AN OKADAIC ACID-SENSITIVE PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE COUNTERACTS PROTEIN KINASE-C-INDUCED PHOSPHORYLATION IN SH-SY5Y CELLS

Protein phosphorylation and subsequent dephosphorylation was studied i n digitonin-permeabilized neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by measuring the incorporation of [P-32]phosphate into myelin basic protein (MBP). 1,2 -Dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG) and calcium synergistically induced phos phorylation of MBP, which was inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) pseudosubstrate peptide (PKC19-36). The phosphorylation increased for 10 min when a net dephosphorylation started to appear. The dephosphory lation was inhibited by okadaic acid. Regardless of calcium concentrat ion, the presence of DOG was necessary for significant effects of okad aic acid on MBP phosphorylation. H7 and staurosporine dose-dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of MBP, induced by DOG and calcium in t he presence of okadaic acid. Different PKC pseudosubstrate peptides we re applied and all showed an inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of MBP under these conditions. These results demonstrate the presence, in SH-SY5Y cells, of a protein phosphatase, possibly protein phosphat ase 2A, with a high basal activity that counteracts PKC-induced phosph orylation.