Exocytosis of arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase and p33 induced by A23187 and calcium or serum-opsonized zymosan in chicken polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Exocytosis is a common phenomenon in neutrophil functions. We earlier reported the co-localization of arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase [EC 2.4.2.31] and its target protein p33 (mim-1 protein) in cytoplasmic granules in chicken polymorphonuclear leukocytes (so-called heterophils) [Mishima, K., Terashima, M., Obara, S., Yamada, K., Imai, K., and Shimoyama, M. (1991) J. Biochem. 110, 388-394]. In the present study, we obtained evidence that the transferase and p33 were released into the extracellular space by the stimulus of calcium ionophore A23187 or serum-opsonized zymosan, but scarcely by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), thereby indicating the co-localization of the transferase and p33 in the azurophilic granules, and not in specific granules. [32P]ADP-ribosylation of p33 occurred in the extracellular space, induced by the stimulus of A23187 or opsonized zymosan in the presence of [32P]NAD. Our findings are interpreted to mean that heterophil transferase and p33 may be involved in neutrophil functions during processes of inflammation.