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B D Gomperts

Publications and source records attributed to B D Gomperts.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Regulation of exocytosis from rat peritoneal mast cells by G protein beta gamma-subunits.

We applied G protein-derived beta gamma-subunits to permeabilized mast cells to test their ability to regulate exocytotic secretion. Mast cells permeabilized with streptolysin-O leak soluble (cytosol) proteins over a period of 5 min and become refractory to stimulation by Ca2+ and GTPgammaS over approximately 20-30 min. beta gamma-Subunits applied to the permeabilized cells retard this loss of sensitivity to stimulation (run-down) and it can be inferred that they interact with the regulatory mechanism for secretion. While alpha-subunits are without effect, beta gamma-subunits at concentrations >10(-8 )M enhance the secretion due to Ca2+ and GTPgammaS. Unlike the small GTPases Rac and Cdc42, beta gamma-subunits cannot induce secretion in the absence of an activating guanine nucleotide, and thus further GTP-binding proteins (likely to be Rho-related GTPases) must be involved. The enhancement due to beta gamma-subunits is mediated largely through interaction with pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. It remains manifest in the face of maximum activation by PMA and inhibition of PKC with the pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptide. Soluble peptides mimicking PH domains inhibit the secretion due to GTPgammaS and block the enhancement due to beta gamma-subunits. Our data suggest that beta gamma-subunits are components of the pathway of activation of secretion due to receptor-mimetic ligands such as mastoparan and compound 48/80.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Induction of exocytosis from permeabilized mast cells by the guanosine triphosphatases Rac and Cdc42.

We applied recombinant forms of the Rho-related small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) Rac2 and Cdc42/G25K to permeabilized mast cells to test their ability to regulate exocytotic secretion. Mast cells permeabilized with streptolysin-O leak soluble (cytosol) proteins over a period of 5 min and become refractory to stimulation by Ca2+ and guanosine triphosphate (GTP)gammaS over about 20-30 min. This loss of sensitivity is likely to be due to loss of key regulatory proteins that are normally tethered at intracellular locations. Exogenous proteins that retard this loss of sensitivity to stimulation may be similar, if not identical, to those secretory regulators that are lost. Recombinant Rac and Cdc42/G25K, preactivated by binding GTPgammaS, retard the loss of sensitivity (run-down) and, more importantly, enable secretion to be stimulated by Ca2+ alone. Investigation of the concentration dependence of each of these two GTPases applied individually to the permeabilized cells, and of Cdc42/G25K applied in the presence of an optimal concentration of Rac2, has provided evidence for a shared effector pathway and also a second effector pathway activated by Cdc42/G25K alone. Dominant negative mutant (N17) forms of Rac2 and Cdc42/G25K inhibit secretion induced by Ca2+ and GTPgammaS. Our data suggest that Rac2 and Cdc42 should be considered as candidates for GE, GTPases that mediate exocytosis in cells of hematopoeitic origin.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Complex pattern of inhibition by Mg2+ of exocytosis from permeabilised eosinophils.

Inhibition by Mg2+ ions of exocytotic secretion from permeabilised eosinophils, stimulated by Ca2+ and GTP gamma S, and in the presence and absence of ATP, has been examined. While Mg2+ inhibits release of aryl sulphatase, hexosaminidase and peroxidase, we found no evidence that this occurs by competition at a Ca(2+)-binding site. On the other hand, the IC50 for Mg2+ approximates a simple inverse relationship to EC50 for GTP gamma S over a wide range of concentrations, indicative of a possible competition with events directly controlled by a GTP-binding protein. However, for secretion stimulated by GTP gamma S in the absence of Ca2+ (which necessitates provision of ATP), the effect of Mg2+ becomes biphasic. Initially, secretion is dependent on the presence of Mg2+ as a component of the complex ligand Mg.ATP. At high concentrations, Mg2+ inhibits secretion and the IC50 was found to be fixed at a concentration of about 8 mM regardless of the strength of the stimulus. The presence of ATP appears to divert the site of inhibition due to Mg2+.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Practical considerations regarding the use of streptolysin-O as a permeabilising agent for cells in the investigation of exocytosis.

Streptolysin-O is widely used in cell biological investigations in order to make large (>12 nm) pores in the plasma membrane and so to render the cytosol directly accessible to experimental manipulation. We have compared the effect of streptolysin-O commercially formulated (Murex Diagnostics) as a diagnostic reagent in pathology with two pure reagents (a conventional purified protein, and a recombinant protein generated in E.coli) on exocytotic secretion from mast cells. For mast cells permeabilised by streptolysin obtained from the commercial source, exocytosis (of beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase) is dependent on provision of both Ca(2)+ and a guanine nucleotide. In contrast, for cells permeabilised by either of the two pure proteins, a substantial extent of Ca(2)+-independent exocytosis can be elicited. When the Murex material is subject to dialysis or ultrafiltration, some secretion can be induced in the absence of Ca(2)+, indicating a modulatory function of the low mol wt additives of formulation, mainly phosphate and cysteine. However, Ca(2)+-independent exocytosis is still manifest when the pure proteins are reconstituted with ultrafiltrates from the Murex material. These observations indicate that reagents used to permeabilise cells should be characterised thoroughly and used with great care. Confirmation that the cytolytic activity of the Murex material derives from a cholesterol directed factor was demonstrated by inhibition of exocytosis when red blood cell derived (and hence cholesterol containing) sonicated liposomes were provided.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Purification and identification of FOAD-II, a cytosolic protein that regulates secretion in streptolysin-O permeabilized mast cells, as a rac/rhoGDI complex.

Mast cells permeabilized by treatment with streptolysin-O in the presence of Ca2+ and GTP-gamma-S can secrete almost 100% of their contained N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. If these stimuli are provided to the permeabilized cells after a delay, the response is diminished and the ability of the cells to undergo secretion runs down progressively over a period of about 30 min. This is thought to be due to the loss of key proteins involved in the exocytotic mechanism. Using this effect as the basis of a biological assay, we have isolated a protein from bovine brain cytosol that retards the loss of responsiveness to stimulation by Ca2+ and GTP-gamma-S. Purification of this protein and peptide sequencing have enabled us to identify it as the small GTP-binding protein rac complexed to the guanine nucleotide exchange inhibitor rhoGDI. Both proteins are required to retard the loss of the secretory response, while purified rhoGDI applied alone accelerates the rundown.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Ultrastructural characterization of tannic acid-arrested degranulation of permeabilized guinea pig eosinophils stimulated with GTP-gamma-S.

We have used ultrastructural techniques to investigate secretion in permeabilized eosinophils. As each exocytotic event is rapid we have used tannic acid incubation to trap the maximum number of fusion figures; tannic acid has been used previously in other secretory systems to arrest exocytosis at the cell surface whilst still allowing the preceding events to occur. Using this approach, in conjunction with ultrathin sectioning and cryoreplication, it is possible to demonstrate clear evidence of exocytosis in permeabilized eosinophils after stimulation by GTP-gamma-S. Large numbers of arrested fusion sites are found, including early fusion pedestals, visible in freeze-fracture replicas, having single narrow necked pores as small as 12 x 43 nm. Both individual and compound exocytoses are found, with retention of the secretory product, in particular the crystalline granule core, occurring at many sites. Large numbers of coated pits are also found in cells following extended tannic acid incubation, membrane coats even occurring on arrested granule membranes, suggesting a role in post-fusion membrane recovery. The accessibility of the cell interior and the large number of arrested fusion sites, particularly the presence of very early stages of exocytosis (evident as pedestals in freeze-fracture replicas), makes this a suitable preparation for the localization of key regulators of exocytosis at their sites of action. Although this approach, utilizing permeabilization coupled with tannic acid incubation is not without inherent problems-as with any electron microscopic technique care must be taken to understand the potential for artefacts-there are a number of advantages, particularly with regard to labeling studies, over techniques utilizing ultra rapid freezing.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Inhibition by cromoglycate and some flavonoids of nucleoside diphosphate kinase and of exocytosis from permeabilized mast cells.

1. The anti-allergic compound, cromoglycate, is reported to possess affinity for, and to suppress the autophosphorylation of a 72kDa protein having the sequence of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK). 2. We have tested the ability of cromoglycate, and a panel of ten structurally related flavonoids of plant origin, to inhibit the NDPK reaction and the exocytotic process of permeabilized mast cells. The conditions of permeabilization (use of an isotonic medium based on sodium glutamate) were selected to ensure that NDPK activity would be an essential component in the induction of Ca(2+)-induced exocytosis in which ATP is required for generation of GTP. For comparison, we also measured the inhibition of exocytosis induced by GTP-gamma-S; this proceeds in the absence of ATP and bypasses the need for NDPK activity. 3. We found that cromoglycate does not discriminate between Ca2+ and GTP-gamma-S-induced exocytosis and is a poor inhibitor of NDPK activity. Concentrations in the millimolar range are required for inhibition of all these functions. By comparison, many of the flavonoids are effective at concentrations in the micromolar range. 4. While we were unable to discern any systematic relationships between their ability to inhibit the three functions, two compounds, quercetin and genistein, inhibit Ca(2+)-induced, but not GTP-gamma-S-induced exocytosis. Inhibition of the late stages of the stimulus-response pathway in mast cells by these compounds is therefore likely to be due to inhibition of NDPK and the consequent failure to generate GTP.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A survey of GTP-binding proteins and other potential key regulators of exocytotic secretion in eosinophils. Apparent absence of rab3 and vesicle fusion protein homologues.

We set out to identify potential key regulators of exocytotic fusion in the eosinophil, in the knowledge that granule exocytosis can be stimulated in these cells by intracellular application of nonhydrolyzable analogues of guanosine triphosphate, with Ca2+ acting as a modulator of guanine nucleotide-dependent secretion. To screen for GTP-binding proteins, guinea pig eosinophils were purified from peritoneal washings and subjected to western blotting analysis using specific immune sera raised against recombinant proteins or consensus peptide sequences within proteins of interest. We found a number of heterotrimeric G proteins (G alpha i3, G alpha o, G alpha q11, G alpha s and G beta subunits) and members of the small GTP-binding proteins expressed in eosinophils. Two subtypes of G-protein alpha subunits (G alpha i1 and G alpha z) could not be detected. Separation of subcellular organelles from homogenized eosinophils by density gradient centrifugation revealed that all of the detected GTP-binding proteins were mainly expressed in fractions containing peak plasma membrane and Golgi marker enzyme activities, while G beta subunits were also detected in secretory granule fractions. However, isoforms of Rab3, a putative GTP-binding regulator of exocytotic fusion, were undetectable in eosinophils. Neither, with the exception of syntaxin-3, could we detect any of the proteins belonging to the proposed synaptic vesicle fusion complex (SNAP-25; synaptobrevin (VAMP) and its non-neuronal homologue, cellubrevin; synaptophysin; synaptotagmin). The results from this study, based on western blotting, suggest that eosinophils express a different class of exocytotic fusion complex proteins from those found in neuronal tissues, although a number of potential candidates fulfilling the role of GE were identified in this important inflammatory cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Adrenocentenary.

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Epinephrine↗
PubMed1993

Kinetic characterization of guanine-nucleotide-induced exocytosis from permeabilized rat mast cells.

We have measured the time course of secretion of hexosaminidase from rat mast cells permeabilized (in simple buffered NaCl solutions) in response to guanine nucleotides [GTP or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S])] and Ca2+. In these experiments, ATP was excluded from the system (and the cells were pretreated with metabolic inhibitors). For cells permeabilized in the absence of Mg2+ but in the presence of Ca2+, secretion commences promptly in response to addition of GTP; when Mg2+ (2 mM) is provided, secretion commences after an extended delay, much higher concentrations of GTP are required, and the final extent of secretion is decreased. Ongoing secretion due to GTP and Ca2+ is abruptly terminated by addition of Mg2+ to cells initially stimulated in its absence. In contrast, although Mg2+ has no effect on the sensitivity to the non-hydrolysable analogue GTP[S], its absence does nevertheless cause delays in the onset of secretion triggered by the addition of GTP[S] to cells initially permeabilized in the presence of Ca2+ (micromolar range, again in the absence of ATP). However, exocytosis from cells triggered with Ca2+ after permeabilization in the presence of high concentrations of GTP[S] is instantaneous. The delays due to triggering by GTP[S] have GTP[S]-concentration-dependent and -independent components. The guanine-nucleotide-concentration-dependent component is expressed as an extended duration of delay as the concentration of GTP[S] is decreased, and may reflect the binding of GTP[S] to GE. The concentration-independent component is manifested as a limiting delay which cannot be further diminished by increasing the guanine nucleotide concentration. The duration of the limiting delay is sensitive to the identity of the stimulating nucleotide (GTP < GTP[S] < p[NH]ppG) and may reflect the time taken for an activating conformational change to occur after binding. Since both components of the delays are abolished by the presence of Mg2+, both the binding of guanine nucleotide and the activation of GE appear to be Mg(2+)-dependent. We therefore conclude that nucleotide binding, activation and the GTPase activity of GE are strongly dependent on Mg2+, in common with the same three processes in Gs and Gi.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A cell-physiological description of GE, a GTP-binding protein that mediates exocytosis.

Introduction of GTP gamma S or other non-metabolic analogues of GTP into permeabilized myeloid granulocytes (mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils) constitutes a sufficient stimulus to induce exocytosis. We concentrate on mast cells. Exocytosis from cells permeabilized in isotonic glutamate solution proceeds in the absence of ATP and at exceedingly low levels (< 10(-9) M) of Ca2+. Mg2+ strongly promotes GTP gamma S-induced exocytosis but this requirement can be spared and then obliterated by lifting Ca2+ through 10(-7) to 10(-6) M. GTP provides only a modest support to exocytosis but becomes almost equipotent with GTP gamma S when Mg2+ is excluded. Ca2+ alone is unable to induce exocytosis. We envisage that the terminal stage of exocytosis (membrane fusion) requires activation of GE, a putative GTPase so far undefined as a molecular entity. Ca2+, presumed to act through a Ca(2+)-binding protein (CE, also undefined) supports exocytosis by promoting the exchange of guanine nucleotides on GE. In the absence of Mg2+ the onset of exocytosis is characterized by delays that have concentration-dependent (binding) and independent components. The latter are sensitive to the identity of the stimulating nucleotide (GTP < GTP gamma S < Gpp [NH]p) and may reflect activation of GE. The activation by Ca2+ and Mg2+ and the delays preceding onset of GTP gamma S-triggered exocytosis are reminiscent of the action of glucagon and Mg2+ in the activation of adenylate cyclase in hepatocyte membranes. The cell-physiological description predicts GE to be an alpha beta gamma heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein with functional similarity to GS.

Calcium↗
PubMed1993

Degranulation of individual mast cells in response to Ca2+ and guanine nucleotides: an all-or-none event.

Widespread experience indicates that application of suboptimal concentrations of stimulating ligands (secretagogues) to secretory cells elicits submaximal extents of secretion. Similarly, for permeabilized secretory cells, the extent of secretion is related to the concentration of applied intracellular effectors. We investigated the relationship between the extent of secretion from mast cells (assessed as the release of hexosaminidase) and the degranulation (exocytosis) responses of individual cells. For permeabilized mast cells stimulated by the effector combination Ca2+ plus GTP-gamma-S and for intact cells stimulated by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, we found that exocytosis has the characteristics of an all-or-none process at the level of the individual cells. With a suboptimal stimulus, the population comprised only totally degranulated cells and fully replete cells. In contrast, a suboptimal concentration of compound 48/80 applied to intact cells induced a partial degree of degranulation. This was determined by observing the morphological changes accompanying degranulation by light and electron microscopy and also as a reduction in the intensity of light scattered at 90 degrees, indicative of a change in the cell-refractive index. These results may be explained by the existence of a threshold sensitivity to the combined effectors that is set at the level of individual cells and not at the granule level. We used flow cytometry to establish the relationship between the extent of degranulation in individual rat peritoneal mast cells and the extent of secretion in the population (measured as the percentage release of total hexosaminidase). For comparison, secretion was also elicited by applying the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin or compound 48/80 to intact cells. For permeabilized cells and also for intact cells stimulated with the ionophore, levels of stimulation that generate partial secretion gave rise to bimodal frequency distributions of 90 degrees light scatter. In contrast, a partial stimulus to secretion by compound 48/80 resulted in a single population of partially degranulated cells, the degree of degranulation varying across the cell population. The difference between the all-or-none responses of the permeabilized or ionophore-treated cells and the graded responses of cells activated by compound 48/80 is likely to stem from differences in the effective calcium stimulus. Whereas cell stimulated with receptor-directed agonists can undergo transient and localized Ca2+ changes, a homogeneous and persistent stimulus is sensed at every potential exocytotic site in the permeabilized cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Guanine nucleotide is essential and Ca2+ is a modulator in the exocytotic reaction of permeabilized rat mast cells.

Exocytosis from metabolically depleted permeabilized rat mast cells was measured in response to provision of Ca2+ and guanine nucleotide [GTP or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S])]. For cells permeabilized in simple salt solutions (NaCl), both of these effectors were required to induce secretion. Exclusion of Mg2+ caused an increase in both the sensitivity of the system to GTP and the extent of secretion elicited, while having no such effects on secretion induced by GTP[S]. The effect of Mg2+ depletion on the ability of GTP to stimulate secretion is probably due to the dependence on Mg2+ of the GTPase activity of GE (a postulated GTP-binding protein which mediates exocytosis). This argues that a persistent stimulus to the G-protein is required to support secretion. Affinity for both GTP[S] and GTP is enhanced when the cells are permeabilized in zwitterionic electrolytes (glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine) instead of NaCl. Under these conditions, secretion occurs in response to provision of either GTP[S] [in the effective absence of Ca2+ (pCa 9)] or Ca2+ (in the absence of guanine nucleotide). Secretion induced by GTP[S] is strongly promoted by the presence of Mg2+ at concentrations in the millimolar range; this promotion by Mg2+ declines as the concentration of Ca2+ is elevated towards pCa 7. At pCa 6, Mg2+ is without effect. Ca(2+)-induced secretion requires the provision of MgATP. Since this is further enhanced by low concentrations (< 100 microM) and then inhibited by high concentrations of GDP, the essential role of ATP is likely to be in the maintenance of GTP via transphosphorylation by a nucleoside diphosphate kinase reaction. Thus, under conditions of high affinity (glutamate environment), GTP[S] alone is capable of inducing exocytosis. Ca2+ acts in concert with guanine nucleotides: it enhances the rate and extent of secretion and increases the affinity for Mg2+ and guanine nucleotides in the activation of the GTP-binding protein (GE) which regulates exocytosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Nucleotides and divalent cations as effectors and modulators of exocytosis in permeabilized rat mast cells.

The idea that the universal trigger to exocytosis (the terminal step in the secretory process) is an elevation of the cytosol concentration of Ca2+, and that it is dependent on ATP, is no longer tenable. Working with streptolysin-O-permeabilized mast cells (and other myeloid cells) we have shown that non-hydrolysable analogues of GTP can stimulate exocytosis after depletion of Ca2+ (i.e. at concentrations below 10(-9) M) and ATP. Such Ca2+- and ATP-independent exocytosis is strongly dependent on the presence of Mg2+, and the requirement for Mg2+ declines as the concentration of Ca2+ is brought up to 10(-7) M. We argue that Ca2+ serves to regulate the binding of guanine nucleotides to GE, a GTP-binding protein that regulates exocytosis through its interaction with CE, a calcium-binding protein which serves as an intracellular pseudo-receptor. The onset of exocytosis, following provision of Ca2+ and guanine nucleotides to the permeabilized cells, is preceded by delays which are sensitive to the order of provision of the two effectors (i.e. Ca2+ and guanine nucleotides), the presence or absence of Mg2+, and the identity of the activating guanine nucleotide. In view of the similarity of these features with the activation kinetics of adenylyl cyclase, we argue that GE behaves as a member of the heterotrimeric class of signal transducing G-proteins such as GS.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Modulation of the exocytotic reaction of permeabilised rat mast cells by ATP, other nucleotides and Mg2+.

In the terminal stages of exocytosis from permeabilised mast cells, ATP has a number of modulatory actions, although its presence (and by implication, phosphorylation) is not obligatory for secretion to occur. These effects include (1) the enhancement of the sensitivity to both of the essential effectors (Ca2+ and guanine nucleotide); (2) the maintenance of the responsiveness of permeabilised cells; (3) restoration of responsiveness to cells rendered refractory by previous permeabilisation, and (4) induction of delays in the onset of exocytosis from permeabilised cells. We define the modulatory reactions induced by ATP by characterising their specificity to other potential phosphorylating nucleotides and their requirement for Mg2+. GTP and AppNHp are without effect in any of the modulatory actions. ATP, ATP-gamma-S, ITP, XTP, CTP and UTP all appear to support an enhancement of the sensitivity to GTP-gamma-S when applied immediately at the time of permeabilisation. However, the non-adenine nucleoside triphosphates appear to mediate their effect by transphosphorylation to ADP, and therefore the active species appears to be ATP. Only ATP is capable of maintaining and restoring responsiveness (2 and 3 above). Only ATP and ATP-gamma-S induce onset delays and do so moreover in the absence (less than 10(-8) M) of Mg2+. We conclude that three of the modulatory effects (1, 2 and 3 above) which all express a requirement for Mg2+, and can be prevented by inhibitors of protein kinase C are likely to result from phosphorylation reactions. The induction of delays by ATP is unlikely to incur phosphorylation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗