Protein phosphatase 2B inhibitor potentiates endothelial PKC activity and barrier dysfunction.

Serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein phosphatases (PPs) are implicated in the recovery from endothelial barrier dysfunction caused by inflammatory mediators. We hypothesized that Ser/Thr PPs may regulate protein kinase C (PKC), a critical signaling molecule in barrier dysfunction, in the promotion of barrier recovery. Western analysis indicated that bovine pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (BPMECs) expressed the three major Ser/Thr PPs, PP1, PP2A, and PP2B. Pretreatment with 100 ng/ml of FK506 (a PP2B inhibitor) but not with the PP1 and PP2A inhibitors calyculin A or okadaic acid potentiated the thrombin-induced increase in PKC phosphotransferase activity. FK506 also potentiated thrombin-induced PKC-alpha but not PKC-beta phosphorylation. FK506 but not calyculin A or okadaic acid inhibited recovery from the thrombin-induced decrease in transendothelial resistance. Neither FK506 nor okadaic acid altered the thrombin-induced resistance decrease, whereas calyculin A potentiated the decrease. Downregulation of PKC with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate rescued the FK506-mediated inhibition of recovery, which was consistent with the finding that the thrombin-induced phosphorylation of PKC-alpha was reduced during the recovery phase. These results indicated that PP2B may play a physiologically important role in returning endothelial barrier dysfunction to normal through the regulation of PKC.

Cyclic ADP ribose activation of the ryanodine receptor is mediated by calmodulin.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a newly identified nucleotide which can release calcium from a variety of cells, suggesting it is a messenger for mobilizing internal Ca2+ stores. Its cyclic structure has now been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Available results are consistent with it being a modulator of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release. Here we report that sea urchin egg microsomes purified by Percoll gradients lose sensitivity to cADPR, but the response can be restored by a soluble protein in the supernatant. Purification and characterization of the protein indicate that it is calmodulin. It appears to be sensitizing the Ca2+ release mechanism because caffeine and strontium, agonists of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release, can also mimic calmodulin in conferring cADPR-sensitivity. Although evidence indicates that cADPR may be an activator of the ryanodine receptor, present results point to the importance of accessory proteins such as calmodulin in modulating its activity.

Binary affinity chromatography for the purification of glycogen phosphorylase.

A binary affinity chromatography medium was prepared and found to be useful for the purification and quantitative isolation of glycogen phosphorylase from rabbit skeletal muscle and liver. Glycogen is used as the binary ligand as it has affinity toward both the column matrix and the enzyme. Agarose beads derivatized with concanavalin A bound glycogen to the level of 35 mg/ml. The glycogen-impregnated beads were able to bind 9 mg/ml of phosphorylase a or b. The phosphorylase is tightly bound so that the column can be washed free of contaminants before quantitative elution of the phosphorylase by 2 M glucose, which releases the glycogen-phosphorylase complex. It appears that binary affinity chromatography may have general utility for the isolation and purification of enzymes and other specific binding agents.