Release of PI-anchoring enzymes and other effects of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus thuringiensis on TN-368 cells from a moth ovary

H. Ikezawa, A. Hashimoto, R. Taguchi, T. Nakabayashi and M. Himeno. Release of PI-anchoring enzymes and other effects of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus thuringiensis on TN-368 cells from a moth ovary. Toxicon 27, 637–645, 1989.—The effect of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C(PIPLC) from Bacillus thuringiensis was investigated on TN-368 cells, derived from the ovary of a moth, Trichoplusia ni. Quantitative analysis of lipids showed that phosphatidylinositol (PI) was contained as one of the major phospholipids in TN-368 cells, whereas sphingomyelin and cholesterol were minor lipid components. When TN-368 cells were treated with PIPLC, significant amounts of alkaline phosphatase, 5′-nucleotidase and β-glucosidase were released from these cells. Thus, these enzymes were shown to be PI-anchoring proteins in the plasma membrane of these cells. In the presence of 4.2 units of PIPLC, the cell growth of TN-368 was inhibited by 50%. In contrast with normal cells, the cells cultured in the presence of PIPLC became swollen and globular, losing their protoplasmic extensions. Also, there was degeneration of the interior of TN-368 cells cultivated in the presence of PIPLC. Mitochondria became swollen with a decrease in number of granules while the crista turned transparent. Also, an increase in lysosomes was observed and vacuoles seemingly derived from smooth endoplasmic reticula appeared.