Kyoichiro Higashi

Daidzein inhibits insulin- or insulin-like growth factor-1-mediated signaling in cell cycle progression of Swiss 3T3 cells

An isoflavone compound, daidzein, inhibits the cell proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells. Analysis of entry in S phase of Swiss 3T3 cells reveals that daidzein blocked cell cycle G1 phase progression 4.6 h after stimulation by bombesin plus insulin. After removal of daidzein, insulin or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) reinitiate cell cycle progression of daidzein-blocked cells without further addition of bombesin. The order in the mitogenic action of insulin or IGFs is as follows: IGF-1 (5 ng/ml) >> IGF-2 (0.5 microgram/ml) congruent to insulin (1 microgram/ml). Studies in vivo of protein kinase activation by mitogenic stimulation reveal that the treatment with daidzein decreased the activation of a MAP2 phosphorylating protein kinase (MAP2 kinase). In vitro kinase assays showed that daidzein inhibits casein kinase II activity, but does not inhibit MAP2 kinase activity. Activation of casein kinase II by polylysine augments the activity of MAP2 kinase in digitonin-permeabilized 3T3 cells. These results suggest that daidzein blocked G1 phase cell cycle progression of Swiss 3T3 by inhibiting the activity of casein kinase II which is required for the commitment of mitogenic signal by insulin or IGF-1 in G1 phase.

Induction of desensitization by phorbol ester to β-adrenergic agonist stimulation in adenylate cyclase system of rat reticulocytes

Treatment of rat reticulocytes with a phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), resulted in the desensitization of adenylate cyclase to the beta-adrenergic agonist stimulation depending on the dose and period of the TPA treatment. Treatment of the reticulocytes with TPA caused approximately 40% reduction in the stimulation by beta-adrenergic agonists of adenylate cyclase activity, whereas the treatment had little effect on the basal activity and the activation by fluoride and guanine nucleotide of the enzyme system. No change in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors was observed after the TPA treatment. Treatment with 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG), an activator of protein kinase C, also caused the desensitization of reticulocyte adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol. On the other hand, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, prevented the desensitization induced by TPA. These results suggest the involvement of protein kinase C in a process of desensitization of adenylate cyclase system to beta-adrenergic agonists in rat reticulocytes.

Specific binding of tubulin to a guanine nucleotide-binding inhibitory regulatory protein in adenylate cyclase system, Ni

A protein was isolated from the soluble fraction of rat brain by affinity chromatography with Sepharose to which guanine nucleotide-binding inhibitory regulatory protein in adenylate cyclase system, Ni, was immobilized. The molecular weight of this protein, specifically bound to the Ni-affinity column, was estimated as 54,000 on sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Alternately prepared tubulin also bound to the Ni-affinity column. The amino acid compositions of these proteins were also identical. It is strongly suggested that this Ni-binding cytosolic protein is tubulin.

An inhibitor of inositol-phospholipid-specific phospholipase C

Q12713 substance, a cyclic peptide from Actinomadura spp., strongly inhibited the enzyme activity of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C (PIP2-PLC) but scarcely inhibited other phospholipases. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that the inhibition of PIP2-PLC activity was competitive with respect to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Calcium and magnesium ions had no significant effect on the inhibitory activity. On the contrary, potassium or rubidium ion was essential for the inhibitory activity. Furthermore, NaF and AlCl3-stimulated increase of phosphoinositides was decreased by Q12713 in the cultured 3T3 cells.