Adenylate cyclase system of bovine adrenal plasma membranes.

The adenylate cyclase system present in a preparation enriched in plasma membranes derived from bovine adrenal cortex was investigated in considerable detail. This system is stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), by biologically active analogs of this hormone, and by fluoride ion. The preparation contains sodium-potassium- and magnesium-dependent ATPases that are markedly inhibited by 50 mM sodium fluoride. Incorporation of a pyruvate phosphokinase ATP generating system into the adenylate cyclase assay medium provided constant substrate levels. In the presence of the ATP generating system, the rate of cyclic AMP formation (basal, fluoride, and ACTH-activated) was proportional to enzyme concentration and was linear with time. Proportionality with respect to enzyme concentration as concerned the hormone-activated adenylate cyclase was achieved only when the ratio of hormone to enzyme protein was kept constant. The temperature optimum of the adenylate cyclase, basal or activated, was approximately 30 degrees. Michaelis-Menten kinetics were observed when the ratio of Mg2+ to ATP was approximately 6:1. Both calcium and ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid completely inhibited the adenylate cyclase system at concentrations of 5 and 0.5 mM, respectively. GTP was inhibitory at concentrations of 10-2 M but had little effect at lower concentrations. Freezing in liquid nitrogen and storage at -60 degrees exerted little effect on the fluoride-stimulated enzyme but lowered hormone stimulated activity. Preincubation in the presence of ACTH afforded a high degree of stabilization of the enzyme system while preincubation with a biologically inactive analog afforded no protection.     

Distribution of parathyroid hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase in isolated rabbit renal cortex microvessels and glomeruli

The effect of the synthetic amino-terminal fragment of bovine parathyroid hormone, bPTH-(1-34), on the adenylate cyclase of microvessels and glomeruli isolated from rabbit kidney cortex was studied in the presence and absence of guanosine triphosphate (GTP). bPTH-(1-34) stimulated the vascular and glomerular adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner with apparent ED50 values of 11.5 nM and 64 nM respectively, in the absence of GTP. 10(-4)M GTP greatly amplified the vascular response to bPTH-(1-34) while, in the glomeruli, both GTP and bPTH-(1-34) had only additive effects. In the presence of GTP, vascular and glomerular apparent ED50 were 190 nM and 64 nM respectively. [Nle8, Nle18, Tyr34] -bPTH-(3-34) amide, described as a PTH antagonist, inhibited the action of bPTH-(1-34) in the microvessels and to a lesser extent in the glomeruli. PTH is therefore a potent stimulator of adenylate cyclase in rabbit renal microvessels and glomeruli, and may play a role in the regulation of renal blood flow and glomerulo-tubular feedback control.     

Refractoriness of ovarian adenylate cyclase to continued hormonal stimulation.

Culture of preovulatory rat follicles with luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone or prostaglandin E2 for 24 h reduced the subsequent response of adenylate cyclase to the homologous by 80, 50 and 90%, respectively; yet follicles refractory to luteinizing hormone fully responded to follicle-stimulating hormone responded to luteinizing hormone and prostaglandin E2, and those refractory to prostaglandin E2 could be stimulated by either gonadotropin. Desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system by luteinizing hormone was achieved by hormone concentrations of 0.8--2.0 mug/ml in the medium; a lower dose of luteinizing hormone (0.4 mug/ml), though effective in stimulating adenylate cyclase, did not induce refractoriness. Prostaglandin E2 caused partial refractoriness at dose levels of 0.1--0.25 mug/ml; higher dose levels were more effective. These findings suggest that continued exposure to the preovulatory follicle to elevated levels of hormones may cause perturbations in either the interaction between the hormone and its specific receptor or in a subsequent step essential for activation of adenylate cyclase.     

Predictive value of the analogy between hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase and light-sensitive photoreceptor cyclic GMP Phosphodiesterase: A specific role for a light-sensitive GTPase as a component in the activation sequence

We report experiments which involve a light sensitive GTPase in the light dependent activation of retinal rod 3′5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterase (PDE). The data suggest that the light activated GTPase is intermediate between rhodopsin and PDE in the light-dependent activation sequence. We list the many striking similarities between hormone sensitive adenylate cyclase and light activated PDE in order to emphasize that the findings presented herein may have predictive value for ongoing studies of the hormone sensitive adenylate cyclase specifically regarding the role of the hormone activated GTPase in the activation sequence.     

Calcitonin-sensitive adenylate cyclase in rat renal tubular membranes.

1. Renal tubular membranes from rat kidneys were prepared, and adenylate cyclase activity was measured under basal conditions, after stimulation by NaF or salmon calcitonin. Apparent Km value of the enzyme for hormone-linked receptor was close to 1 x 10(-8) M. 2. The system was sensitive to temperature and pH. pH was found to act both on affinity for salmon calcitonin-linked receptor and maximum stimulation, suggesting an effect of pH on hormone-receptor binding and on a subsequent step. 3. KCl was without effect areas whereas CoCl and CaCl2 above 100 muM and MnCl2 above 1 muM inhibited F- -and salmon calcitonin-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities. The Ca2+ inhibition of the response reflected a fall in maximum stimulation and not a loss of affinity of salmon calcitonin-linked receptor for the enzyme. 4. The measurement of salmon calcitonin-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity as a function of ATP concentration showed that the hormone increases the maximum velocity of the adenylate cyclase. GTP, ITP and XTP at 200 muM did not modify basal, salmon calcitonin- and parathyroid hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities. 5. Basal, salmon calcitonin- and F- -sensitive adenylate cyclase activities decreased at Mg2+ concentrations below 10 mM. High concentrations of Mg2+ (100 mM) led to an inhibition of the F- -stimulated enzyme. 6. Salmon calcitonin-linked receptor had a greater affinity for adenylate cyclase than human or porcine calcitonin-linked receptors. There was no additive effect of these three calcitonin peptides whereas parathyroid hormone added to salmon calcitonin increased adenylate cyclase activity, thus showing that both hormones bound to different membrane receptors. Human calcitonin fragments had no effect on adenylate cyclase activity. 7. Salmon calcitonin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity decreased with the preincubation time. This was due to progressive degradation of the hormone and not to the rate of binding to membrane receptors.     

Activation of adenylate cyclase in bovine corpus-luteum membranes by human choriogonadotropin, guanine nucleotides and NaF

1. Preincubation of luteal membranes with human choriogonadotropin results in the formation of an activated state of adenylate cyclase which is not reversed by washing and which is limited only by the absence of guanine nucleotides, whereas preincubation with GTP yields only a partially activated adenylate cyclase which requires the presence of both GTP and human choriogonadotropin during assay to demonstrate maximal activity. 2. Preincubation of luteal membranes with GTP and human choriogonadotropin does not lead to a synergistic increase in wash-resistant activity. 3. Luteal membranes that had been preincubated with GTP and hormone exhibited a decreasing rate of cyclic AMP synthesis during the adenylate cyclase assay incubation; addition of GTP during the assay incubation reversed the decrease. 4. Membranes that had been preincubated in the absence of guanine nucleotide and hormone showed a `burst' phase of cyclic AMP synthesis when GTP was present in the assay incubation and a `lag' phase with p[NH]ppG (guanosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]triphosphate) present in the assay. The presence of human choriogonadotropin with either nucleotide in the assay incubation eliminated the curvatures in plots observed with guanine nucleotides alone. 5. Luteal adenylate cyclase was persistently activated by preincubation with p[NH]ppG alone or in combination with human choriogonadotropin; the activation caused by p[NH]ppG alone was still increasing after 70min of preincubation, whereas that caused by p[NH]ppG in the presence of hormone was essentially complete within 10min of preincubation. 6. Luteal adenylate cyclase that had been partially preactivated by preincubation with p[NH]ppG was slightly increased in activity by the inclusion of further p[NH]ppG in the adenylate cyclase assay incubation, but more so with p[NH]ppG and hormone. Human choriogonadotropin alone caused no further increase in the activity of the partially stimulated preparation unless p[NH]ppG was also added to the assay incubation. 7. GTP decreased the activity of adenylate cyclase in membranes that had been partially preactivated in the presence of p[NH]ppG; the decrease in activity was greater when GTP and hormone were present simultaneously in the assay. 8. The results indicate that stable activation states of adenylate cyclase can be induced by preincubation of luteal membranes in vitro with human choriogonadotropin or p[NH]ppG, and that in the presence of p[NH]ppG the hormone may accelerate events subsequent to guanine nucleotide binding. Stable activation of luteal adenylate cyclase by prior exposure to GTP is not achieved. The involvement of GTPase activity and of hormone-promoted guanine nucleotide exchange in the modulation of luteal adenylate cyclase activity is discussed.     

The effect of gonadotropins on the mitochondrial adenylate cyclase of rat testis

The formation of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate from ATP by testicular mitochondria of immature and mature rats was increased to the same extent by addition of either human chorionic gonadotropin or luteinizing hormone. Follicle stimulating hormone was found to be more active in stimulating adenylate cyclase activity in testicular mitochondria of immature rats. The stimulatory effect of gonadotropins were not suppressed by Ca⁺⁺ complexing agent ethylene-glycol-bis-(β-amino-ethyl ether) N,N′-tetra-acetic acid. The detergent Lubrol PX, solubilized 75–80% of the mitochondrial adenylate cyclase. The solubilized enzyme was activated by sodium fluoride but not by gonadotropins. The present results indicate a direct effect of gonadotropins on the adenylate cyclase attached to mitochondrial membranes.     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase of human platelets by phorbol ester. Impairment of the hormone-sensitive inhibitory pathway

The influence of the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a direct activator of the Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), was studied on regulation of human platelet adenylate cyclase. Intact platelets were pretreated with the phorbol ester and, thereafter, membranes were prepared and the regulation of the hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase in these membranes was studied. The following data were obtained: The TPA treatment applied had apparently no effect on the activity of the catalytic moiety of the platelet adenylate cyclase nor on the stimulatory NS protein nor on stimulatory hormone receptors (prostaglandin E1) and the mutual interactions of these components of the stimulatory hormone-sensitive pathway. However, the TPA treatment of intact platelets largely impaired the GTP-dependent, hormone-sensitive inhibitory pathway to the adenylate cyclase, involving the inhibitory Ni protein. The pretreatment led to a large reduction or loss of adenylate cyclase inhibition by GTP itself and by the inhibitory agonists, epinephrine and thrombin, inhibiting the untreated enzyme via separate receptors by an Ni-mediated process. In contrast, platelet adenylate cyclase inhibition not involving the Ni protein was not affected by the TPA treatment. The observed effects of TPA were very rapid in onset and were not shared by a derivative of TPA which did not activate protein kinase C. The data obtained suggest than protein kinase C activated by the phorbol ester interferes with the platelet adenylate cyclase system, leading to a specific alteration of the Ni-protein-mediated signal transduction to the adenylate cyclase.     

Vasopressin-sensitive kidney adenylate cyclase: Modulation of the hormonal response

Vasopressin-sensitive pig kidney adenylate cyclase is sensitive to several effectors, such as Mg²⁺, other divalent cations, and guanyl nucleotides. The purpose of the present study was to compare the main characteristics of adenylate cyclase activation by vasopressin, Mg²⁺, and GMPPNP, respectively. Mg^2+·ions were shown to exert at least three different effects on adenylate cyclase. The substrate of the adenylate cyclase reaction is the Mg-ATP complex. Mg²⁺ interacts with an enzyme regulatory site. Finally, Mg²⁺ can modulate the hormonal response, with Mg²⁺ions affecting the coupling function–that is, the quantitative relationship between receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation. At all the magnesium concentrations tested, from 0.25 mM to 16 mM, adenylate cyclase activation was not a direct function of receptor occupancy. At low Mg²⁺ concentrations, adenylate cyclase activation dose-response curve to the hormone tended to be superimposable to the hormone dose-binding curve. These results suggest a role of magnesium at the coupling step between the hormone-receptor complex and adenylate cyclase response. Cobalt, but not calcium, ions could exert the same effects as Mg²⁺ ions on this coupling step. GMPPNP induced considerable adenylate cyclase activation (15 to 35 times the basal value). Activation by GMPPNP was highly time and temperature dependent. At 30° C, a 20 to 60 min preincubation period in the presence of GMPPNP was needed to obtain maximal activation. The higher the dose of GMPPNP in the medium, the longer it took to reach equilibrium. At 15° C, activation was still increasing with time after 3 hr preincubation in the presence of the nucleotide. GMPPNP was active in a 10^?8 M to 10^?5 M concentration range. Unlike the results obtained with lysine vasopressin, the kinetic characteristics of dose-dependent adenylate cyclase activation curves by GMPPNP were unaffected by varying Mg²⁺ concentrations except for the increase in velocity when raising Mg²⁺ concentration. It was not clear whether or not the activation processes by the hormone and by GMPPNP had common mechanisms.     

Refractoriness of ovarian adenylate cyclase to continued hormonal stimulation

Culture of preovulatory rat follicles with luteinizing hormone, folliclestimulating hormone or prostaglandin E₂ for 24 h reduced the subsequent response of adenylate cyclase to the homologous hormone by 80, 50 and 90%, respectively; yet follicles refractory to luteinizing hormone fully responded to follicle-stimulating hormone or prostaglandin E₂, those refractory to follicle-stimulating hormone responded to luteinizing hormone and prostaglandin E₂, and those refractory to prostaglandin E₂ could be stimulated by either gonadotropin. Desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system by luteinizing hormone was achieved by hormone concentrations of 0.8−2.0 μg/ml in the mediem; a lower dose of luteinizing hormone (0.4 μg/ml), though effective in stimulating adenylate cyclase, did not induce refractoriness. Prostaglandin E₂ caused partial refractoriness at dose levels of 0.1–0.25 μg/ml; higher dose levels were more effective. These findings suggest that continued exposure of the preovulatory follicle to elevated levels of hormones may cause perturbations in either the interaction between the hormone and its specific receptor or in a subsequent step essential for activation of adenylate cyclase.     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase activity by sulfated glycosaminoglycans. II. Effects of mucopolysaccharides and dextran sulfate on the activity of adenylate cyclase derived from various tissues.

Heparin was found to be the most potent inhibitor of rat ovarian luteinizing hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase (I50 = 2 microgram/ml) when compared to other naturally occurring glycosamin oglycans. This inhibition was also apparent when this enzyme was stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone or prostaglandin E2. Heparin was also found to inhibit glucagon-sensitive rat hepatic adenylate cyclase, and the prostaglandin E1-sensitive enzyme from rat ileum and human platelets. In contrast, heparin stimulated the dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase from rat caudate nucleus. The sulfated polysugar dextran sulfate exerts similar effects on adenylate cyclase activity of the rat ovary and was shown to inhibit hormone binding to rat ovarian plasma membrane in a manner similar to that exerted by heparin. In contrast to heparin, dextran sulfate inhibited dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase from rat caudate nucleus.     

Reconstitution of the Turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase sensitivity to l-epinephrine upon re-insertion of the Lubrol solubilized components into phospholipid vesicles

Turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase was activated by GppNHp and l-epinephrine to its stable, highly active form. In this form the enzyme could be solubilized by Lubrol-PX and subsequently re-inserted into phospholipid vesicles concomitantly with the removal of up to 99.3% of the Lubrol. The ability of GTP and l-epinephrine to reverse the GppNHp/epinephrine activated state was taken as a measure for the reappearance of hormone sensitivity in the reconstituted vesicles. An incomplete but significant reappearance of hormone sensitivity in the reconstituted adenylate cyclase was achieved. This hormone sensitivity was found to be stereospecific for (?)epinephrine. The ¹²⁵I-cyanopindolol binding properties of the reconstituted β-receptor depend on the nature of the detergent and the phospholipids used in the reconstitution.     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase activity by sulfated glycosaminoglycans. I. Inhibition by heparin of gonadotrophin-stimulated ovarian adenylate cyclase.

Heparin inhibits (I50 = 2 microgram/ml) the activity of luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in purified rat ovarian plasma membranes. Unstimulated enzyme activity and activity stimulated by NaF, GTP or guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate were inhibited to a lesser extent. Human chorionic gonadotropin binding to this membrane preparation was inhibited by heparin (I50 = 6 microgram/ml). The inhibition with respect to hormone concentration was of a mixed type for hormone binding and adenylate cyclase stimulation. Inhibition by heparin was not eliminated at saturating hormone concentration. The degree of inhibition was unaffected by the order in which enzyme, hormone and heparin were introduced into the assay system. Heparin (3 microgram/ml) did not affect the pH activity relationship of basal and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and did not change the dependence of enzyme activity on magnesium ion concentration. The inhibitory action of heparin cannot be solely attributed to interference with either catalysis or hormone binding. The possibility is considered that the highly charged heparin molecule interferes with enzyme receptor coupling, by restricting the mobility of these components or by effecting their conformation.     

Modulation of parathyroid hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase and arginine vasopressin-sensitive adenylate cyclase by calcium and GTP

Arginine vasopressin (AVP)- and parathyroid hormone (PTH)-sensitive adenylate cyclase were studied in the renal tissue of thyroparathyroidectomized dogs. The results indicate that AVP-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was highest in the inner medulla followed by the middle medulla, outer medulla, and cortex, in declining order. In contrast, PTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase was absent in the inner medulla, and the highest stimulation was found in the cortex with lesser activity in outer and middle medulla. When 1 mm EGTA was included in the incubation mixture, the addition of both AVP- and PTH to the middle medullary homogenate resulted in additive responses suggesting two separate receptors for each hormone. This EGTA-induced additive effect was eliminated by the addition of calcium into the system, indicating that calcium concentration may be critical in modulating the interaction of AVP and PTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase. In contrast to some previous reports, a particulate fraction prepared from the middle medullary tissue was completely insensitive to either AVP or PTH. Hormonal sensitivity was restored by the addition of GTP or the supernatant.     

Cyclic AMP and adenylate cyclase activators stimulate Trypanosoma cruzi differentiation

A chemically defined in vitro differentiating condition was used to study the potential role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and adenylate cyclase activators on the transformation of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes to the infective metacyclic trypomastigotes (metacyclogenesis). It was observed that both addition of cAMP analogs or adenylate cyclase activators to the differentiating medium stimulated the transformation of epimastigotes to metacyclic trypomastigotes. These results were further corroborated by showing that inhibitors of cAMP phosphodiesterase were stimulatory while activators of this enzyme inhibited the metacyclogenesis process. On the other hand, inhibitors of calmodulin inhibited the transformation of epimastigotes to metacyclic trypomastigotes, suggesting that T. cruzi adenylate cyclase might be activated by calmodulin. In addition, the results strongly suggest that guanine nucleotide binding proteins are involved in T. cruzi adenylate cyclase activation. This system may be useful for studying cell differentiation mechanisms in eukaryotes.     

Determination of the turn-off reaction for the hormone-activated adenylate cyclase.

Previous work suggested that hormonal activation of adenylate cyclase involves the introduction of GTP to the regulatory site, and subsequent hydrolysis of the bound GTP terminates the activation. In many tissues the turn-off GTPase reaction cannot be readily measured because of a high background of nonspecific GTP hydrolysis. To circumvent this problem a general assay for the turn-off reaction has now been developed. The adenylate cyclase is first activated by hormone and GTP and the introduction of GTP is then stopped either by addition of an excess of guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) or by addition of a receptor blocking agent. The decay of adenylate cyclase activity brought on by these inhibitors is used to calculate the rate constant of the turn-off reaction. In turkey erythrocyte and rat parotid membranes the rate constant of the decay process as determined with GDP beta S is similar to that determined with the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol. The rate constants (min-1 at 30 degrees C) for various adenylate cyclase preparations are 10 for turkey erythrocyte, 7.5 for rat parotid, and 6.2 for the rat liver enzyme. The finding of similar rate constants in the various preparations indicates that GTP hydrolysis at the regulatory site is a general mechanism for terminating the activation of adenylate cyclase.     

Phorbol esters induce two distinct changes in GH3 pituitary cell adenylate cyclase activity

Phorbol esters alter cyclic AMP levels in a number of tissues, including the anterior pituitary. We report that membrane preparations from GH3 cells exposed to phorbol esters exhibit decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated and enhanced forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The responsiveness of adenylate cyclase activity to NaF, guanylyl-imidodiphosphate, and Mn2+ was also reduced by phorbol ester treatment. The ability of somatostatin to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was reduced while phorbol ester exposure had no apparent effect on somatostatin inhibition of VIP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. We suggest that protein kinase C alters at least two distinct components of the adenylate cyclase system. One modification disrupts hormone receptor-Gs interaction (lowering VIP efficacy) and the second perturbation augments the activity of the adenylate cyclase catalytic subunit.     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase activity by sulfated glycosaminoglycans II. Effects of mucopolysaccharides and dextran sulfate on the activity of adenylate cyclase derived from various tissues

Heparin was found to be the most potent inhibitor of rat ovarian luteinizing hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase (I₅₀ = 2 μg/ml) when compared to other naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans. This inhinibition was also appparent when this enzyme was stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone or prostaglandin E ₂. Heparin was also found to inhibit glucagon-sensitive rat hepatice adenylate cyclase, and the prostaglandin E₁-sensitive enzyme from rat ileum and human platelets. In contrast, heparin stimulated the dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase from rat caudate nucleus. The sulfade polysugar dextran sulfate exerts similar effects on adenylate cyclase activity of the rat ovary was shown to inhibit hormone binding to rat ovarian plasma membrane in a manner similar to that exerted by heparin. In contrast to heparin, dextran sulfate inhibited dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase from rat caudate nucleus.     

Effects of phospholipase A2 and alpha-tocopherol on the activity of adenylate cyclase of rat brain synaptosomes

The action of phospholipase A2 and alpha-tocopherol on adenylate cyclase system functioning and on the lipid bilayer microviscosity of the rat brain synaptosome membranes was investigated. It was shown that the exposure of the synaptosomes to phospholipase A2 increases the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by guanylyl imidotriphosphate (GITP), decreases the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated both by isoproterenol and by isoproterenol with GITP. The preincubation of synaptosomes in medium containing alpha-tocopherol does not change the character of the phospholipase action on the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by isoproterenol but normalizes the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated both by GITP and by GITP with isoproterenol. In the last case the normalizing action of alpha-tocopherol is not caused by alteration of the microviscosity of the lipid bilayer. It appears to be due to the modification of the lipid-protein interactions of annular lipids with activated complex of catalytic subunit and guanyl nucleotide-binding protein.     

Stimulation of erythroid cells adenylate cyclase by soluble factors

Soluble factors obtained from human, rat and rabbit erythroid cell lysates are capable to stimulate basal and hormone activated adenylate cyclase of erythroid cell membranes from homologous sources. Extensive dialysis and removal of hemoglobin from the soluble factors do not modify their activity. Human erythrocyte soluble factors stimulate the human reticulocyte enzyme. Nevertheless human erythrocyte adenylate cyclase is not stimulated by either of the soluble factors. The presence of active soluble factors in human erythrocytes where the adenylate cyclase is no longer sensitive to these factors, as well as to guanylnucleotides or protaglandins, indicates that the enzyme has been altered during the maturation processes.