Related Experiment Videos

PKC-dependent long-term effect of PMA on protein cell surface expression in Caco-2 cells

C Sapin1, L Baricault, G Trugnan

  • 1INSERM, CJF 96-07, Faculté de médecine Saint Antoine, Paris, France.

Insights

Protein kinase C (PKC) activation impairs cell surface targeting of proteins in Caco-2 cells. This effect, similar to forskolin

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Protein traffic and cell surface expression are regulated by phosphorylation pathways, including protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC).
  • Previous studies showed forskolin (FK), a PKA activator, impaired cell surface expression of apical hydrolases and a basolateral protein in Caco-2 cells, but not via PKA activation.
  • Cross-talk between PKA and PKC pathways is known, suggesting FK's cAMP-independent effects might involve PKC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if PKC activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) affects cell surface expression of brush border hydrolases and the '525' antigen in Caco-2 cells.
  • To determine if PKC activation impacts apical and basolateral protein delivery pathways.
  • To explore the cellular localization of proteins affected by PKC activation.

Main Methods:

  • Enzymatic activity measurements.
  • Pulse-chase experiments combined with cell surface biotinylation assays.
  • Confocal laser scanning microscopy.
  • Analysis of protein kinase C (PKC) translocation and cellular localization.

Main Results:

  • Long-term PMA treatment did not alter the overall expression of brush border hydrolases or the '525' antigen.
  • PMA treatment significantly decreased the total cell surface expression of these proteins, affecting both apical and basolateral delivery pathways.
  • Proteins not recovered at the cell surface were found sequestered in Lamp-1-positive lysosomal-related vesicles.
  • PMA induced PKC translocation and redistribution to vesicular and membrane compartments associated with cytokeratins.

Conclusions:

  • PMA-dependent PKC activation significantly impairs protein cell surface targeting in Caco-2 cells.
  • The observed effects of PKC activation are similar to those previously reported for forskolin, supporting a role for PKA-PKC cross-talk.
  • PKC activation leads to sequestration of proteins in lysosomal-related vesicles, disrupting normal protein trafficking.

Related Concept Videos