Transient desensibilization of isolated hepatocytes against phalloidin by treatment with phospholipase A

The development of typical protrusions in isolated hepatocytes after incubation with phalloidin was prevented by phospholipase A (from bee venom). When cells were preincubated with low concentrations of phospholipase A and the enzyme was removed by washing, the number of cells affected by 10 microgram phalloidin/ml was markedly reduced. If the pretreated cells were allowed to recover after removal of phospholipase, the sensitivity to phalloidin returned to nearly normal values. Transient treatment of hepatocytes with sublytic concentrations of phospholipase A did not destroy cell membranes, whereas 5-fold higher concentrations of the enzyme produced large protrusions quite different from those appearing during phalloidin poisoning. These findings suggest that phosphatides are needed for the recognition of phalloidin by liver cells. A series of marker enzymes were analysed in isolated plasma membranes from rat liver after treatment with phospholipase A. Changes in the activities of K+ Na+-ATPase and of p-nitrophenylphosphatase were observed. Other membranal enzymes were not markedly influenced. The inhibitory effect of phospholipase A on the phalloidin response is discussed in context of earlier findings suggesting an evident role of a membranal protein for the recognition of phalloidin.