title: Protein kinase C-epsilon mediates phorbol ester-induced phosphorylation of connexin-43.
abstract: We have used adenoviral vectors to express dominant negative variants of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon) or mitogen kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) to investigate their involvement in phorbol ester-induced connexin-43 (Cx43) phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes. Stimulation of cardiomyocytes with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased the fraction of the slower migrating (> or = 45 kDa) and more extensively phosphorylated Cx43 species. Expression of dominant negative MKK1 did not prevent the effect of PMA on Cx43 phosphorylation. Selective inhibition of PKCE significantly decreased baseline levels of Cx43 phosphorylation and the PMA-induced accumulation of > or = 45 kDa Cx43. Thus, production of the more extensively phosphorylated species of Cx43 in cardiomyocytes by PMA requires activation of PKCepsilon.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Department of Human Anatomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Fandrich
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cattini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kardami
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051744:Protein Kinase C-epsilon; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D007527:Isoenzymes; C497257:Prkce protein, rat; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051744:Protein Kinase C-epsilon; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate