EVIDENCE FOR INVOLVEMENT OF GTP-BINDING PROTEIN IN ARACKIDONIC ACID RELEASE BY PHOSPHOLIPASE A2 IN PERMEABILIZED HUMAN PLATELETS
Platelet activation is accompanied by the active metabolism of membrane phospholipids. Phosphoinositide breakdown by phospholipase C generates second messengers; inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Recently, it is suggested that GTP-binding protein is linked to the activation of phospholipase C as is true for adenylate cyclase. Although it is known that the receptor stimulation by agonists leads to generation of arachidonic acid, its molecular mechanism has not yet been clear. However, several studies in neutrophils and mast cells using pertussis toxin, have shown the possibility that a GTP-binding protein may act as an intermediary unit component between the receptor and phospholipase A2. The present study was therefore designed to examine the effect of GTP and its analogue GTPγS on the arachidonic acid release in saponin-permeabilized human platelets. GTP or GTPγS alone caused a small but significant liberation of arachidonic acid in permeabilized cells but not in intact cells. GTP or GTPγS was found to enhance thrombin-induced [3H]arachidonic acid release in saponi n-permeabi li zed human platelets. The release of arachidonic acid has been ascribed to activity of phospholipase A2 and/or to sequential action of phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase. Inhibitors of phospholipase C (neomycin)/ diacylglycerol lipase (RHC 80267) pathway of arachidonate liberation did not reduce the level of the [3H]arachidonic acid release. The loss of [3H]arachidonate radioactivity from phosphatidylcholine was almost complementary to the increment of released [3H]arachidonic acid, suggesting thrombin-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase A2. Although phospholipase A2 usually are described as having a requirement for calcium, the effect of GTPγS was more evident at lower calcium concentrations (buffer>0.1 mM>1.0 mM). These data thus indicate that release of arachidonic acid by phospholipase A2 in saponin-treated platelets is closely linked to GTP-binding protein which may decrease the calcium requirement for phospholipase A2 activation.