Induction of N-glycosylation activity in B-cells by PMA and ionomycin

Although N-glycosylation activity in murine splenic B-lymphocytes (B-cells) was not stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or ionomycin added separately, the combination of PMA plus ionomycin produced a dramatic increase in the incorporation of [3H]mannose into dolichol-linked oligosaccharides and glycoprotein. Maximal stimulation of N-glycosylation activity was observed after exposure of B-cells to 1μM ionomycin in the presence of 1-10 ng/ml PMA for 36 hr. At these concentrations of PMA and ionomycin, RNA and DNA synthesis, which required 1% and 5% fetal calf serum, respectively, peaked at 20-24 hr. 1-(5-Isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, prevented the stimulation of N-glycosylation activity, RNA synthesis and DNA synthesis. N-[2-(Methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-8), an effective inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, reduced N-glycosylation activity, but required a higher concentration than H-7. These results support the conclusion that protein kinase C plays a key role in the activation of B-cells. Current work is aimed at determining if any enzymes in the dolichol pathway are activated directly by protein kinase C, or if the stimulation in N-glycosylation activity is a secondary effect of the primary activation process