Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) can result from stimulation of the rec
eptor-G protein-phospholipase C (PLC beta) pathway. In turn, phosphorylatio
n of PLC beta by PKC may play a role in the regulation of receptor-mediated
phosphatidylinositide (PI) turnover and intracellular Ca2+ release. Activa
tion of endogenous PRC by phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate inhibited both G
alpha(q)-coupled (oxytocin and M1 muscarinic) and G alpha(i)-coupled (formy
l-Met-Leu-Phe) receptor-stimulated PI turnover by 50-100% in PHM1, HeLa, CO
SM6, and RBL-2H3 cells expressing PLC beta(3). Activation of conventional P
KCs with thymeleatoxin similarly inhibited oxytocin or formyl-Met-Leu-Phe r
eceptor-stimulated PI turnover. The PKC inhibitory effect was also observed
when PLC beta(3) was stimulated directly by G alpha(q) or G beta gamma in
overexpression assays. PKC phosphorylated PLC beta(3) at the same predomina
nt site in vivo and in vitro. Peptide sequencing of in vitro phosphorylated
recombinant PLC beta(3) and site-directed mutagenesis identified Ser(1105)
as the predominant phosphorylation site. Ser(1105) is also phosphorylated
by protein kinase A (PKA; Yue, C., Dodge, K. L., Weber, G., and Sanborn, B.
M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 18023-18027). Similar to PKA, the inhibition
by PKC of G alpha(q)-stimulated PLC beta(3) activity was completely abolis
hed by mutation of Ser(1105) to Ala. In contrast, mutation of Ser(1105) or
Ser(26), another putative phosphorylation target, to Ala had no effect on i
nhibition of G beta gamma-stimulated PLC beta(3) activity by PKC or PKA. Th
ese data indicate that PKC and PKA act similarly in that they inhibit G alp
ha(q)-stimulated PLC beta(3) as a result of phosphorylation of Ser(1105). M
oreover, PKC and PKA both inhibit G beta gamma-stimulated activity by mecha
nisms that do not involve Ser(1105).