Cloning and expression of rat lung acidic ca++-independent phospholipase a2 and its organ distribution. Kim, Tae-Suk, Chandra Dodia, Xi Chen, Brian B. Hennigan, Mahendra Jain, Sheldon I. Feinstein, and Aron B Fisher. INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 AND DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, NEWARK, DE 19716
APStracts 5:0042L, 1998.
A clone for a rat acidic Ca++-independent phospholipase A2 (aiPLA2) was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from rat granular pneumocytes using a probe based upon the human aiPLA2 sequence (Kim et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:2542-2440, 1997). In addition, a consensus sequence for mouse aiPLA2 was constructed from several mouse cDNA clones in the GenBank and dbEST databases. Each sequence codes for a 224-amino-acid protein with 88% identity of the amino acids among the three species and conservation of a putative "lipase" motif (GDSWG). Translation of mRNA produced from the rat clone in a wheat germ system resulted in expression of PLA2 activity with similar properties to the human enzyme, i.e., acidic pH optimum and Ca++ -independence. The localization of aiPLA2 in rat tissues was studied using the human cDNA probe, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and aiPLA2 activity. aiPLA2 is present in lung as evidenced by high levels of mRNA and protein expression and enzymatic activity that is inhibited by anti-PLA2 antibody and by the transition state analogue, 1-hexadecyl-3-trifluoroethylglycero-sn-2-phosphomethanol (MJ33). Immunocytochemistry showed the presence of aiPLA2 in alveolar type II cells, alveolar macrophages, and bronchiolar epithelium. In brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and intestine, aiPLA2 activity and mRNA content was <50% of lung, immunoreactive protein was not detectable, and enzymatic activity was not inhibited by MJ33 or by aiPLA2 antibody. These results show marked enrichment of aiPLA2 in lung compared to other organs and suggest translational control of aiPLA2 expression.

Received 7 August 1997; accepted in final form 10 February 1998.
APS Manuscript Number L230-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Lung Cell. Mol.
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1998 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 February 1998