Effects of guanine nucleotides on the properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion from electropermeabilised human platelets

Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate and guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate enhance Ca2+-dependent 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion from electropermeabilised human platelets. GTP has little such effect except when the platelets are permeabilised, and incubated with this nucleotide, at 2 degrees C and pH 7.4. The lag phase observed in the time course of 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion induced by addition of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate is markedly longer than that characterising secretion induced by Ca2+ alone, by thrombin +/- GTP or by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate in the presence of thrombin. GTP causes competitive inhibition of the enhancement of the Ca2+-dependent secretory response induced by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate when both nucleotides are added simultaneously. The extent of inhibition is decreased if guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate is added prior to GTP. GTP markedly enhances the effect of thrombin on Ca2+-dependent 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion by increasing the maximal extent of the response and decreasing the thrombin concentration required to give half-maximal response. A similar effect is observed on addition of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate in the presence of thrombin at short incubation times. On more prolonged incubation the effects of thrombin and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate are additive. Guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate completely inhibits the response induced by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate or guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate but has little effect on the response induced by Ca2+ when added alone or in the presence of thrombin. Partial inhibition is observed for the response induced by thrombin + GTP. Cyclic-AMP effectively inhibits the response induced by thrombin + GTP but has little effect on that induced by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate or guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma]imidotriphosphate. The results provide further support for the proposal [Haslam, R.J. & Davidson, M.M.L. (1984) FEBS Lett. 170, 90-95], that receptor--phospholipase-C coupling in platelets is mediated in part by a guanine-nucleotide-binding (Np) protein but that a coupling mechanism may also exist which is independent of such a protein. The properties of guanine-nucleotide-dependent coupling resemble those previously described for receptor--adenylate-cyclase coupling.     

Evidence for GTP-binding protein involvement in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the T cell receptor zeta chain.

The zeta subunit of the T cell receptor (TCR) is a prominent substrate for a TCR-activated tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta subunit in response to antibody-mediated receptor cross-linking was synergized in permeabilized T cells by either of two non-hydrolyzable GTP analogues, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) or guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate Gpp(NH)p. ATP analogues did not significantly affect antibody-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Unlike the GTP analogues, the GDP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP beta S) did not enhance phosphorylation of zeta. The effect induced by the GTP analogues required TCR occupancy and was independent of protein kinase C. Taken together these observations implicate a GTP-binding protein in the modulation of TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation.     

(Difluoromethylene)phosphates of guanine nucleosides as probes of DNA polymerases and G proteins

5'-Polyphosphates of N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine and -guanosine which contain a difluoromethylene group in place of a phosphoanhydride oxygen have been synthesized. 5'-[beta,gamma-(Difluoromethylene)triphosphates], including that of 2'-deoxyguanosine, were prepared by reaction of the corresponding 5'-phosphates, activated by 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, with difluoromethanediphosphonate. The 5'-[(difluoromethylene)diphosphate] of N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)guanosine was prepared by treatment of a protected 5'-tosyl nucleoside with difluoromethanediphosphonate, followed by deprotection. Condensation of this nucleotide, activated with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, with orthophosphate gave N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)guanosine 5'-[(alpha,beta-difluoromethylene)triphosphate]. Products were characterized by 31P and 19F NMR spectroscopy. The phosphonates were tested for their ability to displace [3H]GDP from the GTP binding proteins cellular (EC) and oncogenic (Leu-61) Ha-ras p21, and for their ability to inhibit DNA polymerase alpha from Chinese hamster ovary cells. The p21s bound weakly to a triphosphonate when the CF2 group was in the beta,gamma position, but not when it was in the alpha,beta position, and they did not bind to the corresponding (difluoromethylene)diphosphate. In contrast, the CF2 group had no effect on inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha by N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-[(beta,gamma-difluoromethylene)triphospate]. 2'-Deoxyguanosine 5'-[(beta,gamma-difluoromethylene)triphosphate] was found to be a bona fide substrate for several DNA polymerases and had a lower apparent Km than dGTP with Bacillus subtilis DNA polymerase III.     

The interactions between the activatory guanine nucleotide binding protein and the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase in rat liver plasma membranes.

Three GTP-binding proteins of 50 kDa, 45 kDa and 28 kDa were identified by photoaffinity labelling with [gamma-32P]GTP-gamma-azidoanilide (A-GTP) in the rat liver plasma membrane. Pertussis toxin catalysed ADP-ribosylation of a single protein of 40 kDa. A-GTP had no effect on the basal labeling by pertussis toxin. After u.v. irradiation of the membrane in the presence of A-GTP, the GTP-dependent ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin was increased, while the basal labelling was not affected. These results suggest that A-GTP interacts specifically with the activatory GTP-binding protein (Gs) and does not interact with the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi). The effects of partial photoinactivation of Gs of the rat liver plasma membrane adenylate cyclase system by A-GTP were studied. U.v. irradiation in the presence of increasing concentrations of the analogue caused progressive decrease in the maximal extent of activation by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, but the Ka was not affected. The rate of activation of liver adenylate cyclase by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate is temperature-dependent. The lag time increased from 0.5 min at 30 degrees C to 2.0-2.5 min at 15 degrees C in the presence of 10 microM-guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. However, Ka remains unaffected by lowering the temperature. Photoinactivation by A-GTP or competitive inhibition by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate decreases the maximal extent of activation by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio] triphosphate, but the lag time remains unaffected. The present results support the idea that Gs is tightly associated with the catalytic subunit under basal conditions. The present results also indicate that the transition of an inactive Gs to its active form is the rate-limiting step of the activation of adenylate cyclase by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate in the intact rat liver plasma membranes.     

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.     

Is beta-poly(L-malate) synthesis catalysed by a combination of beta-L-malyl-AMP-ligase and beta-poly(L-malate) polymerase?

beta-Poly(L-malate) is supposed to function in the storage and transport of histones, DNA polymerases and other nuclear proteins in the giant syncytical cells (plasmodia) of myxomycetes. Here we report on the biosynthesis of [14C]beta-poly(L-malate) from injected L-[14C]malate in the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum. The effects of KCN, arsenate, adenosine 5'-(alpha, beta-methylene)triphosphate, adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate, guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate, desulfo coenzyme A and phenylarsinoxid on beta-poly(L-malate) synthesis were studied after their coinjection with L-[14C]malate. The synthesis was not affected by KCN or desulfo coenzyme A, but was blocked by arsenate and adenosine 5'-(alpha,beta-methylene)triphosphate. The plasmodium lysate catalysed an L-malate-dependent ATP-[32P]pyrophosphate exchange, but was devoid of beta-poly(L-malate) synthetic activity under all experimental conditions tested. The results suggested an extramitochondrial synthesis of beta-poly(L-malate), involving the polymerization of beta-L-malyl-AMP. It is assumed that the lack of synthesis in the lysate is caused by the inactivation of beta-poly(L-malate) polymerase involving a cell injury kinase pathway. Because injected guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate blocks the synthesis, the injury signal is likely to be GTP dependent.     

The receptors for ATP and fMetLeuPhe are independently coupled to phospholipases C and A2 via G-protein(s). Relationship between phospholipase C and A2 activation and exocytosis in HL60 cells and human neutrophils.

The relationship between phospholipase A2 and C activation and secretion was investigated in intact human neutrophils and differentiated HL60 cells. Activation by either ATP or fMetLeuPhe leads to [3H]arachidonic acid release into the external medium from prelabelled cells. This response was inhibited when the cells were pretreated with pertussis toxin. When the [3H]arachidonic acid-labelled cells were stimulated with fMetLeuPhe, ATP or Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and the lipids analysed by t.l.c., the increase in free fatty acid was accompanied by decreases in label from phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. Moreover, incorporation of label into triacylglycerol and to a lesser extent phosphatidylethanolamine was evident. Activation of secretion was evident with ATP and fMetLeuPhe but not with A23187. The pharmacological specificity of the ATP receptor in HL60 cells was investigated by measuring secretion of beta-glucuronidase, formation of inositol phosphatases and release of [3H]arachidonic acid. External addition of ATP, UTP, ITP, adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (ATP[S]), adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (App[NH]p), XTP, CTP, GTP, 8-bromo-ATP and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) to intact HL60 cells stimulated inositol phosphate production, but only the first five nucleotides were effective at stimulating secretion or [3H]arachidonic acid release. In human neutrophils, addition of ATP, ITP, UTP and ATP[S] also stimulated secretion from specific and azurophilic granules, and this was accompanied by increases in cytosolic Ca2+ and in [3H]arachidonic acid release. The addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 1 nM) prior to the addition of either fMetLeuPhe or ATP led to inhibition of phospholipase C activity. In contrast, this had no effect on phospholipase A2 activation, whilst secretion was potentiated. Phospholipase A2 activation by either agonist was dependent on an intact cell metabolism, as was secretion. It is concluded that (1) activation of phospholipase C does not always lead to activation of phospholipase A2, (2) phospholipase A2 is coupled to the receptor independently of phospholipase C via a pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-protein and (3) for secretion to take place, the receptor has to activate both phospholipases C and A2.     

Dual modulation of chloride conductance by nucleotides in pancreatic and parotid zymogen granules.

The regulation of Cl- conductance by cytoplasmic nucleotides was investigated in pancreatic and parotid zymogen granules. Cl- conductance was assayed by measuring the rate of cation-ionophore-induced osmotic lysis of granules suspended in iso-osmotic salt solutions. Both inhibition and stimulation were observed, depending on the type and concentration of nucleotide. Under optimal conditions, the average inhibition measured in different preparations was 1.6-fold, whereas the average stimulation was 4.4-fold. ATP was inhibitory at 1-10 microM but stimulated Cl- conductance above 50 microM. Stimulation by ATP was more pronounced in granules with low endogenous Cl- conductance. The potency of nucleotides in terms of inhibition was ATP greater than adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (ATP[S]) greater than UTP much greater than or equal to CTP much greater than or equal to GTP much greater than or equal to guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) much greater than or equal to ITP. The potency with respect to stimulation had the following order: adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-methylene]triphosphate (App[CH2]p) greater than ATP greater than guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]). Adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (App[NH]p) was also stimulatory, and was more potent than ATP in the parotid granules, but less potent in the pancreatic granules. Aluminium fluoride stimulated Cl- conductance maximally at 15-30 microM-Al3+ and 10-15 mM-F. F was less effective at higher concentrations. Protein phosphorylation by kinases was apparently not involved, since the nucleotide effects (1) could be mimicked by non-hydrolysable analogues of ATP and GTP, (2) showed reversibility, and (3) were not abolished by the protein kinase inhibitors 1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) or staurosporine. The data suggest the presence of at least two binding sites for nucleotides, whereby occupancy of one induces inhibition and occupancy of the other induces stimulation.     

Down-regulation of G-protein-mediated Ca2+ sensitization in smooth muscle.

Prolonged treatment with guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S; 5-16 h, 50 microM) of smooth muscle permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin down-regulated (abolished) the acute Ca2+ sensitization of force by GTP gamma S, AIF-4, phenylephrine, and endothelin, but not the response to phorbol dibutyrate or a phosphatase inhibitor, tautomycin. Down-regulation also abolished the GTP gamma S-induced increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation at constant [Ca2+] and was associated with extensive translocation of p21rhoA to the particulate fraction, prevented its immunoprecipitation, and inhibited its ADP ribosylation without affecting the immunodetectable content of G-proteins (p21rhoA, p21ras, G alpha q/11, G alpha i3, and G beta) or protein kinase C (types alpha, beta 1, beta 2, delta, epsilon, eta, theta, and zeta). We conclude that the loss of GTP gamma S- and agonist-induced Ca2+ sensitization through prolonged treatment with GTP gamma S is not due to a decrease in the total content of either trimeric (G alpha q/11, G alpha i3, and G beta) or monomeric (p21rhoA and p21ras) G-protein or protein kinase C but may be related to a structural change of p21rhoA and/or to down-regulation of its (yet to be identified) effector.     

The roles of phospholipase D and a GTP-binding protein in guanosine 5''-[gamma-thio]triphosphate-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in rat liver plasma membranes.

1. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) stimulated by 50% the rate of release of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphorylcholine in rat liver plasma membranes labelled with [3H]choline. About 70% of the radioactivity released in the presence of GTP[S] was [3H]choline and 30% was [3H]phosphorylcholine. 2. The hydrolysis of phosphorylcholine to choline and the conversion of choline to phosphorylcholine did not contribute to the formation of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphorylcholine respectively. 3. The release of [3H]choline from membranes was inhibited by low concentrations of SDS or Triton X-100. Considerably higher concentrations of the detergents were required to inhibit the release of [3H]phosphorylcholine. 4. Guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate and guanosine 5'-[alpha beta-methylene]triphosphate, but not adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate, stimulated [3H]choline release to the same extent as did GTP[S]. The GTP[S]-stimulated [3H]choline release was inhibited by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate, GDP and GTP but not by GMP. 5. It is concluded that, in rat liver plasma membranes, (a) GTP[S]-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is catalysed predominantly by phospholipase D with some contribution from phospholipase C, and (b) the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by GTP[s] occurs via a GTP-binding regulatory protein.     

Investigation of the preferred Mg(II)-adenine-nucleotide complex at the active site of ectonucleotidases in intact vascular cells using phosphorothioate analogues of ADP and ATP

In the presence of Mg2+ the ecto-(nucleoside diphosphatase) on intact vascular endothelial or smooth muscle cells in culture selectively catabolizes the PS diastereoisomer of adenosine 5'-[alpha-thio]diphosphate, (PS)-ADP [alpha S], and the ecto-(nucleoside triphosphatase) selectively catabolizes the PS isomer of adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]triphosphate, (PR)-ATP[beta S], but exhibits no selectivity towards ATP[alpha S] isomers. In the presence of Cd2+ selectivity to ADP[alpha S] and to ATP[beta S] isomers is reversed; in the presence of Co2+, selectivity is lost. We conclude that each enzyme preferentially recognises the lambda (screw-sense) bidentate Mg(II)-nucleotide complex at its active site.     

[3H]Spiroxatrine: A 5-HT1A Radioligand with Agonist Binding Properties

Spiroxatrine has been reported to be a 5-HT1A serotonin receptor antagonist. Therefore [3H]spiroxatrine was synthesized and its 5-HT1A receptor binding properties in homogenates of rat hippocampal membranes were characterized with the expectation that it would be the first 5-HT1A antagonist radioligand. [3H]8-Hydroxydipropylaminotetralin [( 3H]8-OH-DPAT), a well-characterized 5-HT1A agonist radioligand, was studied in parallel for comparative purposes. Scatchard analyses of saturation studies of [3H]spiroxatrine and [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding produced KD values of 0.9 nM and 1.8 nM, with Bmax values of 424 and 360 fmol/mg protein, respectively. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.98; p less than 0.001) exists between Ki values obtained for a series of drugs in competing for [3H]-spiroxatrine and [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding. Of special interest was the observation that 5-HT1A agonists such as serotonin, 8-OH-DPAT, and ipsapirone competed with equal high affinities for [3H]spiroxatrine or [3H]8-OH-DPAT-labelled 5-HT1A receptors. [3H]Spiroxatrine and [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding to 5-HT1A receptors was inhibited by guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate (a nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP) in a concentration-dependent manner whereas adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate (a nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP) had no effect. The similarities in the 5-HT1A receptor radiolabelling properties of [3H]spiroxatrine and [3H]8-OH-DPAT, i.e., the high affinities of agonists and the guanyl nucleotide sensitivity, indicate that [3H]spiroxatrine has "agonist-like" binding properties in its interaction with the 5-HT1A receptor.     

Guanine nucleotide-dependent pertussis-toxin-insensitive stimulation of inositol phosphate formation by carbachol in a membrane preparation from human astrocytoma cells.

The efficacy of muscarinic-receptor agonists for stimulation of inositol phosphate formation and Ca2+ mobilization in intact 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells is correlated with their capacity for formation of a GTP-sensitive high-affinity binding complex in membranes from these cells [Evans, Hepler, Masters, Brown & Harden (1985) Biochem. J. 232, 751-757]. These observations prompted the proposal that a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein serves to couple muscarinic receptors to the phospholipase C involved in phosphoinositide hydrolysis in 1321N1 cells. Inositol phosphate (InsP) formation was measured in a cell-free preparation from 1321N1 cells to provide direct support for this idea. The formation of InsP3, InsP2 and InsP1 was increased in a concentration-dependent manner (K0.5 approximately 5 microM) by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) in washed membranes prepared from myo-[3H]inositol-prelabelled 1321N1 cells. Both GTP[S] and guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) stimulated InsP formation by 2-3-fold over control; GTP, GDP and GMP were much less efficacious. Millimolar concentrations of NaF also stimulated the formation of inositol phosphates in membrane preparations from 1321N1 cells. In the presence of 10 microM-GTP[S], the muscarinic cholinergic-receptor agonist carbachol stimulated (K0.5 approximately 10 microM) the formation of InsP above that achieved with GTP[S] alone. The effect of carbachol was completely blocked by atropine. The order of potency of nucleotides for stimulation of InsP formation in the presence of 500 microM-carbachol was GTP[S] greater than p[NH]ppG greater than GTP = GDP. Pertussis toxin, at concentrations that fully ADP-ribosylate and functionally inactivate Gi (the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein), had no effect on InsP formation in the presence of GTP[S] or GTP[S] plus carbachol. These data are consistent with the idea that a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein that is not Gi is involved in receptor-mediated stimulation of InsP formation in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.     

Adenine nucleotides modulate phosphatidylcholine metabolism in aortic endothelial cells

ATP and ADP, in concentrations ranging from 1-100 microM, increased the release of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphorylcholine (P-choline) from bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) prelabelled with [3H]choline. This action was detectable within 5 minutes and was maintained for at least 40 minutes. ATP and ADP were equiactive, and their action was mimicked by their phosphorothioate analogs (ATP gamma S and ADP beta S) and adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma imido) triphosphate (APPNP), but not by AMP, adenosine, and adenosine 5'-(alpha, beta methylene)triphosphate (APCPP): these results are consistent with the involvement of P2Y receptors. ATP also induced an intracellular accumulation of [3H]choline: the intracellular level of [3H]choline was increased 30 seconds after ATP addition and remained elevated for a least 20 minutes. The action of ATP on the release of choline metabolites was reproduced by bradykinin (1 microM), the tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 50 nM), and the calcium ionophore A23187 (0.5 microM). Down-regulation of protein kinase C, following a 24-hour exposure of endothelial cells to PMA, abolished the effects of PMA and ATP on the release of choline and P-choline, whereas the response to A23187 was maintained. These results suggest that in aortic endothelial cells, ATP produces a sustained activation of a phospholipase D hydrolyzing phosphatidylcholine. The resulting accumulation of phosphatidic acid might have an important role in the modulation of endothelial cell function by adenine nucleotides. Stimulation of phospholipase D appears to involve protein kinase C, activated following the release of diacylglycerol from phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate by a phospholipase C coupled to the P2Y receptors (Pirotton et al., 1987a).     

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 novel small molecular weight GTP-binding protein with the same putative effector domain as the ras proteins in bovine brain membranes. Purification, determination of primary structure, and characterization

In the present studies, we have purified a novel small Mr GTP-binding protein, designated as smg p21, to near homogeneity from bovine brain crude membranes, isolated the complementary DNA (cDNA) of this protein from a bovine brain cDNA library, determined the complete nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences, and characterized the kinetic properties. The cDNA of smg p21 has an open reading frame encoding a protein of 184 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 20,987. The Mr of purified smg p21 is estimated to be about 22,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Homology search indicates that smg p21 is a novel protein with the consensus amino acid sequences for GTP/GDP-binding and GTPase domains but shares about 55% amino acid sequence homology with the human c-Ha-ras protein. Moreover, smg p21 has the same putative effector domain as the Ha-, Ki-, and N-ras proteins at the same position and the same consensus C-terminal sequence as in these ras proteins. Consistent with these structural properties, smg p21 binds specifically [35S] guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S), GTP, and GDP with a Kd value for GTP gamma S of about 40 nM. smg p21 binds about 0.7 mol of GTP gamma S/mol of protein. [35S]GTP gamma S-binding to smg p21 is inhibited by pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide.smg p21 hydrolyzes GTP to liberate Pi with a turnover number of about 0.007 min-1. These kinetic properties of smg p21 are similar to those of the c-ras proteins. These results suggest that smg p21 is a novel GTP-binding protein exerting action(s) similar or antagonistic to that (those) of the ras proteins.     

Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in hepatocytes and an assessment of the role of p21ras proteins in the activation of phospholipase D.

A GTP-binding protein with an apparent molecular weight of 25 kDa was detected in hepatocyte extracts using SDS-PAGE and [alpha-32P]GTP. p21ras proteins could only be detected by immunological analysis. The amounts of p21ras proteins present in isolated hepatocytes and in a highly purified preparation of liver plasma membrane vesicles were 0.3 and 4 ng p21ras protein/micrograms membrane protein, respectively. In comparison with the total cell extract, the degree of enrichment of plasma membrane vesicles with p21ras was similar to that of 5'-nucleotidase. The p21ras proteins were tightly associated with the membrane. Treatment of [3H]choline-labelled plasma membranes with an excess concentration of the anti-p21ras antibody Y13-259 failed to inhibit either basal or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S])-stimulated [3H]choline release. It is concluded that in hepatocytes (a) the majority of p21ras is bound to the plasma membrane and (b) p21ras is not directly involved in the activation by GTP[S] of phospholipase D.     

Pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding proteins may regulate phospholipase A2 in response to thrombin in rabbit platelets

Incubation of rabbit platelets with thrombin resulted in rapid accumulations of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) in [3H]inositol-labeled platelets, increases of [3H]arachidonic acid [( 3H]AA) release, and [3H]serotonin secretion from the platelets prelabeled with these labeled compounds. The experiments using phospholipase A2 or C inhibitor suggested that not only phospholipase C but also phospholipase A2 activity plays an important role in serotonin secretion. We then studied the regulatory mechanisms of phospholipase A2 activity. Guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S), guanyl-5'-(beta,gamma-iminio)triphosphate), or AlF4- caused a significant liberation of AA in digitonin-permeabilized platelets but not in intact platelets. Thrombin-stimulated AA release was not observed in permeabilized platelets, whereas thrombin acted synergistically with GTP or GTP analogs to stimulate AA release. GTP analog-stimulated AA release was inhibited by guanosine 5'-(2-O-thio)diphosphate) and was also inhibited by decreased Mg2+ concentrations. Thrombin-induced, GTP-dependent AA release, but not IP3 formation, was diminished by 100 ng/ml of pertussis toxin, associated with ADP-ribosylation of membrane 41-kDa protein(s). Thrombin-stimulated AA release from intact platelets and GTP gamma S-stimulated release from permeabilized platelets were both markedly dependent on Ca2+. However, Ca2+ addition could not enhance AA release without GTP gamma S even when Ca2+ was increased up to 10(-4) M in permeabilized platelets. The results show that thrombin-stimulated AA release from rabbit platelets is mainly mediated by phospholipase A2 activity, not by phospholipase C activity, and that Ca2+ is an important factor to the activation of phospholipase A2 but is not the sole factor to the regulation. GTP-binding protein(s) is involved in receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase A2.     

Activation of adenylate cyclase in human platelet membranes by guanosine 5''-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate is inhibited by cyclic-AMP-dependent phosphorylation. Slow activation occurs in the absence of ATP.

Incubation of platelet membranes with guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate causes a slow increase in GS (stimulatory GTP-binding protein) activation of adenylate cyclase. Mg2+ is necessary for this slow activation. This process is inhibited in the presence of ATP, and inhibition is greater if cyclic AMP is also included in the incubation. Adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate instead of ATP in the incubation facilitates the slow activation in the presence of cyclic AMP, and incubation of membranes with cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor decreased inhibition of the slow activation of adenylate cyclase by ATP and cyclic AMP. A protein of 45 kDa in platelet membranes is phosphorylated in a cyclic-AMP-dependent manner. The transition from a reversibly activated form of GS to an irreversibly activated form is substantially slower in the presence of ATP and cyclic AMP. We propose that guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate-activated GS may exist in phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated forms, and that the non-phosphorylated form is the more active of the two species. The non-phosphorylated form of GS may correspond to the irreversibly activated state.     

Effects of spin-labeled stearates on duck erythrocyte adenylate cyclase.

The effects of various spin-labeled stearates on duck erythrocyte adenylate cyclase were investigated. Only 2-(3-carboxypropyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-tridecyl-3-oxazolidinyloxyl caused an increase in adenylate cyclase activity. It increased the basal rate by about 50%, and the activities stimulated by isoproterenol and isoproterenol plus guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate by 35%. Upon analysis of the width parameter delta1 in the electron spin resonance spectra for both the basal enzyme activity and the stimulation obtained with effectors such as guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate, isoproterenol, isoproterenol plus guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate and NaF, a correlation of the changes of modification in adenylate cyclase activities was found. These findings suggest that the molecular environment of the enzyme has been modified.