Adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate and catabolite repression in Escherichia coli

1. Both permanent and transient catabolite repression of beta-galactosidase synthesis in Escherichia coli are abolished by 5mm-3':5'-cyclic-AMP when elicited by glucose, but not when caused by a mixture of glucose, glucose 6-phosphate, gluconate and casein hydrolysate (casamino acids). 2. Glucose uptake is slightly increased by 3':5'-cyclic-AMP. 3. No significant effects of the nucleotide were found on the synthesis of protein and RNA, either in exponential growth on one substrate, or during a growth shift from glycerol to glycerol plus glucose. 4. Marked changes in the soluble-protein profiles of cells growing in glycerol and glucose were caused by the presence of 3':5'-cyclic-AMP. 5. Measurements of (14)CO(2) release from specifically-labelled glucose showed that 3':5'-cyclic-AMP greatly stimulated glycolytic activity while having a minor depressing effect on the metabolic flow through the pentose phosphate cycle. 6. The concentrations of several metabolic intermediates, particularly fructose 1,6-diphosphate, were greatly affected by the presence of 3':5'-cyclic-AMP. 7. Several metabolites partially relieved glucose repression of beta-galactosidase synthesis in EDTA-treated cells; three out of five of these metabolites reversed the effect more effectively than did 3':5'-cyclic-AMP. 8. The evidence for and against a direct role for 3':5'-cyclic-AMP is discussed. It is concluded that the evidence for indirect action is at least as strong as that for direct action.     

3′, 5′-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Dependent Xylose Lethal Phenomenon in Escherichia coli

The growth of Escherichia coli W2252 was found to be inhibited when xylose and cAMP coexisted in the medium such as peptone or nutrient broth. Among other sugars, only arabinose imposed weaker effect. cAMP could not be replaced by adenine, adenosine, 5′-AMP, 3′-AMP and other 3′,5′-cyclic nucleoside monophosphates. Dose response was observed with reference to either xylose or cAMP. In the presence of both 1% xylose and 10 mm cAMP in peptone broth, 90% of logarithmic phase cells of E. coli W2252 were killed within 6 hr at 37°C. We call this phenomenon as cAMP dependent xylose lethal. This phenomenon was also observed with many substrains of E. coli K–12, E. coli C, Aerobacter aerogenes and Salmonella typhimurium, but not with their xylose negative mutants.     

Identification and quantitation of adenosine-3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in plants using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography

Direct evidence has been obtained for the presence of adenosine-3:5-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) callus tissue cultures, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings and immature kernels of sweet corn (Zea mays L.) through the use of a highly specific and sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometric assay. Levels of endogenous cAMP ranged from 70 to 126 pmol/g fresh weight. Corresponding levels of cAMP determined for the same samples using radioimmunoassay were consistently three to four times higher. Contrary to previous reports for citrus plants, measurable levels of cAMP could not be detected in young lemon leaves within the limits of detection of the mass-spectrometric assay method. In the case of tobacco callus tissue, the coumarin glucoside, scopolin, which was present in large amounts and showed similar chromatographic behaviour to cAMP, interferred strongly with the mass-spectrometric measurements of cAMP in inadequately purified extracts. The use of high-performance liquid chromatography, in addition to standard chromatographic purification methods, produced highly purified plant extracts for quantitation of cAMP and also provided a method for the separation of cAMP from its 2:3-isomer.Abbreviations cAMP adenosine-3:5-cyclic monophosphate - 2:3-cAMP adenosine-2:3-cyclic monophosphate - GC-MS-MID combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected multiple-ion-detection - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - RIA radioimmunoassay - TLC thin-layer chromatography     

Synthesis and release of adenosine 3′: 5′-cyclic monophosphate by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

One of the labeled compounds synthesized by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii when ³²Pi was supplied was isolated from both the cells and the medium in which the cells had grown. This compound copurified with authentic [8-³H]cAMP by TLC to a constant ratio of ³²P/³H. The compound was degraded by beef heart cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase to a product which cochromatographed with authentic 5′AMP, at the same rate as the hydrolysis of authentic cAMP-[³H] to 5′AMP-[³H]. In both cases, 1-Me-3-isoBu-xanthine, a specific inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase, totally blocked the reaction. It is concluded that the compound synthesized by C. reinhardtii was cAMP, 85% of which was released into the medium.     

Regulation of heparan sulphate metabolism by adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in hepatocytes in culture

Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes maintained as monolayers in a serum-free medium synthesize sulphated glycosaminoglycans, most of which behave as heparan sulphate and are mainly distributed into intracellular compartments. Cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, glucagon, noradrenaline, prostaglandin E(1), and theophylline, all drugs and hormones known to increase intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations, decreased the incorporation of (35)SO(4) (2-) into heparan sulphate of intra-, extra- and peri-cellular pools. The inhibition mediated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP was dose-dependent and observed as early as 2h after exposure to the drug. In the presence of 1mm-dibutyryl cyclic AMP, incorporation of (35)SO(4) (2-) or [(14)C]glucosamine into heparan sulphate was decreased to 40-50%, suggesting that dibutyryl cyclic AMP interfered with the synthesis of heparan sulphate. This was further supported by pulse-chase experiments, where dibutyryl cyclic AMP had no effect on the degradation of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Heparan sulphates synthesized and secreted into the extracellular pool in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP were smaller in size, whereas the degree of sulphation and molecular size of the heparan sulphate chains released by beta-elimination from these proteoglycans were not different from control values. In the presence of 1mm-cycloheximide, (35)SO(4) (2-) incorporation was decreased to 5%. Addition of p-nitrophenyl beta-d-xyloside, an artificial acceptor of glycosaminoglycan chain synthesis, enhanced this incorporation to 18%. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not have any inhibitory effect on the synthesis of chains initiated on p-nitrophenyl beta-d-xylosides. Incorporation of [(3)H]serine into heparan sulphate was not affected by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, whereas the degree of substitution of serine residues with heparan sulphate chains was less in heparan sulphate synthesized in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, suggesting that cyclic AMP exerts its effect on the metabolism of sulphated glycosaminoglycans by affecting the transfer of xylose on to the protein core.     

Degradation of 5′ adenosine monophosphate in a cell-free system ofEscherichia coli

Sonicated cells ofEscherichia coli contain an enzyme system degrading 5′ adenosine monophosphate (5′ AMP) to hypoxanthine. This enzyme system is located in the fraction sedimenting at 20,000 xg. It has a pH optimum at 8.0. In the fraction sedimenting at 20,000 xg the enzyme activity was inhibited by adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Adenosine and adenine are deaminated by this enzyme preparation to inosine and to hypoxanthine, these activities not being inhibited by ATP.     

Metabolic control mechanisms in mammalian systems. Involvement of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in androgen action

1. The ability of exogenously administered cyclic AMP (adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate) to exert andromimetic action on certain carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes was investigated in the rat prostate gland and seminal vesicles. 2. Cyclic AMP, when injected concurrently with theophylline, produced marked increases in hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and two hexose monophosphate-shunt enzymes, as well as alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity in accessory sexual tissues of castrated rats. The 6-N,2'-O-dibutyryl analogue of cyclic AMP caused increases of enzyme activity that were greater than those induced by the parent compound. 3. Time-course studies demonstrated that, whereas significant increases in the activities of most enzymes occurred within 4h after the injection of cyclic AMP, maximal increases were attained at 16-24h. 4. Increase in the activity of the various prostatic and vesicular enzymes was dependent on the dose of cyclic AMP; in most instances, 2.5mg of the cyclic nucleotide/rat was sufficient to elicit a statistically significant response. 5. Administration of cyclic AMP and theophylline also produced stimulation of enzyme activities in secondary sexual tissues of immature rats. 6. Cyclic AMP and theophylline did not affect significantly any of the enzymes studied in hepatic tissue. 7. Stimulation of various carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes in the prostate gland and seminal vesicles by cyclic AMP was independent of adrenal function. 8. Concurrent treatment with actinomycin or cycloheximide prevented the cyclic AMP- and theophylline-induced increases in enzyme activities in both castrated and adrenalectomized-castrated animals. 9. Administration of a single dose of testosterone propionate (5.0mg/100g) to castrated rats caused a significant increase in cyclic AMP concentration in both accessory sexual tissues. 10. In addition, treatment with theophylline potentiated the effects of a submaximal dose of testosterone (1.0mg/100g) on all those prostatic and seminal-vesicular enzymes that are increased by exogenous cyclic AMP. 11. The evidence indicates that cyclic AMP may be involved in triggering the known metabolic actions of androgens on secondary sexual tissues of the rat.     

Ecto-5′-nucleotidase and intestinal ion secretion by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) triggers a large release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from host intestinal cells and the extracellular ATP is broken down to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), AMP, and adenosine. Adenosine is a potent secretagogue in the small and large intestine. We suspected that ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73, an intestinal enzyme) was a critical enzyme involved in the conversion of AMP to adenosine and in the pathogenesis of EPEC diarrhea. We developed a nonradioactive method for measuring ecto-5′-nucleotidase in cultured T84 cell monolayers based on the detection of phosphate release from 5′-AMP. EPEC infection triggered a release of ecto-5′-nucleotidase from the cell surface into the supernatant medium. EPEC-induced 5′-nucleotidase release was not correlated with host cell death but instead with activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Ecto-5′-nucleotidase was susceptible to inhibition by zinc acetate and by α,β-methylene-adenosine diphosphate (α,β-methylene-ADP). In the Ussing chamber, these inhibitors could reverse the chloride secretory responses triggered by 5′-AMP. In addition, α,β-methylene-ADP and zinc blocked the ability of 5′-AMP to stimulate EPEC growth under nutrient-limited conditions in vitro. Ecto-5′-nucleotidase appears to be the major enzyme responsible for generation of adenosine from adenine nucleotides in the T84 cell line, and inhibitors of ecto-5′-nucleotidase, such as α,β-methylene-ADP and zinc, might be useful for treatment of the watery diarrhea produced by EPEC infection.     

Regulation of renal gluconeogenesis by calcium ions, hormones and adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate

1. The effect of Ca(2+), glucagon, adrenaline and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate on gluconeogenesis by rat kidney-cortex slices was studied. 2. Glucose formation from a range of substrates, with the exception of glycerol, was increased by an increase in extracellular Ca(2+) concentration. 3. Hormones and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, at low Ca(2+) concentrations, stimulated glucose production from several substrates, but not from glycerol, fructose, malate or fumarate. 4. Hormonal stimulation was not detected in the absence of Ca(2+) or at 2.5mm-Ca(2+). 5. Ca(2+), hormones and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate had no effect on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. 6. It is proposed that Ca(2+) and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate-mediated hormone action activate the same rate-limiting step in gluconeogenesis: this step is tentatively identified as the rate of transfer of substrates across the mitochondrial membrane.     

Influence of cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate on uracil uptake by rifampicin treatedEscherichia coli cells

Summary Incubation of cells from a wild type strain ofE. coli with 0.3 mg/ml rifampicin for 15 minutes lead to a complete inhibition of RNA synthesis measured as the uracil incorporation into the trichloroacetic acid insoluble fraction. In these rifampicin-treated cells [¹⁴C]uracil incorporation tended to decrease during a further incubation at 37°. Addition of cyclic AMP increased the inactivation of the system responsible for [¹⁴C]uracil uptake. The cyclic nucleotide effect seems to be specific since ATP or 5AMP did not increase such inactivation.Dedicated to ProfessorLuis F. Leloir on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Involvement of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in lipid mobilization in Locusta migratoria

The rôle of cyclic AMP in hormone-induced lipid mobilization in Locusta migratoria was investigated. Injection of a corpus cardiacum extract into adult female locusts resulted in an increased level of cyclic AMP in the fat body. The cAMP concentration is maximal at about 5 min of incubation and returns to the resting level after about 10 min. The dose-response curve is linear up to about 0.01 corpus cardiacum pair equivalents.Dibutyryl-cyclic AMP mimics the lipid mobilizing effect of corpus cardiacum extract. After flight the cyclic AMP concentration in fat body increased. Injection of corpus cardiacum extract had no effect on flight muscle cyclic AMP concentration.     

Purification and characterization of the 5′ → 3′ exonuclease domain-deleted Thermus filiformis DNA polymerase expressed in Escherichia coli

The gene encoding 5 3 exonuclease domain-deleted Tfi DNA polymerase, named 5 3 Exo^– Tfi fragment, from Thermus filiformis was expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the tac promoter on a high-copy plasmid, pJR. The expressed enzyme was purified 27-fold with a 19% yield and a specific activity of 2621 U mg^–1 protein. The 5 3 exonuclease domain of Tfi DNA polymerase was removed without significant effect on enzyme activity and stability. PCR conditions for the 5 3 Exo^– Tfi fragment were more tolerant to the buffer composition as compared to the full-length enzyme.     

The orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase gene (URA3) of a methylotrophic yeast,Candida boidinii: Nucleotide sequence and its expression in Escherichia coli

Previously, we cloned a DNA fragment from a genomic library of a methylotrophic yeast, Candida boidinii. This 3.5-kb SalI fragment was capable of complementing the pyrF mutation in Escherichia coli. In this report, we identify this fragment as that harboring an orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase (ODCase) gene (C. boidinii URA3); we have also determined the complete DNA sequence of the C. boidinii URA3 gene. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene showed homology to ODCase genes from other sources, and it could complement the ura3 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The DNA fragment, which harbored the C. boidinii URA3 gene, was able to express ODCase activity in the E. coli pyrF mutant strain without an exogenous E. coli promoter. From nested-deletion analysis, both the 5′-(136 bp) and 3′-(58 bp) flanking regions were shown to be required for pyrF-complementation of the E. coli mutant. The 5′-flanking region had sequences homologous to E. coli promoter consensus sequences (−35 and −10 regions) which may function in the expression of the C. boidinii URA3 gene in E. coli.     

Influence of glucagon, 6-N,2′-O-dibutyryladenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate and triamcinolone on the arginine synthetase system in perinatal rat liver

1. The administration of triamcinolone (19-190mug/animal) to postnatal rats increased the arginine synthetase system activity 1.2-2.5-fold above control values 24h after exposure to the hormone. Cortisol (hydrocortisone), however, increased the arginine synthetase system activity only when larger (190mug/animal) or repeated daily doses were given. Glucagon (100mug/animal) stimulated arginine synthetase system activity only after the second postnatal day. None of these agents increased the activity in 19.5-21.5-day foetuses after intrauterine administration. 2. The viability of foetal rat liver explants maintained in organ culture for up to 54h was validated both by ultramicroscopic examination and by incorporation of radioactive leucine and orotic acid. 3. In organ cultures of foetal rat liver explants (18.5 days to term), triamcinolone (20mug/ml of medium) evoked a 2.8-4.3-fold increase after 24h of incubation. This increase was completely inhibited by actinomycin D (25mug/ml) or cycloheximide (10mug/ml). Cortisol (5-50mug/ml) or glucagon (0.067-67mug/ml) also increased the arginine synthetase system activity above the respective control values, but there was no increase in activity with insulin (0.05-0.25i.u./ml). 4. Maximum concentrations of glucagon (67mug/ml), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (6-N,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate) (0.1mm) and triamcinolone (20mug/ml) incubated for 24h with foetal rat liver explants each produced between a two-and three-fold increase in the activity of the arginine synthetase system. Combinations of maximum amounts of glucagon and the cyclic nucleotide did not produce a greater effect than either agent alone. However, the combination of dibutyryl cyclic AMP with triamcinolone appeared to produce somewhat less than additive effects. 5. The effects of the cyclic nucleotide and triamcinolone were evident after 12h of incubation and increased steadily throughout the 24h of observation. This time-course of increased enzyme activity is very much slower than that reported for the induction of other enzymes in explant cultures of foetal rat liver.     

Studies on degradation of adenosine-5′-phosphosulphate (APS) and adenosine-3′-phosphate-5′-phosphosulphate (PAPS) in extracts of Anabaena cylindrica

[³⁵S]Adenosine-5′-phosphosulphate ([³⁵S]APS) and [³⁵S]adenosine-3′-phosphate-5′-phosphasulphate ([³⁵S]PAPS) were rapidly degraded by extracts of Anabaena cylindrica. The loss of radioactivity from these sulphur nucleotides resulted in a corresponding increase of free ³⁵SO₄^ in the incubation mixture. The soluble fraction of the broken cells (S₇₅) hydrolysed both PAPS and APS, whereas the pellet fractions (P₂₀ and P₇₅) hydrolysed PAPS only. The degradation of [³⁵S]PAPS was almost completely suppressed by various 5′-adenine nucleotides, 3′-AMP, nucleotide triphosphates or pyrophosphate, while glucose-6-phosphate, phosphate ions and sodium sulphite were less effective. The hydrolysis of [³⁵S]APS was prevented by sodium fluoride and 5′-AMP, but 3′-AMP was ineffective.     

Secretion of β-lactamase by Escherichia coli in vivo and in vitro: effect of cerulenin

The effect of cerulenin on the production of -lactamase and other periplasmic proteins was studied in Escherichia coli IA199 carrying plasmid pBR322. Cerulenin (10 to 25 g/ml) had almost no effect on the growth rate of E. coli but it decreased the amount of -lactamase and other periplamic proteins in shock fluid. Higher amounts of the antibiotic (40 to 100 g/ml)decreased turbidity and almost completely prevented synthesis of -lactamase and other periplasmic proteins. Cerulenin decreased incorporation of l-[³⁵S]methionine into membranes during growth as well. Spheroplasts secreted -lactamase into the external medium, but during a 3-h incubation in the presence of cerulenin (25 g/ml) this secretion was prevented by more than 90%. -Lactamase was secreted into the isolated membrane vesicles from E. coli IA199. However, only 5% of the total amount of pre--lactamase was secreted and processed by the membranes in vitro. Cerulenin did not prevent processing in vitro but the membranes prepared from the cells grown in the presence of cerulenin (25 g/ml) did not catalyze processing of pre--lactamase at all. Membrane preparations from Bacillus subtilis did not process pre--lactamase either in the absence or in the presence of cerulenin.