R 59 022, a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor. Its effect on diacylglycerol and thrombin-induced C kinase activation in the intact platelet.

R 59 022 (6-[2-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl) phenylmethylene)-1-piperidinyl]ethyl]-7-methyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-alpha] pyrimidin-5-one) was found to inhibit diacylglycerol kinase in human red blood cell membranes at concentrations where polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase, phosphatidylinositol kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate kinase activity remained unaffected. The concentration needed for half-maximal inhibition (IC50) was 2.8 +/- 1.5 X 10(-6) M for the kinase acting on endogenous diacylglycerol and 3.3 +/- 0.4 X 10(-6) M when 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) was added exogenously as substrate. In intact platelets, R 59 022 inhibits the phosphorylation of OAG to 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglyceryl-3-phosphoric acid (OAPA) (IC50: 3.8 +/- 1.2 X 10(-6) M); concomitantly the stimulation of protein kinase C activity by OAG was amplified. When in platelets inositol lipid turnover is accelerated by thrombin, further addition of R 59 022 results in a marked elevation of diacylglycerol levels, a decreased formation of phosphatidic acid and an increased protein kinase C activity as compared with the controls. It is concluded that in studies on the signal-transducing system coupled to inositol lipid metabolism R 59 022 might occupy a role comparable to cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors, since it potentiates the effect of the putative second messenger diacylglycerol by preventing its rapid metabolism.