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Palmitoylcarnitine modulates interaction between protein kinase C betaII and its receptor RACK1.

Palmitoylcarnitine, known to promote differentiation of neuroblastoma NB-2a cells as well as to inhibit protein kinase C (PKC) activity and to decrease phorbol ester binding, was shown previously to diminish the amount of complex formed between PKCdelta and its substrate GAP-43. In the present work we studied the effect of palmitoylcarnitine on the interaction between PKCbetaII and its receptor RACK1. Palmitoylcarnitine was found to decrease autophosphorylation of PKCbetaII on serine in a concentration-dependent manner and to decrease the amount of PKCbetaII/RACK1 complex. The effect of palmitoylcarnitine on cellular localization was found to be dependent on the presence of ATP; palmitoylcarnitine lowered the amount of PKCbetaII in cytosol and decreased the amount of PKCbetaII-RACK1 complex in membrane in the absence of ATP. Palmitoylcarnitine also reversed the effect of phorbol ester on the increase in the amount of PKCbetaII in membrane. Palmitoylcarnitine binds to PKCbetaII through hydrophobic interactions, although acylation of PKCbetaII by the palmitate moiety has been excluded. The presence of palmitoylcarnitine did not have any additive effect on the diminution of PKCbetaII-RACK1 complex formation in the presence of a RACK1-binding peptide from within the C2 region of PKCbetaII. These results rather exclude a possibility of interaction of palmitoylcarnitine with the C2 domain and suggest a possible interaction with the V5 domain and a conformational change affecting the C1 region.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Synergistic effect of palmitoylcarnitine and the ionophore A23187 on isolated rat mast cells.

Dl-palmitoylcarnitine in combination with low concentrations (0.2 microM) of the ionophore A23187 induced a pronounced non-cytotoxic histamine release, with maximal response at 10 microM palmitoylcarnitine and a lower response at 20 microM. The concentration-response curve was shifted to the right when the mast cells were preincubated with palmitoylcarnitine before exposure to the ionophore. Palmitoylcarnitine alone was without effect at concentrations below 20 microM but cytotoxic at higher concentrations. The response to the combination of palmitoylcarnitine and the ionophore was highly sensitive to changes in the ionophore concentration. The results indicate that conditions allowing physicochemical interactions between the two drugs led to greatest potency and effectiveness of palmitoylcarnitine. Preincubation with the phorbol ester TPA potentiated the response. The release induced by the combination of palmitoylcarnitine and the ionophore was completely inhibited by low concentrations of the flavonoid phloretin (IC50 of 0.5 - 2 microM) whereas the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 enhanced the response. The synergistic response to palmitoylcarnitine and the ionophore and its affection by phloretin and H-7 resembles previous findings with TPA and the ionophore. Although not conclusive the results indicate that palmitoylcarnitine can stimulate mast cells by activation of protein kinase C.

Animals↗

Inhibition of sodium pump by l-palmitoylcarnitine in single guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

We reinvestigated the issue of whether l-palmitoylcarnitine inhibits the Na/K pump in the heart. The effects of l-palmitoylcarnitine or ouabain on the Na/K pump current were studied with the voltage-clamp technique in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. In myocytes bathed in Tyrode's solution, l-palmitoylcarnitine shifted the current-voltage relation inward at all potentials between -80 and 20 mV. the "U"-shaped difference current seen in l-palmitoylcarnitine was maximal at -30 mV and declined at potentials more positive and negative than this. Under conditions that minimized time-dependent currents, ouabain or l-palmitoylcarnitine shifted membrane current inward in the presence of 5.4 mM extracellular potassium. Reduction of extracellular potassium to 0 mM for 2 min also shifted membrane current inward. When extracellular potassium was returned to 5.4 mM, the intracellular sodium that had accumulated was extruded and a transient outward current was generated as a result of Na/K pump stimulation. Ouabain or l-palmitoylcarnitine reversibly suppressed this transient outward current and reduced the rate constant for the decline of this current. The ability of l-palmitoylcarnitine to imitate the actions of ouabain on membrane current and on the transient outward current indicates that this amphiphile inhibits the Na/K pump current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. This results is consistent with the suppression by l-palmitoylcarnitine of the activity of Na/K ATPase in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles.

Animals↗

Palmitoylcarnitine increases [Na+]i and initiates transient inward current in adult ventricular myocytes.

This study was performed to determine whether long-chain acylcarnitines, specifically palmitoylcarnitine, could account for the increase in intracellular Na+ ([Na+]i) during ischemia eliciting a secondary increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Accordingly, whole cell voltage-clamp procedures and Na(+)-sensitive electrode recordings were employed simultaneously in isolated adult rabbit ventricular myocytes to assess the relationship between activation of a slow-inactivating Na+ current [INa(s)] and a potential increase in [Na+]i. The [Na+]i increased progressively from 8.4 +/- 1.2 to 22.5 +/- 1.8 mM (n = 8, P < 0.01) on exposure to palmitoylcarnitine (10 microM) accompanied by the activation of INa(s); both effects were reversible. Inhibition of INa(s) by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10 microM) inhibited the increase in [Na+]i. Increasing [Na+]i to 20 mM without ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) to mimic effects measured with palmitoylcarnitine consistently elicited the transient inward current (Iti) and delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs). The percent inhibition (12.9 +/- 2.8%) of the Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase pump activity by palmitoylcarnitine (10 microM) was much smaller than that induced by ouabain (10 microM, 90.5 +/- 2.5%), suggesting that this modest effect of palmitoylcarnitine on the pump is unlikely to account for the increase in [Na+]i induced by palmitoylcarnitine. Thus palmitoylcarnitine induces the INa(s) leading to an increase in [Na+]i, which elicits an increase in [Ca2+]i probably via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, thereby leading to the development of Iti and DADs.

Animals↗

Palmitoylcarnitine reverses 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced refractory state for the TPA-caused ornithine decarboxylase induction in mouse epidermis.

When a single topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was performed 12 h before the second application, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction by the second application of TPA was markedly suppressed (refractory state). However, at intervals of 96 h between the first and the second application, the ODC activity induced by the second application of TPA was higher (enhanced state) than the activity induced by the single application. When various anti-tumor promoting agents, i.e. p-bromophenacyl bromide, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, quercetin, 1-tosylamide-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone, retinoic acid and palmitoylcarnitine, were applied concurrently with the first TPA application, the ODC induction in the refractory state was restored only by palmitoylcarnitine, but not by other antitumor promoting agents. None of these anti-tumor promoting agents affected the ODC induction in the enhanced state. Stearoylcarnitine also had the restorative effect but was less effective than palmitoylcarnitine. Acetylcarnitine and palmitic acid were not effective. Pretreatment of mice with TPA 12 h or 96 h before the second TPA application resulted in the reduction or the increase in the Vmax values of ODC both for ornithine and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, respectively. Palmitoylcarnitine restored these reduced Vmax values to the control values. Twelve hours after TPA treatment, the epidermal protein kinase C activity of both cytosol and particulate fractions decreased moderately. At 96 h after TPA application, protein kinase C activities of both cytosol and particulate fractions were fully or at least partially restored to the control levels. Protein kinase C activities both in the cytosol and the particulate fractions tended to be restored by palmitoylcarnitine, but the effect was not always reproducible. The TPA-induced refractory state and the enhanced state for ODC induction appear to result from the changes in the protein kinase C activities caused by TPA. However, it is not known whether such changes in the protein kinase C activities are the major causes for the TPA-induced refractory and/or enhanced state for ODC induction and whether or not the restorative effect of palmitoylcarnitine is due to its modulating action on protein kinase C activity.

Animals↗

Modulation by palmitoylcarnitine of protein kinase C activation.

Palmitoylcarnitine, a reported protein kinase C inhibitor, enhanced the phorbol ester dependency of the enzyme, augmenting protein kinase C activity in the presence of phorbol esters such as phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate while inhibiting the basal activity measured in the presence of calcium plus phosphatidylserine. Weakly potent phorbol esters such as phorbol 12,13-diacetate and 4-O-methylphorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate were full agonists like phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate for activation of protein kinase C in the presence of palmitoylcarnitine. On the other hand, 1,2-diacylglycerols such as 1,2-diolein were only partially stimulatory. Palmitoylcarnitine did not interfere with the association of protein kinase C with phosphatidylserine, suggesting that its action was on protein kinase C activation per se rather than on priming. A long fatty acid ester, quaternary amine, and anionic charge were needed for the palmitoylcarnitine-like action. Phosphatidylcholine, which possesses these features, partially mimicked the action of palmitoylcarnitine. Palmitoylcarnitine thus appears to be a lipophilic modulator of protein kinase C rather than a simple inhibitor. The results raise the possibility that differences in response between phorbol esters and diacylglycerols may reflect differential ability to activate protein kinase C in the appropriate lipid environment rather than the existence of unique targets for one or the other compound.

Animals↗

Regulation of the activity of caspases by L-carnitine and palmitoylcarnitine.

L-Carnitine facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix where they are used for energy production. Recent studies have shown that L-carnitine is capable of protecting the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury and has beneficial effects against Alzheimer's disease and AIDS. The mechanism of action, however, is not yet understood. In the present study, we found that in Jurkat cells, L-carnitine inhibited apoptosis induced by Fas ligation. In addition, 5 mM carnitine potently inhibited the activity of recombinant caspases 3, 7 and 8, whereas its long-chain fatty acid derivative palmitoylcarnitine stimulated the activity of all the caspases. Palmitoylcarnitine reversed the inhibition mediated by carnitine. Levels of carnitine and palmitoyl-CoA decreased significantly during Fas-mediated apoptosis, while palmitoylcarnitine formation increased. These alterations may be due to inactivation of beta-oxidation or to an increase in the activity of the enzyme that converts carnitine to palmitoylcarnitine, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I). In support of the latter possibility, fibroblasts deficient in CPT I activity were relatively resistant to staurosporine-induced apoptosis. These observations suggest that caspase activity may be regulated in part by the balance of carnitine and palmitoylcarnitine.

Acylation↗

Interaction of palmitoylcarnitine with protein kinase C in neuroblastoma NB-2a cells.

As reported previously [Acta Neurobiol. Exp. 57 (1997) 263], palmitoylcarnitine was observed to promote differentiation of neuroblastoma NB-2a cells with a concomitant inhibition of proliferation and of the phorbol ester stimulated activity of the protein kinase C (PKC). In the present study, palmitoylcarnitine was observed to inhibit phosphorylation of the PKC peptide substrate and to completely diminish binding of phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), although the effect was found to be uncompetitive. The exposure of NB-2a cells to palmitoylcarnitine in the presence of PMA resulted in a dramatic decrease in phosphorylation of the conventional and novel isozymes of PKC, mainly on serine. This effect was observed to be dose dependent. Inhibitors of serine/threonine phosphatases were not influencing the effect of palmitoylcarnitine what can point to an interaction between PKC and palmitoylcarnitine, affecting the process of autophosphorylation. These findings suggest that pamitoylcarnitine could be a natural modulator of PKC activity, thus regulating the process of cell differentiation.

Animals↗

The membrane-perturbing properties of palmitoyl-coenzyme A and palmitoylcarnitine. A comparative study.

Fatty acyl-coenzyme A's are temporarily converted into fatty acylcarnitines while transferred across the inner mitochondrial membrane, in their catabolic pathway. In search of an explanation for the need of this coenzyme exchange, the present work describes comparatively the abilities of both kinds of fatty acyl derivatives (represented by palmitoyl-coenzyme A and palmitoylcarnitine) in binding to and perturbing the structure of phosphatidylcholine bilayers in the form of large unilamellar vesicles. Both palmitoyl-coenzyme A and palmitoylcarnitine partition preferentially into the bilayer lipids, so that their free concentration in water is in practice negligible. However, palmitoylcarnitine is able to disrupt the membrane barrier to solutes, leading to vesicle leakage, and, at higher concentrations, it produces complete membrane solubilization, while palmitoyl-coenzyme A produces neither leakage nor solubilization. Palmitoylcarnitine has the properties of many commonly used biochemical detergents. The different behavior of both fatty acyl derivatives helps to explain the need for the transitory coenzyme A/carnitine exchange, and provides a pathogenic mechanism for some genetic defects of mitochondrial fatty acid transport. Other pathophysiological processes in which palmitoylcarnitine has been putatively involved are examined in light of the above results.

Cell Membrane↗

Effect of palmitoylcarnitine on the cellular differentiation, proliferation and protein kinase C activity in neuroblastoma nb-2a cells.

Palmitoylcarnitine is synthesized through the action of palmitoylcarnitine transferase I--an enzyme specifically inhibited by etomoxir. An increase of the intracellular content of palmitoylcarnitine in neuroblastoma NB-2a cells after administration of carnitine was correlated with an inhibition of cell proliferation and a concomitant promotion of differentiation processes. The activity of protein kinase C was measured in vivo, with cells permeabilized through the use of streptolysin O and a peptide substrate. Palmitoylcarnitine inhibited the phorbol ester stimulated reaction of the peptide phosphorylation in a concentration dependent way. The degree of protein kinase C inhibition was correlated with intracellular increase of the palmitoylcarnitine content, pointing to this compound as a natural modulator of protein kinase C activity.

Animals↗

Effects of l-carnitine on membrane potential derangements induced by palmitoylcarnitine and anoxia in isolated superfused guinea-pig papillary muscle.

We examined in isolated superfused guinea-pig papillary muscle whether palmitoylcarnitine caused electrophysiological derangements similar to those caused by anoxia, and whether l-carnitine was similarly effective in improving membrane potential characteristics in both cases. Superfusion with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 3 x 10(-4) M palmitoylcarnitine for 30 min caused gradual reduction of resting membrane potential and amplitude of action potential, and marked shortenings of the duration of action potential and absolute refractory period. On the other hand, aeration with 95%N2-5%CO2 for 30 min caused the same electrophysiological changes as those caused by palmitoylcarnitine. In both deteriorated preparations with palmitoylcarnitine superfusion and with 95%N2-5%CO2 aeration, l-carnitine (3 x 10(-3) M) prevented the papillary muscle from these derangements and restored the membrane potential at 10(-2) and 3 x 10(-2) M. It is concluded from these results that acylcarnitines such as palmitoylcarnitine, the accumulation of which has been thought to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation in ischemic heart, induce electrophysiological derangements quite similar to those found under anoxia, and that the application of l-carnitine is an effective solution to improve the electrophysiological derangements.

Animals↗

Studies on inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by palmitoylcarnitine oxidation in isolated rat heart mitochondria.

The oxidation of an optimal concentration of palmitoyl-carnitine, buffered with bovine serum albumin, by isolated rat heart mitochondria was found to give rise to an inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, provided that the concentration of pyruvate present in the mitochondrial incubation was less than 250 muM. The greatest degree of inactivation was found at the lowest pyruvate concentration used, 50 muM, and this concentration was adopted for further studies in which the rate of mitochondrial respiration was varied. This was done by varying the activity of added hexokinase, in the presence of ATP, MgCl2, and glucose, and thus the availability of ADP to the mitochondrion. The pyruvate concentration in the incubation was approximately stabilized by adding pyruvate on the basis of oxygen consumption, with the ratio of pyruvate consumed:O2 consumed determined by trial and error. This device allowed the maintenance of essentially steady pyruvate concentrations and ATP/ADP ratios for at least 5 min, and allowed the pyruvate dehydrogenase interconversion time to approach a steady state. Activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase after 5 or 6 min of respiration were as follows, with values given in nanomoles/min/mg of protein for incubations containing pyruvate as sole substrate, and values for incubations containing pyruvate plus palmitoylcarnitine given in parentheses: State 4, 27 (9); 55% of State 3, 54 (14); 85% of State 3, 73 (28); State 3, 90 (93). Respiratory states are defined by Chance and Williams (1955) J. Biol. Chem. 217, 409-427). Values at earlier time points are also presented so that some idea may be formed of the time course of pyruvate dehydrogenase inactivation. CoASH/acetyl-CoA, NAD+/NADH, and ATP/ADP ratios were measured at the same time points in precisely scaled up incubations. The presence of palmitoylcarnitine in State 4 was found to give essentially no change in NAD+/NADH and ATP/ADP ratios and thus the inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in that state may be attributed to a decreased CoASH/acetyl-CoA ratio. At a respiratory rate of 85% of State 3, palmitoylcarnitine did not change the ATP/ADP ratio, but lowered both CoASH/acetyl-CoA and NAD+/NADH ratios, both of which may contribute to pyruvate dehydrogenase inactivation. In State 3 there was no pyruvate dehydrogenase inactivation, despite a lowered CoASH/acetyl-CoA ratio in the presence of palmitoylcarnitine. It is concluded that ATP/ADP ratio has a pronounced effect on the interconversion of active and inactive pyruvate dehydrogenase, in according with previous work. Moreover, at a given ATP/ADP ratio, the effects of palmitoylcarnitine oxidation on enzyme interconversion are consistent with a mechanism involving the modulation of the interconversion by NAD+/NADH and CoASH/acetyl-CoA ratios...

Animals↗

High-precision isotopic analysis of palmitoylcarnitine by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry.

Single quadrupole gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been widely used for isotopic analysis in metabolic investigations using stable isotopes as tracers. However, its inherent shortcomings prohibit it from broader use, including low isotopic precision and the need for chemical derivatization of the analyte. In order to improve isotopic detection power, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-itMS2) has been evaluated for its isotopic precision and chemical sensitivity for the analysis of [13C]palmitoylcarnitine. Over the enrichment range of 0.4-10 MPE (molar % excess), the isotopic response of LC/ESI-itMS2 to [13C]palmitoylcarnitine was linear (r = 1.00) and the average isotopic precision (standard deviation, SD) was 0.11 MPE with an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.6%. At the lower end of isotopic enrichments (0.4-0.9 MPE), the isotopic precision was 0.05 MPE (CV = 8%). Routine analysis of rat skeletal muscle [13C4]palmitoylcarnitine demonstrated an isotopic precision of 0.03 MPE for gastrocnemius (n = 16) and of 0.02 MPE for tibialis anterior (n = 16). The high precision enabled the detection of a small (0.08 MPE) but significant (P = 0.01) difference in [13C4]palmitoylcarnitine enrichments between the two muscles, 0.51 MPE (CV = 5.8%) and 0.43 MPE (CV = 4.6%), respectively. Therefore, the system demonstrated an isotopic lower detection limit (LDL) of < or =0.1 MPE (2 x SD) that has been impossible previously with other organic mass spectrometry instruments. LC/ESI-itMS2 systems have the potential to advance metabolic investigations using stable isotopes to a new level by significantly increasing the isotopic solving power.

Animals↗

Effects of L-carnitine and palmitoylcarnitine on membrane fluidity of human erythrocytes.

Amphiphilic compounds such as long-chain acyl carnitine accumulate in ischemic myocardium and potentially contribute to the myocardial damage, and the role of carnitine in protecting the heart against ischemic damage is interesting. It has been reported that palmitoylcarnitine causes alterations in the membrane molecular dynamics, so this study was designed to investigate whether L-carnitine had a stabilizing effect of membrane fluidity using the spin-label technique. Human erythrocytes were spin-labeled with 5-doxylstearic acids, and membrane fluidity was quantified by measuring the change in the order parameter S. The administration of palmitoylcarnitine (100 microM) altered the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes and caused significant morphological changes. L-carnitine (2mM) decreased the alteration of the fluidity of erythrocytes incubated with palmitoylcarnitine (100 microM), and improved the morphological changes in erythrocytes. These results show that L-carnitine has a stabilizing effect of membrane fluidity as a result of interaction with the palmitoylcarnitine which has a detergent effect.

Carnitine↗

Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced tumor promotion and epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity in mouse skin by palmitoylcarnitine.

Palmitoylcarnitine, which has been reported to be an inhibitor of calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase in mouse skin in a dose-dependent manner. Neither acetylcarnitine nor palmitic acid inhibited TPA-caused ornithine decarboxylase induction. In addition, palmitoylcarnitine markedly inhibited skin tumor promotion induced by TPA. Palmitoylcarnitine inhibited epidermal protein kinase C activity which was stimulated by Ca2+ in the presence of phosphatidylserine but failed to inhibit the enzyme activity which was stimulated by TPA in the presence of either phosphatidylserine or Ca2+ plus phosphatidylserine. Therefore, it seems unlikely that the potent anti-tumor-promoting action of palmitoylcarnitine, which is shown in the present study, is explained solely by its effect on protein kinase C.

Animals↗

Palmitoylcarnitine, a surface-active metabolite.

Palmitoylcarnitine is a well-known intermediate in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Less known are its properties as a surfactant, with a capacity to solubilize biological membranes similar to that of many synthetic detergents used in the biochemical laboratory. Some of the physico-chemical properties of palmitoylcarnitine may help to explain the need for coenzyme A-carnitine-coenzyme A acyl exchange during mitochondrial fatty acid import. The amphiphilic character of palmitoylcarnitine may also explain its proposed involvement in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia.

Animals↗

Palmitoylcarnitine modulates interaction protein kinase C delta-GAP-43.

Palmitoylcarnitine, reported previously to promote neuronal differentiation, was observed to affect distribution of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in neuroblastoma NB-2a cells, leading to retardation in cytoplasm of high molecular weight species of PKCbeta and delta. Growth cone protein-GAP-43, a PKC substrate, was co-immunoprecipitated with all the conventional and novel PKCs: palmitoylcarnitine, however, decreased its amount exclusively in the complex with PKCdelta. Administration of palmitoylcarnitine, although did not change the subcellular distribution of GAP-43, decreased its phosphorylation, which could regulate other signal transduction pathways (calmodulin and G(0)-dependent).

Animals↗

Palmitoylcarnitine modulates palmitoylation of proteins: implication for differentiation of neural cells.

[3H]Palmitic acid accumulates in neuroblastoma NB-2a cells, being incorporated in lipids (90%) and proteins (10%) fractions. Addition of palmitoylcarnitine, known to modulate activity of protein kinase C and to promote differentiation of neurons, was observed to decrease incorporation of palmitic acid to sphingomyelin, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylcholine, with a parallel increase of palmitic acid bound to proteins through a thioester bond (palmitoylation). In the presence of palmitoylcarnitine, one of the palmitoylated proteins expressed at growing neural cones, GAP-43, was observed to co-localize with caveolin-1, what was correlated with the beginning of differentiation. A new function of palmitoylcarnitine in controlling palmitoylation of proteins and their targeting to cholesterol-rich domains has been proposed.

Animals↗