Plasminogen-induced aggregation of PANC-1 cells requires conversion to plasmin and is inhibited by endogenous plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

PANC-1 cells express proteinase-activated receptors (PARs)-1, -2, and respond to their activation by transient elevation of cytosolic [Ca(2+)] and accelerated aggregation (Wei et al., 2006, J Cell Physiol 206:322-328). We studied the effect of plasminogen (PGN), an inactive precursor of the PAR-1-activating protease, plasmin (PN) on aggregation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. A single dose of PGN time- and dose-dependently promoted PANC-1 cells aggregation in serum-free medium, while PN did not. PANC-1 cells express urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), which continuously converted PGN to PN. This activity and PGN-induced aggregation were inhibited by the uPA inhibitor amiloride. PGN-induced aggregation was also inhibited by alpha-antiplasmin and by the PN inhibitor epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA). Direct assay of uPA activity revealed very low rate, markedly enhanced in the presence of PGN. Moreover, in PGN activator inhibitor 1-deficient PANC-1 cells, uPA activity and PGN-induced aggregation were markedly potentiated. Two additional human PDAC cell lines, MiaPaCa and Colo347, were assayed for PGN-induced aggregation. Both cell lines responded by aggregation and exhibited PGN-enhanced uPA activity. We hypothesized that the continuous conversion of PGN to PN by endogenous uPA is limited by PN's degradation and negatively controlled by endogenously produced PAI-1. Indeed, we found that PANC-1 cells inactivate PN with t1/2 of approximately 7 h, while the continuous addition of PN promoted aggregation. Our data suggest that PANC-1 cells possess intrinsic, PAI-1-sensitive mechanism for promotion of aggregation and differentiation by prolonged exposure to PGN and, possibly, additional precursors of PARs agonists.

Direct interaction of target SNAREs with the Kv2.1 channel. Modal regulation of channel activation and inactivation gating.

Previously we suggested that interaction between voltage-gated K+ channels and protein components of the exocytotic machinery regulated transmitter release. This study concerns the interaction between the Kv2.1 channel, the prevalent delayed rectifier K+ channel in neuroendocrine and endocrine cells, and syntaxin 1A and SNAP-25. We recently showed in islet beta-cells that the Kv2.1 K+ current is modulated by syntaxin 1A and SNAP-25. Here we demonstrate, using co-immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemistry analyses, the existence of a physical interaction in neuroendocrine cells between Kv2.1 and syntaxin 1A. Furthermore, using concomitant co-immunoprecipitation from plasma membranes and two-electrode voltage clamp analyses in Xenopus oocytes combined with in vitro binding analysis, we characterized the effects of these interactions on the Kv2.1 channel gating pertaining to the assembly/disassembly of the syntaxin 1A/SNAP-25 (target (t)-SNARE) complex. Syntaxin 1A alone binds strongly to Kv2.1 and shifts both activation and inactivation to hyperpolarized potentials. SNAP-25 alone binds weakly to Kv2.1 and probably has no effect by itself. Expression of SNAP-25 together with syntaxin 1A results in the formation of t-SNARE complexes, with consequent elimination of the effects of syntaxin 1A alone on both activation and inactivation. Moreover, inactivation is shifted to the opposite direction, toward depolarized potentials, and its extent and rate are attenuated. Based on these results we suggest that exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells is tuned by the dynamic coupling of the Kv2.1 channel gating to the assembly status of the t-SNARE complex.

Modulation of a brain voltage-gated K+ channel by syntaxin 1A requires the physical interaction of Gbetagamma with the channel.

Recently we suggested that direct interactions between voltage-gated K(+) channels and proteins of the exocytotic machinery, such as those observed between the Kv1.1/Kvbeta channel, syntaxin 1A, and SNAP-25 may be involved in neurotransmitter release. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the direct interaction with syntaxin 1A enhances the fast inactivation of Kv1.1/Kvbeta1.1 in oocytes. Here we show that G-protein betagamma subunits play a crucial role in the enhancement of inactivation by syntaxin 1A. The effect caused by overexpression of syntaxin 1A is eliminated in the presence of chelators of endogenous betagamma subunits in the whole cell and at the plasma membrane. Conversely, enhancement of inactivation caused by overexpression of beta(1)gamma(2) subunits is eliminated upon knock-down of endogenous syntaxin or its scavenging at the plasma membrane. We further show that the N terminus of Kv1.1 binds brain synaptosomal and recombinant syntaxin 1A and concomitantly binds beta(1)gamma(2); the binding of beta(1)gamma(2) enhances that of syntaxin 1A. Taken together, we suggest a mechanism whereby syntaxin and G protein betagamma subunits interact concomitantly with a Kv channel to regulate its inactivation.