Regulation of insulin release from isolated islets of Langerhans of the rat in pregnancy. The role of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate

1. The concentrations of cyclic AMP were compared in islets of Langerhans isolated from the pancreases of normal female and pregnant rats and were higher in islets in pregnancy. 2. There was also a significant increase in adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of islets from pregnant rats compared with those from normal rats. 3. Increased cyclic AMP concentration in islets from pregnant rats was reflected in increased protein kinase activity. When the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was increased by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine this stimulated activity was significantly greater in pregnancy. 4. Insulin-secretion studies with islets from normal and pregnant rats showed that theophylline or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, which raise intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations, caused a significantly greater insulin secretion in pregnancy. 5. It was also found that in the presence of a glucose concentration too low to stimulate insulin secretion, the latter could be induced if the cyclic AMP concentrations were raised sufficiently with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. 6. It is suggested that the higher cyclic AMP concentrations observed in islets in pregnancy mediate the greater insulin-secretory capacity, as well as the greater sensitivity of these islets to low glucose concentrations.     

Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Activity in Bovine Brain Coated Vesicles

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in bovine brain coated vesicles displayed a Km of approximately 22 microM for cyclic AMP, a Vmax of 3.2 nmol/min/mg protein, and a Hill coefficient of 1.5, suggesting positive cooperativity. The enzyme activity was stimulated by cyclic GMP with maximal indexes of stimulation ranging between 40 and 300%. Both basal and stimulated phosphodiesterase activities were immunotitrated with polyclonal antibodies against clathrin attached to heat-inactivated, formaldehyde-fixed Staphylococcus aureus cells. The main form of phosphodiesterase activity present in the immunoprecipitated brain coated vesicle preparation also is stimulated by cyclic GMP. The allosteric behavior was modulated by cyclic GMP. All of these properties are typical of type II or cyclic GMP-sensitive phosphodiesterases in addition to their calcium and calmodulin independence. Competition experiments with a series of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, papaverine, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, and theophylline, showed inhibition of cyclic AMP hydrolysis. Trifluoperazine was inactive at the highest concentration used, 100 microM. These compounds also inhibited the cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP hydrolysis with trifluoperazine practically inactive. At 5 microM cyclic AMP none of the inhibitors was seen to stimulate the cyclic AMP hydrolytic activity. The presence of an enzyme for the breakdown of cyclic nucleotides in brain coated vesicles may suggest a role for these second messengers in the in vivo functions of this organelle.     

Regulation by a β-adrenergic receptor of a Ca2+-independent adenosine 3′,5′-(cyclic)monophosphate phosphodiesterase in C6 glioma cells

The hormonal control of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) activity has been studied by using as a model the isoproterenol stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in C6 glioma cells. A 2-fold increase in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase specific activity was observed in homogenates of isoproterenol-treated cells relative to control. This increase reached a maximum 3 h after addition of isoproterenol, was selective for cyclic AMP hydrolysis, was reproduced by incubation with 8-Br cyclic AMP but not with 8-Br cyclic GMP and was limited to the soluble enzyme activity. The presence of 0.1 mM EGTA did not alter the magnitude of the increase in phosphodiesterase activity. Moreover, the calmodulin content in the cell extracts was not changed after isoproterernol. DEASE-Sephacel chromatography of the 100 000×g supernatant resolved two peaks of phosphodiesterase activity. The first peak hydrolyzed both cyclic nucleotides and was activated by Ca²⁺ and purified calmodulin. The second peak was specific for cyclic AMP but it was Ca²⁺- and calmodulin-insensitive. Isoproterenol selectively increased the specific activity of the second peak. Kinetic analysis of the cyclic AMP hydrolysis by the induced enzyme reveled a non-linear Hofstee plot with apparent K_m values of 2–5 μM. Cyclic GMP was not hydrolyzed by this enzyme in the absence or presence of calmodulin and failed to affect the kinetics of the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP. Gel filtration chromatography of the induced DEASE-Sephacel peak resolved a single peak of enzyme activity with an apparent molecular weight of 54 000.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of rat pancreatic islets. Effects of Ca2+, calmodulin and trifluoperazine.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity towards cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP was studied in extracts of rat islets of Langerhans. Biphasic Eadie plots [Eadie (1942) J. Biol. Chem. 146, 85-93] were obtained with either substrate suggesting the presence of both 'high'- and 'low'-Km components. The apparent Km values were 6.2 +/- 0.5 (n = 8) microM and 103.4 +/- 13.5 (6) microM for cyclic AMP and 3.6 +/- 0.3 (12) microM and 61.4 +/- 7.5 (13) microM for cyclic GMP. With cyclic AMP as substrate, phosphodeisterase activity was increased by calmodulin and Ca2+ and decreased by trifluoperazine, a specific inhibitor of calmodulin. With cyclic GMP as substrate, phosphodiesterase activity was decreased by omission of Ca2+ or addition of trifluoperazine. Addition of exogenous calmodulin had no effect on activity. The data suggest that Ca2+ may influence the islet content of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP via effects on calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s).     

Stimulation of hamster adipocyte cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity by ionophore A23187 and calcium.

Incubation of hamster isolated fat cells with the ionophore A23187 and calcium for 20 minutes caused 30-40% increases in the cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) activity of adipocyte homogenates when either 0.6 micron cyclic AMP or 0.6 micron cyclic GMP was the enzyme substrate. The stimulation of adipocyte cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity by A23187 and calcium was not antagonized by the adrenergic receptor blocking agents phentolamine and propranolol. The changes in enzyme activity produced by the ionophore and calcium were not associated with elevated intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Furthermore, A23187 and calcium acted to enhance adipocyte phosphodiesterase activity before, but not after, homogenization of the fat cells. These data suggest that the phosphodiesterase activity of hamster isolated fat cells may, at least in part, be regulated by fluctuations in intracellular calcium concentrations.     

A calcium/calmodulin-dependent cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase from Drosophila heads

A Ca2+-activated cycl AMP phosphodiesterase from Drosophila melanogaster heads was studied. The enzyme accounted for approx. 40% of the total, soluble cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in heads. After gel filtration, Ca2+ stimulation of the enzyme was no longer apparent, but Ca2+ activation could be restored by the addition of boiled Drosophila extract to the column-fractionated phosphodiesterase. The protein responsible for restoring Ca2+ activation was purified and shown to have some characteristics of calmodulin. In addition, porcine calmodulin was able to activate the Drosophila phosphodiesterase. Thus, the phosphodiesterase-calmodulin system in Drosophila appears analogous to similar systems in mammals.     

Multiple forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in a murine adrenal cortex cell line (Y-1)

Murine adrenal cortex tumor Y-1 cells contained both soluble and particulate forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (3',5'-cyclic AMP 5'-nucleotide hydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17). The soluble forms of the enzyme comprised 80% of total cellular phosphodiesterase activity. The soluble enzyme(s) hydrolyzed both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, with apparent Km values of 125 and 30 microM, respectively. Soluble cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase showed marked inhibition by the calcium chelator, ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), and the anticalmodulin drugs, chlorpromazine, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), and calmidazolium. No alteration in soluble cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was observed when cyclic AMP was added to the assay. Resolution of the soluble enzymatic activity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography in the presence of calcium showed two peaks of phosphodiesterase activity. Further purification of one of these peaks on DEAE-cellulose in the presence of EGTA yielded a phosphodiesterase activity peak that was stimulated fivefold by calmodulin. The particulate form of the enzyme hydrolyzed both cyclic AMP anc cyclic GMP; the apparent Km values for these substrates were similar (90 and 100 microM, respectively). Hydrolysis of cyclic GMP by the particulate enzyme was inhibited by cyclic AMP in a concentration-dependent manner with an apparent half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 100 microM. The particulate form of phosphodiesterase was not inhibited by EGTA or anticalmodulin drugs.     

Function of calmodulin in postsynaptic densities. I. Presence of a calmodulin-activatable cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity

The postsynaptic density (PSD) fraction from canine cerebra cortex was found to contain an endogenous cyclic nucleotide-phosphodiesterase activity that was independent on Mn2+ and/or Mg2+ but not on Ca2+. Maximal activity was obtained at 1 micrometer Mn2+. This cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity was not decreased upon removal of the calmodulin from the PSD fraction, nor was it increased by the addition of calmodulin to a postsynaptic density fraction deficient in calmodulin. The enzymatic activity could be extracted by sonication, with the soluble enzyme having properties similar to those found in the native structure. Two peaks of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities could be obtained after S-300 Sephacryl column chromatography of this soluble fraction: fraction I (excluded peak) and fraction II (215,000 mol wt). The fraction I activity preferred cyclic AMP over cyclic GMP and was not activated by calmodulin. The fraction II activity has an approximately fourfold lower Km for cyclic GMP over cyclic AMP. This fraction II activity was activatable by calmodulin, which increased the Vmax and decreased the Km in the case of both cyclic nucleotides. We conclude that two activities are present in the PSD, one activatable, and one not activatable, by calmodulin.     

The effect of calcium on somatostatin inhibition of insulin release and cyclic AMP production in mouse pancreatic islets.

The effect of somatostatin on glucose-induced insulin secretion and cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated islets from obese, hyperglycemic ob/ob mice was studied in a microperifusion system. The normal biphasic pattern of insulin release as well as the inhibitory pattern of insulin release produced by somatostatin (0.5--1 microgram/ml) was matched by similar changes in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. When islets were stimulated by glucose (3 mg/ml) plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.1 mM), somatostatin (0.5 microgram/ml) failed to inhibit insulin secretion or cyclic AMP formation in the second phase whereas in the first phase both parameters were significantly reduced by somatostatin (0.5 microgram/ml). In batch-type incubations it was shown that addition of excess calcium (to 6 mM) reversed this inhibition. In the second phase calcium potentiated the (glucose + 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine)-stimulated insulin secretion without affecting the cyclic AMP production. This potentiation was inhibited by somatostatin (0.1 microgram/ml). Somatostatin (1 microgram/ml) inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in islet homogenates. No effect of somatostatin on islet glucose utilization could be demonstrated. The results indicate a dual action of somatostatin in the inhibition of insulin release, one involving the islet adenylate cyclase and one affecting the islet uptake of calcium.     

Platelet cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase released by thrombin and calcium ionophore.

Contact of rat platelets with thrombin or the divalent cation ionophore A-23187, in the presence of extracellular calcium, resulted in the secretion of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) phosphodiesterases. Significant association of calcium with platelets occurred during platelet surface contact with thrombin. Thrombin concentration to induce association of calcium virtually agreed with that to release the enzyme. The finding that A-23187 (5 to 20 muM) also provoked a rapid and marked association of extracellular calcium with platelets suggests that calcium mobilization into the intracellular environment may account, at least in part, for this association between platelet and calcium. Two different phosphodiesterases, a relatively specific cyclic AMP and a relatively specific cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase were secreted from platelets into the plasma in soluble form. The amounts of the phosphodiesterases secreted were dose- or time-dependent on thrombin (0.1 to 2 units) or A-23187 (5 to 20 muM) within 30 min. The enzyme release by thrombin was completely inhibited by heparin but the release by A-23187 was not. The two phosphodiesterases secreted seemed to correspond to the two enzymes isolated from platelet homogenates in many respects. Rat platelets contained, at least, three cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterases, namely, two relatively specific cyclic AMP phoshodiesterases and a relatively specific cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase which were clearly separated from each other by Sepharose 6B or DEAE-cellulose column chromatography or sucrose gradient centrifugation. The two platelet cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (Mr = 180,000 and 280,000) had similar apparent Km values of 0.69 and 0.75 muM with different sedimentation coefficient values of 4.9 S and 7.1 S, respectively. They did not hydrolyze cyclic GMP significantly. A cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (Mr - 260,000) exhibited abnormal kinetics for cyclic GMP with an apparent Km value of 1.5 muM and normal kinetics for cyclic AMP with a Km of 300 muM. The properties of a platelet cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (Mr = 180,000) and a platelet cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase were found to agree with those of the two phosphodiesterases released from platelets by thrombin or A-23187. Depletion of extracellular calcium by an addition of citrate, EDTA, or ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) to the blood or platelet suspension resulted in a loss of the activity of the smaller form of platelet cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (Mr = 180,000) and addition of calcium restored the activity of this cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Thus, calcium seemed to be involved in the mechanism of an occurrence of this smaller form of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase as well as the secretion of this enzyme. Contact of human platelets with thrombin also resulted in the secretion of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase which was dependent on the concentration of calcium. No species difference was observed in this respect.     

Calmodulin activation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the B16 mouse melanoma

Mouse B16 melanoma extracts of both cultured cells and tumour tissue contain cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity, with 95% present in the soluble fraction. Although activation of the enzyme by added calmodulin did not occur, it was found that endogenous calmodulin was present at a level sufficient to activate fully the enzyme. The ability of Ca-calmodulin to stimulate cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in this tissue was shown by the inhibitory effect of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloronaphthalenesulphonamide (W7), a known calmodulin antagonist; by the activation of the enzyme with exogenous calmodulin observed in supernatants depleted of endogenous calmodulin by passage over fluphenazine-Sepharose 6B in the presence of Ca2+; by the Ca-dependent binding of the enzyme to calmodulin-agarose and its activation by Ca-calmodulin after elution from the column with EGTA-containing buffer. It was calculated that about 50% of the total cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was calmodulin-activated in this tissue.     

An assessment of the ability of insulin-stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase to decrease hepatocyte intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations.

Treatment of hepatocytes with either NH4Cl (10mM) or fructose (10mM) blocks insulin's activation of the 'dense-vesicle' cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The ability of insulin (10 nM) to decrease intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations raised by glucagon (10 nM) was unaffected by pre-treatment with either NH4Cl (10 mM) or fructose (10 mM). It is concluded that the 'dense-vesicle' enzyme does not play a significant role in this action of insulin and that as yet unidentified cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase(s) must be activated by insulin. Treatment of hepatocytes with either NH4Cl or fructose appeared to increase, reversibly, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. When N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine was used to prevent glucagon from blocking insulin's activation of the plasma-membrane cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity, insulin's ability to decrease intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations in glucagon-treated hepatocytes was increased markedly. Insulin's activation of the plasma-membrane cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity can exert a potent effect in decreasing intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations elevated by glucagon.     

The effect of calcium on somatostatin inhibition of insulin release and cyclic AMP production in mouse pancreatic islets

The effect of somatostatin on glucose-induced insulin secretion and cyclic AMP accumation in isolated islets from obese, hyperglycemic ob/ob mice was studied in a microperifusion system. The normal biphasic pattern of insulin release as well as the inhibitory pattern of insulin release produced by somatostatin (0.5–1 μg/ml) was matched by similar changes in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. When islets were stimulated by glucose (3 mg/ml) plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.1 mM), somatostatin (0.5 μg/ml) failed to inhibit insulin secretion or cyclic AMP formation in the second phase whereas in the first phase both parameters were significantly reduced by somatostatin (0.5 μg/ml). In batch-type incubations it was shown that addition of excess calcium (to 6 mM) reversed this inhibition. In the second phase calcium potentiated the (glucose + 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine)-stimulated insulin secretion without affecting the cyclic AMP production. This potentiation was inhibited by somatostatin (0.1 μg/ml). Somatostatin (1 μg/ml) inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in islet homogenates. No effect of somatostatin on islet glucose utilization could be demonstrated.The results indicate a dual action of somatostatin in the inhibition of insulin release, one involving the islet adenylate cyclase and one affecting the islet uptake of calcium.     

Effects of dehydrouramil on protein phosphorylation and insulin secretion in rat islets of Langerhans.

Dehydrouramil hydrate hydrochloride (DHU), a stable analogue of alloxan, inhibited the phosphorylation of an endogenous protein of Mr 53,000 catalysed by a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in extracts of islets of Langerhans. The concentration of DHU required for 50% inhibition was 0.09 mM. DHU did not inhibit islet cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and caused only slight inhibition of Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. Inhibition of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was neither prevented nor reversed by dithiothreitol. DHU did not affect the ability of calmodulin to activate cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. In intact islets, pre-exposure to DHU impaired the insulin-secretory response to glucose and blocked the potentiatory effect on insulin secretion of forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, and of tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), an activator of Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. The increase in islet cyclic AMP elicited by forskolin was not affected by DHU. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that protein phosphorylation catalysed by a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase may play a central role in the regulation of insulin secretion.     

Inhibitory effect of regucalcin on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in rat kidney cytosol

The effect of regucalcin, a novel Ca²⁺-binding protein, on Ca²⁺/ calmodulin-dependent cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) phosphodiesterase activity in the cytosol of rat renal cortex was investigated. Regucalcin with physiologic concentration (10^-7 M) in rat kidney had no effect on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in the absence of CaCl₂ and calmodulin. However, the activatory effect of both CaCl₂ (10 µM) and calmodulin (20 U/ml) on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was markedly inhibited by the addition of regucalcin (10^-8 to 10^-6 M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The inhibitory effect of regucalcin on the enzyme activity was also seen in the presence of CaCl₂ (5-50 µM) or calmodulin (5-50 U/ml) with increasing concentrations. The presence of trifluoperazine (10 µM), an antagonist of calmodulin, caused a partial inhibition of Ca²⁺ /calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. This inhibition was further enhanced by the addition of regucalcin (10^-7 M). The inhibitory effect of regucalcin (10^-7 M) was not seen in the presence of 20 µM trifluoperazine. Moreover, the activatory effect of calmodulin (20 U/ml) on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was not entirely seen, when calmodulin was added 10 min after incubation in the presence of CaCl₂ (10 µM) and regucalcin (10^-7 M). The present results demonstrates that regucalcin has an inhibitory effect on Ca²⁺ /calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activation in the cytosol of rat renal cortex.     

Calmodulin regulation of adenylate cyclase activity

Calmodulin-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase was initially thought to be a unique feature of neural tissues. In recent years evidence to the contrary has accumulated, calmodulin-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase now being demonstrated in a wide range of structurally unrelated tissues and species. Demonstration of the existence of calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase has in nearly all instances required the removal of endogenous calmodulin. It is not yet clear whether calmodulin-dependent and calmodulin-independent forms of the enzyme exist and whether some tissues (such as heart) lack a calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase. The presence of calmodulin appears largely responsible for the ability of the adenylate cyclase enzyme to be stimulated by submicromolar concentrations of calcium; it may not be relevant to the inhibition of the enzyme which occurs at higher concentrations of calcium. The physical relationship of calmodulin to the plasma membrane bound enzyme (or to the soluble forms of the enzyme) is not known nor is the mechanism of adenylate cyclase activation by calmodulin clear; current data suggest some involvement with both the N and C units of the enzyme. Finally, it is possible that in vivo calcium contributes to the duration of the hormone stimulated cyclic AMP signal. Thus current in vitro data suggest that optimal hormonal activation of calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase occurs at very low intracellular calcium concentrations, comparable to those found in the resting cell; conversely the enzyme is inhibited as intracellular calcium increases, following for example agonist stimulation of the cell. These higher calcium concentrations would then activate calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase. Such differential effects of calcium on adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase would ultimately restrict the duration of the hormone-induced cyclic AMP signal.     

Ontogenetic changes in adenylate cyclase, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and calmodulin in chick ventricular myocardium.

The activities of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (3',5'-cyclic nucleotide 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17) and adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] and calmodulin content during development of chick ventricular myocardium were determined. The specific activity of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was relatively low in early embryos, increased during embryogenesis by about 4-fold to reach highest values just before hatching, and then decreased by approx. 30% within 1 week after hatching. In contrast, adenylate cyclase did not change during embryonic development, but increased by approx. 50% within 1 week after hatching. Calmodulin content remained constant at 9 micrograms/g wet wt. during embryonic development and decreased to 6 micrograms/g wet wt. by 1 week after hatching. DEAE-Sephacel chromatography of chick ventricular supernatant revealed a single major form of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in early embryonic (9-day E) and hatched (6-day H) chicks. This enzyme form was eluted at approx. 0.27 M-sodium acetate, hydrolysed both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, and was sensitive to stimulation by Ca2+-calmodulin, with an apparent Km for calmodulin of approx. 1 nM. In contrast, ventricular supernatant from late-embryonic (18-day E) chicks contained two forms of phosphodiesterase separable on DEAE-Sephacel: the same form as that seen at other ages, plus a cyclic AMP-specific form which was eluted at approx. 0.65 M-sodium acetate and was insensitive to stimulation by Ca2+-calmodulin. The ontogenetic changes in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in chick ventricular myocardium are consistent with reported ontogenetic changes in the steady-state contents of cyclic AMP in this tissue and suggest that this enzyme may be responsible for the changes that occur in this nucleotide during development of chick myocardium.     

Calcium Dependence of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Stimulated Cyclic AMP Accumulation in Rat Hippocampal Slices

Previous work has shown that incubation of hippocampal slices in medium without added calcium markedly attenuates the capacity of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to elevate cyclic AMP levels. The present studies examined the mechanism that confers calcium dependence on VIP stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in hippocampal slices. Calcium dependence was apparent immediately on slice preparation and was reversible only if calcium ions were added back very early during slice incubation (within 5 min). The cyclic AMP response to VIP was not abolished by preincubating slices in 100 microM adenosine, suggesting that calcium-dependent, VIP-induced release of adenosine does not mediate VIP elevation of cyclic AMP. VIP-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was not decreased by agents that block calcium influx (verapamil, nifedipine, magnesium ions), or by calmodulin antagonists (trifluoperazine, calmidozolium). In fact both verapamil (100 microM) and magnesium (14 mM) augmented VIP stimulation of cyclic AMP generation. Incubation of slices with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX) did not affect VIP activation of cyclic AMP accumulation if slices were incubated without added calcium, but MIX did enhance VIP elevation of cyclic AMP content in slices incubated with calcium. Thus calcium dependence of the cyclic AMP response to VIP in hippocampal slices is unlikely to result from VIP-dependent calcium influx, from interactions with calmodulin, or from calcium-inhibited phosphodiesterase(s).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Glycogen metabolism and cyclic AMP levels in isolated islets of lean and genetically obese mice.

The levels of glycogen and cyclic AMP, incorporation of glucose into glycogen and activities of glycogen synthetase and phosphorylase were determined in pancreatic islets isolated from genetically obese mice and their lean litter-mates. Islets from obese mice had elevated glycogen levels, increased phosphorylase activity and an increased amount of glycogen synthetase in the physiologically more effective I-form, indicating an increased turnover of glycogen. There was no significant difference in cyclic AMP levels between islets of lean and obese mice, but inhibition of phosphodiesterase or stimulation of adenyl cyclase increased cyclic AMP levels more in obese than in lean mouse islets, indicating a more rapid turnover of cyclic AMP in the former. It is suggested that cyclic AMP stimulated phosphorolytic breakdown of glycogen may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the increased insulin secretory response to glucose observed in islets from genetically obese mice.     

Stimulation of rat liver cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase by cyclic GMP is dependent on enzyme concentration

A high-speed supernatant of rat liver extract displayed multiple forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17). One of the forms catalyzed the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, with approximately comparable facility. One salient feature of the enzyme is that at micromolar concentrations, cyclic GMP stimulated the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP, but not vice versa. Another is that the activity of phosphodiesterase varied as a function of enzyme concentration in the assayed system: the enzyme activity was higher at low than at high enzyme concentrations. A concentrated enzyme was not stimulated by cyclic GMP but was stimulated by cyclic GMP upon dilution of the enzyme. Conversely, stimulation of the enzyme by cyclic GMP could be reversed by increasing the enzyme concentration. The cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was partially purified by a continuous sucrose density gradient. The apparent change of phosphodiesterase activity as a function of enzyme concentration was also observed after partial purification by the sucrose density gradient. High enzyme concentrations favored the aggregated form of phosphodiesterase, whereas low concentrations favored the dissociated form. Dilution of the enzyme shifted the equilibrium toward the dissociated form, which presumably exposed the cyclic GMP regulatory site on the enzyme molecule.