Inhibition of rho-kinase-induced myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) phosphorylation in human neuronal cells by H-1152, a novel and specific Rho-kinase inhibitor

The functions of small G protein Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase) have been determined in muscle and non-muscle cells, but, particularly in neuronal cells, its effector(s) has not been well known. Recently, we preliminarily reported that Rho-kinase phosphorylates the Ser159 residue in myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) in vitro, but it remains obscure in vivo. To further clarify this point, we developed an isoquinolinesulfonamide derivative, H-1152, that is a more specific, stronger and membrane-permeable inhibitor of Rho-kinase with a Ki value of 1.6 nM, but poor inhibitor of other serine/threonine kinases. H-1152 dose-dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of MARCKS in human neuroteratoma (NT-2) cells stimulated by Rho-activator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which was determined by phosphorylation site-specific antibody against phospho-Ser159 in MARCKS, whereas it hardly inhibited the phosphorylation stimulated by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). In contrast, two other Rho-kinase inhibitors, HA-1077 at 30 microM and Y-27632 at 10-30 microM, inhibited the phosphorylation of MARCKS in the cells stimulated by LPA and PDBu. A PKC Inhibitor Ro-31-8220 selectively inhibited PDBu-induced phosphorylation of MARCKS. Taken together with our previous results, the present findings strongly suggest that Rho/Rho-kinase phosphorylates MARCKS at Ser159 residue in neuronal cells in response to LPA stimulation and that H-1152 is a useful tool to confirm Rho-kinase function(s) in cells and tissues.