Characterization of 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium induced increased proenkephalin processing in bovine chromaffin cells.

Acute stimulation of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in culture with 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) gives rise to a significant increase in secretion of [Met5]-enkephalin immunoreactive material (ME-IRM) into the culture medium (1). Following this secretion the cellular ME-IRM levels do not decrease, suggesting the replenishment of the peptides. The repletion of the cellular ME-IRM appears to result from an increase in processing of large molecular weight peptides containing [Met5]-enkephalin and [Leu5]-enkephalin. Gel filtration chromatography on Bio-Gel P-10 was used to fractionate the enkephalin-like peptides (ELPs) present in the culture media and chromaffin cell extracts. Fractionation was done for samples before and after nicotinic receptor stimulation by DMPP to demonstrate the secretion and repletion of the ELPs. Gel chromatographic profiles of ELPs present in the culture media after DMPP stimulation revealed the presence of 4 peaks, representing different molecular forms of these peptides (Peaks 1-4), with a selective increase in secretion of Peaks 3 and 4. The chromatograms of ELPs extracted from cultured chromaffin cells showed similar patterns to those obtained from ELPs present in the culture medium after stimulation. Analyses of individual peaks after fractionation of cell culture extracts showed an increase in the amount of immunoreactive material found in Peak 4 with a concomitant decrease in the immunoreactivity found in the higher molecular weight peaks (Peaks 1-3). Further purification of Peak 4 from cell extracts on reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) showed a significant amount of ELPs existed as the sulfoxide derivative of [Met5]-enkephalin. The content of [Met5]-enkephalin sulfoxide (ME-O-enk) did not decrease following DMPP stimulation. We conclude that acute stimulation of nicotinic receptors in the chromaffin cells enhances the processing of proenkephalin precursors to keep pace with the secretion of low molecular weight peptides.