Properties of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in rat adipose tissue

Previously we have identified the presence of two different phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PPH) activities in rat adipose tissue, based on Mg(2+)-dependency. In the present investigation, we have further characterized these isoenzymes, using both aqueous dispersed and membrane-bound phosphatidate as substrates and differentiated these activities on the basis of both Mg(2+)-dependency and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)-sensitivity. These two distinguishing criteria gave identical estimates of PPH activities present in the different subcellular fractions. The microsomal and cytosol fractions contained mainly the Mg(2+)-dependent (NEM-sensitive) form, which was inhibited by various thiol reagents, was inactivated by heating at 55 degrees C for 20 min, and was decreased significantly within 2 h after intraperitoneal administration of cystamine (200 mg/kg). Such treatments had no effects on the Mg(2+)-independent (NEM-insensitive) form of PPH, which was mainly located in the plasma membranes, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. Addition of Lipid A and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate to the assay mixture had no effect on the PPH activities. The Mg(2+)-independent PPH form, which was thermostable in the intact subcellular fractions, became thermolabile when these fractions were disrupted in the presence of Triton X-100. The present studies demonstrate that: (1) the thermostability is not a satisfactory index to differentiate these isoenzymes; (2) the thiol/disulphide exchange may be involved in the regulation of Mg(2+)-dependent PPH activity; and (3) the PPH isoenzymes do not seem to be under G-protein control in adipose tissue, as reported previously in the mesangial cell line.