Effect of vanadate on protein phosphorylation and on acid phosphatase activity in the canine prostate.

To evaluate the possible role of intracellular phosphatases in the local regulation of prostatic functions, the effect of sodium orthovanadate (VO4), an inhibitor of phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases, was studied on both protein phosphorylation and acid phosphatase activity. Secretory and non-secretory epithelial cells were isolated from normal and metaplastic prostates and incubated with [32P]phosphate in the presence and in the absence of VO4; the phosphoproteins were separated by electrophoresis and the gels were either directly submitted to autoradiography or after an alkali treatment to reveal those proteins enriched in phosphotyrosine. Prior to alkali treatment, several phosphoproteins were evidenced and in less than half of the cell preparations a slight increase in labeling intensity under vanadate (less than 75%) was observed in two phosphoproteins, p57 and p44. After alkali treatment: (1) the effect of VO4 on p57 remained in the order of 44-45% and it was restricted to less than half of non-secretory cell preparations; (2) its effect on p44 was intensified (134-207%) and observed in all cell types and in more than 80% of all preparations; and (3) in half of non-secretory cell preparations from metaplastic glands, an effect of VO4 on p35 (127%) became evident. In all instances, with normal and/or metaplastic prostates, protein phosphorylation activity, either total or alkali-resistant and in the presence or in the absence of VO4, was always higher in non-secretory epithelial cells as compared to secretory cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)