9-THC (10 microM) decreased the Kact of protein kinase C for calcium from 28 microM to 18 microM and had no effect on the phosphatidylserine concentration-stimulation relationship. At a concentration of 30 microM, delta 9-THC increased the binding of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDBu) to protein kinase C and decreased the Kd for [3H]PDBu from 8.2 nM to 5.4 nM. delta 9-THC also had effects on lipid ordering of PS micelles, producing a significant increase in the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene at a concentration of 10 microM. These data suggest that delta 9-THC activates protein kinase C via a novel mechanism, possibly as a result of effects on vesicle lipid physical characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hillard
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Auchampach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D008297:Male; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D013759:Dronabinol; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D002118:Calcium