Lipid products of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and phosphatidylinositol 4',5'-bisphosphate are both required for ADP-dependent platelet spreading

We have shown previously that ADP released upon platelet adhesion mediated by alphaIIb beta3 integrin triggers accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 3',4'-bisphosphate (PtdIns-3,4-P2) (Gironcel, D. , Racaud-Sultan, C., Payrastre, B., Haricot, M., Borchert, G., Kieffer, N., Breton, M., and Chap, H. (1996) FEBS Lett. 389, 253-256). ADP has also been involved in platelet spreading. Therefore, in order to study a possible role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase in platelet morphological changes following adhesion, human platelets were pretreated with specific phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin. Under conditions where PtdIns-3, 4-P2 synthesis was totally inhibited (25 microM LY294002 or 100 nM wortmannin), platelets adhered to the fibrinogen matrix, extended pseudopodia, but did not spread. Moreover, addition of ADP to the medium did not reverse the inhibitory effects of phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors on platelet spreading. Although synthetic dipalmitoyl PtdIns-3,4-P2 and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylinositol 3',4', 5'-trisphosphate restored only partially platelet spreading, phosphatidylinositol 4',5'-bisphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P2) was able to trigger full spreading of wortmannin-treated adherent platelets. Following 32P labeling of intact platelets, the recovery of [32P]PtdIns-4,5-P2 in anti-talin immunoprecipitates from adherent platelets was found to be decreased upon treatment by wortmannin. These results suggest that the lipid products of phosphoinositide 3-kinase are required but not sufficient for ADP-induced spreading of adherent platelets and that PtdIns-4,5-P2 could be a downstream messenger of this signaling pathway.     

Possible involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in regulated exocytosis: studies in chromaffin cells with inhibitor LY294002

Several lines of evidence suggest that phosphorylated products of phosphatidylinositol play critical functions in the regulation of membrane trafficking along the secretory pathway. To probe the possible involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in regulated exocytosis, we have examined its subcellular distribution in cultured chromaffin cells by immunoreplica analysis and confocal immunofluorescence. We found that the PI 3-kinase heterodimer consisting of the regulatory and catalytic subunits was associated essentially with the subplasmalemmal cytoskeleton in both resting and nicotine-stimulated chromaffin cells. Attempts to immunoprecipitate PI 3-kinase with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies failed, suggesting that the activity of PI 3-kinase was not modulated by tyrosine phosphorylation and/or physical interaction with SH2-containing proteins in stimulated chromaffin cells. LY294002 [2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one], a potent inhibitor of PI 3-kinase, produced a dose-dependent inhibition of catecholamine secretion evoked by various secretagogues. Furthermore, cytochemical experiments with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin revealed that LY294002 blocked the disassembly of cortical actin in chromaffin cells stimulated by a depolarizing concentration of potassium. Our results suggest that PI 3-kinase may be one of the important regulatory exocytotic components involved in the signaling cascade controlling actin rearrangements required for catecholamine secretion.     

Integrin-mediated signals regulated by members of the rho family of GTPases

The organization of the actin cytoskeleton can be regulated by soluble factors that trigger signal transduction events involving the Rho family of GTPases. Since adhesive interactions are also capable of organizing the actin-based cytoskeleton, we examined the role of Cdc42-, Rac-, and Rho-dependent signaling pathways in regulating the cytoskeleton during integrin-mediated adhesion and cell spreading using dominant-inhibitory mutants of these GTPases. When Rat1 cells initially adhere to the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, punctate focal complexes form at the cell periphery. Concomitant with focal complex formation, we observed some phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src, which occurred independently of Rho family GTPases. However, subsequent phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin occurs in a Rho-dependent manner. Moreover, we found Rho dependence of the assembly of large focal adhesions from which actin stress fibers radiate. Initial adhesion to fibronectin also stimulates membrane ruffling; we show that this ruffling is independent of Rho but is dependent on both Cdc42 and Rac. Furthermore, we observed that Cdc42 controls the integrin-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and of Akt, a kinase whose activity has been demonstrated to be dependent on phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. Since Rac-dependent membrane ruffling can be stimulated by PI 3-kinase, it appears that Cdc42, PI 3-kinase, and Rac lie on a distinct pathway that regulates adhesion-induced membrane ruffling. In contrast to the differential regulation of integrin-mediated signaling by Cdc42, Rac, and Rho, we observed that all three GTPases regulate cell spreading, an event that may indirectly control cellular architecture. Therefore, several separable signaling pathways regulated by different members of the Rho family of GTPases converge to control adhesion-dependent changes in the organization of the cytoskeleton, changes that regulate cell morphology and behavior.     

Cytoskeletal reorganization by G protein-coupled receptors is dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma, a Rac guanosine exchange factor, and Rac

Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is an early cellular response to a variety of extracellular signals. Dissection of pathways leading to actin rearrangement has focused largely on those initiated by growth factor receptors or integrins, although stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors also leads to cytoskeletal changes. In transfected Cos-7SH cells, activation of the chemoattractant formyl peptide receptor induces cortical actin polymerization and a decrease in the number of central actin bundles. In this report, we show that cytoskeletal reorganization can be transduced by G protein betagamma heterodimers (Gbetagamma), phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3-Kgamma), a guanosine exchange factor (GEF) for Rac, and Rac. Expression of inactive variants of either PI3-Kgamma, the Rac GEF Vav, or Rac blocked the actin rearrangement. Neither wortmannin nor LY294002, pharmacologic inhibitors of PI3-K, could inhibit the actin rearrangement induced by a constitutively active Rac. The inhibition of cytoskeletal reorganization by the dominant negative Vav variants could be rescued by coexpression of a constitutively active form of Rac. In contrast, a Vav variant with its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain missing constitutively induced JNK activation and led to cytoskeletal reorganization, even without stimulation by PI3-Kgamma. This suggests that the PH domain of Vav controls the guanosine exchange activity of Vav, perhaps by a mechanism regulated by D3 phosphoinositides generated by PI3-K. Taken together, these findings delineate a pathway leading from activation of a G protein-coupled receptor to actin reorganization which sequentially involves Gbetagamma, PI3-Kgamma, a Rac GEF, and Rac.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is necessary and sufficient for insulin-stimulated stress fiber breakdown

Rat-1 fibroblasts overexpressing the human insulin receptor undergo rapid actin rearrangement in response to insulin. Breakdown of stress fibers present in quiescent cells is followed by transient membrane ruffling and a return of stress fibers. We investigated the signaling pathways that mediate this insulin-stimulated reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which was visualized with rhodamine-phalloidin. Treatment of cells with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor wortmannin prevented insulin action at the preliminary step of stress fiber breakdown. Cellular microinjection of a polyclonal antibody directed against the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase as well as a purified recombinant p85-SH2 domain protein also inhibited actin reorganization. Transient expression of a constitutively active form of PI3-kinase (p110*) was sufficient to cause both stress fiber breakdown and membrane ruffling in the absence of insulin. Microinjection of a polyclonal anti-Shc antibody or dominant negative N17-Ras protein did not affect actin dynamics, and although constitutively active V12-Ras caused modest cytoskeletal reorganization, this effect was blocked by pretreatment with wortmannin. In summary, activation of PI3-kinase is necessary and sufficient to stimulate actin rearrangement, indicating that PI3-kinase may initiate the only signaling cascade required for insulin to induce cytoskeletal restructuring.     

Stages of estrous mediate the stress-induced impairment of associative learning in the female rat

EAST is a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) substrate. It interacts with Eps15, another EGFR substrate which is involved in receptor endocytosis. In this study we show that EAST associates with focal adhesions and actin filaments. First, in immunofluorescence and electron microscopy analysis, an extensive codistribution of EAST with vinculin, paxillin and actin filaments was seen. Second, overexpression of the NH2 terminus of EAST led to a formation of actin-rich microspikes and membrane protrusions. Third, in cosedimentation assay EAST showed a direct association with actin. These results suggest that EAST is involved in the EGFR-regulated reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and may be part of a link between cytoskeleton and endocytic machinery.     

Decrease in protein tyrosine phosphorylation is associated with F-actin reorganization by retinoic acid in human endometrial adenocarcinoma (RL95-2) cells

Transformed cells often express elevated levels of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. Inhibition of protein tyrosine kinases causes reversion of malignant cells to the normal phenotype. In the present study, we evaluated the possibility that the reversion of human endometrial adenocarcinoma RL95-2 cells to a stationary phenotype induced by retinoic acid was associated with inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. We found that retinoic acid decreased the levels of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, as assessed by immunostaining and immunoprecipitations using specific anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. In addition, the inhibitors of tyrosine kinases herbimycin A and tyrphostin mimicked retinoic acid, inducing F-actin reorganization and increasing the size of RL95-2 cells, as determined by measurement of cell perimeters. Because focal adhesions that connect actin filaments with the plasma membrane are major sites of tyrosine phosphorylation, we further investigated whether selected focal adhesion proteins were affected by retinoic acid. We found that retinoic acid altered the localization of focal adhesion kinase. All-trans retinoic acid was effective in reducing the levels of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin protein. Thirteen-cis retinoic acid increased the levels of vinculin protein in the cytosolic fraction of cells. These changes are consistent with actin reorganization and reversion toward a stationary phenotype induced by retinoic acid in endometrial adenocarcinoma RL95-2 cells. Our results indicate that the differentiating effects of retinoids on endometrial cells are associated with decreases in tyrosine phosphorylation and changes in the levels and distribution of focal adhesion proteins. These findings suggest that signaling pathways that involve tyrosine kinases are potential targets for drug design against endometrial cancer.     

Involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Rac in membrane ruffling induced by IL-2 in T cells

IL-2 is known to play a critical role in regulating T lymphocyte proliferation. We show here that IL-2 also provokes an instantaneous and sustained membrane ruffling in cloned human or murine T cells as well as in lectin-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes. In the IL-2-induced lamellipodia, tubulin is depolymerized whereas actin is strongly polymerized, forming caps. IL-2-induced membrane ruffling is protein kinase C (PKC) independent, as judged by the absence of effects of bisindolylmaleimide, an efficient inhibitor of all PKC isoforms. The formation of lamellipodia by IL-2 is blocked by wortmannin and LY294002, two inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). Moreover, expression in murine T cells of an inactive form of P13-kinase inhibits IL-2-induced membrane ruffling, whereas expression of a constitutively active p110 increases the basal membrane ruffling. Rac is also involved in IL-2-induced membrane ruffling since an inactive form of Rac (N17rac) blocks the IL-2-induced lamellipodia, whereas the constitutive form of Rac (Val12rac) can also lead to membrane ruffling. In the signaling cascade, Rac is downstream of PI3-kinase since constitutive membrane ruffling in Val12rac cells is insensitive to wortmannin. Thus, through a signaling cascade involving PI3-kinase and Rac, IL-2 can induce profound alterations of the T cell cytoskeleton, a phenomenon which might be of importance for T cell physiology.     

MSS4, a phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase required for organization of the actin cytoskeleton in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein MSS4 is essential and homologous to mammalian phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI(4)P) 5-kinases. Here, we demonstrate that MSS4 is a lipid kinase. MSS4 has dual substrate specificity in vitro, converting PI(4)P to PI(4, 5)P2 and to a lesser extent PI(3)P to PI(3,4)P2; no activity was detected with PI or PI(5)P as a substrate. Cells overexpressing MSS4 contain an elevated level specifically of PI(4,5)P2, whereas mss4 mutant cells have only approximately 10% of the normal amount of this phosphorylated phosphoinositide. Furthermore, cells lacking MSS4 are unable to form actin cables and to properly localize their actin cytoskeleton during polarized cell growth. Overexpression of RHO2, encoding a Rho-type GTPase involved in regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, restores growth and polarized distribution of actin in an mss4 mutant. These results suggest that MSS4 is the major PI(4)P 5-kinase in yeast and provide a link between phosphoinositide metabolism and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in vivo.     

Rho and Rab small G proteins coordinately reorganize stress fibers and focal adhesions in MDCK cells

The Rho subfamily of the Rho small G protein family (Rho) regulates formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions in many types of cultured cells. In moving cells, dynamic and coordinate disassembly and reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions are observed, but the precise mechanisms in the regulation of these processes are poorly understood. We previously showed that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) first induced disassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions followed by their reassembly in MDCK cells. The reassembled stress fibers showed radial-like morphology that was apparently different from the original. We analyzed here the mechanisms of these TPA-induced processes. Rho inactivation and activation were necessary for the TPA-induced disassembly and reassembly, respectively, of stress fibers and focal adhesions. Both inactivation and activation of the Rac subfamily of the Rho family (Rac) inhibited the TPA-induced reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions but not their TPA-induced disassembly. Moreover, microinjection or transient expression of Rab GDI, a regulator of all the Rab small G protein family members, inhibited the TPA-induced reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions but not their TPA-induced disassembly, indicating that, furthermore, activation of some Rab family members is necessary for their TPA-induced reassembly. Of the Rab family members, at least Rab5 activation was necessary for the TPA-induced reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions. The TPA-induced, small G protein-mediated reorganization of stress fibers and focal adhesions was closely related to the TPA-induced cell motility. These results indicate that the Rho and Rab family members coordinately regulate the TPA-induced reorganization of stress fibers and focal adhesions that may cause cell motility.     

Functional association of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase in human neutrophils

In this paper we show that the engagement of the platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) up-regulates the adhesion of human neutrophils to the EA.hy926 endothelial cell line through a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent pathway. Indeed, LY294002 and wortmannin prevented the effect of PECAM-1/CD31 cross-linking on cell adhesion, at concentrations known to inhibit PI3K without affecting other kinases. Both compounds blocked neutrophil binding to murine fibroblasts transfected with human ICAM-1, to purified ICAM-1 protein, or to fibronectin, suggesting that PECAM-1/CD31-mediated up-regulation of beta2 and beta1 integrin-mediated adhesion is PI3K-sensitive. We also provide evidence for the association of PECAM-1/CD31 to PI3K, because PI3K was detectable in neutrophil lysates after PECAM-1/CD31 cross-linking and immunoprecipitation. PECAM-1/CD31-dependent recruitment of PI3K was suggested by the finding that the serine/threonine kinase p70 S6 kinase (S6K), a signaling protein downstream of PI3K, is activated in neutrophils upon PECAM-1/CD31 cross-linking, based on the appearance of serine phosphorylation in S6K immunoprecipitates. In turn, S6K is not directly involved in the up-regulation of integrin function because rapamycin, which can inhibit S6K independent of PI3K, did not block PECAM-1/CD31-induced adhesion of neutrophils to beta1 and beta2 integrin substrates. In conclusion, PECAM-1/CD31 appears to be one of the molecules functionally coupled to PI3K, suggesting that this enzyme may represent a common pathway of integrin and adhesiveness regulation in leukocytes.     

Mechanisms of epithelial cell-cell adhesion and cell compaction revealed by high-resolution tracking of E-cadherin-green fluorescent protein

Cadherin-mediated adhesion initiates cell reorganization into tissues, but the mechanisms and dynamics of such adhesion are poorly understood. Using time-lapse imaging and photobleach recovery analyses of a fully functional E-cadherin/GFP fusion protein, we define three sequential stages in cell-cell adhesion and provide evidence for mechanisms involving E-cadherin and the actin cytoskeleton in transitions between these stages. In the first stage, membrane contacts between two cells initiate coalescence of a highly mobile, diffuse pool of cell surface E-cadherin into immobile punctate aggregates along contacting membranes. These E-cadherin aggregates are spatially coincident with membrane attachment sites for actin filaments branching off from circumferential actin cables that circumscribe each cell. In the second stage, circumferential actin cables near cell-cell contact sites separate, and the resulting two ends of the cable swing outwards to the perimeter of the contact. Concomitantly, subsets of E-cadherin puncta are also swept to the margins of the contact where they coalesce into large E-cadherin plaques. This reorganization results in the formation of a circumferential actin cable that circumscribes both cells, and is embedded into each E-cadherin plaque at the contact margin. At this stage, the two cells achieve maximum contact, a process referred to as compaction. These changes in E-cadherin and actin distributions are repeated when additional single cells adhere to large groups of cells. The third stage of adhesion occurs as additional cells are added to groups of >3 cells; circumferential actin cables linked to E-cadherin plaques on adjacent cells appear to constrict in a purse-string action, resulting in the further coalescence of individual plaques into the vertices of multicell contacts. The reorganization of E-cadherin and actin results in the condensation of cells into colonies. We propose a model to explain how, through strengthening and compaction, E-cadherin and actin cables coordinate to remodel initial cell-cell contacts to the final condensation of cells into colonies.     

A role for CAP, a novel, multifunctional Src homology 3 domain-containing protein in formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions

c-Cbl-associated protein, CAP, was originally cloned from a 3T3-L1 adipocyte cDNA expression library using full-length c-Cbl as a bait. CAP contains a unique structure, with three adjacent Src homology-3 (SH3) domains in the COOH terminus and a region sharing significant sequence similarity with the peptide hormone sorbin. Expression of CAP in NIH-3T3 cells overexpressing the insulin receptor induced the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions. This effect of CAP expression on the organization of the actin-based cytoskeleton was independent of the type of integrin receptors engaged with extracellular matrix, whereas membrane ruffling and decreased actin stress fibers induced by insulin were not affected by expression of CAP. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that CAP colocalized with actin stress fibers. Moreover, CAP interacted with the focal adhesion kinase, p125FAK, both in vitro and in vivo through one of the SH3 domains of CAP. The increased formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions in CAP-expressing cells was correlated with decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK in growing cells or upon integrin-mediated cell adhesion. These results suggest that CAP may mediate signals for the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions.     

ADP-ribosylation factor and Rho proteins mediate fMLP-dependent activation of phospholipase D in human neutrophils

Activation of intact human neutrophils by fMLP stimulates phospholipase D (PLD) by an unknown signaling pathway. The small GTPase, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), and Rho proteins regulate the activity of PLD1 directly. Cell permeabilization with streptolysin O leads to loss of cytosolic proteins including ARF but not Rho proteins from the human neutrophils. PLD activation by fMLP is refractory in these cytosol-depleted cells. Readdition of myr-ARF1 but not non-myr-ARF1 restores fMLP-stimulated PLD activity. C3 toxin, which inactivates Rho proteins, reduces the ARF-reconstituted PLD activity, illustrating that although Rho alone does not stimulate PLD activity, it synergizes with ARF. To identify the signaling pathway to ARF and Rho activation by fMLP, we used pertussis toxin and wortmannin to examine the requirement for heterotrimeric G proteins of the Gi family and for phosphoinositide 3-kinase, respectively. PLD activity in both intact cells and the ARF-restored response in cytosol-depleted cells is inhibited by pertussis toxin, indicating a requirement for Gi2/Gi3 protein. In contrast, wortmannin inhibited only fMLP-stimulated PLD activity in intact neutrophils, but it has no effect on myr-ARF1-reconstituted activity. fMLP-stimulated translocation of ARF and Rho proteins to membranes is not inhibited by wortmannin. It is concluded that activation of Gi proteins is obligatory for ARF/Rho activation by fMLP, but activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase is not required.     

Differential regulation of focal adhesion kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase tyrosine phosphorylation during insulin-like growth factor-I-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization

In SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I mediates membrane ruffling and growth cone extension. We have previously shown that IGF-I activates the tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 2. In the current study, we examined which signaling pathway underlies IGF-I-mediated FAK phosphorylation and cytoskeletal changes and determined if an intact cytoskeleton was required for IGF-I signaling. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with cytochalasin D disrupted the actin cytoskeleton and prevented any morphological changes induced by IGF-I. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) blocked IGF-I-mediated changes in the actin cytoskeleton as measured by membrane ruffling. In contrast, PD98059, a selective inhibitor of ERK kinase, had no effect on IGF-I-induced membrane ruffling. In parallel with effects on the actin cytoskeleton, cytochalasin D and PI 3-K inhibitors blocked IGF-I-induced FAK tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas PD98059 had no effect. It is interesting that cytochalasin D did not block IGF-I-induced ERK2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, it is likely that FAK and ERK2 tyrosine phosphorylations are regulated by separate pathways during IGF-I signaling. Our study suggests that integrity as well as dynamic motility of the actin cytoskeleton mediated by PI 3-K is required for IGF-I-induced FAK tyrosine phosphorylation, but not for ERK2 activation.     

A comparative in vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of the novel dopamine D3 receptor antagonists (+)-S 14297, nafadotride, GR 103,691 and U 99194

Members of the Rho GTPase family regulate the organization of the actin cytoskeleton in response to extracellular growth factors. We have identified three proteins that form a distinct branch of the Rho family: Rnd1, expressed mostly in brain and liver; Rnd2, highly expressed in testis; and Rnd3/RhoE, showing a ubiquitous low expression. At the subcellular level, Rnd1 is concentrated at adherens junctions both in confluent fibroblasts and in epithelial cells. Rnd1 has a low affinity for GDP and spontaneously exchanges nucleotide rapidly in a physiological buffer. Furthermore, Rnd1 lacks intrinsic GTPase activity suggesting that in vivo, it might be constitutively in a GTP-bound form. Expression of Rnd1 or Rnd3/RhoE in fibroblasts inhibits the formation of actin stress fibers, membrane ruffles, and integrin-based focal adhesions and induces loss of cell-substrate adhesion leading to cell rounding (hence Rnd for "round"). We suggest that these proteins control rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and changes in cell adhesion.     

Requirement for Rho in integrin signalling

Overnight culture of Swiss 3T3 cells in serum-free medium leads to loss of focal adhesions and associated actin stress fibres, although the cells remain well spread. The small GTP-binding protein Rho is required for the formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions induced by growth factors such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells, and for the LPA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of several focal adhesion proteins. Plating of cells on extracellular matrix proteins also stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions in the absence of added growth factors. These responses were inhibited in cells scrape-loaded with the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase. Focal adhesion and stress fibre formation was also triggered by addition of a peptide GRGDS, which is recognised by a number of integrins and is contained within the cell binding domain of a variety of extracellular matrix proteins. The activity of the GRGDS peptide was blocked by microinjecting cells with C3 transferase, suggesting that peptide binding to integrins stimulates a Rho-dependent assembly of focal adhesions. These experiments indicate that Rho is involved in signalling downstream of integrins.     

Wortmannin inhibits insulin secretion in pancreatic islets and beta-TC3 cells independent of its inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Glucose is the primary stimulus for insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells, and it triggers membrane depolarization and influx of extracellular Ca2+. Cholinergic agonists amplify insulin release by several pathways, including activation of phospholipase C, which hydrolyzes membrane polyphosphoinositides. A novel phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5- trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3], a product of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), has recently been found in various cell types. We demonstrate by immunoblotting that PI 3-kinase is present in both cytosolic and membrane fractions of insulin-secreting beta-TC3 cells and in rat islets. The catalytic activity of PI 3-kinase in immunoprecipitates of islets and beta-TC3 cells was measured by the production of radioactive phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate from phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP. Wortmannin, a fungal metabolite, dose dependently inhibited PI 3-kinase activity of both islets and beta-TC3 cells, with an IC50 of 1 nmol/l and a maximally effective concentration of 100 nmol/l, when it was added directly to the kinase assay. However, if intact islets were incubated with wortmannin and PI 3-kinase subsequently was determined in islet immunoprecipitates, approximately 50% inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity (but no inhibition of glucose- and carbachol-stimulated insulin secretion) from intact islets was obtained at wortmannin concentrations of 100 nmol/l. Wortmannin, at higher concentrations (1 and 10 micromol/l), inhibited glucose- and carbachol-induced insulin secretion of Intact rat islets by 58 and 92%, respectively. Wortmannin had no effect on the basal insulin release from rat islets. A similar dose curve of inhibition of glucose- and carbachol-induced insulin secretion by wortmannin was obtained when beta-TC3 cells were used. Cellular metabolism was, not changed by any wortmannin concentrations tested (0.01-10 micromol/l). Both basal cytosolic [Ca2+]i and carbamyl choline-induced increases of [Ca2]i were unaffected by wortmannin in the presence of 2.5 mmol/l Ca2+, while Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores was partially decreased by wortmannin. Together, these data suggest that wortmannin at concentrations that inhibit PI 3-kinase does not affect insulin secretion. PI 3-kinase is unlikely to have a major role in insulin secretion induced by glucose and carbachol.