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Originally published In Press as doi:10.1074/jbc.M305825200 on June 10, 2003

J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 278, Issue 36, 33818-33830, September 5, 2003
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ADP-ribosylation Factor-dependent Phospholipase D Activation by the M3 Muscarinic Receptor*

Rory Mitchell {ddagger} §, Derek N. Robertson {ddagger}, Pamela J. Holland {ddagger}, Daniel Collins {ddagger}, Eve M. Lutz ¶ and Melanie S. Johnson {ddagger}

From the {ddagger}Medical Research Council Membrane and Adapter Proteins Co-operative Group, Membrane Biology Interdisciplinary Research Group, School of Biomedical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom and the Department of Bioscience, University of Strathclyde, George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, United Kingdom

Received for publication, June 3, 2003


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
G protein-coupled receptors can potentially activate phospholipase D (PLD) by a number of routes. We show here that the native M3 muscarinic receptor in 1321N1 cells and an epitope-tagged M3 receptor expressed in COS7 cells substantially utilize an ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-dependent route of PLD activation. This pathway is activated at the plasma membrane but appears to be largely independent of G, phospholipase C, Ca2+ q/11, protein kinase C, tyrosine kinases, and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase. We report instead that it involves physical association of ARF with the M3 receptor as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation and by in vitro interaction with a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein of the receptor's third intracellular loop domain. Experiments with mutant constructs of ARF1/6 and PLD1/2 indicate that the M3 receptor displays a major ARF1-dependent route of PLD1 activation with an additional ARF6-dependent pathway to PLD1 or PLD2. Examples of other G protein-coupled receptors assessed in comparison display alternative pathways of protein kinase C- or ARF6-dependent activation of PLD2.


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)1 can activate phospholipase D (PLD), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidic acid and choline. Both phosphatidates and diacylglycerols (formed by phosphatidate hydrolysis) may act as intracellular messengers. PLD has been implicated as a key regulator of vesicular trafficking, cytoskeletal organization, exocytosis, endocytosis, and further signaling pathways (14). Activation of PLD can be brought about by a variety of signaling events (58), many of which could potentially contribute to the stimulation of PLD activity by GPCRs. These include the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), proteintyrosine kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), small G proteins of the ARF and Rho families, and possibly the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels.

This study addresses the mechanism of PLD activation by the M3 muscarinic receptor expressed endogenously in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells and heterologously in COS7 cells. The M3 receptor is a member of the Group I, rhodopsin-related GPCR family that is expressed in the nervous system and peripheral tissues. The best established signaling pathway from the M3 receptor is the pertussis toxin-insensitive activation of phospholipase C (PLC) via the heterotrimeric G protein Gq/11, although PLD is also strongly activated. In various cell types, PKC, protein-tyrosine kinases, ARF, and Rho have each been specifically implicated in M3 receptor-mediated PLD activation (6, 912). The data here emphasize the importance of a pathway to PLD that involves direct association between ARF and the M3 receptor (12).

ARF1 and ARF6 are representative of the main classes of cellular ARFs (Classes I and III) and have distinct subcellular distributions in many cell types. In resting cells, ARF1 is largely cytosolic or Golgi-associated, whereas ARF6 is often localized to the plasma membrane (1317). Nevertheless ARFs can translocate to Golgi membranes upon GTP loading (13, 18) and to unspecified membranes following formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or M3 receptor activation (10, 19, 20), so their precise intracellular location following stimulation is not clear.

The isoform of PLD that mediates ARF-dependent responses was thought for several years to be PLD1 because of its activation in vitro by ARF (and Rho and PKC) (5, 21). Nevertheless, recent evidence suggests that PLD2, and especially an amino-terminally truncated form of PLD2 can also be activated by ARF (22, 23). Both PLD1 and the truncated form of PLD2 are activated in vitro by ARF1 more effectively than by ARF6 (23). In contrast, PLD2 heterologously expressed in cells can be activated to a similar extent by constitutively active ARF1 and ARF6 (7). ARF-dependent PLD activity and GPCR-mediated PLD responses have been described in the plasma membrane compartment (2426), although the identity of the isoform responsible was not clear. PLD1 is largely associated with Golgi and other intracellular membranes (2729), but some is also associated with the plasma membrane (3032), and the enzyme can be recruited to the plasma membrane during exocytosis (26, 33). In contrast, PLD2 is more generally associated with the plasma membrane (27, 34), although it too can be associated with Golgi structures (35).

The present experiments investigate the mechanisms of M3 receptor-mediated PLD activation in 1321N1 and COS7 cells in comparison to those utilized by other GPCRs in the same conditions. We address specifically the roles played by ARF1/6 and PLD1/2 as well as the subcellular location of the relevant components and the site at which the PLD activation response occurs. In addition, we provide explicit evidence for agonistregulated physical association of ARFs with the M3 receptor and show that this may involve binding to its third intracellular loop (i3) domain.


    EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Materials—Cell culture media were obtained from Invitrogen. Laboratory chemicals were obtained from Merck and were of Analar standard. Pharmacological agents were obtained from Sigma unless otherwise indicated. U73122 [GenBank] and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF) were from Alexis Biochemicals Ltd. (Nottingham, UK). U46619 [GenBank] , Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMTx), chelerythrine chloride, myr-PKC{alpha}19–27, bisindolylmaleimide I, PP1, genistein, and AG 213 were from CN-Biosciences (UK) Ltd. (Nottingham, UK). Ilimaquinone was from Biomol, Affiniti (Exeter, UK). Aceclidine was from Tocris (Bristol, UK). [3H]NMe-quinuclindinyl benzilate ([3H]NMe-QNB; 84 Ci/mmol), [3H]oxotremorine-M (69 Ci/mmol), [3H]myo-inositol (20 Ci/mmol), and [3H]palmitate (40 Ci/mmol) were from PerkinElmer Life Sciences. CGP 41251 (36) was kindly provided by Ciba-Geigy.

Molecular Reagents—In order to prepare the SPFLAGhM3R.pcDNA3 construct, the human M3 receptor was PCR-amplified from first strand cDNA made from RNA extracted from the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line using the Stratagene reverse transcriptase-PCR kit. In the first round, a 1.9-kb fragment encoding the FLAG epitope (DYKDDDDA) at the 5'-end was amplified using primer pair FLAGhM3R.fp [5'-GACTACAAAGACGATGACGACGCCATGACCTTGCACAATAAC] and hM3R.rp [5'-ATCATCACCAGAAGTCACCCC], utilizing the Expand High Fidelity PCR System (Roche Applied Science) according to the manufacturer's instructions. In the second round, 0.5 µl of the first round PCR was amplified with the primer 5'-CAGGCATGAAGACGATCATCGCCCTGAGCTACATCTTCTGCCTGGTATTCGCCGACTACAAAGACGATGACG-3', encoding a modified influenza hemagglutinin signal sequence, and the hM3R.rp. The 1.9-kb fragment was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis and Qiaex II (Qiagen Ltd., Crawley, UK) and then subcloned into the pGEMTEasy cloning vector (Promega Biosciences Inc., Southampton, UK). The reading frame and PCR integrity of the cloned construct were verified by nucleotide sequence analysis. For expression studies, the 1.9-kb insert was released from the pGEMTEasy vector by restriction digestion with EcoRI and SpeI and subcloned into the EcoRI/XbaI sites of pcDNA3 (Invitrogen). GST fusion protein constructs of Arg252–Gln490 from the M3 receptor third intracellular domain, M3i3 (in pGEX-4T-1) (37), and the 58-amino acid STREX exon of the BK channel (in pGEX-5X-1) were kindly provided by Steve Lanier and Mike Shipston, respectively. The expression construct for the N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor (12), kindly provided by Stuart Sealfon, was subcloned into pcDNA3, incorporating a signal sequence and epitope tag.

Wild type and dominant negative ARF constructs with a C terminus HA epitope tag were kindly provided by Julie Donaldson. The mutant constructs, T31N-ARF1 and T27N-ARF6, are defective in the exchange of GTP for GDP and act as functional dominant negative forms (14). Wild type constructs of PLD1b and PLD2 as well as corresponding catalytically inactive mutants (K898R-PLD1 and K758R-PLD2) and the PIM87 mutant PLD1 (which is selectively defective in activation by PKC) (6, 7) were kindly provided by Mike Frohman.

Cell Culture and Transfection—1321N1 human astrocytoma cells were maintained in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium containing 100 µg/ml penicillin and streptomycin and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. COS7 cells were grown in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium containing 10% normal calf serum and 100 µg/ml of penicillin and streptomycin. Prior to transfection, COS7 cells were grown to ~70% confluence and were then transfected using FuGENE-6 (Roche Applied Science) according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Transfected cells were used in experiments 72 h after transfection. In a small number of experiments, HEK 293 cells were similarly transfected. In all experiments involving transfection, equivalent amounts of empty vector were substituted in control samples to compensate for any omitted plasmid.

Ligand Binding Assays—Specific binding of [3H]NMe-QNB was measured in membrane fractions of 1321N1 and sFM3 receptor-transfected COS7 cells. Cells were washed in Hanks' balanced salt solution and then homogenized in ice-cold 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 with 2 mM MgCl2, 2 µg/ml aprotinin, and aliquots were taken for protein assay (Coomassie binding method; Pierce). Homogenates were centrifuged at 12,000 x g for 30 min at 4 °C, and the pellet was washed twice more. For the binding assay, 1% bovine serum albumin was added. Ligand concentrations were varied from 20 pM to 2 nM, and nonspecific binding was defined by 1 µM NMe-atropine. After 4 h at 25 °C, an excess of ice-cold buffer was added, tubes were centrifuged, and the supernatant was aspirated from the pellet. Data were curvefitted by nonlinear regression (Fig P, Elsevier-Biosoft, Cambridge, UK). Cell surface specific binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M was measured to 1321N1 and sFM3 receptor-transfected COS7 cells in 12-well plates at 4 °C. Culture medium was replaced with phosphate-buffered saline containing 2 mM MgCl2 and 1% bovine serum albumin and then plates were chilled on ice. Ligand (5 nM), with or without 3 µM NMe-atropine to determine nonspecific binding, was added, and samples were incubated for 16 h at 4 °C to minimize internalization. Incubations were then quenched with excess ice-cold buffer and washed once. Ice-cold "acid strip" solution (0.2 M acetic acid, 0.5 M NaCl) was added for 5 min to release surface-bound ligand. The internalization of specific [3H]oxotremorine-M binding sites into COS7 cells was measured at 37 °C over a time course of 0–50 min following the addition of ligand. Both ligand and NMe-atropine concentrations were as in the experiments carried out at 4 °C. Total and nonspecific binding levels were assessed at each time point. Following 5 min with cold acid strip solution to remove surface-bound ligand, cells were solubilized in 1% SDS, 1 M NaOH and then neutralized, to determine [3H]ligand in both cell surface and internalized compartments.

Signal Transduction Assays—Cellular [3H]inositol phosphate ([3H]InsP) production (PLC activity) was measured in 12-well plates following labeling with 1 µCi/ml [3H]inositol for 18 h in serum-free medium. Agonist responses were measured usually over 30 min in the presence of 10 mM LiCl before cells were lysed in ice-cold 10 mM formic acid, and [3H]inositol phosphates were separated by ion exchange (38). Inhibitory agents and the LiCl were added 30 min and 15 min prior to agonist, respectively. [3H]Phosphatidylbutanol ([3H]PtdBut) production (PLD activity) was measured in 12-well plates following labeling with 1.5 µCi/well [3H]palmitate for 18 h in serum-free medium. It has been shown that the presence of serum causes elevated basal activity of PLD (21). Agonist responses were measured usually over 30 min in the presence of 30 mM butan-1-ol. Assays were terminated, phospholipids were extracted into chloroform/methanol, and [3H]PtdBut was separated by thin layer chromatography (39). Inhibitory agents and the butan-1-ol were added 30 min prior to and immediately before agonist, respectively. In experiments with PMTx (40), agonist incubations were carried out over a total period of 4 h, with replacement of medium containing fresh PMTx and LiCl or butan-1-ol at 2 h. All data from signal transduction and ligand binding experiments are expressed as means ± S.E. from between 4 and 10 separate determinations.

Immunoprecipitation of sFM3 Receptor—In order to immunoprecipitate the sFM3 receptor with any associated proteins, plasmids encoding the sFM3 receptor and either ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA were transiently transfected into COS7 cells. 72 h later, the cells were serum-deprived for 4 h. Cells were then exposed to carbachol (20 µM) or no drug for 15 min and washed once in Hanks' balanced salt solution before being solubilized in immunoprecipitation buffer (phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.5, 1% CHAPS, 0.75% sodium deoxycholate, 2 µg/ml aprotinin, 4 µg/ml leupeptin, 1 mM AEBSF, 2 µg/ml pepstatin, 1 mM sodium orthovanadate, 1 mM sodium fluoride, 5 mM sodium molybdate, and 50 µg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor (2 ml/175-cm2 flask for 1 h on ice). Carbachol was readded where appropriate. Extracts were centrifuged at 12,000 x g for 15 min at 4 °C to remove particulate material and precleared with Protein G-Sepharose 4B fast flow (Sigma) (20 µl of 1:1 suspension/ml for 45 min at 4 °C). After centrifugation, the supernatant was removed to tubes containing either mouse monoclonal FLAG antibody (clone M2, 10 µg/ml; Sigma) or nonimmune mouse IgG (10 µg/ml; Sigma) with 40 µl/ml Protein G-Sepharose suspension, before rolling at 4 °C overnight. Beads were collected by centrifugation and washed twice in immunoprecipitation buffer before 40 µl of 2x Laemmli buffer (2% SDS, 5% mercaptoethanol, 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4) was added per ml of original supernatant. SDS-PAGE and electroblotting onto "Immobilon-P" polyvinylidene difluoride membranes (Millipore Ltd., Watford, UK) were carried out using a Phastsystem apparatus (Amersham Biosciences). Western blots were carried out on the samples and original supernatants to detect immunoprecipitated proteins and monitor input levels. The primary antibodies were rabbit polyclonal raised to the third intracellular loop of the M3 receptor (41) (gift from Andrew Tobin) and rabbit polyclonal against the HA epitope tag (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Autogen Bioclear Ltd., Calne, UK), followed by preabsorbed secondary antibodies conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (Chemicon International Ltd., Harrow, UK). Bands were visualized by ECL (Amersham Biosciences) and then measured by quantitative densitometry.

In further experiments, an alternative procedure was used in which the sFM3 receptor associated with ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA immunoprecipitates was measured by specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding. Cells treated with or without carbachol were solubilized in immunoprecipitation buffer with 10% glycerol, and precleared supernatants were immunoprecipitated with 2 µg/ml 12CA5 mouse monoclonal HA antibody (or nonimmune mouse IgG) for 90 min followed by Protein G-Sepharose for 40 min. This more rapid procedure was designed to minimize the possibility of any nonspecific interactions of the solubilized proteins. Immunoprecipitates were washed in immunoprecipitation buffer with 10% glycerol and then resuspended into [3H]NMe-QNB binding buffer (above) with 10% glycerol and 0.3 mg/ml sonicated phosphatidyl choline prior to ligand binding, as above.

Cell Surface Biotinylation—In some experiments, cell surface proteins were biotinylated using a membrane-impermeant reagent (biotinamidohexanoic acid 3-sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester sodium salt) (Sigma); 1 mM for 2 h at 4 °C). The reaction was quenched with 75 mM glycine (10 min at 4 °C), and cells were washed in phosphate-buffered saline before returning to minimal essential medium and warming to 37 °C. Cells were then stimulated with 20 µM carbachol (10 min) or control before solubilization. Extracts were incubated with monomeric avidin-agarose (1 h at 4 °C) and washed in solubilization buffer before biotinylated proteins were eluted by incubation in 2 mM biotin for 30 min at 4 °C. These supernatants were then subjected to immunoprecipitation with 12CA5 HA antibody (or nonimmune IgG control) and subsequently used in specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding assays, as above.

GST Fusion Protein Interaction Assays—The GST-M3i3 (Arg252 Gln490) construct in pGEX-4T-1 and the control GST-BKSTREX construct in pGEX-5X-1 were expressed in BL21-RIL bacterial cells, which were then grown up in standard 2x YT (yeast extract, tryptone, NaCl) medium with 2% glucose added. When the cells had reached an A600 of 0.6–0.8 units/ml, expression of the fusion proteins was induced by the addition of 0.1 mM isopropyl-{beta}-D-thiogalactoside for 3 h at 37 °C. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and then lysed with BugBuster reagent (Novagen, CN-Biosciences) for 10 min and again centrifuged. The supernatant, containing the GST fusion proteins, was added to glutathione-Sepharose beads (Amersham Biosciences). The beads were incubated with the bacterial supernatant for 20 min at room temperature to allow binding of the GST fusion proteins to the beads. The matrix formed was then washed extensively with phosphate-buffered saline and used immediately.

In order to provide cytosolic extracts enriched with various ARF constructs, transfected COS7 cells were homogenized in ice-cold extraction buffer (2 ml/175-cm2 flask, 2 µg/ml aprotinin, 1 mM AEBSF, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 2 µg/ml pepstatin, 1 mM sodium orthovanadate, 1 mM sodium fluoride, 50 µg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor in phosphate-buffered saline). The cells were then homogenized (Ystral homogenizer; setting 3, 15 s) before being centrifuged (12,000 x g for 20 min at 4 °C). The supernatant was aliquoted and stored at –40 °C. ARF-HA-enriched extracts were incubated with the GST fusion protein affinity matrix in 250 µl of Buffer A (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 0.6 mM EDTA, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 70 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 80) for 90 min at 4 °C with rolling. The beads were washed four times in Buffer A, and then the retained proteins were removed from the beads with 2x Laemmli buffer and applied to 20% homogenous Phastgels (Amersham Biosciences) for SDS-PAGE and subsequent Western blotting. Membranes were probed for HA immunoreactivity to monitor captured ARFs and for GST immunoreactivity to assess levels of fusion protein input (GST alone ~29 kDa, GST-M3i3 ~49 kDa, and GST-BKSTREX ~35 kDa). Antibodies were rabbit polyclonal anti-HA and polyclonal anti-GST (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies and ECL were as used in the immunoprecipitation studies. Input levels of ARF-HA immunoreactivity in extracts were also monitored, and both fusion protein and ARF inputs were carefully balanced to ensure comparability between samples.

Subcellular Fractionation—Homogenates of sFM3 receptor-transfected COS7 cells (in 175-cm2 flasks), either control or treated with 200 µM carbachol for 10 min, were prepared and initially centrifuged at 1000 x g for 8 min to remove nuclei and unbroken cells. The remaining membranes were fractionated through gradients of Percoll (Amersham Biosciences) under alkaline conditions designed to optimally separate endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and plasma membrane fractions (24). Fractions (0.5 ml) were downloaded from the bottom of the gradient by peristaltic pump (1 ml/min), and adjacent fractions were combined into Laemmli buffer for SDS-PAGE on Nu-PAGE 4–12% gradient Bis-Tris gels (Invitrogen) before immunoblotting for organelle marker proteins as well as for PLD1 and ARF1. The antibodies used were goat polyclonal anti-EEA1 (endoplasmic reticulum marker; Santa Cruz Biotechnology), mouse monoclonal anti-GM130 (Golgi marker; Transduction Laboratories, BD Biosciences, Cowley, UK), mouse monoclonal anti-Na+/K+ ATPase {alpha}1 subunit (plasma membrane marker; Upstate Biotech Ltd., Milton Keynes, UK), rabbit polyclonal anti-PLD1 (N-terminal region) (BIOSOURCE International Inc., Nivelles, Belgium), and sheep polyclonal anti-ARF1/3 (Upstate Biotech). For [3H]PtdBut production experiments, each 175-cm2 flask of cells was labeled with 150 µCi of [3H]palmitate in serum-free medium for 16 h prior to the experiment. Subcellular fractions were extracted with chloroform/methanol according to the standard PLD assay procedure, and [3H]PtdBut was similarly separated by thin layer chromatography.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
PLD Activation by Native M3 Receptors in 1321N1 Cells— Ligand binding studies with [3H]NMe-QNB demonstrated specific muscarinic binding sites in 1321N1 cells and sFM3 receptor-transfected COS7 cells but not in mock-transfected COS7 cells. In 1321N1 cells, the KD and Bmax of specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding were 0.26 ± 0.03 nM and 193 ± 27 fmol/mg protein, similar to previous work (42), which showed that the muscarinic receptors present were almost entirely of the M3 subtype. In sFM3 receptor-transfected COS7 cells, the KD and Bmax of specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding were 0.58 ± 0.04 nM and 2.64 ± 0.47 pmol/mg protein. In pilot experiments with wild-type M3 receptor cDNA (lacking the signal sequence and FLAG tag), binding showed similar affinity but lower Bmax, values.

In 1321N1 cells, the M3 agonist carbachol caused concentration-dependent increases in both [3H]PtdBut and [3H]InsP production (Fig. 1a). The EC50 values for these PLD and PLC responses were similar, being 10.2 ± 2.0 and 8.1 ± 1.7 µM, respectively. The nicotinic cholinergic agonist 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium iodide caused no discernible increase in [3H]PtdBut production through the range 3–100 µM (1.20 ± 0.17-fold of basal control at 100 µM 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium iodide, n = 4), indicating that nicotinic receptors made no significant contribution. The muscarinic partial agonist, aceclidine, activated PLD with a lower maximum response, in the order of 30% of that for carbachol (in line with its reported efficacy in PLC activation). 1321N1 cells also express the thromboxane A2 (TP) receptor, which like the M3 receptor is coupled to PLC activation via Gq/11 but contains an alternative motif in transmembrane domain 7 (tm7) that is believed to disrupt ARF-dependent coupling to PLD activation (12). The selective TP receptor agonist U46619 [GenBank] caused concentration-dependent activation of PLD (Fig. 1a) but with properties distinct from the M3 receptor response.



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FIG. 1.
Differential involvement of ARF and PLC in the PLD responses of M3 and TP receptors in 1321N1 cells. The [3H]PtdBut (PLD) and [3H]InsP (PLC) responses elicited by the M3 receptor agonist carbachol and the partial agonist aceclidine as well as the TP receptor agonist U46619 [GenBank] were characterized, together with the effects of the PLC inhibitor, U73122 [GenBank] , and the ARFGEF inhibitor, BFA, on these responses. Values are means ± S.E., n = 4–12. a, concentration dependence of PLD responses to carbachol (•), aceclidine (•), and U46619 [GenBank] ({blacktriangleup}) as well as the PLC response to carbachol ({blacksquare}). b, concentration dependence of BFA effects on PLD responses to 200 µM carbachol (•), 10 µM carbachol ({blacktriangleup}), 500 µM aceclidine (•), and 30 µM U46619 [GenBank] ({blacksquare}) as well as PLC responses to 200 µM carbachol ({circ}). BFA caused statistically significant inhibition of the PLD responses to carbachol and aceclidine at concentrations of 50–200 µM BFA (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). c, time course of PLD and PLC responses to 200 µM carbachol in the presence/absence of 100 µM BFA. •, control PLD response to carbachol; {blacksquare}, in the presence of BFA. {circ}, control PLC response to carbachol; •, in the presence of BFA. d, concentration dependence of U73122 [GenBank] effects on PLD responses to 200 µM carbachol (•) and 30 µM U46619 [GenBank] ({blacksquare}) as well as on PLC responses to 200 µM carbachol ({circ}). PLD responses to U46619 [GenBank] and PLC responses to carbachol showed statistically significant inhibition by U73122 [GenBank] at concentrations of 2–20 µM (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test).

 

The PLD response to 200 µM carbachol was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by brefeldin A (BFA; a selective inhibitor of a subfamily of ARF GTP exchange factors (ARF-GEFs), known as BIG1/2) (43). The corresponding PLC response was unaffected (Fig. 1b). PLD responses to a low concentration of carbachol (10 µM) or to aceclidine (500 µM) showed similar BFA sensitivity to that with 200 µM carbachol, having IC50 values of 61.4 ± 9.5, 56.8 ± 11.1, and 55.5 ± 13.5 µM, respectively. In contrast, PLD activation by the TP receptor agonist U46619 [GenBank] was unaffected by BFA. The time course of PLD and PLC activation by carbachol in 1321N1 cells is shown in Fig. 1c. There was rapid desensitization of the PLD, but not the PLC response, over the times examined. BFA had no effect on the time course of PLC activation but diminished the initial rate and maximal extent of PLD activity, although the profile of desensitization was unaltered. Since PLD responses can occur downstream of PLC activation, we examined effects of the selective PLC inhibitor U73122 [GenBank] . Fig. 1d shows that U73122 [GenBank] had no effect on PLD responses of the M3 receptor despite inhibiting PLC responses with an IC50 value of 3.6 ± 1.9 µM.In contrast, PLD activation by the TP receptor agonist U46619 [GenBank] was readily inhibited by U73122 [GenBank] (IC50 value of 3.4 ± 1.4 µM). In case Gq/11 might play a role that was independent of PLC, we used the selective direct activator of Gq/11, PMTx, which was found to cause concentration-dependent activation of [3H]InsP production (Fig. 2a). PMTx also caused [3H]PtdBut production, and the response to a nearly maximally effective concentration (0.7 nM; 2.84 ± 0.36-fold of basal) was found to be inhibited readily by U73122 [GenBank] (IC50 value of 3.1 ± 0.6 µM) but not by BFA (Fig. 2b). Pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml; 16 h) had no effect on carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut production (data not shown), indicating that Gi/o do not play a role here.



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FIG. 2.
Evidence for the lack of major involvement of Gq/11, PKC, or tyrosine kinases in M3 receptor PLD responses in 1321N1 cells. The [3H]PtdBut (PLD) and [3H]InsP (PLC) responses elicited by the Gq/11 activator PMTx, carbachol, and PDBu were characterized, and their sensitivity to inhibitors of PLC, ARF-GEFs, PKC, and tyrosine kinases was assessed. Values are the means ± S.E., n = 5–10. a, concentration dependence of PLC activation in response to PMTx ({circ}). b, concentration dependence of the effects of U73122 [GenBank] (•) and BFA ({square}) on PLD responses to 0.7 nM PMTx. Effects of U73122 [GenBank] were statistically significant at concentrations of 2–20 µM U73122 [GenBank] (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). c, concentration dependence of the effects of PKC inhibitors on the PLD responses to 200 µM carbachol (•, CGP 41251; {blacksquare}, NPC-15437; {blacktriangleup}, chelerythrine chloride; •, myristoyl-PKC{alpha}19– 27) and to 300 nM PDBu ({circ}, CGP 41251). The only statistically significant effect on PLD responses to carbachol was that of 30 µM chelerythrine chloride, whereas responses to PDBu were inhibited by 0.3–10 µM CGP 41251 (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). Bisindolylmaleimide I and calphostin C were not used because of known effects on the M3 receptor and PLD, respectively. d, concentration dependence of the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the PLD responses to 200 µM carbachol (•, PP1; {blacksquare}, genistein; {blacktriangleup}, AG 213) (none of the effects were statistically significant).

 

Since PKC and ARF can act synergistically to activate PLD (5), we further investigated a potential role for PKC in M3 receptor responses. The selective PKC inhibitors CGP 41251, NPC-15437, chelerythrine chloride, and myristoyl-PKC{alpha}19–27 all had little or no effect on carbachol-induced PLD activation in 1321N1 cells (only chelerythrine chloride at the highest concentration tested, 30 µM, caused a statistically significant inhibition) (Fig. 2c). In contrast, CGP 41251 clearly inhibited the PLD response to phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) at the same concentrations. Any involvement of Ca2+ elevation in M3 receptor PLD responses was investigated using the cell-permeable Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (1–10 µM). This caused only very minor inhibition of carbachol-induced PLD activation (data not shown).

PLD activation by the M3 receptor may involve proteintyrosine kinases in HEK 293 cells (9) but not 1321N1 cells (44), so we investigated the effects of the selective inhibitor of Src family tyrosine kinases, PP1 and the broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and AG 213. None of these had any significant effect on carbachol-induced PLD activation in 1321N1 cells (Fig. 2d). However, in HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with the sFM3 receptor construct, we found that carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut production was inhibited significantly by genistein and AG 213 with IC50 values of 6.3 ± 1.3 and 15.8 ± 4.2 µM, respectively (n = 6).

Receptor-mediated PLD activation in some cells is sensitive to PI 3-kinase inhibitors (45), but we found no effect of wortmannin (1 µM) or LY 294002 (50 µM) on the concentration dependence, time course, or BFA sensitivity of carbachol-induced PLD activation in 1321N1 cells (data not shown).

The Role of ARF1 and ARF6 in PLD Activation by the sFM3 Receptor Expressed in COS7 Cells—In order to elucidate which ARF isoforms were mediating the M3 receptor response, we carried out complementary experiments in COS7 cells transfected with the sFM3 receptor. Carbachol caused concentration-dependent activation of PLD and PLC with EC50 values of 9.4 ± 2.2 and 1.2 ± 0.1 µM, respectively (Fig. 3, a and b). As in 1321N1 cells, the PLD response was inhibited by BFA, with an IC50 value of 64.1 ± 16.3 µM, but was resistant to the PKC inhibitor CGP 41251 (86.4 ± 12.2% of control at 10 µM, n = 4). Co-transfection of negative mutant ARF1 or ARF6 constructs caused inhibition of carbachol-induced activation of PLD, but not PLC. In cells with the sFM3 receptor alone, 200 µM carbachol caused 5.18 ± 0.50-fold basal [3H]PtdBut production, whereas co-transfection with T31N-ARF1 gave a 2.80 ± 0.21-fold response, co-transfection with T27N-ARF6 gave a 3.26 ± 0.48-fold response, and co-transfection with a combination of the ARF1/6 mutant constructs resulted in a 1.68 ± 0.28-fold response (n = 8). Omissions of constructs were fully substituted by empty vector. The negative mutant ARF values were significantly less than carbachol alone, and the combination showed a further significant reduction. A small residual component of sFM3 receptor-mediated [3H]PtdBut production remained in the presence of both T31N-ARF1 and T27N-ARF6.



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FIG. 3.
Effects of co-transfection with wild type or negative mutant ARF constructs on the PLD and PLC responses of the sFM3 receptor in COS7 cells. The [3H]PtdBut (PLD) and [3H]InsP (PLC) responses evoked by carbachol were measured in COS7 cells transfected with the sFM3 receptor and wild type or dominant negative constructs of either ARF1 or ARF6. Values are means ± S.E., n = 6–10. a, concentration dependence of PLD activation evoked by carbachol acting at the sFM3 receptor in the presence of control vector (•), wild type ARF1 ({blacksquare}), wild type ARF6 ({blacktriangleup}), T31N-ARF1 ({square}), and T27N-ARF6 ({triangleup}). The negative mutant forms of both ARF1 and ARF6 significantly reduced PLD responses to carbachol at concentrations of 2–200 µM (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). b, shows the concentration dependence of PLC activation evoked by carbachol acting at the sFM3 receptor in the presence of control vector (•), T31N-ARF1 ({square}), and T27N-ARF6 ({triangleup}). c, concentration dependence of BFA effects on PLD responses to 200 µM carbachol in the presence of control vector (•), T31N-ARF1 ({blacksquare}), T27N-ARF6 ({blacktriangleup}), and T31N-ARF1 plus T27N-ARF6 (•). {circ}, effects of BFA on PLD responses of cells transfected with sFM3 receptor, but no ARF constructs, in the absence of carbachol stimulation. All controls for transfections contained equivalent levels of empty vector. The carbachol-evoked PLC responses of sFM3 receptor-transfected cells were unaffected by BFA (data not shown). BFA (50–200 µM) caused significant inhibition of the PLD responses to carbachol only in the presence of control vector or of the negative mutant form of ARF6 (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). d, shows the effects of the ARF-GEF inhibitor, BFA (150 µM; light gray columns) the PKC inhibitor, CGP 41251 (10 µM; medium gray columns), and transfected T31N-ARF1 (dark gray columns) or T27N-ARF6 (black columns) on basal [3H]PtdBut production or that in the presence of ATP (10 µM), acting at the native P2U receptor or 5-HT (10 µM) acting at the co-transfected N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor. *, statistically significant differences from corresponding control responses (white columns) (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test).

 

The co-transfection of wild type ARF1 or ARF6 had no significant effect on the activation of PLD by carbachol (Fig. 3a). None of the ARF constructs significantly modified basal PLD activity (Fig. 3, a, c, and d; data not shown) or reduced the expression of sFM3 receptors at the plasma membrane, as assessed by the specific acid-displaceable binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M. For example, specific binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M removed by acid strip represented 372 ± 31 dpm/well for sFM3 receptor alone, with corresponding values of 348 ± 40 for sFM3 receptor plus T31N-ARF1 and 328 ± 46 for sFM3 receptor plus T27N-ARF6 (n = 6). Similarly, 45-min preincubation of 1321N1 cells with 150 µM BFA had no discernible effect on cell surface-specific binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M (data not shown). Fig. 3c illustrates the BFA sensitivity of carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut production with or without the negative mutant ARF1/6 constructs. Controls showed inhibition of responses by BFA with an IC50 of 64.1 ± 16.3 µM. The attenuated PLD activation in the presence of T27N-ARF6 remained sensitive to BFA with an IC50 of 29.8 ± 17.1 µM. In contrast, the residual responses in the presence of T31N-ARF1 or both T31N-ARF1 and T27N-ARF6 were no longer reduced by BFA. This suggests that the sFM3 receptor can utilize both ARF1 and ARF6 for activation of PLD, but the BFA sensitivity of the response reflects predominantly ARF1.

In comparison, we examined the PLD response to ATP (acting at native P2U receptors). This was unaffected by BFA but was clearly reduced by the PKC inhibitor CGP 41251 and by transfection of T27N-ARF6 but not T31N-ARF1 (Fig. 3d). In contrast to the sFM3 receptor, the native P2U receptor thus appears to utilize PKC- and ARF6-dependent (but ARF1-independent) pathways for PLD activation. It seems unlikely that the difference between sFM3 and P2U receptors is due to heterologous expression because the findings with the sFM3 receptor here mirror those obtained with the native M3 receptor in 1321N1 cells (Figs. 1b and 2c) (12). To corroborate this, we transfected COS7 cells with the N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor, which displays BFA-insensitive responses (in contrast to the wild type 5-HT2A receptor, where BFA is effective) (12). PLD responses of the N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor were also significantly inhibited by the PKC inhibitors, CGP 41251 and bisindolylmaleimide I, but not by BFA, T31N-ARF1, genistein, or AG 213. Although T27N-ARF6 reduced responses by 20–25%, this did not reach statistical significance (Fig. 3d and data not shown).

Physical Association of ARF1/ARF6 with the sFM3 Receptor—The question of whether ARF1 or ARF6 could participate in some form of direct complex with the receptor was investigated first by co-immunoprecipitation and second by in vitro interaction with a GST fusion protein of the M3 receptor i3 domain. Fig. 4 shows co-immunoprecipitation data from COS7 cells co-transfected with sFM3 receptor and wild type ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA. Input levels of ARF-HA and the efficiency of sFM3 receptor pull-down were monitored to ensure balance between samples. In Fig. 4a, low levels of ARF1-HA and ARF6-HA immunoreactivity were associated with the sFM3 receptor in basal conditions, apparently in excess of nonimmune IgG controls. Preincubation of cells with carbachol caused increased association of ARF1-HA but not ARF6-HA with the sFM3 receptor, as monitored by densitometry of the immunoblots (3.50 ± 1.15- and 1.35 ± 0.40-fold control respectively; means ± S.E., n = 6). Fig. 4b shows an alternative, more rapid and quantifiable procedure in which sFM3 receptor association with ARF1-HA/ARF6-HA immunoprecipitates was measured as specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding. This showed low basal levels of co-immunoprecipitated binding sites but increased association with the receptor for ARF1-HA and (to a lesser extent) ARF6-HA following carbachol stimulation. Fig. 4c characterizes the time course of sFM3 receptor-ARF1-HA association following the addition of carbachol, showing a peak around 5 min and then gradual return to basal levels by 25 min.



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FIG. 4.
Co-immunoprecipitation of the sFM3 receptor and either ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA from COS7 cells. a, COS7 cells co-transfected with sFM3 receptor plus ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA were stimulated with carbachol (20 µM, 15 min) or control prior to solubilization. Extracts were immunoprecipitated with FLAG antibody (or nonimmune IgG control) before SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The left panel is from cells co-transfected with sFM3 receptor and ARF1-HA; the right panel is from cells with sFM3 receptor and ARF6-HA. In the top sections, the immunoprecipitate was probed with an antibody against the M3 receptor i3 sequence. The middle sections show the input levels of immunoreactive ARF-HA in original extracts. The bottom sections show HA immunoreactivity associated with the immunoprecipitated receptor and indicate a carbachol-induced increase in the association of ARF1-HA but not ARF6-HA. The receptor runs as a broad band centered at about 90 kDa, diffuse because of glycosylation. ARF1-HA and ARF6-HA run at ~20 kDa. A nonspecific band was seen at ~30 kDa in all samples, which is likely to reflect nonspecific cross-reaction with immunoglobulins. These observations were typical of six separate experiments. b, results from an alternative procedure in which ARF-HA immunoprecipitates were probed for the presence of sFM3 receptor by the measurement of specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding. Extracts from control mock immunoprecipitation with nonimmune IgG are shown for unstimulated cells (white columns) or following 20 µM carbachol for 5 min (dark gray columns). Corresponding anti-HA immunoprecipitates are shown from cells that were unstimulated (light gray columns) or carbachol-stimulated (black columns). Both ARF1-HA and ARF6-HA showed significantly increased association with specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding sites following carbachol compared with unstimulated or nonimmune IgG controls. Values are means ± S.E., n = 6. *, p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test. Input levels of both sFM3 receptor and ARF1-HA/ARF6-HA in original cell extracts were shown to be matched between samples (data not shown). c, time course of association between ARF1-HA and the sFM3 receptor as reflected by specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding. The ARF1-HA immunoprecipitates, but not nonimmune IgG controls (• and {square}, respectively), showed a rapid time course of carbachol-induced increases in interaction (peaking at around 5 min and declining again to basal levels within 30 min).

 

The subcellular location of the sFM3 receptor-ARF1-HA association was investigated by cell surface biotinylation experiments. COS7 cells co-transfected with sFM3 receptor plus ARF1-HA (or sFM3 receptor alone) were stimulated with carbachol (or control), surface-biotinylated, and then solubilized. Biotinylated proteins were captured on monomeric avidin beads and eluted before HA immunoprecipitation. In both basal and carbachol-stimulated conditions, 75–90% of the specific [3H]NMe-QNB binding found in direct HA immunoprecipitates was recovered in the biotinylation/avidin recovery procedure. Values for direct HA immunoprecipitates were 202 ± 31 and 384 ± 55 dpm/assay for basal and carbachol-stimulated respectively, whereas corresponding values from biotin/avidin capture were 157 ± 20 and 312 ± 32 dpm/assay (n = 5). All equivalent values for cells transfected with sFM3 receptor alone did not exceed 55 dpm/assay and were similar.

Fig. 5 shows in vitro association of ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA with a GST fusion protein construct of the M3i3 domain, a control construct, or GST alone. The levels of each GST construct were shown to be similar by Coomassie Blue staining and by GST immunoreactivity. ARFs were supplied as enriched extracts from transfected COS7 cells, and binding was monitored by HA immunoblot. The data (which are representative of at least three separate experiments) demonstrate specific in vitro interaction of both ARF1-HA and ARF6-HA with the GST-M3i3 but not control constructs.



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FIG. 5.
In vitro association of ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA with GST fusion protein of the M3 receptor third intracellular loop. GST fusion proteins were captured on glutathione-Sepharose to form affinity matrices, which were incubated with cytosolic extracts from COS7 cells transfected with ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA. Attached proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted. Control GST constructs (GSTBK, a segment of the BK potassium channel (~35 kDa), and GST alone (~29 kDa)) were compared with the M3i3 construct (~49 kDa)). a, input of constructs, immunoblotted for GST. b, HA immunoblots to detect bound ARF1-HA or ARF6-HA, demonstrating specific binding of each to the M3i3 construct. The positive control lanes reflect the level of ARF input (with a 12.5-fold dilution factor).

 

The Role of PLD1 and PLD2 in [3H]PtdBut Production by the sFM3 Receptor in COS7 Cells—Since both PLD1 and PLD2 can potentially be activated by ARFs, we investigated which PLD isoform was responsible for the ARF-mediated response of the receptor. Immunoblots for PLD isoforms in membranes of 1321N1, COS7, and HEK 293 cells showed that both PLD1 and PLD2 were present in each case (as in most cell types) (46) with a mean ratio of PLD1/PLD2 levels decreasing in the order COS7 > 1321N1 > HEK 293 (data not shown). Catalytically inactive mutants of PLD1 (K898R-PLD1) and PLD2 (K758RPLD2) were co-transfected with the sFM3 receptor to assess any disruption of carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut and [3H]InsP responses (Fig. 6, a and b). K898R-PLD1 but not K758R-PLD2 significantly reduced carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut responses (Fig. 6a), although both constructs were adequately expressed (data not shown). In contrast, transfection of a PLD1 mutant with selectively reduced responsiveness to activation by PKC but not ARF/Rho (PIM87-PLD1 (6, 7), caused a significant increase in sFM3 receptor responses, which remained sensitive to BFA with an IC50 of 65.4 ± 13.1 µM (n = 4). Neither K898R-PLD1 nor PIM87-PLD1 affected basal [3H]PtdBut responses, whereas K758R-PLD2 caused a small, but consistent reduction (in the order of 20–30%) (Fig. 6, a and e). The catalytically inactive PLD mutants had no discernible effect on PLC responses of the receptor (Fig. 6b).



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FIG. 6.
Effects of co-transfection with mutant or wild type PLD constructs on the PLD and PLC responses of the sFM3 receptor in COS7 cells. The [3H]PtdBut (PLD) and [3H]InsP (PLC) responses evoked by carbachol (and other stimuli) were measured in COS7 cells transfected with the sFM3 receptor and PLD1/2 constructs. Values are means ± S.E., n = 6–10. a, concentration dependence of PLD responses to carbachol in the presence of control vector (•), K898R-PLD1 (catalytically inactive; {square}), K758R-PLD2 (catalytically inactive; {triangleup}), and PIM87-PLD1 (PKC activation-deficient; {circ}). Responses to 10–200 µM carbachol were significantly reduced in the presence of K898R-PLD1, and responses to 50–200 µM carbachol were significantly increased in the presence of PIM87-PLD1 (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). b, concentration dependence of PLC activation by carbachol in the presence of control vector (•), K898R-PLD1 ({square}), and K758R-PLD2 ({triangleup}). c, concentration dependence of BFA effects on PLD responses to 200 µM carbachol in the presence of control vector (•), K898R-PLD1 ({blacksquare}), and K758R-PLD2 ({blacktriangleup}) as well as on basal levels of [3H]PtdBut accumulation ({circ}). BFA (50–200 µM) caused significant inhibition of the PLD responses to carbachol in the presence of control vector or negative mutant PLD2 (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). d, effects of cotransfection with negative mutant ARFs on sFM3 receptor-mediated PLD responses, either control (empty vector) or the residual responses in the presence of K898R-PLD1 or K758R-PLD2. Cells were additionally transfected with vector (white columns), T31N-ARF1 (light gray columns), or T27N-ARF6 (medium gray columns), and the [3H]PtdBut production induced by 200 µM carbachol was measured. Values are means ± S.E., n = 6. Statistically significant differences from control carbachol-induced responses are indicated with asterisks (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). e, comparison of the effects of various PLD1/2 constructs on [3H]PtdBut production mediated by the sFM3 receptor and the native P2U receptor in COS7 cells as well as basal activity and that induced by PDBu. Basal, PDBu (300 nM)-, carbachol (CCh; 200 µM)-, and ATP (10 µM)-evoked responses were assessed in the presence of control empty vector (white columns), K898R-PLD1 (light gray columns), K758R-PLD2 (medium gray columns), wild type PLD1 (dark gray columns), wild type PLD2 (charcoal gray columns), and PIM87-PLD1 (black columns). Values are means ± S.E., n = 6–8. Statistical significance of differences from empty vector controls is indicated by asterisks (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test).

 

We then asked whether the K898R-PLD1-sensitive or -resistant components of the sFM3 receptor [3H]PtdBut response corresponded to the sensitivity to BFA, T31N-ARF1, or T27NARF6 (Fig. 6, c and d). Whereas control responses were inhibited by BFA with an IC50 of 47.4 ± 6.3 µM, and those in the presence of K758R-PLD2 were still clearly inhibited (IC50 of 33.1 ± 8.9 µM, n = 10), the residual response in the presence of K898R-PLD1 was unaffected by BFA (Fig. 6c). We further examined the effects of T31N-ARF1 and T27N-ARF6 on responses in the presence of K898R-PLD1 or K758R-PLD2 expression. Fig. 6d shows that negative mutant ARF1 and ARF6 constructs significantly inhibited both control responses and those in the presence of K758R-PLD2. The residual [3H]PtdBut response in the presence of K898R-PLD1 was no longer sensitive to further inhibition by the negative mutant ARF1 construct but retained a small yet significant inhibitory effect of T27N-ARF6. These data suggest that the receptor uses an ARF1-mediated (BFA-sensitive) pathway to PLD1 and an ARF6-mediated (BFA-insensitive) pathway that can lead to either PLD1 or PLD2.

Fig. 6e demonstrates, in contrast, that K758R-PLD2 (but not K898R-PLD1) inhibits [3H]PtdBut responses of the P2U receptor. Matching observations were made with the (similarly BFA-insensitive) N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor. The responses to 5-HT (10 µM) were 2.67 ± 0.36-, 2.89 ± 0.46-, and 1.28 ± 0.15-fold basal for the N376D-5-HT2A receptor alone and that in the presence of K898R-PLD1 or K758R-PLD2, respectively. The inhibition due to K758R-PLD2 was statistically significant (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test, n = 6). Fig. 6e also shows that PDBu-induced [3H]PtdBut production was attenuated by both K898R-PLD1 and K758R-PLD2, consistent with evidence that not only PLD1 (57) but also PLD2 (4749) can be targeted by PKC. In addition, effects of wild type PLD1, wild type PLD2, and PIM87-PLD1 expression were compared on basal, PDBuevoked, sFM3 receptor, and P2U receptor-mediated responses. Wild type PLD2, but not the other constructs, caused a marked increase in basal [3H]PtdBut levels, matching reports of its constitutive activity (27). Responses to PDBu, carbachol, and ATP were all nonselectively increased. In contrast, wild-type PLD1 increased PDBu-evoked and sFM3 receptor-mediated, but not P2U receptor-mediated responses. PIM87-PLD1 caused a significant increase in sFM3 receptor-mediated responses only, consistent with the idea that the role of PLD1 in sFM3 receptor responses is independent of PKC.

Subcellular Trafficking of Components in M3 Receptor PLD Activation—Since BFA disrupts the structural integrity of the Golgi apparatus at concentrations less than or equal to those used here (50), we asked whether altered trafficking of proteins needed for the signaling pathway, such as PLD itself, might contribute to the inhibitory effect of BFA. First, it is clear that a number of other GPCRs have PLD responses that are unaffected by BFA (Fig. 1b) (12). Second, when we compared the effects of BFA (Fig. 1b) with those of two further Golgi-disrupting agents, ilimaquinone and nocodazole (31, 35, 51), on PLD responses mediated by M3 and TP receptors in 1321N1 cells, neither mimicked the effect of BFA receptor; nor did they affect responses to U46619 [GenBank] (30 µM) or PDBu (300 nM) (Fig. 1b; data not shown). [3H]PtdBut responses to 200 µM carbachol were 6.62 ± 0.46- and 5.72 ± 0.64-fold basal with ilimaquinone (25 µM for 30 min) and nocodazole (10 µM for 4 h), respectively, compared with values of 6.67 ± 0.34 and 3.31 ± 0.52 for carbachol alone and carbachol plus 100 µM BFA (n = 6). In the presence of ilimaquinone, the IC50 for BFA was 72.1 ± 14.1 µM, similar to that in control conditions (Fig. 1b) and further suggesting that the effect of BFA on M3 receptor PLD responses was distinct from any effects on Golgi structure.

To investigate whether endocytosis of the sFM3 receptor might be necessary for its PLD responses, we utilized a dominant negative construct of dynamin 1, which reduces the internalization of agonist-occupied M3 receptors (52, 53). Whereas transfection of K44A-dynamin 1 clearly reduced internalization of specific [3H]oxotremorine-M binding to the sFM3 receptor in COS7 cells, carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut production was unaltered, suggesting that endocytosis is not important for receptor PLD response (Fig. 7a). The internalization of specific [3H]oxotremorine-M binding was unaffected by BFA (150 µM for 30 min) or by transfection of either T31N-ARF1 or T27NARF6 (data not shown). To address more directly the possibility that sFM3 receptor-mediated PLD activation might occur in endocytosing vesicles, we carried out subcellular fractionation of COS7 cell membranes after carbachol stimulation and analyzed the location of the [3H]PtdBut production. Alkaline Percoll gradients (24) were used to separate plasma membrane, Golgi, and endoplasmic reticulum fractions, characterized by immunoreactivity for Na+/K+ ATPase, GM130, and EEA1, respectively (Fig. 7b). Carbachol induced a large increase in [3H]PtdBut production in plasma membrane fractions, with a much smaller response being detected in Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum fractions.



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FIG. 7.
Evidence that sFM3 receptor-mediated [3H]PtdBut production occurs at the plasma membrane of COS7 cells and involves agonist-induced translocation of mediator proteins to that compartment. a, the left panel shows the inhibitory effect of transfection with the K44A-dynamin 1 (dominant negative mutant) on internalization of [3H]oxotremorine-M (a hydrophilic agonist ligand) into an acid strip-resistant compartment. •, cells with sFM3 receptor alone; {blacksquare}, cells with sFM3 receptor and K44A-dynamin 1. The cell surface-specific binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M was unaffected (data not shown). The right panel shows [3H]PtdBut production in control cells in basal (white column) or carbachol (200 µM)-stimulated conditions (medium gray column) as well as in cells co-transfected with K44A-dynamin 1 in basal (light gray column) or carbachol-stimulated conditions (black column). sFM3 receptor-mediated PLD activation was unaltered by K44A-dynamin 1. b, subcellular distribution of membrane-associated basal ({circ}) or carbachol (200 µM)-stimulated (•) [3H]PtdBut production in sFM3 receptor-transfected COS7 cells. Membranes were separated on Percoll gradients into fractions, which were characterized by immunoblot for the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and plasma membrane markers (EEA1, GM130, and Na+/K+-ATPase, respectively). The response to carbachol was associated predominantly with plasma membrane fractions. c, the subcellular distribution of immunoreactivity for native PLD1 and ARF1/3 in membranes of cells under basal conditions or stimulated with carbachol (200 µM) or carbachol plus 150 µM BFA. Although the ARF antibody used cross-reacts with ARF3 as well as ARF1, the latter form is greatly predominant in cells. Under basal conditions, PLD1 was widely distributed, except in plasma membrane fractions, and ARF1/3 was present mainly in Golgi and plasma membrane fractions. Following carbachol stimulation, PLD1 immunoreactivity extended through to the plasma membrane, and ARF1/3 immunoreactivity became concentrated in plasma membrane fractions. BFA treatment did not disrupt carbachol-induced translocation of either PLD1 or ARF1/3.

 

The question of whether ARF and PLD proteins undergo translocation to the plasma membrane following stimulation with carbachol was addressed by immunoblots on the Percoll gradient fractions. Under basal conditions, ARF1 was distributed through plasma membrane and Golgi fractions, whereas PLD1 was detectable only in non-plasma membrane fractions (Fig. 7b). After carbachol stimulation, ARF1 and PLD1 became concentrated or newly detectable, respectively, in plasma membrane fractions, and this translocation was not prevented by the presence of BFA (Fig. 7b). ARF6 and PLD2 were detectable in plasma membrane fractions with or without carbachol (data not shown).


    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
A BFA-sensitive Route of PLD Activation for the M3 Receptor but Not Other GPCRs—The M3 muscarinic receptor shows BFA-sensitive activation of PLD when expressed as a native receptor in 1321N1 cells or heterologously in COS7 cells. Time course experiments showed rapid desensitization of M3 receptor PLD responses in 1321N1 cells as reported previously (44) and revealed that this was unaltered by BFA. BFA sensitivity of PLD responses was seen at low as well as high agonist concentrations and for a partial agonist, indicating that coupling to this pathway was not restricted to a particular level of agonist occupancy. PLC responses of the M3 receptor in both cell types were unaffected by BFA as were the PLD responses of control GPCRs, the TP receptor in 1321N1 cells and the P2U receptor and N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor in COS7 cells. In contrast to the M3 receptor, which contains an NPXXY motif in tm7, each of these contains the alternative DPXXY sequence, which is believed to prevent receptor coupling to BFA-sensitive PLD activation (12). PLD responses elicited by PMTx or U46619 [GenBank] , but not by carbachol, were inhibited by the PLC inhibitor U73122 [GenBank] , suggesting an indirect PLC-dependent route of PLD activation for the TP receptor but not the M3 receptor.

We considered further whether Ca2+ elevation or PKC activity might still play a role in M3 receptor PLD responses. Ca2+ mobilization does not appear to be an important mediator in 1321N1 (54) or HEK 293 cells (9) but the evidence for a role of PKC in M3 receptor PLD responses is equivocal. In 1321N1, but not HEK 293 cells, PKC down-regulation is reported to inhibit the M3 response (9, 55). However, the profound PKC activation involved in the procedure makes interpretation difficult. In apparent contrast, in M3 receptor-transfected HEK293 cells, co-transfection of the PKC activation-deficient mutant, PIM87-PLD1, yielded smaller PLD responses to carbachol than did excess wild type PLD1 (6), but it was not clear how this compared with responses with native PLD alone. However, in experiments with the related M1 receptor, PIM87-PLD1 facilitated the response to carbachol, compared with untransfected cells (7), suggesting that PKC-independent pathways to PLD were being utilized, as we found here with the M3 receptor. Our observations with various PKC inhibitors, designed to block both catalytic and regulatory domains, provide no evidence to suggest a major contribution of PKC to the M3 receptor PLD response in 1321N1 cells.

BFA inhibited M3 receptor PLD responses here in 1321N1 and COS7 cells with IC50 values of about 50 µM. BFA sensitivity of M3 receptor PLD responses in HEK 293 cells has been reported previously but with some 2–3-fold lower potency (10), as we confirmed in transiently transfected HEK 293 cells (IC50 of 157 ± 23 µM, n = 4). The lower potency in HEK 293 cells may reflect greater involvement of an alternative tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway. In A10 smooth muscle cells, PLD responses of angiotensin II and ET-1 receptors were strongly inhibited by BFA (56), whereas formyl-Met-Leu-Phe and ATP receptor responses in differentiated HL60 cells and bradykinin and sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor responses in A549 adenocarcinoma cells were not (57, 58). The extent to which a GPCR demonstrates BFA-sensitive PLD responses in different cell types may well be influenced by the cellular content of mediators for particular pathways. The concentrations of BFA that selectively inhibit M3 receptor PLD responses here exceed those needed to disrupt the integrity of Golgi membranes (50, 57, 58), but are similar to those that inhibit the ARF-GEFs, BIG1/2 (43). Considering whether disruption of Golgi traffic might play a role here, we confirmed that the cell surface expression of M3 receptors and their PLC activation were unaffected by BFA (although these measures may not be very sensitive to acute disruption of trafficking). It is possible that PLD responses, but not other responses of GPCRs, may have a selective requirement for protein trafficking and thus may be selectively sensitive to Golgi disruption by BFA. Other GPCRs have clearly BFA-insensitive PLD responses, although theoretically they might generate their PLD responses by different mediators that are unaffected by disruption of the Golgi. However, the selective effect of BFA on M3 receptor PLD responses was not mimicked by ilimaquinone and nocodazole, which also profoundly disrupt Golgi structure and function. Furthermore, we established that the subcellular location of carbachol-induced [3H]PtdBut production in sFM3 receptor-containing COS7 cells was predominantly in the plasma membrane fraction and showed directly that whereas the response involved a movement of both PLD1 and ARF1 to this site, the translocation was not prevented by BFA. Similar observations were found using confocal microscopy (data not shown). Therefore, the effects of BFA on PLD responses of particular receptors appear to reflect a specific intervention in signal transduction rather than a general disruption of protein trafficking.

ARF1 and ARF6 Involvement in PLD Activation by the sFM3 Receptor but Not Other GPCRs—We addressed the role of different subtypes of ARF in sFM3 receptor PLD activation by transfection of either wild type ARF1 or ARF6 or their dominant negative constructs, T31N-ARF1 and T27N-ARF6 (14). Neither wild type ARF construct significantly affected PLD activation by carbachol, suggesting that the cellular content of endogenous ARFs is probably not a limiting factor. However, dominant-negative ARF1 and ARF6 constructs each inhibited PLD responses without modifying PLC responses. Effects of negative mutant ARF1 and ARF6 in combination were significantly greater than either alone, suggesting that the two ARF isoforms might each play a distinct role. Although negative or positive mutants of ARFs can disrupt Golgi and other vesicular trafficking (14, 5962), we found that neither the levels of specific cell surface [3H]oxotremorine-M binding sites nor sFM3 receptor PLC responses were affected by the ARF constructs here. In parallel with our observations, PLD responses of the angiotensin II and ET-1 receptors in A10 cells were inhibited by both T31N-ARF1 and T27N-ARF6 constructs (56). In contrast, we showed that the responses of two DPXXY-containing receptors, the P2U receptor and the N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor, were unaffected by T31N-ARF1 but were clearly inhibited by T27N-ARF6 and PKC inhibitors (P2U receptor) or by PKC inhibitors alone (N376D mutant 5-HT2A receptor). This suggests that ARF6 and PKC may be important in alternative pathways that underlie the BFA-insensitive [3H]PtdBut production seen with some GPCRs. The BFA sensitivity of M3 receptor PLD responses was clearly preempted in the presence of dominant negative ARF1 but not ARF6, indicating that an ARF1-dependent pathway from the receptor, probably involving BIG1/2, is responsible for the sensitivity to BFA. Correspondingly, it has been shown that BIG1/2 can act as effective, BFA-sensitive ARF-GEFs for ARF1 but not ARF6 (43) and that in vivo functional effects of ARF6 are often BFA-insensitive (63, 64). The sFM3 receptor PLD response in COS7 cells therefore appears to comprise at least two components: an ARF1-dependent BFA-sensitive pathway and an ARF6-dependent, BFA-insensitive pathway.

Physical Association of Both ARF1 and ARF6 with the M3 Receptor through Its i3 Domain—Low levels of ARF1-HA and ARF6-HA were associated with sFM3 receptor immunoprecipitates under basal conditions, whereas the amount of associated ARF1-HA but not ARF6-HA was clearly increased when cells were incubated with carbachol. In an alternative, rapid procedure where reduced nonspecific interactions were expected, we found that a small, carbachol-induced increase in ARF6-HA interaction with the receptor could be shown as well as that for ARF1-HA. The time course of carbachol-induced association of ARF1-HA with the receptor was similar to that for the increase in [3H]PtdBut production.

Using GST fusion proteins, we further investigated the interaction of ARF1 and ARF6 with t