PKC412--a protein kinase inhibitor with a broad therapeutic potential.

The staurosporine derivative PKC412 was originally identified as an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) and subsequently shown to inhibit other kinases including the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, VEGF-R2), the receptor of platelet-derived growth factor, and the receptor for the stem cell factor, c-kit. PKC412 showed a broad antiproliferative activity against various tumor and normal cell lines in vitro, and was able to reverse the Pgp-mediated multidrug resistance of tumor cells in vitro. Exposure of cells to PKC412 resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle concomitant with increased polyploidy, apoptosis and enhanced sensitivity to ionizing radiation. PKC412 displayed a potent antitumor activity as single agent and was able to potentiate the antitumor activity of some of the clinically used cytotoxins (Taxol and doxorubicin) in vivo. The combined treatment of PKC412 with loco-regional ionizing irradiation showed significant antitumor activity against tumors which are resistant to both ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic agents (dysfunctional p53). The finding that PKC412 is an inhibitor of the VEGF-mediated cellular signaling via inhibition of KDR and PKC in vitro is consistent with the in vivo inhibition of VEGF-dependent angiogenesis in a growth factor implant model. Orally administered PKC412 also strongly inhibited retinal neovascularization as well as laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in murine models. In summary, PKC412 may suppress tumor growth by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis in addition to directly-inhibiting tumor cell proliferation via its effects on PKC and/or other protein kinases. PKC412 is currently in Phase I clinical trials for treatment of advanced cancer as well as for the treatment of ischemic retinopathy.

Functional interactions between synthetic alkyl phospholipids and the ABC transporters P-glycoprotein, Ste-6, MRP, and Pgh 1.

The ABC superfamily of transporters includes the mammalian P-glycoprotein family (Class I and Class II P-gps), the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), the Pgh-1 product of Plasmodium falciparum gene pfmdr1, all of which are associated with cellular pleiotropic drug resistance phenomena. STE6, the yeast transporter for the farnesylated peptide pheromone a, is also a member of this family. Structural similarities in this family translate into functional homology as expression of mouse Mdr3S (P-gp), P. falciparum Pgh-1, and human MRP partially restore mating in a sterile yeast mutant lacking a functional STE6 gene. The demonstration that Class II P-gps function as phosphatidylcholine (PC) translocators raise the possibility that other ABC transporters may also interact with physiological lipids. We report the identification of the synthetic lipid and PC analog ET-18-OCH3 (edelfosine) as a substrate for not only Class II P-gp but also for Class I P-gps and surprisingly for the other ABC transporters MRP, Pgh-1, and STE6. Expression of these proteins in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae JPY201 was found to confer cellular resistance to cytotoxic concentrations of this lipid by a factor of 4-20-fold in a growth inhibition assay. The noted activity of ABC transporters toward this synthetic lipid was specific as a mutant variant of Mdr3 (Mdr3F) with reduced activity could not convey cellular resistance to ET-18-OCH3. ET-18-OCH3 was also found capable of blocking a-peptide pheromone transport and STE6 complementation by these ABC proteins. The inhibitory effect of ET-18-OCH3 on cell growth and a-factor transport could be abrogated by incubation with the lipid acceptor protein BSA or by enzymatic cleavage by microsomal alkylglycerol mono-oxygenase (MAMO). MAMO and BSA reversal of the ether lipid effect was only seen in the presence of a functional transporter. These results suggest that the group of cytotoxic synthetic PC analogs studied reveal possible structural and functional aspects common to the ABC transporters tested. Furthermore, the studies with BSA and MAMO suggest that the mechanism of transport of ET-18-OCH3 by these ABC transporters may be related to the flippase mechanism of PC transport by Mdr2.

The pfmdr1 gene of Plasmodium falciparum confers cellular resistance to antimalarial drugs in yeast cells.

The exact role of the pfmdr1 gene in the emergence of drug resistance in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum remains controversial. pfmdr1 is a member of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of transporters that includes the mammalian P-glycoprotein family. We have introduced wild-type and mutant variants of the pfmdr1 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and have analyzed the effect of pfmdr1 expression on cellular resistance to quinoline-containing antimalarial drugs. Yeast transformants expressing either wild-type or a mutant variant of mouse P-glycoprotein were also analyzed. Dose-response studies showed that expression of wild-type pfmdr1 causes cellular resistance to quinine, quinacrine, mefloquine, and halofantrine in yeast cells. Using quinacrine as substrate, we observed that increased resistance to this drug in pfmdr1 transformants was associated with decreased cellular accumulation and a concomitant increase in drug release from preloaded cells. The introduction of amino acid polymorphisms in TM11 of Pgh-1 (pfmdr1 product) associated with drug resistance in certain field isolates of P. falciparum abolished the capacity of this protein to confer drug resistance. Thus, these findings suggest that Pgh-1 may act as a drug transporter in a manner similar to mammalian P-glycoprotein and that sequence variants associated with drug-resistance pfmdr1 alleles behave as loss of function mutations.

Protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation does not regulate drug transport by the human multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an active transporter that can confer multidrug resistance by pumping cytotoxic drugs out of cells and tumors. P-gp is phosphorylated at several sites in the "linker" region, which separates the two halves of the molecule. To examine the role of phosphorylation in drug transport, we mutated P-gp such that it could no longer be phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC). When expressed in yeast, the ability of the mutant proteins to confer drug resistance, or to mediate [3H]vinblastine accumulation in secretory vesicles, was indistinguishable from that of wild type P-gp. A matched pair of mammalian cell lines were generated expressing wild type P-gp and a non-phosphorylatable mutant protein. Mutation of the phosphorylation sites did not alter P-gp expression or its subcellular localization. The transport properties of the mutant and wild type proteins were indistinguishable. Thus, phosphorylation of the linker of P-gp by PKC does not affect the rate of drug transport. In light of these data, the use of agents that alter PKC activity to reverse multidrug resistance in the clinic should be considered with caution.

Functional expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) is a member of the ATP binding cassette superfamily of transporters which includes the mammalian P-glycoproteins (P-gp) family. In order to facilitate the biochemical and genetic analyses of MRP, we have expressed human MRP in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and have compared its functional properties to those of the mouse Mdr3 P-gp isoform. Expression of both MRP and Mdr3 in the anthracycline hypersensitive mutant VASY2563 restored cellular resistance to Adriamycin in this mutant. MRP and Mdr3 expression produced pleiotropic effects on drug resistance in this mutant, as corresponding VASY2563 transformants also acquired resistance to the anti-fungal agent FK506 and to the K+/H+ ionophore valinomycin. The appearance of increased cellular resistance to the toxic effect of Adriamycin (ADM) in MRP and Mdr3 transformants was concomitant with a reduced intracellular accumulation of [14C]ADM in spheroplasts prepared from these cells. Moreover, MRP and Mdr3, but not control spheroplasts, could mediate a time-dependent reduction in the overall cell-associated [14C]ADM from preloaded cells, suggesting the presence of an active ADM transport mechanism in MRP and Mdr3 transformants. Finally, human MRP was found to complement the biological activity of the yeast peptide pheromone transporter Ste6 and partially restored mating in a sterile ste6 null mutant. These findings suggest that despite their relatively low level of structural homology, MRP and P-gp share similar functional aspects, since both proteins can mediate transport of chemotherapeutic drugs and the a mating peptide pheromone in yeast.

Enhancement of Mdr2-mediated phosphatidylcholine translocation by the bile salt taurocholate. Implications for hepatic bile formation.

Expression of the Mdr2-protein in secretory vesicules (SVs) from the yeast mutant sec6-4 causes a time- and temperature-dependent enhancement of phosphatidylcholine (PC) translocation from the outer to the inner leaflet of the SV lipid bilayer. We show that this activity is independent of changes either in the membrane potential or the pH gradient (inside positive) generated in these SVs by the yeast proton-translocating PMA1 ATPase. However, loading of the SVs with the primary bile salt taurocholate results in an apparent enhancement of Mdr2-mediated PC translocation activity. Reducing the intravesicular taurocholate (TC) concentration by dissipating the electrochemical potential across the SV membranes eliminates the enhancing effect of TC. Three lines of evidence suggest that the enhanced Mdr2-mediated PC translocation activity is not caused by a regulatory effect of TC on Mdr2 but rather reflected the formation of TC/PC aggregates or micelles in the lumen of SVs. First, significantly higher detergent concentrations are required to reveal the fluorescence of (7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino-PC molecules translocated in Mdr2-SV under conditions of TC stimulation than under control conditions; second, the nonmicelle-forming bile salt taurodehydrocholate does not cause enhancement of PC translocation in Mdr2-SVs; third, enzyme marker studies indicate that TC behaves as a potent lipid solubilizer directly extracting PC molecules out of the bilayer without causing leakage. This results in the formation of intravesicular aggregates or mixed micelles, and provokes the apparent stimulation of Mdr2 activity. These data demonstrate a unique relationship between Mdr2, PC, and TC in the process of bile formation and secretion.

ATP-dependent transport of organic anions in secretory vesicles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Secretory mutants (sec1, sec6) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae accumulate large pools of secretory vesicles at the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C) because of a block in the delivery of vesicles to the cell surface. We report that secretory vesicles isolated from sec mutants exhibit ATP-dependent uptake of two classes of organic anions that are substrates for the canalicular carriers of mammalian liver. Transport of the bile acid taurocholate (TC) and the glutathione conjugate of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (GS-DNP) into vesicles was temperature dependent and saturable and required ATP and Mg2+. Estimates of Km and Vmax were 177 microM and 1.2 nmol.min-1.mg-1 and 262 microM and 0.53 nmol.min-1.mg-1 for TC and GS-DNP, respectively. TC and GS-DNP did not complete for transport. TC transport was sensitive to vanadate and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, inhibited by glycocholate, and retained partial activity when UTP and GTP, but not nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues, replaced ATP. Dissipation of the electrochemical potential with a nitrate buffer and ionophores partially decreased (30-40%) the transport of both anions. Direct testing of the influence of membrane potential was performed in sec6-4 mutants, in which the expression of electrogenic [H+]ATPase activity is reduced by > 85% in glucose-containing medium. Vesicles from sec6-4 retained full activity for ATP-dependent TC and GS-DNP transport. These results indicate that the transporters operate independently of the membrane potential and that ATP is required. These findings reveal that yeast possess separate ATP-dependent transport mechanisms for elimination of bile acids and glutathione conjugates. The mechanisms are functionally similar to those present in mammalian systems.

A mechanism for P-glycoprotein action in multidrug resistance: are we there yet?

Multidrug resistance is associated with the overexpression of P-glycoprotein, a membrane glycoprotein. The mechanism by which P-glycoprotein confers to cells the capacity to resist cytotoxic attack by structurally unrelated drugs has remained difficult to decipher. However, the recent functional expression of this group of proteins in the membrane of secretory vesicles from yeast mutants has allowed the systematic analysis of the parameters of drug transport by this protein. Proposed mechanisms of action of P-glycoprotein are discussed in this review by Stephan Ruetz and Philippe Gros.

Phosphatidylcholine translocase: a physiological role for the mdr2 gene.

P-glycoproteins (P-gps) encoded by the mouse mdr2 and mdr3 genes were expressed in secretory vesicles (SVs) from the yeast mutant sec6-4, and their capacity to function as a lipid translocase/flippase was tested. An assay that uses a fluorescent phosphatidylcholine (PC) analog was developed to quantitate asymmetric lipid distribution in the outer and inner leaflets of the lipid bilayer of these vesicles. Mdr2 expression in SVs caused a time- and temperature-dependent enhancement of PC translocation to the inner leaflet of the membrane. The Mdr2-mediated effect was specific since expression of Mdr3 in these vesicles was without effect on the membrane distribution of PC. Increased Mdr2-mediated PC translocation was strictly ATP and Mg2+ dependent, was abrogated by the ATPase inhibitor vanadate and the P-gp modulator verapamil, but was insensitive to the presence of excess of the multidrug resistance drugs colchicine and vinblastine.

Functional expression of P-glycoproteins in secretory vesicles.

We expressed P-glycoproteins (P-gps) encoded by the three mouse mdr genes in the membranes of secretory vesicles (SV) accumulating in the yeast mutant strain sec 6-4. Expression of the Mdr1 and Mdr3 isoforms in SV membranes caused a significant increased accumulation of the drug vinblastine (VBL) over background levels measured in control SV. The Mdr1/Mdr3-mediated increased drug accumulation could be completely abolished by the P-gp modulator verapamil. By contrast, overexpression of Mdr2 in these vesicles failed to increase intravesicular VBL accumulation over background levels. Mdr3-mediated VBL transport was not affected by changes in the membrane potential, since identical rates of VBL uptake were measured in the presence or absence of the endogenous proton-translocating PMA1 H(+)-ATPase responsible for the strong electrochemical membrane potential across SV membranes. Moreover, in the presence of a delta micro-H+ across the SV membranes (inside positive) of almost 90 mV, we detected in Mdr3-expressing SV an enhanced accumulation of the lipophilic cation and P-gp substrate tetraphenylphosphonium, suggesting that P-gp-mediated uptake of this cation occurs against an intravesicular depolarized membrane. Likewise, VBL transport in Mdr3-expressing SV was not affected by the presence or absence of a steep proton gradient (inside acid) and was independent of any proton movements, excluding a proton synport or antiport mechanism for P-gp-mediated drug transport. Finally, we could demonstrate that colchicine accumulation in Mdr3-expressing SV occurred against a significant substrate concentration gradient, reaching a 7-fold increase in intravesicular colchicine concentration above the extravesicular medium drug concentration. Our studies show that SV isolated from the temperature-sensitive yeast sec 6-4 mutants are an ideal tool to express and to functionally characterize heterologous membrane proteins, in general and P-gps, in particular.

Functional expression of P-glycoprotein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confers cellular resistance to the immunosuppressive and antifungal agent FK520.

We have recently reported that expression in yeast cells of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the mouse multidrug resistance mdr3 gene (Mdr3) can complement a null ste6 mutation (M. Raymond, P. Gros, M. Whiteway, and D. Y. Thomas, Science 256:232-234, 1992). Here we show that Mdr3 behaves as a fully functional drug transporter in this heterologous expression system. Photolabelling experiments indicate that Mdr3 synthesized in yeast cells binds the drug analog [125I]iodoaryl azidoprazosin, this binding being competed for by vinblastine and tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, two known multidrug resistance drugs. Spheroplasts expressing wild-type Mdr3 (Ser-939) exhibit an ATP-dependent and verapamil-sensitive decreased accumulation of [3H]vinblastine as compared with spheroplasts expressing a mutant form of Mdr3 with impaired transport activity (Phe-939). Expression of Mdr3 in yeast cells can confer resistance to growth inhibition by the antifungal and immunosuppressive agent FK520, suggesting that this compound is a substrate for P-gp in yeast cells. Replacement of Ser-939 in Mdr3 by a series of amino acid substitutions is shown to modulate both the level of cellular resistance to FK520 and the mating efficiency of yeast mdr3 transformants. The effects of these mutations on the function of Mdr3 in yeast cells are similar to those observed in mammalian cells with respect to drug resistance and transport, indicating that transport of a-factor and FK520 in yeast cells is mechanistically similar to drug transport in mammalian cells. The ability of P-gp to confer cellular resistance to FK520 in yeast cells establishes a dominant phenotype that can be assayed for the positive selection of intragenic revertants of P-gp inactive mutants, an important tool for the structure-function analysis of mammalian P-gp in yeast cells.

Functional expression of P-glycoprotein encoded by the mouse mdr3 gene in yeast cells.

We have expressed P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the mouse mdr3 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and have developed an experimental protocol to isolate and purify inside-out plasma membrane vesicles (IOVs) from these cells. Biochemical characterization of IOVs from control and P-gp-expressing cells isolated by this procedure show that they are greatly enriched for plasma membrane markers, are tightly sealed, and are competent for D-glucose transport. P-gp expression in these vesicles results in the appearance of a specific ATP-dependent and temperature-sensitive transport of the drugs colchicine and vinblastine that is osmotically sensitive. P-gp-mediated drug transport into these IOVs is inhibited by a known P-gp modulator, verapamil, and can be abrogated by prior incubation of the IOVs with an anti-P-gp antibody. A Ser-939-->Phe mutation within the predicted transmembrane domain 11 of P-gp, which is known to modulate its function in mammalian cells, drastically reduces drug transport in IOVs obtained from yeast cells expressing the mutant protein. The successful demonstration of active drug transport into IOVs from P-gp-expressing yeast cells indicates that P-gp can mediate both chemotherapeutic drugs and a-pheromone transport in yeast cells.

Functional activation of plasma membrane anion exchangers occurs in a pre-Golgi compartment.

Folding and oligomerization of most plasma membrane glycoproteins, including those involved in ion transport, occur in the ER and are frequently required for their exit from this organelle. It is currently unknown, however, where or when in the biosynthetic pathway these proteins become functionally active. AE1 and AE2 are tissue-specific, plasma membrane anion transport proteins. Transient expression of AE2 in a eukaryotic cell line leads to an increase in stilbene inhibitable whole cell 35SO4(2-)-efflux consistent with its function as a plasma membrane anion exchanger. No such increased transport activity was observed in AE1 transfectants, despite the fact that the two proteins were synthesized in roughly equal portions. In contrast, both AE1 and AE2 expression resulted in significant increase in Cl-/SO4(2-)-exchange in crude microsomes demonstrating that both AE1 and AE2 cDNAs encode functional proteins. Immunofluorescence staining and pulse-chase labeling experiments revealed that while 60% of AE2 is processed to the cell surface of transfectants, AE1 is restricted to an intracellular compartment and never acquires mature oligosaccharides. Crude microsomes from transfected cells were fractionated into plasma membrane and ER-derived vesicles by con A affinity chromatography. All of the AE1 and approximately half of the cellular AE2 was eluted with the ER vesicles, confirming their intracellular localization. Anion transport measurements on these fractions confirmed that the ER-restricted anion exchangers were functional. We conclude that AE1 and AE2 acquire the ability to mediate anion exchange at an early stage of their biosynthesis, before their exit from the ER.

Functional reconstitution of the canalicular bile salt transport system of rat liver.

Recent studies have suggested that the canalicular bile salt transport system of rat liver corresponds to a 100-kDa membrane glycoprotein. In the present study we attempted to functionally reconstitute the 100-kDa protein into artificial proteoliposomes. Canalicular membrane proteins were solubilized with octyl glucoside in the presence of asolectin phospholipids. The extracts were treated with preimmune serum or the 100-kDa protein selectively immunoprecipitated with a polyclonal antiserum. Proteins remaining in the supernatant were then incorporated into proteoliposomes by gel-filtration chromatography. Canalicular proteoliposomes containing the 100-kDa protein exhibited transstimulatable taurocholate uptake that could be inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS). In contrast, no DIDS-sensitive transstimulatable taurocholate uptake was found in 100-kDa protein-free canalicular proteoliposomes. However, when the immunoprecipitated 100-kDa protein was dissociated from the antibodies and exclusively incorporated into liposomes, reconstitution of DIDS-sensitive transstimulatable and electrogenic taurocholate anion transport was again positive. Although incorporation of solubilized basolateral membrane proteins into liposomes also resulted in a prompt reconstitution of Na+ gradient-driven taurocholate uptake, the anti-100-kDa antibodies had no effects on the reconstituted transport activity of basolateral proteins. Thus, the findings establish that the previously characterized canalicular-specific 100-kDa protein is directly involved in the transcanalicular secretion of bile salts.

Isolation and characterization of the putative canalicular bile salt transport system of rat liver.

Through labeling with the sodium salt of the photolabile bile salt derivative (7,7-azo-3 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-[3 beta-3H]cholan-24-oyl)- 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, a bile salt-binding polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 100,000 was identified in isolated canalicular but not basolateral (sinusoidal) rat liver plasma membranes. This labeled polypeptide was isolated from octyl glucoside-solubilized canalicular membranes by DEAE-cellulose and subsequent wheat germ lectin Sepharose chromatography. The purified protein still contained covalently incorporated radioactive bile salt derivative and exhibited a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 100,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-gels. Antibodies were raised in rabbits and their monospecificity toward this canalicular polypeptide demonstrated by immunoblot analysis. No cross-reactivity was found with basolateral membrane proteins. The antibodies inhibited taurocholate uptake into isolated canalicular but not basolateral membrane vesicles. In addition, the antibodies also decreased efflux of taurocholate from canalicular vesicles. If the canalicular bile salt-binding polypeptide was immunoprecipitated from Triton X-100-solubilized canalicular membranes and subsequently deglycosylated with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, the apparent molecular weight was decreased from 100,000 to 48,000 (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). These studies confirm previous results in intact liver tissue and strongly indicate that a canalicular specific glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 100,000 is directly involved in canalicular excretion of bile salts.