Down-regulation of ceramide kinase via proteasome and lysosome pathways in PC12 cells by serum withdrawal: Its protection by nerve growth factor and role in exocytosis

Ceramide kinase (CerK) phosphorylates ceramide to ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P). CerK is highly expressed in the brain, and its association with the neuronal function has been reported. Previous reports showed that the activity of CerK is regulated by post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, whereas the cellular fate of CerK protein and its role in neuronal functions have not been clearly elucidated. Therefore, we investigated these issues in PC12 cells. Treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) for 6 h increased the formation of C1P but not CerK mRNA. Knockdown of CerK and overexpression of HA-tagged CerK down- and up-regulated the formation of C1P, respectively. In PC12-CerK-HA cells, serum withdrawal caused ubiquitination of CerK-HA protein and down-regulated both CerK-HA protein and C1P formation within 6 h, and these down-regulations were abolished by co-treatments with NGF or proteasome inhibitors such as MG132 and clasto-lactacystin. Microscopic analysis showed that treatment with the proteasome inhibitors increased CerK-HA in puncture structures, possibly endosomes and/or vesicles, in cells. Treatment with the lysosome inhibitors reduced serum withdrawal-induced down-regulation of CerK-HA protein but not C1P formation. When knockdown or overexpression of CerK was performed, Ca2+-induced release of [H-3] noradrenaline was reduced or enhanced, respectively, but neurite extension was not modified. There was a positive correlation between noradrenaline release and formation of C1P and/or CerK-HA levels in NGF- and clasto-lactacystin-treated cells. These results suggest that levels of CerK were down-regulated by the ubiquitin/proteasome and lysosome pathways and the former pathway-sensitive pool of CerK was suggested to be linked with exocytosis in PC12 cells.