J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 262, Issue 2, 826-834, Jan, 1987
A correlation between phorbol diester-induced protein phosphorylation and superoxide anion generation in HL-60 cells during granulocytic maturation
JR Gaut and RA Carchman
As HL-60 cells matured along the granulocytic pathway, phorbol diester-
induced superoxide anion production was compared to phorbol diester-
induced protein phosphorylation using an in vitro phosphorylation
technique. Maturation was induced by 0, 2, 4, or 6 days incubation with
dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO). In 0 day Me2SO HL-60 cells, phorbol 12-
myristate 13-acetate induced phosphorylation of protein pp29 (Mr = 28,600)
and to a lesser extent protein pp76 (Mr = 76,300). With increased time of
Me2SO incubation, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced phosphorylation
of pp212 (Mr = 211,800), pp134 (Mr = 134,200), and pp76, whereas the
phosphorylation of pp29 did not change appreciably. In close agreement with
this increase in protein phosphorylation was the observed increase in
phorbol diester-induced superoxide anion formation. Morphological
characterization of cells during Me2SO-induced differentiation reveals that
these increases in phorbol diester responses are probably attributable to
the proportional rise in metamyelocytes, band, and segmented neutrophils. A
variety of phorbol diesters increased superoxide anion generation in HL-60
cells differentiated into granulocyte-like cells by 6-day incubation with
Me2SO. The structure-activity relationship of these phorbol diester
derivatives for protein phosphorylation was strongly correlated to their
ability to increase superoxide anion generation. Thus, we propose that
phorbol diester-induced phosphorylation of pp212, pp134, and pp76, but not
pp29 may play a role in mediating the functional response of phorbol
diester-induced superoxide anion generation in HL-60 cells differentiated
into mature granulocyte-like cells.