EFFECT OF PROSTAGLANDIN A(1) IN THE INDUCTION OF STRESS PROTEINS IN AEDES-ALBOPICTUS CELLS

Prostaglandins are natural fatty acid derivatives with diverse physiol ogical effects, including immune function and the control of cell grow th. While the action of prostaglandins in the induction of stress prot eins in vertebrate cells is well documented, their functions in invert ebrate cells have been poorly investigated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of prostaglandin A(1) (PGA(1); 0. 25, 1.25 and 12.5 mu g/ml) on protein synthesis during the growth of A edes albopictus cells. We found that PGA(1) stimulates the synthesis o f several polypeptides with molecular masses of 87, 80, 70, 57, 29, 27 and 23 kDa in Aedes albopictus cells. When the proteins induced by PG A(1) and those induced by heat treatment were compared by poly-acrylam ide gel electrophoresis, PGA(1) was found to induce the stress protein s. The HSP70 family and the low-molecular weight polypeptides (29 and 27 kDa, respectively) were induced by PGA(1) in the lag phase. We also observed that PGA(1) is able to induce a 23-kDa polypeptide independe ntly of the growth phase of the cell.