Characterization of the regulation of phospholipase D activity in the detergent-insoluble fraction of HL60 cells by protein kinase C and small G-proteins

Phospholipase D (PLD) activity has been shown to be GTP-dependent both in vivo and in vitro. One protein that confers GTP sensitivity to PLD activity in vitro is the low-molecular-mass G-protein ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf). However, members of the Rho family and protein kinase C (PKC) have also been reported to activate PLD in various cell systems. We have characterized the stimulation of PLD in HL60 cell membranes by these proteins. The results demonstrate that a considerable proportion of HL60 PLD activity is located in a detergent-insoluble fraction of the cell membrane that is unlikely to be a caveolae-like domain, but is probably cytoskeletal. This PLD activity required the presence of Arf1, a Rho-family member and PKC for efficient catalysis of the lipid substrate, suggesting that the activity represents PLD1. We show that recombinant human PLD1b is regulated in a similar manner to HL60-membrane PLD, and that PKCalpha and PKCdelta are equally effective PLD activators. Therefore maximum PLD activity requires Arf, a Rho-family member and PKC, emphasizing the high degree of regulation of this enzyme.