Stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by G protein-coupled alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors does not require agonist-elicited endocytosis.

Agonist-elicited receptor sequestration is strikingly different for the alpha(2A)- versus alpha(2B)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(2)-AR) subtypes; the alpha(2B)-AR undergoes rapid and extensive disappearance from the HEK 293 cell surface, whereas the alpha(2A)-AR does not (Daunt, D. A., Hurt, C., Hein, L., Kallio, J., Feng, F., and Kobilka, B. K. (1997) Mol. Pharmacol. 51, 711-720; Eason, M. G., and Liggett, S. B. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 25473-25479). Since recent reports suggest that endocytosis is required for some G protein-coupled receptors to stimulate the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade (Daaka, Y., Luttrell, L. M., Ahn, S., Della Rocca, G. J., Ferguson, S. S., Caron, M. G., and Lefkowitz, R. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 685-688; Luttrell, L. M., Daaka, Y., Della Rocca, G. J., and Lefkowitz, R. J. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 31648-31656; Ignatova, E. G., Belcheva, M. M., Bohn, L. M., Neuman, M. C., and Coscia, C. J. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19, 56-63), we evaluated the differential ability of these two subtypes to activate MAP kinase. We observed no correlation between subtype-dependent agonist-elicited receptor redistribution and receptor activation of the MAP kinase cascade. Furthermore, incubation of cells with K(+)-depleted medium eliminated alpha(2B)-AR internalization but did not eliminate MAP kinase activation, suggesting that receptor internalization is not a general prerequisite for activation of the MAP kinase cascade via G(i)-coupled receptors. We also noted that neither dominant negative dynamin (K44A) nor concanavalin A treatment dramatically altered MAP kinase activation or receptor redistribution, indicating that these experimental tools do not universally block G protein-coupled receptor internalization.     

The role of a parasite-specific allosteric site in the distinctive activation behavior of Eimeria tenella cGMP-dependent protein kinase

A cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) was recently identified as an anticoccidial target for the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria tenella [Gurnett, A., Liberator, P. A., Dulski, P., Salowe, S., Donald, R. G. K., Anderson, J., Wiltsie, J., Diaz, C., Harris, G., Chang, B., Darkin-Rattray, S. J., Nare, B., Crumley, T., Blum, P., Misura, A., Tamas, T., Sardana, M., Yuan, J., Biftu, T., and Schmatz, D. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. (in press)]. Unlike the PKGs of higher organisms that have two cGMP binding sites in their regulatory domain, the PKG from Eimeria tenella (Et-PKG) contains three putative cGMP binding sites and has distinctive activation properties, including a very large stimulation by cGMP ( approximately 1000-fold) with significant cooperativity (Hill coefficient of 1.7). During our investigation of Et-PKG activation, we found that 8-substituted cGMP analogues are weak partial activators. For example, 8-NBD-cGMP provides a maximal stimulation of activity of only 20-fold with little evident cooperativity, although cGMP can synergize with the analogue to provide full activation. The results suggest that partial activation is a consequence of restricted binding of 8-NBD-cGMP to a subset of cGMP sites in the enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis of conserved arginine and glutamate residues in the parasite-specific third cGMP site confirms that this site is an important functional participant in the allosteric regulation of the kinase and that it exhibits very high selectivity against 8-NBD-cGMP. Since the results are consistent with full activation of Et-PKG requiring cyclic nucleotide binding in all three allosteric sites, one role for the additional cGMP site may be to establish a stricter regulatory mechanism for the kinase activity than is present in the PKGs of higher organisms containing only two allosteric sites.     

Proteolytic cleavages of proalbumin and complement Pro-C3 in vitro by a truncated soluble form of furin, a mammalian homologue of the yeast Kex2 protease.

We have recently purified and characterized a truncated soluble form of furin from which the predicted transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail were deleted (Hatsuzawa, K., Nagahama, M., Takahashi, S., Takada, K., Murakami, K., and Nakayama, K. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 16094-16099). Our results showed that furin resembles the yeast Kex2 protease with respect to both its enzymic properties and substrate specificity. Here we demonstrate that the soluble form of furin is capable of converting the precursors of albumin and the third component of complement (proalbumin and pro-C3, respectively) in vitro to mature proteins. Thus furin mimics the Ca(2+)-dependent proalbumin and pro-C3 convertases found in the Golgi membranes (Brennan, S. O., and Peach, R. J. (1988) FEBS Lett. 229, 167-170; Oda, K. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17465-17471). Furthermore we show that the variant alpha 1-antitrypsin Pittsburgh, which is a specific inhibitor of the Golgi proalbumin convertase, inhibits not only the Golgi pro-C3 convertase, but also the soluble furin. These results suggest a role for furin in the cleavage of proproteins transported via the constitutive pathway.     

Lipopolysaccharide induces prostaglandin H synthase-2 in alveolar macrophages.

Prostaglandin H synthase is a key enzyme in the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane from arachidonic acid. The recent cloning of a second prostaglandin H synthase gene, prostaglandin H synthase-2, which is distinct from the classic prostaglandin H synthase-1 gene, may dramatically alter our concept of how cells regulate prostanoid formation. We have recently shown that the enhanced production of prostanoids by lipopolysaccharide-primed alveolar macrophages involves the induction of a novel prostaglandin H synthase (J. Biol. Chem., (1992), 267, 14547-14550). We report here that the novel PGH synthase induced by lipopolysaccharide in alveolar macrophages is prostaglandin H synthase-2.     

Fluoride-inhibited calcium ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Magnesium and fluoride stoichiometry.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) CaATPase is inactivated by fluoride in the presence of magnesium (Murphy, A. J., and Coll, R. J. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 5229-5235). The inactive complex is very stable and can be isolated free of other components by 48 h of dialysis at 4 degrees C (Murphy, A. J., and Coll, R. J. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 16990-16994). In this study, we used a fluoride-specific electrode to determine that the amount of tightly bound fluoride in the complex was 9.4 +/- 2 nmol mg-1 SR protein. The rate constant of inactivation was very similar to the rate constant of fluoride incorporation and varied directly as the square of the fluoride concentration. Luminal Ca2+ accelerated reactivation of the inhibited enzyme, and the rate constants of activity regain and fluoride release were very similar. Although required for inhibition, added magnesium did not accelerate reactivation. Analysis for magnesium using antipyrylazo III of the inhibited enzyme showed 4.1 +/- 0.4 nmol mg-1 SR protein. As there is much evidence in the literature supportive of an estimate of calcium pumps equal to approximately 4-5 nmol mg-1 SR protein, our results indicate that each inhibited enzyme contains two tightly bound fluorides and one tightly bound magnesium.     

Substitution of putative half-cystine residues in heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor receptors. Loss of binding activity in both two and three loop isoforms.

Alternate use of an exon coding for an 89-residue NH2 terminal immunoglobulin-like disulfide loop results in isoforms of the heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF-R) with three (FGF-R alpha) and two (FGF-R beta) Ig-like loops in the extracellular domain. Both FGF-R alpha and FGF-R beta isoforms exhibit qualitatively similar ligand-binding activities. In this report, we show by site-directed mutagenesis and analysis of ligand-binding activity in transfected cells that substitution of a cysteine that potentially forms an intra-loop disulfide in either juxtamembrane Loop II or III disrupted maturation and formation of the ligand-binding site in both FGF-R alpha and FGF-R beta isoforms. Neither three loop FGF-R alpha constructions coding for intact Loops I and II adjacent to defective Loop III nor intact Loops I and III separated by defective Loop II exhibited ligand-binding activity. In addition, a two-loop molecule of tandem Loops I and III was inactive. The results suggest that single Loops I, II, or III of FGF-R are insufficient to form a ligand-binding site. Loop I does not form an independent ligand-binding site with either Loop II or III, but interacts with a common ligand-binding site formed by Loops II and III (Xu, J., Nakahara, M., Crabb, J. W., Shi, E., Matuo, Y., Fraser, M., Kan, M., Hou, J., and McKeehan, W. L. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17792-17803, 1992).     

A fusion protein between rac and p67phox (1-210) reconstitutes NADPH oxidase with higher activity and stability than the individual components.

Activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, a superoxide-generating enzyme, involves assembly of cytosolic p47(phox), p67(phox), and rac with the membrane-associated cytochrome b(558). Following cell-free activation, enzymatic activity is highly labile [Tamura, M., Takeshita, M., Curnutte, J. T., Uhlinger, D. J., and Lambeth, J. D. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 7529-7538]. In an attempt to stabilize the activity and to investigate the nature of the complex, we have produced fusion proteins between rac and a C-terminal truncated form of p67(phox) (residues 1-210, 67N), which is a minimal active fragment. In a cell-free system, a fusion protein 67N-rac had higher activity and a 3-fold higher affinity than the individual cytosolic proteins, and 67N-Ser3-rac, which has a longer linker, showed a similar activity with the individual proteins. In contrast, rac-67N, a fusion in the opposite orientation, showed considerably lower activity. The enzyme activity reconstituted with 67N-rac showed a 10-fold higher stability and a lower K(m) for NADPH than the individual components. In the absence of p47, 67N-rac fusion protein at a high concentration showed nearly full activation, which was higher than that with the individual components. These results indicate that covalent binding between p67N and rac in the correct order produces a more stable complex than the individual components, suggesting that interactions among the subunits significantly influence the duration of the oxidase activation. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model for the topology among rac, 67N, and cytochrome b(558).     

The interaction of factor XIa with activated platelets but not endothelial cells promotes the activation of factor IX in the consolidation phase of blood coagulation

We have previously shown that the zymogen factor XI (FXI) binds to activated platelets but not to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), a conclusion that is in conflict with previous reports stating that FXI binds to 2.7-13 x 10(6) high affinity sites per HUVEC (Berrettini, M., Schleef, R. R., Heeb, M. J., Hopmeier, P., and Griffin, J. H. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 19833-19839; Shariat-Madar, Z., Mahdi, F., and Schmaier, A. H. (2001) Thromb. Haemostasis 85, 544-551). It has also been reported that activated FXI (FXIa) binds to 1.5 x 10(6) sites per HUVEC and promotes the activation of factor IX by cell bound FXIa (Berrettini, M., Schleef, R. R., Heeb, M. J., Hopmeier, P., and Griffin, J. H. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 19833-19839). Therefore, the binding of FXIa to activated platelets was compared with FXIa binding to HUVEC and HEK293 cells immobilized on microcarrier beads. Specific and saturable zinc-dependent FXIa binding was demonstrated to 250 +/- 48 sites per activated platelet (K(D) = 1.7 +/- 0.78 nm) and 6.5 +/- 0.4 x 10(4) sites per HUVEC (K(D) = 2.4 +/- 0.5 nm), whereas no binding to HEK293 cells was detected. A titration with high molecular weight kininogen had no effect on FXIa binding to platelets, but revealed a concentration-dependent decrease in the amount of FXIa bound to HUVEC. The rate of factor IXa generation catalyzed by FXIa was unaffected by the presence of surfaces; however only the activated platelet surface protected FXIa from inhibition by protease nexin 2. The results presented here confirm the conclusion that activated platelets are procoagulant while unstimulated endothelial cells are not.     

Analysis of human red cell spectrin tetramer (head-to-head) assembly using complementary univalent peptides.

The mass-driven assembly of spectrin dimers to form tetramers involves two equal head-to-head alpha-beta associations and requires at least 30 degrees C for interconversion to occur readily. In this paper, the properties of tetramer formation were investigated using two complementary univalent peptides (the alpha I domain and beta monomers). Since the alpha I domain lacks an essential nucleation site required for side-to-side (lateral) heterodimer assembly [Speicher et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 14775-14782], these two peptides can only assemble head-to-head at a single site. This head-to-head assembly readily occurs at lower temperatures, indicating the temperature barrier for dimer-tetramer interconversion is caused by a conformational constraint of the dimer. This constraint, a closed hairpin loop, is released when the laterally associated partner is removed. The univalent alpha I-beta binding affinity at 37 degrees C (Ka = 1.4 x 10(5) M-1) is similar to the dimer-tetramer association constant at the same temperature. As the temperature is decreased from 37 to 0 degrees C, the alpha I-beta binding affinity increases about 32-fold. In contrast with head-to-head associations involving dimers, the second-order rate constants of two complementary univalent peptides (i.e., alpha I and beta) are dramatically higher, and the estimated activation energy (about 50 kJ mol-1) is about 5-fold lower. An open dimer conformation is an obligatory high-energy intermediate required for dimer-tetramer interconversion, and opening the dimer hairpin loop contributes about 190 kJ mol-1 to the activation energy for tetramer association.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Regulation of retinal cGMP cascade by phosducin in bovine rod photoreceptor cells. Interaction of phosducin and transducin.

Photoexcitation of retinal rod photoreceptor cells involves the activation of cGMP enzyme cascade in which sequential activation of rhodopsin, transducin, and the cGMP phosphodiesterase in the rod outer segment constitutes the signal amplification mechanism. Phosducin, a 33-kDa phosphoprotein, has been shown to form a tight complex with the T beta gamma subunit of transducin. In this study, we examined the interaction of phosducin-T beta gamma and the possible regulatory role of phosducin on the cGMP cascade. Addition of phosducin to photolyzed rod outer segment (ROS) membrane reduced the GTP hydrolysis activity of transducin as well as the subsequent activation of the cGMP phosphodiesterase. Phosducin also inhibited the pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of transducin, indicating that the interaction between the T alpha and T beta gamma subunits of transducin was interrupted upon binding of phosducin. The inhibitory effects of phosducin were reversed by the addition of exogenous T beta gamma. These results suggest that phosducin is capable of regulating the amount of T beta gamma available to interact with T alpha to form the active transducin complex and thereby functions as a negative regulator of the cGMP cascade. The phosducin-induced alteration of the subunit organization of transducin was examined by chemical cross-linking method using para-phenyl dimaleimide as cross-linker. It was found that the cross-linking among T alpha and T beta gamma was blocked in the presence of phosducin. This result implies that T beta gamma may undergo a conformational change upon phosducin binding which leads to the release of T alpha. Since phosducin is a soluble protein, the interaction with transducin only occurs when transducin is dissociated from ROS disc membrane. Indeed, phosducin failed to dissociate membrane-bound transducin and did not inhibit the initial cycle of transducin activation as measured by the presteady state GTP hydrolysis. However, phosducin interacts effectively with transducin released into solution after the initial activation and blocks the re-binding of T alpha. T beta gamma to ROS membrane by forming a tight complex with T beta gamma. This interaction may play an important role in regulating the turnover of the cGMP cascade in photoreceptor cells.     

Protein kinase C promotes apoptosis in LNCaP prostate cancer cells through activation of p38 MAPK and inhibition of the Akt survival pathway

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol esters or diacylglycerol mimetics induces apoptosis in androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells, an effect that involves both the activation of the classic PKC alpha and the novel PKC delta isozymes (Fujii, T., García-Bermejo, M. L., Bernabó, J. L., Caama?o, J., Ohba, M., Kuroki, T., Li, L., Yuspa, S. H., and Kazanietz, M. G. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 7574-7582 and Garcia-Bermejo, M. L., Leskow, F. C., Fujii, T., Wang, Q., Blumberg, P. M., Ohba, M., Kuroki, T., Han, K. C., Lee, J., Marquez, V. E., and Kazanietz, M. G. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 645-655). In the present study we explored the signaling events involved in this PKC-mediated effect, using the androgen-dependent LNCaP cell line as a model. Stimulation of PKC by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) leads to the activation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK in LNCaP cells. Here we present evidence that p38 MAPK, but not JNK, mediates PKC-induced apoptosis. Because LNCaP cells have hyperactivated Akt function due to PTEN inactivation, we examined whether this survival pathway could be affected by PKC activation. Interestingly, activation of PKC leads to a rapid and reversible dephosphorylation of Akt, an effect that was prevented by the pan-PKC inhibitor GF109302X and the cPKC inhibitor G?6976. In addition, the diacylglycerol mimetic agent HK654, which selectively stimulates PKC alpha in LNCaP cells, also induced the dephosphorylation of Akt in LNCaP cells. Inactivation of Akt function by PKC does not involve the inhibition of PI3K, and it is prevented by okadaic acid, suggesting the involvement of a phosphatase 2A in PMA-induced Akt dephosphorylation. Finally, we show that, when an activated form of Akt is delivered into LNCaP cells by either transient transfection or adenoviral infection, the apoptotic effect of PMA is significantly reduced. Our results highlight a complex array of signaling pathways regulated by PKC isozymes in LNCaP prostate cancer cells and suggest that both p38 MAPK and Akt play critical roles as downstream effectors of PKC isozymes in this cellular model.     

Dual pathways of receptor-mediated cyclic GMP generation in NG108-15 cells as differentiated by susceptibility to islet-activating protein, pertussis toxin

The cellular cGMP content increased in response to a variety of receptor agonists, which activate [e.g., prostaglandin (PG) E1, E2, and F2 alpha] or inhibit (e.g., alpha-adrenergic, muscarinic, and opiate agonists) adenylate cyclase in neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells. The responses were additive when PGF2 alpha and enkephalin were mixed. The inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Ni) is involved in adenylate cyclase inhibition; this function of Ni is lost when it is ADP-ribosylated by islet-activating protein (IAP), pertussis toxin [H. Kurose, T. Katada, T. Amano, and M. Ui (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4870-4875]. The cGMP rise induced by stimulation of the receptors linked to adenylate cyclase inhibition was also diminished by IAP; the time course and dose response for the IAP-induced diminution were the same between adenylate cyclase inhibition and cGMP generation. Ni thus appears to mediate guanylate cyclase activation as well as adenylate cyclase inhibition initiated via the same receptors. Melittin also increased cGMP. No additivity was shown when enkephalin and melittin were combined, suggesting that phospholipase A2 might play a role in Ni-mediated guanylate cyclase activation. On the other hand, the PGF2 alpha-induced cGMP rise was associated with increased incorporation of 32Pi into phosphatidylinositol; was not affected by cholera toxin, IAP or forskolin; and showed no additivity when combined with A23187, which increased cGMP by itself. PGs would occupy receptors linked to phosphatidylinositol breakdown, thereby increasing the availability of intracellular Ca2+, which is responsible for guanylate cyclase activation. Thus, dual pathways are proposed for a receptor-mediated cGMP rise in NG108-15 cells.     

Isolation of stimulatory modulator of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from mammalian heart devoid of inhibitory modulator of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase.

The stimulatory and inhibitory activities in the crude preparation of protein kinase modulator from dog heart were separated by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, and the stimulatory modulator was further purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The isolated stimulatory modulator, as the crude modulator preparation, stimulated the activity of the purified guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinases of both mammalian and arthropod origins in the presence of cGMP. The cGMP-dependent protein kinases were not activated by cGMP in the absence of either the isolated stimulatory modulator or the crude modulator. The stimulatory modulator, unlike the crude modulator had no effect on the activity of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase. The stimulatory modulator was a protein since its activity was destroyed by trypsin but was resistant to hydrolysis by DNase, RNase, phospholipase C, and lysozyme. The isolated inhibitory modulator, presumably the same as the protein inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase reported by Walsh et al. (Wash. D.A., Ashby, C.D., Gonzalez, C., Calkins, D., Fischer. E.H., and Krebs, E.G. (1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 1977-1985), depressed the cAMP-stimulated activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase as did the crude preparation of protein kinase modulator. The isolated inhibitory modulator, unlike the crude preparation, was without effect on cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The present findings provide evidence to support that in mammals there are separate proteins for the stimulatory and the inhibitory activities of protein kinase modulator, in contrast to the modulator from an arthropod tissue (lobster tail muscle, Donnelly et al. (Donnelly, T.E., Jr., Kuo, J.F., Reyes, P.L., Liu, Y.P., and Greengard, P. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 190-198) which has been shown to possess both activities.     

Interactions between the subunits of transducin and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in Rana catesbiana rod photoreceptors

In bullfrog (Rana catesbiana) rods the activity of cyclic GMP (cGMP) phosphodiesterase was stimulated 10 times by washing disc membranes with an isotonic, GTP-containing buffer. This stimulation was maintained following hydrolysis of GTP and after removal of guanine nucleotides. At least 60-70% of the inhibitory gamma subunit of cGMP phosphodiesterase (P gamma) was physically released from membranes by these washing procedures. When cGMP phosphodiesterase was activated by a hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogue, P gamma was found in the supernatant complexed with the transducin alpha subunit (T alpha) using three chromatography systems. When GTP was used to activate cGMP phosphodiesterase, P gamma was also found in the supernatant complexed with GDP.T alpha. This complex was also isolated using the same three chromatography systems, indicating that P gamma remained tightly bound to T alpha even after bound GTP was hydrolyzed. Interaction with the beta,gamma subunits of transducin, which remained associated with disc membranes, was required for the release of P gamma from the GDP.T alpha complex, which resulted in the deactivation of active cGMP phosphodiesterase. We conclude that during activation of cGMP phosphodiesterase, P gamma is complexed with T alpha (both GTP and GDP forms) in the supernatant and that, following GTP hydrolysis, beta,gamma subunits of transducin are necessary for the release of P gamma from the complex and the resulting inactivation of cGMP phosphodiesterase in frog photoreceptors.     

Kinetic characterization of the substrate reaction between a complex of antithrombin with a synthetic reactive-bond loop tetradecapeptide and four target proteinases of the inhibitor.

A tetradecapeptide corresponding to the P1 to P14 region of the reactive-bond loop of antithrombin (AT) binds to the inhibitor, presumably as a middle strand of the A beta-sheet, thereby converting AT from an inhibitor to a substrate of thrombin (Bj?rk, I., Ylinenj?rvi, K., Olson, S.T., and Bock, P. E. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1976-1982). The kinetics of cleavage of the AT reactive bond in the AT-peptide complex by four target proteinases were quantified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and densitometry. The kcat/Km values for thrombin and factor IXa were indistinguishable from the second-order rate constants for AT inhibition of these enzymes, whereas the values for factor Xa and plasmin were 10-17-fold higher than the inhibition rate constants. Heparin with high affinity for AT accelerated the substrate reaction with thrombin to an extent consistent with the reduced heparin affinity of the AT-peptide complex. These data show that blocking by the peptide of the putative intramolecular association of the P1 to P14 region of the AT reactive-bond loop with the A beta-sheet leads to AT functioning as a substrate of its target enzymes with an efficiency that equals or exceeds the action of uncomplexed AT as an inhibitor and with the expected heparin activation. The results thus suggest that a substrate-like attack of the proteinase on the inhibitor reactive bond in an exposed loop initiates the inhibition reaction. This attack presumably induces the subsequent trapping of the enzyme by the insertion of the reactive-bond loop into the A beta-sheet.     

Protein kinase C is involved in adrenergic stimulation of pineal cGMP accumulation

The amounts of cAMP and cGMP in the rat pinealocyte are regulated by norepinephrine acting through synergistic dual receptor mechanisms involving alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptors (Vanecek, J., Sugden, D., Weller, J.L., and Klein, D.C. (1985) Endocrinology 116, 2167-2173; Sugden, L., Sugden, D., and Klein, D.C. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 11608-11612). Based on the available evidence, it appears that Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase is involved in the alpha 1-adrenergic potentiation of beta-adrenergic stimulation of cAMP, but not in the stimulation of cGMP (Sugden, D., Vanecek, J., Klein, D.C., Thomas, T.P., and Anderson, W.B. (1985) Nature 314, 359-361). In the present study the role of protein kinase C in the adrenergic stimulation of cGMP was reinvestigated, with the purpose of determining whether protein kinase C activators would potentiate the effects of beta-adrenergic agonists on cGMP if cells were also treated with agents known to elevate intracellular free Ca2+. The protein kinase C activator 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) markedly elevated the cGMP content of beta-adrenergically stimulated pinealocytes which had also been treated with 1 microM A23187, 15 mM K+, or 1 microM ouabain. The effects of A23187 were blocked by EGTA and those of K+ were blocked by nifedipine, establishing the involvement of Ca2+. The stimulatory effects of PMA on cGMP accumulation were mimicked by other protein kinase C activators. PMA also stimulated cGMP accumulation in cells treated with cholera toxin (1 microgram/ml) and A23187 (1 microM), but not in cells treated only with cholera toxin. These results suggest that protein kinase C, which is activated in the pinealocyte by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, is probably involved in the adrenergic regulation of cGMP accumulation at a step distal to receptor activation.     

The First Nucleotide Binding Domain of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Is a Site of Stable Nucleotide Interaction, whereas the Second Is a Site of Rapid Turnover

As in other adenine nucleotide binding cassette (ABC) proteins the nucleotide binding domains of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) bind and hydrolyze ATP and in some manner regulate CFTR ion channel gating. Unlike some other ABC proteins, however, there are preliminary indications that the two domains of CFTR are nonequivalent in their nucleotide interactions (Szabo, K., Szakacs, G., Hegeds, T., and Sarkadi, B. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 12209-12212; Aleksandrov, L., Mengos, A., Chang, X., Aleksandrov, A., and Riordan, J. R. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 12918-12923). We have now characterized the interactions of the 8-azido-photoactive analogues of ATP, ADP, and 5'-adenyl-beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) with the two domains of functional membrane-bound CFTR. The results show that the two domains appear to act independently in the binding and hydrolysis of 8-azido-ATP. At NBD1 binding does not require a divalent cation. This binding is followed by minimal Mg(2+)-dependent hydrolysis and retention of the hydrolysis product, 8-azido-ADP, but not as a vanadate stabilized post-hydrolysis transition state complex. In contrast, at NBD2, MgN(3)ATP is hydrolyzed as rapidly as it is bound and the nucleoside diphosphate hydrolysis product dissociates immediately. Confirming this characterization of NBD1 as a site of more stable nucleotide interaction and NBD2 as a site of fast turnover, the non-hydrolyzable N(3)AMP-PNP bound preferentially to NBD1. This demonstration of NBD2 as the rapid nucleotide turnover site is consistent with the strong effect on channel gating kinetics of inactivation of this domain by mutagenesis.