Manipulation of phototransductive membrane turnover by crab photoreceptors in vitro: effects of two protein kinase activators, SC-9 and phorbol ester in the presence of a protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid.

1. Retinae of crabs, Leptograpsus variegatus, held on a 12:12 h light-dark cycle were prepared for culture in vitro shortly before light-off. After an hour in darkness to permit the assembly of "night" rhabdoms, retinae were exposed to various combinations of drugs: 1 microM okadaic acid (OKA); 60 microM SC-9; 10 microM phorbol, 12,13-diacetate (PDA). 2. The effects of the specific protein phosphatase inhibitor, OKA, are confirmed as light-dependent. Rhabdom sizes were not compromised by OKA, nor by either of the two protein kinase activators, SC-9 or PDA when each was deployed alone in darkness. 3. In combination with OKA, PDA induced demolition of rhabdoms by abnormal macropinocytosis of microvillar membranes. 4. Combined with OKA, SC-9 induced a transient reduction of rhabdoms, followed by overgrowth to abnormal sizes. Overgrowth was blocked by the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D. 5. Disparate consequences of combining OKA with SC-9 or PDA imply that more than one protein kinase C may be involved.