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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
Published on: March 14, 2021
Distinct mechanisms of phospholipase D activation and attenuation utilized by different mitogens in NIH-3T3
1Department of Hormone Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Abstract:
The activation of phospholipase D (PLD) by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), prostaglandin F2 alpha and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was studied in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. PLD activation was determined by measuring the production of both [3H]phosphatidic acid and [3H]phosphatidylpropanol (products of the PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis and transphosphatidylation reactions, respectively), in cells that were metabolically pre-labeled with [3H]oleic acid. All mitogens caused a rapid (within 2 min) activation of PLD. Activation of PLD by prostaglandin F2 alpha and PDGF was transient and declined to near basal levels by 15 min and 55 min, respectively. In contrast, TPA-induced activation of PLD was sustained for at least 60 min of incubation. A combination of maximally effective concentrations of PDGF and TPA stimulated PLD activity in a non-additive manner, while the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha was additional to that of either PDGF or TPA. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine inhibited PLD activation by PDGF or TPA with almost identical dose/response curves. In contrast, staurosporine potentiated prostaglandin-F2 alpha-induced PLD activation. The specific protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X (a bisindolylmaleimide) inhibited PLD activation by prostaglandin F2 alpha and PDGF at concentrations higher than those required for inhibition of PLD activation induced by TPA. Depletion of cellular protein kinase C abolished PLD activation by all three mitogens without affecting in vitro activity of membrane-bound PLD. The distinct kinetics of PLD activation and its differential susceptibility to protein kinase inhibitors suggest the existence of agonist-specific activation and/or inactivation mechanisms. The results indicate also that protein kinase C participates in the mechanism of PLD activation via PDGF, while the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha involves a pathway independent of protein kinase C.
Insights
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), prostaglandin F2 alpha, and TPA rapidly activate phospholipase D (PLD) in fibroblasts. Protein kinase C mediates PDGF and TPA effects, but not prostaglandin F2 alpha signaling.
Area of Science:
- Cellular signaling pathways
- Enzymology
- Signal transduction
Background:
- Phospholipase D (PLD) is a key enzyme in cellular signaling.
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), prostaglandin F2 alpha, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) are known mitogens that can activate cellular responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the activation mechanisms of phospholipase D (PLD) by different mitogens in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts.
- To elucidate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in PLD activation by PDGF, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and TPA.
Main Methods:
- Metabolic labeling of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts with [3H]oleic acid.
- Quantification of [3H]phosphatidic acid and [3H]phosphatidylpropanol to measure PLD activity.
- Treatment with mitogens (PDGF, prostaglandin F2 alpha, TPA) and protein kinase inhibitors (staurosporine, GF109203X).
- PKC depletion experiments.
Main Results:
- All tested mitogens rapidly activated PLD.
- PLD activation kinetics varied: transient for prostaglandin F2 alpha and PDGF, sustained for TPA.
- Protein kinase C inhibition differentially affected PLD activation by the mitogens.
- PKC depletion abolished PLD activation by all mitogens, indicating its crucial role.
Conclusions:
- Agonist-specific mechanisms regulate PLD activation and inactivation.
- Protein kinase C is involved in PDGF and TPA-induced PLD activation.
- Prostaglandin F2 alpha activates PLD via a pathway independent of protein kinase C.
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