SMART MODE:

NORMAL GENOMIC

• Kim S, Ko J, Kim JH, Choi EC, Na DS
• Differential effects of annexins I, II, III, and V on cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity: specific interaction model.
• FEBS Lett. 2001; 489: 243-8
• Display abstract

• Annexins (ANXs) are a family of proteins with calcium-dependent phospholipid binding properties. Although inhibition of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) by ANX-I has been reported, the mechanism is still controversial. Previously we proposed a 'specific interaction' model for the mechanism of cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) inhibition by ANX-I [Kim et al., FEBS Lett. 343 (1994) 251-255]. Here we have studied the cPLA2 inhibition mechanism using ANX-I, N-terminally deleted ANX-I (DeltaANX-I), ANX-II, ANX-II(2)P11(2), ANX-III, and ANX-V. Under the conditions for the specific interaction model, ANX-I, DeltaANX-I, and ANX-II(2)P11(2) inhibited cPLA2, whereas inhibition by ANX-II and ANX-III was negligible. Inhibition by ANX-V was much smaller than that by ANX-I. The protein-protein interactions between cPLA2 and ANX-I, DeltaANX-I, and ANX-II(2)P11(2) were verified by immunoprecipitation. We can therefore conclude that inhibition of cPLA2 by specific interaction is not a general function of all ANXs, and is rather a specific function of ANX-I. The results are consistent with the specific interaction model.

• Kurusu S, Sakaguchi S, Kawaminami M, Hashimoto I
• Sustained activity of luteal cytosolic phospholipase A2 during luteolysis in pseudopregnant rats: its possible implication in tissue involution.
• Endocrine. 2001; 14: 337-42
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• We investigated the expression and activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the corpus luteum during spontaneous and induced luteolysis in pseudopregnant rats. In both models, luteal PLA2 activity rose in association with functional regression and persisted during the following structural regression. Tissue concentration of prostaglandin F2alpha with a luteolytic potency showed a similar fluctuation. The enzyme activity was almost completely suppressed by a cPLA2-specific inhibitor. Expression of cPLA2, analyzed by immunohistochemistry, became enhanced during luteolysis with preferential localization to phagocytotic and fibrotic replacement sites. Taken together with our previous finding, the data indicate a persistent elevation in luteal cPLA2 expression and activity that may affect tissue involution in vivo.

• Huwiler A, Johansen B, Skarstad A, Pfeilschifter J
• Ceramide binds to the CaLB domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and facilitates its membrane docking and arachidonic acid release.
• FASEB J. 2001; 15: 7-9
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• Excessive production of eicosanoids is characteristic of many inflammatory diseases. In this study we show that ceramide, which is an early messenger of inflammatory cytokine action, exerts a dual effect on the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), the rate-limiting enzyme in arachidonic acid release and subsequent eicosanoid formation. Stimulation of renal mesangial cells with exogenous short-chain ceramide analogs for 30 and 60 min leads to a concentration-dependent increase in arachidonic acid release that is not blocked by specific inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. This suggests that these established upstream activators of cPLA2 are not involved in ceramide-induced arachidonic acid release. By use of photoactivatable ceramide analogs, D- and L-[125I]3-trifluoromethyl-3-(m-iodophenyl)diazirine-ceramides (TID-ceramides), we observed a direct interaction of ceramide with cPLA2. This interaction was independent of the absolute configuration as D- and L-TID-ceramide were equally effective in binding to cPLA2. Moreover, recombinant CaLB domain of cPLA2 as well as a mutant deficient in the connecting 'hinge' domain of cPLA2, efficiently bound D- and L-TID-ceramides, whereas the catalytic domain did not interact with TID-ceramides. In vitro binding assays reveal that stearoyl-arachidonyl-phosphatidylcholine (SAPC)-liposomes containing increasing mol% of ceramide lead to an increased association of recombinant cPLA2 to the liposomes. Furthermore, measurement of cPLA2 activity in vitro shows that the presence of SAPC-liposomes resulted in only weak cPLA2 activity. However, the activity dramatically increases by addition of ceramide to the liposomes. Furthermore, liposomes containing SAPC and sphingomyelin resulted in no better substrate than SAPC liposomes, unless bacterial sphingomyelinase was added to generate ceramide, which then causes a marked increase in cPLA2 activity. These results demonstrate that ceramide can interact directly with cPLA2 via the CaLB domain and thereby serves as a membrane-docking device that facilitates cPLA2 action in inflammatory diseases.

• Evans JH, Spencer DM, Zweifach A, Leslie CC
• Intracellular calcium signals regulating cytosolic phospholipase A2 translocation to internal membranes.
• J Biol Chem. 2001; 276: 30150-60
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• Increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) promote cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) translocation to intracellular membranes. The specific membranes to which cPLA(2) translocates and the [Ca(2+)](i) signals required were investigated. Plasmids of EGFP fused to full-length cPLA(2) (EGFP-FL) or to the cPLA(2) C2 domain (EGFP-C2) were used in Ca(2+)/EGFP imaging experiments of cells treated with [Ca(2+)](i)-mobilizing agonists. EGFP-FL and -C2 translocated to Golgi in response to sustained [Ca(2+)](i) greater than approximately 100-125 nm and to Golgi, ER, and perinuclear membranes (PNM) at [Ca(2+)](i) greater than approximately 210-280 nm. In response to short duration [Ca(2+)](i) transients, EGFP-C2 translocated to Golgi, ER, and PNM, but EGFP-FL translocation was restricted to Golgi. However, EGFP-FL translocated to Golgi, ER, and PNM in response to long duration transients. In response to declining [Ca(2+)](i), EGFP-C2 readily dissociated from Golgi, but EGFP-FL dissociation was delayed. Agonist-induced arachidonic acid release was proportional to the [Ca(2+)](i) and to the extent of cPLA(2) translocation. In summary, we find that the differential translocation of cPLA(2) to Golgi or to ER and PNM is a function of [Ca(2+)](i) amplitude and duration. These results suggest that the cPLA(2) C2 domain regulates differential, Ca(2+)-dependent membrane targeting and that the catalytic domain regulates both the rate of translocation and enzyme residence.

• Inoue S, Ikeda K
• [Three families of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins derived from the blood of venomous snakes]
• Seikagaku. 2001; 73: 92-6

• Dennis EA
• Phospholipase A2 in eicosanoid generation.
• Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 161: 325-325

• Hirabayashi T, Shimizu T
• Localization and regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2).
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 2000; 1488: 124-38
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• Liberation of arachidonic acid by cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) upon cell activation is often the initial and rate-limiting step in leukotriene and prostaglandin biosynthesis. This review discusses the essential features of cPLA(2) isoforms and addresses intriguing insights into the catalytic and regulatory mechanisms. Gene expression, posttranslational modification and subcellular localization can regulate these isoforms. Translocation of cPLA(2)alpha from the cytosol to the perinuclear region in response to calcium transients is critical for the immediate arachidonic acid release. Therefore, particular emphasis is placed on the mechanism of the translocation and the role of the proteins and lipids implicated in this process. The regional distribution and cellular localization of cPLA(2) may help to better understand its function as an arachidonic acid supplier to downstream enzymes and as a regulator of specific cellular processes.

• Kuwata H et al.
• Studies on a mechanism by which cytosolic phospholipase A2 regulates the expression and function of type IIA secretory phospholipase A2.
• J Immunol. 2000; 165: 4024-31
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• Although it has been proposed that arachidonate release by several secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) isozymes is modulated by cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), the cellular component(s) that intermediates between these two signaling PLA2s remains unknown. Here we provide evidence that 12- or 15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX), which lies downstream of cPLA2, plays a pivotal role in cytokine-induced gene expression and function of sPLA2-IIA. The sPLA2-IIA expression and associated PGE2 generation induced by cytokines in rat fibroblastic 3Y1 cells were markedly attenuated by antioxidants that possess 12/15-LOX inhibitory activity. 3Y1 cells expressed 12/15-LOX endogenously, and forcible overexpression of 12/15-LOX in these cells greatly enhanced cytokine-induced expression of sPLA2-IIA, with a concomitant increase in delayed PG generation. Moreover, studies using 293 cells stably transfected with sPLA2-IIA revealed that stimulus-dependent hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids by sPLA2-IIA was enhanced by overexpression of 12/15-LOX. These results indicate that the product(s) generated by the cPLA2-12/15-LOX pathway following cell activation may play two roles: enhancement of sPLA2-IIA gene expression and membrane sensitization that leads to accelerated sPLA2-IIA-mediated hydrolysis.

• Gijon MA, Spencer DM, Leslie CC
• Recent advances in the regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2).
• Adv Enzyme Regul. 2000; 40: 255-68

• Grossmann EM, Longo WE, Mazuski JE, Panesar N, Kaminski DL
• Role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in cytokine-stimulated prostaglandin release by human gallbladder cells.
• J Gastrointest Surg. 2000; 4: 193-200
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• Eicosanoids are involved in gallbladder inflammation, epithelial water transport, and mucous secretion. Phospholipase Asubscript2 enzymes liberate arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids for the synthesis of eicosanoids. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of selective cytoplasmic and secretory phospholipase A2 inhibitors on basal and stimulated arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release in gallbladder cells. Western immunoblotting was employed to evaluate both cytosolic and secretory phospholipase A2 enzymes in human gallbladder cells. Cells were incubated for 22 hours with (3)H-labeled arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release was then measured in the supernate after 2 hours of exposure to human interleukin-1beta, alone or after pretreatment for 1 hour with the inhibitors. Unstimulated gallbladder cells express both 85 kDa cytosolic and 14 kDa secretory phospholipase A2++. The 85 kDa phospholipase A2 was induced by interleukin-1beta, whereas there was no apparent change in secretory phospholipase A2 enzyme concentrations. Both the secretory phospholipase A2 inhibitor p-bromophenylacyl bromide and the cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitor arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone decreased basal and interleukin-1beta-stimulated arachidonic acid release. In contrast, only inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A2 led to a decrease in interleukin-1beta-stimulated prostaglandin E2 release. Basal and interleukin-1beta-stimulated arachidonic acid release appears to be the result of the activity of both cytosolic and secretory phospholipase A2. Interleukin-1beta-stimulated prostaglandin E2 release appears to be dependent on the activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2.

• Kitatani K, Oka T, Murata T, Hayama M, Akiba S, Sato T
• Acceleration by ceramide of calcium-dependent translocation of phospholipase A2 from cytosol to membranes in platelets.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 2000; 382: 296-302
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• The effect of ceramide on Ca2+-dependent translocation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) to membranes was studied. Pretreatment of platelets with sphingomyelinase or C6-ceramide (N-hexanoylsphingosine) led to apparent enhancement of Ca2+-ionophore A23187-stimulated arachidonic acid release but did not affect the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activity. Under these conditions, the cPLA2 proteins in membranes increased significantly, compared with those by A23187 alone. Sphingomyelinase and C6-ceramide, but not C6-dihydroceramide, a control analog of C6-ceramide, also facilitated the Ca2+-dependent increase in the cPLA2 protein, as well as the activity, in membranes induced by addition of Ca2+ into platelet lysate. Protein kinase Calpha, which possesses a Ca2+-dependent lipid binding domain, was increased in membranes in a Ca2+-dependent manner, but the increase was not accelerated by sphingomyelinase or C6-ceramide. These findings suggest that ceramide in membranes potentiates Ca2+-dependent cPLA2 translocation from cytosol to membranes, probably through modification of membrane phospholipid organization.

• Simonsson E, Ahren B
• Phospholipase A2 and its potential regulation of islet function.
• Int J Pancreatol. 2000; 27: 1-11

• Marshall J et al.
• Involvement of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and secretory phospholipase A2 in arachidonic acid release from human neutrophils.
• J Immunol. 2000; 164: 2084-91
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• The purpose of this study was to define the role of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), calcium-independent PLA2, and cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) in arachidonic acid (AA) release from fMLP-stimulated human neutrophils. While fMLP induced the release of extracellular sPLA2 activity and AA, 70% of sPLA2 activity remained associated with the cell. Treatment with the cell-impermeable sPLA2 inhibitors DTT or LY311-727, or the anti-sPLA2 Ab 3F10 all inactivated extracellular sPLA2 activity, but had minimal effect on neutrophil AA mass release. In contrast, coincubation of streptolysin-O toxin-permeabilized neutrophils with DTT, LY311-727, or 3F10 all decreased [3H8]AA release from [3H8]AA-labeled, fMLP-stimulated cells. Exposure to fMLP resulted in a decrease in the electrophoretic mobility of cPLA2, a finding consistent with cPLA2 phosphorylation, and stimulated the translocation of cPLA2 from cytosolic to microsomal and nuclear compartments. The role of cPLA2 was further evaluated with the cPLA2 inhibitor methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate, which attenuated cPLA2 activity in vitro and decreased fMLP-stimulated AA mass release by intact neutrophils, but had no effect on neutrophil sPLA2 activity. Inhibition of calcium-independent PLA2 with haloenol lactone suicide substrate had no effect on neutrophil cPLA2 activity or AA mass release. These results indicate a role for cPLA2 and an intracellular or cell-associated sPLA2 in the release of AA from fMLP-stimulated human neutrophils.

• Balsinde J, Balboa MA, Dennis EA
• Group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 activation by diacylglycerol pyrophosphate in murine P388D1 macrophages.
• Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000; 905: 11-5
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• Diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) is a novel phospholipid identified in yeast, bacteria, and plants, but not yet in mammalian cells. Given its structural resemblance to other phospholipid-activating molecules, such as lysophosphatidate, phosphatidate, and diacylglycerol, it was questioned whether DGPP was capable of activating macrophages to release arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites such as the prostaglandins. It has been found that DGPP is able to potently stimulate prostaglandin production in the murine cell line P388D1 by a mechanism that involves activation of the cytosolic Group IV phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Our results demonstrate that DGPP possesses macrophage-activating-factor properties and suggest a role for this novel compound in the inflammatory response.

• Gelb MH, Kudo I
• [Phospholipase A2 inhibitor]
• Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso. 2000; 45: 1065-71

• Chowdhury B et al.
• Amino acid residues in alpha-helix-3 of human uteroglobin are critical for its phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity.
• Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000; 923: 307-11

• Gelb MH, Valentin E, Ghomashchi F, Lazdunski M, Lambeau G
• Cloning and recombinant expression of a structurally novel human secreted phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 2000; 275: 39823-6
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• Mammals contain a diverse set of secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s) that liberate arachidonic acid from phospholipids for the production of eicosanoids and exert a variety of physiological and pathological effects. We report the cloning, recombinant expression, and kinetic properties of a novel human sPLA(2) that defines a new structural class of sPLA(2)s called group XII. The human group XII (hGXII) cDNA contains a putative signal peptide of 22 residues followed by a mature protein of 167 amino acids that displays homology to all known sPLA(2)s only over a short stretch of amino acids in the active site region. Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses show that the tissue distribution of hGXII is distinct from the other human sPLA(2)s with strong expression in heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas and weaker expression in brain, liver, small intestine, lung, placenta, ovaries, testis, and prostate. Catalytically active hGXII was produced in Escherichia coli and shown to be Ca(2+)-dependent despite the fact that it is predicted to have an unusual Ca(2+)-binding loop. Similar to the previously characterized mouse group IIE sPLA(2)s, the specific activity of hGXII is low in comparison to that of other mammalian sPLA(2), suggesting that hGXII could have novel functions that are independent of its phospholipase A(2) activity.

• MacDonell LE et al.
• Increased levels of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in dyslexics.
• Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2000; 63: 37-9
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• Research findings are increasingly reporting evidence of physiological abnormalities in dyslexia and sites for dyslexia have been identified on three chromosomes. It has been suggested that genetic inheritance may cause phospholipid abnormalities in dyslexia somewhat similar to those found in schizophrenia. A key enzyme in phospholipid metabolism, Type IV, or cytosolic, phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), releases arachidonic acid (AA), a 20-carbon fatty acid, which is the major source of production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. An entirely new assay, which for the first time has enabled determination of the amount of the enzyme rather than its activity, was used to measure cPLA2 in dyslexic-type adults and controls and the two groups were found to differ significantly, the dyslexic-types having more of the enzyme. A report elsewhere of schizophrenics having even greater amounts of the enzyme suggests that dyslexia may be on a continuum with schizophrenia, as may be other neurodevelopmental disorders - which have also been described as phospholipid spectrum disorders.

• Hirabayashi T et al.
• Critical duration of intracellular Ca2+ response required for continuous translocation and activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 5163-9
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• When cells are exposed to certain external stimuli, arachidonic acid (AA) is released from the membrane and serves as a precursor of various types of eicosanoids. A Ca2+-regulated cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a dominant role in the release of AA. To closely examine the relation between Ca2+ response and AA release by stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors, we established several lines of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing platelet-activating factor receptor or leukotriene B4 receptor. Measurement of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) demonstrated that cell lines capable of releasing AA elicited a sustained [Ca2+]i increase when stimulated by agonists. The prolonged [Ca2+]i elevation is the result of Ca2+ entry, because this elevation was blocked by EGTA treatment or in the presence of Ca2+ channel blockers (SKF 96365 and methoxyverapamil). cPLA2 fused with a green fluorescent protein (cPLA2-GFP) translocated from the cytosol to the perinuclear region in response to increases in [Ca2+]i. When EGTA was added shortly after [Ca2+]i increase, the cPLA2-GFP returned to the cytosol, without liberating AA. After a prolonged [Ca2+]i increase, even by EGTA treatment, the enzyme was not readily redistributed to the cytosol. Thus, we propose that a critical time length of [Ca2+]i elevation is required for continuous membrane localization and full activation of cPLA2.

• Iulaev MF, Akhunova AM
• [Various properties of exogenous phospholipase A2 produced by mycelium of Paecilomyces viridis fungus]
• Vopr Med Khim. 1999; 45: 223-6
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• The lipolytic activity of extract of mycelium and cultural fluid of fungus Paecilomyces viridis and their protein fraction was investigated. The micelium of fungus Paecilomyces viridis is a weak producent of exogenic phospholipase A2, possessing the hemolytic activity. The optimum of zungal phospholipase A2 activity was within a range of pH 8.5-9.0 which coincides with the optimum of activity of phospholipase A2 from venoms of snakes and insects.

• Farber SA, Olson ES, Clark JD, Halpern ME
• Characterization of Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 activity during zebrafish embryogenesis.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 19338-46
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• We have developed a simple fluorescent assay for detection of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in zebrafish embryos that utilizes a fluorescent phosphatidylcholine substrate. By using this assay in conjunction with selective PLA2 inhibitors and Western blot analysis, we identified the principal activity in zebrafish embryogenesis as characteristic of the Ca2+-dependent cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) subtype. Embryonic cPLA2 activity remained constant from the 1-cell stage until the onset of somitogenesis, at which time it increased sharply. This increase was preceded by the expression of a previously identified zebrafish cPLA2 homologue (Nalefski, E., Sultzman, L., Martin, D., Kriz, R., Towler, P., Knopf, J., and Clark, J. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 18239-18249). By using a quenched BODIPY-labeled phosphatidylcholine that fluoresces only upon cleavage by PLA2, lipase activity was visualized in the cells of living embryos where it localized to perinuclear membranes.

• Pickard RT, Strifler BA, Kramer RM, Sharp JD
• Molecular cloning of two new human paralogs of 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 8823-31
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• Two new cloned human cDNAs encode paralogs of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). We propose to call these cPLA2beta (114 kDa) and cPLA2gamma (61 kDa), giving the name cPLA2alpha to the well known 85-kDa enzyme. cPLA2beta mRNA is expressed more highly in cerebellum and pancreas and cPLA2gamma more highly in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Sequence-tagged site mapping places cPLA2beta on chromosome 15 in a region near a phosphoinositol bisphosphate phosphatase. The mRNA for cPLA2beta is spliced only at a very low level, and Northern blots in 24 tissues show exclusively the unspliced form. cPLA2beta has much lower activity on 2-arachidonoyl-phosphatidylcholine liposomes than either of the other two enzymes. Its sequence contains a histidine motif characteristic of the catalytic center of caspase proteases of the apoptotic cascade but no region characteristic of the catalytic cysteine. Sequence-tagged site mapping places cPLA2gamma on chromosome 19 near calmodulin. cPLA2gamma lacks the C2 domain, which gives cPLA2alpha its Ca2+ sensitivity, and accordingly cPLA2gamma has no dependence upon calcium, although cPLA2beta does. cPLA2gamma contains a prenyl group-binding site motif and appears to be largely membrane-bound. cPLA2alpha residues activated by phosphorylation do not appear to be well conserved in either new enzyme. In contrast, all three previously known catalytic residues, as well as one additional essential arginine, Arg-566 in cPLA2alpha, are conserved in both new enzyme sequences. Mutagenesis shows strong dependence on these residues for catalytic activity of all three enzymes.

• Fujishima H et al.
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 is essential for both the immediate and the delayed phases of eicosanoid generation in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.
• Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999; 96: 4803-7
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• We have used mice in which the gene for cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) has been disrupted to demonstrate the absolute requirement for cPLA2 in both the immediate and the delayed phases of eicosanoid generation by bone marrow-derived mast cells. For the immediate phase, quantitative analysis of the products of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway showed that gene disruption of cPLA2 prevented the provision of arachidonic acid substrate for biosynthesis of proximal intermediates. By analogy, we conclude that arachidonic acid substrate was also not available to prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 1 in the immediate phase of prostaglandin (PG) D2 generation. These defects occurred with two distinct stimuli, stem cell factor and IgE/antigen, which were, however, sufficient for signal transduction defined by exocytosis of beta-hexosaminidase. Whereas cPLA2 is essential for immediate eicosanoid generation by providing arachidonic acid, its role in delayed-phase PGD2 generation is more complex and involves the activation-dependent induction of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 and the supply of arachidonic acid for metabolism to PGD2.

• Yuan C, Tsai M
• Pancreatic phospholipase A(2): new views on old issues.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999; 1441: 215-22
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• The recent development in the structure-function relationship of pancreatic phospholipase A(2) is reviewed. The results of extensive studies by a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, X-ray crystallography, and NMR have provided new insight into several old issues. In particular, we summarize current views on the active site, the interfacial binding site, the mechanism of interfacial activation, the roles of the hydrogen-bonding network and the catalytic dyad, and the conformational stability of the structure.

• Balsinde J, Balboa MA, Insel PA, Dennis EA
• Regulation and inhibition of phospholipase A2.
• Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1999; 39: 175-89
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• In recent years, there has been great interest in the study of phospholipid metabolism in intact cell systems. Such an interest arises mainly from the discovery that cellular membrane phospholipids serve not only in structural roles, but are also reservoirs of preformed second messenger molecules with key roles in cellular signaling. These second messenger molecules are generated by agonist-induced activation and secretion of intracellular and extracellular phospholipases, respectively, i.e. enzymes that cleave ester bonds within phospholipids. Prominent members of the large collection of signal-activated phospholipases are the phospholipase A2s. These enzymes hydrolyze the sn-2 ester bond of phospholipids, releasing a free fatty acid and a lysophospholipid, both of which may alter cell function. In addition to its role in cellular signaling, phospholipase A2 has recently been recognized to be involved in a wide number of pathophysiological situations, ranging from systemic and acute inflammatory conditions to cancer. A growing number of pharmacologic inhibitors will help define the role of particular phospholipase A2s in signaling cascades.

• Song C, Chang XJ, Bean KM, Proia MS, Knopf JL, Kriz RW
• Molecular characterization of cytosolic phospholipase A2-beta.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 17063-7
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• We have isolated a cDNA encoding a 1012-amino acid polypeptide cPLA2-beta, that has significant homology with cPLA2-alpha in both the calcium-dependent lipid binding domain as well as in the catalytic domain. Transient expression of cPLA2-beta cDNA in COS cells results in an increase in calcium-dependent phospholipase A1 (PLA1) and PLA2 activities compared with vector-transfected cells. cPLA2-beta is markedly less selective for cleavage at sn-2 as compared with cPLA2-alpha and cPLA2-gamma. Northern analysis reveals a cPLA2-beta transcript of 8 kilobase pairs that is expressed in all the human tissues examined. With the identification of cPLA2-beta, the newly defined cPLA2 family now comprises three members that may have dramatically different mechanisms for regulation of expression and enzymatic activation.

• Graf GA, Burns PD, Silvia WJ
• Expression of a cytosolic phospholipase A2 by ovine endometrium on days 11-14 of a simulated oestrous cycle.
• J Reprod Fertil. 1999; 115: 357-63
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• Oxytocin stimulates the synthesis and secretion of PGF2 alpha from uterine tissues in vivo and in vitro late in the ovine oestrous cycle. The synthesis of eicosanoids is dependent upon the availability of free arachidonic acid which is released through the activity of arachidonate releasing phospholipases. In the present study, the following hypothesis was tested: the ovine endometrium expresses a cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and expression or activity of cPLA2 increases as uterine secretory responsiveness to oxytocin develops late in the oestrous cycle. Endometrial tissue was collected from cyclic ewes on day 15 of the oestrous cycle for the preparation of tissue homogenates and isolation of mRNA to determine whether ovine endometrium expressed a cPLA2. A 110 kDa band was detected by western blotting, indicating the presence of a putative ovine cPLA2. A 834 bp fragment of the ovine cPLA2 shared 87% homology with human and mouse cDNA, and northern blot hybridization analysis indicated a single 3.4 kb transcript. A total of 20 ewes were ovariectomized and treated with progesterone and oestrogen to simulate the oestrous cycle to determine whether the expression or activity of ovine cPLA2 changed during the onset of uterine secretory responsiveness to oxytocin in vivo. On days 11-14 (n = 5 per day) of a simulated oestrous cycle, caruncular endometrium was evaluated for expression of ovine cPLA2 mRNA and protein and the synthesis of PGF2 alpha in response to melittin (a potent stimulator of PLA2 activity). Immunoreactive cPLA2 and cPLA2 mRNA were observed on all days and did not increase during the development of uterine responsiveness to oxytocin in vivo. Similarly, melittin increased the synthesis of PGF2 alpha irrespective of day, indicating the presence of a functional cPLA2 on all days examined. These data indicate that the ovine endometrium expresses a functional cPLA2 and that ample concentrations of cPLA2 are present by day 11 of a simulated oestrous cycle.

• Perisic O, Paterson HF, Mosedale G, Lara-Gonzalez S, Williams RL
• Mapping the phospholipid-binding surface and translocation determinants of the C2 domain from cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 14979-87
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• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a key role in the generation of arachidonic acid, a precursor of potent inflammatory mediators. Intact cPLA2 is known to translocate in a calcium-dependent manner from the cytosol to the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum. We show here that the C2 domain of cPLA2 alone is sufficient for this calcium-dependent translocation in living cells. We have identified sets of exposed hydrophobic residues in loops known as calcium-binding region (CBR) 1 and CBR3, which surround the C2 domain calcium-binding sites, whose mutation dramatically decreased phospholipid binding in vitro without significantly affecting calcium binding. Mutation of a residue that binds calcium ions (D43N) also eliminated phospholipid binding. The same mutations that prevent phospholipid binding of the isolated C2 domain in vitro abolished the calcium-dependent translocation of cPLA2 to internal membranes in vivo, suggesting that the membrane targeting is driven largely by direct interactions with the phospholipid bilayer. Using fluorescence quenching by spin-labeled phospholipids for a series of mutants containing a single tryptophan residue at various positions in the cPLA2 C2 domain, we show that two of the calcium-binding loops, CBR1 and CBR3, penetrate in a calcium-dependent manner into the hydrophobic core of the phospholipid bilayer, establishing an anchor for docking the domain onto the membrane.

• Burke JR, Witmer MR, Tredup JA
• The size and curvature of anionic covesicle substrate affects the catalytic action of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1999; 365: 239-47
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• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is normally located in the cytosol, but in response to cellular activation the enzyme binds to the membrane at the lipid/water interface where it catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester of arachidonate-containing phospholipids. Synthetic phospholipid vesicle systems have been used in kinetic and mechanistic analyses of cPLA2, but these systems result in a rapid loss of enzyme activity. In the present research, covesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol (DMPM) containing

• Barbour SE, Kapur A, Deal CL
• Regulation of phosphatidylcholine homeostasis by calcium-independent phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999; 1439: 77-88
• Display abstract

• Phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) is the most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cell membranes and is essential for cell viability. The levels of this lipid must be tightly controlled to maintain homeostasis. Therefore, changes in the rate of PtdCho synthesis are generally balanced by changes in PtdCho catabolism and vice versa. It is commonly accepted that the rate of PtdCho synthesis is regulated by CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT). However, it is not certain if PtdCho mass is regulated by specific catabolic enzyme(s). Our goal is to determine if PtdCho homeostasis is regulated by a phospholipase A2 (PLA2). To this end, we have prepared Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines that overexpress CT. CT activity is 7-10-fold higher in the transfected cells than in parental CHO cells. This increase in CT activity is associated with increases in both PtdCho synthesis and PtdCho catabolism. Glycerophosphocholine is the PtdCho catabolite that accumulates in the transfected cells, which suggests that PtdCho turnover is mediated by a phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Indeed, higher levels of calcium-independent PLA2 activity are measured in the cytosols of the CHO cells that overexpress CT, compared to parental CHO cells. The elevated calcium-independent PLA2 activity is associated with increases in the expression of the 80-kDa calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2). Together, these data suggest that the 80-kDa iPLA2 may be modulated in response to changes in PtdCho levels and therefore is involved in the regulation of PtdCho homeostasis in CHO cells.

• Bonventre JV
• The 85-kD cytosolic phospholipase A2 knockout mouse: a new tool for physiology and cell biology.
• J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999; 10: 404-12

• Xue D, Xu J, McGuire SO, Devitre D, Sun GY
• Studies on the cytosolic phospholipase A2 in immortalized astrocytes (DITNC) revealed new properties of the calcium ionophore, A23187.
• Neurochem Res. 1999; 24: 1285-91
• Display abstract

• Besides playing an important role in the maintenance of cell membrane phospholipids, phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are responsible for the release of arachidonic acid (AA) which is a precursor for prostaglandin biosynthesis. The cytosolic PLA2 has been the focus of recent studies, probably due to its ability to respond to protein kinases and changes in intracellular calcium levels. In this study, we examined agents for stimulation of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 in immortalized astrocytes (DITNC). Incubation of DITNC cells with [14C]arachidonic acid (AA) resulted in a time-dependent uptake of the label into phospholipids (PL) and neutral glycerides. In prelabeled cells, release of labeled AA could be stimulated by calcium mobilizing agents such as calcium ionophore A23187 (4-20 microM) and thimerosal (100 microM), and by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 100 nM), an agent for activation of protein kinase C. The release of AA could also be stimulated by ATP (200 microM), probably through activation of the purinergic receptor but not by glutamate (1 mM). The stimulated release of AA was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and was inhibited by mepacrine (50 microM), a non-specific PLA2 inhibitor. Western blot analysis further confirmed the presence of an 85 kDa cPLA2 in both membrane and cytosol fractions of these cells and stimulation by A23187 resulted in translocation of this protein to the membrane fraction. Besides labeled fatty acids, A23187 also stimulated the concomitant release of labeled PL into the culture medium and this event was accompanied by the increased release in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Results thus revealed that besides activation of cPLA2, the calcium ionophore A23187 is capable of perturbating cell membrane integrity.

• Denson DD, Worrell RT, Middleton P, Eaton DC
• Ca2+ sensitivity of BK channels in GH3 cells involves cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Am J Physiol. 1999; 276: 2019-2019
• Display abstract

• To test the hypothesis that intracellular Ca2+ activation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels involves the cytosolic form of phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), we first inhibited the expression of cPLA2 by treating GH3 cells with antisense oligonucleotides directed at the two possible translation start sites on cPLA2. Western blot analysis and a biochemical assay of cPLA2 activity showed marked inhibition of the expression of cPLA2 in antisense-treated cells. We then examined the effects of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) on single BK channels from these cells. Open channel probability (Po) for the cells exposed to cPLA2 antisense oligonucleotides in 0.1 microM intracellular Ca2+ was significantly lower than in untreated or sense oligonucleotide-treated cells, but the voltage sensitivity did not change (measured as the slope of the Po-voltage relationship). In fact, a 1,000-fold increase in [Ca2+]i from 0.1 to 100 microM did not significantly increase Po in these cells, whereas BK channels from cells in the other treatment groups showed a normal Po-[Ca2+]i response. Finally, we examined the effect of exogenous arachidonic acid on the Po of BK channels from antisense-treated cells. Although arachidonic acid did significantly increase Po, it did so without restoring the [Ca2+]i sensitivity observed in untreated cells. We conclude that although [Ca2+]i does impart some basal activity to BK channels in GH3 cells, the steep Po-[Ca2+]i relationship that is characteristic of these channels involves cPLA2.

• Litvinko NM, Kuchuro SV
• [Effect of chemical compounds on phospholipase A2 activity]
• Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 1999; 35: 388-96
• Display abstract

• A simple and convenient method of simultaneous determinations of effects of any set of chemical compounds on enzymatic hydrolysis of phospholipids by using the method of diffusion phospholipase A2 in a lecithin-agarose gel.

• Kurusu S, Endo M, Madarame H, Kawaminami M, Hashimoto I
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 in rat decidual cells: evidence for its role in decidualization.
• FEBS Lett. 1999; 444: 235-8
• Display abstract

• We investigated the existence and possible role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in rat decidualized uteri. PLA2 activity in the cytosol of a decidualized uterine horn, induced by intraluminal oil infusion, was significantly higher than that in contralateral intact horn. The activity was almost completely depressed by cPLA2 inhibitors including arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (ATK). The immunoreactive signals for cPLA2 were intense in decidua and glandular epithelial cells. In vivo administration of ATK (0.1-100 microg) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of decidualization. These results show the presence of cPLA2 and its probable implication in decidualization in rat uterus.

• Dessen A et al.
• Crystal structure of human cytosolic phospholipase A2 reveals a novel topology and catalytic mechanism.
• Cell. 1999; 97: 349-60
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 initiates the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and platelet-activating factor (PAF), mediators of the pathophysiology of asthma and arthritis. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structure of human cPLA2 at 2.5 A. cPLA2 consists of an N-terminal calcium-dependent lipid-binding/C2 domain and a catalytic unit whose topology is distinct from that of other lipases. An unusual Ser-Asp dyad located in a deep cleft at the center of a predominantly hydrophobic funnel selectively cleaves arachidonyl phospholipids. The structure reveals a flexible lid that must move to allow substrate access to the active site, thus explaining the interfacial activation of this important lipase.

• Wilson HA et al.
• Mechanisms by which elevated intracellular calcium induces S49 cell membranes to become susceptible to the action of secretory phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 11494-504
• Display abstract

• Exposure of S49 lymphoma cells to exogenous group IIA or V secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) caused an initial release of fatty acid followed by resistance to further hydrolysis by the enzyme. This refractoriness was overcome by exposing cells to palmitoyl lysolecithin. This effect was specific in terms of lysophospholipid structure. Induction of membrane susceptibility by lysolecithin involved an increase in cytosolic calcium and was duplicated by incubating the cells with calcium ionophores such as ionomycin. Lysolecithin also activated cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Inhibition of this enzyme attenuated the ability of lysolecithin (but not ionomycin) to induce susceptibility to sPLA2. Lysolecithin or ionomycin caused concurrent hydrolysis of both phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine implying that transbilayer movement of phosphatidylethanolamine occurred upon exposure to these agents but that susceptibility is not simply due to exposure of a preferred substrate (i.e. phosphatidylethanolamine) to the enzyme. Microvesicles were apparently released from the cells upon addition of lysolecithin or ionomycin. Both these vesicles and the remnant cell membranes were susceptible to sPLA2. Together these data suggest that lysolecithin induces susceptibility through both cPLA2-dependent and -independent pathways. Whereas elevated cytosolic calcium was required for both pathways, it was sufficient only for the cPLA2-independent pathway. This cPLA2-independent pathway involved changes in cell membrane structure associated with transbilayer phospholipid migration and microvesicle release.

• Bittova L, Sumandea M, Cho W
• A structure-function study of the C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2. Identification of essential calcium ligands and hydrophobic membrane binding residues.
• J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 9665-72
• Display abstract

• The C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is involved in the Ca2+-dependent membrane binding of this protein. To identify protein residues in the C2 domain of cPLA2 essential for its Ca2+ and membrane binding, we selectively mutated Ca2+ ligands and putative membrane-binding residues of cPLA2 and measured the effects of mutations on its enzyme activity, membrane binding affinity, and monolayer penetration. The mutations of five Ca2+ ligands (D40N, D43N, N65A, D93N, N95A) show differential effects on the membrane binding and activation of cPLA2, indicating that two calcium ions bound to the C2 domain have differential roles. The mutations of hydrophobic residues (F35A, M38A, L39A, Y96A, Y97A, M98A) in the calcium binding loops show that the membrane binding of cPLA2 is largely driven by hydrophobic interactions resulting from the penetration of these residues into the hydrophobic core of the membrane. Leu39 and Val97 are fully inserted into the membrane, whereas Phe35 and Tyr96 are partially inserted. Finally, the mutations of four cationic residues in a beta-strand (R57E/K58E/R59E/R61E) have modest and negligible effects on the binding of cPLA2 to zwitterionic and anionic membranes, respectively, indicating that they are not directly involved in membrane binding. In conjunction with our previous study on the C2 domain of protein kinase C-alpha (Medkova, M., and Cho, W. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 17544-17552), these results demonstrate that C2 domains are not only a membrane docking unit but also a module that triggers membrane penetration of protein and that individual Ca2+ ions bound to the calcium binding loops play differential roles in the membrane binding and activation of their parent proteins.

• Yang HC, Mosior M, Johnson CA, Chen Y, Dennis EA
• Group-specific assays that distinguish between the four major types of mammalian phospholipase A2.
• Anal Biochem. 1999; 269: 278-88
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) constitutes a diverse superfamily of enzymes which catalyze the deacylation of phospholipids. At least four types of PLA2 are potentially involved in arachidonic acid release in cells and tissues. Since all of them catalyze the same enzymatic reaction, it is difficult to distinguish between them in mixtures of enzymes normally present in biological samples. Utilizing specific properties of each PLA2, we have designed distinct assay procedures which selectively and sensitively detect each type: Group VI Ca2+-independent PLA2, Group IV cytosolic Ca2+-dependent PLA2, Groups V and IIA secreted PLA2s. Each specific assay procedure is selective for a particular PLA2 type by at least fourfold and as high as four orders of magnitude relative to the other three enzymes. All assays can detect PLA2 activity with as low as subnanogram quantities of enzyme. Importantly, these assays are able to differentiate and quantitate the biochemically and structurally related enzymes, Group IIA and V sPLA2s in crude biological samples. Employing this system, we have found that iPLA2 is the dominant PLA2 in rat brain, and cPLA2 is the most abundant PLA2 in P388D1 macrophages and human amnionic WISH cells.

• Klapisz E et al.
• N-terminal and C-terminal plasma membrane anchoring modulate differently agonist-induced activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Eur J Biochem. 1999; 265: 957-66
• Display abstract

• The 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a key role in liberating arachidonic acid from the sn-2 position of membrane phospholipids. When activated by extracellular stimuli, cPLA2 undergoes calcium-dependent translocation from cytosol to membrane sites which are still a matter of debate. In order to evaluate the effect of plasma membrane association on cPLA2 activation, we constructed chimeras of cPLA2 constitutively targeted to the plasma membrane by the N-terminal targeting sequence of the protein tyrosine kinase Lck (Lck-cPLA2) or the C-terminal targeting signal of K-Ras4B (cPLA2-Ras). Constitutive expression of these chimeras in Chinese hamster ovary cells overproducing the alpha2B adrenergic receptor (CHO-2B cells) did not affect the basal release of [3H]arachidonic acid, indicating that constitutive association of cPLA2 with cellular membranes did not ensure the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. However, Lck-cPLA2 increased [3H]arachidonic acid release in response to receptor stimulation and to increased intracellular calcium, whereas cPLA2-Ras inhibited it, compared with parental CHO-2B cells and CHO-2B cells producing comparable amounts of recombinant wild-type cPLA2. The lack of stimulation of cPLA2-Ras was not due to a decreased enzymatic activity as measured using an exogenous substrate, or to a decreased phosphorylation of the protein. These results show that the plasma membrane is a suitable site for cPLA2 activation when orientated correctly.

• Gijon MA, Spencer DM, Kaiser AL, Leslie CC
• Role of phosphorylation sites and the C2 domain in regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Cell Biol. 1999; 145: 1219-32
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) mediates agonist-induced arachidonic acid release, the first step in eicosanoid production. cPLA2 is regulated by phosphorylation and by calcium, which binds to a C2 domain and induces its translocation to membrane. The functional roles of phosphorylation sites and the C2 domain of cPLA2 were investigated. In Sf9 insect cells expressing cPLA2, okadaic acid, and the calcium-mobilizing agonists A23187 and CryIC toxin induce arachidonic acid release and translocation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-cPLA2 to the nuclear envelope. cPLA2 is phosphorylated on multiple sites in Sf9 cells; however, only S505 phosphorylation partially contributes to cPLA2 activation. Although okadaic acid does not increase calcium, mutating the calcium-binding residues D43 and D93 prevents arachidonic acid release and translocation of cPLA2, demonstrating the requirement for a functional C2 domain. However, the D93N mutant is fully functional with A23187, whereas the D43N mutant is nearly inactive. The C2 domain of cPLA2 linked to GFP translocates to the nuclear envelope with calcium-mobilizing agonists but not with okadaic acid. Consequently, the C2 domain is necessary and sufficient for translocation of cPLA2 to the nuclear envelope when calcium is increased; however, it is required but not sufficient with okadaic acid.

• Shimbara S, Murakami M, Kambe T, Kudo I
• Comparison of recombinant types IIA, V and IIC phospholipase A2S, the three related mammalian secretory phospholipase A2 isozymes.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999; 469: 209-14

• Griffoni C, Spisni E, Orlandi M, Santi S, Riccio M, Tomasi V
• A 38 kDa nuclear protein is involved in the retention of an antisense oligonucleotide directed against cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Nucleosides Nucleotides. 1999; 18: 1673-6
• Display abstract

• Recent studies suggest that antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (APO) are useful tools not only to impair gene expression, but also to modify the splicing of pre-mRNA, as the classical view that they act by suppressing the translation of mature mRNA has been challenged by several examples showing their nuclear site of action. In this work we show that an APO directed against cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) mRNA localises in the nucleus and interacts with a specific nuclear protein.

• Kudo I, Murakami M
• [Phospholipase A2]
• Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso. 1999; 44: 1013-24

• Bertsch T, Fischer EG
• Phospholipase A2 and acute pancreatitis in rats.
• Gut. 1999; 44: 290-290

• Rintala J et al.
• 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 is a target for chronic lithium in rat brain.
• Neuroreport. 1999; 10: 3887-90
• Display abstract

• The mechanism by which chronic lithium exerts its therapeutic effect in brains of bipolar patients is not known. One possibility, suggested by our demonstration in the rat brain, is that chronic lithium inhibits turnover of arachidonic acid (AA) by reducing the activity of an AA-specific phospholipase A2 (PLA2). To test this further, mRNA levels of two AA-specific PLA2s, cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) type IV and intracellular PLA2 (iPLA2) type VIII, and protein level of cPLA2 were quantified in the brain of rats given lithium for 6 weeks. Chronic lithium markedly reduced brain mRNA and protein level of cPLA2, but had no effect on mRNA level of iPLA2. These results suggest that the final common path effect of chronic lithium administration is to reduce turnover of AA in brain by down-regulating cPLA2.

• Farooqui AA, Yang HC, Hirashima Y, Horrocks LA
• Determination of plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 activity by radiochemical and fluorometric assay procedures.
• Methods Mol Biol. 1999; 109: 39-47

• Hudson C
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 gene in schizophrenia.
• Br J Psychiatry. 1999; 175: 190-1

• Nucciarelli F et al.
• Evidence that cytosolic phospholipase A2 is down-regulated by protein kinase C in intact human platelets stimulated with fluoroaluminate.
• FEBS Lett. 1999; 450: 39-43
• Display abstract

• We reported that protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors increase the release of arachidonic acid induced by fluoroaluminate (AlF4-), an unspecific G-protein activator, in intact human platelets. Now we demonstrate that this effect is independent of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration and that AlF4(-)-induced release of AA is abolished by BAPTA, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, even in the presence of GF 109203X, a specific and potent PKC inhibitor. This compound also blocks the liberation of the secretory phospholipase A2 in the extracellular medium, indicating that this enzyme is not involved in the potentiation of arachidonic acid by PKC inhibitors. On the other hand, the latter effect is completely abolished by treatment of platelets with AACOCF3, a specific inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). These observations indicate that cPLA2 is responsible for the AlF4(-)-induced release of arachidonic acid by a mechanism that is down-regulated by PKC.

• Lichtenbergova L, Yoon ET, Cho W
• Membrane penetration of cytosolic phospholipase A2 is necessary for its interfacial catalysis and arachidonate specificity.
• Biochemistry. 1998; 37: 14128-36
• Display abstract

• To determine the mechanism of calcium-dependent membrane binding of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), we measured the interactions of cPLA2 with phospholipid monolayers and polymerizable mixed liposomes containing various phospholipids. In the presence of calcium, cPLA2 showed much higher penetrating power than secretory human pancreatic PLA2 toward anionic and electrically neutral phospholipid monolayers. cPLA2 also showed ca. 30-fold higher binding affinity for nonpolymerized 2, 3-bis[12-(lipoyloxy)dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-1-phosphoglycerol (D-BLPG) liposomes than for polymerized ones where the membrane penetration of protein is significantly restricted. Consistent with this difference in membrane binding affinity, cPLA2 showed 20-fold higher activity toward fluorogenic substrates, 1-O-(1-pyrenedecyl)-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, inserted in nonpolymerized D-BLPG liposomes than the same substrate in polymerized D-BLPG liposomes. Furthermore, cPLA2 showed much higher sn-2 acyl group specificity (arachidonate specificity) and headgroup specificity in nonpolymerized D-BLPG liposomes than in polymerized D-BLPG liposomes. Finally, diacylglycerols, such as 1, 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol, selectively enhanced the membrane penetration, hydrophobic membrane binding, and interfacial enzyme activity of cPLA2. Taken together, these results indicate the following: (1) calcium not only brings cPLA2 to the membrane surface but also induces its membrane penetration. (2) This unique calcium-dependent membrane penetration of cPLA2 is necessary for its interfacial binding and substrate specificity. (3) Diacylglycerols might work as a cellular activator of cPLA2 by enhancing its membrane penetration and hydrophobic membrane binding.

• Akiba S, Dodia C, Chen X, Fisher AB
• Characterization of acidic Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 of bovine lung.
• Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 1998; 120: 393-404
• Display abstract

• An acidic Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 (aiPLA2) has been isolated previously from rat lung and a human cDNA has been described. This study applied the method to larger scale isolation of the native protein from the bovine lung. A polyclonal antibody was generated to a 15 amino acid synthetic peptide based on a conserved rat/human sequence. This antibody recognized a single protein band with an estimated molecular mass of approximately 29 kDa in a soluble fraction obtained from bovine lung homogenate. A 29 kDa protein that reacted with the aiPLA2 antipeptide antibody was detected in fractions containing aiPLA2 activity on sequential column chromatographies. The partially purified enzyme showed 176-fold increase over the homogenate in Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 activity at pH 4. Activity was maximal with phosphatidylcholine substrate and was significantly less with phosphatidylethanolamine and anionic phospholipids. The enzyme had no acyl group preference in phosphatidylcholine and showed no preference for oxidized substrate, but activity was less with 1-O-alkyl phosphatidylcholine. aiPLA2 activity was inhibited by a transition state phospholipid analog (MJ33, 1-hexadecyl-3-trifluoroethylglycero-sn-2-phosphomethanol), serine protease inhibitors, and the anti-peptide antibody but was insensitive to arachidonoyl trifluoromethyl ketone, bromoenol lactone, p-bromophenacyl bromide, and ATP. Analysis of N-terminal amino acid sequence for the 29 kDa protein demonstrated its high homology to human 26 kDa aiPLA2. These was no significant change in molecular mass of the protein following treatment with endoglycosidase F. Western blot of subcellular fractions from rat lung indicated aiPLA2 immunoreactivity with lamellar body, lysosomal, and cytosolic fractions. These results indicate isolation from bovine lung of a 29 kDa acidic Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 homologue of the rat and human enzyme and provide evidence for specificity in the metabolism of lung surfactant phosphatidylcholine.

• Xu GY, McDonagh T, Yu HA, Nalefski EA, Clark JD, Cumming DA
• Solution structure and membrane interactions of the C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Mol Biol. 1998; 280: 485-500
• Display abstract

• The amino-terminal, 138 amino acid C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2-C2) mediates an initial step in the production of lipid mediators of inflammation: the Ca2+-dependent translocation of the enzyme to intracellular membranes with subsequent liberation of arachidonic acid. The high resolution solution structure of this Ca2+-dependent, lipid-binding domain (CaLB) has been determined using heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Secondary structure analysis, derived from several sets of spectroscopic data, shows that the domain is composed of eight antiparallel beta-strands with six interconnecting loops that fits the "type II" topology for C2 domains. Using a total of 2370 distance and torsional restraints, the structure was found to be a beta-sandwich in the "Greek key" motif. The solution structure of cPLA2-C2 domain is very similar to the X-ray crystal structure of the C2 domain of phospholipase-C-delta and phylogenetic analysis clarifies the structural role of highly conserved residues. Calorimetric studies further demonstrate that cPLA2-C2 binds two Ca2+ with observed Kds of approximately 2 microM in an entropically assisted process. Moreover, regions on cPLA2-C2 interacting with membranes were identified by 15N-HSQC-spectroscopy of cPLA2-C2 in the presence of low molecular weight lipid micelles. An extended binding site was identified that binds the phosphocholine headgroup in a Ca2+-dependent manner and also interacts with proximal regions of the membrane surface. Based upon these results, a structural model is presented for the mechanism of association of cPLA2 with its membrane substrate.

• Seeds MC, Nixon AB, Wykle RL, Bass DA
• Differential activation of human neutrophil cytosolic phospholipase A2 and secretory phospholipase A2 during priming by 1,2-diacyl- and 1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycerols.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1998; 1394: 224-34
• Display abstract

• We have shown previously that both 1,2-diacylglycerol (AAG) and 1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycerol (EAG) prime neutrophil release of arachidonic acid via uncharacterized phospholipases A2. Therefore, we investigated the actions of EAG and AAG specifically on neutrophil cytosolic (cPLA2) and secretory (sPLA2) phospholipase A2s. We hypothesized that AAG as a protein kinase activator would activate cPLA2 via phosphorylation events. EAG is antagonistic to the AAG activation of PKC, thus it was not expected to act via phosphorylation of cPLA2. Neutrophils were primed with either AAG or EAG and then stimulated with fMLP. When neutrophils were primed with 5-20 microM 1,2-diacylglycerol, a shift was observed in cPLA2 migration on SDS-PAGE gels, consistent with phosphorylation of the protein. This gel shift was not seen after exposure to EAG. AAG also caused a parallel increase in enzymatic activity of cPLA2 that was not seen with EAG. We also investigated whether either diglyceride would cause similar priming or direct secretion of sPLA2. Both AAG and EAG directly caused significant secretion of neutrophil sPLA2. EAG also increased the release of sPLA2 in cells subsequently stimulated with fMLP. Thus, AAG activated cPLA2 and stimulated secretion of sPLA2. In contrast, EAG did not activate cPLA2, but directly activated secretion of sPLA2. We also demonstrated that human synovial fluid sPLA2 increased AA release from resting and fMLP-stimulated neutrophils. Given that diglycerides prime for release of AA, PAF, and LTB4, these current data support the hypothesis that such priming may be mediated by phosphorylation dependent (cPLA2) or phosphorylation independent (e.g. secretion of sPLA2) events.

• Kurusu S, Iwao M, Kawaminami M, Hashimoto I
• Involvement of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in the ovulatory process in gonadotropin-primed immature rats.
• Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1998; 58: 405-11
• Display abstract

• The preovulatory LH surge induces a remarkable increase in ovarian prostaglandins (PGs) which help to mediate the ovulatory process. We investigated whether cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) has a role in this PG production in PMSG/hCG-primed immature rats. The immunoreactive signal for cPLA2 was localized in both thecal and granulosa layers of mature follicles and became evident in response to gonadotropins. The PLA2 activity in the whole ovarian cytosol rose slightly after PMSG stimulation, persisted relatively constant until 24 h after hCG injection and thereafter increased gradually. Intra-ovarian bursal injection of arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, a specific inhibitor for cPLA2 ( 1.0-3.0 mg/ovary), significantly reduced ovarian PGE2 content and the ovulation rate. These results suggest that cPLA2 exists in periovulatory follicles and functions in PG production related to the ovulation process.

• Borsch-Haubold AG
• Regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 by phosphorylation.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1998; 26: 350-4

• Kurusu S, Motegi S, Kawaminami M, Hashimoto I
• Expression and cellular distribution of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in the rat ovary.
• Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1998; 58: 399-404
• Display abstract

• Cellular expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) was investigated in the rat ovary in different endocrine states. Its mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. The immunohistochemistry identified an intense signal for cPLA2 in oocytes. Granulosa and thecal cells in growing follicles were negative, but turned positive during the periovulatory period, whereas those in atretic follicles were highly immunoreactive. The immunoreactive signal was modest in newly formed corpora lutea (CL) but intensified in functionally and morphologically regressing CL. These results show a broad but specific distribution of cPLA2 in ovarian cell types, and suggest its role in ovulation, CL regulation and apoptotic processes.

• Ma Z, Ramanadham S, Hu Z, Turk J
• Cloning and expression of a group IV cytosolic Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 from rat pancreatic islets. Comparison of the expressed activity with that of an islet group VI cytosolic Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1998; 1391: 384-400
• Display abstract

• Stimulation of pancreatic islets with glucose induces phospholipid hydrolysis and accumulation of nonesterified arachidonic acid, which may play signaling or effector roles in insulin secretion. Of enzymes that catalyze phospholipid hydrolysis, islet beta-cells express low molecular weight secretory phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and a Group VI, Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2). Previous studies indicate that islets also express a protein recognized by antibodies against a Group IV, cytosolic, Ca2+-dependent PLA2 (cPLA2). To further examine the possible expression of cPLA2 by islets, we screened a rat islet cDNA library with a probe that recognizes cPLA2 sequence, and isolated a full-length cPLA2 cDNA. The rat islet cPLA2-deduced amino acid sequence is 96% identical to those of human and mouse cPLA2. Transfection of COS-7 cells with cPLA2 cDNA in an expression vector induced expression of Ca2+-dependent PLA2 activity and of a protein recognized by anti-cPLA2 antibody. Comparison of recombinant islet cPLA2 and iPLA2 activities expressed in transfected COS-7 cells indicated that iPLA2 but not cPLA2 is stimulated by ATP. Both activities are similarly sensitive to inhibition by arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone, but iPLA2 is more effectively inhibited by a haloenol lactone suicide substrate than cPLA2. RT-PCR experiments with RNA from purified islet beta-cells and from an alpha-cell-enriched population prepared by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting indicated that cPLA2 mRNA is more abundant in the beta-cell population. Immunoblotting analyses indicate that islets express cPLA2-immunoreactive protein, and that interleukin-1 does not affect its expression. The cPLA2 is thus one of at least three classes of PLA2 enzymes with distinct properties expressed in beta-cells.

• Sedlakova A, Kohut A
• [Phospholipase A2: characteristics and function]
• Cesk Fysiol. 1998; 47: 95-103
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) hydrolyses membrane phospholipids (PL) and it may release arachidonic acid (AA)--the precursor of eicosanoids--from the sn-2 position. PLA2 and metabolites of its catalytic activity participate in many processes in the organism: metabolism of lipids, inflammation and immune reactions, membrane and tissue reparation, proliferation, and others. PLA2 as also an important element in the signal transduction. In the present article, PLA2 is characterised, classified into several types, and its mechanism of action together with its possible role in the disease processes are described. The attention is aimed at two forms of PLA2: The secretory (PLA2) of the type II which is associated with the inflammation injury, and the cytosolic PLA2 which is the main catalyst in the liberation of AA and which participates in the signal transduction. Other forms of PLA2 has been also described.

• Buckland AG, Kinkaid AR, Wilton DC
• Cardiolipin hydrolysis by human phospholipases A2. The multiple enzymatic activities of human cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1998; 1390: 65-72
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• The ability of mammalian phospholipases A2 (PLA2) to hydrolyse cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol) was monitored with a fluorescent displacement assay which allows the use of natural phospholipid substrates. The mammalian enzymes used were porcine pancreatic (Group I) secretory PLA2 (sPLA2), human non-pancreatic (Group II) sPLA2 and human cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2). High activity was observed with porcine pancreas sPLA2 whereas the human sPLA2 demonstrated only minimal activity with this substrate. In comparison, sPLA2 from Naja naja venom (Group I) also showed only modest activity with this substrate. Since many lipases possess PLA1 activity, a representative enzyme from Rhizopus arrhizus was also assessed for its ability to hydrolyse cardiolipin which proved to be a good substrate for this fungal lipase. In all cases dilysocardiolipin was the major product while some monolyso intermediate was detected after chromatographic separation. Human cPLA2 was unable to hydrolyse cardiolipin at a significant rate, however, both monolysocardiolipin and dilysocardiolipin, which are prepared by the PLA2-catalysed hydrolysis of cardiolipin, were good substrates providing a further example of the extensive lysophospholipase activity of this enzyme. Moreover, cardiolipin that was initially hydrolysed in situ with either excess porcine pancreatic PLA2 or R. arrhizus lipase (PLA1) was subsequently hydrolysed by human cPLA2. One explanation of this result is that human cPLA2 is able to hydrolyse both 1-acyl and 2-acyl-lysophospholipids. (c) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

• Tong LJ, Dong LW, Hsu HK, Liu MS
• Phospholipase A2 activities are decreased during early but increased during late phases of sepsis in rat heart.
• J Surg Res. 1998; 75: 165-9
• Display abstract

• BACKGROUND: Changes in the activities of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the rat heart during early hyperdynamic and late hypodynamic phases of sepsis were studied in an attempt to understand the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction during sepsis. METHODS: Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Experiments were divided into three groups: control, early sepsis, and late sepsis. Early and late sepsis refers to those animals sacrificed at 9 and 18 h, respectively, after CLP. PLA2 activity was measured based on the rate of hydrolysis of 1-palmitoyl-2-[1-(14)C]-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine. RESULTS: The results show that under physiological conditions, sPLA2 and cPLA2 activities were time and protein dependent. The optimal Ca2+ concentrations for sPLA2 and cPLA2 activities were 3 mM and 40 microM, respectively. During sepsis, sPLA2 activity was decreased by 25% (P < 0.01) during early phase while it was increased by 49% (P < 0.01) during late phase of sepsis. Similarly, cPLA2 activity was decreased by 23% (P < 0.01) during early sepsis while it was increased by 60% (P < 0.01) during late sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Since PLA2 functions to maintain cell membrane integrity and function, a biphasic change in sPLA2 and cPLA2 activities may contribute to the development of the two cardiodynamically distinct phases during the progression of sepsis.

• Underwood KW, Song C, Kriz RW, Chang XJ, Knopf JL, Lin LL
• A novel calcium-independent phospholipase A2, cPLA2-gamma, that is prenylated and contains homology to cPLA2.
• J Biol Chem. 1998; 273: 21926-32
• Display abstract

• We report the cloning and characterization of a novel membrane-bound, calcium-independent PLA2, named cPLA2-gamma. The sequence encodes a 541-amino acid protein containing a domain with significant homology to the catalytic domain of the 85-kDa cPLA2 (cPLA2-alpha). cPLA2-gamma does not contain the regulatory calcium-dependent lipid binding (CaLB) domain found in cPLA2-alpha. However, cPLA2-gamma does contain two consensus motifs for lipid modification, a prenylation motif (-CCLA) at the C terminus and a myristoylation site at the N terminus. We present evidence that the isoprenoid precursor [3H]mevalonolactone is incorporated into the prenylation motif of cPLA2-gamma. Interestingly, cPLA2-gamma demonstrates a preference for arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine as compared with palmitic acid. cPLA2-gamma encodes a 3-kilobase message, which is highly expressed in heart and skeletal muscle, suggesting a specific role in these tissues. Identification of cPLA2-gamma reveals a newly defined family of phospholipases A2 with homology to cPLA2-alpha.

• Balsinde J, Balboa MA, Dennis EA
• Functional coupling between secretory phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase-2 and its regulation by cytosolic group IV phospholipase A2.
• Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998; 95: 7951-6
• Display abstract

• Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is the major effector involved in arachidonic acid (AA) mobilization and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production during stimulation of P388D1 macrophages with the inflammatory stimuli bacterial lipopolysaccharide and platelet-activating factor. We herein demonstrate that PGE2 in stimulated P388D1 cells is accounted for by the inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. COX-1, though present, appears not to participate significantly in stimulus-induced PGE2 production in P388D1 macrophages. Reconstitution experiments utilizing exogenous recombinant sPLA2 demonstrate that activation of the sPLA2 at the plasma membrane is highly dependent on previous activation of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Collectively these results demonstrate (i) that functional coupling exists between sPLA2 and COX-2 in activated cells, (ii) the critical role that cPLA2 plays in lipid mediator production, and (iii) that there is crosstalk between cPLA2 and sPLA2 in the cell.

• Dana R, Leto TL, Malech HL, Levy R
• Essential requirement of cytosolic phospholipase A2 for activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase.
• J Biol Chem. 1998; 273: 441-5
• Display abstract

• Arachidonic acid (AA) can trigger activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase in a cell-free assay. However, a role for AA in activation of the oxidase in intact cells has not been established, nor has the AA generating enzyme critical to this process been identified. The human myeloid cell line PLB-985 was transfected to express p85 cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) antisense mRNA and stable clones were selected that lack detectable cPLA2. cPLA2-deficient PLB-985 cells differentiate similarly to control PLB-985 cells in response to retinoic acid or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, indicating that cPLA2 is not involved in the differentiation process. Neither cPLA2 nor stimulated [3H]AA release were detectable in differentiated cPLA2-deficient PLB-985 cells, demonstrating that cPLA2 is the major type of PLA2 activated in phagocytic-like cells. Despite the normal synthesis of NADPH oxidase subunits during differentiation of cPLA2-deficient PLB-985 cells, these cells fail to activate NADPH oxidase in response to a variety of soluble and particulate stimuli, but the addition of exogenous AA fully restores oxidase activity. This establishes an essential requirement of cPLA2-generated AA for activation of phagocyte NADPH oxidase.

• Buckland AG, Wilton DC
• Phospholipase D enhances the hydrolysis of phospholipid vesicles by cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1998; 26: 236-236

• Adam-Klages S, Schwandner R, Luschen S, Ussat S, Kreder D, Kronke M
• Caspase-mediated inhibition of human cytosolic phospholipase A2 during apoptosis.
• J Immunol. 1998; 161: 5687-94
• Display abstract

• Activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is an essential step in the initiation of the cascade of enzymatic reactions leading to the generation of proinflammatory lipid mediators. Hence, the regulation of cPLA2 is a key event in the induction of inflammatory responses. cPLA2 is activated, in part, by apoptotic stimuli such as TNF or Fas ligand. Apoptosis, however, does not provoke an inflammatory response. Here, we demonstrate that cPLA2 is cleaved by caspase-3 and/or a related caspase in HeLa cells undergoing apoptosis. Mutation of a predicted caspase-3 cleavage site abolishes cPLA2 processing both in vitro and in intact cells. The 70-kDa cleavage product of cPLA2 itself has no catalytic function, while inhibition of cleavage results in an increased enzymatic activity. Additionally, overexpression of the 70-kDa fragment appears to produce a dominant negative effect on endogenous cPLA2 activity. In HeLa cells, cPLA2 activity was dispensable for the course of apoptosis. We cannot rule out, however, that cPLA2 activity is involved in the induction of apoptosis in other cell types. Taken together, our results suggest that the enzymatic activity of cPLA2 is specifically inhibited by caspase-mediated cleavage during apoptosis. The inactivation of cPLA2 represents a previously unrecognized mechanism for avoiding an inflammatory reaction against apoptotic cells.

• Farooqui AA, Horrocks LA
• Plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 and its involvement in Alzheimer's disease.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1998; 26: 243-6

• Gross RW
• Activation of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 by depletion of internal calcium stores.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1998; 26: 345-9

• Lin Y et al.
• Binding of bee venom and human group IIa phospholipases A2 to membranes: a minor role for electrostatics.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1998; 26: 341-5

• Nalefski EA, Falke JJ
• Location of the membrane-docking face on the Ca2+-activated C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1998; 37: 17642-50
• Display abstract

• Docking of C2 domains to target membranes is initiated by the binding of multiple Ca2+ ions to a conserved array of residues imbedded within three otherwise variable Ca2+-binding loops. We have located the membrane-docking surface on the Ca2+-activated C2 domain of cPLA2 by engineering a single cysteine substitution at 16 different locations widely distributed across the domain surface, in each case generating a unique attachment site for a fluorescein probe. The environmental sensitivity of the fluorescein-labeled cysteines enabled identification of a localized region that is perturbed by Ca2+ binding and membrane docking. Ca2+ binding to the domain altered the emission intensity of six fluoresceins in the region containing the Ca2+-binding loops, indicating that Ca2+-triggered environmental changes are localized to this region. Similarly, membrane docking increased the protonation of six fluoresceins within the Ca2+-binding loop region, indicating that these three loops also are directly involved in membrane docking. Furthermore, iodide quenching measurements revealed that membrane docking sequesters three fluorescein labeling positions, Phe35, Asn64, and Tyr96, from collisions with aqueous iodide ion. These sequestered residues are located within the identified membrane-docking region, one in each of the three Ca2+-binding loops. Finally, cysteine substitution alone was sufficient to dramatically reduce membrane affinity only at positions Phe35 and Tyr96, highlighting the importance of these two loop residues in membrane docking. Together, the results indicate that the membrane-docking surface of the C2 domain is localized to the same surface that cooperatively binds a pair of Ca2+ ions, and that the three Ca2+-binding loops themselves provide most or all of the membrane contacts. These and other results further support a general model for the membrane specificity of the C2 domain in which the variable Ca2+-binding loops provide headgroup recognition at a protein-membrane interface stabilized by multiple Ca2+ ions.

• Atsumi G, Tajima M, Hadano A, Nakatani Y, Murakami M, Kudo I
• Fas-induced arachidonic acid release is mediated by Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 but not cytosolic phospholipase A2, which undergoes proteolytic inactivation.
• J Biol Chem. 1998; 273: 13870-7
• Display abstract

• Fas-mediated apoptosis of human leukemic U937 cells was accompanied by increased arachidonic acid (AA) and oleic acid release from membrane glycerophospholipids, indicating phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation. During apoptosis, type IV cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), a PLA2 isozyme with an apparent molecular mass of 110 kDa critical for stimulus-coupled AA release, was converted to a 78-kDa fragment with concomitant loss of catalytic activity. Cleavage of cPLA2 correlated with increased caspase-3-like protease activity in apoptotic cells and was abrogated by a caspase-3 inhibitor. A mutant cPLA2 protein in which Asp522 was replaced by Asn, which aligns with the consensus sequence of the caspase-3 cleavage site (DXXD downward arrowX), was resistant to apo-ptosis-associated proteolysis. Moreover, a COOH-terminal deletion mutant of cPLA2 truncated at Asp522 comigrated with the 78-kDa fragment and exhibited no enzymatic activity. Thus, caspase-3-mediated cPLA2 cleavage eventually leads to destruction of a catalytic triad essential for cPLA2 activity, thereby terminating its AA-releasing function. In contrast, the activity of type VI Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2), a PLA2 isozyme implicated in phospholipid remodeling, remained intact during apoptosis. Inhibitors of iPLA2, but neither cPLA2 nor secretory PLA2 inhibitors, suppressed AA release markedly and, importantly, delayed cell death induced by Fas. Therefore, we conclude that iPLA2-mediated fatty acid release is facilitated in Fas-stimulated cells and plays a modifying although not essential role in the apoptotic cell death process.

• Nalefski EA, McDonagh T, Somers W, Seehra J, Falke JJ, Clark JD
• Independent folding and ligand specificity of the C2 calcium-dependent lipid binding domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1998; 273: 1365-72
• Display abstract

• The Ca(2+)-dependent lipid binding domain of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is a homolog of C2 domains present in protein kinase C, synaptotagmin, and numerous other proteins involved in signal transduction. NH2-terminal fragments of cPLA2 spanning the C2 domain were expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli, extracted with solvent to remove phospholipids, and refolded to yield a domain capable of binding phospholipid vesicles in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Unlike other C2 domains characterized to date, the cPLA2 C2 domain bound preferentially to vesicles comprised of phosphatidylcholine in response to physiological concentrations of Ca2+. Binding of the cPLA2 C2 domain to vesicles in the presence of excess Ca2+ chelator was induced by high concentrations of salts that promote hydrophobic interactions. Despite the selective hydrolysis of arachidonyl-containing phospholipid vesicles by cPLA2, the cPLA2 C2 domain did not discriminate among phospholipid vesicles containing saturated or unsaturated sn-2 fatty acyl chains. Moreover, the cPLA2 C2 domain bound to phospholipid vesicles containing sn-1 and -2 ether linkages and sphingomyelin at Ca2+ concentrations that caused binding to vesicles containing ester linkages, demonstrating that the carbonyl oxygens of the sn-1 and -2 ester linkage are not critical for binding. These results suggest that the cPLA2 C2 domain interacts primarily with the headgroup of the phospholipid. The cPLA2 C2 domain displayed selectivity among group IIA cations, preferring Ca2+ approximately 50-fold over Sr2+ and nearly 10,000-fold over Ba2+ for vesicle binding. No binding to vesicles was observed in the presence of greater than 10 mM Mg2+. Such strong selectivity for Ca2+ over Mg2+ reinforces the view that C2 domains link second messenger Ca2+ to signal transduction events at the membrane.

• Costabel MD, Vallejo DF, Grigera JR
• Electrostatics of the phospholipase-membrane interaction.
• Int J Biol Macromol. 1998; 23: 185-9
• Display abstract

• The electrostatic interaction of the Phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-membrane complex in the presence and absence of calcium is analysed by the computation of the electrostatic profiles of the components and the complex. The electrostatic potential was computed by using of the program MOLPOT that implement the boundary element method to solve the electrostatic problem. It considers a closed surface in three dimensions that contains the macromolecule that follows as close as possible the macromolecule shape. The results show that the presence of calcium ions contributes to the stability of the complex and at the same time creates a favourable electrostatic potential pattern that may be favourable for the lipolysis of the membrane components.

• Larsson Forsell PK, Runarsson G, Ibrahim M, Bjorkholm M, Claesson HE
• On the expression of cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (88kDa) in immature and mature myeloid cells and its role in leukotriene synthesis in human granulocytes.
• FEBS Lett. 1998; 434: 295-9
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• The human calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2; 88 kDa) has recently been cloned (Larsson, P.K.A., Claesson, H.-E. and Kennedy, B.P. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 207-214). Here we demonstrate the expression of the human iPLA2 mRNA and its splice variants in blood progenitor cells, immature leukemic cells and mature granulocytes. Chromatographical resolvable iPLA2 activity was found in the cytosolic fraction of granulocytes and the activity was inhibited by the iPLA2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone. This drug also inhibited leukotriene synthesis in human granulocytes, induced by low concentration of calcium ionophore A23187 (0.10-0.15 microM) or opsonized zymosan. These results suggest that iPLA2 is involved in the regulation of the pool of arachidonic acid destined for leukotriene synthesis in human granulocytes.

• Davletov B, Perisic O, Williams RL
• Calcium-dependent membrane penetration is a hallmark of the C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2 whereas the C2A domain of synaptotagmin binds membranes electrostatically.
• J Biol Chem. 1998; 273: 19093-6
• Display abstract

• C2 domains have been identified in a wide range of intracellular proteins, including lipid modifying enzymes, protein kinases, GTPases, and proteins involved in membrane trafficking. Many C2 domains bind membranes in a calcium-dependent manner. The first C2 domain from synaptotagmin I (SytIC2A) and the C2 domain from cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2C2) are among the best characterized C2 domains in terms of their structures and calcium binding. Here we demonstrate that the protein-lipid interaction is dramatically different for these two domains. Photolabeling with 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazirine ([125I]TID) in the presence of phospholipid vesicles indicates that cPLA2C2 penetrates into the hydrophobic region of the membrane. Hydrophobic surfaces on cPLA2C2 are exposed even in the absence of calcium, but only in its presence does the domain penetrate into the nonpolar core of the membrane. The interaction of SytIC2A with phospholipid membranes is primarily electrostatic with binding being abolished in 500 mM NaCl. Because soluble phospholipid head group analogues do not compete with binding of either SytIC2A or cPLA2C2 to vesicles, it is likely that membrane binding by these domains involves multiple interactions.

• Ghrib F, Pyronnet S, Bastie MJ, Fagot-Revurat P, Pradayrol L, Vaysse N
• Arachidonic-acid-selective cytosolic phospholipase A2 is involved in gastrin-induced AR4-2J-cell proliferation.
• Int J Cancer. 1998; 75: 239-45
• Display abstract

• Gastrin/CCK(B) G protein-coupled receptors have been shown to mediate proliferation stimulated by their endogenous ligands. The present study demonstrates the proliferative effect of arachidonic acid on AR4-2J cells. Gastrin induces an [3H]arachidonic-acid release in a dose-dependent manner. The use of a specific inhibitor of cPLA2, AACOCF3 established the involvement of a cPLA2 in the proliferative effect of gastrin. The results also demonstrate that a cytosolic high-molecular-weight PLA2 is activated by gastrin in AR4-2J cells.

• Hixon MS, Ball A, Gelb MH
• Calcium-dependent and -independent interfacial binding and catalysis of cytosolic group IV phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1998; 37: 8516-26
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic group IV phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a role in liberating arachidonic acid from the sn-2 position of mammalian cellular phospholipids. The enzyme consists of a catalytic domain joined to an N-terminal calcium-dependent, membrane binding domain (C2 domain). The interfacial binding properties of the full-length, nonphosphorylated enzyme and its C2 domain to phospholipid vesicles were studied as a function of vesicle phospholipid composition and calcium concentration. The binding of cPLA2 to phosphatidylcholine vesicles is mostly governed by its C2 domain; binding is relatively weak, and calcium enhances binding and interfacial catalysis by about 10-fold. Catalytically productive interfacial binding was measured by monitoring the increase in the rate of cPLA2-catalyzed hydrolysis of a fluorimetric substrate present in vesicles as a function of bulk vesicle concentration. Enzyme-vesicle binding was also measured by fluorescence as was enzyme-calcium binding. Compared to zwitterionic vesicles, cPLA2 binding to anionic phosphatidylmethanol vesicles is of higher affinity and calcium-independent, although calcium is required for the binding of the C2 domain to these anionic vesicles. cPLA2 is fully catalytically active on phosphatidylmethanol vesicles in the absence of calcium. Phosphatidylserine is not a good replacement for phosphatidylmethanol for inducing high-affinity, calcium-independent binding of cPLA2. These results reveal two modes of catalytically productive interfacial binding of cPLA2: calcium-dependent anchoring via the C2 domain and a calcium-independent component involving a phosphatidylmethanol recognition element in the catalytic domain. They also show that membrane binding of cPLA2 is not, in general, predicted by the interfacial binding properties of its C2 domain.

• Bayburt T, Gelb MH
• Interfacial catalysis by human 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 on anionic vesicles in the scooting mode.
• Biochemistry. 1997; 36: 3216-31
• Display abstract

• Analysis of phospholipases A2 on model phospholipid bilayers in which enzyme is essentially irreversibly bound at the lipid-water interface, termed "scooting mode", is a useful tool for studying the kinetic properties of interfacial enzymes. It is shown that human cytosolic 85 kDa phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) hydrolyzes sn-2-arachidonyl-containing phospholipids or the gamma-linolenoyl ester of 7-hydroxycoumarin (GLU) dispersed in vesicles of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol (L-DOPM) in the scooting mode. Trapping of cPLA2 on L-DOPM vesicles is rapid and independent of product formation. Slowing of cPLA2-catalyzed hydrolysis of substrates present in phosphatidylmethanol and phosphatidylcholine vesicles is primarily due to apparent inactivation rather than to substrate depletion. cPLA2 phosphorylated on serine 505 by mitogen-activated protein kinase displays a 30% increase in the rate of sn-2-arachidonylphosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in the scooting mode compared to that of the nonphosphorylated enzyme. Kinetic parameters of cPLA2 acting on a variety of different phosphatidylmethanol vesicles were evaluated, and the results are discussed in terms of active site affinities for substrates and of lateral organization of substrates in the bilayer. A key result is that the sigmoidal kinetics reported previously using 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol (DMPM) vesicles are most prominent near the phase transition temperature of DMPM. No sigmoidal kinetics was observed using L-DOPM vesicles. The results of kinetic experiments and the behavior of a fluorescent substrate analog are consistent with nonideal mixing of substrate in DMPM vesicles, but not in L-DOPM vesicles, suggesting that apparent saturation and sigmoidal kinetics are more a result of nonideal mixing of substrate in DMPM vesicles than of active site binding of substrate. The fluorescence assay described using L-DOPM/GLU vesicles is useful for evaluating the interfacial behavior of cPLA2, including its substrate preferences and the effect of active site-directed inhibitors.

• Dijkman R, Beiboer SH, Verheij HM
• An affinity column for phospholipase A2 based on immobilised acylaminophospholipid analogues.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1997; 1347: 1-8
• Display abstract

• A synthetic route was developed to prepare 2-acylamino phospholipid analogues suitable for immobilisation. The inhibitors, synthesised in either the (R)- and (S)-configuration, carried an omega-carboxyl group in one acyl chain for immobilisation to the matrix. As a matrix Sepharose 6B, derivatised with a polar, non-charged 16 atom spacer was used. Low-molecular weight phospholipase A2 binds in a calcium-dependent way to the immobilised (S)-inhibitor and not to the immobilised (R)-inhibitor which shows that binding involves specific active site interactions rather than hydrophobic chromatography. The specificity was further demonstrated by the fact that the immobilised (S)-inhibitor binds porcine pancreatic and snake venom phospholipases A2, but not the porcine pancreatic zymogen. Moreover, a mutant porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 in which the active side residue His48 has been replaced by Gln, was not bound by the column. This column material might be applicable for affinity purification of phospholipase A2 and for screening of phage display libraries.

• Fisher AB, Feinstein SI, Kim TS, Dodia C, Skach W
• Identification of a cDNA for Ca++-independent phospholipase A2 of lung lamellar bodies/lysosomes.
• Chest. 1997; 111: 8889-8889

• Fisher AB, Dodia C
• Role of acidic Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 in synthesis of lung dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine.
• Am J Physiol. 1997; 272: 23843-23843
• Display abstract

• Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (deltaPC) synthesis by lung epithelium occurs in part by a deacylation/reacylation pathway utilizing phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and an acyl transferase. The role of acidic Ca2+-independent PLA2 (aiPLA2) in this pathway was investigated using a transition-state analog enzyme inhibitor [1-hexadecyl-3-trifluoroethylglycero-sn-2-phosphomethanol (MJ33)]. Granular pneumocytes were isolated from rat lung with elastase and were maintained in primary culture for 24 h on microporous membranes in the presence of radiolabeled choline or free fatty acids (palmitate plus oleate). Disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) was determined by osmication chromatography. Incorporation (nmol/mg protein) into DSPC at 24 h incubation was 11.9 +/- 0.2 for [3H]choline and 12.1 +/- 0.04 for [3H]palmitate. In the presence of 3 mol% MJ33, incorporation of [3H] choline and [3H]palmitate was decreased by 37 and 69%, respectively, and DSPC pool size (microg/mg cell protein) decreased by 9% (P < 0.05). A similar decrease in radiolabel incorporation was observed with 2 h of incubation. The presence of p-bromophenacyl bromide (20 microm) had a significantly smaller effect that was additive with that of MJ33. After 24 h of labeling and 4 h of chase with unlabeled substrate, there was a significant decrease of radiolabel in DSPC that was inhibited by MJ33. Under all experimental conditions, MJ33 resulted in either no change or a modest increase of radiolabel in the cellular unsaturated PC fraction. These results indicate that aiPLA2 has a major role in DSPC synthesis by granular pneumocytes.

• Honger T, Jorgensen K, Stokes D, Biltonen RL, Mouritsen OG
• Phospholipase A2 activity and physical properties of lipid-bilayer substrates.
• Methods Enzymol. 1997; 286: 168-90

• Burke JR et al.
• Presence of glycerol masks the effects of phosphorylation on the catalytic efficiency of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1997; 341: 177-85
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 catalyzes the selective release of arachidonic acid from the sn-2 position of phospholipids and is believed to play a key cellular role in the generation of arachidonic acid. The enzymatic activity of cPLA2 is affected by several mechanisms, including substrate presentation and the phosphorylation state of the enzyme. Using covesicles of 1-palmitoy1-2-arachidonoyl-[arachidonoyl-1-14C]-8n-glycero-3 -phosphocholine and 1,2-dimyristoyl-phosphatidylmethanol as substrate, the effects of phosphorylation on the interfacial binding and catalytic constants were investigated. Phosphorylated and dephosphorylated enzyme forms were shown to have identical values of 2.6 microM for KMapp, an equilibrium dissociation constant which consists of the intrinsic dissociation constant from the lipid/water interface (Ks) and the dissociation constant for phospholipid from the active site (KM*). Moreover, the values of KM* for phosphorylated and dephosphorylated enzyme did not differ significantly (0.4 +/- 0.1 and 0.2 +/- 0.1, respectively). However, dephosphorylation of the enzyme reduced the value of kcat by 39%. The phosphorylation state of the enzyme had no effect on either the cooperativity shown by this enzyme or the thermal stability of the enzyme. Surprisingly, the presence of glycerol (4 M) masks the effect of phosphorylation on kcat. Instead, glycerol increased the value of kcat by 440% for the phosphorylated enzyme and by 760% for the dephosphorylated form. Moreover, addition of glycerol had only small effects on KMapp. the increase in the kcat upon addition of glycerol results from a substantial decrease in the activation energy from 29.4 to 14.8 kcal. mol-1. To determine whether the effects of phosphorylation of the enzyme or addition of glycerol are unique to this artificial substrate, membranes from U937 cells were isolated and used as substrate. With these membranes, the dephosphorylated enzyme was only 21% less active than the phosphorylated enzyme. In the presence of glycerol, there was no detectable difference the two enzyme forms, and the rate of hydrolysis was increased by 300-390% over that measured in the absence of glycerol. These results suggest that the catalytic efficiency of the phosphorylated enzyme is not particularly relevant to its activation in vivo. Moreover, it may be that glycerol is mimicking the effect of some unidentified factor which greatly enhances the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme.

• Farooqui AA, Yang HC, Rosenberger TA, Horrocks LA
• Phospholipase A2 and its role in brain tissue.
• J Neurochem. 1997; 69: 889-901
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is the name for the class of lipolytic enzymes that hydrolyze the acyl group from the sn-2 position of glycerophospholipids, generating free fatty acids and lysophospholipids. The products of the PLA2-catalyzed reaction can potentially act as second messengers themselves, or be further metabolized to eicosanoids, platelet-activating factor, and lysophosphatidic acid. All of these are recognized as bioactive lipids that can potentially alter many ongoing cellular processes. The presence of PLA2 in the central nervous system, accompanied by the relatively large quantity of potential substrate, poses an interesting dilemma as to the role PLA2 has during both physiologic and pathologic states. Several different PLA2 enzymes exist in brain, some of which have been partially characterized. They are classified into two subtypes, Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent, based on their catalytic dependence on Ca2+. Under physiologic conditions, PLA2 may be involved in phospholipid turnover, membrane remodeling, exocytosis, detoxification of phospholipid peroxides, and neurotransmitter release. However, under pathological situations, increased PLA2 activity may result in the loss of essential membrane glycerophospholipids, resulting in altered membrane permeability, ion homeostasis, increased free fatty acid release, and the accumulation of lipid peroxides. These processes, along with loss of ATP, may be responsible for the loss of membrane phospholipid and subsequent neuronal injury found in ischemia, spinal cord injury, and other neurodegenerative diseases. This review outlines the current knowledge of the PLA2 found in the central nervous system and attempts to define the role of PLA2 during both physiologic and pathologic conditions.

• Lamura E, Hillier K, Kinkaid A, Wilton D
• Compartmentalisation and characteristics of a Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 in human colon mucosa.
• Biochem Pharmacol. 1997; 53: 1323-32
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• The biochemical properties of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) found in the 100,000 x g centrifugate cytosol or particulate fractions of human colonic mucosa have been investigated using both deoxycholate-solubilized and Escherichia coli (E. coli) phospholipids as substrates. PLA2 activity was present in both subcellular fractions and the profiles of biochemical activites were similar. Activity in the particulate fraction was approximately twofold greater than the cytosol fraction when expressed on the basis of protein concentration. The PLA2 is Ca2+ dependent and using EGTA-regulated buffers cytosolic or particulate fraction activity was similar at both 10 microm or 10 mm Ca2+ concentrations. Using deoxycholate-phospholipid micelles as substrate a small but statistically significant twofold preference for glycero-phosphatidylcholine bearing sn-2-arachidonate compared with sn-2-oleate was seen, but this preference was not noted using arachidonate or oleate labelled E. coli membranes. Dithiothreitol (10 mM) reduced colon mucosal cytosol PLA2 activity significantly by 63.5 +/- 1.90% in cytosol and by 30.54 +/- 1.27% in microsomes using micelles as substrate or by 84.3 +/- 2.30% in cytosol and by 69.33 +/- 11.30% in microsomes using oleate-labelled E. coli as substrates. Warming at 57 degrees C reduced activity significantly by 35.0 +/- 5.80% in microsomes and by 40.0 +/- 7.08% in cytosol. Acid treatment increased PLA2 activity to 148 +/- 16.3% in microsomes and 145 +/- 18.6% in cytosol. When mucosal preparations were subjected to heparin-Sepharose chromatography, it bound tightly and eluted in the same position on a salt gradient as authentic human group II PLA2. Further purification by gel-permeation chromatography gave activity in the 14 kDa region of the elution profile. These features have many of the characteristics expected of a 14 kDa isoform of PLA2 but exhibit activity at concentrations of Ca2+ that are relevant in the intracellular environment and may participate in cellular lipid metabolism.

• Nalefski EA, Slazas MM, Falke JJ
• Ca2+-signaling cycle of a membrane-docking C2 domain.
• Biochemistry. 1997; 36: 12011-8
• Display abstract

• The C2 domain is a Ca2+-dependent, membrane-targeting motif originally discovered in protein kinase C and recently identified in numerous eukaryotic signal-transducing proteins, including cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) of the vertebrate inflammation pathway. Intracellular Ca2+ signals recruit the C2 domain of cPLA2 to cellular membranes where the enzymatic domain hydrolyzes specific lipids to release arachidonic acid, thereby initiating the inflammatory response. Equilibrium binding and stopped-flow kinetic experiments reveal that the C2 domain of human cPLA2 binds two Ca2+ ions with positive cooperativity, yielding a conformational change and membrane docking. When Ca2+ is removed, the two Ca2+ ions dissociate rapidly and virtually simultaneously from the isolated domain in solution. In contrast, the Ca2+-binding sites become occluded in the membrane-bound complex such that Ca2+ binding and dissociation are slowed. Dissociation of the two Ca2+ ions from the membrane-bound domain is an ordered sequential process, and release of the domain from the membrane is simultaneous with dissociation of the second ion. Thus, the Ca2+-signaling cycle of the C2 domain passes through an active, membrane-bound state possessing two occluded Ca2+ ions, one of which is essential for maintenance of the protein-membrane complex.

• Farrugia W, Rice GE, Wong MH, Scott KF, Brennecke SP
• Release of Type II phospholipase A2 immunoreactivity and phospholipase A2 enzymatic activity from human placenta.
• J Endocrinol. 1997; 153: 151-7
• Display abstract

• The aim of this study was to determine whether Type II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is released from late pregnant human placental tissue. Placental explants were incubated in vitro and the release of immunoreactive (ir) Type II PLA2 and PLA2 enzymatic activity into the medium was determined. Both irType II PLA2 and PL2 enzymatic activity accumulated in the incubation medium in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.0001). This release was not associated with a loss of cell membrane integrity, as indicated by measurement of the intracellular enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, in the incubation medium. The concentration of irType II PLA2 and PLA2 enzyme activity present in incubation medium were significantly correlated (P < 0.01). Consistent with the hypothesis that Type II PLA2 may be store in secretory granules within human placental tissue, incubation in the presence of a membrane depolarising concentration of KCI (60 mM) caused the release of irType II PLA2 2.0-fold (P < 0.001). PLA2 enzyme activity released into the incubation medium displays biochemical characteristics consistent with those previously reported for secretory PLA2 isozymes, that is, a requirement for millimolar concentrations of calcium for optimal enzyme activity, inhibited by reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol and insensitive to heat inactivation. The data obtained in this study establish that irType PLA2 is released from term placenta, when incubated in vitro. The release of this extracellularly-active PLA2 isozyme may contribute to gestational and labour-associated increases in glycerophospholipid metabolism and prostaglandin formation.

• Loo RW, Conde-Frieboes K, Reynolds LJ, Dennis EA
• Activation, inhibition, and regiospecificity of the lysophospholipase activity of the 85-kDa group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 19214-9
• Display abstract

• The 85-kDa Group IV calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of palmitoylglycero-3-phosphocholine to palmitic acid and glycero-3-phosphocholine. Palmitoylglycero-3-phosphocholine exists as a 9:1 equilibrium mixture of the sn-1 and sn-2 isomers, with the fatty acid predominately at the sn-1 position. We have monitored this reaction by 31P NMR to determine which palmitoylglycero-3-phosphocholine isomer is processed by cPLA2. When both lysophospholipid isomers are present in a 1:1 mixture under conditions in which acyl migration is minimized, cPLA2 rapidly consumes both isomers. However, 1-palmitoylglycero-3-phosphocholine is consumed seven times faster than the 2-palmitoylglycero-3-phosphocholine isomer. We have previously reported that this lysophospholipase reaction is accelerated in the presence of glycerol. We now find that this apparent increase in activity is accounted for, in part, by glycerol acting as an alternative acceptor for the cleaved fatty acid, as is the case for this enzyme's phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. In contrast, dioleoylglycerol, which accelerates the PLA2 activity, does not act as an acceptor in either the lysophospholipase or the PLA2 reaction, but can affect enzyme activities by altering substrate presentation. We also show that a known inhibitor of the PLA2 activity of cPLA2 is able to inhibit its lysophospholipase activity with a similar IC50 to its PLA2 activity. However, the effect of inhibitors is dependent on the manner in which they are presented to the enzyme.

• Letourneux Y, Bourass J, Boucrot P, Elkihel L, Petit JY
• Structure-activity of three phospholipid analogues towards inhibition of phospholipase A2 in macrophages.
• Pharmacol Res. 1997; 35: 73-8
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• At concentrations 1-20 microns in culture medium of rat peritoneal macrophages which were stimulated with ionophore A23187, the phospholipid analogues 1-decyl-2-octyl-glycerophosphocholine and 1-dodecyl-2-octanamido-2-deoxy glycerophosphocholine were found more potent inhibitors than 1-octyl-2-deoxy glycerophosphocholine to lower the phospholipase A2 activities. The inhibitory effect was measured by [3H] eicosatetraenoic acid ([3H]20:4) release in macrophages and extracellular fluids and synthesis of [3H] eicosanoids after incubation of macrophages with traces of the molecular species of lecithin 1-octadecanoyl-2-[3H] eicosatetraenoyl glycerophosphocholine. The three phospholipid analogues developed higher inhibitory effects than mepacrine, dexamethasone or bromophenacyl bromide, at corresponding concentrations in medium.

• Panesar M, Papillon J, McTavish AJ, Cybulsky AV
• Activation of phospholipase A2 by complement C5b-9 in glomerular epithelial cells.
• J Immunol. 1997; 159: 3584-94
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• In rat membranous nephropathy, C5b-9 induces glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) injury and proteinuria, which is partially mediated by eicosanoids. In cultured rat GEC, sublytic C5b-9 injures plasma membranes and releases arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosanoids, due to activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). To address mechanisms of PLA2 activation, GEC were stably transfected with cDNAs of wild-type cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2-wt), or group II secretory PLA2, producing overexpression of PLA2 activity. Sublytic C5b-9 markedly increased free [3H]AA in cPLA2-wt-transfected GEC, but only trivial increases were evident in secretory PLA2-transfected, or neo (control) GEC. In cPLA2-wt-transfected GEC, reduction of extracellular free Ca2+ or down-regulation of protein kinase C inhibited [3H]AA release. To further address the regulation of cPLA2, we stably expressed a mutant cPLA2 in which the Ca2+-dependent lipid binding domain was deleted (deltaCaLB). In GEC that express cPLA2-deltaCaLB, the C5b-9-induced increase in free [3H]AA was comparable with neo, despite expression of cPLA2-deltaCaLB at levels similar to cPLA2-wt. We then stably expressed another cPLA2 mutant (cPLA2-srcmyr) in which the CaLB domain was replaced by the N-terminal myristoylation domain of c-Src. cPLA2-srcmyr is permanently membrane associated. At low extracellular free Ca2+, C5b-9 increased free [3H]AA significantly in GEC that express cPLA2-srcmyr, while in neo GEC, the change was negligible. Thus, C5b-9 activates the cPLA2 isoform. Activation is dependent on the CaLB domain, and is mediated by phosphorylation, Ca2+ influx, and membrane association.

• Yu BZ et al.
• Use of an imperfect neutral diluent and outer vesicle layer scooting mode hydrolysis to analyze the interfacial kinetics, inhibition, and substrate preferences of bee venom phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1997; 36: 3870-81
• Display abstract

• Interfacial catalytic constants for bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) have been obtained for its action on vesicles of the anionic phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoylphosphatidylmethanol (DMPM) in the highly processive scooting mode. Spectroscopic measurements which directly measure transbilayer movement of membrane components show that this exchange does not occur in anionic vesicles that have undergone complete bvPLA2-catalyzed hydrolysis of all phospholipids in the outer vesicle monolayer. 3-Hexadecyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphocholine (D-LPC) is an adequate neutral diluent for bvPLA2, which is defined as an amphiphile that forms an aggregate to which enzyme binds but neutral diluent molecules bind weakly in the enzyme's active site. D-LPC has weak affinity for the active site of bvPLA2, and theory and protocols are developed that allow its use to determine equilibrium dissociation constants for competing active site ligands. Some of the properties of bvPLA2 are shared by other 14 kDa PLA2s. (1) Ca2+ is required for binding of ligands to the active site but not for the binding of enzyme to the interface. (2) bvPLA2 does not significantly discriminate between phospholipids with different polar head groups or acyl chains. (3) bvPLA2 does not bind to phosphatidylcholine vesicles, and binding occurs if anionic amphiphiles are present in the vesicle. Novel features of bvPLA2 include the following: (1) Neutral diluents for other 14 kDa phospholipases A2 are not neutral diluents for bvPLA2. (2) Saturation of the active site with a variety of different ligands does not completely prevent histidine alkylation by 2-bromo-4'-nitroacetophenone, and Ca2+ binding does not change the rate of histidine alkylation. Finally, the carbohydrate portion of bvPLA2 does not alter the interfacial catalytic properties of the enzyme. Kinetic analysis of bvPLA2 in the scooting mode together with previous studies with other 14 kDa PLA2s provides a paradigm for the quantitative analysis of interfacial catalysis.

• Uozumi N et al.
• Role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in allergic response and parturition.
• Nature. 1997; 390: 618-22
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) comprises a superfamily of enzymes that hydrolyse the ester bond of phospholipids at the sn-2 position. Among the members of this superfamily, cytosolic PLA2 has attracted attention because it preferentially hydrolyses arachidonoyl phospholipids and is activated by submicromolar concentrations of Ca2+ ions and by phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases). Here we investigate the function of cytosolic PLA2 in vivo by using homologous recombination to generate mice deficient in this enzyme. These mice showed a marked decrease in their production of eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor in peritoneal macrophages. Their ovalbumin-induced anaphylactic responses were significantly reduced, as was their bronchial reactivity to methacholine. Female mutant mice failed to deliver offspring, but these could be rescued by administration of a progesterone-receptor antagonist to the mother at term. Considered together with previous findings, our results indicate that cytosolic PLA2 plays a non-redundant role in allergic responses and reproductive physiology.

• Buckland AG, Wilton DC
• The effect of phosphatidylinositols on cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity using a continuous fluorescent displacement assay.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1997; 25: 599-599

• Wissing D, Mouritzen H, Egeblad M, Poirier GG, Jaattela M
• Involvement of caspase-dependent activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis.
• Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997; 94: 5073-7
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• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis is mediated by caspases, which are cysteine proteases related to interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme. We report here that TNF-induced activation of caspases results in the cleavage and activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and that activated cPLA2 contributes to apoptosis. Inhibition of caspases by expression of a cowpox virus-derived inhibitor, CrmA, or by a specific tetrapeptide inhibitor of CPP32/caspase-3, acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde (Ac-DEVD-CHO), inhibited TNF-induced activation of cPLA2 and apoptosis. TNF-induced activation of cPLA2 was accompanied by a cleavage of the 100-kDa cPLA2 to a 70-kDa proteolytic fragment. This cleavage was inhibited by Ac-DEVD-CHO in a similar manner as that of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase, a known substrate of CPP32/caspase-3. Interestingly, specific inhibition of cPLA2 enzyme activity by arachidonyl trifluoromethylketone (AACOCF3) partially inhibited TNF-induced apoptosis without inhibition of caspase activity. Thus, our results suggest a novel caspase-dependent activation pathway for cPLA2 during apoptosis and identify cPLA2 as a mediator of TNF-induced cell death acting downstream of caspases.

• Skannal DG, Eis AL, Brockman D, Siddiqi TA, Myatt L
• Immunohistochemical localization of phospholipase A2 isoforms in human myometrium during pregnancy and parturition.
• Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997; 176: 878-82
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• OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to localize secretory phospholipase A2 and cytosolic phospholipase A2 isoforms in pregnant human myometrium and to determine changes in expression with gestational age or parturition. STUDY DESIGN: Myometrium was collected at cesarean section at term (>37 weeks) or preterm (<37 weeks) from patients who were or were not in labor (n = 5 each group). Frozen sections were incubated with specific monoclonal antibodies against secretory phospholipase A2 or cytosolic phospholipase A2 and immunostaining visualized with the Vectastain ABC method. The intensity of immunostaining in different cellular localizations was scored by an investigator blinded to tissue identity and compared among tissues with use of the Mantel-Haenszel chi2 test. RESULTS: Secretory phospholipase A2 immunostaining was dispersed in the perinuclear region throughout the myometrial smooth muscle fibers and in vascular smooth muscle. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 immunostaining was predominantly localized to endothelial cells of myometrial blood vessels and weakly throughout myometrial fibers. There was no apparent change in intensity of immunostaining for either isoform with gestational age or with the absence or presence of labor. CONCLUSION: The differential localization of the two phospholipase A2 isoforms suggests different functions. The apparent lack of change in expression during late gestation or with labor possibly suggests changes in myometrial phospholipase A2 activity and hence local myometrial arachidonic acid mobilization and presumably prostaglandin synthesis may not be associated with the onset of or maintenance of parturition.

• Warwicker J
• A molecular model for interfacial activation in phospholipase A2.
• FEBS Lett. 1997; 404: 159-63
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• Electrostatic calculations predict that amino-terminal conformation and ionisation contribute significantly to transition state stability in phospholipase A2, so that control of these factors by binding to aggregated substrate provides a plausible mechanism for interfacial activation. In particular, it is suggested that a part of the pH dependence of interfacial activity may arise from transient deprotonation of an ordered amino-terminus. Interface charge and the detailed structure of the interfacial complex are also predicted to influence catalytic activity. The model is compared with available biochemical data.

• Wu T, Angus CW, Yao XL, Logun C, Shelhamer JH
• P11, a unique member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, interacts with and inhibits the activity of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 17145-53
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• Using a two hybrid system screen of a human cDNA library, we have found that p11, a unique member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, interacts with the carboxyl region of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). p11 synthesized in a cell-free system interacts with cPLA2 in vitro. The p11-cPLA2 complex is detectable from a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS 2B). Furthermore, p11 inhibits cPLA2 activity in vitro. Selective inhibition of p11 expression in the BEAS 2B cells by antisense RNA results in an increased PLA2 activity as well as an increased release of prelabeled arachidonic acid. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism for the regulation of cPLA2 by an S100 protein.

• Tang J, Kriz RW, Wolfman N, Shaffer M, Seehra J, Jones SS
• A novel cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 contains eight ankyrin motifs.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 8567-75
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• We report the purification, molecular cloning, and expression of a novel cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) from Chinese hamster ovary cells, which lacks extended homology to other phospholipases. iPLA2 is an 85-kDa protein that exists as a multimeric complex of 270-350 kDa with a specific activity of 1 micromol/min/mg. The full-length cDNA clone encodes a 752-amino acid cytoplasmic protein with one lipase motif (GXS465XG) and eight ankyrin repeats. Expression of the cDNA in mammalian cells generates an active 85-kDa protein. Mutagenesis studies show that Ser465 and the ankyrin repeats are required for activity. We demonstrate that iPLA2 selectively hydrolyzes the sn-2 over sn-1 fatty acid by 5-fold for 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine in a mixed micelle. Moreover, we found the fatty acid preference at the sn-2 position to be highly dependent upon substrate presentation. However, iPLA2 does have a marked preference for 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid presented in a vesicle, generating the lipid second messenger lysophosphatidic acid. Finally the enzyme is able to hydrolyze the acetyl moiety at the sn-2 position of platelet-activating factor.

• Kim Y, Lichtenbergova L, Snitko Y, Cho W
• A phospholipase A2 kinetic and binding assay using phospholipid-coated hydrophobic beads.
• Anal Biochem. 1997; 250: 109-16
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• A novel kinetic and membrane-binding assay for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has been developed utilizing phospholipid-coated hydrophobic styrene-divinylbenzene beads (5.2 +/- 0.3 microm diameter). Phospholipids formed a stable monolayer film on styrene-divinylbenzene beads with average surface packing density of (1.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(-2) molecule/A2. Secretory PLA2 readily hydrolyzed 1-palmitoyl-2-[3H]-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol coated on styrene-divinylbenzene beads which could be easily monitored by measuring the radioactivity of fatty acid released to solution in the presence of bovine serum albumin. For human cytosolic PLA2 with high specificity for sn-2 arachidonyl group, styrene-divinylbenzene beads coated with 1-stearoyl-2-[14C]-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and dioleoylglycerol (7:3, mol/mol) were used as substrate. PLA2 activity was linearly proportional to the enzyme concentration in the range from 1 to 150 nM for human class II secretory PLA2 and from 1 to 20 nM for cytosolic PLA2; the specific activity was 1.6 and 1.7 micromol/min/mg, respectively. Finally, styrene-divinylbenzene beads coated with polymerized 1,2-bis[12-(lipoyloxy) dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol were used to measure the membrane binding affinity of PLA2, which in conjunction with kinetic data provides important insights into how PLA2 interacts with membranes.

• Li Q, Cathcart MK
• Selective inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in activated human monocytes. Regulation of superoxide anion production and low density lipoprotein oxidation.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 2404-11
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• Our previous studies have shown that monocyte activation and release of O-2 are required for monocyte-mediated low density lipoprotein (LDL) lipid oxidation. We have also found that intracellular Ca2+ levels and protein kinase C activity are requisite participants in this potentially pathogenic process. In these studies, we further investigated the mechanisms involved in the oxidation of LDL lipids by activated human monocytes, particularly the potential contributions of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) signaling pathway. The most well-studied cPLA2, has a molecular mass of 85 kDa and has been reported to be regulated by both Ca2+ and phosphorylation. We found that cPLA2 protein levels and cPLA2 enzymatic activity were induced upon activation of human monocytes by opsonized zymosan. Pharmacologic inhibition of cPLA2 activity by AACOCF3, which has been reported to be a specific inhibitor of cPLA2 as compared with sPLA2, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cPLA2 enzymatic activity and LDL lipid oxidation by activated human monocytes, whereas sPLA2 activity was not affected. To corroborate these findings, we used specific antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit cPLA2. We observed that treatment with antisense oligonucleotides caused suppression of both cPLA2 protein expression and enzymatic activity as well as monocyte-mediated LDL lipid oxidation. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotide treatment caused a substantial inhibition of O-2 production by activated human monocytes. In parallel experimental groups, cPLA2 sense oligonucleotides did not affect cPLA2 protein expression, cPLA2 enzymatic activity, O-2 production, or monoctye-mediated LDL lipid oxidation. These studies support the proposal that cPLA2 activity is required for activated monocytes to oxidize LDL lipids.

• Soubeyrand S, Khadir A, Brindle Y, Manjunath P
• Purification of a novel phospholipase A2 from bovine seminal plasma.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 222-7
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• Phospholipases A2 are enzymes believed to play important roles in numerous physiological systems including sperm cell maturation. Relatively little work has, however, been devoted to study these enzymes in seminal plasma. We therefore undertook the purification and characterization of this enzyme from bovine seminal plasma. After a 330-fold purification, an activity corresponding to a protein of 100 kDa was identified by gel filtration. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the purified fraction revealed the presence of a 60-kDa band that comigrated with the activity during ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography as well as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme possessed a pH optimum around pH 6.5 and was calcium-dependent. Using isoelectric focusing, its isoelectric point was determined to be 5.6 +/- 0.07. The enzymatic activity was resistant to p-bromophenacyl bromide, but was sensitive to gossypol and dithiothreitol. The enzyme was 2 orders of magnitude more active toward micelles formed with deoxycholate than with Triton X-100. Slight differences in the specificity toward head groups and/or sn-2-side chains were found in both assay systems. The enzyme was acid-labile and did not display affinity for heparin. It would therefore appear that the phospholipase A2 form isolated from bovine seminal plasma is of a novel type.

• Tischfield JA
• A reassessment of the low molecular weight phospholipase A2 gene family in mammals.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 17247-50

• Skannal DG, Brockman DE, Eis AL, Xue S, Siddiqi TA, Myatt L
• Changes in activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in human amnion at parturition.
• Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997; 177: 179-84
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• OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity mediated arachidonic acid mobilization for prostaglandin synthesis in amnion at parturition. STUDY DESIGN: Amnion was collected immediately after delivery from four groups of patients: preterm (<37 weeks) with no labor or labor and term (>37 weeks) with no labor or labor and stored at -70 degrees C. Tissues were homogenized and centrifuged for 1 hour at 100,000 g, and cytosol was assayed for cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity with use of carbon 14-labeled 1-stearoyl-2 arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine plus 10 micromol/L unlabeled substrate and 5 mmol/L calcium in 10 mmol/L N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid, pH 7.4. Incubations were performed in duplicate +/- 10 micromol/L arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, a specific inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity, at 30 degrees C for 45 minutes. RESULTS: Total cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity (in picomoles of arachidonic acid per minute per milligram of protein) calculated as the difference between the activity in the presence and absence of arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone was (mean +/- SE) as follows: preterm no labor (n = 7) 8.94 +/- 3.08, preterm with labor (n = 6) 6.79 +/- 2.31, term no labor (n = 7) 14.85 +/- 1.66, and term with labor (n = 5) 5.51 +/- 1.52. Enzyme activity increased with gestational age and was highest in the term no labor group. A significant decrease in cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity occurred with labor (p < 0.05). The greatest decrease in activity was in the term group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Total cellular cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity in amnion is highest in anticipation of labor but during labor total activity is depleted, resulting in the low activity measured after delivery of the placenta. The substrate specificity and changes in amnion total cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity with labor strongly suggests a role in mediation of arachidonic acid mobilization and prostaglandin synthesis at labor.

• Stafforini DM, McIntyre TM, Zimmerman GA, Prescott SM
• Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases.
• J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 17895-8

• Rashba-Step J, Tatoyan A, Duncan R, Ann D, Pushpa-Rehka TR, Sevanian A
• Phospholipid peroxidation induces cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity: membrane effects versus enzyme phosphorylation.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1997; 343: 44-54
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• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is a signal-responsive enzyme that is highly selective to the nature of phospholipid substrates. A mechanism for cPLA2 activity regulation through a signal transduction pathway has been proposed and this signaling appears to be influenced by oxidants. Oxidant-mediated signaling of PLA2 may serve as an alternative mechanism for enzyme regulation; however, the manner of regulation has yet to be delineated. In this report we demonstrate that there is a direct effect of membrane oxidation on cPLA2 phosphorylation and activity. A simple in vitro system consisting of purified cPLA2 and phospholipid vesicles was used to facilitate protein kinase C (PKC) activity and provide substrates for cPLA2. Using these vesicles we found that the activity of cPLA2 was enhanced twofold when the vesicles contained as little as 5 mol% phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides (PLPCOOH). The order of hydrolytic preference for fatty acyl species was 20:4 > 18:2 > 18:1 > 16:0, and the presence of PLPCOOH stimulated hydrolysis largely of phosphatidylcholine containing 20:4. The Ca2+ concentrations required for stimulated hydrolytic activity were also twofold lower for oxidized compared to unoxidized vesicles. Using phospholipid micelles as substrates, PKC-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2 increased hydrolytic activity 71% compared to preparations lacking PKC. Using phospholipid vesicles as substrates, PKC-mediated phosphorylation resulted in an 85% increase in cPLA2 activity compared to preparations without PKC. PKC-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2, therefore, stimulates catalytic activity toward membrane phospholipids and the extent of activation is enhanced directly by peroxidation of membrane phospholipids and involves a peroxide-induced stimulation of cPLA2 phosphorylation.

• Buhl WJ, Eisenlohr LM, Gehring U
• Phospholipase A2 in human placental serum.
• Prostaglandins. 1997; 53: 139-52
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• Intervillous blood was collected from term placentae at delivery, and sera were tested for phospholipase A2 under various experimental conditions. Enzyme activity was found to develop upon extended storage in the cold or at 37 degrees C. The enzyme is reversibly inhibited by dithiothreitol, requires Ca++ ions for activity, and tolerates various detergents. The apparent molecular weight is 42 kDa. In all these parameters the serum enzyme behaves similar to the 42 kDa phospholipase A2 which we recently purified to homogeneity from thoroughly washed placental tissue. Serum phospholipase A2 appears to be generated by proteolytic processing from a slightly larger inactive precursor which was detected immunochemically. Most likely this protein originates from fetal cells and may be released by membrane damage. We conclude that both placental serum and tissue harbour a novel type of phospholipase A2 which is distinct from cytosolic and secretory phospholipases A2. Preference for arachidonate containing substrate suggests a role in eicosanoid production within gestational tissues.

• Pfeilschifter J, Huwiler A
• Phospholipase A2 in mesangial cells: control mechanisms and functional importance.
• Exp Nephrol. 1997; 5: 189-93

• Dennis EA
• The growing phospholipase A2 superfamily of signal transduction enzymes.
• Trends Biochem Sci. 1997; 22: 1-2

• Amandi-Burgermeister E, Tibes U, Kaiser BM, Friebe WG, Scheuer WV
• Suppression of cytokine synthesis, integrin expression and chronic inflammation by inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Eur J Pharmacol. 1997; 326: 237-50
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• To define the isoform of phospholipases A2 active in inflammation we evaluated the effects of low-molecular-weight inhibitors of secretory and cytosolic phospholipases A2. We found that inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2 had therapeutic efficacy in an in vivo model of chronic inflammation (rat adjuvant arthritis), whereas inhibitors of secretory phospholipase A2 had no beneficial effect. In vitro, inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2 diminished surface expression of Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) beta2-integrin on calcium ionophore-stimulated human blood granulocytes and suppressed synthesis of interleukin-1beta in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human blood monocytes and U937 cells by reducing mRNA levels. Lipid mediators promote Mac-1 exocytosis and transcription of interleukin-1beta, which further enhances cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity and expression. Thus, superinduction of cytosolic phospholipase A2 may establish a positive feedback loop, converting acute inflammation into chronic inflammation. Consequently, inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2 may prevent inflammation in vivo by interfering with cellular activation and infiltration. We conclude that cytosolic phospholipase A2 but not secretory phospholipase A2 is the predominant enzyme in inflammatory signalling.

• Laine VJ, Gronroos JM, Nevalainen TJ
• Serum phospholipase A2 in patients after splenectomy.
• Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. 1996; 34: 419-22
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• Phospholipase A2 values increase in serum in various inflammatory states, infections, and postoperatively in surgical patients. Several organs, including the liver and spleen have been suggested as sources of circulating phospholipase A2. The purpose of the present work was to examine the possible role of the spleen as a source of elevated serum concentrations of phospholipase A2 after surgery. Pre- and postoperative serum samples of patients undergoing splenectomy were studied for group I phospholipase A2, group II phospholipase A2, and C-reactive protein mass concentrations and catalytic activity concentration of phospholipase A2. The catalytic activity concentration of phospholipase A2 and the mass concentrations of group II phospholipase A2 and C-reactive protein increased postoperatively (8.08 +/- 1.40 U/l vs. 3.96 +/- 0.89 U/l (mean +/- SEM) for phospholipase A2 catalytic concentration (p < 0.03), and 154.8 +/- 32.1 micrograms/l vs. 47.5 +/- 14.7 micrograms/l (mean +/- SEM) for group II phospholipase A2 mass concentration (p < 0.02, n = 7). The mass concentration of group I phospholipase A2 remained unchanged. The catalytic concentration of phospholipase A2 correlated well with the mass concentration of group II phospholipase A2 (p < 0.001, r = 0.846, n = 43). The concentration of C-reactive protein correlated well with the mass concentration of group II phospholipase A2 (p < 0.001, r = 0.566, n = 43) in serum. The results indicate that group II phospholipase A2 is released into the circulation after splenectomy, and the spleen seems not to be the source of circulating group II phospholipase A2.

• Chang LS, Chou L, Lin SR, Chang CC
• The interaction of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate with His-47 of Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2 perturbing by the binding of calcium ion.
• Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1996; 39: 335-42
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• The 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS) fluorescence intensity of ANS-Naja naja atra (Taiwan cobra) phospholipase A2 (PLA2) complex increased with the addition of Ca2+, but the observed fluorescence enhancement markedly decreased after methylation of His-47 in PLA2 molecule. However, the binding affinities of methylated PLA2 for ANS and Ca2+ were similar to or even greater than those observed with native PLA2. These results, together with the finding that ANS electrostatically interacted with His-47 of PLA2, suggest that the increase in the intensity of ANS fluorescence upon the addition of Ca2+, in part, arises from the ionic interaction of His-47 with ANS being perturbed by the binding of Ca2+.

• Zhou F, Schulten K
• Molecular dynamics study of phospholipase A2 on a membrane surface.
• Proteins. 1996; 25: 12-27
• Display abstract

• The desolvation of lipid molecules in a complex of the enzyme human synovial phospholipase A2 with a lipid membrane is investigated as a mechanism that enhances the overall activity of the enzyme. For this purpose the interaction of the enzyme phospholipase A2 with a dilauryl-phosphatityl-ethanolamin (DLPE) membrane monolayer surface has been studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Two enzyme-membrane complexes, a loose and a tight complex, are considered. For comparison, simulations are also carried out for the enzyme in aqueous solution. The conformation, dynamics, and energetics of the three systems are compared, and the interactions between the protein and lipid molecules are analyzed. Free energies of solvation are calculated for the lipid molecules in the enzyme-membrane interface. Along with the calculated dielectric susceptibility at this interface, the results show the desolvation of lipids in a tightly bound, but not in a loosely bound protein-membrane complex. The desolvated lipids are found to interact mainly with hydrophobic protein residues, including Leu-2, Val-3, Ala-18, Leu-19, Phe-24, Val-31, and Phe-70. The results also explain why the turnover rate of phospholipase A2 complexed to a membrane is enhanced after a critical amount of negatively charged reaction product is accumulated.

• Blackwood RA et al.
• PLA2 promotes fusion between PMN-specific granules and complex liposomes.
• J Leukoc Biol. 1996; 59: 663-70
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• Neutrophil stimulation results in the activation of a variety of phospholipases, including phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which releases arachidonic acid from the 2 position of membrane phospholipids, leaving a lysophospholipid. Because arachidonic acid is known to be a potent fusogen in vitro, we examined the effect of metabolism by PLA2 on the fusion of complex liposomes (liposomes prepared with a phospholipid composition similar to that found in neutrophil plasma membrane). We observed that PLA2 augmented the fusion of complex liposomes with each other as well as with specific granules isolated from human neutrophils, lowering the Ca2+ requirement for fusion by three orders of magnitude. Furthermore, although lysophospholipids inhibited fusion, the incorporation of arachidonic acid into liposome membranes overcame the inhibitory effects of the lysophospholipids. Thus with PLA2 and annexins we were able to obtain fusion of complex liposomes at concentrations of Ca2+ that are close to physiological. Our data suggest that the activation of PLA2 and the generation of arachidonic acid may be the major fusion-promoting event mediating neutrophil degranulation.

• Lehr M
• 3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-octadecanoylpyrrol-2-yl)propionic acids as inhibitors of 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Arch Pharm (Weinheim). 1996; 329: 483-8
• Display abstract

• 3-(1,4-Diacylpyrrol-2-yl)propionic acids were designed as inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2. Enzyme inhibition was assayed by evaluation of calcium ionophore A23187-induced arachidonic acid release from bovine platelets. While the synthesized bisacyl compound 3-[3,5-dimethyl-4-octadecanoyl-1-(3-phenylpropionyl)pyrrol-2-yl] propionic acid was inactive at 33 microM, the related monoacylated 3-(3,5-dimethyl-4-octadecanoylpyrrol-2-yl)-propionic acid and 3-(1,3,5-trimethyl-4-octadecanoylpyrrol-2-yl)-propionic acid proved to be inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2(IC50: 24 microM and 13 microM, respectively).

• Rogers J et al.
• Kinetic basis for the substrate specificity during hydrolysis of phospholipids by secreted phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1996; 35: 9375-84
• Display abstract

• Kinetics of hydrolysis of aqueous dispersions of arsono-, sulfo-, phosphono- and phospholipids by phospholipase A2 from pig pancreas are characterized in terms of interfacial rate and equilibrium parameters. The enzyme with or without calcium binds with high affinity to the aqueous dispersions of the four classes of anionic lipids and shows the same general kinetic behavior. The rate of hydrolysis of anionic substrates does not show an anomalous change at the critical micelle concentration because the enzyme is present in aggregates even when bulk of the substrate is dispersed as a solitary monomer. Apparent affinities of the enzyme for the interface of different anionic lipids are virtually the same. Also, affinities of these substrates for the active site of the enzyme at the interface are comparable. However, a significant change in the catalytic turnover rate is seen as the sn-3 phosphodiester group is modified; the apparent maximum rate at saturating bulk substrate concentration, V(M)app values, increase in the order: homo- and arsonolipids < sulfo- < phosphono- < phospholipids. Not only the basis for the sn-2 enantiomeric selectivity but also the decrease in the rate of hydrolysis with the increasing chain length is due to a decrease in the value of V(M)app. Results show that even when the bulk concentration of anionic phospholipid is below cmc, hydrolysis occurs in aggregates of enzyme and substrate where the chemical step of the turnover cycle remains rate-limiting, which provides a basis for the assumption that V(M)app is directly related to Kcat. The fact that Kcat depends on the nature of the head group (phosphate, phosphonate, sulfate, arsonate) implies that the head group plays a critical role in the rate-limiting chemical step of the catalytic cycle, possibly during the decomposition of the tetrahedral intermediate. The significance of these results for the microscopic steady-state condition for hydrolysis at the micellar interface, mechanism of esterolysis by phospholipase A2, and inhibitor design are discussed.

• Chilton F
• Would the real role(s) for secretory PLA2s please stand up.
• J Clin Invest. 1996; 97: 2161-2

• Dan P, Nitzan DW, Dagan A, Ginsburg I, Yedgar S
• H2O2 renders cells accessible to lysis by exogenous phospholipase A2: a novel mechanism for cell damage in inflammatory processes.
• FEBS Lett. 1996; 383: 75-8
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and H2O2, secreted from activated inflammatory cells, play a central role in the tissue damage occurring in inflammatory processes. However, while exogenous PLA2 alone does not cause cell lysis, it readily does so when acting with H2O2. We have found that H2O2 degrades cell surface proteoglycans, thus rendering the membrane PL accessible to hydrolysis by exogenous PLA2. This novel mechanism introduces a role for cell surface proteoglycans in protection of cells from damage by pro-inflammatory agents, and may assign a central role for the combined action of H2O2 and PLA2 in inflammatory and bacteriocidal processes.

• Litvinko NM, Drozhdeniuk AP
• [Complex-formation of phospholipase A2 with fragments of nucleic acids and approaches to its elimination]
• Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 1996; 32: 650-5
• Display abstract

• Formation of phospholipase A2 stable complexes with nucleic acid fragments was observed upon the isolation of the enzyme from pig pancreas. This complex could be disrupted by neither DNA precipitation with protamine chloride and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide nor chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose or hydroxyapatite. The treatment of the complexes with 1 M acetic acid followed by gel-chromatography on Sephadex G-75 in 1 M acetic acid resulted in complete separation of active phospholipase A2 from DNA fragments.

• Wolf MJ, Gross RW
• Expression, purification, and kinetic characterization of a recombinant 80-kDa intracellular calcium-independent phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1996; 271: 30879-85
• Display abstract

• A CHO cell-derived 80-kDa recombinant polypeptide (GenBank number I15470I15470) putatively encoding a calcium-independent phospholipase A2 was expressed in S. frugiperda cells resulting in over a 15-fold increase in a calcium-independent phospholipase A1/A2 activity which was entirely inhibitable by (E)-6-(bromomethylene)-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-tetrahydropyran-2-one. The recombinant polypeptide was purified from cytosol by sequential tandem affinity chromatographies employing ATP-agarose and calmodulin-Sepharose stationary phases. This strategy resulted in the rapid purification (36 h) of recombinant phospholipase A2 activity in 56% overall yield to a single intense 80-kDa protein band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after silver staining. The purified protein possessed phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, and lysophospholipase activities. Microbore anion exchange chromatography demonstrated that the 80-kDa protein band was comprised of multiple distinct isoforms including an anionic isoform which possessed over a 5-fold higher specific activity (5 micromol/mg.min) than earlier eluting isoforms. Collectively, these results unambiguously demonstrate that: 1) the 80-kDa polypeptide catalyzes phospholipase A1/A2 and lysophospholipase activities with distinct kinetic parameters; 2) calmodulin and ATP both interact with the catalytic polypeptide independent of regulatory proteins; and 3) distinct isoforms of this polypeptide exist which possess markedly different specific activities.

• Maloney KM, Grandbois M, Salesse C, Grainger DW, Reichert A
• Membrane microstructural templates for enzyme domain formation.
• J Mol Recognit. 1996; 9: 368-74
• Display abstract

• Soluble proteins can spontaneously self-organize into two-dimensional domains at membrane interfaces, given sufficient mobility and specificity to membrane-localized ligands. The authors' recent results studying interfacial domain formation of the membrane-active enzyme, phospholipase A2, indicate that lateral phase separation of heterogeneous membrane mixtures creates anionic templates of specific morphology onto which the enzyme deposits, forming large protein assemblies. Selective removal of membrane components (lysolipid or fatty acid) produces different enzyme interfacial responses and domain morphologies. This leads to the conclusion that complex chemical and physical interactions laterally in the lipid membrane interface as well as between bound protein molecules play a role in organizing protein structures.

• Huang Z, Payette P, Abdullah K, Cromlish WA, Kennedy BP
• Functional identification of the active-site nucleophile of the human 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1996; 35: 3712-21
• Display abstract

• Ser-228 has been shown to be essential for the catalytic activity of the human cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). However, its involvement in catalysis has not yet been demonstrated. Using site-directed mutagenesis, active-site directed irreversible inhibitors, and the novel fluorogenic substrate 7-hydroxycoumarinyl gamma-linolenate, evidence is presented to show that the hydroxyl group of Ser-228 is the catalytic nucleophile of cPLA2. Replacement of Ser-228 by Ala, Cys, or Thr resulted in the inability of these mutants to mediate calcium ionophore induced PGE2 production in COS-7 cells cotransfected with the cPLA2 mutants and cyclooxygenase-1. Cell lysates from these transfected cells also had undetectable levels of cPLA2 phospholipid hydrolyase activity as did the affinity column purified S228A and S228C cPLA2 mutants overexpressed in insect cells. The loss in activity was not due to the inability of the mutant enzymes to translocate to the substrate lipid interface since the purified S228C cPLA2 mutant, like the wild type, translocated to the phospholipid membrane in the presence of calcium as judged by fluorescence energy transfer. However, when an activated substrate, 7-hydroxycoumarinyl gamma-linolenate (pKa approximately 7.8 for its leaving group) was used as substrate, there was a significant level of 7-hydroxycoumarin esterase (7-HCEase) activity (about 1% of wild type) associated with the purified S228CC cPLA2 mutant. The S228A cPLA2 mutant was catalytically inactive. Contrary to wild type cPLA2, the 7-HCEase activity of the thio-cPLA2 was not titrated by the irreversible active-site-directed inhibitor methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate, but rather titrated by one equivalent of arachidonyl bromomethyl ketone, an arachidonyl binding site directed sulfhydryl reagent. These results are compatible with the hydroxyl of Ser-228 being the catalytic nucleophile of cPLA2 and that cysteine can replace serine as the nucleophile, resulting ina thiol-cPLA2 with significantly reduced catalytic power.

• Yang HC, Farooqui AA, Horrocks LA
• Characterization of plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 from bovine brain.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996; 416: 309-13
• Display abstract

• Plasmalogens are hydrolyzed by a plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2. This enzyme, purified from bovine brain, does not require Ca2+ and is localized in cytosol. It has a molecular mass of 39 kDa and is strongly inhibited by glycosaminoglycans, gangliosides, and sialoglycoproteins. These molecules may be involved in the regulation of its enzymic activity. Plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 plays an important role in the release of free fatty acids and platelet-activating factor during trauma.

• Zhang H, Wendel B, van Wyk V, Nigam S
• Identification and molecular characterization of the CalB domain of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in human neutrophils.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996; 416: 305-8

• Di Napoli MP, Di Napoli P
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 induction after global ischemia: don't forget the role of adenosine.
• Stroke. 1996; 27: 1698-700

• Lio YC, Reynolds LJ, Balsinde J, Dennis EA
• Irreversible inhibition of Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996; 1302: 55-60
• Display abstract

• Methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP) has been recently reported to be a selective, active-site directed, irreversible inhibitor of the Group IV 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). We have now shown that this compound also potently inhibits the Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 (iPLA2). MAFP inhibited iPLA2 in a concentration-dependent manner with half-maximal inhibition observed at 0.5 microM after a 5 min preincubation at 40 degrees C. This inhibition was not reversed upon extensive dilution of the enzyme into the assay mixture. Preincubation of iPLA2 with MAFP resulted in a linear, time-dependent inactivation of enzyme activity, and the enzyme was protected from inactivation by the reversible inhibitor PACOCF3. The ability of MAFP to inhibit the iPLA2 suggests that this enzyme proceeds through an acyl-enzyme intermediate as has been proposed for the cPLA2. Further testing indicated that MAFP did not inhibit the arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent acyltransferase, or CoA-independent transacylase activities from P388D1 cells. Thus, MAFP is not a general inhibitor for enzymes which act on arachidonoyl substrates. Instead, the inhibitor appears to show some selectivity for PLA2, although it does not discriminate between cPLA2 and iPLA2. Particular caution must be exercised to distinguish these activities if this inhibitor is used in intact cells.

• Senda K, Yoshioka H, Doke N, Kawakita K
• A cytosolic phospholipase A2 from potato tissues appears to be patatin.
• Plant Cell Physiol. 1996; 37: 347-53
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase (PL) A2 is involved in signal transduction in the resistance reaction that is induced in potato by inoculation of an incompatible race of Phytophthora infestans, the late blight fungus, or by treatment with fungal elicitor hyphal wall components (Kawakita et al. 1993). In this study, PLA2 in the soluble fraction from potato tuber was purified. The following results suggested that the enzyme was, in fact, patatin: (1) the molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 40 kDa, the same as that of patatin; (2) the pI of the purified enzyme was approximately 4.75, which corresponds to that of patatin; and (3) the amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme showed a high degree of homology to that of patatin. Patatin is known as a storage protein of the potato tuber and it has been shown to have esterase activity. However, other enzymatic activities and the function(s) of patatin are unknown. We investigated the PLA activities of the purified patatin. The PLA2 activity of the patatin was much higher than the PLA1 activity, even though the protein exhibited both activities. The PLA2 activity of the enzyme was particularly apparent when phosphatidylcholine with linoleic acid at the sn-2 position was used as substrate. Lower activity was observed with phosphatidylcholine with palmitic acid, oleic acid and arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position.

• Murakami M, Kudo I
• [Phospholipase A2 and inflammation]
• Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi. 1996; 19: 561-3

• Voelkel-Johnson C, Thorne TE, Laster SM
• Susceptibility to TNF in the presence of inhibitors of transcription or translation is dependent on the activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in human melanoma tumor cells.
• J Immunol. 1996; 156: 201-7
• Display abstract

• In this study, we have examined the relationship between the expression of the high molecular weight, cytosolic form of PLA2 (cPLA2) and ability of inhibitors of transcription or translation (ITT) to induce susceptibility to TNF. S Susceptibility to lysis was assayed by 51CR release, and the expression of cPLA2 was assayed by activity assay and by Western blot. The panel of cells that we examined included two murine cell lines, six human melanoma-derived cell lines, two samples of freshly explanted melanoma tumor tissue, and a culture of normal epidermal melanocytes. Our experiments revealed a near perfect correlation between the activity of cPLA2 per cell and susceptibility to TNF in the presence of either cycloheximide (CHI) or actinomycin D (r = 0.97). These results suggest that the activity of cPLA2 is both necessary and rate-limiting in this form of programmed cell death, conclusions that were confirmed in transfection experiments and in experiments with antisense oligonucleotides. Over-expression of cPLA2 in two melanoma-derived cell lines, WM793 and SK-MEL-131, led to enhanced susceptibility to TNF and CHI. Conversely, suppression of cPLA2 with antisense oligonucleotides dramatically decreased susceptibility to TNF and CHI in C3HA fibroblasts. These experiments also revealed a coupled, transformation-released change in the expression of cPLA2 and susceptibility to lysis. Normal melanocytes contained the lowest levels of cPLA2 and were completely resistant to sensitization with ITT. In contrast, all of the melanoma-derived cell lines and samples of melanoma tumor tissue we examined has higher levels of cPLA2 and could be killed, to some extent, by treatment with TNF and ITT.

• Thorne TE, Voelkel-Johnson C, Casey WM, Parks LW, Laster SM
• The activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 is required for the lysis of adenovirus-infected cells by tumor necrosis factor.
• J Virol. 1996; 70: 8502-7
• Display abstract

• Most cell types are resistant to apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) unless the cells are treated with a sensitizing agent. Inhibitors of transcription or translation act as sensitizing agents, as do adenoviruses lacking one or more resistance genes. We have reported recently that the activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is necessary for the TNF-induced lysis of cells that are sensitized by inhibitors of transcription or translation (C. Voelkel-Johnson, T. E. Thorne, and S. M. Laster, J. Immunol. 156:201-207, 1996). In this report we have asked whether the lysis of cells infected by the adenovirus dl758 (which lacks the E3 14.7-kDa resistance gene product) also involves the activity of cPLA2. We report that a phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotide specific for cPLA2, but not the control oligonucleotide, inhibited the TNF-induced release of both [3H]arachidonic acid and 51Cr from infected cells. Arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone (AA COCF3), an inhibitor of cPLA2, also inhibited the release of 51Cr, and we found that the release of [3H]arachidonic acid was highly selective and was preferred over the release of [3H]palmitic acid. Taken together, these results suggest strongly that cPLA2 is indeed the phospholipase responsible for the release of [3H]arachidonic acid during the lysis of infected cells and that its activity is necessary for cell death. Finally, since arachidonic acid serves as the substrate for the synthesis of inflammatory lipids, our results suggest a possible link between the TNF-induced lysis of infected cells and inflammation. The E3 14.7-kDa resistance protein may, therefore, play two roles: preventing TNF-induced cell death and, as our results show, preventing the TNF-induced release of arachidonic acid.

• Chen X, Gresham A, Morrison A, Pentland AP
• Oxidative stress mediates synthesis of cytosolic phospholipase A2 after UVB injury.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996; 1299: 23-33
• Display abstract

• UVB irradiation has previously been shown to significantly increase phospholipase activity and prostaglandin synthesis. Because UVB irradiation is a potent oxidative stress, the role of active oxygen species in regulating UV-induced cPLA2 synthesis and phosphorylation was examined. In the present study, irradiation produced a 3-fold increase in synthesis within 6 h following irradiation. Phosphorylation of cPLA2 was also increased to a similar extent. UVB-induced synthesis and phosphorylation of cPLA2 could be inhibited by pretreatment with the antioxidants 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychromane (50 microM) or N-acetylcysteine (10 mM). Treatment of unirradiated cultures with the potent oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (500 microM) also increased cPLA2 synthesis and phosphorylation, suggesting that oxidative injury is an important regulator of cPLA2 synthesis. Increased synthesis of cPLA2 correlated well with increased [3H]arachidonic acid release, PGE2 synthesis and lipid peroxidation in epidermis after oxidant or UVB treatment. The results indicate that UVB-induced upregulation of cPLA2 synthesis is mediated by UVB-induced formation of free radicals.

• Bauldry SA, Wooten RE, Bass DA
• Activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in permeabilized human neutrophils.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996; 1299: 223-34
• Display abstract

• Neutrophils (PMN) contain two types of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a 14 kDa 'secretory' Type II PLA2 (sPLA2) and an 85 kDa 'cytosolic' PLA2 (cPLA2), that differ in a number of key characteristics: (1) cPLA2 prefers arachidonate (AA) as a substrate but hydrolyzes all phospholipids; sPLA2 is not AA specific but prefers ethanolamine containing phosphoacylglycerols. (2) cPLA2 is active at nM calcium (Ca2+) concentrations; sPLA2 requires microM Ca2+ levels. (3) cPLA2 activity is regulated by phosphorylation; sPLA2 lacks phosphorylation sites. (4) cPLA2 is insensitive to reduction; sPLA2 is inactivated by agents that reduce disulfide bonds. We utilized PMN permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin to determine whether one or both forms of PLA2 were activated in porated cells under conditions designed to differentiate between the two enzymes. PMN were labeled with [3H]AA to measure release from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to determine total AA release (mainly from phosphatidylethanolamine) and to assess oleate and linoleate mass. A combination of 500 nM Ca2+, a guanine nucleotide, and stimulation with n-formyl-met-leu-phe (FMLP) were necessary to induce maximal AA release in permeabilized PMN measured by either method; AA was preferentially released. [3H]AA and AA mass release occurred in parallel over time. A hydrolyzable form of ATP was necessary for maximum AA release and staurosporin inhibited PLA2 activation. Dithiothreitol treatment had little affect on [3H]AA release and metabolism but inhibited AA mass release. Assay of cell supernatants after cofactor addition did not detect sPLA2 activity and the cytosolic buffer utilized did not support activity of recombinant sPLA2. These results strongly suggested that cPLA2 was the enzyme activated in the permeabilized cell model and this is the first report which unambiguously demonstrates AA release in response to activation of a specific type of PLA2 in PMN.

• Wolf MJ, Gross RW
• The calcium-dependent association and functional coupling of calmodulin with myocardial phospholipase A2. Implications for cardiac cycle-dependent alterations in phospholipolysis.
• J Biol Chem. 1996; 271: 20989-92
• Display abstract

• Herein we demonstrate the calcium-dependent regulation of myocardial phospholipase A2 activity, which is mediated by a cytosolic protein constituent that can be chromatographically resolved from, and subsequently reconstituted with, purified myocardial phospholipase A2. Purification of this protein by sequential column chromatographies revealed an 18-kDa doublet, which was identified as calmodulin by Western blotting, calcium-dependent precipitation with W-7 agarose beads, and reconstitution of calcium-mediated phospholipase A2 inhibition with authentic homogeneous calmodulin. Calcium-induced calmodulin-mediated inhibition of myocardial phospholipase A2 was titrated by physiologic increments of calcium ion (Kd approximately 200 nM). Moreover, ternary complex affinity chromatography with calmodulin-Sepharose demonstrated that inhibition of myocardial phospholipase A2 activity by calmodulin resulted from the direct interaction of calmodulin with the myocardial phospholipase A2 catalytic complex. Exposure of cultured A-10 muscle cells to three structurally disparate calmodulin antagonists (W-7, trifluoperazine, and calmidazolium) resulted in the robust release of arachidonic acid, which was entirely ablated by pretreatment of cells with (E)-6-(bromomethylene)-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2-H-tetrahydropyran-2-one. Collectively, this study identifies a novel mechanism whereby latent phospholipase A2 activity can be released from tonic inhibition by alterations in the interactions between the phospholipase A2 catalytic complex, calcium ion, and the intracellular calcium transducer, calmodulin.

• Holzer M, Mackessy SP
• An aqueous endpoint assay of snake venom phospholipase A2.
• Toxicon. 1996; 34: 1149-55
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), an enzyme found in most snake venoms, catalyzes the hydrolysis of phospholipids in biological membranes, and some have presynaptic neurotoxic activity. A synthetic substrate, 4-nitro-3-(octanoyloxy)benzoic acid, was synthesized and purified on a silica gel column using a published method. This substrate was used to develop an endpoint assay which is rapid and requires a minimum of equipment. This aqueous assay system allowed enzyme activity to be examined without the use of radioactive substrates or organic solvents, minimizing waste disposal concerns. Whole venoms, partially purified enzyme isolated from Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus venom, tissue extracts and commercial preparations were employed as sources of PLA2. Results show that this method is a convenient and specific assay for PLA2 from several sources and is particularly suited for assaying large numbers of fractions generated during purification procedures.

• Jacques C, Berenbaum F
• [Role of type II secreted phospholipase A2 in inflammatory processes]
• C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1996; 190: 437-43
• Display abstract

• Secreted phospholipase A2 has been detected in numerous inflammatory and infectious diseases. Since the cloning of the type II sPLA2 in 1989 from rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid, a direct or indirect participation of type II sPLA2 in the production of lipid mediators has been purposed. This paper reviews the different studies from the literature alleging that type II sPLA2 participates to inflammatory processes and lipid mediators synthesis.

• Tzeng MC, Yen CH, Tsai MD
• Binding proteins on synaptic membranes for certain phospholipases A2 with presynaptic toxicity.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996; 391: 271-8

• Vesterqvist O, Sargent CA, Grover GJ, Ogletree ML
• Myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity during global ischemia in isolated rabbit hearts.
• Cardiovasc Res. 1996; 31: 932-40
• Display abstract

• OBJECTIVES: To study calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity during global ischemia in isolated rabbit hearts by measuring the hydrolysis of the endogenous choline phospholipids. METHODS: Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts were exposed to global ischemia for 15 or 60 min, or control perfusion for the same length of time. The hearts were then rapidly frozen in liquid nitrogen and lyophilized. Calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity in the lyophilized tissue was studied by measuring accumulation of lysophospholipids resulting from hydrolysis of both the choline diacylphospholipid and the choline plasmalogen pool. RESULTS: The calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity showed the same pH, temperature and calcium sensitivity in control and ischemic (15 min of ischemia) lyophilized myocardial tissue. Incubation of control and ischemic tissue showed no difference in the rate of accumulation of lysophospholipids when the ischemic tissue was obtained from hearts exposed to 15 min of ischemia (107 +/- 4 vs 111 +/- 7 nmol/g dry wt x min, ischemia versus control, mean +/- s.e.m., n = 8), but a significant decrease was noticed in tissue from hearts that had been exposed to 60 min of ischemia (31 +/- 9 vs 86 +/- 18 nmol/g dry wt x min, P < 0.05, n = 4). The decreased phospholipase A2 activity in tissue exposed to 60 min of ischemia was not due to enhanced metabolism of the lysophospholipids (84 +/- 15 vs 79 +/- 8 nmol/g dry wt x min, n = 4). The calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity was considerably lower in fresh myocardial tissue compared with lyophilized tissue, but comparison of control and ischemic fresh tissue gave results comparable to those found using lyophilized tissue. The myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity showed no plasmalogen selectivity in either control or ischemic myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: In isolated perfused rabbit hearts we found no evidence for activation of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity during global ischemia. With prolonged time of ischemia there was a significant decrease in calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity.

• Hack N et al.
• Regulation of rat kidney mesangial cell phospholipase A2.
• Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1996; 23: 71-5
• Display abstract

• 1. The precursor of eicosanoids is arachidonic acid, which emanates from the cleavage of the sn-2 position of phospholipids by phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Eicosanoids have diverse physiological and pathophysiological effects in the kidney. The regulation of phospholipase A2 has important implications for kidney function. 2. In the current communication we focus our attention on mesangial cell cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) and its regulation at the post-translational and post-transcriptional level. 3. At the post-translational level, using site directed mutagenesis of cPLA2 and a dominant negative ras, we have demonstrated that cPLA2 can be phosphorylated by mitogen activated protein (MAP-2) kinase leading to increased cPLA2 enzymatic activity. 4. At the post-transcriptional level we show that the half-life of cPLA2 mRNA in mesangial cells is significantly increased when mesangial cells are stimulated by mitogens. We further demonstrate the presence of three ATTTA motifs in the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the cPLA2 cDNA. 5. Using chimeric constructs bearing the 3' UTR from rat cPLA2 fused downstream of the luciferase reporter, we demonstrate that this region exerts a destabilizing effect on cPLA2. 6. We have isolated and mapped genomic DNA and polymorphic markers for cPLA2 in the human and rat.

• Negre-Aminou P, Nemenoff RA, Wood MR, de la Houssaye BA, Pfenninger KH
• Characterization of phospholipase A2 activity enriched in the nerve growth cone.
• J Neurochem. 1996; 67: 2599-608
• Display abstract

• Nerve growth cones isolated from fetal rat brain exhibit in their cytosol a robust level of phospholipase A2 activity hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) but not phosphatidylcholine (PC). Western blot analysis with an antibody to the well-characterized cytosolic phospholipase A2 (mol wt 85,000) reveals only trace amounts of this PC- and PE-selective enzyme in growth cones. By gel filtration on Superose 12, growth cone phospholipase A2 activity elutes essentially as two peaks of high molecular mass, at approximately 65 kDa and at well over 100 kDa. Anion exchange chromatography completely separates a PI-selective from a PE-selective activity, indicating the presence of two different, apparently monoselective phospholipase A2 species. The PI-selective enzyme, the predominant phospholipase A2 activity in whole growth cones, is enriched greatly in these structures relative to their parent fractions from fetal brain. This phospholipase A2 is resistant to reducing agents and is found in the cytosol as well as membrane-associated in the presence of Ca2+. However, its catalytic activity is Ca(2+)-independent regardless of whether the enzyme is associated with pure substrate or mixed-lipid growth cone vesicles. The PE-selective phospholipase A2 in growth cones was studied in less detail but shares with the PI-selective enzyme several properties, including intracellular localization, the existence of cytosolic and membrane-associated forms, and Ca2+ independence. Our data indicate growth cones contain two high-molecular-weight forms of phospholipase A2 that share many properties with known, Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 species but that appear to be monoselective for PI and PE, respectively. In particular, the PI-selective enzyme may represent a new member of the growing family of cytoplasmic phospholipases A2. The enrichment of the PI-selective phospholipase A2 in growth cones suggests it plays a major role in the regulation of growth cone function.

• Goddard DH, Bomalaski JS, Lipper S, Shorr RG, Clark MA
• Phospholipase A2-mediated inflammation induces regression of malignant gliomas.
• Cancer Lett. 1996; 102: 1-6
• Display abstract

• An ideal form of cancer therapy is the harnessing of innate immunity to eradicate spontaneously arising clones of malignant cells. To date, attempts to develop effective immunotherapies have met with limited success. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes, collectively known as eicosanoids, are important mediators of immune and inflammatory responses. Harnessing these compounds could be a method to treat cancers. Eicosanoids are formed after cleavage of fatty acids from phospholipids by phospholipase enzymes. We have previously described, characterized and cloned a naturally occurring mammalian activator of phospholipase A2. Injection of a 24 amino acid peptide from this phospholipase A2 activating protein (PLAP), resulted in induction of an acute inflammatory response, and a concomitant regression of gliomas in rats. Administration of 500 micrograms of this protein resulted in a 50% decrease of the tumor mass within 72 h. Tumor regression coincided with a greater than twenty-fold increase in levels of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and leukotriene B4(LTB4), and a marked infiltration of natural killer(NK) cells. These data suggest that activation of phospholipase A2 and modulation of the eicosanoid biosynthetic pathway may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the successful treatment of malignant tumors of the nervous system.

• Li B, Xia L, Krantz A, Yuan Z
• Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys324 and Cys331 in human cytosolic phospholipase A2: locus of action of thiol modification reagents leading to inactiviation of cPLA2.
• Biochemistry. 1996; 35: 3156-61
• Display abstract

• Human cytosolic phospholipase A2 contains two cysteines, cyS324 and cyS331, chemical modification of which using thiol modifying reagents abolishes the activity of the enzyme [Li et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 8594-8603]. To verify the functional importance of the two cysteine residues, site-directed mutagenesis has been used to create six mutations at positions 324 and 331. The mutant enzymes include C324A, C331A, C324Q, C331Q, C324R, and C331S. Complete loss of activity is observed for C331Q, whereas the other mutants have retained varying degrees of activity. These results show that neither CyS324 nor CyS311 is catalytically essential for the enzyme activity. Further chemical modification studies of the mutant enzymes by thiol-specific reagents suggest that modification of Cys331 is responsible for the complete loss of the enzyme activity. The possible roles of Cys324 and Cys331 are discussed.

• Noula C, Constantinou V, Nicolaou A, Gibbons WA, Kokotos G
• Lipid mimetics as inhibitors of human platelet phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1996; 24: 303-303

• Sierra-Honigmann MR, Bradley JR, Pober JS
• "Cytosolic" phospholipase A2 is in the nucleus of subconfluent endothelial cells but confined to the cytoplasm of confluent endothelial cells and redistributes to the nuclear envelope and cell junctions upon histamine stimulation.
• Lab Invest. 1996; 74: 684-95
• Display abstract

• The synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites is initiated by activation of the sn-arachidonyl-dependent, 85-kd "cytosolic" phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) enzyme. We have investigated the subcellular localization of cPLA2 in resting and histamine-treated human and bovine endothelial cells (EC) using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. In tightly confluent EC, cPLA2 was primarily localized in the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, in subconfluent EC, cPLA2 was also prominently located within the cell nucleus. By immunoblotting of cell lysates after SDS-PAGE, the cytoplasmic molecular species in subconfluent cells displayed the characteristic Mr 110,000, whereas nuclear extracts contained a predominant Mr 70,000. Nuclear localization of cPLA, in subconfluent EC is independent of cell cycle because it was observed in growth-arrested cells as well as in dividing cells. Nuclear localization was also observed in subconfluent MDCK and HeLa cells where, in contrast to EC, it persisted in tightly confluent monolayers. Treatment of subconfluent EC with histamine caused a rapid, dose-dependent redistribution of cPLA2, from the nucleus to the nuclear envelope. The same treatment of confluent EC produced translocation of cytoplasmic enzyme to the nuclear envelope and to the plasma membrane at the intercellular junctions. The cell density dependence of cPLA2, localization may contribute to altered arachidonic acid metabolism in injured vessels as compared with quiescent vessels.

• Teegarden D, Xu X, Burgess JR
• Transfection of C3H10T1/2 cells with the Harvey-ras oncogene reduces cytosolic phospholipase A2 function.
• Cancer Lett. 1996; 107: 59-64
• Display abstract

• Several lines of evidence suggest that phospholipase A2 may play a role in the activated ras-mediated transformation process. In the present study, phospholipase A2 activity and expression were assessed in a murine fibroblast cell line (C3H10T1/2 cells) that was stably transfected with the Harvey ras oncogene, a cellular model used for studying multistage carcinogenesis. Reduced levels of fatty acids were released from the ras-transfected cells compared to untransfected controls. The in vitro phospholipase A2 activity apparent in the C3H10T1/2 showed preference for sn-2 arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine compared to dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. The activity, as well as the cytosolic phospholipase A2 immunoreactive protein, was reduced by 50% in the ras-transfected cells compared to control cells. These results suggest that the cytosolic phospholipase A2 is the predominant form of this enzyme family expressed in C3H10T1/2 cells and that the activity and protein amount is reduced by 50% in these cells when stably transfected with the Harvey ras oncogene.

• Sapirstein A, Spech RA, Witzgall R, Bonventre JV
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2), but not secretory PLA2, potentiates hydrogen peroxide cytotoxicity in kidney epithelial cells.
• J Biol Chem. 1996; 271: 21505-13
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and reactive oxygen species have been implicated both individually and synergistically in various forms of cellular injury. The form(s) of PLA2 important for cell injury and the implications of enhanced activity of the enzyme, however, have not been discerned. Previous studies reveal an increase in PLA2 activity associated with cell injury, but this association does not establish a causal relationship between the increase in activity and the injury. LLC-PK1 cell lines were created that express either the cytosolic PLA2 or a group II PLA2. The susceptibility of these cells to hydrogen peroxide toxicity was determined in order to evaluate the relative importance of these two forms of PLA2 in oxidant injury. Expression of cytosolic PLA2 in the LLC-cPLA2 cell line was associated with a 50-fold increase in PLA2 activity in the cytosolic fraction, an increase in agonist-stimulated arachidonate release, and immunodetection of the cytosolic PLA2 protein that was undetectable in control cells. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide or menadione, but not mercuric chloride, resulted in significantly greater lactate dehydrogenase release in LLC-cPLA2 cells when compared with control cells. Exogenous arachidonic acid (150 microM) did not enhance hydrogen peroxide-induced injury. The intracellular calcium chelator, 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid/tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester, protected the cells against injury, but the calcium ionophore, A23187, did not increase injury. Glycine conferred no protective effect against hydrogen peroxide toxicity. By contrast to these results with cytosolic PLA2-expressing cells, secretory PLA2 expression to very high levels did not increase susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, cytosolic PLA2 may an be an important mediator of oxidant damage to renal epithelial cells.

• Stafforini DM, Prescott SM, Zimmerman GA, McIntyre TM
• Mammalian platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996; 1301: 161-73

• Bekkers AC, Slotboom AJ, van Willigen G, Akkerman JW, Verheij HM
• Targeting of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 to human platelets. Introduction of an RGD sequence and acyl-group by chemical modification.
• Eur J Biochem. 1996; 238: 70-6
• Display abstract

• In the present study we prepared by chemical modification a series of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA) derivatives, that bind to the activated glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex and hydrolyse phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the platelet membrane. To the native enzyme, an RGD-containing peptide was coupled to introduce affinity for GPIIb/IIIa in combination with lauric acid to improve binding to the membrane. As controls, derivatives containing only one of these modifications were prepared. Acylation of the enzyme improved the affinity for densely packed phospholipids, as deduced by kinetic analyses. After stimulation of platelets, the RGD-containing PLAs bound to GPIIb/IIIa since GRGDS peptide and a monoclonal antibody against the complex interfered with binding. No binding was found with native PLA. The binding seen with lauric acid PLA was not mediated by GPIIb/IIIa. All modified PLAs induced 1-3% hydrolysis of [3H]arachidonic-acid-labelled phospholipids in resting platelets. After activation with alpha-thrombin, hydrolysis increased to 17%, corresponding to about 90% of [3H]arachidonate-labelled phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. RGD-containing PLAs were more active than lauroyl PLA, and their activity was mediated via GPIIb/IIIa since GRGDS inhibited release of [3H]arachidonic acid. Acylation of the RGD-containing PLAs did not further improve the hydrolytic properties. We conclude that chemical modification of PLA leads to a targetted hydrolytic action and could be a basis for the design of enzymes that specifically destroy activated platelets.

• Portilla D, Dai G
• Purification of a novel calcium-independent phospholipase A2 from rabbit kidney.
• J Biol Chem. 1996; 271: 15451-7
• Display abstract

• We have recently identified a cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) that represents the major measurable PLA2 activity in rabbit proximal tubules (Portilla, D., Shah, S. V., Lehman, P. A., and Creer, M. H.(1994) J. Clin. Invest. 93, 1609-1615). We now report the 3200-fold purification of this PLA2 to homogeneity from rabbit kidney cortex through sequential column chromatography including anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, Mono Q, hydroxylapatite, phenyl-Sepharose, and chromatofocusing fast protein liquid chromatography from rabbit kidney cortex. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 28 kDa, possessed a specific activity of 1.2 micronol/mg min and a neutral pH optimum, and exhibited a preferential hydrolysis toward sn-2 fatty acid from diradylglycerophospholipids. The purified polypeptide hydrolyzed plasmenylcholine > phosphatidylcholine glycerophospholipids and selectively cleaved phospholipids containing arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position in comparison to oleic acid. Antibodies against the purified protein precipitated all of the soluble calcium-independent PLA2 activity from rabbit kidney cortex. These data altogether suggest that the 28-kDa protein in the kidney represents a novel class of calcium-independent PLA2.

• Lehr M
• 3-(Octadecanoylaminomethyl)indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives and 1-methyl-3-octadecanoylindole-2-carboxylic acid as inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Arch Pharm (Weinheim). 1996; 329: 386-92
• Display abstract

• 3-(1-Acylaminooctadecyl)indole-2-carboxylic acids and 3-(1-acylaminooctadecyl)-1-methylindole-2-carboxylic acids were designed and synthesized as inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2. Enzyme inhibition was assayed by evaluation of calcium ionophore A23187-induced arachidonic acid release from bovine platelets. While compounds with 1-octadecanoylaminooctadecyl groups in position 3 of the indole were inactive inhibition data for 3-[1-(3-phenylpropionylamino)octadecyl]indole-2-carboxylic acids could not be evaluated because of lysis of the platelets. However 3-(octadecanoylaminomethyl)indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives and 1-methyl-3-octadecanoylindole-2-carboxylic acid proved to be inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2. The most active inhibitor was the latter compound with an IC50 of 8 microM.

• Zhu X et al.
• Quantitation of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (type IV) in isolated human peripheral blood eosinophils by sandwich-ELISA.
• J Immunol Methods. 1996; 199: 119-26
• Display abstract

• Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sELISA) was developed for precise quantitation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2 type IV) concentration in isolated human peripheral blood eosinophils as an alternative to semiquantitative chemiluminescent assay employing immunoprecipitation/Western blot analysis. In this assay, monoclonal mouse anti-human cPLA2 antiserum was used as the capture antibody, polyclonal rabbit anti-human cPLA2 antiserum as the secondary antibody, and alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG as the tertiary, reporter antibody. Purified human cPLA2 (0-1000 ng/ml) dissolved in Tris-HCl buffered saline was used as the standard protein. The detection limit for cPLA2 in 10(6) eosinophils was 0.109 ng/ml, and coefficients of inter- and intra-assay variation were 4.23% and 7.07%, respectively. There was no cross-reactivity with other (secretory) isoforms of PLA2 (sPLA2 types I-III) either from porcine pancreas, human synovial fluid, or bee venom. In separate studies, the recovery of cPLA2 was > 83% when eosinophil lysate was supplemented exogenously with two different concentrations of cPLA2. From a total protein content of 22.3 +/- 1.7 micrograms/10(6) cells, the baseline concentration of cPLA2 was 0.38 +/- 0.18 ng/10(6) cells in eosinophils obtained from mildly atopic donors. Immunoblotting studies confirmed the complete specificity for the type IV isoform as detected by sELISA. This sELISA method permits the precise quantitative assessment of cPLA2 in nanogram quantities per million cells, which has not previously been possible by immunoblotting analysis.

• Kramer RM, Stephenson DT, Roberts EF, Clemens JA
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and lipid mediator release in the brain.
• J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal. 1996; 14: 3-7
• Display abstract

• The Ca(2+)-sensitive 85 kDa cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) is a receptor-regulated enzyme that may initiate the cascade of events leading to the production of free fatty acids and lysophospholipids for subsequent conversion to eicosanoids and PAF. At least two early events are necessary for full activation of cPLA2: (1) increased concentration of cytosolic free Ca2+ promoting association of cPLA2 with its membrane phospholipid substrate and (2) phosphorylation by stimulated proline-directed kinases converting cPLA2 into an enzyme of enhanced catalytic efficiency. Moreover, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 and TNF may induce de novo synthesis of cPLA2 thus further potentiating the mobilization of arachidonic acid and subsequent production of eicosanoids and PAF. Increased levels of fatty acids and PLA2-derived products, including eicosanoids and PAF are amongst the hallmarks of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and thought to mediate pathophysiological alterations and cellular processes which may lead to cell injury and death. There is substantial evidence to indicate that cPLA2 is present in the brain and appears most abundant in astrocytes. Therefore, cPLA2 may be an important component in the cascade of events leading to acute and delayed destructive cellular processes in the brain and accordingly represents an attractive target for the development of novel therapies to prevent brain damage triggered by ischemic and inflammatory insults.

• Yang HC, Farooqui AA, Horrocks LA
• Plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 and its role in signal transduction.
• J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal. 1996; 14: 9-13
• Display abstract

• The breakdown of plasmalogens in neural membranes is a receptor-mediated process catalyzed by a plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2. This enzyme has been isolated from bovine brain. It is localized in cytosol and does not require Ca2+ for its activity. It has a molecular weight of 39 kDa and is strongly inhibited by glycosaminoglycans, gangliosides and sialoglycoproteins. The interactions between plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 and glycoconjugates may be involved in the regulation of enzymic activity. Under normal conditions, plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 provides second messengers such as arachidonic acid and eicosanoids. However, under pathological conditions, this enzyme may be involved in a massive release of free fatty acids that may cause serious cell and tissue damage.

• Ross BM, Moszczynska A, Kalasinsky K, Kish SJ
• Phospholipase A2 activity is selectively decreased in the striatum of chronic cocaine users.
• J Neurochem. 1996; 67: 2620-3
• Display abstract

• Dopamine-mediated stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, via activation of the phospholipid metabolizing enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2), has recently been implicated in dopamine neurotransmitter function. We examined the status of PLA2 in autopsied brain of 10 chronic users of cocaine, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. PLA2 activity, assayed at pH 8.5 in the presence of Ca2+, was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased by 31% in the putamen of cocaine users (n = 10) compared with that in controls (n = 10), whereas activity was normal in the frontal and occipital cortices, subcortical white matter, and cerebellum. In contrast, calcium-independent PLA2 activity, assayed at pH 7.0, was normal in all brain regions examined. Our finding of altered PLA2 activity restricted to a region of high dopamine receptor density suggests that modulation of PLA2 may be involved in mediating some of the dopamine-related behavioral effects of cocaine and could conceivably contribute to dopamine-related processes in the normal brain.

• Bobryshev YV et al.
• Expression of secretory group II phospholipase A2 by CD1a positive cells-in human atherosclerotic plaques.
• Atherosclerosis. 1996; 127: 283-5

• Bonventre JV
• Roles of phospholipases A2 in brain cell and tissue injury associated with ischemia and excitotoxicity.
• J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal. 1996; 14: 15-23
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity is an important contributor to destructive cellular processes in the central nervous system. Two cytosolic forms of calcium independent PLA2 have been characterized in the gerbil brain and the neuronal cultures from rat brain. PLA2 enzymatic activity in cell free extracts from cortical neuronal cultures is upregulated after cells are exposed to glutamate. Brief exposure to a calcium ionophore or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stably enhanced PLA2 activity. Stable activation of the two cytosolic forms of PLA2 occur prior to evidence of cell death and this activation is reversible. The larger molecular mass form was characterized as cPLA2. The smaller form (approximately 14 kDa) was distinct from Group I and II PLA2. Exposure to glutamate shifted the calcium activation curve of the smaller form to the left suggesting a novel mechanism of regulation of PLA2. Glutamate-induced stable enhancement of PLA2 activity, by processes involving calcium and protein kinase C activation, is a potential molecular switch likely mediating changes in synaptic function and contribution to excitotoxicity.

• Burch RM
• Phospholipase A2 activity.
• Methods Mol Biol. 1995; 41: 279-84

• Glover S et al.
• Translocation of the 85-kDa phospholipase A2 from cytosol to the nuclear envelope in rat basophilic leukemia cells stimulated with calcium ionophore or IgE/antigen.
• J Biol Chem. 1995; 270: 15359-67
• Display abstract

• The rat mast cell line RBL-2H3.1 contains an 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) that is very likely involved in liberating arachidonate from membrane phospholipid for the synthesis of eicosanoids following stimulation with either calcium ionophore or IgE/antigen. In this study, the intracellular location of cPLA2 was determined using immunofluorescence microscopy and immuno-gold electron microscopy. In nonstimulated cells, cPLA2 is distributed throughout the cytosol and is excluded from the nucleoplasm. Following cell activation with calcium ionophore, most of the cPLA2 translocates to the nuclear envelope, and the enzyme remains there during the entire period that ionophore is present. With IgE/antigen stimulation for 5 min, approximately 20-30% of the cPLA2 translocates to the nuclear envelope, and after 30 min of stimulation, most of the enzyme returns to the cytosol. Measurement of intracellular calcium using the dye Fura-2/AM shows that the level of calcium rises immediately after antigen is added, remains high for about 30 s, and then declines back to resting levels. Activation with calcium ionophore produces a 10-fold larger release of arachidonate than does stimulation with IgE/antigen. Thus, the results suggest that the extent of membrane binding of cPLA2 correlates with the release of arachidonate and that the site of arachidonate liberation is the nuclear envelope where many of the enzymes that oxygenate this fatty acid are located.

• Schievella AR, Regier MK, Smith WL, Lin LL
• Calcium-mediated translocation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 to the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum.
• J Biol Chem. 1995; 270: 30749-54
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is activated by a wide variety of stimuli to release arachidonic acid, the precursor of the potent inflammatory mediators prostaglandin and leukotriene. Specifically, cPLA2 releases arachidonic acid in response to agents that increase intracellular Ca2+. In vitro data have suggested that these agents induce a translocation of cPLA2 from the cytosol to the cell membrane, where its substrate is localized. Here, we use immunofluorescence to visualize the translocation of cPLA2 to distinct cellular membranes. In Chinese hamster ovary cells that stably overexpress cPLA2, this enzyme translocates to the nuclear envelope upon stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187. The pattern of staining observed in the cytoplasm suggests that cPLA2 also translocates to the endoplasmic reticulum. We find no evidence for cPLA2 localization to the plasma membrane. Translocation of cPLA2 is dependent on the calcium-dependent phospholipid binding domain, as a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding deletion mutant of cPLA2 (delta CII) fails to translocate in response to Ca2+. In contrast, cPLA2 mutated at Ser-505, the site of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, translocates normally. This observation, combined with the observed phosphorylation of delta CII, establishes that translocation and phosphorylation function independently to regulate cPLA2. The effect of these mutations on cPLA2 translocation was confirmed by subcellular fractionation. Each of these mutations abolished the ability of cPLA2 to release arachidonic acid, establishing that cPLA2-mediated arachidonic acid release is strongly dependent on both phosphorylation and translocation. These data help to clarify the mechanisms by which cPLA2 is regulated in intact cells and establish the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum as primary sites for the liberation of arachidonic acid in the cell.

• Abdullah K et al.
• Human cytosolic phospholipase A2 expressed in insect cells is extensively phosphorylated on Ser-505.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995; 1244: 157-64
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) has been implicated in the release of the arachidonic acid utilized in the inflammatory cascade. Phosphorylation of cPLA2 on Ser-505 by MAP kinase in response to agonist treatment, is thought to be one of the mechanisms required for activation of the enzyme in the cell. In order to obtain enough material for enzymological studies as well as to investigate the role of phosphorylation in the activation of cPLA2, the human enzyme was overexpressed in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus. We report here on the characterization of the phosphorylation state of cPLA2 overexpressed in Sf9 cells. The level of overexpressed cPLA2 was shown to peak between 48 and 60 h post-infection, by this time the phosphorylated enzyme could easily be detected because of its reduced mobility on polyacrylamide gels. The reduced mobility or gel-shift has been shown to be due to phosphorylation of Ser-505. To determine whether this was also the case for insect cell overexpressed cPLA2, Ser-505 was replaced by Ala, and this mutant (cPLA2S505A) was expressed in Sf9 cells. Analysis of the overexpressed cPLA2S505A showed that it migrated only as the lower unshifted cPLA2 band confirming that the baculovirus overexpressed cPLA2 is extensively phosphorylated on Ser-505. Furthermore, treatment of infected Sf9 cells expressing the wild-type cPLA2 with phorbol 12-tetradecanoate 13-acetate (TPA) shifted all of the overexpressed cPLA2 to the phosphorylated Ser-505 form. When infected Sf9 cells were labelled with [32P], in addition to labelling of Ser-505 other sites were also labelled. Both cPLA2 and cPLA2S505A were purified from infected Sf9 cells and the specific activity for each of the enzymes was measured in a phosphatidylcholine vesicle fluorescence assay using 1-(10-pyrenedecanyl)arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine as substrate. Under these conditions the specific activity of cPLA2 was, 2 mumol/min per mg, whereas cPLA2S505A was 7-fold less active. These findings suggest that Sf9 cells have a mechanism for phosphorylating cPLA2 similar to that found in mammalian cells which probably proceeds through a MAP kinase. Thus, insect cell overexpressed cPLA2 is a very good source for the Ser-505 phosphorylated enzyme.

• Ackermann EJ, Dennis EA
• Mammalian calcium-independent phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995; 1259: 125-36

• Schalkwijk CG, Spaargaren M, Defize LH, Verkleij AJ, van den Bosch H, Boonstra J
• Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces serine phosphorylation-dependent activation and calcium-dependent translocation of the cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Eur J Biochem. 1995; 231: 593-601
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a key enzyme in the release of arachidonic acid and subsequent production of eicosanoids, which play an important role in a variety of biological processes, including mitogenic signalling by epidermal growth factor (EGF). In a previous study [Spaargaren, M. et al. (1992) Biochem J. 287, 37-43] we identified the EGF-activated PLA2 as being similar to the recently cloned high-molecular-mass cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). In the present study we demonstrate a rapid transient EGF-induced activation of this cPLA2 and an EGF-induced increase in phosphorylation of the cPLA2. The EGF-induced activation of cPLA2 is reversed upon phosphatase treatment showing phosphorylation-dependent activation of the cPLA2. No direct association of the cPLA2 to the EGF receptor was detected under conditions where such an association with phospholipase C-gamma was demonstrated. Phosphoamino acid analysis of this cPLA2 showed that EGF induced an increase in serine phosphorylation exclusively, no tyrosine phosphorylation being observed. EGF treatment of the cells resulted in a Ca(2+)-dependent translocation of the cPLA2 from the cytosol to the membrane fraction. This is due to an EGF-induced [Ca2+]i rise which is dependent on the influx of extracellular Ca2+ via voltage-independent Ca2+ channels. It is shown that the Ca(2+)-dependent association of cPLA2 to membranes does not require accessory membrane molecules.

• Schevitz RW et al.
• Structure-based design of the first potent and selective inhibitor of human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2.
• Nat Struct Biol. 1995; 2: 458-65
• Display abstract

• A lead compound obtained from a high volume human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2 (hnps-PLA2) screen has been developed into a potent inhibitor using detailed structural knowledge of inhibitor binding to the enzyme active site. Four crystal structures of hnps-PLA2 complexed with a series of increasingly potent indole inhibitors were determined and used as the structural basis for both understanding this binding and providing valuable insights for further development. The application of structure-based drug design has made possible improvements in the binding of this screening lead to the enzyme by nearly three orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the optimized structure (LY311727) displayed 1,500-fold selectivity when assayed against porcine pancreatic s-PLA2.

• Kinkaid AR, Wilton DC
• The effect of anions on interfacial binding and activation of secretory phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1995; 23: 556-556

• Creaney A, Wilton DC
• The effect of dioleoylglycerol on cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity using a continuous fluorescence displacement assay.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1995; 23: 569-569

• Bayburt T et al.
• Continuous, vesicle-based fluorimetric assays of 14- and 85-kDa phospholipases A2.
• Anal Biochem. 1995; 232: 7-23
• Display abstract

• This paper describes the synthesis and analysis of new substrates for the 85-kDa, mammalian, cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and the 14-kDa, human nonpancreatic, secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). Phosphatidylcholines containing an arachidonyl chain at the sn-2 position and either a 10-pyrenedecyl or a 10-pyrenedecanoyl chain at the sn-1 position were synthesized and shown to be substrates for cPLA2 in a fluorescence-based assay. Most of the assays make use of small and large unilamellar vesicles of substrate phospholipid, although the assay also works when the substrate is dispersed in Triton X-100 mixed-micelles. The cPLA2 assays can be carried out in a fixed time-point mode in which one of the products, the pyrene-containing lysophospholipid, is detected by rapid HPLC. Alternatively, the assay becomes continuous when bovine serum albumin is present in the aqueous phase; this protein extracts the pyrene-containing lysophospholipid from the vesicle, and this leads to the fluorescence of monomeric pyrene label. These assays are capable of detecting subnanogram amounts of cPLA2. The ester formed between gamma-linolenic acid and 7-hydroxycoumarin is also a substrate for cPLA2, and when incorporated into vesicles of the anionic phospholipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol, provides an assay in which the enzyme does not leave the vesicle surface (scooting mode). Unlike all of the previously reported, vesicle-based cPLA2 assays, a prolonged linear reaction progress is seen with the DOPM-based assay. An assay of sPLA2 with subnanogram sensitivity was developed which makes use of the substrate 1-palmitoyl-2-(10-pyrenedecanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol and a lipid sink. The latter is composed of phosphatidylcholine vesicles, in excess of substrate vesicles, which do not bind sPLA2 but provide a trap for enzyme-produced 10-pyrenedecanoic acid. The fluorescence of monomeric pyrene label in sink vesicles is detected. A second sPLA2 assay using a single type of vesicle was developed based on the substrate 1,2-di(10-pyrenedecanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine present at 10 mol% in vesicles of the nonhydrolyzable anionic phospholipid 1,2-ditetradecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol. The action of sPLA2 on this fluorescent substrate leads to a separation of the pyrene chains resulting in fluorescence emission from monomeric pyrene. These cPLA2 and sPLA2 assays are ideal for inhibitor screening and analysis, and for studying the interfacial kinetics of these enzymes.

• Akiba S, Nagatomo R, Ishimoto T, Sato T
• Effect of berbamine on cytosolic phospholipase A2 activation in rabbit platelets.
• Eur J Pharmacol. 1995; 291: 343-50
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• The effect of berbamine, a biscoclaurine alkaloid, on cytosolic phospholipase A2 activation in rabbit platelets was investigated. Berbamine inhibited arachidonic acid liberation induced by thrombin but not that by ionomycin. The alkaloid did not affect thrombin-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization. Ca(2+)-dependent translocation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 to membranes, or the activity of partially purified cytosolic phospholipase A2. Furthermore, berbamine had no effect on the thrombin-elicited increase in cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity. However, berbamine suppressed arachidonic acid liberation in platelets stimulated with GTP-binding protein activators. Although incubation of platelet membranes with a GTP analogue decreased the islet-activating protein-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of an approximately 40 kDa protein in the membranes, pretreatment of the membranes with berbamine did not influence the decrease in ADP-ribosylation. These results suggest that berbamine may impair GTP-binding protein-mediated activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2, probably without influencing the enzyme translocation to membranes or the increase in the enzyme activity, and thus may cause the suppression of thrombin-induced arachidonic acid liberation.

• Linden DJ
• Phospholipase A2 controls the induction of short-term versus long-term depression in the cerebellar Purkinje neuron in culture.
• Neuron. 1995; 15: 1393-401
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• Cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) may be reliably induced in the cultured Purkinje neuron when glutamate pulses and Purkinje neuron depolarization are applied together 6 times. When the number of these conjunctive stimuli was reduced to 2, a short-term depression (STD) lasting 20-40 min was induced in 4/12 cells. The enzyme phospholipase A2 cleaves membrane phospholipids causing liberation of free unsaturated fatty acids, which in turn synergistically activate protein kinase C when present with diacylglycerol and Ca. Application of free unsaturated fatty acids with 2 conjunctive stimuli resulted in an apparent conversion of STD cases to LTD. Application of phospholipase A2 inhibitors during 6 conjunctions converted LTD to STD. These findings suggest a model in which liberation of unsaturated fatty acids by phospholipase A2 contributes to a synergistic activation of protein kinase C, the full activation of which results in LTD induction, and the partial activation of which results in STD induction.

• Abdullah KM, Leger S, Perrier H, Cromlish WA, Kennedy B, Gresser M
• Purification of baculovirus-overexpressed cytosolic phospholipase A2 using a single-step affinity column chromatography.
• Protein Expr Purif. 1995; 6: 291-7
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• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a key role in the production of proinflammatory lipid mediators such as prostaglandins, thromboxane, and leukotrienes. cPLA2, an arachidonic acid-selective, 85-kDa protein has been purified, cloned, and partially characterized from a number of tissues. However, the purification schemes previously published by several groups are lengthy, involving several chromatographic steps and resulting in low yields of enzyme. Here we report the preparation of a novel affinity column (Affi-656) by immobilizing a competitive inhibitor of cPLA2, and a single-step purification of this enzyme. This column selectively retains cPLA2 activity from the cytosolic fractions of Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus which is eluted by a gradient of CHAPS in the elution buffer. Purification of cPLA2 to homogeneity can thus be accomplished in a single step. Moreover, mutant cPLA2 (Ser505/Ala505) which is no longer phosphorylated at Ser505 is also retained on Affi-656; mutation at this residue does not disrupt its binding to the affinity column. To our knowledge, this is the first report of cPLA2 affinity purification. Affi-656 is a convenient, reproducible, and high-capacity affinity column, and is a valuable tool for rapid purification of cPLA2 in large quantities.

• Hanel AM, Gelb MH
• Multiple enzymatic activities of the human cytosolic 85-kDa phospholipase A2: hydrolytic reactions and acyl transfer to glycerol.
• Biochemistry. 1995; 34: 7807-18
• Display abstract

• The recombinant human 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), when assayed in the presence of glycerol, catalyzes the transfer of acyl chains of radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine and para-substituted phenyl esters of fatty acids to glycerol, in addition to hydrolyzing these substrates. The product of the transacylation reaction is monoacylglycerol (MAG), and the acyl chain is predominantly esterified (> or = 95%) to a primary hydroxyl group of glycerol (sn-1/3); the stereochemistry is not known. Increasing concentrations of glycerol accelerate enzyme turnover both by providing an additional mechanistic pathway for the enzyme-substrate complex to form products and by increasing the intrinsic hydrolytic and transacylation activities of the enzyme. Significant enzymatic hydrolysis of sn-1/3-arachidonylmonoacylglycerol was measured, while sn-1/3-alpha-linolenoyl- and sn-2-arachidonylmonoacylglycerols were not detectably hydrolyzed. 1,3-Propanediol also serves as an acyl acceptor for the enzyme. cPLA2 hydrolyzes analog of lysophosphatidylcholine that lacks the sn-2 hydroxyl group. The enzyme will hydrolyze sn-1-acyl chains of rac-1-(arachidonyl, alpha-linolenoyl, palmitoyl)-2-O-hexadecyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipids and transfer the acyl chain to glycerol. Thus, cPLA2 has phospholipase A1 activity but only if an ether linkage rather than an ester linkage is present at the sn-2 position, and it is shown that the sn-1 acyl chains of both enantiomers of phosphatidylcholine are hydrolyzed. Phenyl [14C]-alpha-linolenate and five para-substituted phenyl esters of [3H]-alpha-linolenic acid with pKa values ranging from 7.2 to 10.2 for the phenol leaving groups were incorporated into 1,2-ditetradecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol/Triton X-100 mixed micelles as substrates for the transacylation/hydrolysis reactions of the enzyme. Average product ratios, which are defined as the amount of monoacylglycerol formed to phenyl ester hydrolyzed, were 2.1 +/- 0.1 (n = 5) for the para-substituted phenyl esters and 2.0 +/- 0.3 (n = 7) for phenyl alpha-linolenate. The similarity of the ratios, despite the range of pKa values for the leaving groups, is consistent with the formation of a common enzyme intermediate that partitions to give either fatty acid or MAG. That intermediate may be a covalent acyl enzyme. Finally, the acyl chain specificity of cPLA2 was investigated to better understand the preference of the enzyme for phospholipids with sn-2-arachidonyl chains.

• Farooqui AA, Yang HC, Horrocks LA
• Plasmalogens, phospholipases A2 and signal transduction.
• Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 1995; 21: 152-61
• Display abstract

• Several lines of evidence indicate that the breakdown of plasmalogens in neural membranes during neurodegenerative diseases is a receptor-mediated process catalyzed by a plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2. This enzyme has recently been purified from bovine brain. It does not require Ca2+ and is localized in cytosol. It has a molecular mass of 39 kDa and is strongly inhibited by glycosaminoglycans, with the pattern of inhibition being heparan sulfate > hyaluronic acid > chondroitin sulfate > heparin. This plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 is also inhibited by gangliosides and sialoglycoproteins. Substrate specificity and the effects of metal ions, detergents and inhibitors suggest that this phospholipase A2 is different from the well-known 85 kDa Ca(2+)-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A2 that has recently been cloned and is not plasmalogen-selective. The plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 may be regulated by glycosaminoglycans and sialoglycoconjugates and may be involved in the regulation of K+ channels. This enzyme, which plays a major role in the release of fatty acids during ischemic injury and reperfusion, shows promise as a major target for drug therapy.

• McIntosh JM et al.
• Conodipine-M, a novel phospholipase A2 isolated from the venom of the marine snail Conus magus.
• J Biol Chem. 1995; 270: 3518-26
• Display abstract

• We describe the purification and first biochemical characterization of an enzymatic activity in venom from the marine snail Conus magus. This enzyme, named conodipine-M, is a novel phospholipase A2 with a molecular mass of 13.6 kDa and is comprised of two polypeptide chains linked by one or more disulfide bonds. The amino acid sequence of conodipine-M shows little if any homology to other previously sequenced phospholipase A2 enzymes (PLA2s). Conodipine-M thus represents a new group of PLA2s. This is remarkable, since conodipine-M displays a number of properties that are similar to those of previously characterized 14-kDa PLA2s. The enzyme shows little, if any, phospholipase A1, diacyglycerol lipase, triacylglycerol lipase, or lysophospholipase activities. Conodipine-M hydrolyzes the sn-2 ester of various preparations of phospholipid only in the presence of calcium and with specific activities that are comparable to those of well known 14-kDa snake venom and pancreatic PLA2s. The Conus enzyme binds tightly to vesicles of the negatively charged phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol and catalyzes the hydrolysis of this substrate in a processive fashion. Conodipine-M does not significantly discriminate against phospholipids with unsaturated versus saturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position or with different polar head groups. Linoleoyl amide and a phospholipid analog containing an alkylphosphono group at the sn-2 position are potent inhibitors of conodipine-M. We suggest that the functional resemblance of conodipine-M to other PLA2s might be explained by the utilization of similar catalytic residues.

• Kini RM, Evans HJ
• The role of enzymatic activity in inhibition of the extrinsic tenase complex by phospholipase A2 isoenzymes from Naja nigricollis venom.
• Toxicon. 1995; 33: 1585-90
• Display abstract

• Three phospholipase A2 isoenzymes from Naja nigricollis venom inhibit the extrinsic tenase complex. We examined the role of their enzymatic activity in this inhibition by studying the effects of native and His-modified enzymes. Only CM-IV of the His-modified, catalytically inactive proteins showed significant inhibition of the activity of the complex. This indicates that strongly anticoagulant CM-IV inhibits the complex by both enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms, whereas the weakly anticoagulant isoenzymes, CM-I and CM-II, inhibit primarily by catalytic degradation of phospholipids. This indicates a functional difference in the mode of inhibition between strongly and weakly anticoagulant phospholipase A2 enzymes.

• Verity MA
• Phospholipase A2 regulation in neural function and injury.
• Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1995; 765: 341-341

• Gelb MH, Jain MK, Hanel AM, Berg OG
• Interfacial enzymology of glycerolipid hydrolases: lessons from secreted phospholipases A2.
• Annu Rev Biochem. 1995; 64: 653-88
• Display abstract

• Interfacial enzymes operate at an organized interface such as lipid aggregates in contact with the aqueous phase. The enzyme phospholipase A2 is a well studied interfacial enzyme, and a discussion of its behavior at interfaces is the topic of this review. Knowledge gained from studies of phospholipases A2 can be applied toward the quantitative analysis of other interfacial enzymes. The kinetic analysis of these enzymes is greatly simplified if one establishes certain experimental conditions that limit the exchange of enzyme and substrate between different substrate aggregates. With such constraints, the kinetics can be analyzed in terms of classical Michaelis-Menten theory adopted for the action of enzymes at interfaces. It is also possible to describe other enzyme properties such as inhibition and substrate preferences in a meaningful way using formalism that is well known in solution-phase enzymology.

• Ackermann EJ, Conde-Frieboes K, Dennis EA
• Inhibition of macrophage Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 by bromoenol lactone and trifluoromethyl ketones.
• J Biol Chem. 1995; 270: 445-50
• Display abstract

• A novel Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has recently been purified from the murine macrophage-like cell line P388D1 (Ackermann, E. J., Kempner, E. S., and Dennis, E. A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 9227-9233). This enzyme is now shown to be inhibited by palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone (PACOCF3), arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3), and a bromoenol lactone (BEL). Both PACOCF3 and AACOCF3 were found to inhibit the macrophage PLA2 in a concentration-dependent manner. PACOCF3 was found to be approximately 4-fold more potent than AACOCF3, with IC50 values of 3.8 microM (0.0075 mol fraction) and 15 microM (0.028 mol fraction), respectively. Reaction progress curves in the presence of either inhibitor were found to be linear, and the PACOCF3.PLA2 complex rapidly dissociated upon dilution. BEL was also found to inhibit the macrophage PLA2 in a concentration-dependent manner, with half-maximal inhibition observed at 60 nM after a 5-min preincubation at 40 degrees C. Inhibition was not reversed after extensive dilution of the enzyme into assay buffer. Treatment of the PLA2 with BEL resulted in a linear, time-dependent inactivation of activity, and the rate of this inactivation was diminished in the presence of PACOCF3. In addition, PLA2 treated with [3H]BEL resulted in the covalent labeling of a major band at M(r) 80,000. Inactivation of the PLA2 by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) prior to treatment with [3H]BEL resulted in the near complete lack of labeling consistent with covalent irreversible suicide inhibition of the enzyme. The labeling of a M(r) 80,000 band rather than a M(r) 40,000 band upon treatment with [3H]BEL distinguishes the macrophage Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 from a previously identified myocardial Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 and provides strong evidence that the M(r) 80,000 protein is the catalytic subunit.

• Wolf MJ, Izumi Y, Zorumski CF, Gross RW
• Long-term potentiation requires activation of calcium-independent phospholipase A2.
• FEBS Lett. 1995; 377: 358-62
• Display abstract

• The predominant phospholipase activity present in rat hippocampus is a calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (302.9 +/- 19.8 pmol/mg.min for calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity vs. 14.6 +/- 1.0 pmol/mg.min for calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 activity). This calcium-independent phospholipase A2 is exquisitely sensitive to inhibition by the mechanism-based inhibitor, (E)-6-(bromomethylene)-tetrahydro-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-pyran -2-one (BEL). Moreover, treatment of hippocampal slices with BEL prior to tetanic stimulation prevents the induction of LTP (40.8 +/- 5.6% increase in excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP) slope for control slices (n = 6) vs. 5.8 +/- 8.5% increase in EPSP slope for BEL-treated slices (n = 8)). Importantly, LTP can be induced following mechanism-based inhibition of phospholipase A2 by providing the end product of the phospholipase A2 reaction, arachidonic acid, during the application of tetanic stimulation. Furthermore, the induction of LTP after treatment with BEL is dependent on the stereoelectronic configuration of the fatty acid provided since eicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acid, but not eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid, rescues LTP after BEL treatment (37.6 +/- 16.1% increase in EPSP slope for eicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acid vs. -3.7 +/- 5.2% increase in EPSP slope for eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid). Collectively, these results provide the first demonstration of the essential role of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 in synaptic plasticity.

• Koike K, Yamamoto Y, Higashi S, Hara N, Kudo I
• [Intestinal ischemia and type II phospholipase A2: preliminary report]
• Nippon Geka Gakkai Zasshi. 1995; 96: 823-823

• Murakami M, Kudo I, Inoue K
• Secretory phospholipases A2.
• J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal. 1995; 12: 119-30

• Gross RW
• Myocardial phospholipase A2.
• J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal. 1995; 12: 131-7

• Clark JD, Schievella AR, Nalefski EA, Lin LL
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal. 1995; 12: 83-117
• Display abstract

• To summarize the regulation of cPLA2, we have proposed a model for the activation of cPLA2 based both on our previous studies (Clark et al., 1991; Lin et al., 1993) and the work of many others (Fig. 5). In this model, cPLA2 is tightly regulated by multiple pathways, including those that control Ca2+ concentration, phosphorylation states and cPLA2 protein levels, to exert both rapid and prolonged effects on cellular processes, such as inflammation. cPLA2 is rapidly activated by increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration and phosphorylation by MAP kinase. When cells are stimulated with a ligand for a receptor, such as ATP or PDGF, PLC is activated via either a G protein-dependent or -independent process, leading to the production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol triphosphate (IP3). The rise in these intracellular messengers cause the activation of PKC and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. Alternatively, the increase in intracellular Ca2+ can result from a Ca2+ influx. Increased Ca2+ acts through the CaLB domain to cause translocation of cPLA2 from the cytosol to the membrane where its substrate, phospholipid, is localized. This step is essential for the activation of cPLA2 and may account for the partial activation of cPLA2 in the absence of phosphorylation. MAP kinase activation can occur through both PKC-dependent and -independent mechanisms (Cobb et al., 1991; Posada and Cooper, 1992; Qiu and Leslie, 1994). In many cases, this pathway is also G protein-dependent. Activated MAP kinase phosphorylates cPLA2 at Ser-505, causing increased enzymatic activity of cPLA2, which is realized only upon translocation of cPLA2 to the membrane. Therefore, full activation of cPLA2 requires both increased cytosolic Ca2+ and cPLA2 phosphorylation at Ser-505. In a more delayed response, cPLA2 activity in the cells can be controlled by changes in its expression levels, such as in response to inflammatory cytokines and certain growth factors. Thus the expression level of cPLA2 is regulated by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms.

• Wojtaszek PA, Van Putten V, Nemenoff RA
• Activation of a novel form of phospholipase A2 during liver regeneration.
• FEBS Lett. 1995; 367: 228-32
• Display abstract

• Activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) occurs following mitogenic stimulation of cells. This study examined PLA2 activation during liver regeneration. Increased activity was detected within 1 h after partial hepatectomy, was maximal by 6 h, and returned to control levels by 24 h. Fractionation of cell-free extracts revealed multiple peaks of PLA2 activity. One peak appeared identical to the previously described cPLA2, and was modestly stimulated during regeneration. A higher molecular weight form (hPLA2) was stimulated approximately 5-fold during regeneration. This enzyme was Ca(2+)-dependent and selective for arachidonoylphosphatidylethanolamine. The activation of this novel form of PLA2 represents an early event in liver regeneration, and is likely to contribute to the proliferative response.

• Ozaktay AC, Cavanaugh JM, Blagoev DC, King AI
• Phospholipase A2-induced electrophysiologic and histologic changes in rabbit dorsal lumbar spine tissues.
• Spine. 1995; 20: 2659-68
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• STUDY DESIGN: The present study was designed to characterize the effect of phospholipase A2 on the discharge of perispinal sensory nerves in the anesthetized New Zealand white rabbit. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of phospholipase A2 on the neural response of somatosensory neurons innervating the lumbar facet joint and surrounding tissues. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: An irritating component of disc tissue may be phospholipase A2, which has been found at extraordinary high levels in herniated and painful discs. Phospholipase A2 has been shown to be inflammatory, but its effect on nerve response has never been shown. METHODS: Surgically isolated facet joint capsules from rabbits were investigated by means of electrophysiologic and histologic techniques. Phospholipase A2 was injected into the characterized nerve receptive field, and responses were evaluated over time with varying doses. RESULTS: The injection of phospholipase A2 into the nerve receptive fields produced neurotoxicity with a 1500-U dose, sensitization of the nerves and recruitment of "silent units" with a 750-U dose, and no electrophysiologic effect with a 400-U dose. The tissues injected with phospholipase A2 and control solutions were examined histologically using a hematoxylin and eosin staining technique. In all three doses, the inflammatory changes were observed as soon as 2 hours after the injections. In control subjects, no changes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: After phospholipase A2 injection, the discharge rate of the units showed dose and time dependent patterns. Regardless of the different doses, histologic changes were observed as soon as 2 hours after the phospholipase A2 injections.

• Lomonte B, Tarkowski A, Hanson LA
• Phospholipase A2 and inflammation.
• Mol Med Today. 1995; 1: 9-9

• Petit K, De Block J, De Potter W
• Isolation and characterization of a cytosolic phospholipase A2 from bovine adrenal medulla.
• J Neurochem. 1995; 64: 139-46
• Display abstract

• We have recently demonstrated that bovine adrenal medulla contains a soluble phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which is localized in the cytosol. In the present study, this PLA2 was purified 1,097-fold using sequential concanavalin A, hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange, gel filtration, and an additional anion exchange chromatography. The enzyme is activated over the range of 20-1,000 microM Ca2+ and has a pH optimum near 8.0. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the protein has a molecular mass of 26 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.6 as revealed by isoelectric focusing. The cytosolic PLA2 is not inhibited by NaCl, and the enzymatic activity is stimulated at low concentrations of Triton X-100 (0.01%) and deoxycholate (1 mM) but inhibited at higher concentrations (0.1% and 3 mM, respectively) of these detergents. Furthermore, heat treatment (57 degrees C, 5 min) reduced the enzymatic activity by 80%, whereas glycerol (30%) increased the activity. p-Bromophenacylbromide, a frequently used irreversible inhibitor of type II PLA2, has little effect until 100 microM, and 2-10 mM dithiothreitol totally inactivated the enzyme. The purified PLA2 displays a preference for phosphatidylcholine as a substrate but hydrolyzes phospholipid substrates with arachidonic acid or linoleic acid esterified at the sn-2 position to the same extent. It is concluded that the chromaffin cell cytosolic PLA2, which was isolated and characterized in this study, represents a type of PLA2 that has not been formerly reported in chromaffin cells. Additional research on the chromaffin cell cytosolic PLA2 will help to reveal whether the enzyme is important for exocytosis.

• Jain MK, Gelb MH, Rogers J, Berg OG
• Kinetic basis for interfacial catalysis by phospholipase A2.
• Methods Enzymol. 1995; 249: 567-614

• Cybulsky AV, Monge JC, Papillon J, McTavish AJ
• Complement C5b-9 activates cytosolic phospholipase A2 in glomerular epithelial cells.
• Am J Physiol. 1995; 269: 73949-73949
• Display abstract

• In rat membranous nephropathy, complement C5b-9 induces glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) injury and proteinuria, which, in some models, is partially mediated by eicosanoids. By analogy, sublytic C5b-9 injures plasma membranes and releases arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosanoids in cultured rat GEC. In this study, we demonstrate that, in GEC, sublytic C5b-9 stably increased the activity of a high-molecular-mass cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which we identified as "cPLA2." This increase was abolished with inhibitors of protein kinase C. C5b-9 did not affect low-molecular-mass membrane-associated or secretory PLA2 activities. In GEC that stably overexpress cPLA2 activity and protein (produced by transfection of cPLA2 cDNA), immunoblot analysis showed that sublytic C5b-9 induced a decreased mobility of cPLA2, consistent with cPLA2 phosphorylation. Incubation of cPLA2-transfected GEC with sublytic C5b-9 significantly increased production of free AA and prostaglandin E2, whereas, in control GEC, the C5b-9-induced changes in free AA and prostaglandin E2 were small. Furthermore, both C5b-9-dependent sublytic cytotoxicity and cytolysis were enhanced in GEC overexpressing cPLA2, compared with control cells. Thus C5b-9 increased cPLA2 activity, probably via phosphorylation involving a protein kinase C-dependent pathway. Phospholipid hydrolysis by cPLA2 resulted in release of substrate for eicosanoid synthesis and in enhancement of C5b-9-dependent GEC injury. Both processes may facilitate glomerular damage in membranous nephropathy.

• Rosenthal MD, Gordon MN, Buescher ES, Slusser JH, Harris LK, Franson RC
• Human neutrophils store type II 14-kDa phospholipase A2 in granules and secrete active enzyme in response to soluble stimuli.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995; 208: 650-6
• Display abstract

• Although "secretory" type II 14-kDa phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity has been described in neutrophils, direct evidence of enzyme secretion has been elusive. We have used immunogold electron microscopy with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to sPLA2 to demonstrate localization of the enzyme to granules of resting human neutrophils and translocation to phagolysosomes. Soluble stimuli such as calcium ionophore A23187 stimulate loss of cell-associated enzymatic activity. Supernatant fluids from stimulated neutrophils lack measurable PLA2 but contain proteases which inactivate exogenous sPLA2. The use of alpha-1-antitrypsin as a protease inhibitor permitted this first demonstration of secretion of PLA2 activity from stimulated human neutrophils.

• Kuo CF, Cheng S, Burgess JR
• Deficiency of vitamin E and selenium enhances calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity in rat lung and liver.
• J Nutr. 1995; 125: 1419-29
• Display abstract

• Conditions promoting oxidative stress, which is implicated in many diseases, activate phospholipases A2, a family of enzymes central to phospholipid metabolism and signal transduction. Little is known about isozyme specificity with respect to this activation process. Accordingly, a dietary deficiency model known to induce oxidative stress was used to investigate phospholipase A2 isozyme activity in rat tissues. Long-Evans hooded rats were fed purified diets for 6 wk with or without the addition of vitamin E and selenium in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Phospholipase A2 activity was assessed in lung, liver, kidney and heart cytosol and microsomes in the presence (5 mmol/L CaCl2) or absence (5 mmol/L EGTA) of calcium with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine at pH 6.5. Lung phospholipase A2 activity was also assessed with 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylcholine as substrate at pH 8.5. Organ samples from rats deficient in both nutrients showed two- to tenfold higher calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity in lung cytosol and microsomes, and in liver cytosol compared with samples from control and single nutrient-deficient rats. In contrast, the calcium-dependent activity was affected only slightly. The malondialdehyde concentration of the organs was measured and the pattern obtained mirrored that of enhanced phospholipase A2 activity for lung but not for liver. The enhanced phospholipase A2 activity in the lung cytosol and microsomes from rats deficient in both nutrients was partially blocked by p-bromophenacylbromide, further enhanced by dithiothreitol and unaffected by treatment with diisopropylfluorophosphate. These results suggest that deficiency of both vitamin E and selenium activates and/or induces unique calcium-independent forms of phospholipase A2 markedly in rat lung, and to a lesser extent in liver.

• Burdge GC, Creaney A, Postle AD, Wilton DC
• Mammalian secreted and cytosolic phospholipase A2 show different specificities for phospholipid molecular species.
• Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 1995; 27: 1027-32
• Display abstract

• Previous studies using phospholipid vesicles containing single molecular species have shown cytosolic phospholipase (85 kDa) (PL) A2 to possess a marked preference for arachidonic acid (20:4n-6)-containing species, while secreted PLA2 (14 kDa) exhibited little acyl chain selectivity. In this study, we have defined the molecular specificity of cytosolic PLA2 using phospholipid vesicles derived from rat liver which contain complex mixtures of molecular species. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were isolated from rat liver by chloroform and methanol extraction, and solid-phase separation. PC and PE vesicles were hydrolysed by either human recombinant cytosolic or porcine pancreatic PLA2. Molecular species compositions were determined by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with post-column fluorescence derivitisation. HPLC analysis after limited hydrolysis demonstrated that the secreted phospholipase A2 showed no significant acyl chain specificity using these phospholipid mixtures. However, the cytosolic enzyme demonstrated a high degree of preference for arachidonic acid-containing species such that there was no hydrolysis of other molecular species. The extent of hydrolysis of PC16:0/20:4 was 1.4-fold greater (P < 0.05, n = 3) than PC18:0/20:4, while PE16:0/20:4 and PE18:0/20:4 were hydrolysed to a similar degree. Under these assay conditions, the cytosolic enzyme showed a preference for PE as compared with PC. This study confirms that cytosolic PLA2 is highly selective for sn-2 20:4n-6-containing phospholipid molecular species even when presented with a complex natural species mixture. This specificity is consistent with the cytosolic enzyme having a primary role in the process of arachidonic release within cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Burke JR et al.
• Cooperativity and binding in the mechanism of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1995; 34: 15165-74
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) hydrolyzes the sn-2 ester of phospholipids and is believed to be responsible for the receptor-regulated release of arachidonic acid from phospholipid pools. The enzyme was assayed using vesicles containing arachidonate-containing phospholipid substrate, such as 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylcholine (PAPC) or 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylinositol (SAPI), dispersed within vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoylphosphatidylmethanol (DMPM). We report here that the enzyme shows an apparent cooperative effect with respect to the mole fraction of arachidonate-containing phospholipids within these covesicles. The data can be fit to a modified Hill equation yielding Hill coefficients, n, of 2-3. This effect is unusual in that it is dependent on the nature of the sn-2 ester as opposed to the phosphoglycerol head group. This cooperativity is independent of both the concentration of glycerol, which greatly increases enzyme activity and stability, and the concentration of calcium, which facilitates the fusion of the covesicles. Surprisingly, 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PAPE) does not show the same cooperative effect, although the rate at which it is hydrolyzed is much greater when PAPC is present. Moreover, PAPE has a dissociation constant from the active site (KD* = 0.7 mol %) which is comparable to that of PAPC and SAPI (KD* values of 0.3 and 0.3 mol %, respectively). These results are consistent with the presence of an allosteric site that, when occupied, induces a change in the enzyme which facilitates enzymatic hydrolysis. If so, PAPC and SAPI, but not PAPE, must be able to bind to this allosteric site. Alternatively, this effect may result from changes in the physical nature of the bilayer which result upon increasing the bilayer concentration of arachidonate-containing phospholipids. This previously unobserved effect may represent another mechanism by which cells can regulate the activity of cPLA2.

• Pogorelova TN, Krukier II, Orlov VI
• [Lipid composition and phospholipase A2 activity in rat placental cell membranes in hypoxic states]
• Vopr Med Khim. 1995; 41: 30-3
• Display abstract

• When in the hypoxic pressure chamber and under high-altitude conditions, rats showed changes in the lipid profile of plasma membranes and in the activity of placental phospholipase A2. More profound changes occurred in the placental membranes of the rats staying under hypoxic conditions during placentation. Placental plasma membranes in the animals exposed to hypoxia in the second gestational half were more stable, their lipid composition was less altered.

• Huang Z, Laliberte F, Tremblay NM, Weech PK, Street IP
• A continuous fluorescence-based assay for the human high-molecular-weight cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Anal Biochem. 1994; 222: 110-5
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• A sensitive method for continuously monitoring the activity of the human cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is described. Recombinant cPLA2 efficiently hydrolyzes fatty acid esters of 7-hydroxycoumarin, producing the free fatty acid and the highly fluorescent 7-hydroxycoumarin. All of the observed 7-hydroxycoumarinyl ester hydrolase activity (7-HCEase) in a preparation of the purified recombinant cPLA2 was due to this enzyme since: (1) all of the ester hydrolase activity comigrated on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel with a protein characterized as the cPLA2 by Western analysis; (2) the immunoreactive protein also possessed both phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase activities; and (3) arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, a potent inhibitor of the phospholipase A2 activity of cPLA2, also inhibited the 7-HCEase activity. A study of the 7-HCEase activity demonstrated that when 7-hydroxycoumarinyl gamma-linolenate was dispersed in a phospholipid matrix it was hydrolyzed by cPLA2 at a rate comparable to that of an arachidonyl-containing phospholipid substrate and with an identical reaction progress curve. In the presence of phospholipid vesicles, the cPLA2-catalyzed hydrolysis of hydrophobic 7-hydroxycoumarinyl esters was stimulated by submicromolar concentration of free calcium and showed a preference for polyunsaturated substrates. The cPLA2-catalyzed hydrolysis of the water-soluble substrate 7-hydroxycoumarinyl 6-heptenoate was catalyzed by cPLA2 in the absence of calcium and other lipids.

• Tay A, Maxwell P, Li Z, Goldberg H, Skorecki K
• Isolation of promoter for cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2).
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1994; 1217: 345-7
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• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) releases arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids and is believed to be the rate-limiting enzyme in the arachidonic acid pathway. We report herein the isolation of a 3 kb fragment of rodent genomic DNA containing part of the first intron, the first exon and 5'-flanking sequence. The start site of transcription was mapped by 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends and corroborated by ribonuclease protection assay. The gene has a TATAless promoter with no classical Sp1 binding sites or initiator element. A microsatellite series of CA repeats was noted in the 5'-flanking region of both the rodent and human promoters. Deletion constructs have been analysed for luciferase activity and confirmed promoter activity.

• Yang HC, Farooqui AA, Horrocks LA
• Effects of sialic acid and sialoglycoconjugates on cytosolic phospholipases A2 from bovine brain.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994; 199: 1158-66
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• Two forms of Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipases A2 were separated by Sephadex G-75 column chromatography. N-Acetylneuraminic acid, gangliosides, and sialoglycoproteins inhibited both phospholipases A2 in a concentration dependent manner, but colominic acid, poly(2,8-N-acetylneuraminic acid), had no effect on enzymic activities. Interactions between phospholipases A2 and sialoglycoconjugates may be involved in the translocation of phospholipases A2 from cytosol to plasma membrane during receptor stimulation.

• Owada Y, Tominaga T, Yoshimoto T, Kondo H
• Molecular cloning of rat cDNA for cytosolic phospholipase A2 and the increased gene expression in the dentate gyrus following transient forebrain ischemia.
• Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1994; 25: 364-8
• Display abstract

• Rat cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) cDNA was cloned from rat brain. The cDNA showed a high homology of 90% in the nucleotide sequence of the coding region with the human counterpart. By in situ hybridization, the gene expression for cPLA2 was detected in the hippocampus, olfactory bulb, and cerebellar granular cells at very low level of normal rats. The expression was markedly increased in the dentate granule cells of postischemic rat brain. This alteration of the gene expression was discussed in relation to the free fatty acid-mediated neurotoxicity.

• Becker GW et al.
• Characterization by electrospray mass spectrometry of human Ca(2+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2 produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells.
• Biotechnology (N Y). 1994; 12: 69-74
• Display abstract

• The 85-kD cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is a novel receptor-regulated phospholipase that is thought to initiate the production of inflammatory lipid mediators. Since cPLA2 is present only in minute amounts (less than 0.01% of total cellular protein) in various cells and tissues, we have used the baculovirus expression system to produce sufficient quantities of cPLA2 for structural and functional analysis. The cDNA for cPLA2 was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector and, upon infection of Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-21 cells with the recombinant virus, cPLA2 was produced at high levels (9% of total cellular soluble protein). Gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein has properties indistinguishable from cPLA2 present in human monocytic U937 cells. Structural analysis of recombinant cPLA2, using electrospray mass spectrometry in conjunction with automated sequence analysis, confirmed the expected sequence and revealed two post-translational modifications of the protein, phosphorylation on at least one site, and acetylation of the N-terminal serine residue after removal of the initiating methionine. In spite of the presence of six potential N-glycosylation sites, there is no evidence that any of them is glycosylated. The baculovirus expression system should prove useful for production of cPLA2, and electrospray mass spectrometry is a rapid and accurate method for the analysis of post-translational modifications.

• Mirsky VM
• Effect of the lipid hydrolysis products on the phospholipase A2 action towards lipid monolayer.
• Chem Phys Lipids. 1994; 70: 75-81
• Display abstract

• The effect of lauric acid (LA) and lysolauroyllecithin (LLL) on the hydrolysis of lipid in monolayer by phospholipase A2 from Bee venom was studied. It was found that LLL inhibits phospholipase action under both high (39 mN/m) and low (25 mN/m) surface pressure. On the other hand, LA inhibits phospholipase action under the low surface pressure (15 mN/m or 25 mN/m), but increases enzyme activity under high surface pressure (39 mN/m). This activating effect can be suppressed by high ionic strength of the aqueous subphase. It is suggested that an increase of the negative surface charge of the lipid monolayer, followed by an increase of the local concentrations of the positively charged enzyme and calcium near the monolayer is a coupling factor between fatty acid accumulation and phospholipase activation. Such an autocatalytic process can only occur when the substrate is organised into monolayer, bilayer or micelles, therefore it can be considered as a reason for the substrate activation and induction time before lipid hydrolysis.

• Wheeler TN et al.
• Substrate specificity in short-chain phospholipid analogs at the active site of human synovial phospholipase A2.
• J Med Chem. 1994; 37: 4118-29
• Display abstract

• The substrate specificity at the active site of recombinant human synovial fluid phospholipase A2 (hs-PLA2) was investigated by the preparation of a series of short-chain phospholipid analogs and measurement of their enzymatic hydrolysis at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration. Substrates used in the study included 1,2-dihexanoylglycerophospholipids, 1,2-bis(alkanoylthio)glycerophospholipids, and 1-O-alkyl-2-(alkanoylthio)phospholipids. Turnover was observed for only a few of the 1,2-dihexanoylglycerophospholipids, and the rate of hydrolysis was very low, near the limit of detection of the assay. In contrast, selected 2-(alkanoylthio)-glycerophospholipids were hydrolyzed by hs-PLA2 at much higher rates at concentrations well below their critical micelle concentration (cmc). Thus, the 1,2-bis(hexanoylthio)glycerophosphatidylmethanol exhibits a k(cat)/K(M) = 1800 L mol-1 s-1. Over the calculated log P (cLogP) range of 3-9, cLogP and log(k(cat)/K(M) were linearly related for compounds with straight-chain sn-1 and sn-2 substituents. At comparable cLogP's, the sn-1 ethers and thioesters were hydrolyzed at comparable rates. A negative charge in the phosphate head group was required for enzyme activity. Unsaturation, aromaticity, and branching in the sn-2 substituent reduce turnover dramatically. The same structural modifications in the sn-1 substituent have less effect on turnover. Certain of these substrates, e.g., 1,2-bis(hexanoylthio)glycerophosphatidylmethanol, may be useful in assaying for active site inhibitors of PLA2. The structure--activity relationships established here for substrates should serve as a reference for the structure--activity relationships of substrate-based inhibitors.

• Kinkaid AR, Wilton DC
• Comparison of the properties of human group II phospholipase A2 with other secretory phospholipases.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1994; 22: 315-315

• Morri H, Ozaki M, Watanabe Y
• 5'-flanking region surrounding a human cytosolic phospholipase A2 gene.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994; 205: 6-11
• Display abstract

• The 5'-flanking region and the first four exons of a gene encoding human cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) were isolated from a human lambda EMBL3 genomic library and sequenced. The 5'-flanking region is characterized by CA repeats, one of microsatellites. The analysis of the 5'-flanking region with transcription factor database suggests the existence of the transcription factor binding sites such as NF-kappa B, NF-IL6, AP-1, AP-2, and PEA3. These factors are well known to be induced or activated by the reagents (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1, epidermal growth factor, and phorbol myristate acetate) reported as the inducers of a cPLA2 gene.

• Signor G, Mammi S, Peggion E, Ringsdorf H, Wagenknecht A
• Interaction of bombolitin III with phospholipid monolayers and liposomes and effect on the activity of phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1994; 33: 6659-70
• Display abstract

• This study is focused on the characterization of the interaction of the amphiphilic peptide bombolitin III (from the bumblebee Megabombus pennsylvanicus) with phospholipid monolayers and vesicles. It is shown that due to the amphiphilic character of its alpha-helical conformation this water-soluble peptide is able to interact in an ordered fashion with phospholipid organized structures. Depending on the temperature, the subphase, and the particular phosphatidylcholine used, the mixed peptide-phospholipid monolayers can be homogeneous or display phase separation. This behavior was observed by means of the Langmuir film balance technique, coupled with an epifluorescence microscope. In well-defined conditions it is possible to visualize the formation of phase-separated peptide domains at the air-water interface and to study the effect of their presence on the organization of the lipid. The action of phospholipase A2 at the lipid-peptide interface was also followed by means of fluorescence microscopy: some evidence that the enzyme preferentially hydrolyzes the phospholipid that is in contact with the peptide is presented. Furthermore, the presence of bombolitin III in L-alpha-DLPC monolayers causes an increase in the initial speed of degradation with phospholipase A2. These results are in agreement with previous findings that show that the bombolitins are activators in vitro of phospholipase A2. Experiments were also performed with peptide fragments corresponding to the alpha-helical sequences of the protein uteroglobin: despite some amphiphilic character, these peptides do not interact strongly with phospholipid monolayers. Only one of these peptides (corresponding to the helix 4-14 in uteroglobin) is adsorbed in the monolayer in a similar fashion to bombolitin III but does not cause an increase in the activity of phospholipase A2.

• Rajasekharan R, Kemp JD
• Synthesis of photoreactive phosphatidylethanolamine and its interaction with phospholipase A2.
• J Lipid Res. 1994; 35: 45-51
• Display abstract

• A photoreactive derivative of phosphatidylethanolamine, N-(4-azidobenzoyl)phosphatidylethanolamine (AB-PE), was synthesized by acylation of phosphatidylethanolamine with an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 4-azidobenzoic acid. The substantial photosensitivity exhibited by AB-PE correlated with a marked decrease in the absorption spectra of the compound. The compound proved sensitive to lipase and phospholipase A2 hydrolysis but resistant to phospholipase C and D activities. Photolysis of a sonicated dispersion of AB-PE containing phospholipase A2 resulted in irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. Addition of natural phosphatidylethanolamine provided protection against photoinactivation.

• Sharp JD et al.
• Serine 228 is essential for catalytic activities of 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1994; 269: 23250-4
• Display abstract

• The Ca(2+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) displays both a phospholipase A2 and a lysophospholipase activity. Numerous hydrolases, including lipases, catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds by means of an active site triad of amino acids that includes a serine or a cysteine residue. We have examined whether human cPLA2 belongs to this class of enzymes by using site-directed mutagenesis. Although chemical inactivation of cPLA2 by the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide made it appear that cysteine(s) may be essential for catalysis, all 9 cysteine residues of cPLA2 proved dispensable, allowing near-normal enzyme activity when substituted by alanine. We noted that cPLA2 contains a 110-amino-acid region with sequence homology to phospholipase B (PLB) from Penicillium notatum. Interestingly, one of the conserved serines of cPLA2, Ser-228, within this domain aligns with the lipase consensus sequence Gly-X(Leu)-Ser(137)-X(Gly)-Gly of PLB. Replacement of Ser-228 by alanine (or threonine or cysteine) yielded catalytically inactive cPLA2, even though the native conformation was maintained as determined by CD spectroscopy. Likewise, the lysophospholipase activity was completely abolished by the Ser-228 mutations. In contrast, substitution by alanine of three different serines of cPLA2 (Ser-195, Ser-215, or Ser-577) that also aligned with the PLB sequence allowed for substantial enzymatic activity of cPLA2. Our findings provide evidence that 1) Ser-228 participates in the catalytic mechanism of cPLA2 and that 2) both the phospholipase A2 and the lysophospholipase activities of cPLA2 are catalyzed by the same active site residue(s).

• Reynolds LJ, Hughes LL, Yu L, Dennis EA
• 1-Hexadecyl-2-arachidonoylthio-2-deoxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine as a substrate for the microtiterplate assay of human cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Anal Biochem. 1994; 217: 25-32
• Display abstract

• Human cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is an 85-kDa protein which displays a preference for arachidonoyl phospholipids as substrates. This substrate preference and the assay characteristics of the enzyme are quite different from those of the smaller, more well-studied extracellular PLA2s. We now report the development of a nonradioactive, spectrophotometric, microtiterplate assay for human cPLA2 using a novel synthetic thio-phospholipid analog as a substrate. This substrate is a phosphatidylcholine derivative with an arachidonoylthioester in the sn-2 position and an alkyl-ether in the sn-1 position. The use of an sn-1 alkyl-ether in the substrate ensures that the assay will only measure PLA2 activity and will not be complicated by the metabolism of the lysophospholipid product by the enzyme's lysophospholipase activity. cPLA2 is assayed at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C with a mixed micellar substrate consisting of 2 mM thio-phospholipid and 4 mM Triton X-100 in 30% glycerol. Under these conditions, the assay is fairly linear for over 1 h.

• Kim KM, Kim DK, Park YM, Kim CK, Na DS
• Annexin-I inhibits phospholipase A2 by specific interaction, not by substrate depletion.
• FEBS Lett. 1994; 343: 251-5
• Display abstract

• Annexin-I is a calcium dependent phospholipid binding and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitory protein. A 'substrate depletion' model has been proposed for the mechanism of PLA2 inhibition by annexin-I in studies with 14 to 18 kDa PLA2s. Herein, we have studied the inhibition mechanism using 100 kDa cytosolic PLA2 from porcine spleen. The inhibition has been measured at various substrate and calcium ion concentrations. The pattern of PLA2 inhibition by annexin-I was consistent with a 'specific interaction' mechanism rather than the 'substrate depletion' model. Apparent contraction with previous studies can be explained by the calcium-dependent binding of annexin-I to the substrate.

• Creaney A, Wilton DC
• A rapid assay for lipocortins using a continuous fluorescence displacement assay for phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Soc Trans. 1994; 22: 306-306

• Peters-Golden M, Feyssa A
• Augmented expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 during phenotypic transformation of cultured type II pneumocytes.
• Am J Physiol. 1994; 266: 38290-38290
• Display abstract

• Over time in culture, rat type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) demonstrate increased levels of unesterified arachidonic acid (AA) and increased prostanoid synthesis, while assuming certain morphological and biochemical characteristics of the type I cell phenotype. The objective of this study was to elucidate the enzymatic mechanism(s) responsible for increased AA accumulation in this model. Cells were examined both early in culture (2 days), when they retained type II cell features, and later in culture (7 days), when they are known to express a number of type I cell characteristics. An increase in AA levels at day 7 persisted despite inhibition of AA reacylation, suggesting that differences in deacylation were responsible for differences in free fatty acid levels. These differences in deacylation were not explained by differing susceptibilities to hydrolysis of radiolabeled endogenous lipids from day 2 and day 7 cells. The phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities at both days in culture were qualitatively similar and typical of the recently described high-molecular-mass cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), but activity in day 7 cytosol was threefold greater than that present in day 2 cytosol. A neutralizing anti-cPLA2 antibody reduced the PLA2 activity in day 7 cytosol to the level found in day 2 cytosol. Immunoblot analysis failed to detect expression of low-molecular-mass PLA2 proteins but confirmed that expression of the 97-kDa cPLA2 was greater in day 7 cytosol than in day 2 cytosol. These results indicate that increased levels of unesterified AA in AEC with phenotype altered during culture are due to augmented steady-state expression of cPLA2 and suggest for the first time that expression of cPLA2 is differentiation dependent.

• Gronich J, Konieczkowski M, Gelb MH, Nemenoff RA, Sedor JR
• Interleukin 1 alpha causes rapid activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 by phosphorylation in rat mesangial cells.
• J Clin Invest. 1994; 93: 1224-33
• Display abstract

• We have shown previously that interleukin 1 (IL-1) stimulates eicosanoid production in glomerular mesangial cells (MC) by de novo synthesis of a 14-kD, group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2). IL-1-stimulated prostaglandin E2 synthesis precedes expression of this enzyme, suggesting that another PLA2 isoform must be more rapidly activated. In the presence but not absence of calcium inophore, [3H]arachidonate release is increased significantly as early as 5 min after addition of IL-1, and IL-1 concurrently stimulates a Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase activity, which was characterized as the cytosolic form of PLA2 (cPLA2). IL-1 does not alter either cPLA2 mRNA expression or mass in serum-stimulated MC, suggesting that cPLA2 activity is increased by a posttranslational modification. IL-1 treatment for 30 min doubles 32P incorporation into immunoprecipitable cPLA2 protein, concordant with the increase in enzyme activity. Immunoblot analysis of extracts derived from IL-1-treated (30 min) cells demonstrates a decreased mobility of cPLA2, and treatment of MC lysates with acid phosphatase significantly reduces cytokine-activated cPLA2 activity, further indicating that IL-1 stimulates phosphorylation of the enzyme. IL-1 treatment (24 h) of serum-deprived MC doubled cPLA2 mRNA, protein, and activity. In summary, IL-1 increases cPLA2 activity in a biphasic, time-dependent manner both by posttranslational modification and de novo synthesis. We consider cPLA2 activation a key step in IL-1-stimulated synthesis of pro-inflammatory, lipid mediators, and an integral event in the phenotypic responses induced in target cells by this cytokine.

• Bartoli F, Lin HK, Ghomashchi F, Gelb MH, Jain MK, Apitz-Castro R
• Tight binding inhibitors of 85-kDa phospholipase A2 but not 14-kDa phospholipase A2 inhibit release of free arachidonate in thrombin-stimulated human platelets.
• J Biol Chem. 1994; 269: 15625-30
• Display abstract

• An analogue of arachidonic acid in which the COOH group is replaced by a trifluoromethyl ketone group (COCF3) has recently been shown to be a tight binding inhibitor of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 that is found in platelets and other cells (Street, I. P., Lin, H.-K., Laliberte, F., Ghomashchi, F. G., Wang, Z., Perrier, H., Tremblay, N. M., Huang, Z., Weech, P. K., and Gelb, M. H. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 5935-5940). This trifluoromethyl ketone inhibits most of the arachidonate release from the phospholipid pool in thrombin-stimulated human platelets at concentrations of 0-40 microM with 4 x 10(8) platelets/ml. A structure-function analysis of related compounds reveals a good correlation between the inhibition of the purified phospholipase A2 and the blockage of arachidonate release in platelets. A number of recently described potent inhibitors of the 14-kDa phospholipase A2 that is secreted from activated platelets have no effect on the level of free arachidonate production. Furthermore, the addition of a large amount of recombinant 14-kDa phospholipase A2 to platelets does not produce free arachidonate, and it does not alter the amount of arachidonate released following platelet activation with thrombin. These studies provide strong pharmacological evidence for the role of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 in producing most, if not all, of the liberated arachidonate in thrombin-stimulated human platelets, and they show that tight binding membrane-residing inhibitors of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 can block the eicosanoid cascade in living cells.

• Li B et al.
• Inactivation of a cytosolic phospholipase A2 by thiol-modifying reagents: cysteine residues as potential targets of phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1994; 33: 8594-603
• Display abstract

• The cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) from the human monocytic cell line U937 contains nine cysteine residues and is subject to oxidation. Iodoacetamide and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) were used to explore the susceptibility of cysteine residues to thiol modification agents as outlined in Schemes 2 and 3. In the absence of thiol reducing agents such as DTT, cPLA2 takes up only 2.8 equiv of [1-14C]iodoacetamide at pH 8.03/37 degrees C. With DTT present, cPLA2 is in its fully reduced form, and 4-5 equiv of acetamide are taken up without altering enzyme activity to give IA-cPLA2. A single equivalent of DTNB suffices to inactivate IA-cPLA2, giving a TNB-labeled enzyme, with the loss of activity correlating with release of an equivalent of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoate. The TNB-labeled enzyme is quite stable up to 33 degrees C; enzyme activity is recoverable with DTT, even after this disulfide-enzyme adduct is incubated with iodoacetamide at pH 9.5, conditions that inactivate the free enzyme. At pH 9.5/37 degrees C, a single equivalent of 14C-labeled iodoacetamide is incorporated by IA-cPLA2 concomitant with complete loss of enzyme activity. Amino acid analysis of the 14C-labeled enzyme indicates that only cysteine residues are labeled. Lys-C digestion of labeled enzyme with 2 M guanidine at pH 8.0 yields a 40-mer peptide. Amino acid sequencing establishes that the label resides primarily in Cys324, although Cys331 is also labeled. These results identify a region of the enzyme that is susceptible to labeling by group modification reagents and may represent a suitable target for small molecule inhibitors.

• Saris NE
• Stimulation of phospholipase A2 activity in mitochondria by magnesium and polyamines.
• Magnes Res. 1994; 7: 5-10
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• Endogenous phospholipase A2 activity in hypotonically swollen, non-respiring rat liver mitochondria was found to be stimulated by 1-10 mM magnesium and by 0.5-1.2 mM of the polyamines spermine and spermidine in the absence of added calcium. This was interpreted as being due to effects of these cations on the physicochemical properties of membrane phospholipids. The activity in the presence of 0.2 mM calcium was inhibited by 0.2 mM strontium. The calcium-stimulated activities were stimulated more than twofold in hypotonically (50 mOsm/litre) swollen mitochondria in comparison with non-swollen mitochondria.

• Mukherjee AB, Miele L, Pattabiraman N
• Phospholipase A2 enzymes: regulation and physiological role.
• Biochem Pharmacol. 1994; 48: 1-10

• Levrat C, Louisot P
• Study of the succinate dehydrogenase activation in permeabilized mitochondria through the Ca(2+)-stimulated phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1994; 34: 569-78
• Display abstract

• The development of a mitochondrial membrane permeability triggered by the Ca(2+)-stimulation of PLA2 (phospholipase A2; EC 3.1.1.4.) and based on swelling, polyunsaturated fatty acids release and calcium influx, induced the activation of SDH (succinate dehydrogenase; EC 1.3.9.9.) without damaging mitochondria structures. The activity of SDH increased within the length of permeabilization treatment before reaching a plateau. The study of Km and Vm showed that the affinity of SDH for succinate and the maximal velocity were increased. Based on these results, the change of SDH activity triggered under these conditions could be explained by a substrate activation of SDH taking account that the succinate content was significantly enhanced.

• Ackermann EJ, Kempner ES, Dennis EA
• Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 from macrophage-like P388D1 cells. Isolation and characterization.
• J Biol Chem. 1994; 269: 9227-33
• Display abstract

• A novel form of an ATP-regulated, oligomeric, Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) has been purified from the cytosol of the murine macrophage-like cell line P388D1. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate precipitation and sequential column chromatography on octyl-Sepharose, ATP-agarose, Mono Q fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), and hydroxyapatite FPLC. The resulting enzyme preparation was purified over 400,000-fold with a final specific activity of approximately 5 mumol/min/mg using a mixed micelle assay system of Triton X-100 and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (PC). The purified enzyme was Ca(2+)-independent and did not show a preference for either sn-2 arachidonic acid or sn-1 alkyl-ether containing phospholipids when utilizing mixed micelles as substrate. It was found to hydrolyze dipalmitoyl-PC approximately 4-fold faster than 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-PC and approximately 15-fold faster than 1-O-hexadecyl-2-arachidonyl-PC. Triton X-100 increased the P388D1 iPLA2 activity with optimal activity found at a Triton/phospholipid molar ratio of 4:1. The purified enzyme was activated 2-6-fold by ATP as well as other di- and triphosphate nucleosides. This activation was sensitive to the concentration of Triton X-100 present in the assay. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis carried out on the purified enzyme yielded a single major band at a molecular weight of about 80,000. However, radiation inactivation experiments, carried out on the cell homogenate, demonstrated a target size of 337 +/- 25 kDa, indicating that the catalytically active iPLA2 exists as a large oligomeric complex, either through self-aggregation or association of the enzyme with other proteins.

• Gelb MH, Jain MK, Berg OG
• Inhibition of phospholipase A2.
• FASEB J. 1994; 8: 916-24
• Display abstract

• Phospholipases A2 are involved in inflammatory processes such as the liberation of free arachidonic acid from the membrane pool for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids. Inhibitors of these enzymes are proving useful in determining the biological roles of phospholipases A2 in complex cellular processes and may also have therapeutic potential. Inhibition of these lipolytic enzymes is more difficult to characterize as the enzymatic reaction occurs at a lipid/water interface. This review focuses on the description of a number of classes of rationally designed phospholipase A2 inhibitors. The development of a theoretical framework for the proper analysis of inhibitors is presented. Structural studies of phospholipase A2-inhibitor complexes suggest how the lipolysis reaction is catalyzed. Finally, some recent results on the use of phospholipase A2 inhibitors in living cells and tissues are revealed.

• Ferreira JP, Sasisekharan R, Louie O, Langer R
• Carbodiimide modification enhances activity of pig pancreatic phospholipase A2.
• Eur J Biochem. 1994; 223: 611-6
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• Pig phospholipase A2, pig iso-phospholipase A2 and bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 were reacted in solution with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, in the presence of N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide, at pH 7. The influence of micellar protectants was analyzed. In the presence of n-hexadecylphosphocholine, the losses of activity in micellar diheptanoyl-lecithin were 80, 35, and 10% in bovine phospholipase A2, pig iso-phospholipase A2, and pig phospholipase A2, respectively. With 1-oleoylglycerophosphocholine, the bovine enzyme lost 40% activity, but the pig enzyme was activated sevenfold. The modified pig enzyme showed pre-micellar activation on monomeric diheptanoyl-lecithin, and either reduced or increased activities on mixed micelles of bile salt with egg phosphatidylcholine, depending on the composition of the micelles. This activation is consistent with previous protein-engineering studies of pig pancreatic phospholipase A2. In this study, we present new information concerning the specificity and interfacial recognition behaviour of this enzyme in relation to this activation.

• Scott DL, Sigler PB
• Structure and catalytic mechanism of secretory phospholipases A2.
• Adv Protein Chem. 1994; 45: 53-88

• Dennis EA
• Diversity of group types, regulation, and function of phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1994; 269: 13057-60

• Verity MA, Sarafian T, Pacifici EH, Sevanian A
• Phospholipase A2 stimulation by methyl mercury in neuron culture.
• J Neurochem. 1994; 62: 705-14
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• In primary prelabeled cultures of cerebellar granule cells, methyl mercury (MeHg) induced a concentration- and time-dependent release of [3H]arachidonic acid. MeHg-induced [3H]arachidonate release was partially dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. MeHg at 10-20 microM also stimulated basal 45Ca2+ uptake after 20 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, and at 10 microM inhibited K+ depolarization-stimulated uptake. MeHg stimulated [3H]arachidonate uptake, but had no effect on the rate of phospholipid reacylation. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation preceded cytotoxicity, but at higher concentrations of MeHg such dissociation was not evident. Inhibition of MeHg-induced PLA2 activation by 100 microM mepacrine failed to modify cytotoxicity. MeHg-induced lipoperoxidation, measured as the production of thiobarbituric acid-reacting products, was inhibited by alpha-tocopherol without inhibition of [3H]arachidonate release. The absence of alpha-tocopherol inhibition of MeHg-induced arachidonate release precludes a causal role for lipoperoxide-induced PLA2 activation in this system. Moreover, MeHg induced an increased susceptibility of unilamellar vesicles to exogenous PLA2 in the presence of low Ca2+ concentrations without evidence of lipid peroxidation. [3H]Arachidonate incorporation into granule neuron phospholipids was analyzed by isocratic HPLC analysis. Relatively high proportional incorporation was found in the combined phosphatidylcholine fractions and phosphatidylinositol. With MeHg, an increase in the relative specific activity of incorporation was found in the phosphatidylinositol fraction, indicating a preferential turnover in this phospholipid species in the presence of MeHg.

• Kim DK, Lee HJ, Lee Y
• Detection of two phospholipase A2(PLA2) activities in leaves of higher plant Vicia faba and comparison with mammalian PLA2's.
• FEBS Lett. 1994; 343: 213-8
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• Leaves of higher plant Vicia faba contains two Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities which are detected in cytosolic fractions. Based on a gel filtration column chromatography, two cytosolic PLA2 activities migrated with molecular masses of 70 kDa and 14 kDa. The first (70 kDa peak) was optimally active at pH 4.5 and was not dependent on [Ca2+] for its activity. In the presence of 5 mM CaCl2, 'phospholipase B' activity was shown in the 70 kDa peak. The second (14 kDa peak) was optimally active in the pH range 9-10 and required millimolar concentrations of calcium for optimal activity. The two activities were not inhibited by dithiothreitol. Neither anti-pancreatic PLA2 antiserum nor anti-(pig spleen 100 kDa cytosolic PLA2) antiserum immunoprecipitated any activity of the two plant PLA2's. The present results indicate that at least the 14 kDa form of the two PLA2 enzymes detected in leaves of higher plants is biochemically and immunochemically different from the well characterized Ca(2+)-dependent mammalian PLA2's.

• Nakatani Y, Hara S, Murakami M, Kudo I, Inoue K
• Characterization of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in rat mastocytoma RBL-2H3.
• Biol Pharm Bull. 1994; 17: 47-50
• Display abstract

• We previously reported that cultured mast cells expressed three discrete phospholipases A2 (PLA2S), one of which showed a remarkable preference for phospholipids bearing an arachidonoyl residue at the sn-2 position [M. Murakami, et al., J. Biochem., 111, 175 (1992)]. In the present study, we have purified and characterized this enzyme using rat mastocytoma RBL-2H3 as an enzyme source. The elution profiles of the arachidonoyl-preferential PLA2 activity of rat mastocytoma RBL-2H3 cells on several column chromatographies were indistinguishable from those of 85-kDa cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) characterized so far. The molecular mass of the partially purified PLA2 was estimated to be about 90 kDa by gel filtration and it hydrolyzed arachidonate-containing phospholipids preferentially in the presence of submicromolar Ca2+ concentrations. Furthermore, it was immunoprecipitated with an anti-rabbit cPLA2 antibody almost completely. From these observations, we have concluded that the arachidonoyl-preferential PLA2 in mast cells belongs to the "cPLA2" family.

• Baker BL, Blaxall BC, Reese DA, Smith GR, Bell JD
• Quantification of the interaction between lysolecithin and phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1994; 1211: 289-300
• Display abstract

• The rate of hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine bilayers by phospholipase A2 may be either enhanced or inhibited by the presence of lysolecithin depending on the experimental conditions examined. To further understand the relationship of lysolecithin to phospholipase A2 activity, the binding of lysolecithin to phospholipase A2 from the venom of Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus was examined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The tryptophan emission intensity of the enzyme was enhanced by 70% upon addition of lysolecithin. The binding isotherm for lysolecithin to the phospholipase A2 estimated from the fluorescence change was biphasic, with a clear break in the curve occurring at the critical micelle concentration of the lysolecithin. Several observations suggested that the phospholipase A2 was capable of hydrolyzing the lysolecithin although at a rate far below that of phospholipid hydrolysis. These experiments were repeated using several other species of phospholipase A2, and the results were found to be general among the enzymes except the lys-49 isozyme from A. p. piscivorus which displayed neither the dependence on the critical micelle concentration for binding nor the ability to hydrolyze lysolecithin. These results were used as the basis for a quantitative analysis of enzyme fluorescence changes that occur during the time course of phospholipid hydrolysis and of the mechanism whereby lysolecithin inhibits the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine bilayers by phospholipase A2.

• Vesterqvist O, Sargent CA, Grover GJ, Warrack BM, DiDonato GC, Ogletree ML
• Characterization of rabbit myocardial phospholipase A2 activity using endogenous phospholipid substrates.
• Anal Biochem. 1994; 217: 210-9
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• We have developed an assay for studying myocardial phospholipase A2 activity by measuring accumulation of lysophospholipids resulting from hydrolysis of the endogenous choline glycerophospholipid pool. This assay was used to characterize phospholipase A2 activity in rabbit myocardium. Lyophilized rabbit myocardium was incubated at 37 degrees C in Tris-HCl buffer containing either ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)/EDTA or calcium, and palmitoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine (P-LPC), oleoyl-LPC, stearoyl-LPC, and 16:0-lysoplasmenylcholine were measured using a recently developed HPLC method. The identity of the individual species was confirmed by ion-spray LC-MS-MS. In the presence of EGTA/EDTA, incubation for up to 30 min caused a linear increase in all lysophospholipids. The main increases were found in P-LPC and 16:0-lysoplasmenylcholine, which increased by 37 +/- 3 (mean +/- SE, N = 8) and 48 +/- 3 nmol/g dry wt x min, respectively. The apparent phospholipase A2 activity was found to be calcium, temperature, and pH sensitive. The pH optimum was between 6.5 and 8.0, and incubation at room temperature and 45 degrees C decreased the activity by 80 and 40%, respectively. Studies of the metabolism of the formed lysophospholipids showed a substantial metabolism of the lysophospholipids that accounted for about 40% of the total phospholipase A2 activity. This method offers a novel approach to study phospholipase A2 activities by measuring accumulation of products resulting from hydrolysis of endogenous phospholipid pools.

• Salgo MG, Squadrito GL, Pryor WA
• Effect of ozonation products on phospholipase A2 hydrolytic activity: use of bis(1-hydroxyheptyl)peroxide as a precursor of the ozonation product 1-hydroxy-1-hydroperoxyheptane.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994; 203: 80-6
• Display abstract

• Bis(1-hydroxyheptyl)peroxide (BisC7) upon spontaneous hydrolysis affords the difficult-to-isolate ozonation product 1-hydroxy-1-hydroperoxyheptane along with heptanal. PLA2 hydrolytic activity is enhanced when the BisC7 hydrolysis products are incorporated in the membrane of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes, suggesting they cause a pronounced alteration in the bilayer packing order. Conversely, inhibition is observed when PLA2 is incubated with BisC7 hydrolytic products prior to incubation with the liposomes, suggesting that these products are capable of reacting with and modifying the enzyme when present in solution.

• Maliwal BP et al.
• Functional significance of the conformational dynamics of the N-terminal segment of secreted phospholipase A2 at the interface.
• Biochemistry. 1994; 33: 4509-16
• Display abstract

• The kinetic and fluorescence properties of several pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) with substitutions and deletions in the N-terminal region and of tyrosines 52 and 73 are characterized. The substitutions Ala-1-D-Ala or -Gly, Trp-3-Phe, Gln-4-Nle, Arg-6-Glu, Tyr-52-Phe, and Tyr-73-Phe had at the most only a modest effect on the interfacial catalytic activity on the anionic interface to which they bind with high affinity. The observed rate of hydrolysis in the scooting mode by deletion mutants lacking one or more successive residues from the N-terminal region was lower by 50-95%. Detailed kinetic analysis of the deletion mutant lacking Ala-1 (des-1-AMPA) showed that the 50% decrease in the rate is due to a 5-fold increase in the interfacial Michaelis-Menten parameter, KM*, without a significant change in kcat. These results and direct measurements show that the primary effect of Ala-1 deletion is to lower the affinity for the active site directed ligands. Although the affinity of these mutants for anionic interface remains the same as for the wild type, the affinity for zwitterionic neutral diluents is considerably lower. Significant differences in the fluorescence quantum yields and the heterogeneity in the frequency-domain fluorescence intensity decays of these enzymes suggest that both in solution and at the interface the N-terminal region is an ensemble of conformations rather than a discrete state. Additional results suggest that the interfacial microenvironment of Trp-3 in des-1-AMPA is more polar and Trp-3 is more accessible to quenching by acrylamide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Xing M, Wilkins PL, McConnell BK, Mattera R
• Regulation of phospholipase A2 activity in undifferentiated and neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Linkage between impaired responses to agonists and absence of protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1994; 269: 3117-24
• Display abstract

• We compared the regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activity in undifferentiated and neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Although Ca(2+)-mobilizing P2-purinergic receptors are expressed in both cell types, arachidonic acid (AA) release stimulated by P2-purinergic agonists was 5-7-fold higher in the differentiated cells. Similarly, the stimulation of AA release by AlF4- in intact cells or by ATP and guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) in electropermeabilized cells was significantly higher in the differentiated cells. Treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced A23187-stimulated AA release in intact HL60 granulocytes with minimal effects in the undifferentiated cells. Immunoblotting experiments showed similar levels of cPLA2 and of agonist-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in both cell types. Experiments measuring stimulation of AA release by either melittin, using endogenously labeled intact cells, or Ca2+, using homogenates and exogenous substrate, indicated that undifferentiated cells do not lack an activatable PLA2. The stimulatory effects of GTP gamma S and Ca2+ on AA release in homogenates from endogenously labeled cells suggested that undifferentiated cells display G protein-cPLA2 coupling. Basal and PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of cPLA2 was detected in differentiated, but not in undifferentiated cells. However, the two cell types displayed only subtle differences in the time courses of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase triggered by agonists and PMA. The observed defect in cPLA2 phosphorylation may represent the alteration preventing agonist-mediated stimulation of AA release in undifferentiated HL60 cells.

• Bomalaski JS, Clark MA
• Phospholipase A2 and arthritis.
• Arthritis Rheum. 1993; 36: 190-8
• Display abstract

• Over the last 30 years, interest in PLA2 has grown beyond its enzymatic capacity to cleave phospholipids. It has been recognized as the rate-limiting step in the release of arachidonic acid and subsequent formation of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and other bioactive lipids. Subsequently, PLA2 has not only been found to be present in high concentrations in inflammatory arthritis, but also to induce inflammation when injected into animals. At the same time, investigators into mechanisms of signal transduction demonstrated that a variety of cytokines including IL-1 and TNF, which are found in high concentrations in synovial fluid from patients with RA, stimulate PLA2 activity. These investigations demonstrated further the central role for PLA2 in inflammatory events, especially inflammatory arthritis. Numerous other PLA2 proteins, in addition to the low molecular weight synovial fluid/platelet enzyme, also have been characterized. Their clinical role in arthritis is yet to be elucidated. Human proteins which either inhibit or stimulate PLA2 have also been identified, characterized, and cloned. More recently, exciting investigations, primarily from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, into inhibitors of PLA2 have been reported. New PLA2-regulating compounds, which will hopefully move from the laboratory and through clinical trials and then be used to treat patients with arthritis, are on the horizon.

• Pote KG, Hauer CR 3rd, Michel H, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Kretsinger RH
• Otoconin-22, the major protein of aragonitic frog otoconia, is a homolog of phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 5017-24
• Display abstract

• Otoconia are composites of proteins and inorganic crystals formed in the peripheral portion of the vestibular system of vertebrates. They add mass to the extracellular otoconial membrane, thereby increasing its deflection during linear acceleration. This added mass increases the sensitivity of the underlying sensory maculae. Otoconia provide a promising system to decipher the interaction of protein and mineral during the growth and maintenance of biominerals. We have purified the major protein of the aragonitic otoconia of Xenopus laevis, which we call otoconin-22, and determined its amino acid sequence and carbohydrate composition. The 127 residues are 37% identical to the phospholipase A2 from Crotalus atrox. We propose that otoconin-22 from X. laevis is homologous to phospholipase A2 and has a similar tertiary structure.

• Boucrot P, Khettab EN, Petit JY, Welin L
• [Inhibition of phospholipase A2 of peritoneal macrophages in rats by 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine]
• C R Acad Sci III. 1993; 316: 169-76
• Display abstract

• The 1-O-stearoyl-2-O-[3H] arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, introduced in the culture medium, was taken up by the peritoneal macrophages activated by the ionophore A 23187. After intracellular phospholipase A2 activity, the [3H] arachidonic acid was found in cells and in extracellular fluids. It also reached the eicosanoid synthesis. When it was introduced in the culture medium with the tritiated phospholipid, the 1, 2 di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine, which has a non hydrolysable alkylated structure in the 2 position of the glycerol, inhibited the intracellular phospholipase A2, then contributed to lower the eicosanoid synthesis.

• Yu BZ, Berg OG, Jain MK
• The divalent cation is obligatory for the binding of ligands to the catalytic site of secreted phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 6485-92
• Display abstract

• The divalent cation requirement for partial reactions of the catalytic turnover cycle during interfacial catalysis by pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is investigated. Results show that the specific role of calcium in all the events of the catalytic cycle at the active site is not shared by other divalent cations. Cations such as calcium, barium, and cadmium bind to the enzyme in the aqueous phase. The active-site-directed ligands (substrate, products, and transition-state mimics) do not bind to the enzyme in the absence of a divalent cation. The synergistic binding of such ligands to the active site of PLA2 bound to the interface is, however, observed only in the presence of isosteric ions like calcium and cadmium, but not with larger ions like strontium or barium. The equilibrium constants for ligands bound to the enzyme in the presence of calcium and cadmium are virtually the same. However, only calcium supports the catalytic turnover; the rate of hydrolysis in the presence of cadmium is less than 1% of that observed with calcium. The role of divalent ions on the interfacial catalytic turnover cycle of PLA2 is not only due to the cation-assisted binding of the substrate but also due to its participation in the chemical step. Other roles of divalent ions in the events of interfacial catalytic turnover are also identified. For example, the binding of the enzyme to the interface is apparently promoted because the divalent cation is required for the sequential step, i.e., the binding of the substrate to the active site of PLA2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Snoj M
• Intra-abdominal adhesion formation is initiated by phospholipase A2.
• Med Hypotheses. 1993; 41: 525-8
• Display abstract

• The etiology of intra-abdominal adhesions is explained by hydrolysis of the peritoneal phospholipid layer caused by phospholipase A2 activity. This view could unify the pre-existing hypotheses that intra-abdominal adhesions are due to ischemia or increased plasminogen activator activity. New therapeutic approaches are suggested.

• Withiam-Leitch M, Aletta JM, Koshlukova SE, Rupp G, Beaudoin AR, Rubin RP
• Glycoprotein 2 of zymogen granule membranes shares immunological cross-reactivity and sequence similarity with phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993; 194: 1167-74
• Display abstract

• Glycoprotein 2 (GP2), the major protein of rat pancreatic zymogen granule membranes (ZGMs), cross-reacted with an antiserum against porcine secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). Amino acid sequence comparison showed 45% similarity and 23% identity between porcine PLA2 and the C-terminal portion of GP2. An antiserum to intestinal brush border Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 (bbPLA2) also recognized GP2. The antigenic and sequence similarities between GP2, sPLA2, and bbPLA2 imply that the role of GP2 in cellular function is associated with phospholipid binding and/or hydrolysis.

• Jones ST, Ahlstrom P, Berendsen HJ, Pickersgill RW
• Molecular dynamics simulation of a phospholipase A2-substrate complex.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993; 1162: 135-42
• Display abstract

• We have used knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of phospholipids and phospholipases A2 together with biochemical data, computer graphics modelling and a 48 ps molecular dynamics simulation to predict the structure of a phospholipase A2-substrate complex. There is remarkable similarity between this predicted structure of enzyme-substrate complex and the structure that can be deduced from the observed enzyme-inhibitor complex. Molecular dynamics simulation highlights the importance of the calcium-ion in substrate binding and the persistence of the His-48 to water-hydrogen bond is compatible with the proposed role of this water molecule as the nucleophile in catalysis.

• Yu L, Dennis EA
• Effect of polar head groups on the interactions of phospholipase A2 with phosphonate transition-state analogues.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 10185-92
• Display abstract

• Several new phosphonate-containing phospholipid analogues were synthesized as inhibitors of cobra venom (Naja naja naja) phospholipase A2. These phospholipid analogues contained a novel thioether at the sn-1 position, a tetrahedral phosphonate moiety in place of the scissile ester bond at the sn-2 position, and several different polar head groups, including phosphocholine, phospho(N,N-dimethylethanolamine), phospho(N-methylethanolamine), and phosphoethanolamine. The affinities of these analogues for the enzyme were evaluated in the well-defined Triton X-100 mixed micelle system using thio-PC and thio-PE substrates. These phosphonates inhibited thio-PC hydrolysis with very similar potencies. Inhibition of phospholipase A2 by phosphonates is known to be pH-dependent [Yu, L., & Dennis, E. A. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 9325-9329]. At pH 5.5, all of the new analogues had IC50s of about 2 x 10(-5) mol fraction. At this pH, these inhibitors are the most potent reversible inhibitors of phospholipase A2 reported to date. In contrast, at pH 8.5, the PE analogue was a potent inhibitor of thio-PC hydrolysis (IC50 1.8 x 10(-3) mol fraction) but was a very poor inhibitor of thio-PE hydrolysis (IC50 is not detectable). However, the inhibition of thio-PE hydrolysis was dramatically enhanced when the enzyme was activated by sphingomyelin, suggesting that the phosphonate inhibitors bind much more tightly to the activated enzyme than to the nonactivated enzyme. The activation and inhibition of the enzyme have different pH dependencies; the enzyme activation is not pH-dependent, whereas the enzyme inhibition is pH-dependent. These results confirm the presence of a functionally distinct activator site on this enzyme.

• Marki F et al.
• Differential inhibition of human secretory and cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Agents Actions. 1993; 38: 202-11
• Display abstract

• The roles and relative contributions of secretory and cytosolic phospholipases A2 in physiology and pathology are not precisely known. In a search for differential inhibitors of these enzymes, which could serve as tools to clarify this issue, we evaluated the potencies of reference compounds and three series of new compounds, viz. substrate analogues, 1,2-amino alcohols and enolized beta-tricarbonyl derivatives, as inhibitors of secretory phospholipase A2 from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (sPLA2) and of cytosolic phospholipase A2 from human U937 cells (cPLA2). With few exceptions, the compounds selected are potent inhibitors of sPLA2 with IC50 values (concentration inhibiting 50%) in the low micromolar range. Inhibition of cPLA2 was only observed with some phosphate-free substrate analogues, with 1,2-amino alcohols and two of seven reference compounds. These results suggest that inhibition of secretory and of cytosolic phospholipases A2 are independent effects. Several inhibitors could be identified with a marked selectivity for sPLA2.

• Delot E, Bon C
• Model for the interaction of crotoxin, a phospholipase A2 neurotoxin, with presynaptic membranes.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 10708-13
• Display abstract

• Crotoxin is a phospholipase A2 neurotoxin that impairs the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions, primarily at the presynaptic level. It associates a phospholipase A2 subunit, CB, with a chaperon subunit, CA. We have shown elsewhere that the purely cholinergic synaptosomes from the Torpedo electric organ provided a convenient model to study the pharmacology of crotoxin and other related neurotoxins [Delot, E., & Bon, C. (1992) J. Neurochem. 58, 311-319]. In the present experiments, we labeled crotoxin with 125I and demonstrated saturable binding to Torpedo presynaptic membranes. In the range of concentrations that was effective on synaptosomes, crotoxin bound to a single class of sites without cooperativity. The binding was affected by divalent cations, and its kinetics was rather complex. We observed a competition between crotoxin and related neurotoxins, but not CB. Although CA could not bind, it could compete efficiently with crotoxin. We compare our results with those previously obtained by others on guinea pig brain membranes. On Torpedo membranes, as on all models tested, CB was the major species bound to the membrane, while CA remained in solution. However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon had never been clarified. The major question is the time scale of the events, i.e., does CB bind before or after dissociating from CA? Our results indicate that the predominant pathway involves the formation of a ternary complex between crotoxin's subunits and the acceptor site preceding the release of CA.

• Akiba S, Sato T, Fujii T
• Evidence for an increase in the association of cytosolic phospholipase A2 with the cytoskeleton of stimulated rabbit platelets.
• J Biochem (Tokyo). 1993; 113: 4-6
• Display abstract

• Following stimulation of rabbit platelets with thrombin, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity increased in the Triton X-100-insoluble residue. Although the PLA2 activity was dependent on the protein content of the residue from the stimulated cells, the specific activity was higher than that in the case of unstimulated cells. The enzyme activity was inhibited by p-bromophenacyl bromide and increased significantly with 0.5-10 microM Ca2+. The enzyme hydrolyzed phospholipids having an arachidonoyl residue more effectively than ones with a linoleoyl residue. In addition, 70% of the enzyme activity was immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody against cytosolic PLA2 of rabbit platelets, while it was inhibited by only 20% by an antibody that neutralizes the activity of group II PLA2. These results suggest an increase in the association of cytosolic PLA2 with cytoskeleton upon stimulation of rabbit platelets.

• van den Berg JJ, Op den Kamp JA, Lubin BH, Kuypers FA
• Conformational changes in oxidized phospholipids and their preferential hydrolysis by phospholipase A2: a monolayer study.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 4962-7
• Display abstract

• Cleavage of oxidized fatty acids by phospholipase A2 has been implicated as the first step in the repair mechanism for oxidative damage to membrane phospholipids. However, the mechanism by which this enzyme preferentially hydrolyzes oxidized fatty acyl chains is poorly understood. Using a lipid monolayer technique, we found that the molecular surface areas of 1-palmitoyl-2-(9/13-hydroperoxylinoleoyl)-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC-OOH) and 1-palmitoyl-2-(9/13-hydroxylinoleoyl)phosphatidylcholine (PLPC-OH) were increased by as much as 50% relative to the parent nonoxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoylphosphatidylcholine (PLPC). These experimental data directly indicate a drastically changed molecular conformation of oxidized phospholipids in which the hydroperoxy or hydroxy group in the sn-2 fatty acid is close to the lipid-water interface. Phospholipases A2 from porcine pancreas and from bee venom were shown to break down PLPC-OOH and PLPC-OH monolayers much faster than PLPC monolayers. In all cases, the presence of serum albumin in the subphase enhanced monolayer breakdown by extracting hydrolysis products from the monolayer, but monolayer breakdown was always much faster for oxidized than for nonoxidized PLPC. This did not appear to be due to change in the extent of monolayer penetration by phospholipase A2, since enzyme-monolayer interaction studies revealed essentially identical penetration behavior of bee venom phospholipase A2 with PLPC, PLPC-OOH, and PLPC-OH monolayers. We propose that the altered molecular conformation of oxidized phospholipids facilitates access to the sn-2 ester bond, thereby ensuring their preferential hydrolysis in the presence of a phospholipase A2.

• Castagnet PI, Giusto NM
• Properties of phospholipase A2 activity from bovine retinal rod outer segments.
• Exp Eye Res. 1993; 56: 709-19
• Display abstract

• In the present paper the properties of a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity associated with rod outer segments (ROS) have been studied. Under adequate experimental conditions, ROS PLA2 activity presented a maximum at pH 9.0. When using 1-palmitoyl-2[1- 14C]arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine as substrate, the apparent Km value was 36.5 microM and the Vmax value was 0.612 nanomol per hour per mg protein. The enzyme was fully activated at free calcium concentrations in the range 100- 300 microM. Concentrations of CaCl2 above 1 milliM inhibited its activity as a function of the ion concentration. The presence of EGTA or EDTA caused a 73% inhibition of PLA2 activity in ROS relative to the activity observed when no calcium was added. Treatment of the membranes with different kinds of detergents (Triton X-100, sodium deoxycholate and CHAPS) at concentrations below and above their critical micelle concentration resulted in an inhibition of PLA2 activity. However, when Triton X-100 was present at a concentration of 0.05 milliM, no significant change in enzymatic activity could be observed. Maximum inhibition was observed in the presence of CHAPS 25 milliM (87%). Seventy-five percent of PLA2 activity was recovered in ROS membranes after extraction of soluble and peripheral proteins. When retina phospholipids labelled with [3H]oleic acid and [3H]arachidonic acid were used as substrates, (diradyl)- ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EtnGpl) were hydrolysed more efficiently than phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho). Moreover, hydrolysis of both phospholipids was stimulated when the substrates presented a higher degree of unsaturation in their fatty acyl components.

• Salgo MG, Corongiu FP, Sevanian A
• Enhanced interfacial catalysis and hydrolytic specificity of phospholipase A2 toward peroxidized phosphatidylcholine vesicles.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1993; 304: 123-32
• Display abstract

• The hydrolytic action of phospholipase A2 was examined with unilamellar vesicles composed of soybean phosphatidylcholine in terms of the calcium dependency of the enzyme and substrate specificity following lipid peroxidation. Experiments were performed under conditions where enzyme:substrate ratios were low, specifically in the range of one to five enzyme molecules for every 10 vesicle particles. Accordingly, low hydrolytic activities were found where less than 15% of the phospholipids were hydrolyzed under the various conditions of time, enzyme:substrate ratios, calcium concentrations, and extent of peroxidation utilized. Vesicle peroxidation increased the Ca2+ binding potential to a degree comparable to addition of the anionic phospholipid, dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA). A remarkable similarity was found between the binding profiles for Ca2+ and phospholipase A2 activity; however, enzyme activity toward oxidized vesicles was beyond the increases observed for Ca2+ binding. Under conditions where approximately 5% of the phospholipids were peroxidized the effective Ca2+ concentration required for half-maximal activity was less than one-half that required for unoxidized vesicles. Peroxidation of vesicle phospholipids markedly increased the rate and extent of hydrolysis, even in the presence of DOPA or deoxycholate. Deoxycholate is known to induce vesicle fusion such that a larger proportion of enzyme is associated with a fewer number of enlarged vesicles. Using a dual isotope technique to measure hydrolysis of oxidized vs unoxidized phospholipids and covesicle preparations to study enzyme binding and activity, a significantly greater apparent intervesicle exchange of enzyme was found after peroxidation of vesicles with more than a twofold hydrolytic specificity toward the oxidized phospholipids. We postulate that a combination of structural and Ca2+ binding affinity changes are produced in membranes following lipid peroxidation which evoke an additive effect on PLA2 activity. Although oxidized phospholipids may serve as activators of phospholipase A2 by presenting the interface in a form where Ca2+ and enzyme binding and/or specific activity are increased, an additional and important factor appears to involve membrane fusion or vesicle-vesicle interactions. This process facilitates enzyme activity through the replenishment of substrates wherein the otherwise limited interaction of enzyme and substrate is overcome by more rapid or extensive vesicle fusion which increases access to the phospholipids available in the preparation.

• Mayer RJ, Marshall LA
• New insights on mammalian phospholipase A2(s); comparison of arachidonoyl-selective and -nonselective enzymes.
• FASEB J. 1993; 7: 339-48
• Display abstract

• With the recent discoveries of novel forms of phospholipases A2 (PLA2s),2 new schemes for the roles of various PLA2s in lipid metabolism must be considered. The type II 14-kDa PLA2 isolated from human synovial fluid or platelet has many of the biochemical characteristics of the homologous snake venom and mammalian pancreatic PLA2s. It appears to function both as a cell-associated enzyme and extracellularly, where its expression and/or release is regulated by a variety of mediators such as cytokines or growth factors. The mammalian 85-kDa PLA2 purified from monocytic cells or platelets has no sequence homology to the 14-kDa PLA2 and exhibits biochemically different characteristics. It translocates from cytosol to particulate cell fractions in the presence of submicromolar levels of Ca2+ and has a substrate preference for sn-2-arachidonoyl-containing phospholipids. The cellular function and relative importance of these two enzymes in lipid metabolism remain to be determined. In this review, the biochemistry, localization, function, and regulation of these two distinct mammalian Ca(2+)-dependent PLA2 are compared.

• Sharma SV
• Melittin-induced hyperactivation of phospholipase A2 activity and calcium influx in ras-transformed cells.
• Oncogene. 1993; 8: 939-47
• Display abstract

• The activated ras oncogene is a key mediator of cellular transformation and is present in a wide variety of primary human neoplasms. The biochemical role of the ras oncogene in cellular transformation is at present unclear, and hence approaches to control its activities in transformed cells have met with limited success. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of melittin, a 26 amino acid amphipathic peptide from bee venom, to specifically counterselect for cells in culture that express high levels of the ras oncogene product. The biochemical basis for this counterselection is currently unknown. This study demonstrates the ability of melittin to hyperactivate phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in ras-transformed cells by the mediation of enhanced influx of calcium ions (Ca2+). This hyperactivation of PLA2 and Ca2+ mobilization in ras-transformed cells by melittin is mimicked by the calcium ionophore, A23187. Both melittin- and A23187-mediated PLA2 hyperactivation require Ca2+. However, the action of melittin is strongly dependent on extracellular Ca2+, whereas that of A23187 is not. Melittin-induced Ca2+ influx and PLA2 hyperactivation is inhibited by manganese ions (Mn2+). These studies reveal a close correlation between the extent of PLA2 hyperactivation and Ca2+ mobilization, suggesting a causal relationship.

• Zupan LA et al.
• Structural determinants of haloenol lactone-mediated suicide inhibition of canine myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2.
• J Med Chem. 1993; 36: 95-100
• Display abstract

• Haloenol lactones are potent mechanism-based inhibitors of a novel class of calcium-independent phospholipases A2 which have been implicated as the enzymic mediators of membrane dysfunction during myocardial ischemia (Hazen, S. L.; et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 7227-7232). Herein we demonstrate that the ring size, hydrophobic group, and cryptic electrophile in the haloenol lactone moiety are important and modifiable determinants of the inhibitory potency of haloenol lactone-mediated inhibition of calcium-independent phospholipase A2. Direct comparisons between haloenol lactone-mediated inhibition of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 and the absence of inhibition with calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 further underscore the marked differences in the catalytic strategy employed by these two classes of intracellular phospholipases A2.

• Tokumoto H, Croxtall JD, Choudhury Q, Flower RJ
• Phospholipase A2-induced stimulation of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell line proliferation.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993; 1169: 236-42
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity was found in the cytosolic fraction of the A549 human lung adenocarcinoma line. This PLA2 had a molecular mass of approximately 70 kDa as assessed by gel filtration chromatography and required submicromolar concentrations of calcium concentrations for optimal activity. These characteristics are consistent with the cytosolic PLA2 recently reported in other cell types, such as U937 cells. We have now demonstrated that A549 cell PLA2 (PLA2 activity: 1 unit/ml) partially purified by gel filtration stimulated proliferation of A549 cells by 50% after 3 days of culture. Similarly, porcine pancreatic PLA2 (0.1 unit/ml) also promoted proliferation of A549 cell cultures by 42%. Furthermore, A549 cell PLA2 stimulated prostaglandin E2 release (approx. 7-fold increase). Both PLA2s lost activity when treated with p-bromophenacyl bromide. Neither porcine pancreatic PLA2 nor A549 cell PLA2 reversed the inhibitory activities of dexamethasone and indomethacin on cell growth. These results suggest that both of these PLA2s stimulate A549 cell growth, and that this is likely to be mediated by increased eicosanoid production.

• Litvinko NM, Shumilina TA, Naubatova MK, Akhrem AA
• [The resistance of liposomes as potential drug carriers to the action of phospholipase A2]
• Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 1993; 29: 478-84
• Display abstract

• Stability of liposomes with varied phospholipid (PL) content towards the action of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was studied in vitro. Liposomes were prepared of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) and their mixtures with sphingomyelin (SM). PC and PG liposomes were also treated with PLA2 in the presence of a number of proteins such as cytochrome c, cytochrome b5, cytochrome P-450, polylysine, and histone H1. Among all the liposomes studied PG-containing ones were found to be most stable towards PLA2. In SM-containing liposomes, the levels of PG, PI, PE and PC after 20 min of hydrolysis were 65, 62, 55 and 50%, respectively. In PC + PG liposomes, the PC content after treatment with PLA2 was by about 15-20% higher than in control PC liposomes. The addition of all the proteins studied influenced significantly stability of both PC and PG in two-component PL liposomes, but had no effect on liposomes consisting only of PC. The incorporation of the integral membrane protein cytochrome P-450 into PC and PG liposomes caused a decrease in their stability towards PLA2, the decrease depending on the lipid/protein molar ratio.

• Hazen SL, Gross RW
• The specific association of a phosphofructokinase isoform with myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2. Implications for the coordinated regulation of phospholipolysis and glycolysis.
• J Biol Chem. 1993; 268: 9892-900
• Display abstract

• We have demonstrated previously that myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 is a 40-kDa polypeptide regulated by ligand-modulated protein-protein interactions (Hazen, S.L., and Gross, R.W. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 14526-14534). We now demonstrate that an 85-kDa polypeptide which possesses sequence homology to and chemical, physical, immunological, and chromatographic similarities with phosphofructokinase (PFK) specifically interacts with the 40-kDa phospholipase A2 catalytic subunit and represents the putative protein regulatory element identified in previous work. Multiple independent lines of evidence document the association between the 85-kDa phosphofructokinase isoform and the 40-kDa myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 catalytic polypeptide, including 1) the coelution of the 85- and 40-kDa polypeptides which migrate as a 400-kDa complex during gel filtration chromatography, 2) the stoichiometry between the 85- and 40-kDa polypeptides which corresponds to a complex comprised of a tetrameric PFK isoform and a 40-kDa phospholipase A2 catalytic polypeptide, 3) the demonstration that the 85-kDa phosphofructokinase isoform acts as a specific and reversible affinity adsorbent for myocardial cytosolic phospholipase A2 catalytic activity, 4) the immunoprecipitation of myocardial cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity utilizing chicken anti-rabbit skeletal muscle PFK IgG, 5) the specific release of phospholipase A2 from ATP-agarose after formation of a ternary complex comprised of allosteric modifiers of phosphofructokinase, and 6) the selective attenuation of the denaturation of purified homogeneous calcium-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 with PFK. Collectively, these results demonstrate the highly specific association of a phosphofructokinase isoform with myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 and suggest a novel biochemical mechanism underlying the coordinated regulation of phospholipolysis and glycolysis previously observed in myocardium and in other mammalian tissues.

• Nuhn P, Koch K
• [Inhibitors of phospholipase A2]
• Pharmazie. 1993; 48: 494-508

• Soltys CE, Bian J, Roberts MF
• Polymerizable phosphatidylcholines: importance of phospholipid motions for optimum phospholipase A2 and C activity.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 9545-52
• Display abstract

• Cross-linkable short-chain phosphatidylcholines with thiols at the chain terminus have been synthesized and characterized. These micelle-forming species were used to investigate two water-soluble phospholipases. When reduced, the thiol lipids were excellent substrates for phospholipase A2. Once cross-linked, they became extremely poor substrates. This is consistent with a mechanism in which a key step is the partial extraction of the substrate phosphatidylcholine from an aggregate. In contrast, phospholipase C activity was slightly enhanced if the product diglyceride was tethered to the aggregate through disulfide formation. For this enzyme such a kinetic effect is consistent with the hydrophobic diglyceride biasing the enzyme to the interface.

• Wilson T
• Gravidin: an endogenous inhibitor of phospholipase A2.
• Gen Pharmacol. 1993; 24: 1311-8
• Display abstract

• Gravidin is a recently discovered protein inhibitor of phospholipase A2 and therefore prostaglandin synthesis. Transformed or rapidly growing cells are unaffected by gravidin, but in slow-growing cells arachidonate release is inhibited. Gravidin may play a physiological role in pregnancy maintenance. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the properties and activity of gravidin.

• de Carvalho MS, McCormack FX, Leslie CC
• The 85-kDa, arachidonic acid-specific phospholipase A2 is expressed as an activated phosphoprotein in Sf9 cells.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1993; 306: 534-40
• Display abstract

• A human, 85-kDa arachidonoyl-specific, cytosolic phospholipase A2 was expressed using the baculovirus-insect cell expression system. Expression resulted in the production of an active protein which consisted of approximately 3% of the total protein in the host Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells at 67 h after infection. The phospholipase A2 was purified to apparent homogeneity and exhibited calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 activity with a specific activity of 8 mumol/min/mg protein, as well as calcium-independent lysophospholipase activity with a specific activity of 17 mumol/min/mg protein. The phospholipase A2 was expressed as a phosphoprotein and was primarily phosphorylated on serine residues. Phosphatase treatment of the recombinant phospholipase A2 resulted in dephosphorylation of the enzyme and a 63% decrease in phospholipase A2 activity. This decrease in activity is similar in magnitude to the decrease in activity observed with phosphatase-treated phospholipase A2 from stimulated mammalian cells. These data demonstrate that the 85-kDa phospholipase A2 is expressed as an activated phosphoprotein in Sf9 cells.

• Bastian BC, Sellert C, Seekamp A, Romisch J, Paques EP, Brocker EB
• Inhibition of human skin phospholipase A2 by "lipocortins" is an indirect effect of substrate/lipocortin interaction.
• J Invest Dermatol. 1993; 101: 359-63
• Display abstract

• Proteins of the annexin/lipocortin family have been claimed to mediate the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticosteroids by the inhibition of phospholipases A2. This hypothesis has been challenged by the finding that annexins do not directly interact with the enzyme in a classical enzyme/inhibitor behavior, but more likely block the access of the phospholipase A2 to its substrate by binding to phospholipids. Because former studies with skin phospholipase A2 suggested a specific regulation by annexin-1, we investigated the substrate dependence of this effect. For this purpose phospholipase A2 activities in human epidermis and dermis homogenates were measured in the presence of various amounts of annexins-1, -2, or -5. The respective annexin was preincubated in separate series either with the substrate or with the enzyme. We found a partial inhibition of both epidermal and dermal phospholipase A2 activities with all annexins tested (annexin-5 >> annexin-2 > annexin-1). The inhibitory effect was absolutely dependent on the annexin/phospholipid ratio and occurred only at very high annexin concentrations relative to the amount of substrate. Our data demonstrate that the inhibition of human skin phospholipase A2 by annexins depends on the substrate concentrations, as has been shown for phospholipases A2 of other origins as well. All observations can be explained by the current "substrate depletion model" characterizing the indirect effects of annexins on phospholipase A2 activities. It is therefore rather unlikely that annexins are directly involved in the regulation of phospholipase A2 activity of human skin under physiologic conditions.

• Pruzanski W, Vadas P, Browning J
• Secretory non-pancreatic group II phospholipase A2: role in physiologic and inflammatory processes.
• J Lipid Mediat. 1993; 8: 161-7

• Ohishi H et al.
• Molecular dynamics simulation of 1,2-dilauroyl-L-phosphatidylethanolamine binding to phospholipase A2: an attempt to explain the selective hydrolysis of substrate fatty acid ester at position 2.
• J Biochem (Tokyo). 1993; 114: 210-4
• Display abstract

• To improve our understanding of why phospholipase A2 (PLA2) specifically catalyzes the hydrolysis of the fatty acid ester bond at position 2, not at position 1, of 1,2-diacyl-3-sn-phosphoglycerides, the binding of each fatty acid chain of 1,2-dilauroyl-L-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (DLPE), a natural substrate, to bovine pancreas PLA2 was examined by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Two different binding modes were considered, i.e., the respective hydrocarbon chains of 1- and 2-lauroyl fatty acid esters were located at the PLA2 binding sites usually observed in the complex crystals (Form A2) and at the reverse sites (Form A1). Although the total energies of both forms fluctuated within nearly the same range during the 80 ps MD simulations, the binding mode of DLPE to the PLA2 catalytic site through the coordination to Ca2+ was much more advantageous in Form A2 than that in Form A1; significant deviation of the Ca2+ position from its starting structure was observed in the MD simulation of Form A1. The result suggests the importance of Ca2+ in the selective recognition and catalytic function of PLA2 toward the 2-positioned fatty acid ester of phosphoglyceride substrates.

• Ramesha CS, Ives DL
• Detection of arachidonoyl-selective phospholipase A2 in human neutrophil cytosol.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993; 1168: 37-44
• Display abstract

• The present report describes the presence of an arachidonic-acid-selective, dithiothreitol-insensitive phospholipase A2 enzyme activity in human neutrophil cytosol. The enzyme activity is eluted from Mono Q FPLC column between 350 to 450 mM salt and translocates from cytosol to membrane in a calcium dependent fashion. Furthermore, the PLA2 activity in the cytosol is quantitatively precipitated by the antibodies against U937 cPLA2. The neutrophil enzyme also migrates as approximately 110 kDa protein on SDS polyacrylamide gels. These studies indicate that the PLA2 enzyme present in human neutrophil cytosol is identical to the previously reported U937 cPLA2 (Clark et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 7708 and Clark et al. (1991) Cell 65, 1043).

• Reynolds LJ, Hughes LL, Louis AI, Kramer RM, Dennis EA
• Metal ion and salt effects on the phospholipase A2, lysophospholipase, and transacylase activities of human cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993; 1167: 272-80
• Display abstract

• Human cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is an arachidonic acid specific enzyme which may play a role in arachidonic acid release, eicosanoid production, and signal transduction. The PLA2 activity of this enzyme is stimulated by microM levels of Ca2+. Using a pure recombinant enzyme, we have confirmed that cPLA2 is not absolutely dependent on Ca2+, since Sr2+, Ba2+ and Mn2+ also gave full enzyme activity. Heavy metals, in contrast, inhibited enzyme catalysis suggesting the involvement of an essential cysteine residue. In the absence of Ca2+, high salt concentrations overcame the requirement for divalent metals, indicating that Ca2+ is not required for PLA2 catalytic activity. cPLA2 also displays a lysophospholipase (lyso PLA) activity with lysophosphatidylcholine micelles as a substrate. Unlike the PLA2 activity, the lyso PLA activity toward these micelles is not stimulated by Ca2+. However, upon the addition of glycerol or Triton X-100 to the assay, Ca2+ activation is observed, indicating that substrate presentation can affect the apparent Ca2+ dependence. Glycerol was found to be a potent stimulator of lyso PLA activity and specific activities up to 50 mumol min-1 mg-1 were observed. In addition to the PLA2 and lyso PLA activities, we report that cPLA2 displays a relatively low, CoA-independent transacylase activity which produces phosphatidylcholine from lysophosphatidylcholine substrate. The observation of this novel transacylase activity is consistent with the formation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate.

• Kramer RM, Roberts EF, Manetta JV, Sportsman JR, Jakubowski JA
• Ca(2+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in human platelets.
• J Lipid Mediat. 1993; 6: 209-16

• Tanaka K, Arita H, Inoue K
• [Phospholipase A2 inhibitors]
• Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso. 1993; 38: 1987-99

• Quik M, Cook RG, Revah F, Changeux JP, Patrick J
• Presence of alpha-cobratoxin and phospholipase A2 activity in thymopoietin preparations.
• Mol Pharmacol. 1993; 44: 678-9

• Glaser KB, Mobilio D, Chang JY, Senko N
• Phospholipase A2 enzymes: regulation and inhibition.
• Trends Pharmacol Sci. 1993; 14: 92-8
• Display abstract

• The phospholipase A2 enzymes are important components of the cellular machinery that responds to inflammatory stimuli and maintains cell homeostasis by membrane remodelling. Their role as the rate-limiting step in the production of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators makes these enzymes an important therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Keith Glaser and colleagues explain how the two major groups of phospholipase A2, the secretory and cytosolic forms, are very different both structurally and enzymatically. Understanding the relative contributions of these different forms of phospholipase A2 to physiological and pathological conditions requires greater insight into their cellular regulation and the development of selective inhibitors.

• Kudo I, Murakami M, Hara S, Inoue K
• Mammalian non-pancreatic phospholipases A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993; 1170: 217-31

• Jain MK, Rogers J, Hendrickson HS, Berg OG
• The chemical step is not rate-limiting during the hydrolysis by phospholipase A2 of mixed micelles of phospholipid and detergent.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 8360-7
• Display abstract

• The effect of detergents on the overall catalytic turnover by secreted phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on codispersions of the substrate phospholipid is characterized. The overall rate of interfacial catalytic turnover depends on the effective substrate "concentration" (mole fraction) that the bound enzyme "sees" at the interface. Therefore, besides the intrinsic catalytic turnover rate determined by the Michaelis-Menten cycle in the interface [Berg et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 7283], two other interfacial processes significantly alter the overall effective rate of hydrolysis: first, the fraction of the total enzyme at the interface; second, the rate of replenishment of the substrate. At low mole fractions (< 0.3), bile salts promote the binding of pig pancreatic PLA2 to zwitterionic vesicles, and the rate of hydrolysis increases with the fraction of the enzyme in the interface. At higher (> 0.3) mole fractions of the detergent, the bilayer is disrupted, and the rate of hydrolysis decreases by more than a factor of 10. The detergent-dependent decrease in the rate of hydrolysis of the sn-2-oxyphospholipids is much larger than that of sn-2-thiophospholipid, and therefore the element effect (O/S ratio) decreases from about 10 in bilayers to less than 2 in mixed micelles. This loss of the element effect in mixed micelles shows that the chemical step is no longer rate-limiting during the hydrolysis of mixed micelles formed by the disruption of vesicles by the detergent. Such effects were observed with phospholipase A2 from several sources acting on substrates dispersed in a variety of detergents including bile salts, 2-deoxylysophosphatidylcholine, and Triton X-100.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Kramer RM, Roberts EF, Manetta JV, Hyslop PA, Jakubowski JA
• Thrombin-induced phosphorylation and activation of Ca(2+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2 in human platelets.
• J Biol Chem. 1993; 268: 26796-804
• Display abstract

• Receptor-mediated activation of human platelets by thrombin initiates a series of rapid biochemical events that include activation of phospholipase A2 to liberate arachidonic acid for further conversion to thromboxane A2. The identity of the phospholipase A2 involved has not been clear. Here we show by immunochemical analysis that human platelets contain significant amounts (60 ng/10(9) platelets) of the recently identified Ca(2+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Metabolic labeling of human platelets with 33Pi revealed that the extent of phosphorylation of cPLA2 was greatly increased after thrombin treatment. Upon stimulation of platelets with thrombin, cPLA2 exhibits enhanced catalytic activity, as well as a change in its electrophoretic and chromatographic properties compared with cPLA2 in resting platelets. These alterations of cPLA2 are reversed by treatment with phosphatase, demonstrating that they are the consequence of thrombin-stimulated phosphorylation. Thrombin-induced phosphorylation and activation of cPLA2 is rapid (half-maximal by 1 min at 1 unit/10(9) platelets) and dose-dependent. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of cPLA2 is more sensitive to thrombin than the generation of thromboxane A2, suggesting that it may be an early event in the sequence of steps leading to the mobilization and further metabolism of arachidonic acid. By comparing the functional properties of cPLA2 from control versus thrombin-stimulated platelets, we found that while activated cPLA2 exhibits the same Ca2+ requirement and apparent substrate affinity (Km), its catalytic activity (Vmax) is increased compared with control cPLA2. We conclude that 1) cPLA2 is likely to play an important role in agonist-induced mobilization of arachidonic acid and 2) thrombin elicits rapid and full activation of cPLA2 not only by promoting a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ but also by inducing phosphorylation of cPLA2 thereby improving its catalytic activity.

• Fujimori Y, Kudo I, Fujita K, Inoue K
• Characteristics of lysophospholipase activity expressed by cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• Eur J Biochem. 1993; 218: 629-35
• Display abstract

• Evidence has accumulated to suggest that a wide variety of mammalian cells and tissues express a cytosolic phospholipase A2 with arachidonoyl preference (cPLA2). Purified rabbit platelet-derived cPLA2, as well as the human recombinant enzyme originally identified in the monocytic leukemic cell line U937, exhibit significant lysophospholipase activity. Several series of experiments indicated that a single protein mediated both activities. Treatment of the purified enzyme with p-bromophenacylbromide or an anti-(rabbit platelet cPLA2) monoclonal antibody, RHY-5, suppressed the activity of phospholipase A2 without any appreciable effect on lysophospholipase activity, suggesting that the domain(s) required for phospholipase A2 activity may be located separately from that for lysophospholipase activity. Lysophospholipase activity was appreciably detected above the critical micellar concentration of the substrate. Lysophosphatidylcholine was also hydrolyzed efficiently when it was incorporated into liposomes made of dialkylphosphatidylcholine. The hydrolysis of lysophospholipid was dependent on the fatty acid bound at the sn1 position; the relative rates of hydrolysis of 1-oleoyllysophosphatidylcholine, 1-palmitoyllysophosphatidylcholine, and 1-stearoyllysophosphatidylcholine were 23, 8, and 1, respectively. A similar order of reactivity was observed with lysophospholipid incorporated into dialkylphosphatidylcholine liposomes. cPLA2 may function not only as an arachidonate liberation enzyme but also as an enzyme responsible for degradation of certain molecular species of lysophospholipids formed in membranes.

• Bhat MK, Mueller-Harvey I, Sumner IG, Goodenough PW
• Simplified methods for the synthesis of 2-hexadecanoylthio-1-ethylphosphorylcholine and for the determination of phospholipase A2 activity.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993; 1166: 244-50
• Display abstract

• A simple and straight forward method was developed for the synthesis of 2-hexadecanoylthio-1-ethyl phosphorylcholine (HEPC). The new procedure, which used p-toulenesulfonate instead of 2-bromoethyl phosphorylcholine, not only reduced the reaction time but also allowed the reaction to proceed under mild conditions. Using HEPC as a substrate, we have also developed a microplate assay for measuring phospholipase A2 activity which is rapid and will be useful for analyzing a large number of samples in a very short time. The applicability of this assay method for assessing phospholipases A2 from two different sources and determining their kinetic constants is also demonstrated. This method can also be extended for measuring lipases and lysophospholipases using a suitable thioester. Thus, both synthesis and assay methods will be useful in basic and applied research on phospholipases and related enzymes.

• Kast R, Furstenberger G, Marks F
• Phorbol ester TPA- and bradykinin-induced arachidonic acid release from keratinocytes is catalyzed by a cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2).
• J Invest Dermatol. 1993; 101: 567-72
• Display abstract

• In a previous paper, we have shown that bradykinin (Bk) and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulate arachidonic acid release from HEL-30 keratinocytes along a Bk-B2 receptor G-protein-coupled pathway or a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism, respectively. Here we show a cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) to be responsible for this effect. This enzyme exhibited a marked acyl-group specificity towards arachidonic acid. It was activated by Ca++ in micromolar concentrations and partially translocated from the cytoplasmic to the membrane fraction upon Ca++ treatment. Translocation was also observed upon treatment of cells with either Bk or TPA. However, only with Bk was a corresponding increase of the cytoplasmic Ca++ level observed, whereas TPA-induced translocation occurred at basal Ca++ concentrations. Indirect evidence for a G protein to be involved in Bk- but not TPA-dependent cPLA2 activation was provided using non-hydrolyzable GTP derivatives. It is concluded that keratinocyte cPLA2 plays a critical role in the initiation by exogenous and endogenous factors of the eicosanoid cascade in skin.

• Jain MK, Yu BZ, Berg OG
• Relationship of interfacial equilibria to interfacial activation of phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 11319-29
• Display abstract

• The equilibrium dissociation constants for the distribution of pig pancreatic phospholipase A2, its competitive inhibitors, and their complexes at the interface of a neutral diluent are determined. The relationship between these parameters and their significance for interfacial catalysis is elaborated in terms of a model based on the relationship between the underlying equilibria. By using a combination of spectroscopic and chemical modification methods, it was possible to determine the equilibrium dissociation constant of an inhibitor bound to the interface (K') or of the inhibitor bound to the enzyme in the aqueous phase (KI) or the interface (KI*). The equilibrium dissociation constant for the free enzyme (Kd) or for the enzyme-inhibitor complex (KdI) from the interface were also obtained. These constants are shown to be thermodynamically related, i.e., K'KdKI* = KIKdI, as predicted on the basis of the cyclic equilibrium scheme (thermodynamic box) describing the distribution of the enzyme and the inhibitor between the aqueous phase and the interface at constant calcium concentration. Results show that (i) calcium is required for the binding of a substrate or inhibitor molecule to the catalytic site; (ii) the effective dissociation constant of the inhibitor-enzyme complex in the aqueous phase is considerably larger than that for the enzyme at the interface, i.e., KI >> effective KI*; (iii) KdI does not depend on the structure of the inhibitor and Kd >> KdI; and (iv) structure-activity correlations suggest that ionic interactions between a ligand and the interfacial recognition site of the enzyme are important for K', which controls the concentration of the bound inhibitor that the enzyme "sees" in the interface. These observations demonstrate that the binding of the enzyme to the interface and the binding of the inhibitor to the active site of the enzyme at the interface are two distinguishable processes. Therefore, binding of a ligand to the active site of the enzyme promotes binding of the enzyme-inhibitor complex to other amphiphiles and the interface with higher affinity. It is suggested that the primary effect of binding the enzyme to the interface is to increase its intrinsic affinity toward the active-site-directed ligands, i.e., the interfacial activation of PLA2 is of K-type.

• Bonventre JV, Koroshetz WJ
• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in gerbil brain: characterization of cytosolic and membrane-associated forms and effects of ischemia and reperfusion on enzymatic activity.
• J Lipid Mediat. 1993; 6: 457-71
• Display abstract

• Phospholipases A2 comprise a family of enzymes that hydrolyze the acyl bond at the sn-2 position of phospholipids to generate free fatty acids and lysophospholipids. In the central nervous system products of PLA2 regulate neurotransmission. In addition, the lysophospholipids, free fatty acids, eicosanoids, platelet activating factor and reactive oxygen species, generated by enhanced PLA2 activity and arachidonic acid metabolism, may be responsible for many destructive cellular processes in neuronal tissue. There are interactions between glutamate and PLA2 and its products which suggest that PLA2 activity plays an important role in excitotoxic neuronal cell injury associated with ischemia. Our laboratory has demonstrated that multiple forms of Ca(2+)-dependent PLA2 are present in the gerbil brain. These forms differ from previously described forms and from each other. After ischemia and reperfusion, cytosolic, mitochondrial/synaptosomal and microsomal PLA2 enzymatic activities are enhanced. These stable modifications of enzymatic activity cannot be explained by a direct effect of Ca2+ alone and our data suggest that regulatory influences other than Ca2+ may play an important role in PLA2 activation and mediation of cellular injury after an ischemic insult.

• Ueda H, Kobayashi T, Kishimoto M, Tsutsumi T, Watanabe S, Okuyama H
• The presence of Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A1 highly specific for phosphatidylinositol in bovine brain.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993; 195: 1272-9
• Display abstract

• EDTA-insensitive phospholipase A activity hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol was detected in a bovine brain soluble fraction. This phospholipase A was purified 25-fold by sequential chromatographies of DEAE-Toyopearl, Phenyl-Toyopearl, and Ultrahydrogel 1000. The partially purified EDTA-insensitive phospholipase A showed an apparent molecular mass of 230kDa on an Ultrahydrogel 1000 column in the presence of 0.05% Triton X-100 and a pH optimum at 7.0. The enzyme was highly specific for phosphatidylinositol; phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were not hydrolyzed significantly. The enzyme activity was characterized as phospholipase A1, and Ca2+ and Mg2+ were not required for its activity. These results indicate the existence of Ca(2+)-independent, phosphatidylinositol-specific metabolism besides those catalyzed by Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase A2 and Ca(2+)-dependent, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

• Amegadzie BY et al.
• High-level production of biologically active human cytosolic phospholipase A2 in baculovirus-infected insect cells.
• Gene. 1993; 128: 307-8
• Display abstract

• Infection of Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells with a recombinant baculovirus expressing human cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) resulted in the production of biologically active protein. The level of recombinant human cPLA2 production in infected insect cells was at least 50-fold higher than that observed in human monoblast U937 cells.

• Burack WR, Yuan Q, Biltonen RL
• Role of lateral phase separation in the modulation of phospholipase A2 activity.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 583-9
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine large unilamellar vesicles is characterized by a period of slow hydrolysis followed by a rapid increase in the rate of hydrolysis. The temporal relationship between the burst of PLA2 activity and the lateral distribution of substrate and product lipids was examined by simultaneously recording product accumulation and the fluorescence of 1-pyrenyldecanoate, a fatty acid derivative sensitive to lipid distribution and lateral diffusion. The excimer: monomer ratio of the probe changes slowly prior to the burst in activity and then abruptly at the time of the burst. A partial phase diagram for the ternary codispersion of substrate and products (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and 1:1 monopalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/palmitic acid) was constructed by differential scanning calorimetry and suggests gel/gel immiscibility in this system. Thus, the changes in pyrene fluorescence during the time course of hydrolysis appear to be due to lateral phase separation. The critical mole fraction of product both for lateral phase separation in the gel state and for elimination of the lag phase is approximately 0.083. The simultaneous recordings of PLA2 activity and pyrene fluorescence show that the lateral rearrangement of lipids begins prior to and continues during the rapid activation process of PLA2. Two possible effects of lateral phase separation are that concentration of the protein in the product-rich regions promotes putative dimerization or that formation of phase interface regions promotes enzyme activation.

• Bayburt T, Yu BZ, Lin HK, Browning J, Jain MK, Gelb MH
• Human nonpancreatic secreted phospholipase A2: interfacial parameters, substrate specificities, and competitive inhibitors.
• Biochemistry. 1993; 32: 573-82
• Display abstract

• The rate and equilibrium parameters for the interfacial catalysis by recombinant human nonpancreatic secreted phospholipase A2 were determined. Results show that the enzyme binds to anionic interfaces with considerably higher affinity than to zwitterionic interfaces. The extent of hydrolysis per enzyme on anionic vesicles in the processive scooting mode shows that the enzyme is fully catalytically active as a monomer. Among several secreted phospholipases A2 tested, the human nonpancreatic secreted enzyme is unique in its ability to undergo slow intervesicle exchange either by dissociation from the interface followed by binding to a different vesicle or by promoting the fusion of vesicles. The equilibrium dissociation constants for calcium, substrate analogs, reaction products, and several competitive inhibitors bound to the enzyme at the interface were determined by monitoring the ligand-conferred protection of the active site histidine residue from alkylation by phenacyl bromide. The interfacial Michaelis-Menten parameters were determined from the analysis of the entire reaction progress curve and also by monitoring the effect of competitive inhibitors on the initial rate of hydrolysis in the scooting mode. The interfacial Michaelis constant (KM*) for the substrate 1,2-dimyristoylglycero-sn-3-phosphomethanol was determined to be considerably above the maximal attainable mole fraction of unity for the substrate in the bilayer. Substrate specificity studies show that the enzyme does not significantly discriminate between phospholipids that differ in the type of polar head group or in the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acyl chains. Competitive inhibitors are described that display a high degree of selectivity for binding to the nonpancreatic versus pancreatic phospholipase A2. The kinetic properties of the human nonpancreatic secreted phospholipase A2 suggest that the enzyme has evolved to hydrolyze substrates at anionic interfaces and at high calcium concentrations.

• Vernon LP, Bell JD
• Membrane structure, toxins and phospholipase A2 activity.
• Pharmacol Ther. 1992; 54: 269-95
• Display abstract

• The phospholipid-hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) (EC 3.1.1.4) exists in several forms which can be located in the cytosol or on cellular membranes. We review briefly cellular regulatory mechanisms involving covalent modification by protein kinase C and the action of Ca2+, cytokines, G proteins and other cellular proteins. The major focus is the role of phospholipid structure on PLA2 activity, including (1) the mechanism of PLA2 action on synthetic phospholipid bilayers, (2) perturbation of synthetic and cellular membranes with lipophilic agents and membrane-interactive peptides and (3) the ability of these agents to activate endogenous PLA2 activity, with emphasis on the venom and plant toxins melittin, cardiotoxin and Pyrularia thionein.

• Hazen SL, Gross RW
• Identification and characterization of human myocardial phospholipase A2 from transplant recipients suffering from end-stage ischemic heart disease.
• Circ Res. 1992; 70: 486-95
• Display abstract

• Although numerous studies have implicated accelerated phospholipid catabolism during myocardial ischemia as an important contributor to ischemic membrane dysfunction, no information is currently available on the subcellular distribution, physical properties, or kinetic characteristics of human myocardial phospholipase A2. In this report, we demonstrate that the overwhelming majority (98%) of total phospholipase A2 activity in human myocardium (obtained from transplant recipients) is calcium independent, plasmalogen selective, and is distributed between the microsomal (60-70% of total activity) and cytosolic (30-40% of total activity) fractions. Both human myocardial microsomal and cytosolic phospholipase A2 enzymes 1) preferentially hydrolyze plasmalogen molecular species containing arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position, 2) are recalcitrant to chemical inactivation by the indole-reactive agent parabromophenacyl bromide, 3) are irreversibly inhibited by covalent modification of an essential thiol residue by 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), and 4) are exquisitely sensitive to mechanism-based inhibition by (E)-6-(bromomethylene)tetrahydro-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-pyran-2-one (bromoenol lactone). In sharp contrast, human mitochondrial phospholipase A2 1) accounts for only a diminutive amount of total myocardial phospholipase A2 activity (1-2%), 2) is augmented by calcium ion, 3) exhibits a higher reaction velocity using phosphatidylcholine in comparison with plasmenylcholine substrate, and 4) is not substantially inhibited by either DTNB or bromoenol lactone. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the majority of phospholipase A2 activity in human myocardium is catalyzed by a novel class of calcium-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipases A2 and underscore the potential importance of this class of enzymes in mediating membrane dysfunction during myocardial infarction in humans.

• Lin LL, Lin AY, Knopf JL
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 is coupled to hormonally regulated release of arachidonic acid.
• Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992; 89: 6147-51
• Display abstract

• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) binds to natural membrane vesicles in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion, resulting in the selective release of arachidonic acid, thus implicating cPLA2 in the hormonally regulated production of eicosanoids. Here we report that the treatment of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells overexpressing cPLA2 with ATP or thrombin resulted in an increased release of arachidonic acid as compared with parental CHO cells, demonstrating the hormonal coupling of cPLA2. In contrast, CHO cells overexpressing a secreted form of mammalian PLA2 (sPLA2-II) failed to show any increased hormonal responsiveness. Interestingly, we have noted that the activation of cPLA2 with a wide variety of agents stimulates the phosphorylation of cPLA2 on serine residues. Pretreatment of cells with staurosporin blocked the ATP-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2 and strongly inhibited the activation of the enzyme. Increased cPLA2 activity was also observed in lysates prepared from ATP-treated cells and was sensitive to phosphatase treatment. These results suggest that in addition to Ca2+, the phosphorylation of cPLA2 plays an important role in the agonist-induced activation of cPLA2.

• Wijkander J, Sundler R
• Macrophage arachidonate-mobilizing phospholipase A2: role of Ca2+ for membrane binding but not for catalytic activity.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1992; 184: 118-24
• Display abstract

• A recently purified Ca(2+)-dependent intracellular phospholipase A2 from spleen, kidney and macrophage cell lines is activated by Ca2+ at concentrations achieved intracellularly. Using enzyme from the murine cell line J774 we here demonstrate the formation of a ternary complex of phospholipase, 45Ca2+ and phospholipid vesicle, and provide evidence for a single Ca(2+)-binding site on the enzyme involved in its vesicle binding. Although Ca2+ binds to and functions as an activator of the enzyme, this ion does not appear to be involved in its catalytic mechanism, since enzyme brought to the phospholipid vesicle by molar concentrations of NaCl or NH4+ salts exhibited Ca(2+)-independent catalytic activity.

• Lathrop BK, Biltonen RL
• Calcium and magnesium dependence of phospholipase A2-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine small unilamellar vesicles.
• J Biol Chem. 1992; 267: 21425-31
• Display abstract

• The Ca2+ requirement for lipid hydrolysis catalyzed by phospholipase A2 from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus (App-D49) and porcine pancreas has been examined using small, unilamellar vesicles of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC SUV). Hydrolysis was affected by product inhibition even at early times, and the extent of this inhibition depended on the concentration of divalent cations. The Ca2+ requirement for half-maximal rates of hydrolysis reflected, in part, this non-catalytic role of divalent cations. The presence of 10 mM Mg2+, a cation which does not support catalysis, reduced the Ca2+ required for half-maximal rates of hydrolysis from millimolar concentrations to 40 microM for App-D49. Since the dissociation constant of the enzyme for Ca2+ in solution is 2 mM, these results indicate a change in the interaction of the enzyme with Ca2+ under catalytic conditions. The kinetic dissociation constant of Ca2+ for the pancreatic enzyme was 20 microM which is substantially lower than the dissociation constant in solution, 0.35 mM. The similarity of apparent kinetic dissociation constants for these enzymes suggests that structurally similar features determine the affinity for Ca2+ under catalytic conditions. Evidence is presented that the affinity of phospholipase A2 for Ca2+ changes subsequent to the initial interaction of the enzyme with the substrate interface. However, the apparent Michaelis constant, KMapp, for App-D49, 0.03-0.06 mM, is independent of [Ca2+] and is about the same as the equilibrium dissociation constant for DPPC SUV, 0.14 mM. We thus suggest that KMapp is a steady-state constant.

• Kozubek A
• The effect of resorcinolic lipids on phospholipid hydrolysis by phospholipase A2.
• Z Naturforsch [C]. 1992; 47: 608-12
• Display abstract

• The effects of resorcinolic lipids (5-n-alk(en)ylresorcinols) isolated from cereal grains on the phospholipase A2 catalyzed hydrolysis of phospholipid vesicles were examined. Studied compounds inhibited the apparent enzyme activity at the molar fraction in the membrane as low as 0.025, which is equivalent to the concentration of 3 microM. This effect was visualized by dramatic increase (over ten-fold) of the latency period of the reaction progress. This makes resorcinolic lipids one of the most potent inhibitors of phospholipase A2 among already studied compounds. Highest inhibitory activities were shown for dienoic and monoenoic homologs of 17 carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain. Both saturation of the chain and the increase of its length reduced inhibitory properties of resorcinolic lipids. The data suggest that the compounds studied in this paper like other known amphiphilic inhibitors of phospholipase A2 owe most of their effects to the ability to modify the quality of the substrate interface. These are the alteration of the enzyme binding, velocity of the formation and redistribution of the products. However part of the effect seems to be attributed to direct interaction and modification of enzyme properties by alk(en)ylresorcinols.

• Hamano K et al.
• Folipastatin, a new depsidone compound from Aspergillus unguis as an inhibitor of phospholipase A2. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, structure determination and biological properties.
• J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1992; 45: 1195-201
• Display abstract

• A new inhibitor of phospholipase A2 was isolated from the fermentation broth of Aspergillus unguis. The structure, with a depsidone carbon skeleton, was assigned by spectroscopic experiments.

• Dennis EA, Deems RA, Yu L
• Extracellular phospholipase A2.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1992; 318: 35-9

• Tremblay NM, Nicholson D, Potier M, Weech PK
• Cytosolic phospholipase A2 from U937 cells: size of the functional enzyme by radiation inactivation.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1992; 183: 121-7
• Display abstract

• We have studied the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) of human U937 cells by radiation inactivation in order to characterize the functional form of the native enzyme by a method that was independent of the discrepancies observed by SDS-PAGE and cDNA cloning. The Radiation Inactivation Size of cPLA2 was reproducible and gave a value of 76,800-80,100 daltons. We eluted the active enzyme from polyacrylamide-gradient gel electrophoresis at a molecular weight of 77,000, confirming the irradiation result. We conclude that cPLA2 is active as the monomeric enzyme and is composed of a single major functional domain that is sensitive to irradiation.

• Yoshihara Y, Yamaji M, Kawasaki M, Watanabe Y
• Ontogeny of cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity in rat brain.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1992; 185: 350-5
• Display abstract

• We investigated developmental changes in the activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the rat brain. When the cytosolic fractions from rat brain of various ages were examined by gel filtration chromatography, cPLA2 activity was detected at about 100 kDa in all developmental stages. However, the magnitude of cPLA2 activity differed significantly. The cPLA2 activity was highest in the brain of day-12 embryo, gradually decreased toward birth, and retained a constant level into adulthood. This result suggests that cPLA2 plays an important role in the early development of the nervous system.

• Alberghina M, Gould RM
• Characterization of phospholipase A2 and acyltransferase activities in squid (Loligo pealei) axoplasm: comparison with enzyme activities in other neural tissues, axolemma and axoplasmic subfractions.
• Neurochem Int. 1992; 21: 563-71
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 and acyltransferase were assayed and characterized in pure axoplasm and neural tissues of squid. Intracellular phospholipase A2 activity was highest in giant fiber lobe and axoplasm, followed by homogenates from retinal fibers, optic lobe and fin nerve. In most preparations, exogenous calcium (5 mM) caused a slight stimulation of activity. EGTA (2 mM) was somewhat inhibitory, indicating that low levels of endogenous calcium may be required for optimum activity. Phospholipase A2 was inhibited by 0.1 mM p-bromophenacylbromide, and was completely inactivated following heating. The level of acylCoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity was higher in axoplasm and giant fiber lobe than in other neural tissues of the squid. Km (apparent) and Vmax (apparent) for oleoyl-CoA and lysophosphatidylcholine were quite similar for axoplasm and giant fiber lobe enzyme preparations. Acyltransferase activity was inactivated by heat treatment, and greatly inhibited by 0.2 mM p-chloromercuribenzoate, and to a lesser extent by 20 mM N-ethylmaleimide. Phospholipase A2 activity was present in fractions enriched in axolemmal membranes (separated from squid retinal fibers and garfish olfactory nerve) from both tissues, and it was also highly concentrated in vesicles derived from squid axoplasm. In all three preparations, phospholipase A2 activity was stimulated by Ca++ (5 mM) and inhibited by EGTA (2 mM). In addition, axoplasmic cytosol (114,000 g supernatant) retained a substantial portion of a Ca(++)-independent phospholipase A2, active in the presence of 2 mM EGTA. Acyltransferase activity was present at high content in both axolemma membrane rich fractions, and among subaxoplasmic fractions and axoplasmic vesicles.

• Sessions RB, Dauber-Osguthorpe P, Campbell MM, Osguthorpe DJ
• Modeling of substrate and inhibitor binding to phospholipase A2.
• Proteins. 1992; 14: 45-64
• Display abstract

• Molecular graphics and molecular mechanics techniques have been used to study the mode of ligand binding and mechanism of action of the enzyme phospholipase A2. A substrate-enzyme complex was constructed based on the crystal structure of the apoenzyme. The complex was minimized to relieve initial strain, and the structural and energetic features of the resultant complex analyzed in detail, at the molecular and residue level. The minimized complex was then used as a basis for examining the action of the enzyme on modified substrates, binding of inhibitors to the enzyme, and possible reaction intermediate complexes. The model is compatible with the suggested mechanism of hydrolysis and with experimental data about stereoselectivity, efficiency of hydrolysis of modified substrates, and inhibitor potency. In conclusion, the model can be used as a tool in evaluating new ligands as possible substrates and in the rational design of inhibitors, for the therapeutic treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and asthma.

• Jain MK, Gelb MH
• Phospholipase A2-catalyzed hydrolysis of vesicles: uses of interfacial catalysis in the scooting mode.
• Methods Enzymol. 1991; 197: 112-25

• Fernandez MS, Mejia R, Zavala E
• The interfacial calcium ion concentration as modulator of the latency phase in the hydrolysis of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes by phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Cell Biol. 1991; 69: 722-7
• Display abstract

• Analysis of the time course of hydrolysis of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes catalyzed by porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 at 18 degrees C shows that, in the presence of 10 mM NaCl, the length of the latency period in the presteady-state phase increases from 3 to 10.5 min when the CaCl2 concentration is reduced from 15 to 1 mM. This inverse dependence of the lag period on calcium ion concentration is seen more readily at 1 M NaCl, where the induction time changes from 13.5 to 42 min by decreasing the concentration of CaCl2 from 15 to 1 mM. To interpret these results, we took into account the small amount of fatty acid that is produced during the latency phases. The fatty acid generates a negative surface electrostatic potential and makes the interfacial concentration of calcium ions different from the concentration in the bulk solvent. Variations in the analytical concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2 affect both the interfacial calcium ion concentration and electrostatic potential, as estimated theoretically from Grahame and Boltzmann equations. According to these estimates, the length of the latency period diminishes with the increase of the interfacial calcium concentration, but does not show any logical dependence on the change in surface electrostatic potential.

• Sharp JD et al.
• Molecular cloning and expression of human Ca(2+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1991; 266: 14850-3
• Display abstract

• Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) play a key role in inflammatory processes through production of precursors of eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor. Recently, we described the purification of a novel approximately 100-kDa cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) from human monoblast U937 cells that is activated by physiological (intracellular) concentrations of Ca2+ (Kramer, R. M., Roberts, E. F., Manetta, J., and Putnam, J. E. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 5268-5272). Here we report the isolation of the complementary DNA encoding human cPLA2 and confirm its identity by expression in bacteria and in hamster cells. The predicted 749-amino acid cPLA2 protein has no similarity to the well known secretory PLA2s, but contains a structural element homologous to the C2 region of protein kinase C. The molecular cloning of cPLA2 will allow further studies defining the structure, function, and regulation of this novel PLA2.

• Biltonen RL, Lathrop BK, Bell JD
• Thermodynamics of phospholipase A2-ligand interactions.
• Methods Enzymol. 1991; 197: 234-48
• Display abstract

• Future investigations into the role of the structure of phospholipid substrates and the interrelationships between substrate, calcium, and enzyme conformation in the activation process are clearly needed. Enzyme dimerization in the activation of phospholipase A2 has been indicated, and a complex equilibrium between calcium, substrate, and monomer and dimer enzyme apparently exists. The incorporation of proton binding further complicates the scheme, and one is quickly faced with obtaining a large number of equilibrium constants in order to describe the system explicitly. Nevertheless, similarly complex systems have been well characterized using thermodynamic approaches such as those described herein. An excellent example is the complex equilibrium involving the protonation of the histidine residues and the binding of a mononucleotide to ribonuclease A. Achieving a complete thermodynamic description of that system allowed the investigators to make strong mechanistic statements about models for the catalytic mechanism of ribonuclease A. Since phospholipase A2 is available for study at the same level of detail, one can anticipate a similar degree of quantitative detail regarding the important interactions of this enzyme to be forthcoming.

• Ford DA, Hazen SL, Saffitz JE, Gross RW
• The rapid and reversible activation of a calcium-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 during myocardial ischemia.
• J Clin Invest. 1991; 88: 331-5
• Display abstract

• Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of two members of a novel family of calcium-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipases A2 in mammalian myocardium (Wolf, R. A., and R. W. Gross. 1985. J. Biol. Chem. 260:7295-7303; and Hazen, S. L., D. A. Ford, and R. W. Gross. 1991. J. Biol. Chem. 266:5629-5633). To examine the potential role of these calcium-independent phospholipases A2 in mediating membrane dysfunction during early myocardial ischemia, the temporal course of alterations in phospholipase A2 activity during global ischemia in Langendorf perfused rabbit hearts was quantified and compared with traditionally accepted markers of myocytic ischemic injury and anaerobic metabolism. We now report that membrane-associated calcium-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 activity increased over 400% during 2 min of global ischemia (P less than 0.01), was near maximally activated (greater than 10-fold) after only 5 min of ischemia, and remained activated throughout the entire ischemic interval examined (2-60 min). Activation of membrane-associated plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 after 5 min of myocardial ischemia was rapidly reversible during reperfusion of ischemic tissue. Both the activation of phospholipase A2 and its reversibility during reperfusion were temporally correlated to alterations in myocytic anaerobic metabolism. Furthermore, activation of membrane-associated phospholipase A2 was essentially complete before electron microscopic evidence of cellular damage. Collectively, these results identify dynamic alterations in calcium-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 activity during myocardial ischemia which precede irreversible cellular injury and demonstrate that activation of plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 is amongst the earliest biochemical alterations in ischemic myocardium.

• Jain MK, Yu BZ, Rogers J, Ranadive GN, Berg OG
• Interfacial catalysis by phospholipase A2: dissociation constants for calcium, substrate, products, and competitive inhibitors.
• Biochemistry. 1991; 30: 7306-17
• Display abstract

• Interpretation of the kinetics of interfacial catalysis in the scooting mode as developed in the first paper of this series [Berg et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30 (first paper of six in this issue)], was based on the binding equilibrium for a ligand to the catalytic site of phospholipase A2. In this paper, we describe direct methods to determine the value of the Michaelis-Menten constant (KMS) for the substrate, as well as the equilibrium dissociation constants for ligands (KL) such as inhibitors (KI), products (KP), calcium (KCa), and substrate analogues (KS) bound to the catalytic site of phospholipase A2 at the interface. The KL values were obtained by monitoring the susceptibility to alkylation of His-48 at the catalytic site of pig pancreatic PLA2 bound to micellar dispersions of the neutral diluent 2-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The binding of the enzyme to dispersions of this amphiphile alone had little effect on the inactivation rate. The half-time for inactivation of the enzyme bound to micelles of the neutral diluent depended not only on the nature of the alkylating agent but also on the structure and the mole fraction of other ligands at the interface. The KL values for ligands obtained from the protection studies were in excellent accord with those obtained by monitoring the activation or inhibition of hydrolysis of vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerophosphomethanol. Since only calcium, competitive inhibitors, and substrate analogues protected phospholipase A2 from alkylation, this protocol offered an unequivocal method to discern active-site-directed inhibitors from nonspecific inhibitors of PLA2, such as local anesthetics, phenothiazines, mepacrine, peptides related to lipocortin, 7,7-dimethyleicosadienoic acid, quinacrine, and aristolochic acid, all of which did not have any effect on the kinetics of alkylation nor did they inhibit the catalysis in the scooting mode.

• Krause H, Dieter P, Schulze-Specking A, Ballhorn A, Decker K
• Ca(2+)-induced reversible translocation of phospholipase A2 between the cytosol and the membrane fraction of rat liver macrophages.
• Eur J Biochem. 1991; 199: 355-9
• Display abstract

• In cell-free extracts of rat liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) phospholipase A2 was found to be rapidly associated with the particulate fraction in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner at Ca2+ concentrations of 0.1-1.0 microM. This is also the range of the levels of intracellular Ca2+ reported for basal and various stimulated conditions. After translocation, phospholipase A2 could be released from the membranes in the presence of Ca2+ chelators, increasing the specific activity of phospholipase A2 in the supernatant fraction. These findings support the view that translocation is a regulatory mechanism of phospholipase A2 by bringing the enzyme to its substrate. Unlike the situation with protein kinase C, Mg2+ exerted little effect on phospholipase A2 translocation, indicating that this process is regulated in vivo mainly by fluctuations of the intracellular Ca2+ content.

• Myatt EA, Stevens FJ, Sigler PB
• Effects of pH and calcium ion on self-association properties of two dimeric phospholipases A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1991; 266: 16331-5
• Display abstract

• The monomer-dimer equilibria of the dimeric phospholipases A2 from Crotalus atrox and Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus venoms were examined chromatographically as a function of pH and in the presence versus absence of the essential cofactor, calcium ion. At neutral pH without calcium, the subunits of both enzymes reequilibrated sufficiently slowly that dimer and monomer were separated by size exclusion chromatography. At pH 4.2 and lower, the dimers underwent rapid dissociation and reassociation, eluting as single broad peaks whose position as a function of applied protein concentration could be analyzed to determine association constants using an algorithm that estimates these values based on elution positions. Lowering the pH from 7.0 to 4.2 increased the self-association constant of the C. atrox enzyme by 1 order of magnitude and that of the A. p. piscivorus dimer by a factor of 3. Calcium ion, an essential cofactor of phospholipase A2, converted the kinetic behavior of the dimers at neutral pH from slow to virtually instantaneous on the time scale of the chromatography runs, 40 min. Calcium ion also altered the thermodynamic stability of the enzymes; the association constant of A. p. piscivorus phospholipase A2 in neutral pH buffer was reduced by approximately 2 orders of magnitude, whereas that of C. atrox was increased by a factor of 6. The structural basis for the disparate effects of calcium ion on these two acidic, dimeric venom phospholipases A2 is uncertain. This study illustrates the importance of calcium ion and pH on the solution behavior of the dimeric members of this class of enzymes.

• Hazen SL, Ford DA, Gross RW
• Activation of a membrane-associated phospholipase A2 during rabbit myocardial ischemia which is highly selective for plasmalogen substrate.
• J Biol Chem. 1991; 266: 5629-33
• Display abstract

• Recently, the prototype of a novel class of calcium-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 activities was identified in the cytosolic fraction of canine myocardium (Wolf, R.A., and Gross, R.W. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7295-7303) and subsequently purified and characterized (Hazen, S.L., Stuppy, R.J., and Gross, R.W. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 10622-10630). We now demonstrate that 15 min of myocardial ischemia utilizing a rabbit Langendorf perfused heart model results in a 10-fold increase in membrane-associated calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity whose detection is entirely dependent upon utilization of plasmalogen substrate. Ischemia-induced phospholipase activity was identified as a membrane bound member of this class of phospholipases A2 by demonstration of: 1) concomitant production of lysoplasmenylcholine and sn-2 fatty acid from plasmenylcholine substrate; 2) maximal enzymatic activity in the absence of calcium ion; and 3) a 16-fold higher maximum reaction velocity utilizing plasmenylcholine compared to phosphatidylcholine substrate at multiple surface concentrations. Ischemia-induced phospholipase A2 activity was specifically localized to the microsomal fraction and could not be solubilized by sonication, salt treatment, exposure to chelators, or utilization of submicellar concentrations of detergent. The appearance of microsomal phospholipase A2 activity did not require ischemia-induced transcription or translation since identical increases in enzymic activity were obtained in hearts previously treated with actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Collectively, these results demonstrate that a membrane-associated calcium-independent phospholipase A2 that selectively hydrolyzes plasmalogen molecular species is the likely enzymic mediator of accelerated phospholipid catabolism during early myocardial ischemia.

• Scott DL, Achari A, Christensen PA, Viljoen CC, Sigler PB
• Crystallization and preliminary diffraction analysis of caudoxin and notexin; two monomeric phospholipase A2 neurotoxins.
• Toxicon. 1991; 29: 1517-21
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• Two monomeric neurotoxic phospholipases A2 have been crystallized and their diffraction properties characterized. Crystals of caudoxin (from the venom of Bitis caudalis) and notexin (from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus) were grown at neutral pH, in the absence of calcium ion, and diffract to a resolution of 2.3 and 1.6 A, respectively.

• Clark JD et al.
• A novel arachidonic acid-selective cytosolic PLA2 contains a Ca(2+)-dependent translocation domain with homology to PKC and GAP.
• Cell. 1991; 65: 1043-51
• Display abstract

• We report the cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding a high molecular weight (85.2 kd) cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) that has no detectable sequence homology with the secreted forms of PLA2. We show that cPLA2 selectively cleaves arachidonic acid from natural membrane vesicles and demonstrate that cPLA2 translocates to membrane vesicles in response to physiologically relevant changes in free calcium. Moreover, we demonstrate that an amino-terminal 140 amino acid fragment of cPLA2 translocates to natural membrane vesicles in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. Interestingly, we note that this 140 amino acid domain of cPLA2 contains a 45 amino acid region with homology to PKC, p65, GAP, and PLC. We suggest that this homology delineates a Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding motif, providing a mechanism for the second messenger Ca2+ to translocate and activate cytosolic proteins.

• Kohler T, Friedrich G, Nuhn P
• Phospholipase A2 inhibition by alkylbenzoylacrylic acids.
• Agents Actions. 1991; 32: 70-2

• Hazen SL, Gross RW
• ATP-dependent regulation of rabbit myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1991; 266: 14526-34
• Display abstract

• We report here that rabbit myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 exists as a high molecular weight complex comprised of catalytic and regulatory polypeptides whose activity and stability are influenced by specific interactions with ATP. Multiple lines of evidence document the functional significance of interactions between the catalytic complex and ATP including: 1) adenine nucleotide triphosphates attenuate the rate of thermal denaturation of native cytosolic phospholipase A2; 2) ATP augments the initial rate of phospholipid hydrolysis in a manner independent of the concentration, interfacial properties, and physical state of aggregated substrate; 3) adenine nucleotide triphosphates attenuate the reactivity of an essential thiol residue to covalent modification by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid); and 4) the catalytic complex specifically and reversibly binds to ATP affinity matrices, although the purified 40-kDa catalytic subunit neither binds to ATP affinity matrices nor is subject to ATP-dependent activation and stabilization. The catalytic and regulatory elements were functionally resolved by differential thermal inactivation and the ATP-regulatable phospholipase A2 catalytic complex was reassembled by reconstitution of highly purified catalytic and partially purified regulatory proteins. Thus, alterations in ATP concentration influence the activity and longevity of the myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 catalytic complex, thereby potentially modulating the release of lipidic second messengers and facilitating adaptive alterations in membrane physical properties.

• Hazen SL, Zupan LA, Weiss RH, Getman DP, Gross RW
• Suicide inhibition of canine myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2. Mechanism-based discrimination between calcium-dependent and -independent phospholipases A2.
• J Biol Chem. 1991; 266: 7227-32
• Display abstract

• The majority of phospholipase A2 activity in myocardium is calcium-independent and selective for hydrolysis of plasmalogen substrate (Wolf, R. A., and Gross, R. W. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7295-7303; Hazen, S. L., Stuppy, R. J., and Gross, R. W. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 10622-10630). Accordingly, identification of an inhibitor which selectively targets calcium-independent phospholipases A2 would facilitate elucidation of the biologic significance of this class of intracellular phospholipases. We now report that the haloenol lactone, (E)-6-(bromomethylene)tetrahydro-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-pyran-2-one (Compound 1), is a potent, irreversible, mechanism-based inhibitor of myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2 which is greater than 1000-fold specific for inhibition of myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2 in comparisons with multiple calcium-dependent phospholipases A2. Mechanism-based inhibition of myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 by Compound 1 was established by demonstrating: 1) time-dependent irreversible inactivation; 2) covalent binding of [3H]Compound 1 to the purified phospholipase A2; 3) ablation of covalent binding of [3H]Compound 1 after chemical inactivation of phospholipase A2 enzymic activity; 4) identical inhibition of myocardial phospholipase A2 by Compound 1 in the absence or presence of nucleophilic scavengers; 5) Compound 1 is a substrate for myocardial calcium-independent phospholipase A2 resulting in the generation of the electrophilic alpha-bromomethyl ketone; 6) phospholipase A2 inhibition requires the in situ generation of the reactive electrophile (i.e. neither the alpha-bromomethyl ketone nor the diproteoenol lactone analog are inhibitory); and 7) concomitant attenuation of the inhibitory potency and the extent of covalent adduct formation in the presence of saturating substrate. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the haloenol lactone, Compound 1, is a substrate for, covalently binds to, and irreversibly inhibits canine myocardial cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2.

• Kramer RM, Roberts EF, Manetta J, Putnam JE
• The Ca2(+)-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A2 is a 100-kDa protein in human monoblast U937 cells.
• J Biol Chem. 1991; 266: 5268-72
• Display abstract

• Human monoblast U937 cells contain a soluble phospholipase A2 (PLA2) that is activated over the range of 150-600 nM Ca2+ and is stable only at neutral pH. We have purified this PLA2 over 34,000-fold to near homogeneity using sequential ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and gel filtration chromatography steps. The protein has a Mr of approximately 100,000 (by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and an isoelectric point of 5.1. Four lines of evidence indicate that this 100-kDa polypeptide represents the PLA2. (i) The intensity of staining of the 100-kDa protein was proportional to the degree of purification of PLA2 activity, (ii) the relative staining intensity of the 100-kDa protein precisely paralleled the elution profile of PLA2 activity during chromatography steps, (iii) the PLA2 activity recovered from a nondenaturing gel (greater than 60% of the total activity applied) coincided exactly with the major high molecular weight protein detected by silver staining, and (iv) monoclonal antibodies against the 100-kDa protein immunoprecipitated the PLA2. We conclude that the cytosolic PLA2 isolated from U937 cells represents a novel, high molecular weight PLA2 responding to physiological (intracellular) changes in Ca2+ concentration and therefore may play a critical role in cellular signal transduction processes and the biosynthesis of lipid mediators.

• Krause H, Dieter P, Schulze-Specking A, Ballhorn A, Ferber E, Decker K
• Synergistic effect of magnesium and calcium ions in the activation of phospholipase A2 of liver macrophages.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1991; 175: 532-6
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• In cell-free extracts of rat liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) phospholipase A2 was found to be strongly activated at free Ca2+ concentrations from 100 nM to 1 microM in the presence of 4 mM free Mg2+. This is within the range of intracellular free Ca2+ reported for basal and various stimulated conditions, respectively. Ca2+ alone increased phospholipase A2 activity at high Ca2+ concentrations (1 mM) whereas Mg2+ alone had only little stimulatory effect. Calmodulin does not seem to participate in the regulation of phospholipase A2 although it relieved the inhibition of phospholipase A2 activity by calmodulin antagonists.

• Zupan LA, Kruszka KK, Gross RW
• Calcium is sufficient but not necessary for activation of sheep platelet cytosolic phospholipase A2.
• FEBS Lett. 1991; 284: 27-30
• Display abstract

• In this study we demonstrate that: (1) although the major phospholipase A2 present in sheep platelets is activated by calcium ions, it can effectively catalyze hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester linkage in phospholipids in the absence of calcium; (2) expression of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity can be induced by NaCl utilizing purified (but not crude) cytosolic enzyme; and (3) calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity is regulated by a reconstitutable cytosolic protein. Collectively, these results underscore the fundamental catalytic differences between extracellular and intracellular calcium-dependent phospholipases A2 and demonstrate that calcium is sufficient, but not necessary, for the activation of this class of intracellular phospholipases A2.

• Hazlett TL, Deems RA, Dennis EA
• Activation, aggregation, inhibition and the mechanism of phospholipase A2.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 279: 49-64

• Clark JD, Milona N, Knopf JL
• Purification of a 110-kilodalton cytosolic phospholipase A2 from the human monocytic cell line U937.
• Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990; 87: 7708-12
• Display abstract

• The major dithiothreitol-resistant phospholipase A2 activity present in the cytosol of U937 cells has been purified greater than 200,000-fold by sequential chromatography on phenyl-5PW, heparin-Sepharose CL-6B, high-performance hydroxylapatite, TSK-gel G3000-SW, and Mono Q columns. This 110-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 is distinct from the relatively small (14-kDa) dithiothreitol-sensitive phospholipases A2 that are secreted from many cell types. This additional phospholipase A2 selectively hydrolyzes fatty acid at the sn-2 position of the glycerol and favors phospholipids containing arachidonic acid, which is the rate-limiting precursor for prostaglandin and leukotriene production. Interestingly, a greater than 5-fold increase in phospholipase A2 activity is noted as the calcium concentration increases from the levels found in resting cells to those observed in activated macrophages. We suggest that this enzyme and not the previously described secretory phospholipase A2 is activated by cytosolic effectors such as GTP-binding regulatory proteins and protein kinases to initiate the production of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and platelet-activating factor. To distinguish this cytosolic enzyme from the previously described secretory ones, we suggest referring to it as cPLA2 for cytosolic phospholipase A2 and collectively referring to the secretory phospholipases A2 as sPLA2s.

• Glaser KB, Lister MD, Ulevitch RJ, Dennis EA
• Macrophage phospholipase A2 activity and eicosanoid production: studies with phospholipase A2 inhibitors in P388D1 cells.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 275: 1-16

• Weiss J, Wright G
• Mobilization and function of extracellular phospholipase A2 in inflammation.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 275: 103-13

• Marshall LA, Chang JY
• Pharmacological control of phospholipase A2 activity in vitro and in vivo.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 275: 169-82

• Bonventre JV
• Calcium in renal cells. Modulation of calcium-dependent activation of phospholipase A2.
• Environ Health Perspect. 1990; 84: 155-62
• Display abstract

• Calcium has been implicated as a regulatory factor in many physiological and pathophysiological processes in the renal cell. Under physiological conditions, the cytosolic free calcium concentration is maintained at approximately 100 nM. Most of the releasable cell Ca2+ resides in the nonmitochondrial compartments. In addition to the plasma membrane Ca2+ transport processes, there is a high-affinity, low-capacity buffering capability of nonmitochondrial organelles and a lower-affinity high-capacity mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering capability. A critical enzymatic effector of Ca2+ action in the cell is phospholipase A2. By using digitonin-permeabilized renal mesangial cells, the [Ca2+] dependency of phospholipase A2 was characterized. The [Ca2+] sensitivity was insufficient to explain the phospholipase A2 activation observed with vasopressin. In both intact cells, as well as permeabilized cells, it was found that protein kinase C activation markedly enhanced the Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent activation of phospholipase A2. In response to platelet-derived growth factor, it was found that arachidonic acid release preceded phospholipase C activation. This suggests that other effectors besides Ca2+ and protein kinase C may also be important for phospholipase A2 activation. In an experimental model designed to mimic postischemic reperfusion damage to renal mitochondria, it was demonstrated that reactive oxygen species act synergistically with Ca2+ to activate mitochondrial phospholipase A2, which mediates damage to site I of the electron transport chain, the F1F0 ATPase, and the adenine nucleotide translocase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Pruzanski W, Vadas P
• Soluble phospholipase A2 in human pathology: clinical-laboratory interface.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 279: 239-51

• Ward KB, Pattabiraman N
• Comparative anatomy of phospholipase A2 structures.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 279: 23-36

• Kaiser E, Chiba P, Zaky K
• Phospholipases in biology and medicine.
• Clin Biochem. 1990; 23: 349-70
• Display abstract

• Phospholipases, a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids, are classified according to the bond cleaved in a phospholipid into PLA1 (EC 3.1.1.3), PLA2 (EC 3.1.1.4), PLB (EC 3.1.1.5), PLC (EC 3.1.4.3), and PLD (EC 3.1.4.4). This paper reviews source and structure of PLA2 and the involvement of PLA2 and PLC in several biological phenomena, such as, signal transduction, photoreception, biosynthesis of lung surfactant, sperm motility, and fertilization. New assays for PLA2 activity and concentration in biological fluids are discussed. Phospholipases are involved in many inflammatory reactions by making arachidonate available for eicosanoid biosynthesis. The determination of PLA2 activity and mass concentration in plasma is useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatitis and of septic shock. Naturally occurring phospholipase inhibitors, such as lipocortins act as second messengers in the anti-inflammatory response to steroids. Lipocortins may be valuable therapeutic agents, because they are more specific in their anti-inflammatory action than glucocorticoids; therefore, they are less likely to produce harmful side effects.

• Biltonen RL, Heimburg TR, Lathrop BK, Bell JD
• Molecular aspects of phospholipase A2 activation.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990; 279: 85-103

• Yoshihara Y, Watanabe Y
• Translocation of phospholipase A2 from cytosol to membranes in rat brain induced by calcium ions.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1990; 170: 484-90
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• Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities were found in the cytosolic fractions of rat brain. Using the gel filtration chromatography, two major peaks of PLA2 activities were demonstrated: PLA2-H (200-500 kDa) and PLA2-L (100 kDa). PLA2-L was active at both neutral and alkaline pH and absolutely required Ca2+ for the activity, while the activity of PLA2-H was detected only at alkaline pH and independent of Ca2+. The activation of PLA2-L by Ca2+ was biphasic; the first observed at 1-100 microM Ca2+ and the second at 10 mM Ca2+. In the reconstitution system of partially purified PLA2-L and synaptosomal membranes from rat brain, PLA2-L associated with the membranes in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner. The association was completed within 5-10 min at 25 degrees C both at 10 microM and 1 mM Ca2+, though amount of PLA2-L translocated was dependent on Ca2+ concentrations. These results suggest that Ca2+ promotes the translocation of the cytosolic PLA2-L to membranes where phospholipids, substrate of PLA2, are present.

• Bomalaski JS, Baker DG, Brophy LM, Clark MA
• Monosodium urate crystals stimulate phospholipase A2 enzyme activities and the synthesis of a phospholipase A2-activating protein.
• J Immunol. 1990; 145: 3391-7
• Display abstract

• Eicosanoids are important mediators of the inflammatory response to monosodium urate crystals (MSUC) that results in gout. Phospholipase enzymes cleave fatty acids from membrane phospholipids, and this is thought to be the rate-limiting step in eicosanoid production. To understand better the mechanism of eicosanoid production in this disease, we stimulated human peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes with MSUC and measured phospholipase enzyme activities. MSUC stimulated both intracellular and secretory phospholipase A2 enzyme activities in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Specificity was observed, as phospholipase C activities were not affected. Pretreatment with colchicine, but not aspirin, indomethacin, allopurinol, or islet activating protein, abrogated the enhanced phospholipase A2 activities. We have recently isolated and characterized a phospholipase A2 activating protein termed PLAP from synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and from murine and bovine cell lines. PLAP was detected in gouty synovial fluid by immunodot blotting and ELISA assays and expressed the same characteristics as PLAP identified from other sources. To examine the role of PLAP in MSUC-induced phospholipase A2 stimulation, we treated cells with MSUC and observed an increase in immunoreactive PLAP. This response also could be blunted by colchicine, but not other drugs. Both phospholipase A2 and PLAP induced production by human monocytes of PGE2 and leukotriene B4 by neutrophils. These findings suggest that phospholipase A2 activation in response to MSUC requires an intact microtubule structure, and that phospholipase A2 and PLAP may be important modulators of at least a portion of the gouty inflammatory response.

• Hazen SL, Stuppy RJ, Gross RW
• Purification and characterization of canine myocardial cytosolic phospholipase A2. A calcium-independent phospholipase with absolute f1-2 regiospecificity for diradyl glycerophospholipids.
• J Biol Chem. 1990; 265: 10622-30
• Display abstract

• Recently, we identified a novel calcium-independent, plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A2 activity in canine myocardial cytosol which represents the major measurable phospholipase A2 activity in myocardial homogenates (Wolf, R. A., and Gross, R. W. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7295-7303). We now report the 154,000-fold purification of this phospholipase A2 to homogeneity through utilization of sequential anion exchange, chromatofocusing, affinity, Mono Q, and hydroxylapatite chromatographies. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 40 kDa, possessed a specific activity of 227 mumol/mg min, had a pH optimum of 6.4, and catalyzed the regiospecific cleavage of the sn-2 fatty acid from diradyl glycerophospholipids. The purified polypeptide was remarkable for its ability to selectively hydrolyze plasmenylcholine in homogeneous vesicles (subclass rank order: plasmenylcholine greater than alkyl-ether choline glycerophospholipid greater than phosphatidylcholine) as well as in mixed bilayers comprised of equimolar plasmenylcholine/phosphatidylcholine. Purified myocardial phospholipase A2 also possessed selectivity for hydrolysis of phospholipids containing arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position in comparison to oleic or palmitic acid. Taken together, these results constitute the first purification of a calcium-independent phospholipase with absolute regiospecificity for cleavage of the sn-2 acyl linkage in diradyl glycerophospholipids and demonstrate that myocardial phospholipase A2 has kinetic characteristics which are anticipated to result in the selective hydrolysis of sarcolemmal phospholipids during myocardial ischemia.

• Bereziat G, Etienne J, Kokkinidis M, Olivier JL, Pernas P
• New trends in mammalian non-pancreatic phospholipase A2 research.
• J Lipid Mediat. 1990; 2: 159-72

• Dennis EA, Davidson FF
• Phospholipase A2 and lipocortin effects.
• Prog Clin Biol Res. 1990; 349: 47-54

• Piltch A, Sun L, Fava RA, Hayashi J
• Lipocortin-independent effect of dexamethasone on phospholipase activity in a thymic epithelial cell line.
• Biochem J. 1989; 261: 395-400
• Display abstract

• In the cloned rat thymic endocrine epithelial cell line TEA3A1, treatment with dexamethasone leads to decreased levels of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and thromboxane B2. Dexamethasone treatment also leads to a decrease of both calcium-dependent and calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity measured in a cell-free assay. Dexamethasone-treated cells also have increased levels of lipocortin-I, a putative modulator of phospholipase A2 activity. The property of calcium-dependent binding of lipocortin to the particulate fraction was used to prepare cytosolic and particulate subcellular fractions which contained phospholiphase A2 activity but no lipocortin-I. Dexamethasone decreased phospholipase A2 activity in both cytosolic and particulate fractions even in the absence of lipocortin, suggesting the presence of a lipocortin-independent mechanism.

• Davidson FF, Dennis EA
• Biological relevance of lipocortins and related proteins as inhibitors of phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Pharmacol. 1989; 38: 3645-51

• Hoek JB, Harada N, Moehren G, Tomsho M, Stubbs CD
• The role of calcium and phospholipase A2 in glucagon-induced enhancement of mitochondrial calcium retention.
• Adv Exp Med Biol. 1988; 232: 25-36

• Angle MJ, Paltauf F, Johnston JM
• Selective hydrolysis of ether-containing glycerophospholipids by phospholipase A2 in rabbit lung.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1988; 962: 234-40
• Display abstract

• The role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the simultaneous generation of lyso-platelet-activating factor and arachidonic acid was investigated by examining the calcium dependency and substrate specificity of PLA2 activities in rabbit lung microsomes. Alkylarachidonoylglycerophosphocholine (alkylarachidonoyl-GPC) was preferentially hydrolyzed as compared to acylarachidonoyl-GPC, and both arachidonate-containing substrates were cleaved to a greater extent as compared to alkyl- and acyl-substrates with oleate at the sn-2 position. Hydrolysis of alkylacyl-GPC substrates was not dependent on calcium in the presence of EGTA (1 mM); however, addition of calcium (2 mM) increased hydrolysis of acylarachidonoyl-GPC 2-fold and hydrolysis of acyloleoyl-GPC 10-fold. Substitution of an alkenyl group in the sn-1 position further enhanced calcium-independent PLA2 hydrolysis, and another substitution of arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position of the plasmalogen substrates substantially increased hydrolysis as compared to hydrolysis of substrates containing oleic acid. Hydrolysis of the choline plasmalogen was 3-fold greater than hydrolysis of the ethanolamine plasmalogen containing arachidonate. Preferential calcium-independent hydrolysis of alkylacyl-GPC substrates was observed in several tissues, including adult and fetal rabbit lung and adult rabbit kidney and human amnion. PLA2 substrate specificity may account for the preferential hydrolysis of arachidonoyl-containing alkyl-GPC in several cell types and explain the simultaneous generation of the precursors of two potent autacoids, platelet-activating factor and eicosanoids.

• Goldman AS, Katsumata M, Goto MP
• John Lattimer lecture. Lipokinins: novel phospholipase A2 activators mediate testosterone effects on embryonic genitalia.
• J Urol. 1988; 140: 1184-8
• Display abstract

• Testosterone-treated calf thymocytes produce increased amounts of proteins, termed lipokinins, that stimulate phospholipase A2 from snake venom and mammalian tissue. The induction of these proteins by testosterone is blocked by cycloheximide and, thus, requires new protein synthesis. These proteins activate phospholipase A2 stoichiometrically. They are inactivated by boiling, trypsin or alkaline phosphatase but not by deoxyribonuclease or ribonuclease. Lipokinins significantly repair the failure of masculinization in the Tfm mouse with an X-linked deficiency of androgen-receptor. Thus, the post-receptor effects of testosterone on embryonic genitalia may be mediated through stimulation of phospholipase A2 by lipokinins. Moreover, lipokinins may be involved as stimulators of the arachidonic acid cascade, as lipocortins are inhibitors.

• Ikeda K, Teshima K
• [Molecular theory of the catalytic function of phospholipase A2]
• Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso. 1987; 32: 1422-41

• Kennedy SP, Becker EL
• Ectophospholipase A2 activity of the rabbit peritoneal neutrophil.
• Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1987; 83: 238-46
• Display abstract

• Intact rabbit neutrophils were found to express phospholipase A2 activity against [14C]oleate-labeled autoclaved Escherichia coli. Cells obtained 12-14 h rather than 4 h after intraperitoneal injection of glycogen had approximately threefold higher activity. The higher activity was due neither to contaminating mono-nuclear cells nor to the degranulation associated with the prolonged inflammatory response in the peritoneum. Of the phospholipase A2 activity of the intact 12-hour cells, approximately one half remained cell-associated, but the other half was released from the neutrophils during incubation. The cell-associated activity was not due to phagocytosis of substrate and subsequent release of [14C]fatty acid. The cell-associated activity was inhibited by the membrane-impermeant diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. The results indicate that the cell-associated activity of intact neutrophils is due to an ectophospholipase A2.

• Weber K, Johnsson N
• Repeating sequence homologies in the p36 target protein of retroviral protein kinases and lipocortin, the p37 inhibitor of phospholipase A2.
• FEBS Lett. 1986; 203: 95-8
• Display abstract

• Although considerable information has emerged on the molecular properties of the p36 target protein its function as well as the possible implications of its tyrosine phosphorylation have remained elusive. Here we show that all sequence segments of p36 published so far can be aligned by homology along the complete sequence of lipocortin, which has been reported recently. This alignment extends beyond multiple Geisow motifs, thought to indicate a sequence principle implicated in Ca2+ and/or lipid binding. While the latter properties are already established for p36 one may expect them also for lipocortin, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2 activity. Certain implications of these results are discussed.

• Forst S, Weiss J, Elsbach P, Maraganore JM, Reardon I, Heinrikson RL
• Structural and functional properties of a phospholipase A2 purified from an inflammatory exudate.
• Biochemistry. 1986; 25: 8381-5
• Display abstract

• The cell-free supernatant of sterile inflammatory peritoneal exudates contains a phospholipase A2 that participates in the digestion of Escherichia coli killed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes or by the purified bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI) of these cells. This phospholipase A2 has been purified, and the sequence of the NH2-terminal 39 amino acids has been determined and compared with sequences of both BPI-responsive and BPI-nonresponsive phospholipases A2 from snake venoms and mammalian pancreas. The high concentration and location of basic residues in the NH2-terminal region is a common feature of BPI-responsive phospholipases A2 and may characterize those phospholipases A2 participating in inflammatory events.

• Scott DL, Achari A, Zajac M, Sigler PB
• Crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of the Lys-49 phospholipase A2 from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus.
• J Biol Chem. 1986; 261: 12337-8
• Display abstract

• Previous chemical and structural studies have proposed a major role for Asp-49 in the calcium-mediated activation of phospholipases A2. Recently, a new class of phospholipases A2 has been characterized with a lysine in the place of aspartate at position 49 (Maraganore, J. M., Merutka, G., Cho, W., Welches, W., Kezdy, F. J., and Heinrikson, R. L. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13839-13843; Maraganore, J. M., and Heinrikson, R. L. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 4797-4804). Although both the Lys-49 and Asp-49 phospholipases require calcium for enzymatic activity, the Lys-49 enzymes appear to be unique in their ability to bind phospholipids prior to undergoing calcium-mediated activation. We have successfully crystallized the Lys-49 phospholipase A2 from the venom of the American cottonmouth water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus). The crystals are tetragonal, the space group being P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 71.05 A, and c = 57.76 A. There is only one molecule in the asymmetric unit and the crystals provide good quality diffraction data to 2.2 A.

• Brugge JS
• The p35/p36 substrates of protein-tyrosine kinases as inhibitors of phospholipase A2.
• Cell. 1986; 46: 149-50

• Weinman S, Ores-Carton C, Rainteau D, Puszkin S
• Immunoelectron microscopic localization of calmodulin and phospholipase A2 in spermatozoa. I.
• J Histochem Cytochem. 1986; 34: 1171-9
• Display abstract

• Using the Lowicryl K4M embedding technique, together with indirect immunoferritin or immunogold labeling on ultra-thin sections, tubulin, calmodulin and phospholipase A2 were distinctly localized in ejaculated bull spermatozoa. Calmodulin was concentrated on the plasma membrane, nucleus, post-acrosomal substance, and, in lesser amounts, between coarse fibers and axonemal microtubules of the flagellum. Phospholipase A2 was distributed evenly along the plasma membrane, nucleus, acrosome, post-acrosomal substance, and in the flagellum, on mitochondria, fibrous sheath, coarse fibers, between coarse fibers and axonemal microtubules. Antibodies to tubulin labeled only axonemal microtubules, including the central pair of microtubules. Patterns of tubulin labeling were identical when ferritin granule- or gold particle-conjugated antibodies were tested. In agreement with our previous biochemical studies demonstrating calmodulin binding to phospholipase A2, concomitant with enhancement of phospholipase A2 activity (Arch Biochem Biophys 241:413, 1985), the overlapping distribution of calmodulin and phospholipase A2 in several parts of the sperm suggests that these proteins may play a concerted role in male gamete function in preparation for or during fertilization. The distinct distribution of tubulin along flagellum microtubules indicates their special function in sperm mobility.

• Moskowitz N, Andres A, Silva W, Shapiro L, Schook W, Puszkin S
• Calcium-dependent binding of calmodulin to phospholipase A2 subunits induces enzymatic activation.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1985; 241: 413-7
• Display abstract

• Calmodulin interacted with phospholipase A2 from two different sources, as established by affinity chromatography, dimethylsuberimidate protein crosslinking, and phospholipase A2 assays. Calmodulin was covalently crosslinked to pancreatic and bee venom phospholipases A2 in a calcium-dependent manner, and enhanced the enzymatic activities of these phospholipases. Pancreatic phospholipase A2 was separated into two species of identical molecular weight by calmodulin affinity chromatography; the species that bound to immobilized calmodulin in a calcium-dependent manner was stimulated by calmodulin. This presents further evidence that phospholipase A2 is directly activated by calmodulin.

• Brunie S, Bolin J, Gewirth D, Sigler PB
• The refined crystal structure of dimeric phospholipase A2 at 2.5 A. Access to a shielded catalytic center.
• J Biol Chem. 1985; 260: 9742-9
• Display abstract

• The 2.5-A crystal structure of the calcium-free form of the dimeric venom phospholipase A2 from the Western Diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox, has been refined to an R-factor of 17.8% (I greater than 2 sigma) and acceptable stereochemistry. The molecule is a nearly perfect 2-fold symmetric dimer in which most of the catalytic residues of both subunits face an internal cavity. The restricted access to the putative catalytic sites is especially puzzling as the optimal substrates for this and most other phospholipase A2 are phospholipids condensed in micellar or lamellar aggregates. We point out that substrate access to the internal cavity may be aided by calcium binding which can alter the intersubunit contacts that shield the catalytic network. We also suggest that a system of hydrogen-bonded moieties exists on the surface of the dimer that links the amino terminus to the catalytic system, through an invariant Gln 4 side chain and the backbone of the active center residue, Tyr 73. This hydrogen-bonded network is on a highly accessible surface of the dimer and would appear to contribute to the enzyme's (as opposed to the proenzyme's) special capacity to attack aggregated rather than monomeric substrate.

• Maraganore JM, Heinrikson RL
• The role of lysyl residues of phospholipases A2 in the formation of the catalytic complex.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1985; 131: 129-38
• Display abstract

• The aspartyl residue at position 49 in phospholipases A2 (PLA) has been viewed as a component of the catalytic apparatus because of its involvement in binding the essential cofactor, calcium. We recently discovered a new class of PLA's in which, among other changes in highly invariant residues, Asp-49 is replaced by a lysine (Maraganore et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13839). These Lys-49 PLA's are also calcium-dependent, but, in contrast to the Asp-49 enzymes, they bind phospholipid strongly in the absence of calcium. Lys-49 PLA's are, therefore, ideal for studying structural and mechanistic aspects of these enzymes. Attempts to modify Lys-49 with the amino group-specific reagent, trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) led to the inactivation of the PLA, but reaction occurred not as expected at position 49, but at Lys-53. These findings lead us to propose a model, applicable to PLA's in general, in which cationic side chains at position 53 in these enzymes participate in phospholipid binding on the path to formation of the catalytic complex. This model serves to explain a number of unresolved observations in the current literature relating to enzyme-substrate interactions in the PLA's.

• Mishra SK, Jaiswal AK, Garg NK
• Purification and properties of phospholipase A2 of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni.
• Indian J Biochem Biophys. 1985; 22: 344-9

• Nalbone G, Hostetler KY
• Subcellular localization of the phospholipases A of rat heart: evidence for a cytosolic phospholipase A1.
• J Lipid Res. 1985; 26: 104-14
• Display abstract

• During myocardial ischemia increased levels of lysoglycerophospholipids have been reported which may be deleterious to myocardial function. Phospholipases are presumed to be important in the regulation of this process. To further quantify and characterize the activity of heart phospholipases, we carried out a systematic analysis of phospholipase A activity in rat heart subcellular fractions isolated by the method of Palmer et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 1972. 262: 8731-8739). Neutral phospholipase A was recovered predominately in the cytosolic (soluble) fraction which represented 46% of recovered activity, while the microsomal and subsarcolemmal mitochondrial fractions represented 15% and 12% of the total recovered activity, respectively. Cytosolic phospholipase A differed from the two principal membrane-bound phospholipases A in its pH dependence and apparent Km for substrate. The cytosolic enzyme had a Km (apparent) for dioleoylphosphatidylcholine of 0.07 mM versus 0.28-0.33 mM for the membrane-associated phospholipases A. Acid phospholipase A activity had a subcellular distribution consistent with a lysosomal localization. Lysophospholipase was found principally in the cytosolic, microsomal, and the subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondrial fractions where it represented 46, 17, 6.3, and 6.9% of the recovered activity, respectively. The positional specificity of the respective phospholipases was assessed. This analysis was complicated by the fact that in heart, lysophospholipase has an observed Vmax 3.6- to 4.5-fold greater than that of phospholipase A in the various subcellular fractions. Equations were derived to obtain corrected values for the activity of phospholipases A1 and A2. Using this method we found that the cytosolic and lysosomal fractions contained phospholipase A1, while the mitochondrial fractions contained primarily phospholipase A2. In heart microsomes, the positional specificity of phospholipase A could not be determined because lysophospholipase activity was very high and lysophosphatidylcholine did not accumulate.

• Moskowitz N, Schook W, Puszkin S
• Regulation of endogenous calcium-dependent synaptic membrane phospholipase A2.
• Brain Res. 1984; 290: 273-9
• Display abstract

• Synaptic plasma membrane preparations from brain tissue have endogenous Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 activity. Characterization of this activity revealed that it was maximally active at 10(-7)-10(-5) M Ca2+ and pH 7.0. The enzyme had a Km of 62.0 microM and a Vmax of 98.0 nmol/mg/h. Calmodulin and prostaglandin F2 alpha stimulated phospholipase A2 activity, whereas prostaglandin E2, cyclic AMP and ATP were inhibitory. Addition of exogenous phospholipase A2 to synaptic plasma membrane and synaptic vesicle preparations led to their disruption and/or lysis. We suggest that Ca2+-dependent regulation of phospholipase A2 activity may be required for synaptic vesicle and synaptic plasma membrane interaction.

• Maraganore JM, Merutka G, Cho W, Welches W, Kezdy FJ, Heinrikson RL
• A new class of phospholipases A2 with lysine in place of aspartate 49. Functional consequences for calcium and substrate binding.
• J Biol Chem. 1984; 259: 13839-43
• Display abstract

• We report here the discovery of a new class of phospholipases A2 in which Asp-49, a residue considered to be an obligate component of the catalytic apparatus, is replaced by a lysine. Asp-49 is invariant among the more than 30 venom and pancreatic phospholipases A2 sequenced to date, and its beta-carboxylate group has been shown to be a ligand for calcium in a binding site which also involves contributions from the peptide carbonyl oxygens of Tyr-28, Gly-30, and Gly-32, the so-called calcium-binding loop. The change of Asp-49 to a lysine, and other substitutions in regions heretofore thought to be invariant, including the calcium-binding loop, suggested that the new phospholipases might differ functionally with respect to calcium and/or substrate binding. Indeed, although the Lys-49 phospholipases A2 show a dependence on calcium similar to that of the Asp-49 enzymes, they may be distinguished by the fact that, in the absence of phospholipid, they do not bind calcium to any measurable extent under conditions where Asp-49 enzymes bind a stoichiometric amount of calcium. Furthermore, in the absence of calcium, they show binding to single bilayer phospholipid vesicles under conditions where Asp-49 phospholipases do not bind at all. These results suggest a reversed order of addition of calcium and substrate in the formation of the ternary catalytic complex in the Lys-49 phospholipases A2. Although the mechanistic implications of these structural and functional alterations are not defined at present, it is clear that Asp-49 is not essential for phospholipase A2 catalysis and that it does not participate in the enzyme-calcium-phospholipid catalytic complex.

• Volwerk JJ, Jost PC, de Haas GH, Griffith OH
• Evidence that the zymogen of phospholipase A2 binds to a negatively charged lipid-water interface.
• Chem Phys Lipids. 1984; 36: 101-10
• Display abstract

• Evidence is presented that the zymogen of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (prophospholipase A2) interacts with a lipid-water interface provided that the interface has a net negative surface charge. Fluorescence spectroscopy and non-equilibrium gel filtration indicate that binding of prophospholipase A2 (proPLA) to mixed detergent micelles is dependent on the presence of an anionic detergent. Prophospholipase binding is accompanied by a change in the environment of the single tryptophan residue qualitatively similar to that observed when the active enzyme, phospholipase A2 (PLA), binds to micelles. In addition, the rate of tryptic activation of prophospholipase is significantly reduced in the presence of negatively-charged mixed micelles, whereas no change in rate occurs when neutral micelles are present. These observations suggest that the lack of catalytic activity of the zymogen toward organized substrates carrying a negative surface charge cannot be explained by a failure to bind at the lipid-water interface.

• Gupta C, Katsumata M, Goldman AS, Herold R, Piddington R
• Glucocorticoid-induced phospholipase A2-inhibitory proteins mediate glucocorticoid teratogenicity in vitro.
• Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984; 81: 1140-3
• Display abstract

• Dexamethasone induces the synthesis of a phospholipase A2-inhibitory protein (PLIP) of molecular weight approximately equal to 55,000 from calf thymus and PLIPs of molecular weights 55,000, 40,000, 28,000, and 15,000 from A/J mouse thymus and from 12-day embryonic B10. A mouse palates. Sufficient quantities of calf thymus PLIP and of the 15,000 molecular weight mouse thymus and palate PLIPs were prepared and tested as inhibitors of programmed cell death in the medial-edge epithelium of single mouse embryonic palatal shelves in culture. All of the proteins tested prevent the loss of the medial-edge epithelium and, thus, produce the teratogenic effects of glucocorticoids in the palatal culture model. This teratogenic action of both PLIP and glucocorticoids is reversed by arachidonic acid, the precursor of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, suggesting that PLIP mediates the effects of glucocorticoids by inhibiting phospholipase A2.

• Bartolf M, Franson RC
• pH-dependent modulation of phospholipase A2 activity by alkaline cations and catecholamines in a granule-enriched fraction of adrenal medulla.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1984; 793: 379-86
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A activity was measured in the soluble fractions from bovine adrenal medullary granules and rat liver lysosomes. The adrenal medulla preparation, enriched 2.5-fold in chromaffin granules and lysosomes, hydrolyzes the phospholipids of [1-14C]oleate-labelled autoclaved Escherichia coli in the pH range 3.5-7.0 in an alkaline cation (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+)-dependent fashion. At low alkaline cation concentrations the apparent pH optimum is near 6.5 but decreases to about 4.5 with increasing cation concentrations. When measured at high alkaline cation concentrations phospholipase activity in the adrenal fraction has a pH profile and optimum similar to those of rat liver lysosomes. Amine-containing buffers, millimolar concentrations of catecholamines and micromolar concentrations of the amine-containing drug, trifluoperazine, modulate the adrenal medulla phospholipase activity in a pH- and alkaline cation-dependent manner. Studies with specifically labelled phosphatidylethanolamines confirm previous conclusions that activity at pH 6.4 is almost exclusively phospholipase A2; but in contrast to previous conclusions (Smith, A.D. and Winkler , H. (1968) Biochem. J. 108, 867-874) we find significant phospholipase A2 activity at pH 4.2.

• Testa J, Daniel LW, Kreger AS
• Extracellular phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase produced by Vibrio vulnificus.
• Infect Immun. 1984; 45: 458-63
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase activities were detected in the culture supernatant fluids of a virulent strain of Vibrio vulnificus. The phospholipase A2 was inactivated by heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min, had an apparent molecular weight of greater than or equal to 80,000 (estimated by gel filtration with Sephadex G-75), and a pI of ca. 5.0. Phospholipid hydrolysis was unaffected by Ca2+ or ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid and was optimal at pH 5.0 to 5.5. The lysophospholipase was not affected by heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min but was inactivated at 100 degrees C and had an apparent molecular weight of greater than or equal to 80,000 and a pI of ca. 4.0. The enzymes were detected coincidentally with a previously described extracellular cytolysin of V. vulnificus; however, they were physically separable from the toxin (which did not possess phospholipase A, C, or D activity) by gel filtration with Sephadex G-75.

• Hedwig GR, Biltonen RL
• Thermodynamics of the binding of Ca2+ to porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2.
• Biophys Chem. 1984; 19: 1-11
• Display abstract

• The binding of Ca2+ to porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 was studied by batch microcalorimetry. Enthalpies of binding at 25 degrees C were determined as a function of Ca2+ concentration in buffered solutions at pH 8.0 using both the Tris-HCl and Hepes-NaOH buffer systems. The calorimetric results indicate that protons are released on calcium binding and that in addition to the binding of the active-site calcium, there appears to be weak binding of a second Ca2+. Results from potentiometric titrations indicate that this proton release on binding Ca2+ arises from a change in pK of a histidine(s) functional group. The thermodynamic functions delta G0, delta H0 and delta S0 for calcium binding to phospholipase A2 have been determined. These results are compared with literature data for Ca2+ complex formation with some small molecules and also the protein troponin-C.

• Hendrickson HS, Hendrickson EK, Dybvig RH
• Chiral synthesis of a dithiolester analog of phosphatidylcholine as a substrate for the assay of phospholipase A2.
• J Lipid Res. 1983; 24: 1532-7
• Display abstract

• The synthesis of a dithiolester analog of phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-bis(heptanoylthio)-1,2-dideoxy-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (thio PC), is described. Starting with 1-trityl-sn-glycerol (prepared from D-mannitol), tosylation followed by displacement with potassium methyl xanthate gave a trithiocarbonate. Reductive cleavage of the latter gave a 1,2-dithiol which was then acylated, detritylated, and esterified with choline phosphate. Hydrolysis of thio PC by phospholipase A2 (Naja naja) indicated 95% chiral purity. The rate of hydrolysis as a function of substrate concentration showed a sharp increase at about 0.17 mM, the critical micellar concentration of the lipid. A spectrophotometric assay of phospholipase A2 (by measurement of released thiol groups in the presence of dithionitrobenzoic acid) was quite sensitive. As little as 1 ng of enzyme was detected, representing a rate of about 0.2 nmol of substrate hydrolyzed per min.

• Aoyagi T et al.
• Effects of calcium and calcium-ionophore on the outgrowing epidermis--possible activation of epidermal phospholipase A2.
• J Dermatol. 1983; 10: 313-9

• Yawo H, Kuno M
• How a nerve fiber repairs its cut end: involvement of phospholipase A2.
• Science. 1983; 222: 1351-3
• Display abstract

• Following transection of a giant axon, the nerve membrane at the cut end is resealed within 5 to 30 minutes. This membrane resealing process is highly dependent upon temperature and extracellular calcium ions. The membrane resealing is triggered by excess calcium entering the axoplasm at the site of transection but is prevented by the application of phospholipase A2 inhibitors. We propose that calcium activated phospholipase A2 plays a central role in resealing of the ruptured nerve membrane.

• Franson RC, Weir DL, Thakkar J
• Solubilization and characterization of a neutral-active, calcium-dependent, phospholipase A2 from rabbit heart and isolated chick embryo myocytes.
• J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1983; 15: 189-96
• Display abstract

• Homogenates of rabbit heart hydrolyzed the phospholipids of autoclaved E. coli maximally at pH 7.0 with 5.0 mM added CaCl2; EDTA was a potent inhibitor. More than 70% of the homogenate phospholipase A activity was sedimented at 100 000 x g. Homogenates dialyzed to pH 3.0 had a similar pH optima, but required less than 1.0 mM added CaCl2 for optimal activity. Sulfuric acid extraction of whole heart, and other rabbit organs, solubilized a calcium-dependent phospholipase A that was maximally active at pHs 7.0 to 7.5. Myocardial extracts were as active (approx. 60 nmol/h/mg) as acid extracts from rabbit lung, liver and kidney. Phospholipase(s) A with similar properties were solubilized by acid extraction of 12-day-old chick embryo myocytes (10 nmol/h/mg). Regardless of origin, the phospholipases A were absolutely specific for release of fatty acid from the 2-acyl position of phospholipids. Activity was inhibited by (i) pretreatment with p-bromo-phenacylbromide; (ii) the anesthetics, dibucaine and chlorpromazine; and (iii) the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, indomethacin, ibuprofen and meclofenamate. Aspirin and dexamethasone had little or no effect on enzymic activity.

• Jain MK, De Haas GH
• Activation of phospholipase A2 by freshly added lysophospholipids.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1983; 736: 157-62
• Display abstract

• Reaction progress curves for the hydrolysis of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine by pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 exhibits a latency phase. Addition of 1-palmitoyllysophosphatidylcholine to the preformed vesicles reduces the latency phase and enhances the binding of phospholipase A2 to the vesicles. In contrast, the binary codispersions prepared from diacylphospholipids premixed with lysophosphatidylcholine do not exhibit such enhanced susceptibility to the phospholipase. This effect appears to be due to organizational defects created by asymmetrical incorporation of lysophospholipid molecules into the outer monolayer of the vesicles, and the action of phospholipase is not observed when the additive is equilibrated in both the monolayers of the vesicles.

• Shukla SD, Hanahan DJ
• Membrane alterations in cellular aging: susceptibility of phospholipids in density (age)-separated human erythrocytes to phospholipase A2.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1982; 214: 335-41

• Randolph A, Heinrikson RL
• Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2. Amino acid sequence and studies on the function of the NH2-terminal region.
• J Biol Chem. 1982; 257: 2155-61

• Moskowitz N, Schook W, Puszkin S
• Interaction of brain synaptic vesicles induced by endogenous Ca2+ -dependent phospholipase A2.
• Science. 1982; 216: 305-7
• Display abstract

• Endogenous phospholipase A2 activity of brain synaptic vesicles was Ca2+ -dependent and was increased by prostaglandin F2 alpha, calmodulin, adenosine 3', 5' -monophosphate, and adenosine triphosphate, whereas the activity was inhibited by prostaglandin E2 in the absence or presence of calmodulin. Light-scattering measurements demonstrated that stimulation of the enzyme's activity correlated with the induction of vesicle-vesicle aggregation. The effects of these compounds on endogenous synaptic vesicle phospholipase A2 activity may imply a common end point of their purported neuromodulatory actions, and indicate that synaptic vesicle phospholipase A2 may play a central role in presynaptic neurotransmission.

• Tsukerman AI, Kaplan EI, Shumakovich IE, Dobretsov GE, Mikhailitsyn FS
• [Effect of anthelmintic preparations on phospholipase A2 activity]
• Med Parazitol (Mosk). 1982; 51: 41-5

• Helmy FM, Hack MH
• Studies on the endogenous phosphatides of mammalian pancreas and their hydrolysis by endogenous phospholipases - I. The lipids of dog pancreas and their in vitro hydrolysis, primed by trypsin, by phospholipase A2.
• Comp Biochem Physiol B. 1982; 71: 101-4
• Display abstract

• 1. The phosphoglyceride and sphingolipid content of dog pancreas has been determined and their in vitro response to the endogenous lipolytic enzymes, initiated by trypsin, at pH 7.4 was examined by TLC technology. 2. The glyceryl ether phosphatides were found to consist primarily of PE and PC, each with alkyl and alk-1-enyl components both of which were hydrolyzed to their respective 1-radyl lyso derivatives under the described incubation conditions. 3. A new TLC visualizing reaction for lipids, OSPAS, is described.

• Noremberg K, Lazarewicz JW
• Effect of phospholipase A2 on calcium transport in brain synaptosomes.
• J Neurosci Res. 1982; 7: 239-51
• Display abstract

• Pretreatment of isolated brain synaptic endings with commercial phospholipase A2 isolated from venom of Apis mellifera, followed by a BSA washing, selectively inhibited the depolarization-dependent portion of 45Ca uptake. Phospholipase A2 initially caused an increase of synaptosome respiration and subsequently inhibited their oxygen uptake, but this effect was completely abolished in BSA-containing media. The classical uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, DNP, produced release of 45Ca or [3H]GABA from superfused synaptosomes previously loaded with radioactive calcium or GABA. The treatment of synaptosomes with phospholipase A2 had no effect on the spontaneous efflux of 45Ca or [3H]GABA. However, depolarization-dependent release of [3H]GABA from synaptosomes treated with phospholipase A2 was significantly inhibited. We suggest that the inhibition of depolarization-dependent influx of 45Ca into synaptosomes treated with phospholipase A2 may be attributed to the lesion of the specific function of plasma membrane rather than to the impairment of the calcium-sequestrating function of intraterminal structures.

• Bayer MH
• Phospholipase A activity in commercial nucleases. Implications for membrane vesicle isolation.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1982; 692: 498-500
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A activity was detected in commercial DNAases I and II and in RNAase preparations. The amount of phospholipase correlates inversely with the degree of nuclease purification. The assessment of the level of phospholipase in commercial nucleases is important in cases where enzymatic properties other than those of DNAases and RNAases are to be investigated and when these preparations are to be used in the isolation of biological membranes.

• Winkler HH, Miller ET
• Phospholipase A and the interaction of Rickettsia prowazekii and mouse fibroblasts (L-929 cells).
• Infect Immun. 1982; 38: 109-13
• Display abstract

• L-929 cells were killed when approximately 50 viable Rickettsia prowazekii organisms per L-cell were centrifuged onto a monolayer. The glycerophospholipids of the L-cell were hydrolyzed to lysophosphatides and free fatty acids. Concomitantly, there was a loss of membrane integrity as shown by release of lactate dehydrogenase and 86Rb and permeability to trypan blue dye. No glycerophospholipid hydrolysis or cytotoxicity occurred when the rickettsiae were inactivated by heat, UV irradiation, N-ethylmaleimide, or metabolic inhibitors before their addition to the L-929 cells. On the other hand, treatment of the L929 cells with the cytoskeleton agents colchicine or cytochalasin B or with N-ethylmaleimide inhibited neither the phospholipase A activity nor the loss of membrane integrity. Cytochalasin B-treated cells could be damaged by even small numbers of rickettsiae. We suggest that this phospholipase A activity is used by the rickettsiae to escape from the phagosomes into the cytoplasm of host cells.

• van Scharrenburg GJ, Puijk WC, Egmond MR, van der Schaft PH, de Haas GH, Slotboom AJ
• Effects of substitution of the absolutely invariant glutamine-4 and phenylalanine-5 in bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 on enzymatic activity and substrate binding properties.
• Biochemistry. 1982; 21: 1345-52

• Franson RC, Weir DL
• Isolation and characterization of a membrane-associated, calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 from rabbit lung.
• Lung. 1982; 160: 275-84

• Goormaghtigh E, van Campenhoud M, Ruysschaert JM
• Lipid phase separation mediates binding of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 to its substrate.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1981; 101: 1410-8

• Hendrickson HS, Rauk PN
• Continuous fluorometric assay of phospholipase A2 with pyrene-labeled lecithin as a substrate.
• Anal Biochem. 1981; 116: 553-8

• Smith CM, Wells MA
• A further examination of the active form of Crotalus adamanteus phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1981; 663: 687-94
• Display abstract

• The phospholipase A2 from Crotalus adamanteus venom has been shown to be active as the dimer or 30 000 molecular weight species, at concentrations used for enzyme assay (0.1--10 microgram/ml). Gel filtration of the enzyme in the presence of Ca2+ and monomeric concentrations of the substrate dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine showed that all the protein migrated as a 30 000 molecular weight species. Active enzyme sedimentation velocity experiments using the same conditions gave s020,W=2.85 +/- 0.05 S, which compares favorably with the value obtained at mg/ml concentrations (3.11 S). These results confirm the results of Shen et al. (Shen, B.W., Tsao, F.H.C, Law, J.H. and Kezdy, F.J. (1975) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 97, 1205--1208).

• van Scharrenburg GJ, Puijk WC, Egmond MR, de Haas GH, Slotboom AJ
• Semisynthesis of phospholipase A2. Preparation and properties of arginine-6 bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2.
• Biochemistry. 1981; 20: 1584-91

• Ikeda K, Samejima Y
• pH-dependence of the binding constant of monodispersed n-dodecylphosphorylcholine to the phospholipase A2 of A, Halys blomhoffii. Participation of ionizable groups with pK of 5.16 and 7.30.
• J Biochem (Tokyo). 1981; 90: 799-804

• Ikeda K, Sano S, Samejima Y
• pH dependence of the binding constant of Ca2+ to the phospholipase A2 of A. halys blomhoffii. Participation of ionizable groups with pK values of 5.16, 6.45, and 7.30.
• J Biochem (Tokyo). 1981; 90: 1125-30
• Display abstract

• The pH dependence of the binding constant of Ca2+ to the phospholipase A2 of A. halys blomhoffii was studied at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.1 by the tryptophyl fluorescence method and aromatic circular dichroism (Ikeda and Samejima (1981) J. Biochem. 89, 1175-1184), and was compared with those for cobra venom phospholipases A2 (Teshima et al. (1981) J. Biochem. 89, 13-20) and for porcine pancreatic enzyme (Pieterson et al. (1974) Biochemistry 13, 1439-1445). The shape of the pH-dependence curve was closer to that for the porcine enzyme than those for the cobra enzymes. The data were analyzed on the basis of our previous findings (Ikeda and Samejima (1981) J. Biochem., 90, 799-804) that the pK value of the ionizable group (alpha-amino group) is perturbed from 7.30 to 6.30 on the Ca2+ binding, and that the protonation of another group corresponding to Asp 49 of the porcine enzyme with a pK value of 5.16 competes with the Ca2+ binding. An additional ionizable group with a pK value of 6.45 was found to participate in the Ca2+ ion binding, and this was assigned to the His residue corresponding to His 48 in the active site of the porcine enzyme.

• Hendrickson HS, Trygstad WM, Loftness TL, Sailer SL
• Phospholipase A2 activity on mixed lipid monolayers: inhibition and activation of phospholipases A2 from porcine pancreas and Crotalus adamanteus by anionic and neutral amphiphiles.
• Arch Biochem Biophys. 1981; 212: 508-14

• Victor M, Weiss J, Klempner MS, Elsbach P
• Phospholipase A2 activity in the plasma membrane of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
• FEBS Lett. 1981; 136: 298-300

• Harris JB, MacDonell CA
• Phospholipase A2 activity of notexin and its role in muscle damage.
• Toxicon. 1981; 19: 419-30

• Rakhimov MM, Kkhole V, Babaev MU, Tashmukhamedov BA
• [Interaction of cytotoxin and Ca2+ with phospholipase A2]
• Biokhimiia. 1981; 46: 453-61
• Display abstract

• The effects of Ca2+ and cytotoxin from Middle Asian cobra venom on the hydrolytic activity of phospholipase A2 from the same source and on its action on erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and mitochondria were studied. The necessity of phospholipase A2 for Ca2+ depends on the type of substrates (phosphatidyl methanol, phosphatidyl ethanol, cephalin, phosphatidyl ethyleneglycol, phosphatidyl inositol), whereas enzymatic cleavage of lecithin can also occur in the absence of Ca2+. Cytotoxin Vc" I had no effect on the rate of phospholipid hydrolysis in the absence of Ca2+. However, in the presence of Ca2+ cytotoxin at low concentrations activated phospholipase A2, while its high concentrations inhibited the phospholipid hydrolysis with the exception of phosphatidyl ethyleneglycol and phosphatidyl inositol. In experiments with purified phospholipids no synergistic effect of cytotoxin and phospholipase A2 was observed. The activating effect of cytotoxin and phospholipase A2 was comparable to that of the cationic detergents. The effect of phospholipase A2 on erythrocyte hemolysis and succinate oxidation by mitochondria was more complicated: the activating or inhibiting effect depended on the state and ratio of Ca2+, cytotoxin and phospholipase A2. It is suggested that the synergistic effect observed in membrane systems is primarily due to the structural organization of the membranes and the phase condition of the membrane phospholipids.

• Vogel CW, Pluckthun A, Muller-Eberhard HJ, Dennis EA
• Hemolytic assay for venom phospholipase A2.
• Anal Biochem. 1981; 118: 262-8

• Marone G, Kagey-Sobotka A, Lichtenstein LM
• Possible role of phospholipase A2 in triggering histamine secretion from human basophils in vitro.
• Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1981; 20: 231-9

• Severina EP, Evtodienko IV
• [Phospholipase A2 localization in mitochondria]
• Biokhimiia. 1981; 46: 1199-201
• Display abstract

• The activation of mitochondrial phospholipase A2 by Ca2+ and Sr2+ has been studied. It was shown that complete inactivation of the enzyme occurs after treatment of isolated mitochondria with ruthenium red, inhibitor of Ca transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane. It was concluded that phospholipase A2 is localized on the inner mitochondrial membrane and that its activity is stimulated by Ca2+ on the side of the mitochondrial matrix.

• Teshima K, Ikeda K, Hamaguchi K, Hayashi K
• pH dependence of the binding constant of Ca2+ to cobra venom phospholipases A2.
• J Biochem (Tokyo). 1981; 89: 13-20

• Ikeda K, Samejima Y
• Bindings of Ca2+ ion and monodispersed n-alkylphosphorylcholines to phospholipase A2-II of A. halys blomhoffii.
• J Biochem (Tokyo). 1981; 89: 1175-84

• Dinur D, Kantrowitz ER, Hajdu J
• Reaction of Woodward's Reagent K with pancreatic porcine phospholipase A2: modification of an essential carboxylase residue.
• Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1981; 100: 785-92

• Shakir KM
• Phospholipase A2 activity of post-heparin plasma: a rapid and sensitive assay and partial characterization.
• Anal Biochem. 1981; 114: 64-70

• Dijkstra BW, Kalk KH, Hol WG, Drenth J
• Structure of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 at 1.7A resolution.
• J Mol Biol. 1981; 147: 97-123

• Huang KS, Law JH
• Photoaffinity labeling of Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2 by a substrate analogue.
• Biochemistry. 1981; 20: 181-7
• Display abstract

• A photolabile analogue of phosphatidylethanolamine (photolabile PE analogue), 1,2-di-O-hexylglycero-3-(ethyl diazomalonamidoethyl phosphate), was synthesized in nonisotopic and 14C-radiolabeled form and in both the L configuration (that of the naturally occurring phospholipids) and the racemic form. When the unlabeled racemic compound was photolyzed in the presence of phospholipase A2 of Crotalus atrox, extensive enzyme inactivation was observed. The rate of inactivation was stimulated by Ca2+ and by formation of micelles of the photolabile compound. The dihexyl ether analogue of phosphatidylethanolamine protected the enzyme from inactivation. Phospholipase A2 gave rise to a covalently labeled polypeptide when irradiated in the presence of either L or racemic 14C-labeled photolabile PE analogue. The racemic compound labeled both the N-terminal region (residues 1--15) and the central region (residues 43--97) of the polypeptide while the L compound labeled only the N-terminal region. The lone methionine at position 10 of the C. atrox phospholipase A2 permitted degradation by cyanogen bromide, which showed that labeling by the L compound was restricted to the first ten amino acid residues at the N-terminal end. Phospholipase A2 has an absolute specificity for L-phospholipids, and D-phospholipids are competitive inhibitors. The results of these studies underscore the importance of the head-group region of the phospholipid in phospholipase--substrate interactions and suggest that the two optical isomers of the substrate may be rather differently oriented on the enzyme surface.

• Durkin JP, Shier WT
• Staphylococcal delta toxin stimulates endogenous phospholipase A2 activity and prostaglandin synthesis in fibroblasts.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1981; 663: 467-79
• Display abstract

• Delta toxin, one of at least four toxins produced by pathogenic strains of the skin bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, is an amphipathic polypeptide possessing hemolytic and cytolytic activity. Delta toxin stimulates high levels of phospholipase A2 activity in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts with concomitant synthesis and release of prostaglandins. Alpha toxin, another hemolytic toxin produced by strains of S. aureus, did not stimulate phospholipase A2 or prostaglandin release in these cells. Analysis of the release of lactate dehydrogenase and beta-galactosidase (cytoplasmic and lysosomal marker enzymes, respectively) from delta-toxin-treated cells indicated that cytolytic concentrations of the toxin damage the cell-surface membrane more extensively than lysosomal membranes. During a 30 min exposure, delta toxin stimulated 3T3 cells to hydrolyze up to 32% of the lipids biosynthetically labeled by incorporation of [3H]arachidonic acid. A relatively high percentage of the free arachidonic acid formed in delta-toxin-treated 3T3 cells was converted to prostaglandins (up to 41.3% and 8.3% converted to chromatographically identifiable prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, respectively, in 30 min), with optimal conversion occurring at sublytic toxin concentrations. The degree of activation of phospholipase A2 in 3T3 cells by a range of concentrations of delta toxin correlates with cytotoxicity assessed by failure to exclude trypan blue dye. Analysis of the calcium dependency of the toxin-activated phospholipase A2 was consistent with a cell-surface, Ca2+-dependent enzyme. The phospholipase A2 exhibits a degree of specificity for substrate lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acid residues which can serve as precursors for prostaglandin formation. Enzymatic activity was not inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate (5 mM), N-ethylmaleimide (5 mM) or p-bromophenacylbromide (0.1 mM). Delta toxin did not activate detectable phospholipase A2 in subcellular preparations containing plasma membrane.

• Traynor JR, Authi KS
• Phospholipase A2 activity of lysosomal origin secreted by polymorphonuclear leucocytes during phagocytosis or on treatment with calcium.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1981; 665: 571-7
• Display abstract

• 1. Peritoneal neutrophil leucocytes, derived from the rabbit, release phospholipase A (EC 3.1.1.4) activity during phagocytosis of complement-coated zymosan particles, or during treatment with Ca2+. This enzyme is able to release [1-14C]oleate from the membrane phospholipids of Escherichia coli. 2. The release of phospholipase A paralleled that of the known lysosomal marker enzymes beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme. The phospholipase A would thus appear to be derived from the lysosomal granules of the cells. 3. The released enzyme is of A2 specificity, has an absolute requirement for divalent cations, and is active over a broad pH range (pH 6-9).

• Apitz-Castro R, Cruz M, Mas M, Jain MK
• Further studies on a phospholipase A2 isolated from human platelet plasma membranes.
• Thromb Res. 1981; 23: 347-54

• Vadas P, Wasi S, Movat HZ, Hay JB
• Extracellular phospholipase A2 mediates inflammatory hyperaemia.
• Nature. 1981; 293: 583-5

• Verheij HM, Slotboom AJ, de Haas GH
• Structure and function of phospholipase A2.
• Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 1981; 91: 91-203

• Sukhanov VA, Sidorov OI, Okhanov VV, Basharuli VA, Shvets VN
• [Spin-labeling studies on interaction of phospholipase A2 from cobra poison with phospholipid membranes]
• Mol Biol (Mosk). 1981; 15: 139-44
• Display abstract

• Phospholipase A2 interactions with phospholipid liposomes and vesicles were studied by using unhydrolysed spin-labeling 2-alkyl phosphatidylcholine. These interactions have polar nature. Phospholipase A2 hydrolyses only the neighbouring phospholipid monolayer. The hydrophobic layer of liposomes is not permeable for the enzyme. Phospholipase A2 are attached to lysophosphatidylcholine after hydrolysis and it stabilizes the structure of vesicles. The stabilizing effect of the enzyme makes the vesicles unpermeable for Na+, Cl-ions and protons. Moreover, the phospholipase A2 prevents the phospholipid exchange between the vesicles and their fusion.

• Barden RE, Darke PL, Deems RA, Dennis EA
• Interaction of phospholipase A2 from cobra venom with Cibacron Blue F3GA.
• Biochemistry. 1980; 19: 1621-5

• Irvine RF, Letcher AJ, Dawson RM
• Thyrotropin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase A2 in pig thyroid, a re-examination.
• FEBS Lett. 1980; 119: 287-9

• Raz A, Erman A
• Effects of divalent cations on prostaglandin biosynthesis and phospholipase A2 activation in rabbit kidney medulla slices.
• Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Res. 1980; 6: 231-4
• Display abstract

• The divalent cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ were compared for their stimulatory or inhibitory effect on PG formation in rabbit kidney medulla slices. Calcium, manganese, and strontium ions stimulated PG generation up to 3- to 5-fold in a time- and dose-dependent manner (Ca2+ greater than Mn2+ approximately Sr2+) while the magnesium and cobalt ions were without significant effects. Stimulatory effects of Ca2+, Mn2+, and Sr2+ on the medullary generation of PGE2 was found to correlate with their stimulatory effects on the release of AA and LL acids from tissue lipids. The release of other fatty acids was unaffected. As both AA and LL acids are predominantly found in the 2-position of phospholipids, the stimulation by these cations appears to be mediated via stimulation of phospholipase A2 activity.

• Kaplan-Harris L, Elsbach P
• The antiinflammatory activity of analogs of indomethacin correlates with their inhibitory effects on phospholipase A2 of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1980; 618: 318-26

• Shier WT, Trotter JT
• Stimulation of cell surface phospholipase A2 and prostaglandin synthesis in 3T2 mouse fibroblasts by phallolysin, a toxin from Amanita phalloides.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1980; 619: 235-46
• Display abstract

• Phallolysin, a cytotoxic glycoprotein from the poisonous mushroom Amanita phalloides, stimulates high levels of cellular phospholipase A2 in 3T3 Swiss mouse fibroblasts biosynthetically labeled by incorportion of [5,6,8,9,11,12,14,15-3H]arachiodonic acid. Up to 39.9% of labeled cell lipids were hydrolyzed in 30 min with concomitant synthesis of prostaglandins (up to 5.3 and 1.7% of incorporated label released in 30 min as chromatographically identifiable prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, respectively). A similar extent of hydrolysis of labeled phosphatidylcholine was observed in cells biosynthetically labeled with [1,2-14C]choline, with production of an equivalent amount of lysophosphatidylcholine. No detectable hydrolysis of sphingomyelin was observed, indicating (1) that phospholipases B, C and D and sphingomyelinases were not significantly activated, and (2) that the phospholipase A2 activated did not exhibit a high degree of specificity for arachidonic acid moieties in its substrates. An analysis of the Ca2+ requirement for activation suggests that phallolysin activates primarily cell surface, Ca2+-requiring phospholipase A2. Several lines of evidence suggest that stimulation of phospholipase A2 by phalolysin involves binding to receptor sites which are also sites for wheat germ agglutinin. The extent of cell death, as assessed by failure to exclude trypan blue dye, correlated with the percent of maximal activation of phospholipase A2 by a range of concentrations of phallolysin, suggesting that the toxin kills cells by inducing hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids.

• Symthies JR
• Prostaglandins and cancer: further stereochemical studies on the molecule of phospholipase A2.
• Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1980; 5: 353-8

• Freinkel RK, Traczyk TN
• The phospholipases A of epidermis.
• J Invest Dermatol. 1980; 74: 169-73
• Display abstract

• Phospholipases A have been characterized in fetal rat epidermis. Both a calcium dependent phospholipase A with pH optimum of 8.5 and a calcium independent enzyme with a pH optimum of 4.5 were found. Activity against both acyl groups of phosphatidyl choline were found for both enzymes and the findings suggested that the acid enzyme (pH 4.5) is primarily phospholipase A1. The specificity of the alkaline enzyme with respect to acyl groups could not be determined due to the marked hydrolysis of lysophosphatidyl choline. Lysophospholipase activity had similar pH and calcium requirements as the alkaline phospholipase A and the 2 activities could not be dissociated in these experiments. The acid phospholipase was localized primarily in a fragile large particle fraction while the alkaline enzyme was present in various subcellular fractions and most active in the soluble supernatant. These findings demonstrate that epidermal phospholipases A are similar to those in other mammalian tissues. The presence of both acid and alkaline enzymes ar various subcellular loci suggest that the enzymes may play important roles in many facets of epidermal membrane metabolism and in particular in the degradative events of keratinization.

• Verheij HM et al.
• Methylation of histidine-48 in pancreatic phospholipase A2. Role of histidine and calcium ion in the catalytic mechanism.
• Biochemistry. 1980; 19: 743-50
• Display abstract

• It is known that His-48 is part of the active center in pancreatic phospholipase. To further elucidate the role of histidine-48 in the active center of pancreatic phospholipase A2, we have modified the enzyme with a number of bromo ketones and methyl benzenesulfonates. Rapid methylation occurred with methyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonate. Methylated phospholipase shows total loss of enzymatic activity whereas binding of substrate and the cofactor Ca2+ remains intact. Amino acid analysis of methylated equine phospholipase showed the loss of the single molecule of histidine and the formation of one molecule of 2-amino-3-(1-methyl-5-imidazolyl)propanoic acid (1-methylhistidine). Equine phospholipase was also modified by [13C]methyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonate and the methylated enzyme was studied by 13C NMR. The results indicate that the proton on the nitrogen in position 3 of the imidazole ring is involved in a strong interaction with a buried carboxylate group, thereby hindering rotation of the imidazole ring, and that the nitrogen in position 1 is involved in catalysis. These data are in full agreement with the three-dimensional structure at 1.7-A resolution of bovine pancreatic phospholipase. A catalytic mechanism is proposed in which a water molecule which is close to the nitrogen at position 1 of the imidazole ring of the Asp-99-His-48 couple acts as the nucleophile. A comparison is made between phospholipase A2 and the serine esterases.

• Fletcher JE, Rapuano BE, Condrea E, Yang CC, Ryan M, Rosenberg P
• Comparison of a relatively toxic phospholipase A2 from Naja nigricollis snake venom with that of a relatively non-toxic phospholipase A2 from Hemachatus haemachatus snake venom--II. Pharmacological properties in relationship to enzymatic activity.
• Biochem Pharmacol. 1980; 29: 1565-74

• Condrea E, Yang CC, Rosenberg P
• Comparison of a relatively toxic phospholipase A2 from Naja nigricollis snake venom with that of a relatively non-toxic phospholipase A2 from Hemachatus haemachatus snake venom--I. Enzymatic activity on free and membrane bound substrates.
• Biochem Pharmacol. 1980; 29: 1555-63

• Owens K, Pang DC, Franson RC, Weglicki WB
• Lipids of myocardial membranes: susceptibility of a fraction enriched in sarcolemma to hydrolysis by an exogenous mammalian phospholipase A2.
• Lipids. 1980; 15: 534-8
• Display abstract

• A myocardial membrane fraction enriched in sarcolemma was used to determine the susceptibility of the lipids to hydrolysis by a phospholipase A2 from granulocytes. After incubation (37 C, pH 7.0, 5 mM Ca2+) with the phospholipase A2 for 30 min, a more than 3-fold increase in unesterified fatty acids was found (up to 47 nmol/mg protein; P < 0.001) relative to a control incubated without phospholipase A2 or Ca2+. This included a 10-fold increase in the arachidonic acid content (up to 42 mol%) and at least a 7-fold increase in lysophosphatidylethanolamine (up to 7.4 mol% total phospholipid-P). However, the exogenous phospholipase did not augment the quantity of lysophosphatidylcholine produced by endogenous phospholipases in the presence of Ca2+ (5 mM). These results demonstrate the in vitro susceptibility of phospholipids of myocardial membranes, particularly phosphatidylethanolamine, to the neutral-active, Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 from granulocytes. This work may be relevant to myocardial inflammation and tissue damage during ischemia, where heterolytic injury of the myocardium may occur subsequent to the accumulation of granulocytes.

• Hanahan DJ, Joseph M, Morales R
• The isolation and characterization of a third or neutral phospholipase A2 in the venom of Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii. An improved fractionation procedure for all three enzymes.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1980; 619: 640-9
• Display abstract

• The isolation of a new, third phospholipase A2 from Agkistrodon halys blomhoffi is described. On the basis of a pI value of 6.9, it is termed a neutral phospholipase A2. It was characterized as to its amino acid content, activity towards phosphatidylcholine, heat stability, and hemolytic behavior on human erythrocytes. A comparison of these characteristics with those of the acidic and basic phospholipases A2 established the uniqueness of the neutral enzyme. Two particularly important observations were concerned with the complete stability of the three phospholipases on heating at 100 degrees C at pH 6.0 in the presence of 10 mM Ca2+, but variable stability in the absence of Ca2+, and the significant lack of hemolytic activity by the acidic (pI 4.9) phospholipase A2 as compared to the neutral (pI 6.9) and basic (pI 8.7) enzyme which produced extensive hemolysis of human erythrocytes. Other facets of the characteristics of these phospholipases are discussed.

• Heath MF, Jacobson W
• The nature of the phospholipases A of lung lamellar bodies.
• Pediatr Res. 1980; 14: 846-7
• Display abstract

• Phospholipases A1 and A2 from rabbit lung lysosomes have maximal activity at pH 4.0 (Fig. 1). Lamellar bodies from rabbit lung contain phospholipases A which resemble the lysosomal enzymes in being active at pH 4 and showing sensitivity to inhibition by calcium ions (80% inhibition at 10 mM Ca2+). Lamellar body phospholipases hydrolyse dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (containing 10% phosphatidylglycerol and thus approximating the phospholipid composition of mature lamellar bodies) at only 1% of their rate of hydrolysis of unsaturated molecules (Tables 1 and 2). This substrate preference corresponds to that shown by phospholipases from lysosomes.

• Kaplan-Harris L, Weiss J, Mooney C, Beckerdite-Quagliata S, Elsbach P
• The action of human and rabbit serum phospholipase A2 on Escherichia coli phospholipids.
• J Lipid Res. 1980; 21: 617-24

• van den Bosch H
• Intracellular phospholipases A.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1980; 604: 191-246

• Darke PL, Jarvis AA, Deems RA, Dennis EA
• Further characterization and N-terminal sequence of cobra venom phospholipase A2.
• Biochim Biophys Acta. 1980; 626: 154-61
• Display abstract

• N-terminal amino acid sequence data on cobra venom phospholipase A2 (Naja naja naja) demonstrate the absence of histidine at positions 10 and 20, in contrast to most other Naja enzymes. The presence of three tryptophans was demonstrated by p-toluenesulfonic acid hydrolysis, and the location of two of these at positions 18 and 19 parallels other Naja phospholipase A2 sequences. Based on the amino acid composition of the enzyme, the theoretical E278 0.1% should be 2.2, which is consistent with dry weight determinations, refractometry and amino acid analysis. Unusually high reactivity of the enzyme toward the protein assay of Lowry et al. gives an erroneously low E278 0.1% value of 1.45 when compared to bovine serum serum albumin as a protein standard. Using an E278 0.1% of 2.2, this enzyme is inactivated by the active site reagent p-bromophenacyl bromide with a stoichiometry of 1 mol reagent per mol enzyme. Chromatography on Affi-Gel Blue provides further purification of this phospholipase A2.

• Vigo C, Lewis GP, Piper PJ
• Mechanisms of inhibition of phospholipase A2.
• Biochem Pharmacol. 1980; 29: 623-7

• Gale PH, Egan RW
• Polarographic assay for phospholipase A2.
• Anal Biochem. 1980; 104: 489-93

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