Mechanism of corticotropin action on adrenal protein synthesis. The effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis and calcium chelators

We have recently shown that beside a general stimulation of most adrenal proteins, corticotropin induces a marked increase in a specific adrenal cytosolic protein, protein E, in intact and hypophysectomized rats. To further clarify the mechanisms by which corticotropin exerts its trophic action we have investigated the effects of cycloheximide, calcium and calcium chelator administration on intact and hypophysectomized animals. These substances were injected in rats with or without corticotropin, and slices of adrenal glands from control and treated animals were removed 5 h later, incubated with [14C]- or [3H]-leucine for 2 h, and cytosolic proteins analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a dual labelling technique. When high doses of cycloheximide (higher than 500 micrograms) were injected in rats, incorporation of labelled leucine in adrenal slices of control and corticotropin-treated animals was inhibited. With 500 micrograms cycloheximide per rat, incorporation of labelled leucine in adrenal slices of control animals was normal, but the corticotropin stimulation of both protein E and total protein synthesis was inhibited. Lower doses of cycloheximide (100 micrograms per rat) completely inhibited the stimulatory effect of corticotropin on total protein synthesis but did not affect protein E synthesis, while after 50 micrograms per rat both stimulatory effects were preserved. The two higher doses of cycloheximide (500 and 100 micrograms per rat) could not completely block the steroidogenic effect of the hormone. The effects of calcium and calcium chelators were studied in 1-day hypophysectomized rats. Calcium alone or injected simultaneously with corticotropin has no effect. Calcium chelators injected simultaneously with corticotropin partially inhibited the stimulatory effects of corticotropin on steroidogenesis but totally inhibited stimulation of total protein synthesis, while the stimulation of protein E persisted. Our results show that after corticotropin, stimulation of protein E synthesis correlates better with steroidogenesis than with total protein synthesis.     

Corticotropin regulation of the synthesis of a specific rat adrenal cytosolic protein. Effects of hypophysectomy and actinomycin D

The mechanism of corticotropin stimulation of the synthesis of a specific rat adrenal cytosolic protein was investigated. This protein (protein E) has a mol.wt. of approx. 30000. It is detected by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of cytosol prepared from adrenal slices from rats treated with corticotropin in vivo and control rats, the slices being incubated with [(3)H]- and [(14)C]-leucine respectively. In rats 1-15 days after hypophysectomy, corticotropin, like dibutyryl cyclic AMP, induces an increase in protein E similar to that induced in control rats, even though both compounds no longer stimulate total protein synthesis. Corticotropin stimulation of protein E synthesis is mediated by cyclic AMP but not by corticosterone, since aminoglutethimide, a steroidogenic inhibitor, does not affect corticotropin stimulation, and dexamethasone alone has no effect. Actinomycin D, when injected in vivo 1h before or after corticotropin injection, prevents the effect of corticotropin on protein E synthesis, which is interpreted as evidence that mRNA synthesis is necessary for the stimulation of protein E synthesis. When injected more than 2h after corticotropin, actinomycin D does not prevent corticotropin stimulation of protein E synthesis, but completely blocks corticotropin stimulation of total protein synthesis. This is interpreted as meaning that, after stimulation of mRNA coding for protein E, corticotropin has no effect on the synthesis of protein E. On the other hand, corticotropin stimulation of protein E synthesis persists after hypophysectomy even though it no longer stimulates total protein synthesis. These data suggest that the factor(s) involved in the synthesis of protein E are more stable than those involved in total protein synthesis.     

Hormonal regulation of insulin-like growth factor I secretion by bovine adrenal cells

The role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on the specific function of several steroidogenic cells has been recently reported. Since IGF-I is produced by several tissues, we have investigated whether bovine adrenal cells secrete this peptide. Purification of conditioned medium from adrenal cells incubated with [35S]methionine through affinity chromatography (monoclonal anti-IGF-I antibody), high pressure liquid chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a single band of similar Mr as pure recombinant IGF-I. Moreover, the purified adrenal-secreted IGF-I displaced bound 125I-IGF-I to its adrenal receptors, and pretreatment of adrenal cells with the purified peptide enhanced the acute corticotropin (ACTH)-induced cAMP production as recombinant IGF-I. The basal secretion of IGF-I (6 +/- 1 ng/48 h/10(6) cells) was stimulated 3-, 4.5-, and 9.5-fold by fibroblast growth factor, angiotensin II (A-II), and ACTH, respectively, but not by growth hormone. The stimulatory effects of A-II and ACTH were dose-dependent (ED50 congruent to 2.5 x 10(-8) and 1.5 x 10(-10) M, respectively), and the effects of both hormones were additive. Glucocorticoids were not the mediators of the effect of the two hormones on IGF-I secretion, since inhibition of their steroidogenic action by aminoglutethimide did not significantly modify IGF-I secretion. An immunoreactive IGF-I material was also secreted by mouse adrenal tumor cell line Y-1, but the stimulatory effect of ACTH was only 2-fold, and there was no effect of A-II. Since bovine adrenal cells contain specific IGF-I receptors and this peptide is required for the maintenance of some adrenal cell-specific function, the present data suggest that IGF-I may act in an autocrine fashion to stimulate adrenal cell differentiation stimulated by ACTH and A-II.     

Effects of hormones on protein and amino acid metabolism in mammary-gland explants of mice.

The effects of insulin, cortisol and prolactin on amino acid uptake and protein biosynthesis were determined in mammary-gland explants from mid-pregnant mice. Insulin stimulated [3H]leucine incorporation into protein within 15 min of adding insulin to the incubation medium. Insulin also had a rapid stimulatory effect on the rate of aminoiso[14C]butyric acid uptake, but it had no effect on the intracellular accumulation of [3H]leucine. Cortisol inhibited the rate of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein during the initial 4h of incubation, but it had no effect at subsequent times. [3H]Leucine uptake was unaffected by cortisol, but amino[14C]isobutyric acid uptake was inhibited after a 4h exposure period to this hormone. Prolactin stimulated the rate of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein when tissues were exposed to this hormone for 4h or more; up to 4h, however, no effect of prolactin was detected. At all times tested, prolactin had no effect on the uptake of either amino[14C]isobutyric acid or [3H]leucine. Incubation with actinomycin D abolished the prolactin stimulation of protein biosynthesis, but this antibiotic did not affect the insulin response. A distinct difference in the mechanism of action of these hormones on protein biosynthesis in the mammary gland is thus apparent.     

Specific protein synthesis in isolated rat testis leydig cells. Influence of luteinizing hormone and cycloheximide.

The effect of luteinizing hormone (luteotropin) and cycloheximide on specific protein synthesis in rat testis Leydig cells has been investigated. Proteins were labelled with either I114C]leucine, [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine during incubation with Leydig-cell suspensions in vitro. Total protein was extracted from the cells and separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. No detectable increase in the synthesis of specific proteins could be observed after incubation of Leydig cells with luteinizing hormone for up to 1 h. However, after a 2h incubation period, an increase in [35S]methionine incorporation was observed in a protein with an apparent mol.wt. of 21000 (referred to as 'protein 21"). When, after labelling of this protein with [35S]-methionine, Leydig cells were incubated for another 30min with cycloheximide, no decrease in radioactivity of this protein band was observed, indicating that it does not have a short half-life. However, another protein band was detected, which after incubation with cycloheximide disappeared rapidly, the reaction following first-order kinetics, with a half-life of about 11 min. This protein, with an apparent mol.wt. of 33000 (referred to as "protein 33"), was found to be located in the particulate fraction of the Leydig cell, and could not be demonstrated in other rat testis-cell types or blood cells. No effect of luteinizing hormone on molecular weight, subcellular localization or half-life of protein 33 was observed. A possible role for protein 33 and protein 21 in the mechanism of action of luteinizing hormone on testosterone production of Leydig cells is discussed.     

On the requirement for protein synthesis during corticotropin-induced stimulation of cholesterol side chain cleavage in rat adrenal mitochondrial and solubilized desmolase preparations.

Following simple homogenization, significant amounts of mitochondrial-derived, cholesterol side chain cleaving enzyme (desmolase) activity are recovered in rat adrenal 105 000 X g-supernatant fraction. Corticotropin administration enhances soluble desmolase activity, and cycloheximide potentiates this effect. The lipid droplet fraction which has no desmolase activity markedly enhances pregnenolone synthesis in the soluble desmolase preparations, presumably by supplying free cholesterol substrate. Corticotropin particularly with cycloheximide pretreatment, enhances lipid fraction activity. Thus increased cholesterol availability may largely explain the corticotropin effect on the soluble desmolase system. Since protein synthesis is required for corticotropin activity in intact mitochondria, but not in calcium-swollen mitochondria or the soluble enzyme system, the labile protein apparently required during corticotropin action may function to overcome a "barrier" which exists only in the intact mitochondria and restrains cholesterol side chain cleavage.     

Localization of the metabolic processes affected by calcium during corticotropin action.

To define the role of calcium during corticotropin-induced steroidogenesis, adrenal sections were incubated under conditions of varying degrees of calcium depletion. Corticosterone production, [14C]leucine incorporation into protein, and tissue cyclic AMP levels were measured concomitantly. Omitting calcium from the incubation media inhibited all three processes to variable extents, thus limiting conclusions regarding which process is most dependent on calcium. While calcium was required during the early phase of corticotropin action, it was not required during later phases: rapid induction of calcium deficiency did not diminish the heightened rate of steroidogenesis previously induced by corticotropin in the presence of calcium. Thus, while calcium is required for induction of steroidogenesis factor(s), the operation of the latter is not dependent upon calcium in the extracellular fluid.     

Evidence that insulin and guanosine triphosphate regulate dephosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor in sarcolemma membranes isolated from skeletal muscle.

When sarcolemma membranes isolated from rat skeletal muscle were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, a membrane protein of apparent Mr 95,000 was rapidly phosphorylated, with the 32P content reaching a maximum within 2 s. On the basis of immunoprecipitation with anti-insulin-receptor antiserum, phosphoamino acid analysis and Mr, this protein probably represents the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor. Similarly, on incubation of the membrane with adenosine 5'-[gamma-[35S]thio] triphosphate the 95 kDa protein was thiophosphorylated, indicating thiophosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor on the basis of immunoprecipitation studies. The effect of insulin on the phosphorylation of this protein in the membrane was studied. Insulin induced a 20% decrease in the 32P labelling of the protein when the membranes were phosphorylated for 10 s. This insulin effect was dose-dependent, with half-maximal effect obtained at 2-3 nM-insulin. Addition of GTP, but not GDP or guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate, enhanced the effect to 35% inhibition, with half-maximal effect of GTP obtained at 0.5 microM. GTP had no effect on the phosphorylation of the protein in the absence of insulin. Analysis of this insulin effect showed that insulin increased the rate of dephosphorylation of the 95 kDa protein in the membrane. In contrast, insulin had no effect on thiophosphorylation of the 95 kDa membrane protein after incubation with adenosine 5'-[gamma-[35S]thio]triphosphate. Since thiophosphorylated proteins are less sensitive to phosphatase action, these investigations suggest that insulin stimulated a protein phosphatase activity in a GTP-dependent manner. The possibility that GTP-regulatory proteins are involved in the action of insulin on the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and other membrane proteins is discussed.     

Regulation of angiotensin II receptors and steroidogenic responsiveness in cultured bovine fasciculata and glomerulosa adrenal cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of several effectors on angiotensin II (A-II) receptors and steroidogenic responsiveness in cultured bovine fasciculata cells. Treatment of adrenal cells for 24 h with A-II (0.1 microM), corticotropin (1 nM), phorbol ester (PMA 0.1 microM), calcium ionophore A23187 (0.1 microM) and cyclic 8-bromoAMP (1 mM) produced a loss of A-II receptors whereas the A-II antagonist [Sar1-Ala8]A-II (0.1 microM) led to a small but significant increase. The extent of the down-regulation of receptors following maximal concentrations of A-II was greater than that produced by the other agents. The effects of A-II were dose-dependent with a ID50 of 3 nM. Since cycloheximide and actinomycin blocked the down-regulation of receptors, it seems likely that the effectors lead to the synthesis of certain proteins which inhibit the recycling of internalized receptors. Pretreatment of adrenal cells with A-II induced both homologous (90% decrease) and heterologous (corticotropin 83, PMA and ionophore 76% decrease) steroidogenic desensitization. However, the cAMP response to corticotropin of A-II-pretreated cells was higher (P less than 0.001) than for control cells. Pretreatment with PMA and A23187 also resulted in both homologous and heterologous steroidogenic refractoriness but to a lesser degree than that induced by A-II. In contrast, corticotropin-pretreated cells responded normally to further stimulation with corticotropin or A-II. Similarly pretreatment of bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells with A-II (1 nM and 0.1 microM) and corticotropin (1 nM) also induced A-II receptor loss and steroidogenic refractoriness. The present findings indicate that, in contrast to the results reported in vivo in the rat, where A-II leads to up-regulation of its own receptors on glomerulosa cells and increases steroidogenic responsiveness, this peptide results in both down-regulation and desensitization in cultured bovine fasciculata and glomerulosa cells. Our results also emphasize the absence of correlation between A-II receptor loss and steroidogenic responsiveness.     

Corticotropin increases protein tyrosine phosphatase activity by a cAMP-dependent mechanism in rat adrenal gland.

Corticotropin signal transduction pathway involves serine/threonine protein phosphorylation. Recent reports suggest that protein tyrosine dephosphorylation may also be an integral component of that pathway. The present study was performed to investigate the role played by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) on acute response to corticotropin and the hypothetical regulation of PTPs by this hormone. We have used two powerful cell permeant PTP inhibitors, phenylarsine oxide (PAO) and pervanadate (PV), in order to examine the relevance of PTP activity on hormone-stimulated and 8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-phosphate (8Br-cAMP is a permeant analogue of adenosine 3',5'-phosphate)-stimulated steroidogenesis in adrenal zona fasciculata (ZF) cells. In both cases, PAO and PV inhibited the steroid production in a dose-dependent fashion, and had no effect on steroidogenesis supported by a permeant analogue of cholesterol. The effect of hormonal stimulation on PTP activity was analyzed in rat adrenal ZF. In vivo corticotropin treatment reduced phosphotyrosine content in endogenous proteins and produced a transient increase of PTP activity in the cytosolic fraction, reaching a maximum (twofold) after 15 min. Incubation of adrenal ZF with 8Br-cAMP also produced PTP activation, suggesting that it can be mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-dependent phosphorylation. Detection of PTP activity in an in-gel assay showed three corticotropin-stimulated soluble PTPs with molecular masses of 115, 80 and 50 kDa. In summary, we report for the first time a hormone-dependent PTP activation in a steroidogenic tissue and provide evidence that PTP activity plays an important role in corticotropin signal pathway, acting downstream of PKA activation and upstream of cholesterol transport across the mitochondrial membrane.     

Corticotropin stimulates cyclic nucleotide independent protein kinase activity of intact adrenocortical cells

Intact adrenocortical cells possess cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activity which is capable of phosphorylating endogenous proteins and casein when incubated in the presence of [γ-³²P]ATP. The cyclic nucleotide-independent enzyme was dependent on cell number and temperature and had an apparent K_m for ATP of 6.5 × 10^?5 M and a V_max of 12.5 pmol/3 min/2 × 10⁵ cells at 37°C. Phosphorylation of endogenous proteins by this kinase was increased by treatment of intact cells with corticotropin (2.2 nM) for 24 h. In control cells, two endogenous proteins of apparent molecular weights of 39,000 and 76,000 were phosphorylated. In corticotropin-treated cells, another protein of apparent molecular weight of 87,000 was also phosphorylated. Thus, this protein kinase activity, which appears to be located on the plasma membrane, may be involved in mediating longer term actions of corticotropin on the adrenal cortex.     

Variations in guanine-binding proteins (Gs, Gi) in cultured bovine adrenal cells. Consequences on the effects of phorbol ester and angiotensin II on adrenocorticotropin-induced and cholera-toxin-induced cAMP production

The corticotropin (ACTH) or cholera-toxin-induced cAMP production by cultured bovine adrenal cells increased progressively between days 0 and 7 of culture. Angiotensin II (A-II), which inhibited both basal and ACTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase of crude adrenal membranes, had no effect on ACTH-induced or cholera-toxin-induced cAMP production by fresh isolated cells (day 0) but progressively potentiated the stimulatory action of both effectors from day 0----1 to day 7 of culture. In contrast, phorbol ester had a potentiating effect on fresh isolated cells. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin enhanced the potentiating effect of A-II on cells between 0 and 3 days of culture, but not after 7 days. ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin (ribosylating alpha s proteins) or pertussis toxin (alpha i proteins), of adrenal membranes prepared from fresh isolated or cultured cells revealed an increase in alpha s and a dramatic decrease in alpha i, the ratios alpha i/alpha s on days 0, 3 and 7 of culture were 4, 0.6 and 0.1 respectively. These results indicate that (a) A-II had a double effect on ACTH-induced or cholera-toxin-induced cAMP production: one inhibitory mediated by Gi, the other stimulatory mediated by protein kinase C activation; this could explain the lack of apparent effect of A-II on fresh cells; (b) the progressive decrease of alpha i might be responsible for the appearance of the potentiating effect of A-II whereas the progressive increase of alpha s could explain the enhanced responsiveness to ACTH or cholera toxin of cultured cells.     

On the mechanism of action of adrenocorticotropic hormone. The role of ACTH-stimulated phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of adrenal proteins

The regulatory role of phosphorylation of adrenal proteins as it relates to the mechanism of action of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has been studied. ACTH, cyclic AMP, or cyclic GMP were added to rat adrenal quarters which had been preincubated with [32P]phosphate. 32P-labeled proteins in subcellular fractions were identified after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The addition of ACTH consistently resulted in the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of specific adrenal proteins and produced characteristic phosphorylation patterns (autoradiographs) for each subcellular fraction which were very different from control. The changes in phosphorylation of proteins preceded corticosterone production. Also, the degree of phosphorylation of these specific proteins followed a dose-response relationship with ACTH which correlated well to the dose-response for corticosterone production. When cAMP was added to adrenal quarters, the resulting phosphorylation changes were identical to those induced by ACTH. When cGMP was added to adrenal quarters, the resulting phosphorylation patterns were very similar to those produced by control incubations. ACTH or cAMP stimulated corticosterone production 6-fold when compared to control or cGMP-treated tissue. These results suggest that tropic action of ACTH is mediated by cAMP by both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of specific adrenal proteins.     

Localization of the metabolic processes affected by calcium during corticotropin action

To define the role of calcium during corticotropin-induced steroidogenesis, adrenal sections were incubated under conditions of varying degrees of calcium depletion. Corticosterone production, [¹⁴C]leucine incorporation into protein, and tissue cyclic AMP levels were measured concomitantly. Omitting calcium from the incubation inhibited all three processes to variable extents, thus limiting conclusions regarding which process is most dependent on calcium.While calcium was required during the early phase of corticotropin action, it was not required during later phases; rapid induction of calcium defiency did not diminish the heightened rate of steroidogenesis previously induced by corticotropin in the presence of calcium. Thus, while calcium is required for induction of steroidogenesis factor(s), the operation of the latter is not dependent upon calcium in the extracellular fluid.     

Effects of ACTH (corticotropin) analogues on steroidogenesis and cyclic AMP in rat adrenocortical cells. Evidence for two different steroidogenically responsive receptors.

Comparative studies on the mechanism of action of ACTH1-39 and ACTH5-24 [corticotropin-(1-39)- and corticotropin-(5-24)-peptides] on isolated rat adrenal cells were performed. The relationship between stimulated steroidogenesis and cyclic AMP was very different, suggesting that cyclic AMP does not play the same role in mediating the action of the two agonists. Data from three separate experiments showed that the competitive antagonist ACTH6-24 [corticotropin-(6-24)-peptide] had mean inhibitor constants of 13.4 +/- 3.1 nM against ACTH1-39 and 3.4 +/- 1.0 nM against ACTH5-24, indicating that the steroidogenic actions of these two agonists are mediated by two different receptor types. We conclude that there are two possible mechanisms for corticotropin action, only one of which involves the necessary production of cyclic AMP.     

Response of adrenal tumor cells to adrenocorticotropin: site of inhibition by cytochalasin B.

The ability of cytochalasin B to inhibit the steroidogenic response of mouse adrenal tumor cells (Y-1) to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was examined with two aims: to consider the specificity of the inhibitor and to determine at what point(s) in the steroidogenic pathway it acts. Cytochalasin B did not inhibit protein synthesis or transport of [3H]-cholesterol into the cells nor did it alter total cell concentration of ATP. Together with previous evidence, this suggests that the effects of cytochalasin observed are relatively specific in these cells. Cytochalasin inhibits the increase in conversion of [3H]cholesterol to 20alpha-[3H]dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one: a major product of the steroid pathway in Y-1 cells) produced by ACTH but does not inhibit conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by mitochondrial and purified enzyme preparations from Y-1 cells and bovine adrenal, respectively. Cytochalasin does not inhibit the conversion of pregnenolone to 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone but was shown to inhibit increased transport of [3H]cholesterol to mitochondria resulting from the action of ACTH. These findings indicate that cytochalasin acts after cholesterol has entered the cells and before it is subjected to side-chain cleavage in mitochondria. In view of the known action of cytochalasin on microfilaments, it is proposed that these organelles are necessary for the transport of cholesterol to the mitochondrial cleavage enzyme and that at least one effect of ACTH (and cyclic AMP) is exerted upon this transport process. The specificity of the effects of cytochalasin is considered in relation to this conclusion.     

D2 Dopamine Receptors on Bovine Chromaffin Cell Membranes: Identification and Characterization by [3H]N-Methylspiperone Binding

Although dopamine-containing cells are known to be present in sympathetic ganglia, the site of action and the role of dopamine in ganglion function remain obscure. In the present work, we evaluated the interaction of dopamine receptor ligands with particulate membrane fractions from bovine chromaffin cells and adrenal medullary homogenates using the D2 dopamine receptor radioligand [3H]N-methylspiperone ([3H]NMSP). Scatchard analysis of [3H]NMSP saturation experiments revealed a Bmax of 24.1 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg of protein and a KD of 0.23 +/- 0.03 nM in the particulate fraction from adrenal medulla homogenates and a Bmax of 26.5 +/- 2.7 fmol/mg of membrane protein and a KD of 0.25 +/- 0.02 nM in the particulate fraction prepared from isolated adrenal chromaffin cells. There were approximately 1,000 receptors/cell. There were no detectable levels of specific [3H]NMSP binding in the particulates prepared from adrenal cortical or capsular homogenates. Competition studies with the nonradioactive D2 receptor antagonists spiperone, chlorpromazine, and (-)-sulpiride revealed KI values of 0.28, 21, and 196 nM, respectively. The (+) isomer of butaclamol displayed a 604-fold higher affinity than the (-) isomer. Competition studies with the dopamine receptor agonists dopamine and apomorphine revealed affinities of 3,960 and 417 nM, respectively. A correlation coefficient of 0.96 was obtained in studies comparing the potencies of drugs in inhibiting specific [3H]NMSP binding in bovine adrenal medullary homogenates and in inhibiting specific [3H]NMSP binding to brain D2 dopamine receptors. In summary, radiolabeling studies using [3H]NMSP have revealed the presence of D2 dopamine receptors on bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of different steroidogenic stimuli on protein phosphorylation and steroidogenesis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells.

Numerous studies have indicated that treatment of Leydig cells with gonadotropin results in increased levels of intracellular cAMP, binding of cAMP to and activation of protein kinase A, phosphorylation of proteins, synthesis of new proteins and eventually, stimulation of steroidogenesis. In addition, recent studies have indicated that protein phosphorylation is an indispensable event in the production of steroids in response to hormone stimulation in adrenal cells. Because of the important role of phosphorylation in steroidogenic regulation, we investigated the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), forskolin and the phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on protein phosphorylation in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Cells were stimulated with different steroidogenic compounds in the presence of [32P]orthophosphoric acid for 2 h and phosphoproteins analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (PAGE). Results demonstrated an increase in the phosphorylation of four proteins (22 kDa, pI 5.9; 24 kDa, pI 6.7 and 30 kDa, pI 6.3 and 6.5) in response to 34 ng/ml hCG, 1 mM dbcAMP and 100 microM forskolin. Conversely, treatment of cells with PMA increased the phosphorylation of only one of these proteins (30 kDa, pI 6.3). At least two of these proteins (30 kDa, pI 6.5 and 6.3) appear to be identical to proteins which we and others have shown to be synthesized in response to trophic hormone stimulation in adrenal, luteal and Leydig cells. In addition, they also appear to be identical to adrenal cell mitochondrial proteins demonstrated to be phosphorylated in response to ACTH. These data indicate that proteins similar to those phosphorylated in adrenal cells in response to ACTH are phosphorylated in hormone stimulated testicular Leydig cells and that these proteins may be involved in steroidogenic regulation.     

Selective effect of zinc compared to other divalent metals on L-triiodothyronine binding to rat c-erbA alpha and beta proteins

The effects of zinc and other divalent metals on the [125I]T3 binding to rat c-erbA alpha and beta recombinant proteins were assessed. The addition of ZnCl2 caused a reversible and dose-dependent inhibition of [125I]T3 binding to rc-erbA beta proteins with half maximum inhibition occurring at 50-100 microM, but no significant effect on [125I]T3 binding to rc-erbA alpha under the same assay conditions. Scatchard analysis revealed a decrease in [125I]T3 binding capacity to beta protein without marked change in Kd values in presence of zinc. Moreover, significant inhibitions of [125I]T3 binding to both alpha and beta proteins were observed in the presence of 100 microM of either MnCl2, CdCl2 or CuCl2, but not MgCl2. Thus, the selective effect of zinc compared to other divalent metals to inhibit T3 binding to rc-erbA beta, but not alpha, proteins was documented and suggest a possible regulatory role for zinc in modulating the intracellular action of thyroid hormone.