We reported previously that diacylglycerol (diC8) and GTP gamma S synergize with an anionic amphiphile such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to produce high rates of superoxide generation in a cell-free system consisting of neutrophil plasma membrane plus cytosol [Burnham, D. N., Uhlinger, D. J., & Lambeth, J. D. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17550-17559]. Here we investigate the effects of these activating factors on the plasma membrane association in an in vitro translated radiolabeled recombinant p47-phox protein. Apparent translocation, assayed by cosedimentation with plasma membranes, required the presence of excess cytosol and an anionic amphiphile, was enhanced by both GTP gamma S and diC8, and was inhibited by high salt, correlating qualitatively with activation; up to 70% cosedimentation was observed with the combination of activators (compared with less than 20% in their absence). Similar results were obtained using heat-inactivated cytosol, wherein another oxidase component, p67-phox, has been inactivated. Unexpectedly, from 50 to 80% of the apparent translocation occurred in the absence of membranes, indicating that protein aggregation accounted for a significant part of the observed translocation. Nevertheless, the percent translocation was increased in all cases by the presence of membranes, indicating some degree of protein-membrane interaction. While a control in vitro translated protein failed to translocate, cosedimentation of p47-phox occurred equally well when red blood cell or neutrophil plasma membranes lacking cytochrome b558 were used. Also, the peptide RGVHFIF, which is contained within the C-terminus of the large subunit of cytochrome b558, failed to inhibit translocation/aggregation of p47-phox, despite its ability to inhibit cell-free activation of the oxidase. The data are consistent with the following: (a) SDS, diC8, and GTP gamma S all act on cytosolic components to alter protein-protein and/or protein-membrane associations, and these changes are necessary (but not sufficient) for activation; (b) these altered associations are likely to function by increasing the local concentration of p47-phox and other components at the plasma membrane; (c) a high background of nonspecific associations in the cell-free activation system is likely to obscure any specific, functionally relevant associations (e.g., with cytochrome b558); and (d) the mechanism of translocation in the cell-free system differs from that seen in intact neutrophils.

A peptide (RGVHFIF) from near the carboxyl terminus (residues 559-565) of gp91-phox, the large subunit of cytochrome b558, was previously shown to inhibit activation of the respiratory burst oxidase [Kleinberg, M. E., Malech, H. L., & Rotrosen, D. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 15577-15583]. The peptide has been proposed to compete with gp91-phox binding to p47-phox, one of the cytosolic oxidase components. In the present studies, we have used a semirecombinant system consisting of recombinant cytosolic factors (p47-phox, p67-phox, and Rac1) along with isolated plasma membrane to investigate the mechanism by which the peptide inhibits oxidase activation. In an in vitro translocation model, the peptide inhibited arachidonate-activated translocation of both p47-phox and p67-phox to the plasma membrane. The kinetic mechanism of inhibition was examined. Inhibition was noncompetitive or mixed with respect to not only Rac and p67-phox but also to p47-phox. We suggest that the peptide, rather than competing for cytochrome-p47-phox interactions, inhibits indirectly, perhaps by binding to and altering the conformation of cytochrome b558.