AKT1-mediated Lamin A/C degradation is required for nuclear degradation and normal epidermal terminal differentiation.

Nuclear degradation is a key stage in keratinocyte terminal differentiation and the formation of the cornified envelope that comprises the majority of epidermal barrier function. Parakeratosis, the retention of nuclear material in the cornified layer of the epidermis, is a common histological observation in many skin diseases, notably in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Keratinocyte nuclear degradation is not well characterised, and it is unclear whether the retained nuclei contribute to the altered epidermal differentiation seen in eczema and psoriasis. Loss of AKT1 function strongly correlated with parakeratosis both in eczema samples and in organotypic culture models. Although levels of DNAses, including DNase1L2, were unchanged, proteomic analysis revealed an increase in Lamin A/C. AKT phosphorylates Lamin A/C, targeting it for degradation. Consistent with this, Lamin A/C degradation was inhibited and Lamin A/C was observed in the cornified layer of AKT1 knockdown organotypic cultures, surrounding retained nuclear material. Using AKT-phosphorylation-dead Lamin A constructs we show that the retention of nuclear material is sufficient to cause profound changes in epidermal terminal differentiation, specifically a reduction in Loricrin, Keratin 1, Keratin 10, and filaggrin expression. We show that preventing nuclear degradation upregulates BMP2 expression and SMAD1 signalling. Consistent with these data, we observe both parakeratosis and evidence of increased SMAD1 signalling in atopic dermatitis. We therefore present a model that, in the absence of AKT1-mediated Lamin A/C degradation, DNA degradation processes, such as those mediated by DNAse 1L2, are prevented, leading to parakeratosis and changes in epidermal differentiation.

Feedbacks and adaptive capabilities of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in acute myeloid leukemia revealed by pathway selective inhibition and phosphoproteome analysis.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) primary cells express high levels of phosphorylated Akt, a master regulator of cellular functions regarded as a promising drug target. By means of reverse phase protein arrays, we examined the response of 80 samples of primary cells from AML patients to selective inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis. We confirm that >60% of the samples analyzed are characterized by high pathway phosphorylation. Unexpectedly, however, we show here that targeting Akt and mTOR with the specific inhibitors Akti 1/2 and Torin1, alone or in combination, result in paradoxical Akt phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling in 70% of the samples. Indeed, we demonstrate that cropping Akt or mTOR activity can stabilize the Akt/mTOR downstream effectors Forkhead box O and insulin receptor substrate-1, which in turn potentiate signaling through upregulation of the expression/phosphorylation of selected growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Activation of RTKs in turn reactivates PI3K and downstream signaling, thus overruling the action of the drugs. We finally demonstrate that dual inhibition of Akt and RTKs displays strong synergistic cytotoxic effects in AML cells and downmodulates Akt signaling to a much greater extent than either drug alone, and should therefore be explored in AML clinical setting.

Environmental risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: methodological issues in epidemiologic studies.

The exact role of environmental risk factors in the etiology of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is still unknown. Their hypothetical contribution ranges from a minimal impact to a major role. Among the environmental factors strictu sensu (i.e., not life-style factors) suspected to play a role in ALS etiology, we consider pesticides, the metalloid selenium, some heavy metals, magnetic fields and cyanobacteria. However, the possibility exists that these factors exert their activity only in genetically susceptible persons and only after long-term exposures, thus further hampering epidemiologic studies. The recent availability of powerful tools such as population-based ALS registries for case ascertainment and clustering detection, and of environmental modeling techniques and of geographical information systems, may yield unique opportunities for offering insight into the etiology of the disease.

Nuclear damages and oxidative stress: new perspectives for laminopathies.

Mutations in genes encoding nuclear envelope proteins, particularly LMNA encoding the A-type lamins, cause a broad range of diverse diseases, referred to as laminopathies. The astonishing variety of diseased phenotypes suggests that different mechanisms could be involved in the pathogenesis of laminopathies. In this review we will focus mainly on two of these pathogenic mechanisms: the nuclear damages affecting the chromatin organization, and the oxidative stress causing un-repairable DNA damages. Alteration in the nuclear profile and in chromatin organization, which are particularly impressive in systemic laminopathies whose cells undergo premature senescence, are mainly due to accumulation of unprocessed prelamin A. The toxic effect of these molecular species, which interfere with chromatin-associated proteins, transcription factors, and signaling pathways, could be reduced by drugs which reduce their farnesylation and/or stability. In particular, inhibitors of farnesyl transferase (FTIs), have been proved to be active in rescuing the altered cellular phenotype, and statins, also in association with other drugs, have been included into pilot clinical trials. The identification of a mechanism that accounts for accumulation of un-repairable DNA damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in laminopathic cells, similar to that found in other muscular dystrophies (MDs) caused by altered expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, suggests that anti-oxidant therapeutic strategies might prove beneficial to laminopathic patients.

Autophagic degradation of farnesylated prelamin A as a therapeutic approach to lamin-linked progeria.

Farnesylated prelamin A is a processing intermediate produced in the lamin A maturation pathway. Accumulation of a truncated farnesylated prelamin A form, called progerin, is a hallmark of the severe premature ageing syndrome, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria. Progerin elicits toxic effects in cells, leading to chromatin damage and cellular senescence and ultimately causes skin and endothelial defects, bone resorption, lipodystrophy and accelerated ageing. Knowledge of the mechanism underlying prelamin A turnover is critical for the development of clinically effective protein inhibitors that can avoid accumulation to toxic levels without impairing lamin A/C expression, which is essential for normal biological functions. Little is known about specific molecules that may target farnesylated prelamin A to elicit protein degradation. Here, we report the discovery of rapamycin as a novel inhibitor of progerin, which dramatically and selectively decreases protein levels through a mechanism involving autophagic degradation. Rapamycin treatment of progeria cells lowers progerin, as well as wild-type prelamin A levels, and rescues the chromatin phenotype of cultured fibroblasts, including histone methylation status and BAF and LAP2alpha distribution patterns. Importantly, rapamycin treatment does not affect lamin C protein levels, but increases the relative expression of the prelamin A endoprotease ZMPSTE24. Thus, rapamycin, an antibiotic belonging to the class of macrolides, previously found to increase longevity in mouse models, can serve as a therapeutic tool, to eliminate progerin, avoid farnesylated prelamin A accumulation, and restore chromatin dynamics in progeroid laminopathies.

MATER protein as substrate of PKCepsilon in human cumulus cells.

High activity of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway in cumulus cells plays an important role in FSH regulation of cell function and Protein Kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon) collaborates with these signalling pathways to regulate cell proliferation. Relevant roles in follicular development are played by Maternal Antigen That Embryos Require (MATER) that is a cumulus cell- and oocyte-specific protein dependent on the maternal genome. We recently demonstrated that human MATER localizes at specific domains of oocytes and, for the first time, also in cumulus cells. MATER contains a carboxy-terminal leucine-rich repeat domain involved in protein-protein interactions regulating different cellular functions. Here we investigated the functional role of MATER. Thus, we performed coimmunoprecipitation experiments using HEK293T cells expressing human MATER; a similar approach was then followed in human cumulus/follicular cells. In MATER(+)HEK293T cells, we observed that this protein acts as a phosphorylation substrate of PKCepsilon. Western blot experiments indicate that, unlike oocytes, human cumulus cells express PKCepsilon. Immunoprecipitation and confocal analysis suggest for the first time that MATER protein interacts with this protein kinase in cumulus cells under physiological conditions. Since PKCepsilon is known to collaborate with antiapoptotic signalling pathways, this suggests a novel mechanism for the function of MATER in follicular maturation.

Pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase CK2 reverts the multidrug resistance phenotype of a CEM cell line characterized by high CK2 level.

Protein kinase CK2 is an ubiquitous and constitutively active kinase, which phosphorylates many cellular proteins and is implicated in the regulation of cell survival, proliferation and transformation. We investigated its possible involvement in the multidrug resistance phenotype (MDR) by analysing its level in two variants of CEM cells, namely S-CEM and R-CEM, normally sensitive or resistant to chemical apoptosis, respectively. We found that, while the CK2 regulatory subunit beta was equally expressed in the two cell variants, CK2alpha catalytic subunit was higher in R-CEM and this was accompanied by a higher phosphorylation of endogenous protein substrates. Pharmacological downregulation of CK2 activity by a panel of specific inhibitors, or knockdown of CK2alpha expression by RNA interference, were able to induce cell death in R-CEM. CK2 inhibitors could promote an increased uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs inside the cells and sensitize them to drug-induced apoptosis in a co-operative manner. CK2 blockade was also effective in inducing cell death of a different MDR line (U2OS). We therefore conclude that inhibition of CK2 can be considered as a promising tool to revert the MDR phenotype.

Lamin A N-terminal phosphorylation is associated with myoblast activation: impairment in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle disorders associated with mutations of lamin A/C gene include autosomal Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1B. The pathogenic mechanism underlying these diseases is unknown. Recent data suggest an impairment of signalling mechanisms as a possible cause of muscle malfunction. A molecular complex in muscle cells formed by lamin A/C, emerin, and nuclear actin has been identified. The stability of this protein complex appears to be related to phosphorylation mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To analyse lamin A/C phosphorylation in control and laminopathic muscle cells. METHODS: Lamin A/C N-terminal phosphorylation was determined in cultured mouse myoblasts using a specific antibody. Insulin treatment of serum starved myoblast cultures was carried out to evaluate involvement of insulin signalling in the phosphorylation pathway. Screening of four Emery-Dreifuss and one limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1B cases was undertaken to investigate lamin A/C phosphorylation in both cultured myoblasts and mature muscle fibres. RESULTS: Phosphorylation of lamin A was observed during myoblast differentiation or proliferation, along with reduced lamin A/C phosphorylation in quiescent myoblasts. Lamin A N-terminus phosphorylation was induced by an insulin stimulus, which conversely did not affect lamin C phosphorylation. Lamin A/C was also hyperphosphorylated in mature muscle, mostly in regenerating fibres. Lamin A/C phosphorylation was strikingly reduced in laminopathic myoblasts and muscle fibres, while it was preserved in interstitial fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Altered lamin A/C interplay with a muscle specific phosphorylation partner might be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1B.

Targeting of the Akt/PKB kinase to the actin skeleton.

Serine/threonine kinase Akt/PKB intracellular distribution undergoes rapid changes in response to agonists such as Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or Insulin-like growth factor (IGF). The concept has recently emerged that Akt subcellular movements are facilitated by interaction with nonsubstrate ligands. Here we show that Akt is bound to the actin skeleton in in situ cytoskeletal matrix preparations from PDGF-treated Saos2 cells, suggesting an interaction between the two proteins. Indeed, by immunoprecipitation and subcellular fractioning, we demonstrate that endogenous Akt and actin physically interact. Using recombinant proteins in in vitro binding and overlay assays, we further demonstrate that Akt interacts with actin directly. Expression of Akt mutants strongly indicates that the N-terminal PH domain of Akt mediates this interaction. More important, we show that the partition between actin bound and unbound Akt is not constant, but is modulated by growth factor stimulation. In fact, PDGF treatment of serum-starved cells triggers an increase in the amount of Akt associated with the actin skeleton, concomitant with an increase in Akt phosphorylation. Conversely, expression of an Akt mutant in which both Ser473 and Thr308 have been mutated to alanine completely abrogates PDGF-induced binding. The small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 seem to facilitate actin binding, possibly increasing Akt phosphorylation.

Unusual laminin alpha2 processing in myoblasts from a patient with a novel variant of congenital muscular dystrophy.

We recently described a novel congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) syndrome characterized by mental retardation, microcephaly, and partial merosin deficiency on muscle biopsy. Linkage analysis excluded involvement of the known CMD loci. We now report on a study performed on the differentiation of cultured myoblasts from one patient affected by this condition to evaluate the potential to form myotubes and merosin processing in these cells. The differentiation rate was comparable to controls and myotubes were stable in culture. Biochemical analysis showed the expected 80-kDa merosin subunit in myoblasts. However, a shifted 60-kDa protein was detected in myotubes. Matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) zymography showed increased gelatinolytic activity, and immunoblotting identified an increased amount of membrane-type 1 matrix-metalloproteinase in pathological myotube preparations. Our results show that these CMD-derived myotubes contain a low molecular weight merosin. They further suggest that an altered regulation of MMPs can be involved in basal lamina damage.

Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase impairs pre-commitment cell cycle traverse and prevents differentiation in erythroleukaemia cells.

During the early hours after exposure to differentiation inducing agents, Friend erythroleukaemia cells undergo alterations which commit them to cessation of growth and development of the characteristics of differentiation. Our current experiments have compared the expression and activity of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in control cells with cells undergoing differentiation which has been induced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). When the cultures were initiated with stationary phase cells and DMSO was added at the time of seeding, PI 3-kinase activity was stimulated in both treated and control cells during the first 3 h from seeding. This event appears to be a rate limiting step in commitment since pretreatment of cells with 10 microM LY294002 or down-regulation of p85 expression prior to adding DMSO completely prevents commitment to erythropoiesis. Accordingly, PI 3-kinase inhibition during the commitment period prevents DNA-binding of the transcription factor GATA-1, essential for erythroid differentiation. However, once cells are committed to differentiate, PI 3-kinase activity and expression dramatically decreases along with the differentiation programme, to become barely detectable after 96 h. Remarkably, LY294002 treatment leads to accumulation of cell in G1 phase and prevents DMSO-dependent cyclin D3 induction. Based on these data, we suggest that PI 3-kinase is rate limiting for the completion of the first round cycle of cell division required for initiation of erythrocytic differentiation. On the other hand, the late decrease of PI 3-kinase associated with the differentiation process seems to be part of the programmed shut off of genes not needed in mature erythrocytes.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase translocation to the nucleus is an early event in the interleukin-1 signalling mechanism in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a proinflammatory cytokine which can elicit proliferative, differentiative, or metabolic responses. The molecular mechanisms by which IL-1 signals are transduced from the plasma membrane to the nucleus, although extensively studied, have not been completely elucidated. We previously demonstrated that human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells incubated with IL-1 presented a rapid and transient increase of phospholipase C activity exclusively at the nuclear level. Moreover, we presented evidence that not only the canonical inositol lipid signalling pathway was involved, but also the D3-phosphorylated lipids generated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) were affected. The results of this study indicate that in Saos-2 cells PI 3-kinase is recruited and activated by IL-1 receptor I (IL-1RI) through binding of the SH2 domains to the consensus sequence on the C-terminal tail of the receptor, and that Tyr-479 is essential for PI 3-kinase activation. Moreover, IL-1 treatment triggers PI 3-kinase translocation to the nucleus; this event is rapid and transient in cells expressing high levels of IL-1RI (Saos-2/IL-1R) as well as in untransfected cells, although to a lesser extent. The data, based on immunochemical and immunocytochemical quantitative methods, indicate that PI 3-kinase translocation to the nucleus depends on PI 3-kinase activation. In fact, inactivation by two independent mechanisms, addition of specific PI 3-kinase inhibitors, or overexpression of a mutant form of IL-1RI, resulted in a substantial inhibition of PI 3-kinase translocation to the nucleus. These data suggest that PI 3-kinase recruitment by the activated receptor is a limiting step in PI 3-kinase activation and nuclear translocation. This early event in the IL-1 signalling mechanisms confirms that D3 inositides, as well as canonical inositides produced by nuclear phospholipase C isoforms, are involved in this pathway of activation of transcription factors.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase translocation to the nucleus is induced by interleukin 1 and prevented by mutation of interleukin 1 receptor in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells.

Although interleukin 1 (IL-1) functions have been extensively characterized, the mechanisms by which IL-1 signals are transduced from the plasma membrane to the nucleus are less known. Recent evidence indicates that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) could be activated by a direct association with the activated IL-1 receptor. In this study we analyzed the effects of IL-1 on the intracellular distribution of PI3-kinase in wild-type Saos-2 human osteosarcoma cells, and in cell clones overexpressing type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI). PI3-kinase intracellular distribution displays two distinct patterns. In quiescent cells, PI3-kinase is distributed through the cytoplasm, although a portion is present in the nucleus; following stimulation with IL-1, PI3-kinase is redistributed, increasing in the nuclear compartment. Both immunoblotting and immunofluorescence data indicate that IL-1 causes a rapid and transient translocation of PI3-kinase from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. This phenomenon is prevented by PI3-kinase inhibitors, suggesting that the maintenance of PI3-kinase activity is essential for IL-1-induced translocation. Indeed, in cell clones stably transfected with Y479F receptor mutant, in which the binding of the enzyme to the activated receptor is blocked, IL-1-induced PI3-kinase translocation to the nucleus is completely prevented. These data suggest that PI3-kinase translocation to the nucleus upon IL-1R activation is an early event in IL-1 signaling mechanism, and may be involved in transcriptional activation.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is recruited to a specific site in the activated IL-1 receptor I.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) delivers a stimulatory signal which increases the expression of a set of genes by modulating the transcription factor NF-kappaB. The IL-1 receptors are transmembrane glycoproteins which lack a catalytic domain. The C-terminal portion of the type I IL-1 receptor (IL-IRI) is essential for IL-1 signalling and for IL-1 dependent activation of NF-kappaB. This portion contains a putative phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) binding domain (Tyr-E-X-Met), which is highly conserved between the human, mouse and chicken sequences, as well as the related cytoplasmic domain of the Drosophila receptor Toll. This observation prompted us to investigate the role of PI 3-kinase in IL-1 signalling. Here we report evidence that PI 3-kinase is recruited by the activated IL-IRI, causing rapid and transient activation of PI 3-kinase. We also show that the receptor is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to IL-1. Expression of a receptor mutant lacking the putative binding site for p85 demonstrates that Tyr479 in the receptor cytoplasmic domain is essential for PI 3-kinase activation by IL-1. Our results indicate that PI 3-kinase is likely to be an important mediator of some IL-1 effects, providing docking sites for additional signalling molecules.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is required for the induction of ornithine decarboxylase in leukemia cells stimulated to growth.

The involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was investigated by using specific PI3K inhibitors. In difluoromethylornithine-resistant L1210 cells stimulated to growth from quiescence, treatment with LY294002 inhibited cell growth and provoked a complete block of the induction of ODC activity (IC50 approximately 2 microM) and ODC protein. Some reduction in the accumulation of ODC mRNA was also observed, whereas ODC turnover was not affected significantly. Wortmannin, another specific inhibitor of PI3K, structurally unrelated to LY294002, also inhibited ODC induction with an IC50 of about 10 nM. These results indicate that PI3K activity is required for the induction of ODC, possibly affecting both ODC mRNA level and translation. Since p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) is considered an important mediator of PI3K action in several experimental systems, the effect of rapamycin, which can lead to selective inhibition of p70S6K, was also investigated. Rapamycin inhibited p70S6K activity and produced ODC inhibiting effects similar to those elicited by LY294002. However, LY294002 and wortmannin at concentrations which inhibited almost completely PI3K activity did not decrease p70S6K activity, suggesting that p70S6K does not mediate the PI3K effects on ODC, but may lie on a separate pathway in this experimental model.

Inhibition of the expression of ornithine decarboxylase and c-Myc by cell-permeant ceramide in difluoromethylornithine-resistant leukaemia cells.

Ceramide has emerged as a novel lipid mediator in cell growth and apoptosis. In difluoromethylornithine-resistant L1210 cells stimulated to growth from quiescence, the cell-permeant analogues of ceramide N-acetylsphingosine (C2-ceramide) and N-hexanoylsphingosine (C6-ceramide) inhibited the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity with IC50 of 8.3 and 1.5 microM respectively. This effect was strictly related to the ability to inhibit cell growth and [3H]thymidine incorporation. The suppression of cell growth was also associated with apoptosis. The addition of bacterial sphingomyelinase resulted in a significant, but limited, reduction of ODC induction and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which may act as a ceramide analogue, also inhibited the induction of the enzyme. Moreover, C6-ceramide largely prevented the accumulation of ODC mRNA and its precursor, ODC heterogeneous nuclear RNA, that accompanied the induction of ODC activity. A slight increase in ODC turnover was also observed. The DNA-binding activity of some transcription factors known to bind and transactivate the ODC gene was investigated by gel mobility-shift assay under the same experimental conditions. However, only the binding of Myc/Max was negatively affected by the treatment with C6-ceramide. Furthermore, the amount of immunoreactive c-Myc, which increased after stimulation of the cells to growth, was strongly reduced by C6-ceramide. These results suggest that the inhibition of c-Myc and ODC expression may be early events in the response of leukaemia cells to ceramide.

Nuclear lipid-dependent signal transduction in human osteosarcoma cells.

The enzymes and substrates involved in phosphoinositide signal transduction which have been detected in the nucleus of several cell types have been demonstrated to be responsive to agonists. The complexity of this aspect of inositide function has been previously analyzed in some cell models characterized by a mitogenic or differentiating response to specific factors. An interesting experimental model is represented by human derived osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, characterized by the expression of high affinity receptors for interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), which is one of the most potent stimulators of bone resorption. In particular, we investigated the earliest intracellular events following the binding of IL-1 alpha to its receptor, involving the inositide signal transduction pathway. Saos-2 cells present a partitioning of the phosphoinositidase (PLC) isoforms; in fact, the nucleus contains both PLC beta 1 and gamma 1, while the cytoplasm contains almost exclusively the gamma 1 isoform. IL-1 alpha evokes a rapid and transient increase of the PLC beta 1 activity in the nucleus, which causes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol mono- and bis-phosphate. In response to IL-1 alpha, not only the canonical inositol lipid pathway appears to be involved; also the 3'-phosphorylated lipids generated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K), which may act as second messengers, appear to be affected. In fact, Saos-2 cells present a nuclear PI 3-K activity which can be enhanced by the IL-1 alpha treatment. Among the possible targets of the second messengers released by the nuclear PLC beta 1 activation, we found that some protein kinase C isoforms, namely the epsilon and zeta, which are present within the nucleus, are activated after IL-1 alpha exposure. These activated PKC isoforms, in turn, could modulate the activity of the transcription factor NFkB, which, 5 min after IL-1 alpha treatment, has already translocated to the nucleus and bound to DNA to promote gene activation. The actual role of the inositide pathway in the Saos-2 cell function has also been investigated by utilizing cell clones transfected with the mouse sequence of the PLC beta 1.

Transfected Saos-2 cells overexpressing phosphoinositidase C beta 1 isoform accumulate it within the nucleus.

The subcellular partitioning of the phosphoinositidase C (PIC) isoforms involved in signal transduction, with the selective localization of the PIC beta 1 isoform in the nucleus, represents a crucial aspect of the complex mechanism of cell response to agonists. In order to further elucidate this phenomenon, we utilized human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, transfected with the cDNA for rat PIC beta 1. In the cells overexpressing this isoform, immunocytochemical analyses at the electron microscope level reveal an increased synthesis at the cytoplasm and a significant accumulation within the nucleus of the protein. Interestingly, the sites of intranuclear localization are, as in wild type cells, the interchromatin domains. These results indicate that the transfected cells maintain the capability of accumulating the enzyme within the nucleus and can be considered a model for functional studies on the nuclear signal transduction also in response to specific agonists.

The intranuclear amount of phospholipase C beta 1 decreases following cell differentiation in Friend cells, whereas gamma 1 isoform is not affected.

The existence of a signal transduction system in the nucleus, based on polyphosphoinositide breakdown mediated by specific phosphoinositidases (PLC), has been widely documented. In different cell systems, nuclear PLCs can be modulated, in response to agonists, either by enhancing or by down-regulating their activity, thus leading to DNA replication or to cell differentiation. Friend cells, induced to erythroid differentiation by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), show a down-regulation of PLC beta 1 isoform, as indicated by the reduction of the transcription of its mRNA and of the in vitro synthesis of its translation product. The intracellular localization and the amount of different PLC isoforms have been evaluated by electron microscope immunocytochemistry. In untreated Friend cells, PLC beta 1 and gamma 1 isoforms are both present within the nucleus, whereas mainly the gamma 1 isoform is detected in the cytoplasm. The small amount of cytoplasmic PLC beta 1 is probably representative only of the newly synthesized enzyme. Quantitative immunolabeling analyses demonstrate that erythroid differentiation is associated with a significant decrease of the PLC beta 1 amount in the nucleus and with an almost complete disappearance of that isoform in the cytoplasm, whereas the PLC gamma 1 isoform is unaffected. The two PLC isoforms, moreover, appear to be differently associated with the nuclear components, PLC beta 1 being steadily bound to the inner nuclear matrix, whereas PLC gamma 1 is almost completely soluble.