Specificity of cytochemical demonstration of adenylate cyclase in liver using adenylate-(β,γ-methylene) diphosphate as substrate

Summary Adenylate cyclase activity was demonstrated cytochemically in rat liver for the first time under the light microscope using cryostat sections mounted on glass cover slips and fixed with 1% glutaraldehyde for 1 min. Adenylate-(, -methylene)diphosphate (AMP-P(CH₂)P) was introduced as a new substrate for adenylate cyclase. It was found that adenylate cyclase was distributed heterogenously within the liver lobule. The enzyme activity was stronger in the area surrounding the central vein. A more specific localization at the plasma membrane and less unspecific background was obtained with AMP-P(CH₂)P as compared to adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-P(NH)P). The specificity of the enzyme reaction using AMP-P(CH₂)P was proved by increased formation of reaction product in the presence of 0.05 mg/ml glucagon and 0.125 mg/ml cholera toxin, as well as by inhibition of the reaction with 0.05 mg/ml alloxan. These effects were also observed at the electron microscopic level.On the other hand, no increase in reaction was observed in the presence of glucagon with AMP-P(NH)P as a substrate for adenylate cyclase, and only a weak activation was observed after adding cholera toxin; alloxan-inhibition was not complete. These effects may be due to the presence of enzymes which hydrolyze AMP-P(NH)P nonspecifically, superimposing on the product of adenylate cyclase activity. We therefore suggest the use of AMP-P(CH₂)P as substrate for histochemical adenylate cyclase demonstration in the liver.     

Changes in plasma hydrolase activities in hereditary and streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The characteristics of the hydrolysis of 5′-adenylylimidodiphosphate [AMP-P(NH)P] by partially purified plasma membranes from rat liver are described. Hydrolysis was less with membranes from fat cells and was poor with a detergent-dispersed preparation from rat cerebellum. The Chromatographic behavior of the principal degradation products suggests that AMP-P(NH)P is first hydrolyzed to 5'?AMP, which is then hydrolyzed further to adenosine. The adenosine is shown to inhibit adenylate cyclase noncompetitively with respect to substrate and in a cation-dependent manner. Sensitivity to inhibition by adenosine was markedly enhanced by agents that stimulated adenylate cyclase. The characteristics of the initial hydrolysis of AMP-P(NH)P fit best those of nucleotide pyrophosphatase and support the conclusion that several of the various phosphatase activities present in membranes may be due to the same enzyme. Under conditions shown to be linear with respect to time and membrane protein concentration, hydrolysis of AMP-P(NH)P exhibited a pH optimum between 9.5 and 10. At pH 9.5, hydrolysis occurred with a K_m of about 20 μm and a V of about 220 nmol (min) ¹ (mg of protein)^?1. The initial hydrolysis of AMP-P(NH)P was inhibited in a linear-competitive manner by ATP, ADP, 5′-AMP, GTP, 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate, NAD⁺, and p-nitrophenyl-dTMP and in a noncompetitive manner by UDP-glucose. Adenosine 3′:5?cyclic phosphate and guanosine 3′:5′-cyclic phosphate were not inhibitory at concentrations up to 1 mm. ATP, GTP, and 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate were also hydrolyzed in a manner comparable to that for AMP-P(NH)P. Hydrolysis of AMP-P(NH)P did not require the presence of added metal, and some metals were inhibitory. Activity was inhibited by dithiothreitol (50% at <1 mm) and by EDTA (50% at about 10 mm). Following pretreatment with EDTA or dithiothreitol, the readdition of certain metals, especially Zn or Co, caused some restoration of hydrolytic activity. The evidence suggests that hydrolytic activity involves the participation of bound metal and that the enzyme is a metallo-protein.     

Specificity of cytochemical demonstration of adenylate cyclase in liver using adenylate-(beta, gamma-methylene) diphosphate as substrate

Adenylate cyclase activity was demonstrated cytochemically in rat liver for the first time under the light microscope using cryostat sections mounted on glass cover slips and fixed with 1% glutaraldehyde for 1 min. Adenylate-(beta, gamma-methylene)diphosphate (AMP-P(CH2)P) was introduced as a new substrate for adenylate cyclase. It was found that adenylate cyclase was distributed heterogenously within the liver lobule. The enzyme activity was stronger in the area surrounding the central vein. A more specific localization at the plasma membrane and less unspecific background was obtained with AMP-P(CH2)P as compared to adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-P(NH)P). The specificity of the enzyme reaction using AMP-P(CH2)P was proved by increased formation of reaction product in the presence of 0.05 mg/ml glucagon and 0.125 mg/ml cholera toxin, as well as by inhibition of the reaction with 0.05 mg/ml alloxan. These effects were also observed at the electron microscopic level. On the other hand, no increase in reaction was observed in the presence of glucagon with AMP-P(NH)P as a substrate for adenylate cyclase, and only a weak activation was observed after adding cholera toxin; alloxan-inhibition was not complete. These effects may be due to the presence of enzymes which hydrolyze AMP-P(NH)P nonspecifically, superimposing on the product of adenylate cyclase activity. We therefore suggest the use of AMP-P(CH2)P as substrate for histochemical adenylate cyclase demonstration in the liver.     

Cytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase and of calcium ion, magnesium ion-activated ATPases in the dense tubular system of human blood platelets.

Cytochemical techniques have been employed to study the localization of adenylate cyclase and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-stimulated ATPase activities in platelets after fixation. Biochemical analysis of adenylate cyclase demonstrated a 70% reduction in activity in homogenates from fixed cells, but the residual activity could be stimulated 10--20 times by prostaglandin E1 (1 micrometer) under the same incubation conditions as employed in the cytochemical studies (e.g. media containing 2 mM lead nitrate and 10 mM NaF). Adenylate cyclase activity employing 5'-adenylyl-imiodiphosphate (AMP-P(NH)P) as substrate was found to be associated with the dense tubular system (smooth endoplasmic reticulum) in intact fixed platelets, and was apparent only when the cells were incubated with prostaglandin E1. Less activity was found along the membranes of the surface connected open canalicular system and occasionally at the outer cell surface. Enzymatic activity was blocked by the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl) adenine and was not due to AMP-P(NH)P phosphohydrolase activity. The low adenylate cyclase activity in the surface membranes may be due to enzyme inactivation as a result of fixation, since a surface membrane fraction obtained by the glycerol lysis technique from unfixed cells had an adenylate cyclase specific activity equivalent to that in the microsomal membrane fraction. (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-stimulated ATPase activity was found associated with the membranes of the surface connected open canalicular system in unfixed cells. After brief fixation (5--15 min) with glutaradehyde, strong (Ca2+ + Mg2+)ATPase activity became apparent in the dense tubular system. Longer periods of fixation inactivated enzymatic activity. Addition of Ca2+ (1.0 mM) to incubation medium with low Mg2+ (0.2 mM), or increasing Mg2+ to 4.0 mM, in both cases strongly stimulated enzyme activity. The ATPase activity in the platelet membranes was not inhibited by ouabain. It is suggested that the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and adenylate cyclase activities in the dense tubules may possibly be involved in regulation of intracellular Ca2+ transport.     

Photolysis of water coupled to nitrate reduction by Nostoc muscorum subcellular particles.

The binding of tritiated guanylylimidodiphosphate ([³H]GMP-P(NH)P) to turkey erythrocyte ghosts was studied in parallel with the activation by GMP-P(NH)P of adenylate cyclase. The high affinity binding capacity for GMP-P(NH)P, 50 pmoles per mg protein, exceeds the estimated quantity of adenylate cyclase of 1 pmole per mg of protein. The rate of nucleotide binding is not affected by isoproterenol. Further, in the presence of the hormone the rate of binding is much slower than the rate of activation. Although the rate of dissociation of bound [³H]GMP-P(NH)P is negligible at 37°, it is increased dramatically by unlabeled GMP-P(NH)P, GTP, EDTA, ATP, AMP-P(CH₂)P, or p-aminophenylmercuric acetate. In contrast, the rate of decay of the GMP-P(NH)P-simulated state is not altered by these agents. Thus, the major fraction of GMP-P(NH)P binding to membranes is not relevant to cyclase activation.     

Cytochemical localization of K+-dependent p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and adenylate cyclase by using one-step method in human washed platelets

Summary Ultrastructural cytochemical localization of ouabain-sensitive, potassium dependent p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (K⁺-NPPase) of the Na⁺-/K⁺-ATPase complex and adenylate cyclase (cAMPase) activities, in washed inactivated human platelets, are described. The one-step lead-citrate method, under similar incubation conditions, was used to determine both activities. K⁺-NPPase appeared in both plasma membrane and the surface-connected canalicular system (SCCS) of the platelets. These data suggest a uniform distribution of the enzyme throughout membrane systems which are in contact with the external medium. cAMPase activity was strictly localized in tubules of the dense tubular system (DTS) when incubation medium contained prostaglandin E₁, prostaglandin D₂ or forskolin, at concentrations known to stimulate the enzyme in platelets that are intact. This fact and the inhibition of cytochemical reaction by thrombin confirm that the one-step lead-citrate method is a useful procedure in determining adenylate cyclase, abolishing the unfavorable conditions of previously reported methods.     

Adenosine and gpp(NH)p modulate mouse sperm adenylate cyclase

The possible roles of adenosine and the GTP analogue Gpp(NH)p in regulating mouse sperm adenylate cyclase activity were investigated during incubation in vitro under conditions in which after 30 min the spermatozoa are essentially uncapacitated and poorly fertile, whereas after 120 min they are capacitated and highly fertile. Adenylate cyclase activity, assayed in the presence of 1 mM ATP and 2 mM Mn²⁺, was determined by monitoring cAMP production. When adenosine deaminase (1 U/ml) was included in the assay to deplete endogenous adenosine, enzyme activity was decreased in the 30-min suspensions but increased in the 120-min samples (P < 0.02). This suggests that endogenous adenosine has a stimulatory effect on adenylate cyclase in uncapacitated spermatozoa but is inhibitory in capacitated cells. Since the expression of adenosine effects at low nucleoside concentrations usually requires guanine nucleotides, the effect of adding adenosine in the presence of 5 x 10^–5 M Gpp(NH)p was examined. While either endogenous adenosine or adenosine deaminase may have masked low concentration (10^?9?10^?7 M) effects of exogenous adenosine, a marked inhibition (P < 0.001) of adenylate cyclase activity in both uncapacitated and capacitated suspensions was observed with higher concentrations (>10^?5 M) of adenosine. Similar inhibition was also observed in the absence of Gpp(NH)p, suggesting the presence of an inhibitory P site on the enzyme. In further experiments, the effects of Gpp(NH)p in the presence and absence of adenosine deaminase were examined. Activity in 30-min suspensions was stimulated by the guanine nucleotide and in the presence of adenosine deaminase this stimulation was marked, reversing the inhibition seen with adenosine deaminase alone. In capacitated suspensions the opposite profile was observed, with Gpp(NH)p plus adenosine deaminase being inhibitory; again, this was a reversal of the effects obtained in the presence of adenosine deaminase alone, which had stimulated enzyme activity. These results suggest the existence of a stimulatory adenosine receptor site (R_a) on mouse sperm adenylate cyclase that is expressed in uncapacitated spermatozoa and an inhibitory receptor site (R_i) that is expressed in capacitated cells, with guanine nucleotides modifying the final response to adenosine. It is concluded that adenosine and guanine nucleotides may regulate mouse sperm adenylate cyclase activity during capacitation.     

Mechanism of action of ATP on intestinal epithelial cells: Cyclic AMP-mediated stimulation of active ion transport

ATP, ADP and AMP but not adenosine increased cyclic AMP in dispersed enterocytes prepared from guinea pig small intestine. This action of ATP was augmented by IBMX and was reproduced by App(NH)p or App(CH₂)p. ATP also increased the formation of cyclic [¹⁴C]AMP in enterocytes that had been preincubated with [¹⁴C]adenine. Gpp(NH)p and NaF each caused persistent activation of adenylate cyclase in plasma membranes from enterocytes and ATP caused significant augmentation of this persistent activation. In addition to increasing cellular cyclic AMP and agumenting Gpp(NH)p and NaF-stimulated persistent activation of adenylate cyclase, ATP increased the I_sc across mounted strips of small intestine and inhibited net absorption of fluid and electrolytes in segments of everted small intestine. These results indicate that intestinal epithelial cells possess a receptor that interacts with ATP and other adenine nucleotides and that receptor occupation by ATP causes activation of adenylate cyclase, increased cyclic AMP and changes in active ion transport across intestinal mucosa.     

A thermodynamic analysis of the correlation between active Na+ transport and the rate of oxygen consumption in epithelia

Summary Insulin decreased markedly the adenylyl cyclase activity associated with fat cell membranes purified by centrifugation in sucrose gradients. The hormone effect was not readily evident in crude membrane preparations.The kinetics of this effect indicate that some time was required for the onset of the insulin-induced inactivation. This lag period decreased when the insulin concentration was increased. The hormone dose dependence for adenylyl cyclase inactivation measured at a fixed time (3 min) showed a 10 to 15% decrease in activity at 1 to 30 U per ml insulin; 30 to 40% at 100 to 1000 U per ml; and 75% at 0.1 U per ml.The insulin effect was completely abolished by 0.1mm GMP-P(NH)P, 10mm fluoride, or 50 ng per ml glucagon, or by increasing the Mn⁺⁺ concentration to 4mm. In addition, it was partially reversed by the addition of a fraction from the sucrose gradient, which contained soluble factors.The kinetics of the adenylyl cyclase-catalyzed reaction were studied using ATP or AMP-P(NH)P as adenylyl donor, and Mn⁺⁺ or Mg⁺⁺ as divalent cation, in the absence or presence of insulin. With ATP and Mg⁺⁺ there was a striking reduction of the transient reaction rates after 1.5 min of incubation. Under these conditions the insulin effect was not evident. On the contrary, with ATP and Mn⁺⁺ this spontaneous reduction of activity was less evident; however, in the presence of insulin there was a clear and marked reduction of the transient reaction rate measured after 1.5 min of incubation. With AMP-P(NH)P the kinetic data were qualitatively similar to those observed with ATP.It is concluded that under certain assay conditions adenylyl cyclase may be converted to an inactive enzyme form, and that such a conversion is more evident in the presence of Mg⁺⁺ than with Mn⁺⁺. In the latter case, insulin appears to enhance the rate of this conversion.     

Energy-dependent endocytosis in erythrocyte ghosts. IV. Effects of Ca2+, Na+ + K+, and 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate

The requirement of actual splitting of ATP for endocytosis in erythrocyte ghosts has been confirmed by use of the ATP analog, 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate. (AMP-P(NH)P. This compound, in which the oxygen connecting the β and γ phosphorus atoms was replaced by an NH group, did not cause endocytosis nor was it a substrate for ATPase activity. AMP-P(NH)P was a competitive inhibitor both for the endocytosis and the Mg²⁺-ATPase activities. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext>}}$ of AMP-P(NH)P for Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was 2.0 · 10^?4 M and, while the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ of ATP for this activity was also 2.0 · 10^?4 M indicating nearly identical affinities of ATP and AMP-P(NH)P for the active site. ADP, or ADP plus orthophosphate, did not cause endocytosis, showing that endocytosis was not due to binding of the products of ATP hydrolysis. Sodium or potassium ion or ouabain had no effect on endocytosis, which eliminated the possibility of involvement of the Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase in the endocytosis process. Calcium could not be substituted for magnesium; rather it inhibited endocytosis at the concentration of 1 · 10^?3 M. EGTA relieved the inhibitory effect of Ca, which indicated that the binding of calcium to the membrane was reversible. These experimental results reaffirm the conclusion that ATP must be split to engender endocytosis under these conditions. Some characteristic parameters of the hemoglobin-fre porcine erythrocyte ghosts were studied in order to characterize the system more adequately.     

Dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase in planaria Dugesia gonocephala

1. The adenylate cyclase activity present in the particulate fraction of planaria homogenates has been characterized.2. The enzyme requires divalent cations (Mg²⁺), and a K_m for ATP of 0.58 at 30°C was measured.3. GTP and Gpp(NH)p, in an optimal range of 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵M, increase the enzymatic activity.4. In the presence of GTP, dopamine stimulates the adenylate cyclase and its action is inhibited by dopaminergic antagonist.5. Both D-1 and D-2 selective dopaminergic agonists stimulate the enzymatic activity and their action is selectively antagonized by D-1 and D-2 antagonists.6. The high concentrations required for some D-1 and D-2 agents to be effective, suggest an only partial consistency with mammalian dopaminergic receptors.     

Guanine Nucleotides Modulate Cortical S2 Serotonin Receptors

Abstract

Many radiolabelled receptors coupled to intracellular adenylate cyclase activity have been found to be modulated by physiological modulators such as GTP (guanosine triphosphate) and Gpp(NH)p (guanosine-imido-diphosphate). In particular, the apparent affinity of agonists competing for the binding of ³H-antagonist-labelled receptors is reduced in the presence of GTP and Gpp(NH)p. We report herein the agonist-specific effects of GTP and Gpp(NH)p on rat brain cortical S² serotonin receptors. The agonists serotonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, bufotenine, and tryptamine display threefold lower affinities for S₂ serotonin receptors in the presence of 10^-4M GTP or Gpp(NH)p than in the absence of the nucleotides. The antagonists spiperone, cinanserin, cyproheptadine and methysergide are unaffected by the guanine nucleotides. The Hill coefficients of the agonists increase from between 0.70–0.80 to 0.90–1.00 due to guanine nucleotides. ATP, ADP, and GDP have little or no effect. This pattern of guanine nucleotide effects has been found with receptors which are modulated by a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein and may indicate that the S₂ serotonin receptor may be coupled to intracellular adenylate cyclase activity.     

Differential effects of guanine nucleotides on the first step of VIP and glucagon action in membranes from liver cells

Despite the presence of a similar number of glucagon and VIP receptors in liver membranes, VIP induces a negligeable stimulation of adenylate cyclase when compared with glucagon effect. In order to elucidate these discrepancies, the effects of guanine nucleotides on the VIP and glucagon-responsive adenylate cyclase of liver were compared using pure ATP as substrate. 10^?8 M VIP accounted for a 1.5-fold increase of basal activity. In the presence of GTP or Gpp(NH)p (10^?9 to 10^?5 M), the level of cAMP production induced by VIP was no more than additive. In contrast, Gpp(NH)p potentiated the effect of glucagon on liver adenylate cyclase. These discrepancies are not explained by a difference in the peptide binding process. These data suggest that, in liver membranes, a GTP-binding protein N₂ is associated with the glucagon-sensitive adenylate cyclase, but is not detected for VIP. It is suggested that N₂ appears to be specific for the peptidic receptor.     

Characterization of a vasoactive intestinal peptide-sensitive adenylate cyclase in rat intestinal epithelial cell membranes

A vasoactive intestinal peptide-sensitive adenylate cyclase in intestinal epithelial cell membranes was characterized. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity was a function of vasoactive intestinal peptide concentration over a range of 1 · 10⁻¹⁰−1 · 10⁻⁷ M and was increased six-times by a maximally stimulating concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Half-maximal stimulation was observed with 4.1 ± 0.7 nM vasoactive intestinal peptide. Fluoride ion stimulated adenylate cyclase activity to a higher extent than did vasoactive intestinal peptide. Under standard assay conditions, basal, vasoactive inteetinal peptide- and fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were proportional to time of incubation up to 15 min and to membrane concentration up to 60 μg protein per assay. The vasoactive intestinal peptide-sensitive enzyme required 5–10 mM Mg²⁺ and was inhibited by 1 · 10⁻⁵ M Ca²⁺. At sufficiently high concentrations, both ATP (3 mM) and Mg²⁺ (40 mM) inhibited the enzyme.Secretin also stimulated the adenylate cyclase activity from intestinal epithelial cell membranes but its effectiveness was 1/1000 that of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Prostaglandins E₁ and E₂ at 1 · 10⁻⁵ M induced a two-fold increase of cyclic AMP production. Vasoactive intestinal peptide was the most potent stimulator of adenylate cyclase activity, suggesting an important physiological role of this peptide in the cyclic AMP-dependent regulation of the intestinal epithelial cell function.     

Biochemical characterization of histamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in mammalian brain.

Certain biochemical characteristics of an adenylate cyclase that is activated by low concentrations of histamine (K_a, 8 μm) and that is present in cell-free preparations from the dorsal hippocampus of guinea pig brain have been studied. Histamine increased the maximal reaction velocity of adenylate cyclase without altering the K_m (0.18 mm) for its substrate, MgATP. Increasing concentrations of free Mg²⁺ stimulated enzymatic activity; the kinetic properties of this activation by Mg²⁺ suggest the existence of a Mg²⁺ allosteric site on the enzyme. Histamine increased the affinity of this apparent site for free Mg²⁺. Free ATP was a competitive inhibitor with respect to the MgATP substrate. The apparent potency of free ATP as an inhibitor increased in the presence of histamine. In the presence of Mg²⁺, low concentrations of Ca²⁺ markedly inhibited adenylate cyclase activity; half-maximal inhibition of both basal and histamine-stimulated enzyme activity occurred at 40 μm Ca²⁺. Other divalent cations, including Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cd²⁺, were also inhibitory. Of the divalent cations tested, only Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ could replace Mg²⁺ in supporting histamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The nucleoside triphosphates GTP and ITP increased basal adenylate cyclase activity and markedly potentiated the stimulation by histamine. Preincubation of adenylate cyclase with 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate dramatically increased enzyme activity; in this activated state, the adenylate cyclase was relatively refractory to further stimulation by histamine or F^?. The subcellular distribution of histamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was studied in subfractions from guinea pig cerebral cortex. The highest total and specific activities were observed in those fractions enriched in nerve endings, while adenylate cyclase activity was not detectable in the brain cytosol fraction. A possible physiological role for this histamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in neuronal function is discussed.     

Human fat cell adenylate cyclase. Enzyme characterization and guanine nucleotide effects on epinephrine responsiveness in cell membranes.

Human adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) has been studied in preparations of fat cell membranes ("ghosts"). As reported earlier, under ordinary assay conditions (1.0 mM ATP, 5 mM Mg2+, 30 degrees C, 10 min incubation) the enzyme was activated 6-fold by epinephrine in the presence of the GTP analog, 5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P] (Cooper, B. et al. (1975) J. Clin. Invest. 56, 1350-1353). Basal activity was highest during the first 2 min of incubation then slowed and was linear for at least the next 18 min. Epinephrine, added alone, was often without effect. but sometimes maintained the initial high rate of basal activity. GMP-P(NH)P alone produced inhibition ("lag") of basal enzyme early in the incubation periods. Augmentation of epinephrine effect by GMP-P(NH)P, which also proceeded after a brief (2 min) lag period, was noted over a wide range of substrate (ATP) concentrations. GTP inhibited basal levels of the enzyme by about 50%. GTP also allowed expression of an epinephrine effect, but only in the sense that the hormone abolished the inhibition by GTP. Occasionally a slight stimulatory effect on epinephrine action was seen with GTP. At high Mg2+ concentration (greater than 10 mM) or elevated temperatures (greater than 30 degrees C) GMP-P(NH)P alone activated the enzyme. Maximal activity of human fat cell adenylate cyclase was seen at 50 mM Mg2+, 1.0 mM ATP, pH 8.2, and 37 degrees C in the presence of 10(-4) M GMP-P(NH)P; under these conditions addition of epinephrine did not further enhance activity. Human fat cell adenylate cyclase of adults was insensitive to ACTH and glucagon even in the presence of GMP-P(NH)P.     

Rat brain adenylate cyclase. Further studies on its stimulation by a Ca2+-binding protein.

Bovine or rat brain adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) solubilized by Lubrol-PX, a nonionic detergent, requires a Ca²⁺-binding protein activator for full activity (Cheung et al., 1975, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.66, 1055–1062). We now show that particulate rat brain adenylate cyclase also required the activator for maximum activity. A brain particulate fraction was extracted with a hypertonic NaCl solution containing [ethyl-enebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)] tetraacetic acid. This procedure removed preferentially the activator, making adenylate Cyclase activator deficient and, consequently, dependent on an exogenous activator for maximum activity. The activator increased the V of adenylate cyclase without affecting its apparent K_m for ATP. In the presence of the activator, the enzyme was more stable against thermal inactivation, suggesting that the activator probably induced a conformational change to the enzyme. F^? and 5′-guanylylimidodi-phosphate [GMP-p(NH)p] greatly stimulated brain adenylate cyclase. Adenylate cyclase activity obtained in the presence of the activator and F^? was comparable to the summed activities of the two agents assayed separately, indicating that their effects were additive. Similarly, the effects of the activator and GMP-p(NH)p were additive. These results suggest that the action of the activator is independent of the other two ligands. Since the activator is present in excess over adenylate cyclase, the cellular flux of Ca²⁺ is believed to be important in modulating the enzyme activity. The role of the Ca²⁺/ activator is discussed with respect to cyclic AMP metabolism in brain.     

Production of cyclic AMP from extracellular ATP by intact LM cells

Intact LM cells, a line of cultured mouse fibroblasts, exhibited and adenylate cyclase (APT pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) activity in the presence exogenous [α-³²]ATP which was 20–30% of that observed with comparable preparations of lysed cells. The extent of NaF and prostaglandin E₁ stimulation was comparable in intact cells and lysed cells. 96% of the added ATP and 92% of the cyclic AMP produced by intact cells could be isolated extracellularly in the incubation medium. Cellular integrity under assay conditions was monitored by trypan blue exclusion. These data suggest that LM cells contain an endenylate cyclase activity whic is accessible to extracellular ATP.     

Alterations in cerebral β-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system induced by halothane,ketamine and ethanol

The effect of halothane, ketamine and ethanol on β-adrenergic receptor adenylate cyclase system was studied in the brain of rats. An anesthetic concentration of halothane and ketamine added in vitro decreased the stimulatory effect of norepinephrine on cyclic AMP formation in slices from the cerebral cortex. On the other hand, ethanol increased the basal activity of cerebral adenylate cyclase without affecting on the norepinephrine-stimulated activity. The increase of the basal activity induced by ethanol was not antagonized by propranolol, a β-adrenergic antagonist. In the crude synaptosomal (P₂) fraction, these drugs had no significant effect on the basal adenylate cyclase activity, binding of [³H]dihydroalprenolol to β-receptor, and binding of [³H]guanylylimido diphosphate ([³H]Gpp(NH)p) to guanyl nucleotide binding site. In contrast, the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by Gpp(NH)p or NaF was significantly inhibited by an anesthetic concentration of these drugs. An anesthetic concentration of these drugs increased the membrane fluidity of P₂ fraction monitored by the fluorescence polarization technique. The addition of linoleic acid (more than 500 μM) also induced not only the increase of fluidity, but also the decrease of Gpp(NH)p- or NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the cerebral P₂ fraction. The present results suggest that general anesthetics may interfere with the guanyl nucleotide binding regulatory protein-mediated activation of cerebral adenylate cyclase by disturbing the lipid region of synaptic membrane.     

Some kinetic and chromatographic properties of detergent-dispersed adenylate cyclase

Studies on the reaction kinetics and chromatographic properties of detergent-dispersed adenylate cyclase are described. Detergent-dispersed enzyme was prepared from whole rat cerebellum and from partially purified plasma membranes from rat liver. Data were simulated to fit kinetic models for which an inhibitor is added in constant proportion to the variable substrate. Models were chosen to distinguish whether the adenylate cyclase reaction may be controlled by an inhibitory action of free ATP^?4 (or HATP^?3) or by a stimulatory action of free divalent cations. The various kinetic models were then tested with the dispersed brain adenylate cyclase with both Mg⁺⁺ and Mn⁺⁺ and in two different buffer systems. The experimental data indicate that this enzyme has a distinct cation binding site, but exhibits no significant inhibition by HATP^?3 or ATP^?4. The detergent-dispersed adenylate cyclase both from liver plasma membranes and from brain have been chromatographed on anion exchange material and have been chromatographed on anion exchange material and have been subjected to gel filtration. The presence of detergent was required for elution of cyclase activity from DEAE-Sephadex but was not required when DEAE-agarose was used. Dispersed brain cyclase was also chromatographed on agarose-NH(CH₂)₃ NH(CH₂)₃-NH₂ which exhibits both ionic and hydrophobic properties. Fifty percent of the applied activity was recovered with a fivefold increase in specific activity. The data suggest that the relative effectiveness of a given chromatographic procedure for detergent-dispersed adenylate cyclase may reflect the in fluence of both hydrophobic and ionic factors.