Similarities and differences in phorbol ester- and luteinizing-hormone-induced desensitization of rat tumour Leydig-cell adenylate cyclase.

The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was shown to mimic luteinizing hormone (LH; lutropin) in causing desensitization of LH-mediated cyclic AMP production in tumour Leydig cells. However, there were differences between LH- and TPA-induced desensitization: (1) TPA induced a more rapid effect than LH; (2) adenosine did not inhibit TPA-induced desensitization, whereas it completely inhibited the LH-induced desensitization; (3) adenylate cyclase activity in plasma membranes from TPA-desensitized cells was not decreased, whereas similar preparations from LH-desensitized cells lost their response to LH and to LH plus guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate; TPA-, but not LH-, treated cells had a decreased capacity to respond to cholera toxin and forskolin. These results indicate that LH and phorbol esters induce desensitization of adenylate cyclase in rat tumour Leydig cells by different mechanisms.     

Inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by polyamines in human erythrocyte plasma membranes

Polyamines (spermidine, spermine and putrescine) inhibited the adenylate cyclase activity in a concentration dependent manner in human erythrocyte plasma membranes. Spermidine (Spd) exhibited more inhibitory effect than spermine (Spm) and putrescine (Put). On the contrary, the addition of amino acids (arginine, glutamine and lysine) did not influence the basal enzyme activity. Other cations (polylysine, polyarginine and polyglutamine) also did not affect the enzyme activity. Addition of all the three polyamines (Spd, Spm and Put) in the reaction mixture exhibited moderate inhibitory effect on the adenylate cyclase activity whether it was basal or activated with sodium fluoride or with forskolin. Since the three polyamines exhibited maximum inhibitory effect at 10 microM concentration which is within physiological limit for mammalian tissues, we suggest that there may be a regulatory function of these molecules on adenylate cyclase activity in human erythrocytes.     

Characteristics of the guanine nucleotide regulatory component of adenylate cyclase in human erythrocyte membranes

This study probes the structure and mutual interactions of the components of adenylate cyclase. We use a complementation assay which involves the addition of an adenylate cyclase-related guanine nucleotide-binding protein component to a membrane lacking this component to measure guanine nucleotide-stimulated-adenylate cyclase. Instead of using detergent extracts we were able to achieve full complementation by mixing intact membrane preparations in the presence of the nucleotide component. Of particular interest was the human erythrocyte membrane which contains very low amounts of catalytic activity and no measurable beta-adrenergic receptor but has normal amounts of the nucleotide component. This component appears to be the same, by several criteria, as components found in pigeon and turkey erythrocytes and in rat liver plasma membrane. The component confers Gpp(NH)p, fluoride, and GTP stimulation of adenylate cyclase along a single reconstitution curve. It is labeled with NAD by cholera toxin, and has an apparent molecular weight of 39 000 upon sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The presence of the nucleotide unit in the virtual absence of the active catalytic unit allowed us to determine those properties intrinsic to each unit and those conferred by the association of the units. The nucleotide component binds guanine nucleotides weakly in the human erythrocyte membrane, yet produces persistent activation of adenylate cyclase and tight binding (of Gpp(NH)p) upon combination with the catalytic unit. Treatment of the human erythrocyte membrane with N-ethylmaleimide causes a simultaneous diminution in both Gpp(NH)p and fluoride stimulation in reconstituted activities, suggesting that both activities are conferred by the same component.     

Different structural requirements for adenylate cyclase toxin interactions with erythrocyte and liposome membranes

The bifunctional Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (ACT) penetrates target cell membranes, forms cation-selective channels and subverts cellular signaling by catalyzing uncontrolled conversion of ATP to cAMP. While primarily targeting phagocytes expressing the alphaMbeta2 integrin (CD11b/CD18), the toxin can also penetrate mammalian erythrocytes lacking the receptor and membrane endocytosis. We sought here to analyze the membrane interactions of ACT in a liposome model. Insertion of ACT into liposome membranes required calcium and caused leakage of entrapped fluorescent probes due to liposome disruption, as indicated by similar release kinetics for the approximately 398 Da FITC probe and its approximately 4400 Da dextran conjugate. However, the non-acylated proACT, which does not penetrate cellular membranes, exhibited higher capacity to bind and lyze liposomes than the mature toxin, showing that the fatty-acyl modification was not required for penetration of ACT into the lipid bilayer. Individual deletions within the channel-forming, acylation and repeat domains of ACT abolished its capacity to disrupt both liposomes and erythrocytes. In contrast to erythrocyte binding, however, the liposome binding was only lost upon a simultaneous deletion of both the channel-forming and acylation domains, suggesting that the acylation domain was also involved in liposome penetration of ACT. Moreover, substitutions of glutamates 509 and 516 by lysines, which strongly enhanced the channel-forming and hemolytic activity of ACT, did not affect its capacity to disrupt liposomes. This shows that the mechanism of ACT action in cellular membranes is not fully reproduced in liposome membranes.     

Homologous desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptor coupled adenylate cyclase. Resensitization by polyethylene glycol treatment

Brief (approximately 20-min) exposure of S49 lymphoma cells to beta-agonists such as isoproterenol leads to a homologous form of desensitization in which beta-agonist but not prostaglandin E1-sensitive or NaF-sensitive adenylate cyclase is reduced. The desensitized receptors (R) appear to be sequestered away from the effector system (guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Ns) and adenylate cyclase (C)). Membrane perturbants such as polyethylene glycol are known to reorient membrane proteins and lipids. Thus, we fused agonist-desensitized S49 lymphoma cells to each other, using polyethylene glycol as fusogen, in an attempt to functionally reunite the R, N, and C components which might have become sequestered in microdomains of the plasma membrane during desensitization. Such treatment completely restored isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase to normal and re-established the ability of R and N to functionally couple as assessed by the ability to form a high affinity, guanine nucleotide-sensitive state of the receptor. These results support the concept that agonist-promoted sequestration plays a functionally significant role in the homologous desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor.     

The regulation of adenylate cyclase activity in turkey erythrocyte membranes by forskolin

The mechanisms by which forskolin stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in turkey erythrocyte membranes and is influenced by manganese and Gpp(NH)p were studied. Forskolin-dependent adenylate cyclase activity in particulate turkey erythrocyte membranes is enhanced following preincubation of membranes with isoproterenol and GMP (cleared membranes). In contrast, solubilization of turkey erythrocyte membranes, previously cleared, renders them relatively refractory to forskolin but not to Gpp(NH)p. Whereas adenylate cyclase activity due to the simultaneous presence of forskolin and Mn2+ in particulate turkey erythrocyte membranes is additive, their copresence becomes synergistic after solubilization. The apparent Kact for forskolin activation of adenylate cyclase is not influenced by clearance or by the presence of Mn2+ in particulate turkey erythrocyte membranes. Following solubilization, the Vmax for forskolin-dependent adenylate cyclase activation determined in the presence of Mn2+ is also independent of clearance. Forskolin activation of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase appears to be influenced at sites in addition to the catalytic unit.     

Cholera-toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of the adenylate cyclase regulatory protein in turkey erythrocyte membranes

Incubation of turkey erythrocyte membranes with cholera toxin and [³²P]NAD caused toxin-dependent incorporation of ³²P into a 42,000 M_r peptide which could be distinguished from toxin-independent ³²P incorporation into other membrane proteins. The radiolabeled 42,000 M_r peptide could be extracted from the membranes using Lubrol PX. When toxin-treated membranes were incubated with isoproterenol and GMP before detergent solubilization, the 42,000 M_r labeled peptide was adsorbed by GTP-γ-agarose which, with the same conditions, adsorbed the adenylate cyclase guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. The labeled peptide and guanine nucleotide regulatory protein activity were coeluted from the affinity matrix by guanylyl-β,γ-imidodiphosphate, GDP, and GMP. Guanosine 5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), an analog of GDP which blocks guanine nucleotide- and fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, caused elution of labeled peptide which exhibited no regulatory protein activity. Our data support the view that the 42,000 M_r peptide is part of the adenylate cyclase guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. The labeled peptide allows identification of both active and inactive regulatory protein and should be useful in monitoring the purification of the regulatory protein from turkey erythrocytes.     

Desensitization of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase. Beta-adrenergic receptor phosphorylation is correlated with attenuation of adenylate cyclase activity

Preincubation of turkey erythrocytes with beta-adrenergic agonists leads to an attenuation of the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to subsequent hormonal stimulation. Recently, our laboratory has shown (Stadel, J. M., Nambi, P., Shorr, R. G. L., Sawyer, D. D., Caron, M. G., and Lefkowitz, R. J. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 80, 3173-3177) using 32Pi incorporation that phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor accompanies this desensitization process. We now report that, as determined from intracellular [gamma-32P] ATP specific activity measurements, this phosphorylation reaction occurs in a stoichiometric fashion. Under basal conditions there exists 0.75 +/- 0.1 mol of phosphate per mol of receptor whereas under maximally desensitized conditions this ratio increases to 2.34 +/- 0.13 mol/mol. This phosphorylation of the receptor is dose-dependent with respect to isoproterenol and exhibits a dose-response curve coincidental with that for isoproterenol-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase. The time courses for receptor phosphorylation and adenylate cyclase desensitization are identical. In addition, the rate of resensitization of adenylate cyclase activity is comparable to the rate of return of the phosphate/receptor stoichiometries to control levels. Both the phosphorylation and desensitization reactions are pharmacologically specific as indicated by the high degree of stereoselectivity, rank order of catecholamines, and blockade by the specific beta-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol. Incubation of turkey erythrocytes with cAMP and cAMP analogs maximally activates cAMP-dependent protein kinase but only partially mimics isoproterenol in promoting phosphorylation of the receptor in concordance with their partial effects in inducing desensitization. Conversely, activators or inhibitors of Ca2+/calmodulin kinase or protein kinase C do not affect the isoproterenol-induced desensitization. These results indicate that desensitization of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase is highly correlated with phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor and that these events are mediated, at least partially, by cAMP.     

Prostacyclin stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in human thyroid membranes

Effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) on adenylate cyclase activity in human thyroid membranes was examined. PGI2 caused a dose- and time-dependent production of cyclic AMP (cAMP) with high potency. When GTP was added in concentrations up to 100 uM, the activation of adenylate cyclase by PGI2 was increased. In the assay medium containing 3 mM ATP, 10 uM GTP and nucleotide regenerating system, the replacement of Mg2+ by increasing concentrations of Mn2+ caused a progressive loss of PGI2 as well as TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities, while high concentrations of Mg2+ (12 or 18 mM) slightly suppressed the activity stimulated by either PGI2 or TSH. Both agents had an additive effect on the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of either 6 mM Mg2+ or 6 mM Mn2+. Gamma-globulin fraction containing non-stimulatory TSH receptor antibody which was prepared from a patient with chronic thyroiditis, suppressed only TSH- but not PGI2-stimulation of the adenylate cyclase activity. These results suggest that PGI2 can stimulate the adenylate cyclase activity in human thyroid tissue, and that PGI2-stimulation may be mediated by the different system from TSH-dependent one.     

Calmodulin regulation of adenylate cyclase activity in human platelet membranes

The mechanism of calmodulin dependent regulation of adenylate cyclase has been studied in human platelet membranes. Calmodulin activated adenylate cyclase exhibited a biphasic response to both Mg2+ and Ca2+. A stimulatory effect of Mg2 on adenylate cyclase was observed at all Mg2+ concentrations employed, although the degree of activation by calmodulin was progressively decreased with increasing concentrations of Mg2+. These results demonstrate that the Vmax of calmodulin dependent platelet adenylate cyclase can be manipulated by varying the relative concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+. The activity of calmodulin stimulated adenylate cyclase was always increased 2-fold above respective levels of activity induced by GTP, Gpp(NH)p and/or PGE. The stimulatory influence of calmodulin was not additive but synergistic to the effects of PGE1, GTP and Gpp(NH)p. GDP beta S inhibited GTP-and Gpp(NH)p stimulation of adenylate cyclase but was without effect on calmodulin stimulation. Since the inhibitory effects of GDP beta S have been ascribed to apparent reduction of active N-protein-catalytic unit (C) complex formation, these results suggest that the magnitude of calmodulin dependent adenylate cyclase activity is proportional to the number of N-protein-C complexes, and that calmodulin interacts with preformed N-protein-C complex to increase its catalytic turnover. Our data do not support existence of two isoenzymes of adenylate cyclase (calmodulin sensitive and calmodulin insensitive) in human platelets.     

Proteolytic activity associated with human erythrocyte membranes. Self-digestion of isolated human erythrocyte membranes.

At least two kinds of enzymes are active in the proteolytic self-digestion of erythrocyte membranes. The specific activities of these enzymes do not decrease with repeated washings of purified stroma. The effects of a variety of inhibitors on the membrane preparation's capacity to digest 125-I-labelled casein, covalently linked to latex beads, have been examined. Pepstatin-inhibitable enzyme, active at low pH, digests the membrane extensively to small polypeptide fragments. Spectrin, located at the internal part of the membrane, is readily degraded. Diisopropylfluorophosphate-inhibitable enzyme, active at pH 8-9, has only limited digestive capacity. Some of the membrane components, such as the small molecular weight glycoproteins, are resistant to digestion. The restricted capacity of digestion is due to the membrane molecular arrangement; increased disaggregation removes the restriction and increases the activity. Spectrin is not digested unless the membrane topography is disrupted by NP-40 neutral detergent. These observations suggest that the enzymes active at basic pH are located external to the cell. Intact cells do possess a limited capacity to degrade 125-I-labelled casein when their surfaces are brought into contact with substrate-coated beads.     

The regulatory GTPase cycle of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase.

It has recently been suggested that adenylate cyclase activity is controlled by a regulatory cycle consisting of two reactions: a hormone induced formation of the active adenylate cyclase-GTP complex, and a subsequent turn-off reaction in which hydrolysis of the bound nucleotide reverts the system to the inactive state. To test this model each of the two reactions was measured separately and their rate constants were used to estimate the steady state adenylate cyclase and GTPase activities. The first order rate constants were kon = 3 min-1 for the activation reaction and koff = 15 min-1 for the turn-off reaction. Substitution of these rate constants in the steady state equation of the regulatory cycle gave values of hormone stimulated adenylate cyclase and GTPase activities similar to those determined by direct measurements. Treatment of the adenylate cyclase with cholera toxin caused a decrease of 96% in the rate constant of the turn-off reaction. In this case too the activities calculated from the steady state equation were in good agreement with those determined directly.     

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.     

Galanin inhibits adenylate cyclase of rat brain membranes.

The ubiquitous neuropeptide, galanin, strongly inhibits adenylate cyclase in rat brain membranes. While basal enzyme activity was not altered, galanin from 10(-11) M to 5 x 10(-7) M decreased forskolin- and VIP-stimulated adenylate cyclase with a half-maximal effect being elicited by 0.7 nM neuropeptide and a maximal 80% inhibition of the enzyme activity. The galanin fragments (2-29) and (1-15) dose-dependently inhibited the forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase, while the fragments (3-29) and (10-29) were found inactive. These results indicate that the regulatory action of galanin in the central nervous system involves the coupling of galanin receptors to the inhibition of the adenylate cyclase system.     

Proteolytic activity associated with human erythrocyte membranes. Self-digestion of isolated human erythrocyte membranes

At least two kinds of enzymes are active in the proteolytic self-digestion of erythrocyte membranes. The specific activities of these enzymes do not decrease with repeated washings of purified stroma. The effects of a variety of inhibitors on the membrane preparation's capacity to digest ¹²⁵I-labelled casein, covalently linked to latex beads, have been examined.Pepstatin-inhibitable enzyme, active at low pH, digests the membrane extensively to small polypeptide fragments. Spectrin, located at the internal part of the membrane, is readily degraded. Diisopropylfluorophosphate-inhibitable enzyme, active at pH 8–9, has only limited digestive capacity. Some of the membrane components, such as the small molecular weight glycoproteins, are resistant to digestion. The restricted capacity of digestion is due to the membrane molecular arrangement; increased disaggregation removes the restriction and increases the activity. Spectrin is not digested unless the membrane topography is disrupted by NP-40 neutral detergent. These observations suggest that the enzymes active at basic pH are located external to the cell. Intact cells do possess a limited capacity to degrade ¹²⁵I-labelled casein when their surfaces are brought into contact with substrate-coated beads.     

Mechanism of action of forskolin on adenylate cyclase: effect on bovine sperm complemented with erythrocyte membranes

The mechanism of action of forskolin stimulation of adenylate cyclase was investigated by examining its effects on the enzyme's Mg2+ activated catalytic unit (C) from bovine sperm, both preceding and following complementation with human erythrocyte membranes as a source of guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (N). Prior to complementation, sperm C was not activated by either NaF (10 mM) or 5'-guanylyl-beta-gamma-imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p, 10 microM), suggesting that functional N was not present in this preparation. Forskolin (100 microM) was also without effect on C. Following complementation of the sperm membranes with those of erythrocytes, Mg2+-dependent sensitivity to forskolin, NaF, and Gpp(NH)p was imparted to C. Our findings are incompatible with the current hypothesis that forskolin stimulates adenylate cyclase by direct activation of C. Rather, the data suggest that the activation process occurs through an effect on N or by augmentation of the interaction between the components of the adenylate cyclase complex.     

Soluble adenylate cyclase from thyroid membranes

Adenylate cyclase from purified beef thyroid membranes has been solubilized by the use of Triton N-101 after preactivation with guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)-triphosphate. The soluble activity passed a 0.22- micron filter, was not sedimented at 100,000 X g for 2 h, and behaved like aldolase in sucrose density gradients and on Sepharose 6B. From comparison of the sedimentation in D2O and H2O the partial specific volume was found to be like that of globular proteins (0.75 +/- 0.006), hence little detergent appeared to be bound to the enzyme. The sedimentation coefficient was 7.4 +/- 0.15, the Stokes radius 45 A, and the molecular weight 159,000. Prestimulation by thyrotropin did not survive solubilization. The stimulation produced by guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate persisted as did the more active state resulting from pretreatment with both this nucleotide plus thyrotropin. Thyrotropin did not stimulate the solubilized enzyme. The Km for ATP, thermal stability, and inhibition by Ca2+ were identical for the membrane-bound and soluble enzyme, while the pH optimum was increased 0.5 unit in the latter. Polyanions and phenothiazines inhibited both preparations equally, whereas only membranes responded to stimulation by polylysine and ribonuclease.     

Adenosine receptor permanently coupled to turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase.

The mode of coupling of the adenosine receptor to adenylate cyclase in turkey erythrocyte membranes was probed by two independent approaches. The progressive inactivation of the adenosine receptor by an adenosine receptor affinity label resulted in the proportional reduction in the adenosine plus GppNHp dependent specific activity. In contrast, the intrinsic rate constant (k3), characterizing the process of adenylate cyclase activation by the adenosine-adenosine receptor complex, is independent of the extent of receptor inactivation. This behavior favors the precoupled mechanism, A + R.E: formula: (see text), where the receptor R and the enzyme E are permanently coupled to each other and the adenosine A binds to the receptor and induces the first-order process of cyclase activation to its active form ARE'. The finding that adenosine receptor is permanently coupled to the cyclase catalytic unit is corroborated by the observation that the progressive increase in membrane fluidity has no effect on the rate constant (k3) of adenylate cyclase activation by the adenosine-adenosine receptor complex and that the dose-response curve for adenosine is noncooperative.