A Cyclic GMP-Dependent K+ Channel in the Blastocladiomycete Fungus Blastocladiella emersonii

Phototaxis in flagellated zoospores of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii depends on a novel photosensor, Blastocladiella emersonii GC1 (BeGC1), comprising a type I (microbial) rhodopsin fused to a guanylyl cyclase catalytic domain, that produces the conserved second messenger cyclic GMP (cGMP). The rapid and transient increase in cGMP levels during the exposure of zoospores to green light was shown to be necessary for phototaxis and dependent on both rhodopsin function and guanylyl cyclase activity. It is noteworthy that BeGC1 was localized to the zoospore eyespot apparatus, in agreement with its role in the phototactic response. A putative cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (BeCNG1) was also identified in the genome of the fungus and was implicated in flagellar beating via the action of a specific inhibitor (l-cis-diltiazem) that compromised zoospore motility. Here we show that B. emersonii expresses a K⁺ channel that is activated by cGMP. The use of specific channel inhibitors confirmed the activation of the channel by cGMP and its K⁺ selectivity. These characteristics are consistent with the function of an ion channel encoded by the BeCNG1 gene. Other blastocladiomycete fungi, such as Allomyces macrogynus and Catenaria anguillulae, possess genes encoding a similar K⁺ channel and the rhodopsin–guanylyl cyclase fusion protein, while the genes encoding both these proteins are absent in nonflagellated fungi. The presence of these genes as a pair seems to be an exclusive feature of blastocladiomycete fungi. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the B. emersonii cGMP-activated K⁺ channel is involved in the control of zoospore motility, most probably participating in the cGMP-signaling pathway for the phototactic response of the fungus.     

Optogenetic manipulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate to probe phosphodiesterase activities in megakaryocytes

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling plays a fundamental role in many cell types, including platelets. cGMP has been implicated in platelet formation, but mechanistic detail about its spatio-temporal regulation in megakaryocytes (MKs) is lacking. Optogenetics is a technique which allows spatio-temporal manipulation of molecular events in living cells or organisms. We took advantage of this method and expressed a photo-activated guanylyl cyclase, Blastocladiella emersonii Cyclase opsin (BeCyclop), after viral-mediated gene transfer in bone marrow (BM)-derived MKs to precisely light-modulate cGMP levels. BeCyclop-MKs showed a significantly increased cGMP concentration after illumination, which was strongly dependent on phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 activity. This finding was corroborated by real-time imaging of cGMP signals which revealed that pharmacological PDE5 inhibition also potentiated nitric oxide-triggered cGMP generation in BM MKs. In summary, we established for the first-time optogenetics in primary MKs and show that PDE5 is the predominant PDE regulating cGMP levels in MKs. These findings also demonstrate that optogenetics allows for the precise manipulation of MK biology.     

Cyclic nucleotide crosstalk in salivary glands from partially fed Dermacentor variabilis (Say)

Enzyme immunosorbent assays were used to measure cyclic nucleotide concentrations in homogenates of salivary glands from partially fed female Dermacentor variabilis. The adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin (100 μM) increased homogenate cGMP concentrations greater than three-fold over controls. Competitive inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with 1 mM l-NMMA, an l-arginine analog, demonstrated that crosstalk occurs downstream of nitric oxide synthesis. Forskolin-stimulated synthesis of cGMP was diminished 58% by the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (2 μM). The protein kinase A selective inhibitor Rp-cAMPS (50 μM) inhibited forskolin-stimulated cGMP by 49%. Whole glands treated with 10 μM dopamine increased cGMP levels two-fold in the presence of 1 mM IBMX. Treatment of whole salivary glands with equimolar concentrations of 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP produced no greater fluid uptake than in glands treated with 8-Br-cGMP alone, suggesting that cAMP and cGMP share a downstream target. The protein kinase G-selective inhibitor Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS (100 μM) impeded 10 mM 8-Bromo-cGMP-stimulated gland weight increases. Pretreatment with verapamil, a Ca²⁺ channel blocker, attenuated cyclic nucleotide-stimulated fluid uptake indicating that whole gland fluid changes are dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺. Together, our data suggest that cGMP production is mediated in part by cAMP-dependent activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. Experiments measuring changes in whole salivary gland weight support the hypothesis that cAMP and cGMP signaling cascades have a common target and that cyclic nucleotide-stimulated fluid movement is dependent on Ca²⁺ influx.     

The Receptor-Bound Guanylyl Cyclase DAF-11 Is the Mediator of Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cgmp Increase in Caenorhabditis elegans

Adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) are well-studied second messengers that transmit extracellular signals into mammalian cells, with conserved functions in various other species such as Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). cAMP is generated by adenylyl cyclases, and cGMP is generated by guanylyl cyclases, respectively. Studies using C. elegans have revealed additional roles for cGMP signaling in lifespan extension. For example, mutants lacking the function of a specific receptor-bound guanylyl cyclase, DAF-11, have an increased life expectancy. While the daf-11 phenotype has been attributed to reductions in intracellular cGMP concentrations, the actual content of cyclic nucleotides has not been biochemically determined in this system. Similar assumptions were made in studies using phosphodiesterase loss-of-function mutants or using adenylyl cyclase overexpressing mutants. In the present study, cyclic nucleotide regulation in C. elegans was studied by establishing a special nematode protocol for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of cyclic nucleotides. We also examined the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on cyclic nucleotide metabolism and lifespan in C. elegans using highly specific HPLC-coupled tandem mass-spectrometry and behavioral assays. Here, we show that the relation between cGMP and survival is more complex than previously appreciated.     

Guanylyl cyclase structure, function and regulation

Nitric oxide, bicarbonate, natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP and CNP), guanylins, uroguanylins and guanylyl cyclase activating proteins (GCAPs) activate a family of enzymes variously called guanyl, guanylyl or guanylate cyclases that catalyze the conversion of guanosine triphosphate to cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and pyrophosphate. Intracellular cyclic GMP is a second messenger that modulates: platelet aggregation, neurotransmission, sexual arousal, gut peristalsis, blood pressure, long bone growth, intestinal fluid secretion, lipolysis, phototransduction, cardiac hypertrophy and oocyte maturation. This review briefly discusses the discovery of cGMP and guanylyl cyclases, then nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase are described in slightly greater detail. Finally, the structure, function, and regulation of the individual mammalian single membrane-spanning guanylyl cyclases GC-A, GC-B, GC-C, GC-D, GC-E, GC-F and GC-G are described in greatest detail as determined by biochemical, cell biological and gene-deletion studies.     

Endothelin Signaling Pathways in Rat Adrenal Medulla

1. We further characterized the effect of endothelins (ETs) on receptor-mediated phosphoinositide (PI) turnover, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activation, and cGMP formation in whole rat adrenal medulla.2. The PI hydrolysis was assessed as accumulation of inositol monophosphates (InsP₁) in the presence of 10 mM LiCl in whole tissue and the analysis of inositol-1-phosphate by Dowex anion exchange chromatography. NOS activity was assayed by monitoring the conversion of radiolabeled L-arginine to L-citrulline. Cyclic GMP formation was assessed as accumulation of cGMP in whole tissue in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibition, and the amount of cGMP formed was determined by radioimmuno-antibody procedure.3. ET-1 and ET-3 increased PI turnover by 30% in whole adrenal medulla prelabeled with [³H] myoinositol. Both ETs isoforms, at equimolar doses, increased NOS activity and cGMP levels in similar degree. The selective ET_B receptor agonist, IRL-1620, also increased cGMP formation, mimicking the effects of ETs, while IRL-1620 did not alter the PI metabolism. ETs-induced InsP₁ accumulation and cGMP was dependent on extracellular calcium. The effect of ETs on PI turnover was inhibited by neomycin. The L-arginine analogue, N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME), and two inhibitors of soluble guanylyl cyclase, methylene blue and ODQ, significantly inhibited the increase in cGMP production induced by ETs or IRL-1620. The selective ET_A receptor antagonist, BQ 123, inhibited the ETs-induced increase in PI turnover, while the selective ET_B receptor antagonist, BQ 788, was ineffective. Likewise, BQ 788, significantly inhibited ET-1- or ET-3-induced NOS activation and cGMP generation but not ETs-induced InsP₁ accumulation.4. Our data indicate that stimulation of PI turnover and NO-induced cGMP generation constitutes ETs signaling pathways in rat adrenal medulla. The former action is mediated through activation of ET_A receptor, while the latter through the activation of ET_B receptor. These results support the role of endothelins in the regulation of adrenal medulla function.     

Polyamines and ornithine decarboxylase activity during growth and differentiation in Blastocladiella emersonii

The activity of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17, L-ornithine carboxy-lyase) was determined during the life cycle of Blastocladiella emersonii. The specific activity of the enzyme was found to be low in the zoospores, to rise 20-fold during germination and early growth, to fall during growth and to rise again during sporulation. This rise in enzyme activity was shown to be dependent on protein synthesis. Putrescine levels, on a per mg of protein basis, paralleled the fluctuations found in ornithine decarboxylase activity. Putrescine and spermidine were the only polyamines found in extracts of B. emersonii.     

Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibition on mitochondrial biogenesis in rat skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition decreased basal and exercise-induced skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of four treatment groups: NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, ingested for 2 days in drinking water, 1 mg/ml) followed by acute exercise, no l-NAME ingestion and acute exercise, rest plus l-NAME, and rest without l-NAME. The exercised rats ran on a treadmill for 53 +/- 2 min and were then killed 4 h later. NOS inhibition significantly (P < 0.05; main effect) decreased basal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1beta (PGC-1beta) mRNA levels and tended (P = 0.08) to decrease mtTFA mRNA levels in the soleus, but not the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. This coincided with significantly reduced basal levels of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) I and COX IV mRNA, COX IV protein and COX enzyme activity following NOS inhibition in the soleus, but not the EDL muscle. NOS inhibition had no effect on citrate synthase or beta-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase activity, or cytochrome c protein abundance in the soleus or EDL. NOS inhibition did not reduce the exercise-induced increase in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) mRNA in the soleus or EDL. In conclusion, inhibition of NOS appears to decrease some aspects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the soleus under basal conditions, but does not attenuate exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in the soleus or in the EDL.     

Nitric oxide production inhibited by xenobiotic compounds in the protozoan Paramecium primaurelia

The notable increase in agricultural and industrial activities over the last decades has caused a considerable increase in anthropogenic waste and, consequently, the presence of pollutants in both water and sediments. For this reason, there is great interest in identifying alternative models and bioassays complying with the 3Rs strategy (aimed at Reducing, Refining and Replacing tests on vertebrate organisms in toxicological studies). Protozoa seem to be well suited to this strategy and it is widely accepted that assays with protozoa are relevant to the study of environmental modifications due to the presence of xenobiotic compounds.Recently, we detected the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-related NADPH-diaphorase activity and neuronal NOS-related molecules, immunologically recognized by the anti-rat brain NOS antibody, in a single-cell freshwater eukaryote, Paramecium primaurelia. In this work we have looked for the basal NO production in living cells of P. primaurelia using the specific fluorescent probe 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2 DA) and measuring the intracellular NO levels with image analysis. The NO production was sensitive to compounds modulating NOS activity such as: S-methyl-tiocitrulline, an NOS activity inhibitor, l-NAME, an analogue of arginine that inhibits NO production, arginine, an NOS substrate, or sodium nitroprusside, an NO donor. The NO production in P. primaurelia was also shown to be sensitive to μM concentrations of heavy metals (HgCl₂ and CdCl₂), or μM concentrations of pesticides (diazinon and AFD 25), thus representing a potential biomarker for environmental biomonitoring. The possible involvement of cellular Ca²⁺ concentration, assayed by the fluorescent probe chlortetracycline hydrochloride, in NO production was examined after xenobiotic exposure.     

Atypical soluble guanylyl cyclases in Drosophila can function as molecular oxygen sensors

Conventional soluble guanylyl cyclases are heterodimeric enzymes that synthesize cGMP and are activated by nitric oxide. Recently, a separate class of soluble guanylyl cyclases has been identified that are only slightly activated by or are insensitive to nitric oxide. These atypical guanylyl cyclases include the vertebrate beta2 subunit and examples from the invertebrates Manduca sexta, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster. A member of this family, GCY-35 in C. elegans, was recently shown to be required for a behavioral response to low oxygen levels and may be directly regulated by oxygen (Gray, J. M., Karow, D. S., Lu, H., Chang, A. J., Chang, J. S., Ellis, R. E., Marletta, M. A., and Bargmann, C. I. (2004) Nature 430, 317-322). Drosophila contains three genes that code for atypical soluble guanylyl cyclases: Gyc-88E, Gyc-89Da, and Gyc-89Db. COS-7 cells co-transfected with Gyc-88E and Gyc-89Da or Gyc-89Db accumulate low levels of cGMP under normal atmospheric oxygen concentrations and are potently activated under anoxic conditions. The increase in activity is graded over oxygen concentrations of 0-21%, can be detected within 1 min of exposure to anoxic conditions and is blocked by the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ). Gyc-88E and Gyc-89Db are co-expressed in a subset of sensory neurons where they would be ideally situated to act as oxygen sensors. This is the first demonstration of a soluble guanylyl cyclase that is activated in response to changing oxygen concentrations.     

Cyclic GMP and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is an important secondary messenger synthesized by the guanylyl cyclases which are found in the soluble (sGC) and particular isoforms. In the central nervous system, the nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive sGC isoform is the major enzyme responsible for cGMP synthesis. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes for hydrolysis of cGMP in the brain, and they are mainly isoforms 2, 5, and 9. The NO/cGMP signaling pathway has been shown to play an important role in the process underlying learning and memory. Aging is associated with an increase in PDE expression and activity and a decrease in cGMP concentration. In addition, aging is also associated with an enhancement of neuronal NO synthase, a lowering of endothelial, and no alteration in inducible activity. The observed changes in NMDA receptor density along with the Ca²⁺/NO/cGMP pathway underscore the lower synaptic plasticity and cognitive performance during aging. This notion is in agreement with last data indicating that inhibitors of PDE2 and PDE9 improve learning and memory in older rats. In this review, we focus on recent studies supporting the role of Ca²⁺/NO/cGMP pathway in aging and Alzheimer's disease.     

Plant Nucleotide Cyclases: An Increasingly Complex and Growing Family

Second messengers have a key role in linking environmental stimuli to physiological responses. One such messenger, cGMP, has long been known to be critical to many different processes in higher plants while guanylyl cyclases (GCs), enzymes that catalyse the formation of cGMP from GTP have largely remained elusive. This is somewhat surprising considering that the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains >90 annotated GCs. We have recently shown (PLoS ONE 2(5): e449) that a recombinant cytoplasmic domain of the Arabidopsis brassinosteroid receptor AtBRI has GC activity in vitro. This finding may suggest that other leucine-rich receptor kinases such as the phystosulfokine receptor may also confer GC activity as it has a high degree of similarity in the domain that has been delineated as essential for catalysis. In addition, the discovery of increasing complexities in the molecular architecture of higher plant nucleotide cyclases (NCs) is entirely compatible with findings in Chlamydomonas where such domains appear in >20 different combinations suggesting a role in highly diverse and complex signaling events.Key Words: nucleotide cyclase, guanylyl cyclase, cGMP, signal transduction, Arabidopsis thaliana, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii     

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase is determinant for growth and sporulation in the early diverging fungus Blastocladiella emersonii

Blastocladiella emersonii is an early diverging fungus of the phylum Blastocladiomycota. During the life cycle of the fungus, mitochondrial morphology changes significantly, from a fragmented form in sessile vegetative cells to a fused network in motile zoospores. In this study, we visualize these morphological changes using a mitochondrial fluorescent probe and show that the respiratory capacity in zoospores is much higher than in vegetative cells, suggesting that mitochondrial morphology could be related to the differences in oxygen consumption. While studying the respiratory chain of the fungus, we observed an antimycin A and cyanide-insensitive, salicylhydroxamic (SHAM)-sensitive respiratory activity, indicative of a mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) activity. The presence of AOX was confirmed by the finding of a B. emersonii cDNA encoding a putative AOX, and by detection of AOX protein in immunoblots. Inhibition of AOX activity by SHAM was found to significantly alter the capacity of the fungus to grow and sporulate, indicating that AOX participates in life cycle control in B. emersonii.     

Calcium efflux during germination ofBlastocladiella emersonii

Preloaded zoospores ofBlastocladiella emersonii were found to release large quantities of⁴⁵Ca²⁺ in the course of germination, whereas no calcium is released from nongerminating zoospores. Studies with inhibitors of germination and of calcium movement seem to support the existence of two temporally as well as developmentally distinct effluxes during this differentiative transition. The early efflux seems to be associated with the triggering of the process and begins prior to other known structural and physiological responses of the zoospores; the late efflux starts just prior to the appearance of the first germling cells and is probably related to the morphological progress of germination. The early efflux of calcium per se is not sufficient to elicit the process, since the calcium ionophore A23187 produces a comparable efflux, but induces germination only in the presence of noneffective cyclic AMP concentrations.     

Invertebrates yield a plethora of atypical guanylyl cyclases

Invertebrate model systems have a long history of generating new insights into neuronal signaling systems. This review focuses on cyclic GMP signaling and describes recent advances in understanding the properties and functions of guanylyl cyclases in invertebrates. The sequencing of three invertebrate genomes has provided a complete catalog of the guanylyl cyclases in C. elegans, Drosophila, and the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Using this data and that from cloned guanylyl cyclases in Manduca sexta, C. elegans, and Drosophila, plus predictions and models from vertebrate guanylyl cyclases, evidence is presented that there is a much broader array of properties for these enzymes than previously realized. In addition to the classic homodimeric receptor guanylyl cyclases, C. elegans has at least two receptor guanylyl cyclases that are predicted to require heterodimer formation for activity. Soluble guanylyl cyclases are generally recognized as being obligate heterodimers that are activated by nitric oxide (NO). Some of the soluble guanylyl cyclases in C. elegans may heterodimeric, but all appear to be insensitive to NO. The β2 soluble guanylyl cyclase subunit in mammals and similar ones in Manduca and Drosophila are active in the absence of additional subunits and there is evidence that Drosophila and Anopheles also express an additional subunit that enhances this activity.