Regulation of gene transcription and proliferation by parathyroid hormone is blocked in mutant osteoblastic cells resistant to cyclic AMP.

We employed a cyclic AMP-resistant subclone of UMR 106-01 osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells (UMR 4-7) with a regulated, dominant-negative mutation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A), to examine the mechanism(s) whereby parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates growth of these cells. Expression of a transiently transfected CAT reporter gene controlled by the cAMP response element of the rat somatostatin gene ('SST-CAT') was used to monitor PK-A activation in intact cells. Agonist-stimulated SST-CAT expression was specific for agents known to activate adenylate cyclase, required an intact cAMP response element and was specifically blocked following induction of the mutant cAMP-resistant phenotype in UMR 4-7 cells. Inhibition of the proliferation of UMR 106-01 cells by PTH, which is mimicked by forskolin and 8-bromo-cAMP, was blocked completely in mutant cyclic AMP-resistant UMR 4-7 cells. We conclude that control of proliferation in UMR 106-01 cells by PTH involves the cAMP messenger system and requires activation of PK-A.

Protein kinase A-dependent inhibition of alkaline phosphatase release by SaOS-2 human osteoblastic cells: studies in new mutant cell lines that express a cyclic AMP-resistant phenotype.

We have established mutant SaOS-2 cell lines that express a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-resistant phenotype to investigate the regulation and functional importance of orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase alkaline optimum (ALPase) in the action of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Cells were stably transfected with a plasmid that directs the synthesis of a mutant form of the type I regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) under the control of the metallothionein promotor. There was no significant difference between parental SaOS-2 cells and the mutant lines in the affinity or number of receptors for 125I-Nle8,18Tyr34bPTH1-34NH2, either in the absence or presence of Zn2+. When cAMP-dependent gene transcription was examined using transient transfection with a somatostatin promoter-chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter plasmid, CAT activity stimulated by human PTH and dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP) was inhibited by greater than 90% in the presence of Zn2+ in the mutant cell lines. In contrast, activation by a phorbol ester of a pentameric collagenase promoter/CAT construct containing five tandem copies of the AP-1 response element (5x-TRE-CAT) was unaffected in Zn(2+)-treated mutant cells. The inhibitory actions of PTH and DBcAMP on ALPase release were blunted by up to 80-90% in the mutant cell lines in the presence of Zn2+; there were no significant differences in the magnitude of inhibitory effects between these agonists. We conclude that the inhibitory action of PTH on ALPase release in SaOS-2 cells is mediated via activation of PKA. These cAMP-resistant cell lines will be especially useful in elucidating signal transduction mechanism(s) for PTH in human osteoblastic cells.

Sensitive radiometric assay for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase using automated HPLC.

Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) is widely used as a reporter element in studies of eukaryotic gene expression. We report a new technique for measurement of CAT activity that incorporates several advantages over the existing procedures from which it is derived. The combination of direct reverse-phase HPLC analysis, substitution of butyryl for acetyl coenzyme A substrate, automated sample loading and continuous on-line radioactivity detection significantly improves the assay. This technique eliminates the need for organic extraction; improves chromatographic resolution of radioactive substrate and products; provides low background with high sensitivity, linearity, and precision; and yields rapid, quantitative results, even at low levels of cellular CAT expression.