Action of the cardiac alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. Activation of cyclic AMP degradation

Using purified rat ventricular myocytes and membranes prepared from them, we have previously found that alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation causes decreased cyclic AMP accumulation and decreased activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. We have now analyzed the mechanism by which alpha 1 stimulation is linked to cyclic AMP metabolism. In an adenylate cyclase assay in which carbachol inhibits the stimulatory effect of norepinephrine, the addition of prazosin (alpha 1-antagonist) has no effect on the response to norepinephrine. In membranes prepared from myocytes treated with pertussis toxin, norepinephrine competes for alpha 1-receptors (assessed by [3H]prazosin binding) with two components, binding to the high affinity component being sensitive to exogenous GTP, exactly as in membranes prepared from control myocytes. In intact cells labeled with [3H]adenine in which carbachol antagonizes the norepinephrine response, prazosin enhances accumulation of [3H]cyclic AMP due to norepinephrine. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin eliminates inhibition by carbachol but does not alter prazosin's capacity to enhance the norepinephrine response. Addition of phosphodiesterase inhibitors eliminates this effect of alpha 1 blockade. In [3H]adenine-labeled cells loaded with [3H]cyclic AMP by prior treatment with isoproterenol, alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation enhances disappearance of [3H]cyclic AMP. Measurements of cellular cyclic AMP give results similar to those obtained with the adenine labeling technic. We conclude that occupation of the myocyte alpha 1-receptor results in stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity.     

Phospholipid Methylation Increases [3H]Diazepam and [3H]GABA Binding in Membrane Preparations of Rat Cerebellum

The effect of phospholipid methylation on both [3H]diazepam and [3H]GABA ( [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid) binding to crude synaptic plasma membrane from rat cerebellum has been studied. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) stimulates [3H]methyl group incorporation into membrane phospholipids and enhances [3H]diazepam binding by increasing the apparent Bmax. Conversely, inhibition of [3H]methyl group transfer from [3H]SAM to phospholipids by preincubation with SAM at 0 degrees C or with SAH abolishes the increase of binding. After preincubation with SAM, analysis of the GABA binding reveals the presence of binding sites with high affinity, a property absent in control membranes preincubated without SAM. Among the neurotransmitter bindings tested, only those of GABA and benzodiazepine in the cerebellum and beta-adrenergic ligands in the cerebral cortex are enhanced upon stimulation of phospholipid methyltransferase activity. [3H]Dihydromorphine, [3H]dihydro-alpha-ergokryptine and [3H]spiroperidol bindings are not affected by SAM. The present data suggest an involvement of phospholipid methylation in regulation of both [3H]GABA and [3H]-diazepam binding.     

Membrane-bound form of ADP-ribosyl cyclase in rat cortical astrocytes in culture

ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities in cultured rat astrocytes were examined by using TLC for separation of enzymatic products. A relatively high rate of [3H]cyclic ADP-ribose production converted from [3H]NAD+ by ADP-ribosyl cyclase (2.015+/-0.554 nmol/min/mg of protein) was detected in the crude membrane fraction of astrocytes, which contained approximately 50% of the total cyclase activity in astrocytes. The formation rate of [3H]ADP-ribose from cyclic ADP-ribose by cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase and/or from NAD+ by NAD glycohydrolase was low and enriched in the cytosolic fraction. Although NAD+ in the extracellular medium was metabolized to cyclic ADP-ribose by incubating cultures of intact astrocytes, the presence of Triton X-100 in the medium for permeabilizing cells increased cyclic ADP-ribose production three times as much. Isoproterenol and GTP increased [3H]cyclic ADP-ribose formation in crude membrane-associated cyclase activity. This isoproterenol-induced stimulation of membrane-associated ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity was confirmed by cyclic GDP-ribose formation fluorometrically. This stimulatory action was blocked by prior treatment of cells with cholera toxin but not with pertussis toxin. These results suggest that ADP-ribosyl cyclase in astrocytes has both extracellular and intracellular actions and that signals of beta-adrenergic stimulation are transduced to membrane-bound ADP-ribosyl cyclase via G proteins within cell surface membranes of astrocytes.     

Histamine Increases Phospholipid Methylation and H2-Receptor-Adenylate Cyclase Coupling in Rat Brain

Histamine stimulated the enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylcholine from phosphatidylethanolamine in crude synaptic membranes of rat brain containing the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). In the presence of, but not in the absence of SAM, histamine increased cyclic AMP accumulation at the concentrations that stimulate phospholipid methylation. S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine, an inhibitor of phospholipid methyltransferases, inhibited histamine-stimulated phospholipid methylation and histamine-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in the presence of SAM in a concentration-dependent manner. Histamine-induced [3H]methyl incorporation into phospholipids exhibited a marked regional heterogeneity in rat brain in the order of cortex greater than medulla oblongata greater than hippocampus greater than striatum greater than midbrain greater than hypothalamus. The regional distribution of histamine-induced cyclic AMP accumulation exactly paralleled histamine-stimulated [3H]methyl incorporation in rat brain. Histamine-induced cyclic AMP accumulation was inhibited by the addition of cimetidine or famotidine, but not by mepyramine or diphenhydramine. The accumulation of cyclic AMP in the presence of SAM was observed by the addition of impromidine or dimaprit, but not by 2-pyridylethylamine. These results indicate that phospholipid methylation is induced by histamine and may participate in H2-receptor-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase in rat brain.     

A rapid direct assay of 3'-5' cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity using chromatography on immobilized acriflavin

A chromatographic method using immobilized acriflavin has been developed for the separation of unreacted cyclic nucleotides from their corresponding 5'-nucleotides, in a direct assay of 3'-5' cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase using [3H]-cyclic nucleotides as substrate. The method based on the so-called charge-transfer overlap recognition between flavin and indol rings, provides a rapid (15-20 min) and sensitive elution of [3H]-5'nucleotides with high recovery (up to 98%) and low blanks, while [3H]-cyclic nucleotides are retarded on the column. By this method, the formation of some secondary products by purine metabolizing enzymes such as 5'-nucleotidases, nucleosidases and/or deaminases is taken into account, using [14C]-5'-AMP thus allowing an accurate determination of phosphodiesterase activity in any preparations.     

Guanine nucleotides stimulate production of inositol trisphosphate in rat cortical membranes.

The guanine nucleotides guanosine 5'[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate (Gpp[NH]p), guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate (GTP gamma S), GMP, GDP and GTP stimulated the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids by a phosphodiesterase in rat cerebral cortical membranes. Addition of 100 microM-Gpp[NH]p to prelabelled membranes caused a rapid accumulation of [3H )inositol phosphates (less than 30 s) for up to 2 min. GTP gamma S and Gpp [NH]p caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of phosphoinositide phosphodiesterase with a maximal stimulation of 2.5-3-fold over control at concentrations of 100 microM. GMP was as effective as the nonhydrolysable analogues, but much less potent (EC50 380 microM). GTP and GDP caused a 50% stimulation of the phospholipase C at 100 microM and at higher concentrations were inhibitory. The adenine nucleotides App[NH]p and ATP also caused small stimulatory effects (64% and 29%). The guanine nucleotide stimulation of inositide hydrolysis in cortical membranes was selective for inositol phospholipids over choline-containing phospholipids. Gpp[NH]p stimulated the production of inositol trisphosphate and inositol bisphosphate as well as inositol monophosphate, indicating that phosphoinositides are substrates for the phosphodiesterase. EGTA (33 microM) did not prevent the guanine nucleotide stimulation of inositide hydrolysis. Calcium addition by itself caused inositide phosphodiesterase activation from 3 to 100 microM which was additive with the Gpp[NH]p stimulation. These data suggest that guanine nucleotides may play a regulatory role in the modulation of the activity of phosphoinositide phosphodiesterase in rat cortical membranes.     

Solubilization and photoaffinity labeling of renal membrane cyclic AMP receptors.

Renal cortical plasma membranes were solubilized with sodium deoxycholate. The membrane-bound cyclic AMP receptors retained biologic activity in the detergent-dispersed state exhibiting the properties of high affinity for cyclic AMP, saturability and specificity. Half-maximal binding of cycle [3H]-AMP to these receptors was found to occur at 0.06 muM and 1.5 pmol of cyclic [3H]AMP was bound per mg membrane protein at saturation (0.5 muM cyclic [3H]AMP). Sodium deoxycholate-solubilized membrane proteins were chromatographed on Biogel A-5m. Cyclic [3H]AMP receptors eluted in the internal volume at positions equivalent to molecular sizes of 50 000 and 20 000 daltons and in the void volume at molecular size greater than 450 000. After photoaffinity labeling the renal membrane receptors with cyclic [3H]AMP, we found peaks of tritium radioactivity which eluted at similar molecular size positions on this Bogel A-5m column. Further treatment of photoaffinity labeled membranes with sodium dodecyl sulfate, mercaptoethanol and urea, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed bands of tritium-labeled receptor protein with relative mobilities corresponding to molecular sizes of 26 000 and 21 000 daltons. This study shows that porcine renal cortical membranes contain at least two molecular species of cyclic AMP receptors which may be associated with regulation of the membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Characterization of Flavonoid 3[prime],5[prime]-Hydroxylase in Microsomal Membrane Fraction of Petunia hybrida Flowers

We have detected a flavonoid 3[prime],5[prime]-hydroxylase (F3[prime],5[prime]H) in the microsomal fraction of Petunia hybrida flowers. Activity varied with the development of flowers, peaking immediately prior to and during anthesis, but was absent in mature flowers. F3[prime],5[prime]H activity in flower extracts from genetically defined floral color mutants correlated strictly with the genotypes Hf1 and Hf2. No activity was detected in flowers from mutants homozygous recessive for both alleles. F3[prime],5[prime]H activity was dependent on NADPH and molecular oxygen; there was only slight activity with NADH. The enzyme catalyzes the hydroxylation of 5,7,4[prime]-trihydroxyflavonone at the 3[prime] and 5[prime] positions, and of 5,7,3[prime],4[prime]-tetrahydroxyflavonone and dihydroquercetin at the 5[prime] position. Hydroxylase activity was inhibited by plant growth regulators (1-aminobenzotriazole and tetcyclacis) and by CO, N-ethylmaleimide, diethyldithiocarbamate, and cytochrome (Cyt) c. Activity was not affected by diethylpyrocarbonate or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, but was enhanced by 2-mercaptoethanol. A polyclonal antibody that inhibits higher plant NADPH-Cyt P450 reductase inhibited the F3[prime],5[prime]H. The data are consistent with the suggestion that the P. hybrida F3[prime],5[prime]H is a monooxygenase consisting of a Cyt P450 and a NADPH-Cyt P-450 reductase. Cyts P450 were detected in microsomal membranes and in solubilized detergent extracts of these membranes. F3[prime],5[prime]H activity was sensitive to low concentrations of all detergents tested, and therefore solubilization of the active enzyme was not achieved. Reaction products other than flavanones were observed in F3[prime],5[prime]H assays and these may be formed by enzymic oxidation of flavanones. The possibility of a microsomal flavone synthase of a type that has not been described in P. hybrida is discussed.     

Effects of fatty acids on activity of cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from calf liver

Effects of fatty acids, prostaglandins, and phospholipids on the activity of purified cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from calf liver were investigated. Prostaglandins A2, E1, E2, F1 alpha, and F2 alpha, thromboxane B2, and most phospholipids were without effect; lysophosphatidylcholine was a potent inhibitor. Several saturated fatty acids (carbon chain length 14-24), at concentrations up to 1 mM, had little or no effect on hydrolysis of 0.5 microM [3H]cGMP or 0.5 microM [3H]cAMP with or without 1 microM cGMP. In general, unsaturated fatty acids were inhibitory, except for myristoleic and palmitoleic acids which increased hydrolysis of 0.5 microM [3H]cAMP. The extent of inhibition by cis-isomers correlated with the number of double bonds. Increasing concentrations of palmitoleic acid from 10 to 100 microM increased hydrolysis of [3H]cAMP with maximal activation (60%) at 100 microM; higher concentrations were inhibitory. Palmitoleic acid inhibited cGMP hydrolysis and cGMP-stimulated cAMP hydrolysis with IC50 values of 110 and 75 microM, respectively. Inhibitory effects of palmitoleic acid were completely or partially prevented by equimolar alpha-tocopherol. Palmitelaidic acid, the trans isomer, had only slightly inhibitory effects. The effects of palmitoleic acid (100 microM) were dependent on substrate concentration. Activation was maximal with 1 microM [3H]cAMP and was reduced with increasing substrate; with greater than 10 microM cAMP, palmitoleic had no effect. Inhibition of cGMP hydrolysis was maximal at 2.5 microM cGMP and was reduced with increasing cGMP; at greater than 100 microM cGMP palmitoleic acid increased hydrolysis slightly. Palmitoleic acid did not affect apparent Km or Vmax for cAMP hydrolysis, but increased the apparent Km (from 17 to 60 microM) and Vmax for cGMP hydrolysis with little or no effect on the Hill coefficient for either substrate. These results suggest that certain hydrophobic domains play an important role in modifying the catalytic specificity of the cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase for cAMP and cGMP.     

Effects of trypsin on binding of [3H]epinephrine and [3H]-dihydroergocryptine to rat liver plasma membranes. Evidence for interconversion of binding sites

Treatment of liver plasma membranes with trypsin at low concentrations (1 to 2 microgram/mg of protein) caused at 3- to 4-fold increase in alpha-specific [3H]epinephrine binding. The change was due to an increase in the number of high affinity binding sites, with no change in the dissociation constant. With increasing trypsin concentrations, the dissociation constant was decreased and there was a progressive loss of binding. Elastase, papain, and thermolysin caused similar effects, whereas the thrombin, leucine aminopeptidase, phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, phospholipase D, and detergents did not cause an increase in [EH]epinephrine binding. The increase in epinephrine high affinity binding sites was correlated with a loss of high affinity [3H]-dihydroergocryptine binding sites which also bind [3H]epinephrine with low affinity (El-Refai, M. F., Blackmore, P. F., and Exton, J. H. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 4375-4386). Incubation of membranes with the alpha blockers dihydroergocryptine (50 nM) and phenoxybenzamine (20 nM) prior to protease treatment diminished the increase in [3H]epinephrine binding induced by trypsin (1.5 microgram/mg). The concentration dependence and time course of trypsin actions on 70 nM [3H]epinephrine binding and 10 nM [3H]dihydroergocryptine binding are consistent with a trypsin-mediated conversion of low affinity epinephrine binding sites to high affinity epinephrine binding sites.     

Direct stimulation by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in GH3 cell membranes by a guanine nucleotide-modulated mechanism

Polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis was examined in membranes from thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-responsive GH3 pituitary cells. [3H]Inositol phosphates (IP2 and IP3) were generated upon incubation of membranes from [3H]inositol-labeled cells indicating the presence of a membrane-associated polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase (PPI PDE). Membrane PPI PDE activity was found to be stimulated by TRH and by GTP-gamma-S in Ca2+-modulated manner. In addition, TRH-stimulated PPI hydrolysis was potentiated by GTP. These results demonstrate direct in vitro effects of a hormone on PPI turnover and suggest the involvement of a GTP-binding component in transmembrane signalling by TRH.     

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.     

Striatal Dopamine Release In Vitro: A β-Adrenoceptor-Regulated Response Not Mediated Through Cyclic AMP

The effects of (-)isoproterenol (10(-6) M), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10(-3) M), and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (IBMX) (10(-4) M) on in vitro [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) efflux and synthesis were studied in rat striatal slices continuously superfused with [3H]tyrosine. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist (-)isoproterenol induced an immediate and significant facilitation of [3H]DA efflux but did not alter [3H]DA synthesis as measured by [3H]H2O formation. In contrast, both dibutyryl cyclic AMP and IBMX enhanced [3H]DA synthesis as well as efflux. The presence of IBMX in the superfusing medium did not potentiate the augmentation of [3H]DA efflux caused by (-)isoproterenol. Additionally, the blockade of [3H]DA synthesis by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (10(-4) M) completely prevented the action of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on [3H]DA efflux. However, under similar conditions, (-)isoproterenol was still able to increase [3H]DA efflux. The results suggest that (-)isoproterenol can modify striatal DA release through a mechanism not involving cyclic AMP.     

Effects of activation of protein kinase C on the agonist-induced stimulation and inhibition of cyclic AMP formation in intact human platelets.

Jakobs, Bauer & Watanabe [(1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 151, 425-430] reported that treatment of platelets with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) prevented GTP- and agonist-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase in membranes from the platelets. This was attributed to the phosphorylation of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gi) by protein kinase C. In the present study, the effects of PMA on cyclic [3H]AMP formation and protein phosphorylation were studied in intact human platelets labelled with [3H]adenine and [32P]Pi. Incubation mixtures contained indomethacin to block prostaglandin synthesis, phosphocreatine and creatine kinase to remove ADP released from the platelets, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine to inhibit cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases. Under these conditions, PMA partially inhibited the initial formation of cyclic [3H]AMP induced by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), but later enhanced cyclic [3H]AMP accumulation by blocking the slow decrease in activation of adenylate cyclase that follows addition of PGE1. PMA had more marked and exclusively inhibitory effects on cyclic [3H]AMP formation induced by prostaglandin D2 and also inhibited the action of forskolin. Adrenaline, high thrombin concentrations and, in the absence of phosphocreatine and creatine kinase, ADP inhibited cyclic [3H]AMP formation induced by PGE1. The actions of adrenaline and thrombin were attenuated by PMA, but that of ADP was little affected, suggesting differences in the mechanisms by which these agonists inhibit adenylate cyclase. sn-1,2-Dioctanoylglycerol (diC8) had effects similar to those of PMA. The actions of increasing concentrations of PMA or diC8 on the modulation of cyclic [3H]AMP formation by PGE1 or adrenaline correlated with intracellular protein kinase C activity, as determined by 32P incorporation into the 47 kDa substrate of the enzyme. Parallel increases in phosphorylation of 20 kDa and 39-41 kDa proteins were also observed. Platelet-activating factor, [Arg8]vasopressin and low thrombin concentrations, all of which inhibit adenylate cyclase in isolated platelet membranes, did not affect cyclic [3H]AMP formation in intact platelets. However, the activation of protein kinase C by these agonists was insufficient to account for their failure to inhibit cyclic [3H]AMP formation. Moreover, high thrombin concentrations simultaneously activated protein kinase C and inhibited cyclic [3H]AMP formation. The results show that, in the intact platelet, the predominant effects of activation of protein kinase C on adenylate cyclase activity are inhibitory, suggesting actions additional to inactivation of Gi.     

Specificity of cGMP binding to a purified cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase from bovine adrenal tissue

The binding of [3H]cGMP (guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate) to purified bovine adrenal cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase was measured by Millipore filtration on cellulose ester filter. [3H]cGMP-binding activity was enhanced when the assay was terminated in buffer containing 70% of saturated ammonium sulfate to dilute the enzyme and wash the filters. The cGMP-binding activity was co-purified with the phosphodiesterase activity. The binding of [3H]cGMP to purified enzyme was measured in the presence or absence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine. 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine showed linear competitive inhibition with respect to cGMP as substrate in the phosphodiesterase reaction but stimulated the [3H]cGMP-binding activity in the binding assay. The stimulatory effect appeared not to be the result of preservation from [3H]cGMP hydrolysis; no cGMP phosphodiesterase activity has been measured under the cGMP-binding assay conditions, in the absence or presence of the inhibitor. Half-maximal stimulation by 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine occurred in the 5-7 microM concentration range. The specificity of binding of [3H]cGMP was investigated by adding increasing concentration of unlabeled analogs of cAMP (adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate) and cGMP. The binding of [3H]cGMP (50 nM) was displaced by unlabeled cGMP and cAMP with the following potency: 50% displacement was reached at the 0.1 microM cGMP range and only at a fiftyfold higher cAMP concentration. Our data with comparative series of analogs (e.g. 5'-amino-5'-deoxyguanosine 3',5'-monophosphate and 3'-amino-3'-deoxyguanosine 3',5'-monophosphate) showed that the potencies of stimulation of cAMP phosphodiesterase activity parallels displacement curves or [3H]cGMP binding to purified enzyme with no correlation with phosphodiesterase inhibition sequences. Those experiments suggest that the cGMP-binding activity is directly related to the non-catalytic (allosteric) cGMP-binding site.     

High affinity binders for cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate on plasma membranes isolated from rat liver and ascites hepatomas.

Plasma membranes from rat liver were found to contain at least two types of specific binding sites for cyclic [3H] adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (c[3H]AMP) with apparent dissociation constants of 0.51 +/- 0.14 and 2.9 +/- 0.6 nM (O degrees), respectively. The levels of these binding sites in liver plasma membranes were about 0.60 +/- 0.20 and 1.3 +/- 0.5 pmole/mg protein. The highest affinity binders for c[3H]AMP were found to be reduced in amount in plasma membranes of ascites hepatomas to 1/3 to 1/4 as compared with liver membranes in the cases of AH-130 and AH-7974 and to an almost undetectable level in the case of AH-130F(N). No difference in the endogenous phosphorylation of plasma membranes by (gamma-32P])ATP was, however, detected among liver and hepatoma plasma membranes. Addition of cAMP or cGMP at various concentrations did not affect the endogenous phosphorylation of plasma membranes of these cells.     

Transforming ras proteins accelerate hormone-induced maturation and stimulate cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in Xenopus oocytes.

Transforming Harvey (Ha) ras oncogene products accelerated the time course of Xenopus oocyte maturation induced by insulin, insulinlike growth factor 1, or progesterone. The transforming constructs, [Val-12]Ha p21 and [Val-12, Thr-59]Ha p21, displayed equal potency and efficacy in their abilities to accelerate the growth peptide-induced response. Normal Ha p21 was only 60% as powerful and one-fifth as potent as the mutants containing valine in the 12 position. In contrast, two nontransforming constructs, [Val-12, Ala-35, Leu-36, Thr-59]Ha p21 and [Val-12, Thr-59]Ha(term-174) p21, had no effect on the time course of hormone-induced maturation. Effects of the transforming ras proteins on hormone-induced maturation correlated with their abilities to stimulate in vivo phosphodiesterase activity measured after microinjection of 200 microM cyclic [3H] AMP. When p21 injection followed 90 min of insulin treatment, there was no increase in phosphodiesterase activity over that measured after hormone treatment or p21 injection alone, but additive effects of p21 and insulin on enzyme activity were observed during the first 90 min of insulin treatment. Even though normal Ha p21 and transforming [Val-12, Thr-59]Ha p21 stimulated oocyte phosphodiesterase to equal levels when coinjected with substrate at the initiation of the in vivo assay, the transforming protein elicited a more sustained stimulation of enzyme activity. These results suggest that stimulation of a cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity associated with insulin-induced maturation is involved in the growth-promoting actions of ras oncogene products in Xenopus oocytes.     

A separation method for the assay of adenylylcyclase, intracellular cyclic AMP, and cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase using tritium-labeled substrates.

A method for the separation of cyclic AMP from adenosine and polyvalent adenine nucleotides is described. The method consists of the sequential elution of adenosine and cyclic AMP from a single column of acidic aluminum oxide (alumina) with dilute hydrochloric acid and ammonium acetate. Adenosine, adenine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine are rapidly eluted with the application of 0.005 N hydrochloric acid while cyclic AMP remains adsorbed to the alumina. A subsequent application of 0.1 M ammonium acetate elutes more than 90% of the cyclic AMP. Under these conditions, polyvalent nucleotides (AMP, ADP, and ATP) remain adsorbed to the alumina. The method permits the measurement of adenylylcyclase activity using [3H]ATP as the labeled substrate. The same technique can be used to measure the accumulation of cyclic AMP in intact cells after labeling the ATP pool with [3H]adenine. With slight modification, the technique can be used to measure the activity of cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase using [3H]cyclic AMP as the substrate. The proposed technique provides rapid, highly reproducible assays using inexpensive, disposable columns.     

Prostaglandin E2 inhibition of growth in a colony-stimulating factor 1-dependent macrophage cell line

The effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were examined in a murine macrophage cell line (BAC1.2F5) that was completely dependent on colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) for both growth and survival. The addition of PGE2 to cultures of BAC1.2F5 cells resulted in the inhibition of CSF-1-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation. The inhibitory effects of PGE2 were mimicked by the addition of dibutyryl-cyclic AMP, and the effectiveness of PGE2 was markedly potentiated by 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, a potent inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. PGE2 caused a 10-fold elevation of the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration, whereas CSF-1 neither increased cyclic AMP levels nor attenuated the rise in cyclic AMP promoted by PGE2. However, CSF-1 may indirectly regulate cyclic AMP levels since in the absence of CSF-1, BAC1.2F5 cells actively synthesized PGE2, whereas PGE2 production was abruptly terminated by the addition of CSF-1. In BAC1.2F5 cells, PGE2 increases the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration, thereby blocking cell proliferation, but does not down-regulate the CSF-1 receptor or abrogate the functions of CSF-1 necessary for cell survival.     

VIP and related peptides induce rapid homologous desensitization in the human lymphoma SUP T1 cell line

Incubation of human SUP T1 lymphoblasts with VIP, helodermin and related peptides induced homologous desensitization within 5 min as indicated by: 1) a secondary decrease in cellular cyclic AMP levels, even in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, 2) a reduced capacity of cells to bind [125I]helodermin, 3) decreased helodermin stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in membranes, and 4) unaffected NaF- and Gpp[NH]p-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. The desensitizing ability of all peptides correlated with their efficacy to occupy cell receptors, except for [D-Phe2]VIP, a partial VIP agonist with low intrinsic activity, that did not desensitize.