Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of transducin. Cysteine 347 is the ADP-ribose acceptor site

Pertussis toxin catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD to the guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins Gi, Go, and transducin. Based on a partial amino acid sequence for a tryptic peptide of ADP-ribosylated transducin, asparagine had been characterized as the site of pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. Subsequently, cDNA data for the alpha subunit of transducin indicated that the putative asparagine residue was, in fact, not present in the protein. To determine the amino acid that served as the ADP-ribose acceptor, radiolabel from [adenine-U-14C]NAD was incorporated, in the presence of pertussis toxin, into the alpha subunit of transducin (0.3 mol/mol). An ADP-ribosylated, tryptic peptide was purified and fully sequenced by automated Edman degradation. The amino acid sequence, Glu-Asn 343-Leu-Lys-Asp 346-X-Gly 348-Leu-Phe, corresponds to the cDNA sequence coding the carboxyl-terminal nonapeptide, Glu 342-Phe 350, which includes by cDNA sequence cysteine at position 347. Neither Asn 343 nor Asp 346 appeared to be modified; residue 347 adhered to the sequencing resin. Cysteine, the missing residue, was eluted from the sequencing resin with acetic acid along with 76% of the peptide-associated radioactivity, half of which, presumably ADP-ribosylcysteine, eluted from an anion exchange column between NAD and ADP-ribose; the other half had a retention time corresponding to 5'-AMP. We conclude that Cys 347 and not Asn 343 or Asp 346 is the site of pertusis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in transducin.     

The carboxyl terminus of the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin confers high affinity binding to transducin.

The kinetic constants for the ADP-ribosylation of transducin were determined for the recombinant S1 subunit of pertussis toxin (rS1, composed of 235 amino acids) and two genetically derived deletion peptides, C180 and C195, which are composed of the 180 and 195 amino-terminal residues of the S1 subunit, respectively. Titration of NAD in the presence of a constant concentration of transducin (0.5 microM) showed that the KmappNAD in the ADP-ribosylation of transducin were similar, approximately 20 microM, for rS1, C195, and C180. In contrast, titration of transducin in the presence of a constant concentration of NAD (25 nM) showed that rS1 possessed a lower Kmapp(transducin) and greater kcat than either C195 or C180. Previous studies (Cortina, G., and Barbieri, J.T. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 3022-3030) showed that the 16 carboxyl terminal residues of the S1 subunit did not function in the ADP-ribosylation of transducin. It thus appears that residues between 195 and 219 of the S1 subunit are required for high affinity transducin binding and may be involved in the transfer of ADP-ribose to transducin. To localize the defect in the recognition of transducin by C180, rS1 and C180 were assayed for the ability to ADP-ribosylate either transducin or the purified alpha subunit of transducin (T alpha). Upon saturation of the target protein, rS1 ADP-ribosylated equivalent moles of transducin or T alpha, with the linear velocity of rS1-mediated ADP-ribosylation of transducin approximately 16-fold more rapid than the rate of ADP-ribosylation of T alpha. In contrast, the initial linear velocity of C180-mediated ADP-ribosylation of transducin was only 1.7-fold more rapid than the rate of ADP-ribosylation of T alpha. These data indicate that the amino-terminal 180 amino acids of S1 confer the specificity for ADP-ribosylation primarily through the interaction with T alpha, while residues between 195 and 219 of S1 confer high affinity binding to transducin primarily through the interaction, either directly or indirectly, with T beta gamma.     

Functional modifications of transducin induced by cholera or pertussis-toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation.

Transducin (T alpha beta gamma), the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein that interacts with photoexcited rhodopsin (Rh*) and the cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) in retinal rod cells, is sensitive to cholera (CTx) and pertussis toxins (PTx), which catalyze the binding of an ADP-ribose to the alpha subunit at Arg174 and Cys347, respectively. These two types of ADP-ribosylations are investigated with transducin in vitro or with reconstituted retinal rod outer-segment membranes. Several functional perturbations inflicted on T alpha by the resulting covalent modifications are studied such as: the binding of T alpha to T beta gamma to the membrane and to Rh*; the spontaneous or Rh*-catalysed exchange of GDP for GTP or guanosine 5-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S]), the conformational switch and activation undergone by transducin upon this exchange, the activation of T alpha GDP by fluoride complexes and the activation of the PDE by T alpha GTP. ADP-ribosylation of transducin by CTx requires the GTP-dependent activation of ADP-ribosylation factors (ARF), takes place only on the high-affinity, nucleotide-free complex, Rh*-T alpha empty-T beta gamma and does not activate T alpha. Subsequent to CTx-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation the following occurs: (a) addition of GDP induces the release from Rh* of inactive CTxT alpha GDP (CTxT alpha, ADP-ribosylated alpha subunit of transducin) which remains associated to T beta gamma; (b) CTxT alpha GDP-T beta gamma exhibits the usual slow kinetics of spontaneous exchange of GDP for GTP[gamma S] in the absence of Rh*, but the association and dissociation of fluoride complexes, which act as gamma-phosphate analogs, are kinetically modified, suggesting that the ADP-ribose on Arg174 specifically perturbs binding of the gamma-phosphate in the nucleotide site; (c) CTxT alpha GDP-T beta gamma can still couple to Rh* and undergo fast nucleotide exchange; (d) CTxT alpha GTP[gamma S] and CTxT alpha GDP-AlFx (AlFx, Aluminofluoride complex) activate retinal cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) with the same efficiency as their unmodified counterparts, but the kinetics and affinities of fluoride activation are changed; (e) CTxT alpha GTP hydrolyses GTP more slowly than unmodified T alpha GTP, which entirely accounts for the prolonged action of CTxT alpha GTP on the PDE; (f) after GTP hydrolysis, CTxT alpha GDP reassociates to T beta gamma and becomes inactive. Thus, CTx catalyzed ADP-ribosylation only perturbs in T alpha the GTP-binding domain, but not the conformational switch nor the domains of contact with the T beta gamma subunit, with Rh* and with the PDE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Inhibition of the GTPase activity of transducin by an NAD+:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes.

The bacterial toxins, choleragen and pertussis toxin, inhibit the light-stimulated GTPase activity of bovine retinal rod outer segments by catalysing the ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit (T alpha) of transducin [Abood, Hurley, Pappone, Bourne & Stryer (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 10540-10543; Van Dop, Yamanaka, Steinberg, Sekura, Manclark, Stryer & Bourne (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 23-26]. Incubation of retinal rod outer segments with NAD+ and a purified NAD+:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes resulted in approx. 60% inhibition of GTPase activity. Inhibition was dependent on both enzyme and NAD+, and was potentiated by the non-hydrolysable GTP analogues guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) and guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-methylene]triphosphate (p[CH2]ppG). The transferase ADP-ribosylated both the T alpha and T beta subunits of purified transducin. T alpha (39 kDa), after ADP-ribosylation, migrated as two distinct peptides with molecular masses of 42 kDa and 46 kDa on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. T beta (36 kDa), after ADP-ribosylation, migrated as a 38 kDa peptide. With purified transducin subunits, it was observed that the GTPase activity of ADP-ribosylated T alpha, reconstituted with unmodified T beta gamma and photolysed rhodopsin, was decreased by 80%; conversely, reconstitution of T alpha with ADP-ribosyl-T beta gamma resulted in only a 19% inhibition of GTPase. Thus ADP-ribosylation of T alpha, the transducin subunit that contains the guanine nucleotide-binding site, has more dramatic effects on GTPase activity than does modification of the critical 'helper subunits' T beta gamma. To elucidate the mechanism of GTPase inhibition by transferase, we studied the effect of ADP-ribosylation on p[NH]pp[3H]G binding to transducin. It was shown previously that modification of transducin by choleragen, which like transferase ADP-ribosylates arginine residues, did not affect guanine nucleotide binding. ADP-ribosylation by the transferase, however, decreased p[NH]pp[3H]G binding, consistent with the hypothesis that choleragen and transferase inhibit GTPase by different mechanisms.     

ADP-ribosylation of transducin by pertussis toxin

Transducin, the guanyl nucleotide-binding regulatory protein of retinal rod outer segments that couples the photon receptor, rhodopsin, with the light-activated cGMP phosphodiesterase, can be resolved into two functional components, T alpha and T beta gamma. T alpha (39 kDa), which is [32P]ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin and [32P]NAD in rod outer segments and in purified transducin, was also labeled by the toxin after separation from T beta gamma (36 kDa and approximately 10 kDa); neither component of T beta gamma was a pertussis toxin substrate. Labeling of T alpha was enhanced by T beta gamma and was maximal at approximately 1:1 molar ratio of T alpha : T beta gamma. Limited proteolysis by trypsin of T alpha in the presence of guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) resulted in the sequential appearance of proteins of 38 and 32 kDa. The amino terminus of both 38- and 32-kDa proteins was leucine, whereas that of T alpha could not be identified and was assumed to be blocked. The 32-kDa peptide was not a pertussis toxin substrate. Labeling of the 38-kDa protein was poor and was not enhanced by T beta gamma. Trypsin treatment of [32P]ADP-ribosyl-T alpha produced a labeled 37-38-kDa doublet followed by appearance of radioactivity at the dye front. It appears, therefore, that, although the 38-kDa protein was poor toxin substrate, it contained the ADP-ribosylation site. Without rhodopsin, labeling of T alpha (in the presence of T beta gamma) was unaffected by Gpp(NH)p, guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), GTP, GDP, and guanosine 5'-O-(thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) but was increased by ATP. When photolyzed rhodopsin and T beta gamma were present, Gpp(NH)p and GTP gamma S decreased [32P]ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin. Thus, pertussis toxin-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylation of T alpha was affected by nucleotides, rhodopsin and light in addition to T beta gamma. The amino terminus of T alpha, while it does not contain the pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylation site, appeared critical to its reactivity.     

Immunochemical detection of guanine nucleotide binding proteins mono-ADP-ribosylated by bacterial toxins

Rabbits immunized with ADP-ribose chemically conjugated to carrier proteins developed antibodies reactive against guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) that had been mono-ADP-ribosylated by bacterial toxins. Antibody reactivity on immunoblots was strictly dependent on incubation of substrate proteins with both toxin and NAD and was quantitatively related to the extent of ADP-ribosylation. Gi, Go, and transducin (ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin) and elongation factor II (EF-II) (ADP-ribosylated by pseudomonas exotoxin) all reacted with ADP-ribose antibodies. ADP-ribose antibodies detected the ADP-ribosylation of an approximately 40-kilodalton (kDa) membrane protein related to Gi in intact human neutrophils incubated with pertussis toxin and the ADP-ribosylation of an approximately 90-kDa cytosolic protein, presumably EF-II, in intact HUT-102 cells incubated with pseudomonas exotoxin. ADP-ribose antibodies represent a novel tool for the identification and study of G proteins and other substrates for bacterial toxin ADP-ribosylation.     

Characterization of transducin from bovine retinal rod outer segments. Mechanism and effects of cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation

Transducin, a guanine nucleotide-binding protein consisting of two subunits (T alpha and T beta gamma), mediates the signal coupling between rhodopsin and a membrane-bound cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in retinal rod outer segments. The T alpha subunit is an activator of the phosphodiesterase, and the function of the T beta gamma subunit is to physically link T alpha with photolyzed rhodopsin. In this study, the mechanism of cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of T alpha has been examined in a reconstituted system consisting of purified transducin and stripped rod outer segment membranes. Limited proteolysis of the labeled T alpha with trypsin indicated that the inserted ADP-ribose is located exclusively on a single proteolytic fragment with an apparent molecular weight of 23,000. Maximal incorporation of ADP-ribose was achieved when guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) and T beta gamma were present at concentrations equal to that of T alpha and when rhodopsin was continuously irradiated with visible light in the 400-500 nm region. The stimulating effect of illumination was related to the direct interaction of the retinal chromophore with opsin. These findings strongly suggest that a transient protein complex consisting of T alpha X Gpp(NH)p, T beta gamma, and a photointermediate of rhodopsin is the required substrate for cholera toxin. Single turnover kinetic measurements demonstrated that the ADP-ribosylation of T alpha coincided with the appearance of a population of transducin molecules having a very slow rate of GTP hydrolysis. The hydrolysis rate of the bound GTP for this population was 1.1 X 10(-3)/s, which was 22-fold slower than the rate for the unmodified transducin.     

Functional homology between signal-coupling proteins. Cholera toxin inactivates the GTPase activity of transducin

Both the light-stimulated cGMP phosphodiesterase of retinal rod outer segments (ROS) and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase are regulated by guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (N). Transducin serves as the signal-carrying regulatory protein in ROS, and the N protein (also called G or G/F) performs this role in the adenylate cyclase system. The GTP form of these regulatory proteins activates the corresponding enzyme, whereas the GDP form does not. Both transducin and the N protein possess a GTPase activity that restores the regulatory protein to the unstimulated state. Cholera enterotoxin catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD+ to the N protein, which inhibits its GTPase activity and activates adenylate cyclase. We report here that the toxin also catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of transducin in ROS membranes. This modification of the guanine nucleotide-binding subunit of transducin is markedly enhanced by the bleaching of rhodopsin and by the addition of guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate. In contrast, GDP, GTP, and guanosine-5'-(3-O)thiotriphosphate inhibit the reaction, while GMP and ATP have no effect. Under optimal conditions, toxin catalyzes labeling of 0.7 mol of the alpha-subunit of transducin/mol of bound [3H]guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate and causes 70% inhibition of the light-dependent GTPase activity of transducin in ROS. These results indicate close functional homology between transducin of ROS and the N protein of adenylate cyclase.     

Amino acid-specific ADP-ribosylation. Sensitivity to hydroxylamine of [cysteine(ADP-ribose)]protein and [arginine(ADP-ribose)]protein linkages

Hydroxylamine stability has been used to classify (ADP-ribose)protein bonds into sensitive and resistant linkages, with the former representing (ADP-ribose)glutamate, and the latter, (ADP-ribose)arginine. Recently, it was shown that cysteine also serves as an ADP-ribose acceptor. The hydroxylamine stability of [cysteine([32P]ADP-ribose)]protein and [arginine([32P] ADP-ribose)]protein bonds was compared. In transducin, pertussis toxin catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of a cysteine residue, whereas choleragen (cholera toxin) modifies an arginine moiety. The (ADP-ribose)cysteine bond formed by pertussis toxin was more stable to hydroxylamine than was the (ADP-ribose)arginine bond formed by choleragen. The (ADP-ribose)cysteine bond apparently represents a third class of ADP-ribose bonds. Pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylates the inhibitory guanyl nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Gi) of adenylate cyclase, whereas choleragen modifies the stimulatory guanyl nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Gs). These (ADP-ribose)protein linkages are identical in stability to those formed in transducin by the two toxins, consistent with the probability that cysteine and arginine are modified in Gi and Gs, respectively. Bonds exhibiting differences in hydroxylamine-stability were found in membranes from various non-intoxicated mammalian cells following incubation with [32P]NAD, which may reflect the presence of endogenous NAD:protein-ADP-ribosyl-transferases.     

Effects of guanyl nucleotides and rhodopsin on ADP-ribosylation of the inhibitory GTP-binding component of adenylate cyclase by pertussis toxin

Hormonal inhibition of adenylate cyclase is mediated by a guanyl nucleotide binding protein, Gi, which is composed of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits (Gi alpha, G beta gamma). Pertussis toxin blocks hormonal inhibition by catalyzing the ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha. With purified Gi subunits, but without nucleotides, it was observed that toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha was negligible in the absence of G beta gamma; ATP, previously shown to increase ADP-ribosylation in membranes, enhanced the ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha in the absence, more than in the presence, of G beta gamma. Prior studies (Kanaho, Y., Tsai, S.-C., Adamik, R., Hewlett, E.L., Moss, J., and Vaughan, M. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 7378-7381) had demonstrated that rhodopsin, the retinal photon receptor protein, can replace inhibitory hormone receptors, and stimulate the hydrolysis of GTP by Gi alpha in the presence of G beta gamma. Photolyzed rhodopsin, but not the inactive, dark protein, inhibited ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha in the presence of G beta gamma. ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha, in the presence of G beta gamma and photolyzed (but not dark) rhodopsin was increased by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) or GDP, but not by (beta, gamma-methylene)guanosine triphosphate or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate). Presumably, photolyzed rhodopsin and nucleoside triphosphate analogues activate Gi, whereas with dark rhodopsin and nucleoside diphosphates Gi is in the inactive state. The latter appears to be the preferred substrate for pertussis toxin. These observations are consistent with other evidence that rhodopsin and inhibitory hormone receptors are functionally similar.     

Mono(ADP-ribosylation) in rat liver mitochondria

This paper investigates protein mono(ADP-ribosylation) in rat liver mitochondria. In isolated inner mitochondrial membranes, in the presence of both ADP-ribose and NAD+, a protein is mono-(ADP-ribosylated) with high specificity. The reaction apparently consists of enzymatic NAD+ glycohydrolysis and subsequent binding of free ADP-ribose to the acceptor protein. In terms of chemical stability, the resulting bond is unique among the ADP-ribose linkages thus far characterized. Formation of a Schiff base adduct between free ADP-ribose and the acceptor protein is excluded. In intact mitochondria at least three classes of proteins are ADP-ribosylated in vivo. One ADP-ribose-protein linkage is of the carboxylate ester type as indicated by its lability in neutral buffer. Another class of ADP-ribosylated proteins requires hydroxylamine for release of ADP-ribose. The third class is stable in hydroxylamine but labile to alkali, similar to the ADP-ribose-cysteine linkage in transducin formed by pertussis toxin.     

Pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G(o) alpha with mutations at the carboxyl terminus.

The guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(o alpha) has been implicated in the regulation of Ca2+ channels in neural tissues. Covalent modification of G(o alpha) by pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a cysteine (position 351) four amino acids from the carboxyl terminus decouples G(o alpha) from receptor. To define the structural requirements for ADP-ribosylation, preparations of recombinant G(o alpha) with mutations within the five amino acids at the carboxyl terminus were evaluated for their ability to serve as pertussis toxin substrates. As expected, the mutant in which cysteine 351 was replaced by glycine (C351G) was not a toxin substrate. Other inactive mutants were G352D and L353 delta/Y354 delta. Mutations that had no significant effect on toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation included G350D, G350R, Y354 delta, and L353V/Y354 delta. Less active mutants were L353G/Y354 delta, L353A/Y354 delta, and L353G. ADP-ribosylation of the active mutants, like that of wild-type G(o alpha), was enhanced by the beta gamma subunits of bovine transducin. It appears that three of the four terminal amino acids critically influence pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G(o alpha).     

ADP-ribosylation of bovine S-antigen by cholera toxin

The S-antigen (alias 48K protein or arrestin) of bovine rod photoreceptors contains two stretches of amino acid sequence homologous to the ADP-ribosylation sites of the alpha subunit of transducin (Ta). We have found that cholera toxin transfers the ADP-ribosyl group from NAD to purified bovine S-antigen as well as to S-antigen in rod outer segment membranes, while Bordetella pertussis toxin is unable to catalyze the transfer reaction efficiently. Under the same conditions, both toxins catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Ta in rod outer segments. The ADP-ribosylation of S-antigen by cholera toxin indicates that S-antigen not only exhibits sequence homology with the ADP-ribosylation sites of Ta, but it must also resemble Ta in the tertiary structure of the domain which determines the susceptibility of S-antigen to the catalytic action of cholera toxin. These results suggest that S-antigen may function as a competitor of Ta in some stage of the cGMP cascade of visual transduction.     

Mono ADP-ribosylation of transducin catalyzed by rod outer segment extract.

Transducin is the retinal rod outer segment (ROS)-specific G protein coupling the photoexcited rhodopsin to cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase. The alpha subunit of transducin is known to be ADP-ribosylated by bacterial toxins. We investigated the possibility that transducin is modified in vitro by an endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. By using either ROS, cytosolic extract of ROS or purified transducin in the presence of [alpha-32P]nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), the alpha and beta subunits of transducin were found to be radiolabeled. The labeling was decreased by snake venom phosphodiesterase I (PDE I). The modification was shown to be mono ADP-ribosylation by analyses on thin layer chromatography of the PDE I-hydrolyzed products which revealed only 5'AMP residues. In addition we report that sodium nitroprusside activates the ADP-ribosylation of transducin.     

Localization of a region of the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin required for efficient ADP-ribosyltransferase activity

Purified recombinant S1 subunit of pertussis toxin (rS1) possessed similar NAD glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyltransferase activities as S1 subunit purified from pertussis toxin. Purified rS1 and C180 peptide, a deletion peptide which contains amino acids 1-180 of rS1, had Km values for NAD of 24 and 13 microM and kcat values of 22 and 24 h-1, respectively, in the NAD glycohydrolase reaction. In contrast, under linear velocity conditions, the C180 peptide possessed less than 1% of the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of rS1 using transducin as target. Radiolabeled tryptic peptides of transducin that had been ADP-ribosylated by either rS1 or C180 peptide were identical which suggested that both rS1 and C180 peptide ADP-ribosylated the same amino acid within transducin. To extend the functional primary amino acid map of the S1 subunit, two carboxyl-terminal deletions were constructed. One deletion, C195, removed the 40 carboxyl-terminal amino acids and the other, C219, removed the 16 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of the S1 subunit. Both C195 and C219 migrated in reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with apparent molecular masses of 22,000 and 27,500 Da, respectively. Relative to the C180 peptide C195 possessed 10-20-fold increase and C219 possessed 100-150-fold increase in ADP-ribosyltransferase activities. In addition, C219 appeared to have the same ADP-ribosyltransferase activity as rS1. These studies indicate that (i) rS1, purified from Escherichia coli, possesses biochemical properties similar to S1 subunit purified from pertussis toxin, (ii) amino acids 1-180 of the S1 subunit contain residues required for NAD binding, N-glycosidic cleavage, and transfer of ADP-ribose to transducin, and (iii) residues between 181 and 219 of the S1 subunit are required for efficient ADP-ribosyltransferase activity.     

Regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by ADP-ribosylation

Because of certain similarities between acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and tubulin, and the recent demonstration of the ADP-ribosylation of tubulin by cholera toxin, we have investigated a potential role for ADP-ribosylation in the regulation of ACC activity. Incubation of purified rat liver ACC with cholera toxin in the presence of millimolar concentrations of [adenylate-32P]NAD results in a time-dependent incorporation of ADP-ribose into ACC of greater than 2 mol/mol of enzyme subunit, accompanied by a marked inactivation of enzyme activity. This effect is not mimicked by pertussis toxin, ADP-ribose, or ribose 5-phosphate. Incubation of labeled ACC with snake venom phosphodiesterase and alkaline hydrolysis release 32P-products tentatively identified by high-performance liquid chromatography as 5'-[32P]AMP and [32P]ADP-ribose, respectively. These data are consistent with a mono-ADP-ribosylation of ACC catalyzed by cholera toxin. Phosphodiesterase treatment of inactivated ACC partially restores enzyme activity. The effects of ADP-ribosylation of ACC are expressed both as a decrease in the enzyme Vmax and as an increase in the apparent Ka for citrate. These results suggest that ACC might be a substrate for endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferases and that this covalent modification could be an important regulatory mechanism for the modulation of fatty acid synthesis in vivo.     

Stimulation of choleragen enzymatic activities by GTP and two soluble proteins purified from bovine brain

Choleragen (cholera toxin) activates adenylate cyclase by catalyzing ADP-ribosylation of Gs alpha, the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein. It was recently found (Tsai, S.-C., Noda, M., Adamik, R., Moss, J., and Vaughan, M. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 84, 5139-5142) that a bovine brain membrane protein known as ADP-ribosylation factor or ARF, which enhances ADP-ribosylation of Gs alpha, also increases the GTP-dependent NAD:arginine and NAD:protein ADP-ribosyltransferase, NAD glycohydrolase, and auto-ADP-ribosylation activities of choleragen. We report here the purification and characterization of two soluble proteins from bovine brain that similarly enhance the Gs alpha-dependent and independent ADP-ribose transfer reactions catalyzed by toxin. Like membrane ARF, both soluble factors are 19-kDA proteins dependent on GTP or GTP analogues for activity. Maximal ARF effects were observed at a molar ratio of less than 2:1, ARF/toxin A subunit. Dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine was necessary for optimal ADP-ribosylation of Gs alpha but inhibited auto-ADP-ribosylation of the choleragen A1 subunit and NAD:agmatine ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. It appears that the soluble factors directly activate choleragen in a GTP-dependent fashion. The relationships of the ARF proteins to the ras oncogene products and to the family of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins that includes Gs alpha remains to be determined.     

Rhodopsin and the retinal G-protein distinguish among G-protein beta gamma subunit forms

The beta gamma subunits of G-proteins are composed of closely related beta 35 and beta 36 subunits tightly associated with diverse 6-10 kDa gamma subunits. We have developed a reconstitution assay using rhodopsin-catalyzed guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding to resolved alpha subunit of the retinal G-protein transducin (Gt alpha) to quantitate the activity of beta gamma proteins. Rhodopsin facilitates the exchange of GTP gamma S for GDP bound to Gt alpha beta gamma with a 60-fold higher apparent affinity than for Gt alpha alone. At limiting rhodopsin, G-protein-derived beta gamma subunits catalytically enhance the rate of GTP gamma S binding to resolved Gt alpha. The isolated beta gamma subunit of retinal G-protein (beta 1, gamma 1 genes) facilitates rhodopsin-catalyzed GTP gamma S exchange on Gt alpha in a concentration-dependent manner (K0.5 = 254 +/- 21 nM). Purified human placental beta 35 gamma, composed of beta 2 gene product and gamma-placenta protein (Evans, T., Fawzi, A., Fraser, E.D., Brown, L.M., and Northup, J.K. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 176-181), substitutes for Gt beta gamma reconstitution of rhodopsin with Gt alpha. However, human placental beta 35 gamma facilitates rhodopsin-catalyzed GTP gamma S exchange on Gt alpha with a higher apparent affinity than Gt beta gamma (K0.5 = 76 +/- 54 nM). As an alternative assay for these interactions, we have examined pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the Gt alpha subunit which is markedly enhanced in rate by beta gamma subunits. Quantitative analyses of rates of pertussis modification reveal no differences in apparent affinity between Gt beta gamma and human placental beta 35 gamma (K0.5 values of 49 +/- 29 and 70 +/- 24 nM, respectively). Thus, the Gt alpha subunit alone does not distinguish among the beta gamma subunit forms. These results clearly show a high degree of functional homology among the beta 35 and beta 36 subunits of G-proteins for interaction with Gt alpha and rhodopsin, and establish a simple functional assay for the beta gamma subunits of G-proteins. Our data also suggest a specificity of recognition of beta gamma subunit forms which is dependent both on Gt alpha and rhodopsin. These results may indicate that the recently uncovered diversity in the expression of beta gamma subunit forms may complement the diversity of G alpha subunits in providing for specific receptor recognition of G-proteins.     

Eukaryotic mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase that ADP-ribosylates GTP-binding regulatory Gi protein

An NAD:cysteine ADP-ribosyltransferase designated ADP-ribosyltransferase C was purified approximately 35,000-fold from human erythrocytes with an 11% yield. The purified ADP-ribosyltransferase C exhibited one predominant protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with an estimated molecular weight (Mr) of 28,500. The Km values for NAD and cysteine methyl ester were determined to be 65 and 4,400 microM, respectively. By using human erythrocyte inside-out membrane vesicles, the transferase C was found to ADP-ribosylate the alpha subunit (Mr = 41,000) of Gi, which is a substrate for pertussis toxin. The ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha catalyzed by ADP-ribosyltransferase C was inhibited by pre-ADP-ribosylation with pertussis toxin. The linkage of ADP-ribose-Gi alpha in the membranes formed by ADP-ribosyltransferase C was as stable to hydroxylamine as that formed by pertussis toxin. These data represent the first demonstration that eukaryotic cells contain an ADP-ribosyltransferase which can catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of a cysteine residue in Gi alpha.     

Immunological and biochemical differentiation of guanyl nucleotide binding proteins: interaction of Go alpha with rhodopsin, anti-Go alpha polyclonal antibodies, and a monoclonal antibody against transducin alpha subunit and Gi alpha

Guanyl nucleotide binding proteins couple agonist interaction with cell-surface receptors to an intracellular enzymatic response. In the adenylate cyclase system, inhibitory and stimulatory effects are mediated through guanyl nucleotide binding proteins, Gi and Gs, respectively. In the visual excitation complex, the photon receptor rhodopsin is linked to its target, cGMP phosphodiesterase, through transducin (Gt). Bovine brain contains another guanyl nucleotide binding protein, Go. The proteins are heterotrimers of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits; the alpha subunits catalyze receptor-stimulated GTP hydrolysis. To examine the interaction of Go alpha with beta gamma subunits and rhodopsin, the proteins were reconstituted in phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The GTPase activity of Go alpha purified from bovine brain was stimulated by photolyzed, but not dark, rhodopsin and was enhanced by bovine retinal Gt beta gamma or by rabbit liver G beta gamma. Go alpha in the presence of G beta gamma is a substrate for pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation; the modification was inhibited by photolyzed rhodopsin and enhanced by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate). ADP-Ribosylation of Go alpha by pertussis toxin inhibited photolyzed rhodopsin-stimulated, but not basal, GTPase activity. It would appear from this and prior studies that Go alpha is similar to Gt alpha and Gi alpha; all three proteins exhibit photolyzed rhodopsin-stimulated GTPase activity, are pertussis toxin substrates, and functionally couple to Gt beta gamma. Go alpha (39K) can be distinguished from Gi alpha (41K) but not from Gt alpha (39K) by molecular weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)