Selective protein kinase inhibitors block head-specific differentiation in hydra

Several studies have suggested that morphogenesis and patterning in hydra are regulated through pathways involving protein kinase C (PKC). Nevertheless, the complete signal system for regeneration in hydra is still not completely understood. Using inhibitors of different signalling pathways we are dissecting this system. We found that sphingosine (2 muM), staurosporine (0.1 muM), PP1/AGL1872 (1 muM) and H7 (25 muM) were able to inhibit head but not foot regeneration. The inhibition was reversible. When the inhibitor was replaced with hydra medium the animals continue their regeneration in a normal way. The exception was PP1/AGL1872, in this case the animals regenerated only one or two tentacles. These results imply that head and foot regeneration are independent processes and they are not directly related as has been proposed. Sphingosine and PP1/AGL1872 inhibit the transcription of ks1, an early regeneration gene, at 24 and 48 h of treatment. Sphingosine 2 muM arrested the cells on the G1 phase of the cell cycle, but 1 muM of PP1/AGL1872 did not. The regeneration was not affected if the animals were exposed to inhibitors of human growth factor receptors. We propose that head regeneration in hydra may be regulated at least by two pathways, one going through PKC and the other through Src. The first pathway could be related to cellular proliferation and the second one to cellular differentiation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.