Muscarinic receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma. An alternative mechanism for cholinergic-induced phosphoinositide breakdown.

Abstract In Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with m5 muscarinic receptors, carbachol stimulates both calcium influx and calcium release from intracellular stores. The marine toxin maitotoxin (MTX) elicits a similar response on calcium influx. Carbachol- and MTX-induced calcium influx can be inhibited by the proposed blockers of receptor-operated calcium channels (ROCC), CAI and SK&F 96365. Both carbachol and MTX induce a significant increase in total protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which is dependent on extracellular calcium and can be inhibited by CAI and SK&F 96365. Phospholipase C-gamma was identified as one of the substrates subject to calcium-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation following carbachol or MTX stimulation. Carbachol-induced [3H]inositol trisphosphate formation was partially inhibited by an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, by removal of extracellular calcium, and by the inhibitor of receptor-operated calcium channels CAI suggesting that phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma plays a role in the muscarinic activation of phosphoinositide breakdown. Such an effect of carbachol is reminiscent of effects observed with peptide growth factors and represents a novel alternative signaling pathway for a muscarinic G protein-coupled receptor.