Ca2+/Calmodulin Distinguishes Between Guanyl-5''-yl-Imidodiphosphate-and Opiate-Mediated Inhibition of Rat Striatal Adenylate Cyclase

The inhibition of adenylate cyclase from rat striatal plasma membranes by guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] and morphine was compared to determine whether Gpp(NH)p-mediated inhibition accurately reflected hormone-mediated inhibition in this system. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by Gpp(NH)p and morphine was examined with respect to temperature, divalent cation concentration, and the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM). Gpp(NH)p-mediated inhibition was dependent on the presence of Ca2+/CaM at 24 degrees C; the inhibition was independent of Ca2+/CaM at 18 degrees C; and inhibition could not be detected in the presence, or absence, of Ca2+/CaM at 30 degrees C. In contrast, naloxone-reversible, morphine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase was independent of both temperature and the presence of Ca2+/CaM. Mg2+ dose-response curves also reinforced the differences in the Ca2+/CaM requirement for Gpp(NH)p- and morphine-induced inhibition. Because Gpp(NH)p-mediated inhibition was independent of Ca2+/CaM at low basal activities (i.e., 18 degrees C, or below 1 mM Mg2+) and dependent on the presence of Ca2+/CaM at higher basal activities (24 degrees C, or above 1 mM Mg2+), the inhibitory effects of Gpp(NH)p were examined at 1 mM Mg2+ in the presence of 100 nM forskolin. Under these conditions, both Gpp(NH)p- and morphine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase were independent of Ca2+/CaM. The results demonstrate that the requirement for Ca2+/CaM to observe Gpp(NH)p-mediated inhibition depends on the basal activity of adenylate cyclase, whereas hormone-mediated inhibition is Ca2+/CaM independent under all conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relationship of calmodulin and dopaminergic activity in the striatum

Increasing evidence suggests a relationship between dopaminergic activity in the striatum and the content of calmodulin (CaM), an endogenous Ca2+-binding protein. The content of CaM in striatal membranes is increased by treatments that produce supersensitivity in striatal membranes is increased by treatments that produce supersensitivity of striatal dopaminergic receptors such as chronic neuroleptic treatment or injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. Concomitant with the increase in CaM is a greater sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to dopamine and an increase in Ca2+-sensitive phosphorylation in the striatal membranes. Procedures that result in dopaminergic subsensitivity, such as amphetamine treatment, increase the cytosolic content of CaM that can subsequently activate Ca2+ and CaM-dependent phosphodiesterase activity. In vitro studies have demonstrated that CaM and Ca2+ can stimulate basal adenylate cyclase activity in a striatal particulate fraction as well as increase the sensitivity of the enzyme to dopamine. Ca2+ and CaM most likely affect the dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase by interacting with guanyl nucleotides, which are required for dopamine sensitivity. It is concluded that a change in CaM concentration and/or location occurs during conditions of altered dopaminergic sensitivity in the striatum. These changes in CaM coupled with potential alterations in the Ca2+ concentration could modulate the sensitivity of the dopamine system and many CaM-dependent enzymes.     

Cholera toxin blocks glucagon-mediated inhibition of the liver plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase

We have previously shown that liver plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity is inhibited by glucagon. To investigate the possible involvement of a GTP-binding (G) protein in this regulation, we have examined the effects of pertussis toxin and cholera toxin on inhibition of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase by glucagon. Treatment of liver plasma membranes with pertussis toxin did not affect the sensitivity of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase to the hormone. In contrast, treatment of plasma membranes or prior injection of animals with cholera toxin prevented inhibition of the (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase by glucagon. Even though adenylate cyclase activity was increased by cholera toxin treatment, addition of cyclic AMP did not mimic the effect of cholera toxin in blocking glucagon-mediated inhibition of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity. These data suggest that a cholera toxin-sensitive protein, perhaps Gs or a Gs-like protein, is involved in the regulation of liver (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity. The results emphasize the possible role of Gs-like proteins in regulation of enzymes other than adenylate cyclase and suggest that the study of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase may provide a useful enzymatic system to examine such regulation.     

Adenylate cyclase in prothoracic glands during the last larval instar of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

We have previously reported that the absence of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) signal transduction during the early last larval instar of Bombyx mori plays a role in leading to very low ecdysteroid levels in the hemolymph, inactivation of the corpora allata, as well as larval-pupal transformation. In the present study, adenylate cyclase was characterized in crude preparations of prothoracic gland cell membranes in an effort to localize the cause of refractoriness to PTTH. It was found that cyclase activity of the prothoracic glands from the day 6 last instar showed activation responses to fluoride, a guanine nucleotide analogue, as well as calmodulin (CaM) in dose-dependent fashions. The additive effects of day 5 prothoracic gland adenylate cyclase stimulation by fluoride and CaM imply that there may exist Gs protein-dependent and CaM-dependent forms of adenylate cyclase. For day 1 last instar prothoracic glands, which showed no response to stimulation by PTTH in either cAMP generation or ecdysteroidogenesis, adenylate cyclase activity exhibited far less responsiveness to Ca(2+)/CaM than did that from day 5 glands. These findings suggest that day 1 prothoracic glands may possess some lesions in the receptor-Ca(2+) influx-adenylate cyclase signal transduction pathway and these impairments in PTTH signal transduction may be, at least in part, responsible for decreased ecdysteroidogenesis.     

A novel mechanism for the inhibition of adenylate cyclase via inhibitory GTP-binding proteins. Calmodulin-dependent inhibition of the cyclase catalyst by the beta gamma-subunits of GTP-binding proteins

The adenylate cyclase catalytic protein partially purified from rat brain membranes was activated by the stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs), forskolin, and Ca2+-calmodulin. The Ca2+-calmodulin-stimulated activity was markedly, but the Gs- or forskolin-stimulated activity was essentially not, inhibited by low concentrations of the beta gamma-subunits of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi). The inhibition appeared to be competitive with calmodulin. On the other hand, the association of increasing amounts of beta gamma with the alpha of Gi, which was measured based on the ADP-ribosylation by islet-activating protein, pertussis toxin, was apparently competed by Ca2+-calmodulin. Furthermore, beta gamma bound to calmodulin-Sepharose in the presence of Ca2+, but not in its absence. Thus, the direct interaction of beta gamma with calmodulin is a likely mechanism involved in beta gamma-induced inhibition of the calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase.     

Potent and cooperative feedback inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by calcium in pituitary-derived GH3 cells

Calcium (Ca2+) ion concentrations that are achieved intracellularly upon membrane depolarization or activation of phospholipase C stimulate adenylate cyclase via calmodulin (CaM) in brain tissue. In the present study, this range of Ca2+ concentrations produced unanticipated inhibitory effects on the plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity of GH3 cells. Ca2+ concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 microM exerted an increasing inhibition on enzyme activity, which reached a plateau (35-45% inhibition) at around 1 microM. This inhibitory effect was highly cooperative for Ca2+ ions, but was neither enhanced nor dependent upon the addition of CaM (1 microM) to EGTA-washed membranes. The inhibition was greatly enhanced upon stimulation of the enzyme by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and/or GTP. Prior exposure of cultured cells to pertussis toxin did not affect the inhibition of plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity by Ca2+, although in these membranes, hormonal (somatostatin) inhibition was significantly attenuated. Maximally effective concentrations of Ca2+ and somatostatin produced additive inhibitory effects on adenylate cyclase. The addition of phosphodiesterase inhibitors demonstrated that inhibitory effects of Ca2+ were not mediated by Ca2(+)-dependent stimulation of a phosphodiesterase activity. These observations provide a mechanism for the feedback inhibition by elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels on cAMP-facilitated Ca2+ entry into GH3 cells, as well as inhibitory crosstalk between Ca2(+)-mobilizing signals and adenylate cyclase activity.     

Calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase activity in rat cerebral cortex: effects of divalent cations, forskolin and isoprenaline

The role of calcium-calmodulin (Ca2+-CaM) in the modulation of beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity in rat cerebral cortex has been studied. In addition, the effects of manganese (Mn2+) and forskolin on CaM-dependent enzyme activity were investigated. At 2 mM magnesium (Mg2+) low concentrations of Ca2+ stimulated the enzyme activity (Ka 0.25 +/- 0.08 microM), whereas higher Ca2+ levels (greater than 2 microM) inhibited the activity. No activating effect of Ca2+ was observed in CaM-depleted membranes, but the inhibitory effect persisted and the stimulatory action of Ca2+ could be restored by addition of exogenous CaM. The ability of Ca2+ to activate the enzyme was reduced by increasing concentrations of Mg2+. At 10 mM Mg2+ the apparent Ka of Ca2+ was 0.55 +/- 0.16 microM and half-maximal inhibition was observed at 80-120 microM Ca2+. A synergistic effect was observed between Ca2+ and isoprenaline on the adenylate cyclase activity. Calcium did not alter the apparent Ka of isoprenaline (0.9 +/- 0.27 microM) and isoprenaline did not change the apparent Ka of Ca2+. However, isoprenaline decreased the apparent Ka of CaM; 0.11 +/- 0.07 micrograms vs. 0.32 +/- 0.1 micrograms (0.5 ml assay mixture)-1, with and without isoprenaline, respectively. A synergistic effect was also observed between Ca2+ and forskolin, but no change in their apparent Ka values was found. Furthermore, Mn2+ was found to activate the enzyme through CaM. These data demonstrate that Ca2+ -CaM potentiates beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity and thus is able to modulate neurotransmitter stimulation in cortex. Furthermore, both forskolin and Mn2+ affect CaM-dependent enzyme activity. Forskolin potentiates Ca2+-CaM stimulation, while Mn2+ increases the activity by activating the enzyme through CaM.     

Bimodal regulation of cyclic AMP by muscarinic receptors. Involvement of multiple G proteins and different forms of adenylyl cyclase

In membranes of rat olfactory bulb, muscarinic receptor agonists stimulate basal adenylyl cyclase activity . This response is inhibited by a number of muscarinic receptor antagonists with a rank order of potency suggesting the involvement of the M4 muscarinic receptor subtype. The stimulatory effect does not require Ca2+ and occurs independently of activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin completely prevents the muscarinic stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, indicating the participation of G proteins of the Gi/Go family. Immunological impairment of the G protein, Gs, also reduces the muscarinic response, whereas concomitant activation of Gs-coupled receptors by CRH or VIP results in a synergistic stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. Although these data suggest a role for Gs, a body of evidence indicates that the muscarinic receptors do not interact directly with this G protein. Moreover, the Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM)- and forskolin-stimulated enzyme activities are inhibited by muscarinic receptor activation in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner and with a pharmacological profile similar to that observed for the stimulatory response. These data indicate that in rat olfactory bulb M4 muscarinic receptors exert a bimodal control on cyclic AMP formation through a sequence of events that may involve activation of Gi/Go proteins, synergistic interaction with Gs and differential modulation of Ca2+/CaM-independent and -dependent forms of adenylyl cyclase.     

Simultaneous coupling of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors to two G-proteins with opposing effects. Subtype-selective coupling of alpha 2C10, alpha 2C4, and alpha 2C2 adrenergic receptors to Gi and Gs.

Coupling of the three alpha 2-adrenergic receptor (alpha 2AR) subtypes to Gi and Gs was studied in membranes from transfected CHO cells. We observed that in the presence of low concentrations of the alpha 2AR agonist UK-14304, alpha 2C10 mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity, whereas at high concentrations of agonist, alpha 2C10 mediated stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. We considered that this biphasic response was due to the coupling of alpha 2C10 to both Gi and Gs. To isolate functional Gs and Gi coupling, cells were treated with pertussis toxin or cholera toxin in doses sufficient to fully ADP-ribosylate the respective G-proteins. Following treatment with cholera toxin, agonists elicited only alpha 2C10-mediated inhibition (approximately 50%) of adenylyl cyclase while after pertussis toxin treatment, agonists elicited only alpha 2C10-mediated stimulation (approximately 60%) of adenylyl cyclase. Incubation of membranes with antisera directed against the carboxyl-terminal portion of Gs alpha blocked this functional alpha 2AR.Gs coupling to the same extent as that found for beta 2AR.Gs coupling. In addition to functional Gs coupling, we also verified direct, agonist-dependent, physical coupling of alpha 2AR to Gs alpha. In agonist-treated membranes, an agonist-receptor-Gs alpha complex was immunoprecipitated with a specific alpha 2C10 antibody, and the Gs component identified by both western blots using Gs alpha antibody, and cholera toxin mediated ADP-ribosylation. Due to the differences in primary amino acid structure in a number of regions of the alpha 2AR subtypes, we investigated whether G-protein coupling was subtype-selective, using UK-14304 and cells with the same alpha 2AR expression levels (approximately 5 pmol/mg). Coupling to Gi was equivalent for alpha 2C10, alpha 2C4, and alpha 2C2: 53.4 +/- 8.8% versus 54.9 +/- 1.0% versus 47.6 +/- 3.5% inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, respectively. In marked contrast, distinct differences in coupling to Gs were found between the three alpha 2AR subtypes: stimulation of adenylyl cyclase was 57.9 +/- 6.3% versus 30.7 +/- 1.1% versus 21.8 +/- 1.7% for alpha 2C10, alpha 2C4, and alpha 2C2, respectively. Thus, alpha 2AR have the potential to couple physically and functionally to both Gi and Gs; for Gi coupling we found a rank order of alpha 2C10 = alpha 2C4 = alpha 2C2, while for Gs coupling, alpha 2C10 greater than alpha 2C4 greater than alpha 2C2.     

ADP-ribosylation of Gs promotes the dissociation of its alpha and beta subunits

We have utilized purified reactants and cofactors to examine the form of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory component (Gs) of adenylate cyclase that serves as a substrate for ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin; we have also investigated some of the consequences of that covalent modification. Activation of Gs with nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP, which causes dissociation of its subunits, completely inhibits the toxin-catalyzed covalent modification. However, this effect cannot be explained by subunit dissociation, since activation of Gs by fluoride is not inhibitory and ADP ribosylation of the alpha (45,000-Da) subunit of Gs proceeds equally well in the presence and absence of the beta (35,000-Da) subunit. ADP-ribosylation of the alpha subunit of Gs decreases its apparent affinity for the beta subunit; however, the affinity of alpha and ADP-ribosyl-alpha for GTP appear to be approximately the same. ADP-ribosylation of Gs thus promotes the dissociation of its alpha and beta subunits. This effect may account for or contribute to the activation of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin.     

Translocation of alpha subunits of stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding proteins through stimulation of the prostacyclin receptor in mouse mastocytoma cells.

The translocation of the alpha subunits of Gs from the membrane to the cytosol by iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analogue, was studied in mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells. In the presence of guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), iloprost stimulated the adenylate cyclase activity, caused the release of both 42- and 45-kDa proteins reactive with the anti Gs alpha carboxyl-terminal antibody, RM/1, from the membrane and attenuated cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the 42- and 45-kDa proteins in the membrane. The iloprost-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and release of Gs alpha from the membrane were markedly suppressed by RM/1. Cholera toxin treatment also stimulated the adenylate cyclase activity and release of Gs alpha from the membrane, and iloprost synergistically potentiated these actions of cholera toxin. In mastocytoma cells, iloprost induced the translocation of both 42- and 45-kDa Gs alpha from the membrane to the cytosol, 45-kDa Gs alpha remaining in the cytosol for a longer time than 42- kDa Gs alpha. Whereas 42-kDa Gs alpha in the cytosol was eluted at the position of Mr = approximately 40,000 45-kDa Gs alpha was eluted at the position of Mr = approximately 120,000 from a Superose 12 gel filtration column. In contrast, both 42- and 45-kDa Gs alpha released in vitro from the membrane by iloprost plus GTP gamma S were eluted at the position of Mr = approximately 40,000, but only 45-kDa Gs alpha was eluted at the position of Mr = approximately 120,000 when it was incubated with cytosol. These results taken together demonstrate that iloprost induces the translocation of both 42- and 45-kDa Gs alpha from the membrane to the cytosol and that only the 45-kDa Gs alpha released exists in the cytosol as a soluble complex with unidentified component(s) in mastocytoma cells.     

The stimulatory guanine-nucleotide regulatory unit of adenylate cyclase from bovine cerebral cortex. ADP-ribosylation and purification.

Hormonal stimulation of adenylate cyclase from bovine cerebral cortex is mediated by a guanine-nucleotide regulatory protein (Gs). This protein contains at least three polypeptides: a guanine nucleotide-binding alpha s component and a beta X gamma component, which modulates the function of alpha s. The alpha s component from many tissues can be ADP-ribosylated with cholera toxin, but has been unusually difficult to modify in brain. We have improved incorporation of ADP-ribose by including isonicotinic acid hydrazide to inhibit the potent NAD glycohydrolase activity of brain. ADP-ribosylation is further improved by addition of detergent to render the substrates accessible and 20 mM-EDTA to chelate metal ions. Although Mg2+ is absolutely required for activation of adenylate cyclase by the GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG), it is not obligatory for p[NH]ppG-stimulated ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin. Under these conditions, the ADP-ribosylation of brain membranes is not enhanced by a cytosolic protein. We find that there are two major sizes of brain alpha s, which we have named 'alpha sL', with an apparent Mr of 42,000-45,000, and 'alpha sH' with an apparent Mr of 46,000-51,000 depending on the gel-electrophoretic system used. The alpha sL and alpha sH components can incorporate different amounts of ADP-ribose depending on the reaction conditions, so that one or the other may appear to predominate. Thus we show that incomplete ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin is not a good indication of the relative amounts of alpha s units. Functionally, however, both forms of alpha s appear to be similar. Both forms associate with the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase, but neither of them does so preferentially. There is an excess of each of them over the amount associated with catalytic unit. We have now substantially purified Gs from brain by a modification of the method of Sternweis et al. [(1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 11517-11526] as well as by a new, simplified, procedure. On SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the purified brain Gs contains both the 45 and 51 kDa alpha s polypeptides revealed by ADP-ribosylation and a beta X gamma component. Activation of purified alpha s by guanine nucleotides or fluoride can be reversed by addition of purified beta X gamma component. The activated form of purified brain Gs has an Mr of 49,000 as determined by hydrodynamic measurements, which is consistent with the idea that the active form of brain Gs is the dissociated one.     

In Vivo Evidence that Lithium Inactivates Gi Modulation of Adenylate Cyclase in Brain

In vivo microdialysis of cyclic AMP from prefrontal cortex complemented by ex vivo measures was used to investigate the possibility that lithium produces functional changes in G proteins that could account for its effects on adenylate cyclase activity. Four weeks of lithium administration (serum lithium concentration of 0.85 +/- 0.05 mM; n = 11) significantly increased the basal cyclic AMP content in dialysate from prefrontal cortex of anesthetized rats. Forskolin infused through the probe increased dialysate cyclic AMP, but the magnitude of this increase was unaffected by chronic lithium administration. Inactivation of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein Gi with pertussis toxin increased dialysate cyclic AMP in control rats, as did stimulation with cholera toxin (which activates the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein Gs). The effect of pertussis toxin was abolished following chronic lithium, whereas the increase in cyclic AMP after cholera toxin was enhanced. In vitro pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation of alpha i (and alpha o) was increased by 20% in prefrontal cortex from lithium-treated rats, but the alpha i and alpha s contents (as determined by immunoblot) as well as the cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation of alpha s were unchanged. Taken together, these results suggest that chronic lithium administration may interfere with the dissociation of Gi into its active components and thereby remove a tonic inhibitory influence on adenylate cyclase, with resultant enhanced basal and cholera toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.     

Development of a novel photoreactive calmodulin derivative: cross-linking of purified adenylate cyclase from bovine brain

A novel photoreactive calmodulin (CaM) derivative was developed and used to label the purified CaM-sensitive adenylate cyclase from bovine cortex. 125I-CaM was conjugated with the heterobifunctional cross-linking agent p-nitrophenyl 3-diazopyruvate (DAPpNP). Spectral data indicated that diazopyruvoyl (DAP) groups were incorporated into the CaM molecule. Iodo-CaM-DAPs behaved like native CaM with respect to (1) Ca2+-dependent enhanced mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and (2) Ca2+-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity. 125I-CaM-DAP photochemically cross-linked to CaM-binding proteins in a manner that was both Ca2+ dependent and CaM specific. Photolysis of forskolin-agarose-purified adenylate cyclase from bovine cortex with 125I-CaM-DAP produced a single cross-linked product which migrates on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 140,000.     

Protein kinase C phosphorylates the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory component and apparently suppresses its function in hormonal inhibition of adenylate cyclase

Human platelet membrane proteins were phosphorylated by exogenous, partially purified Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). The phosphorylation of one of the major substrates for protein kinase C (Mr = 41 000) was specifically suppressed by the beta subunit of the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory component (Gi, Ni) of adenylate cyclase. The free alpha subunit of Gi (Mr = 41 000) also served as an excellent substrate for the kinase (greater than 0.5 mol phosphate incorporated per mol of subunit), but the Gi oligomer (alpha X beta X gamma) did not. Treatment of cyc- S49 lymphoma cells, which are deficient in Gs/Ns (the stimulatory component) but contain functional Gi/Ni, with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, a potent activator of protein kinase C, did not alter stimulation of adenylate cyclase catalytic activity by forskolin, whereas the Gi/Ni-mediated inhibition of the cyclase by the hormone, somatostatin, was impaired in these membranes. The results suggest that the alpha subunit of the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory component of adenylate cyclase may be a physiological substrate for protein kinase C and that the function of the component in transducing inhibitory hormonal signals to adenylate cyclase is altered by its phosphorylation.     

Regulation of calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase by the stimulatory G-protein, Gs

Studies in bovine and rat brain membranes have suggested that calmodulin can potentiate neurotransmitter- and GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. To examine whether calmodulin and the stimulatory G-protein, Gs, are potentiative at a calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase, Gs was purified from rabbit liver and reconstituted with a partially purified calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase from bovine brain. Activated Gs (G*s) stimulated basal adenylate cyclase activity and enhanced the stimulation by calmodulin. The potentiation of the calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was dose-dependent with respect to G*s concentration. At the highest concentration of G*s tested (3 nM), a 2-fold enhancement of the calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was observed at all concentrations of calmodulin. The synergistic activation of adenylate cyclase by calmodulin and Gs was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ and occurred at physiologically relevant Ca2+ concentrations. The potentiation was not observed when either a nonactivated Gs or a mixture of activated Gi/Go was used. G*s was not able to stimulate or potentiate a calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase purified from membranes pretreated with the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, guanyl-5'-yl beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate. Photochemical cross-linking of 125I-calmodulin-diazopyruvamide to proteins having an Mr corresponding to the known Mr of adenylate cyclase was not enhanced by G*s. The results demonstrate that the guanyl nucleotide-dependent enhancement of calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is mediated by G*s and suggest that G*s modulates the enzymatic turnover of the calmodulin-stimulated activity.     

Prolonged activation of inhibitory somatostatin receptors increases adenylate cyclase activity in wild-type and Gs alpha-deficient (cyc-) S49 mouse lymphoma cells.

Many cells develop enhanced adenylate cyclase activity after prolonged exposure to drugs that acutely inhibit the enzyme and it has been suggested that this adaptation may be due to an increase in Gs alpha. We have treated wild-type and Gs alpha-deficient cyc- S49 mouse lymphoma cells with a stable analogue (SMS 201-995) of the inhibitory agonist somatostatin. After incubation with SMS for 24 h, the forskolin-stimulated cAMP synthetic rate in intact cyc- cells was increased by 76%, similar to the increase found in the wild-type cells. Forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of Mn2+ was also increased in membranes prepared from SMS-treated cyc- cells; however, guanine nucleotide-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity was not changed despite a small decrease in inhibitory Gi alpha subunits detected by immunoblotting. Pretreatment of cyc- cells with pertussis toxin prevented SMS from inducing the enhancement of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in intact cells. After chronic incubation of cyc- cells with SMS, exposure to N-ethylmaleimide, which abolished receptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP accumulation, did not attenuate the enhanced rate of forskolin-stimulated cAMP synthesis compared to N-ethylmaleimide-treated controls. These results with cyc- cells demonstrate that an adaptive increase in adenylate cyclase activity induced by chronic treatment with an inhibitory drug can occur in the absence of expression of Gs alpha.     

GTP-dependent inhibition of insulin secretion by epinephrine in permeabilized RINm5F cells. Lack of correlation between insulin secretion and cyclic AMP levels

The mechanism by which alpha 2-adrenergic agonists inhibit exocytosis was investigated in electrically permeabilized insulin secreting RINm5F cells. In this preparation alpha 2-adrenoceptors remain coupled to adenylate cyclase, since basal- and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP production was lowered by epinephrine and clonidine by 30-50%. Cyclic AMP levels did not correlate with the rate of insulin secretion. Thus, at low Ca2+, forskolin enhanced cyclic AMP levels 5-fold without eliciting secretion, and Ca2+-stimulated secretion was associated with decreased cyclic AMP accumulation. Epinephrine (plus propranolol) inhibited Ca2+-induced insulin secretion in a GTP-dependent manner. The maximal inhibition (43%) occurred at 500 microM GTP. Clonidine also inhibited Ca2+-stimulated secretion. Replacement of GTP by GDP or by the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate as well as treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin prior to permeabilization abolished epinephrine inhibition of insulin secretion. Pertussis toxin did not affect Ca2+-stimulated secretion. Insulin release stimulated by 1,2-didecanoyl glycerol was also lowered by epinephrine suggesting an effect distal to the activation of protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme). These results taken together with the ability of epinephrine to inhibit ionomycin-induced insulin secretion in intact cells suggest that alpha 2-adrenergic inhibition is distal to the generation of second messengers. A model is proposed for alpha 2-adrenoceptor coupling to two effector systems, namely the adenylate cyclase and the exocytotic site in insulin-secreting cells.     

Alterations in components of adenylate cyclase associated with transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts by Rous sarcoma virus

Regulation of adenylate cyclase coincident with transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts by Rous sarcoma virus is manifest as a 10-50% decrease in basal, Mg2+-, and forskolin-stimulated activities; activities elicited by fluoride and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) are unaltered. The level of the catalytic component of adenylate cyclase, assessed with activated stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs), increases approximately 1.5-fold. The level of the beta subunit common to Gs and the inhibitory regulatory protein assessed by enzyme-linked immunotransfer blotting, increases 2.7-fold. The isoelectric behavior of the beta subunit is unaltered. The amount of radiolabel incorporated into the alpha subunit of Gs (Mr = 45,000) upon incubation of membranes with 32P-labeled NAD and cholera toxin increases 3-fold upon transformation. Detergent extracts prepared from membranes of untransformed and transformed fibroblasts nevertheless exhibit equivalent abilities to reconstitute fluoride-stimulated activities to membranes of the cyc-variant of mouse S49 lymphoma cells. Islet-activating protein catalyzes incorporation of radiolabel from 32P-labeled NAD into 39,000- and 41,000-dalton proteins; the extent of radiolabel incorporation does not change upon transformation. Modest alterations in the isoelectric behaviors of substrates for cholera toxin and islet-activating protein occur.     

Deletion within the amino-terminal region of Gs alpha impairs its ability to interact with beta gamma subunits and to activate adenylate cyclase.

Proteolytic experiments performed on transducin and Go alpha subunit strongly suggest that the amino-terminal residues of the alpha chain are involved in the interaction with beta gamma subunits. To test the possibility that the same region in Gs may fulfill a similar function, we introduced a deletion in the amino-terminal domain of Gs alpha. The properties of the wild type and the deleted alpha chains were characterized on in vitro translated proteins or after reconstitution of cyc- membranes by in vitro-translated alpha subunits. The mutant (delta 2-29) Gs alpha could still bind guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate, as revealed by its resistance to trypsin proteolysis and was still able to interact with the membrane. However, (delta 2-29) Gs alpha was not ADP-ribosylated by cholera toxin. In contrast to Gs alpha, addition of beta gamma subunits did not increase the rate of sedimentation of (delta 2-29) Gs alpha in sucrose gradients. Binding experiments on reconstituted membranes showed that the coupling to beta-adrenergic receptors was very low with (delta 2-29) Gs alpha. Finally, the mutant did not restore activation of adenylate cyclase of cyc- membranes. We propose that the primary functional defect is the loss of interaction with beta gamma subunits, which secondarily impairs beta gamma-dependent properties such as receptor coupling and cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. However, it remains to be established that the lack of adenylate cyclase activation also results from this impaired interaction with beta gamma subunits.