Growth inhibition, morphological change, and ectoenzyme release of LLC-PK1 cells by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of Bacillus thuringiensis

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) from Bacillus thuringiensis added to a culture of LLC-PK1 cells inhibited cell growth by 40%. In contrast with normal cells, the cells cultured in the presence of PI-PLC showed needle-like appendages which seemed to have been formed due to portions of the cell remaining adhered to the culture dish as the cell shrank. When LLC-PK1 cells were treated with PI-PLC, significant amounts of alkaline phosphatase and alkaline phosphodiesterase I were released specifically from the apical surface of the LLC-PK1 cells. Furthermore, PI-PLC treatment caused a delay of enzyme production and dome formation. These data indicate that glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins on the surface of LLC-PK1 cells are important in cell growth and differentiation. Also, the combined use of LLC-PK1 cells and PI-PLC of B. thuringiensis is effective for investigating the function of GPI-anchor proteins.