Inhibition of GDP beta S of agonist-activated phospholipase C in human platelets requires cell permeabilization.

The inhibition by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP beta S) of phospholipase C was compared in intact and saponin-permeabilized human platelets in order to assess whether effects of GDP beta S on phospholipase C activation unrelated to guanine nucleotide binding function were occurring. GDP beta S exhibited no effect on phospholipase C activity, monitored by phosphatidic acid formation, in intact platelets that were unstimulated or stimulated with 0.5 U/ml thrombin or 20 nM ONO-11113 (a stable thromboxane A2 analogue). However, GDP beta S did cause a marked decrease in the activity of phospholipase C in saponin-permeabilized platelets. Thus GDP beta S is a viable tool for studying the role of G-proteins in transducing receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C in platelets.