Stimulation of Ca2(+)-independent catecholamine secretion from digitonin-permeabilized bovine adrenal chromaffin cells by guanine nucleotide analogues. Relationship to arachidonate release.

The effect of GTP analogues on catecholamine secretion and [3H]arachidonic acid release from digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells was examined. Several GTP analogues stimulated Ca2(+)-independent exocytosis, with the order of efficacy being XTP greater than ITP greater than guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) greater than guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]). The stimulatory effect of the GTP analogues appeared to be due to activation of a conventional GTP-binding protein, as it was inhibited by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]). In contrast, Ca2(+)-dependent exocytosis was only partially inhibited by high doses of GDP[S]. GTP did not stimulate Ca2(+)-independent exocytosis, but instead was found to inhibit secretion caused by micromolar Ca2+. Arachidonic acid (100 microM) also stimulated Ca2(+)-independent catecholamine secretion. Determination of the effect of GTP analogues on release of free [3H]arachidonic acid into the medium showed that it was stimulated by GTP[S] but inhibited by GTP, p[NH]ppG, ITP and XTP. The inhibition of [3H]arachidonic acid release by XTP was not prevented by GDP[S]. These results demonstrate that activation of a GTP-binding protein by certain GTP analogues can induce Ca2(+)-independent secretion in adrenal chromaffin cells and that the effect of GTP analogues on Ca2(+)-independent secretion can be dissociated from generation of arachidonic acid.     

A functional link between the dark Mg-ATPase activity and the light-induced enzymatic cascade in rod outer segments

The characterization of a light-induced scattering change in suspensions of rod fragments, which requires previous swelling of the disks by the dark Mg-ATPase described by Uhl et al. [FEBS Lett. 107, 317-322 (1979)] is reported here. Reconstitution experiments demonstrate that this signal is dependent on the presence of G-protein, GTP and cGMP phosphodiesterase. Fast reversal associated with regenerability requires in addition the presence of some protein(s) of the cytoplasm (probably the rhodopsin kinase) and ATP. The amount of excited rhodopsin which saturates the signal is the same as that which saturates the previously described 'dissociation signal' [Kühn et al. (1981) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 78, 6873-6877] associated with the formation of the phosphodiesterase activator G alpha GTP (alpha subunit of the G-protein with GTP bound). The kinetics of the signal is slightly slower than that of the dissociation signal and its amplitude is proportional to the extent of swelling of the disks. These results suggest that the interaction between G alpha GTP and the phosphodiesterase modifies some structural feature of the disks and provide evidence for the existence of a functional link between the dark Mg-ATPase and the light-induced enzymatic cascade.     

Association of binding sites for guanine nucleotides with adenylate cyclase activation in rat pancreatic plasma membranes. Interaction of gastrointestinal hormones

1. The activation of rat pancreatic adenylate cyclase by guanosine 5'-(beta-gamma-imido)triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) and GTP, and by the two gastrointestinal hormones pancreozymin (as C-terminal octapeptide) and secretin was correlated with the binding of [8-3H]guanosine 5'-(beta-gamma-imido)triphosphate to rat pancreatic plasma membranes. 2. The low basal adenylate cyclase activity was stimulated 17-fold by p[NH]ppG (after a 2 min lag period), 3,5-fold only by GTP, 21-fold by C-terminal octapeptide of pancreozymin, and 8-fold by secretin. GTP inhibited competitively the activation of adenylate cyclase by p[NH]ppG with a Ki,app almost identical with the Ka,app (0.3 micron). p[NH]ppG and GTP enhanced the stimulation by secretin more markedly than that by the C-terminal octapeptide of pancreozymin, leading to the same maximal activity. Both hormones suppressed the lag period of activation by p[NH]ppG. 3. The binding of [8-3H]p[NH]ppG was dependent on time, temperature and Mg2+ and it was also a saturable and reversible process. Scatchard plots with a concavity upward were linearized after co-addition of ATP, Mg2+ and an ATP-regenerating system that abolished low-affinity sites for p[NH]ppG without saturating higher affinity sites, GTP, ITP and UTP inhibited [8-3H]p[NH]ppG binding to the high-affinity sites in concentration ranges identical with those found for adenylate cyclase activation. Considerable binding of [8-3H]p[NH]ppG was still evident at 20 degrees C, but enzyme activation was not observed any more, except in the presence of hormones.     

Muscarinic-agonist and guanine nucleotide activation of polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase in isolated islet-cell membranes.

Stimulated hydrolysis of the inositol phospholipids phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] was investigated by studying the phosphoinositides produced in a suspended preparation of plasma membranes by transference of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP. At basal Ca2+ concentration (calculated free Ca2+, 150 nM) phospholipid hydrolysis was stimulated either by the muscarinic agonists carbamoylcholine and bethanecol or by the addition of the non-hydrolysable analogue of GTP, guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate [p(NH)ppG]. GTP was without effect on basal hyrolysis. Both GTP and p(NH)ppG enhanced the rapid (within 10 s) hydrolysis of PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P2 induced by carbamoylcholine in a dose-dependent manner. A rightward shift in the competition curve of carbamoylcholine for bound L-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate was seen on addition of GTP or p(NH)ppG (100 microM) under phosphorylating conditions. Pretreatment of intact islet cells with Bordetella pertussis toxin, islet-activating protein (IAP) or treatment of membranes with IAP under conditions which elicited ADP-ribosylation of a protein of Mr 41,000 was without effect on muscarinic binding, phosphoinositide phosphorylation or subsequent hydrolysis by carbamoylcholine. The findings indicate the involvement of a GTP-binding protein in the coupling of the muscarinic receptor to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the islet cell and suggest that this is distinct from the GTP-binding regulatory component of adenylate cyclase which is covalently modified by IAP.     

Involvement of Ni protein in the functional coupling of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptor to adenylate cyclase in rat lung plasma membranes

In the presence of 1 microM atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and low (0.1 mM) Mg2+ concentrations, the initial rate of binding of [3H]guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate [( 3H]p[NH]ppG) to rat lung plasma membranes was increased twofold to threefold. ANF-dependent stimulation of the initial rate of [3H]p[NH]ppG binding was reduced at high (5 mM) Mg2+ concentrations. Preincubation of membranes with p[NH]ppG (5 min at 37 degrees C) eliminated the ANF-dependent effect on [3H]p[NH]ppG binding whereas ANF-dependent [3H]p[NH]ppG binding was unaffected by similar pretreatment with guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[beta S]). An increase in ANF concentration from 10 pM to 1 microM caused a 40% decrease in forskolin-stimulated or isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities (IC50 5 nM) in rat lung plasma membranes. GTP (100 microM) was obligatory for the ANF-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase, which could be completely overcome by the presence of 100 microM GDP[beta S] or the addition of 10 mM Mn2+. Reduction of Na2+ concentration from 120 mM to 20 mM had the same effect. Pertussis toxin eliminated ANF-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase by catalyzing ADP-ribosylation of membrane-bound Ni protein (41-kDa alpha subunit of the inhibitory guanyl-nucleotide-binding protein of adenylate cyclase). The data support the notion that one of the ANF receptors in rat lung plasma membranes is negatively coupled to a hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase complex via the GTP-binding Ni protein.     

Activation of rat liver adenylate cyclase by guanosine 5''-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate and glucagon. Existence of reversibly and irreversibly activated states of the stimulatory GTP-binding protein.

The effects of guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]) on the kinetics of activation of rat liver membrane adenylate cyclase by guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) were examined. GDP[S] caused immediate inhibition of the activation by p[NH]ppG at all time points tested. Substantial inhibition by GDP[S] was observed even after the time required for the enzyme to reach its steady-state activity, but the extent of inhibition became progressively smaller as the preincubation time with p[NH]ppG increased. The rate at which adenylate cyclase became quasi-irreversibly activated was a strictly first-order process. In the presence of glucagon, the formation of the irreversibly activated state was much slower. A combination of GDP[S] and glucagon could partially reverse the quasi-irreversible activation by p[NH]ppG. Glucagon decreased the lag time required for p[NH]ppG to activate adenylate cyclase and increased the extent of activation by p[NH]ppG. This stimulatory effect of the hormone on top of guanine nucleotide decreased on preincubation with p[NH]ppG, but not with GTP. Our results suggest that the activation of adenylate cyclase by non-hydrolysable GTP analogues is a two-stage process: the formation of a reversibly activated form (G rev) is a rapid process, followed by a much slower formation of the quasi-irreversibly activated form (G irr). Glucagon can stimulate G rev but not G irr, and can partially facilitate the formation of the G rev from the G irr state.     

Specificity for guanine nucleotide activation and stabilization of rabbit cardiac adenylate cyclase

These studies examined the structural specificity for guanine nucleotide-facilitated hormonal activation and guanine nucleotide stabilization of cardiac adenylate cyclase. 1. The phosphonate analogues of GTP, p[CH(2)]ppG (guanosine 5'-[betagamma-methylene]-triphosphate) and pp[CH(2)]pG (guanosine 5'-[alphabeta-methylene]triphosphate), were the most effective activators of adenylate cyclase. Other nucleotides producing significant activation (P<0.01) were, in decreasing order of activation: ITP, GDP, GMP, GTP, XTP, CTP, p[NH]ppG (guanosine 5'-[betagamma-imido]triphosphate), dGTP and 2'-O-methyl-GTP. Guanosine, cyclic GMP, UTP and ppppG (guanosine tetraphosphate) had no effect, and 7-methyl-GTP caused a decrease in the activity. 2. Preincubation of membranes at 37 degrees C for 15min before assay at 24 degrees C produced an 80% decrease in adenylate cyclase activity, and preincubation with p[CH(2)]ppG and pp[CH(2)]pG protected and resulted in a net increase in activity. Other nucleotides that completely or partially preserved activity in decreasing order of effectiveness were p[NH]ppG, GDP, GTP, dGTP, ITP, ppppG, 2'-O-methyl-GTP, GMP, CTP and XTP. Several compounds had no effect, including guanosine, cyclic GMP and UTP, whereas preincubation with 7-methyl-GTP produced a further decrease (P<0.05) in activity. 3. The concentration-dependence for activation and stabilization by the naturally occurring guanine nucleotides was examined in the absence of a regenerating system and revealed GMP to have no stabilizing effect and to be less potent than either GDP or GTP in activating adenylate cyclase. 4. A significant correlation (r=0.90) was found between the properties of activation and stabilization for the compounds examined. These findings are consistent with there being a single nucleotide site through which both the activation and stabilization of adenylate cyclase are mediated.     

Physical analysis of light-scattering changes in bovine photoreceptor membrane suspensions.

We have used electron microscopy and model calculations to analyze the physical basis of light-scattering signals from suspensions of photoreceptor membranes. These signals have previously been used to probe interactions between photoactivated rhodopsin (R*) and the peripheral membrane enzyme, GTP-binding protein (G) (Kühn et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 78:6873-6877). Although there is no unique physical interpretation of these signals, we have shown in this study that they were qualitatively unchanged when the rod outer segment fragments (containing stacked disks) were fragmented by sonication or osmotic shock to produce spherical disk membrane vesicles. An exact treatment of the scattering process for spherical vesicles enabled us to evaluate the effects of changing membrane thickness, refractive index, or vesicle diameter. We present a particular redistribution of mass upon R*-G interaction that fits the experimental data.     

G-protein involvement in central-nervous-system muscarinic-receptor-coupled polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Potentiation of muscarinic-agonist-stimulated polyphosphoinositide (PPI) hydrolysis was demonstrated in a rat cerebral-cortical membrane preparation prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol. Accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate ([3H]IP2) was used to assess brain [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis as its immediate metabolite, myo-[3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, was rapidly hydrolysed to [3H]IP2. Inclusion of ATP (100 microM) and Mg2+ (5 mM) in the assay medium was necessary to demonstrate the effect of GTP analogues on carbachol-stimulated brain [3H]PPI turnover. Carbachol (100 microM) induced only a small increment in [3H]IP2 accumulation (142% of control) in 1 min. However, its effect was markedly enhanced, to 800% and 300% of control, by 100 microM-guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) and guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) respectively. GTP[S] and p[NH]ppG also stimulated [3H]IP2 accumulation by over 500% and 200% of control, respectively. The GTP-analogue-potentiated carbachol effect was antagonized by 10 microM-atropine, whereas the GTP-analogue stimulation was unaffected. This report confirms the involvement of a G (GTP-binding) protein(s) in brain PPI metabolism and provides new evidence for the role of G protein(s) in the coupling of stimulated muscarinic receptors to PPI hydrolysis in the central nervous system.     

Activation mechanism of rod outer segment cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase. Release of inhibitor by the GTP/GTP-binding protein

The physiological regulation of light-activated cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) in rod outer segments has been shown to depend upon a heat-stable inhibitor and upon the reversal of its effect by a specific GTP/GTP-binding protein complex (Hurley, J. B. (1980) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 92, 505-510; Yamazaki, A., Bartucca, F., Ting, A., and Bitensky, M. W. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 79, 3702-3706). Washing of illuminated disc membranes with an isotonic buffer released 86% of the peripheral proteins without any release of inhibitor. Subsequent washing with the same isotonic buffer containing GTP released 80% of the inhibitor. When inhibitor was eluted with guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate, it had an apparent molecular weight of 60,000 on Sephadex G-100. The release of inhibitor by guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate was also demonstrated with sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Inhibitor release from the disc membrane by GTP or its analogue was accompanied by the release of the GTP-binding protein and an increased phosphodiesterase activity in the membrane. However, following GTP hydrolysis, both inhibitor and GTP-binding protein returned to the membrane and phosphodiesterase activity in the membrane decreased proportionally. In contrast, incubation of disc membranes with guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imino)-triphosphate produced an increase of inhibitor activity in the supernatant and an increase of phosphodiesterase activity in the pellet which remained constant after the initial increase. These data clearly show that the activation of phosphodiesterase by the GTP/GTP-binding protein complex resulted from the release of inhibitor. Hydrolysis of GTP resulted in the reassociation of inhibitor with and concomitant inhibition of disc membrane phosphodiesterase.     

Reexamination of the role of nonhydrolyzable guanosine 5'-triphosphate analogues in tubulin polymerization: reaction conditions are a critical factor for effective interactions at the exchangeable nucleotide site

Recently it was proposed [O'Brien, E. T., & Erickson, H. P. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 1413-1422] that tubulin polymerization supported by guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imidotriphosphate) [p(NH)ppG], guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-methylenetriphosphate) [p(CH2)ppG], and ATP might be due to residual GTP in reaction mixtures and that these nucleotides would probably support only one cycle of assembly. Since we had observed polymerization with these three compounds, we decided to study these reactions in greater detail in two systems. The first contained purified tubulin and a high concentration of glycerol, the second tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). In both systems, reactions supported by nucleotides other than GTP were most vigorous at lower pH values. In the glycerol system, repeated cycles of polymerization were observed with ATP and p(CH2)ppG, but not with p(NH)ppG. With p(NH)ppG, a single cycle of polymerization was observed, and this was caused by contaminating GTP. In the MAPs system, repeated cycles of polymerization were observed with both nonhydrolyzable GTP analogues, even without contaminating GTP, but ATP was not active at all in this system. Binding to tubulin of p(NH)ppG, p(CH2)ppG, and, to a lesser extent, ATP was demonstrated indirectly, since high concentrations of the three nucleotides displaced radiolabeled GDP originally bound in the exchangeable site, with p(NH)ppG the most active of the three compounds in this displacement assay. The failure of GTP-free p(NH)ppG to support tubulin polymerization in our glycerol system even though it displaced GDP from the exchangeable site was further investigated by examining the effects of p(NH)ppG on polymerization and polymer-bound nucleotide with low concentrations of GTP. The two nucleotides appeared to act synergistically in supporting polymerization, so that a reaction occurred with a subthreshold GTP concentration if p(NH)ppG was also in the reaction mixture. Analysis of radiolabeled exchangeable-site nucleotide in polymers formed in reaction mixtures containing both GTP and p(NH)ppG demonstrated that p(NH)ppG which entered polymer did so primarily at the expense of GDP originally bound in the exchangeable site rather than at the expense of GTP. It appears that in the glycerol reaction condition, tubulin-p(NH)ppG cannot initiate tubulin polymerization but that it can participate in polymer elongation. ATP and p(CH2)ppG also entered the exchangeable site during polymerization without GTP in glycerol, as demonstrated by displacement of radiolabeled GDP from polymer when these alternate nucleotides were used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Stimulation of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis by thrombin in membranes from human fibroblasts.

One of the earliest actions of thrombin in fibroblasts is stimulation of a phospholipase C (PLC) that hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol. In membranes prepared from WI-38 human lung fibroblasts, thrombin activated an inositol-lipid-specific PLC that hydrolysed [32P]PIP2 and [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PIP) to [32P]IP3 and [32P]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (IP2) respectively. Degradation of [32P]phosphatidylinositol was not detected. PLC activation by thrombin was dependent on GTP, and was completely inhibited by a 15-fold excess of the non-hydrolysable GDP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]). Neither ATP nor cytosol was required. Guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) also stimulated polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, and this activation was inhibited by GDP[S]. Stimulation of PLC by either thrombin or p[NH]ppG was dependent on Ca2+. Activation by thrombin required Ca2+ concentrations between 1 and 100 nM, whereas stimulation of PLC activity by GTP required concentrations of Ca2+ above 100 nM. Thus the mitogen thrombin increased the sensitivity of PLC to concentrations of free Ca2+ similar to those found in quiescent fibroblasts. Under identical conditions, another mitogen, platelet-derived growth factor, did not stimulate polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. It is concluded that an early post-receptor effect of thrombin is the activation of a Ca2+- and GTP-dependent membrane-associated PLC that specifically cleaves PIP2 and PIP. This result suggests that the cell-surface receptor for thrombin is coupled to a polyphosphoinositide-specific PLC by a GTP-binding protein that regulates PLC activity by increasing its sensitivity to Ca2+.     

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity in soluble transducin preparations biochemical properties and possible role of transducin-beta as phosphorylated enzyme intermediate.

Known nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are oligomers of 17-23-kDa subunits and catalyze the reaction N1TP + N2DP --> N1DP + N2TP via formation of a histidine-phosphorylated enzyme intermediate. NDPKs are involved in the activation of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) by catalyzing the formation of GTP from GDP, but the properties of G-protein-associated NDPKs are still incompletely known. The aim of our present study was to characterize NDPK in soluble preparations of the retinal G-protein transducin. The NDPK is operationally referred to as transducin-NDPK. Like known NDPKs, transducin-NDPK utilizes NTPs and phosphorothioate analogs of NTPs as substrates. GDP was a more effective phosphoryl group acceptor at transducin-NDPK than ADP and CDP, and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) was a more effective thiophosphoryl group donor than adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (ATP[S]). In contrast with their action on known NDPKs, mastoparan and mastoparan 7 had no stimulatory effect on transducin-NDPK. Guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) potentiated [3H]GTP[S] formation from [3H]GDP and ATP[S] but not [3H]GTP[S] formation from [3H]GDP and GTP[S]. Depending on the thiophosphoryl group acceptor and donor, [3H]NTP[S] formation was differentially regulated by Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+. [gamma-32P]ATP and [gamma-32P]GTP [32P]phosphorylated, and [35S]ATP[S] [35S]thiophosphorylated, a 36-kDa protein comigrating with transducin-beta. p[NH]ppG potentiated [35S]thiophosphorylation of the 36-kDa protein. 32P-labeling of the 36-kDa protein showed characteristics of histidine phosphorylation. There was no evidence for (thio)phosphorylation of 17-23-kDa proteins. Our data show the following: (a) soluble transducin preparations contain a GDP-prefering and guanine nucleotide-regulated NDPK; (b) transducin-beta may serve as a (thio)phosphorylated NDPK intermediate; (c) transducin-NDPK is distinct from known NDPKs and may consist of multiple kinases or a single kinase with multiple regulatory domains.     

A small plasmid for recombination-based screening.

We reported recently the construction of the 4.4-kb R6K-derived pMAD1 plasmid carrying supF [Stewart et al., Gene 106 (1991) 97-101] that does not share nt sequences with ColE1 and therefore permits recombination-based screening of lambda libraries that contain ColE1 sequences. Here we describe the construction of the 2.5-kb R6K-derived plasmid, pMAD3, that lacks the pi-encoding pir gene required for R6K replication. To supply pi [Inuzuka and Helinski, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75 (1978) 5381-5385] in trans, we employed pPR1 delta 22pir116, referred to henceforth as pPR1 [McEachern et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86 (1989) 7942-7946; Dellis and Filutowicz, J. Bacteriol. 173 (1991) 1279-1286]. Plasmid pMAD3 is small enough to be amplified readily by PCR [Saiki et al., Science 230 (1985) 1350-1354]. This permits the insertion of larger fragments and the retrieval of larger lambda inserts, as well as the use of a simplified PCR-based cloning protocol which utilizes annealing rather than ligation to create recombinants in pMAD3 [Nisson et al., PCR Methods and Applications 1 (1991) 120-123].     

Light-induced interaction between rhodopsin and the GTP-binding protein. Metarhodopsin II is the major photoproduct involved

We have previously described [H, Kühn et al. (1981) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 78, 6873-6877] a light-induced scattering change ('binding signal') associated with a stoichiometric binding between photoexcited rhodopsin and a peripheral membrane protein, the GTP-binding protein, in bovine rod outer segment suspensions. We have attempted here to identify the rhodopsin intermediate R* which is responsible for this interaction, by studying its dependence on pH, temperature and ionic strength. The results strongly suggest that the active state is metarhodopsin II (M II). 1. The initial phase of the binding signal is slightly slower than the formation of metarhodopsin II (2-37 degrees C, pH 5.5-9). 2. The kinetics of the decay of the active rhodopsin state are similar to those of the metarhodopsin II leads to metarhodopsin III transition (37 degrees C, pH 7.3). 3. All conditions which lead to light-induced binding of the GTP-binding protein to R* also lead to the formation of M II. At 2 degrees C, pH 8.3, in particular where no M II is formed in the absence of GTP-binding protein, binding signals and light-induced attachment of the GTP-binding protein to the membrane are still observed. Consistently, addition of GTP-binding protein to a suspension of extracted membranes bleached at 2 degrees C (pH 8.3) shifts the metarhodopsin I in equilibrium metarhodopsin II equilibrium towards metarhodopsin II. The shift is reversed by GTP, which dissociates the rhodopsin--GTP-binding protein complex. 4. At low ionic strength, where the GTP-binding protein is soluble in the dark (instead of being associated to the membrane as in the above experiments) M II still induces the binding whereas M I does not, indicating a much lower affinity of the GTP-binding protein for MI.     

Characteristics of the beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase system of developing rabbit bone-marrow erythroblasts.

After fractionation of rabbit bone marrow into dividing (early) and non-dividing (late) erythroid cells, the adenylate cyclase activity of membrane ghosts was assayed in the presence of guanine nucleotides ((GTP and its analogue p[NH]ppG (guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate))), the beta-adrenergic agonist L-isoprenaline (L-isoproterenol) and the antagonist L-propranolol. Both GTP and p[NH]ppG increased the adenylate cyclase activity of early and late erythroblasts, whereas the stimulating effect of the beta-adrenergic drug L-isoprenaline was limited to the immature dividing bone-marrow cells. The effect of L-isoprenaline was completely inhibited by the antagonist L-propranolol, confirming that the response was due to stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors on the plasma membrane. The lack of response of non-dividing erythroblasts to beta-adrenergic stimuli is not due to loss of beta-receptors, since both dividing and non-dividing cells bind the selective ligand [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol with almost equal affinities, the apparent dissociation constants, Kd, being 0.91 X 10(-8)M and 1.0 X 10(-8) M respectively. The number of beta-adrenergic receptors per cell was 2-fold higher in the dividing cells. No significant change in binding affinity for GTP and p[NH]ppG during erythroblast development was observed: the dissociation constants of both guanine nucleotides were almost identical with early and late erythroblast membrane preparations [2-3 (X 10(-7) M]. With dividing cells, however, in the presence of L-isoprenaline the dissociation constants of GTP and p[NH]ppG were lower (6 X 10(-8) M). The dose-response curves for isoprenaline competition in binding of [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol by dividing cells showed that the EC50 (effective concentration for half maximum activity) value for isoprenaline was higher in the presence of p[NH]ppG. With non-dividing cells the EC50 value for isoprenaline was equal in the presence and in the absence of p[NH]ppG and similar to that observed with dividing-cell membranes in the presence of the nucleotide. Thus differentiation of rabbit bone-marrow erythroid cells seems to be accompanied by uncoupling of the beta-adrenergic receptors from the adenylate cyclase catalytic protein as well as by a decrease in the number of receptors per cell, but not by changes in the catecholamine and guanine-nucleotide-binding affinities.     

G(alpha)(i3) in pancreatic zymogen granules participates in vesicular fusion

Earlier studies indicated that a G(i)-like protein localized in pancreatic zymogen granule (ZG) membrane mediates vesicle swelling, and is a potentially important prerequisite for vesicle fusion at the cell plasma membrane (PM) [Jena et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 13317-13322]. In the present study, we demonstrate the presence of G(alpha)(i3) immunoreactivity in ZGs of rat exocrine pancreas using immunoblot assays, light and electron immunomicroscopy. Since GTP has been implicated in the fusion of isolated ZG with PM fractions [Nadin et al. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 109, 2801-2808], the potential role of ZG-associated G(alpha)(i3) was investigated. Immunoblot assays demonstrate an increase in G(alpha)(i3) protein in ZGs isolated from carbamylcholine stimulated pancreas. Thin layer chromatography shows an increase in GTP hydrolysis by GTPase in ZGs isolated from stimulated compared to resting pancreas. In vitro fusion assays demonstrate that ZGs isolated from carbamylcholine-stimulated pancreatic lobules fuse with the PM at a greater potency in the presence of GTP, mastoparan (G protein agonist) and its analogue mas7. Furthermore, G(alpha)(i3)-specific a recombinant GAIP (G alpha interacting protein), potentiates ZG-PM fusion in the presence of GTP but not in presence of the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue Gpp(NH)p. Our immunoblot analysis demonstrates the recruitment of Galpha(i3) immunoreactivity to ZG from stimulated acinar cells, and these isolated ZGs are more potent and efficient in fusing with plasma membrane fractions, suggesting the possible involvement of G(alpha)(i3) in ZG-PM fusion. The participation of ZG-associated G(alpha)(i3) in ZG-PM fusion is further confirmed by the influence of the G(alpha)(i3)-specific GAIP, which is known to interact specifically with G(alpha)(i3), and not with G(alpha)(i2) or G(alpha)(q) [DeVries et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 11916-11920]. Additionally, our data suggest that GTP hydrolysis is a requirement for ZG-PM fusion since GAIP in the presence of Gpp(NH)p shows little or no effect on fusion, whereas GAIP in the presence of GTP significantly potentiates ZG-PM fusion. Our studies suggest a possible role for ZG-associated G(alpha)(i3) in ZG-PM fusion.     

A DNA-binding protein from E. coli isolation, characterization and its relationship with proteins H1 and B1

A protein of Mr 16,000 (protein 16 K) which tightly binds to DNA has been isolated from E. coli. The amino acid composition and amino-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein have been determined. On the basis of its physico-chemical characteristics the protein 16 K was shown to be identical to the protein H1 [Cukier-Kahn et al. (1972) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69, 3643-3647; Spassky and Buc (1977) Eur. J. Biochem. 81, 79-90] which corresponds itself to the protein B1 [Bakaev (1981) Molekulyarnaya Biologya 15, 1350-1362].     

Stabilization and solubilization of bovine corpus-luteum adenylate cyclase. The effects of guanosine triphosphate, guanosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]triphosphate, sodium fluoride and Tris/hydrochloric acid concentration on enzyme activity

1. Adenylate cyclase of the washed 600g sediment of bovine corpus-luteum homogenate is stimulated by p[NH]ppG (guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate), the imido analogue of GTP, and to a lesser extent by GTP itself. Activation by p[NH]ppG is not reversed by extensive washing before assay, but can, however, be reversed by NaF. 2. Both p[NH]ppG and NaF stabilize the enzyme during incubation at 37 degrees C. NaF also causes an irreversible activation, but only of part of the potentially NaF-activatable adenylate cyclase; there are possibly two components of the adenylate cyclase system, which can be distinguished by their response to NaF. 3. Solubilization of the adenylate cyclase activity in the 600g sediment, by using the non-ionic detergent Lubrol-PX, gave variable yields. A relationship between the magnitude of NaF stimulation of the 600g-sediment enzyme and the yield of soluble activity derived from the sediment was recognized. The results suggest that the pre-existing state of the enzyme complex in vivo is reflected by the response in vitro to NaF and may determine the success with which activity can be solubilized. 4. The absolute yields of soluble activity could be increased by p[NH]ppG preactivation of the 600g sediment. During the development of the maximally active state by preincubation with p[NH]ppG the enzyme passes through a stage in which Lubrol solubilization is increased, but the maximally active state is itself less amenable to solubilization. p[NH]ppG activation causes the appearance of NaF-inhibited states, which appear to be preferentially solubilized by Lubrol-PX.     

Sequence of a canine cDNA clone encoding a Ran/TC4 GTP-binding protein

We report the isolation and characterization of a canine cDNA encoding a 216-amino acid GTP-binding protein of the Ras superfamily. The protein is almost identical to the human TC4 [Drivas et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10 (1990) 1793–1798] and Ran [Bischoffand Ponstingi, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88 (1991) 10830–10834; Nature 354 (1991) 80–82] proteins, the latter of which has been found to be involved in cell cycle control. Furthermore, the protein is highly similar to the fission yeast spi1 gene product [Matsumoto and Beach, Cell 66 (1991) 347–360]. The high degree of evolutionary conservation in this protein suggests that it plays a vital role in the eukaryotic cell.