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Analysis of platelet-derived growth factor-induced phospholipase D activation in mouse embryo fibroblasts lacking

J A Hess1, Q S Ji, G Carpenter

  • 1Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-0295, USA.

Insights

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) activates phospholipase D (PLD) via phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) in mouse embryo fibroblasts. Disrupting the Plcg1 gene significantly reduced PDGF-induced PLD activity, indicating PLC-gamma1 is crucial for this signaling pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a key regulator of cellular processes.
  • Phospholipase D (PLD) activation is implicated in PDGF signaling pathways.
  • The role of phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) in PDGF-induced PLD activation remains to be fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the necessity of PLC-gamma1 for PDGF-induced PLD activation in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs).
  • To characterize the signaling mechanisms downstream of PDGF receptor in relation to PLC-gamma1 and PLD.

Main Methods:

  • Development of Plcg1 gene-disrupted (Plcg1(-/-)) and wild-type (Plcg1(+/+)) MEF cell lines.
  • Measurement of inositol phosphate production and PLD activity in response to PDGF stimulation.
  • Analysis of PDGF receptor phosphorylation and downstream signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

Main Results:

  • PDGF treatment led to a time- and dose-dependent increase in inositol phosphates and PLD activity in Plcg1(+/+) MEFs.
  • Plcg1(-/-) MEFs exhibited significantly reduced PDGF-induced inositol phosphate production and PLD activity.
  • Residual signaling in Plcg1(-/-) cells was attributed to phospholipase C-gamma2 (PLC-gamma2), which showed PDGF-induced phosphorylation and Ca2+ mobilization.
  • Restoration of PLD activity in Plcg1(-/-) cells was achieved by mimicking PLC-gamma1 effects.
  • MAPK phosphorylation and PDGF-induced membrane ruffling were unaffected in Plcg1(-/-) cells.

Conclusions:

  • PLC-gamma1 is essential for the growth factor-induced activation of PLD in MEFs.
  • PLC-gamma2 can partially compensate for the loss of PLC-gamma1 in PDGF signaling.
  • Specific signaling pathways, like MAPK, are independent of PLC-gamma1 for PDGF-induced activation.

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