Stimulation of human fat cell adenylate cyclase by GDP and guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate)

GDP regulation of basal and receptor-mediated catecholamine-sensitive human fat cell adenylate cyclase was studied using purified plasma membrane preparations and assay conditions selected to minimize conversion of GDP to GTP. Under ordinary assay conditions (low NaCl concentration) and with App(NH)p as substrate to prevent GDP conversion to GTP, basal enzyme activity was stimulated up to 2-fold by GDP (0.1 mM) while addition of epinephrine (0.1 mM) eliminated stimulation by GDP and reduced basal adenylate cyclase activity. With ATP as substrate, the enzyme was not responsive to hormone in the absence of guanyl nucleotides and GDP augmentation of basal activity was small (0-1.5-fold) while stimulatory effects of epinephrine and isoproterenol were minimally but definitely exhibited (1.5-fold over basal). Guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S), a GDP analog resistant to phosphorylation and hydrolysis and an antagonist of GTP, stimulated enzyme activity more than did GDP but did not promote epinephrine action. Rather, inhibition of GDP beta S-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was seen with both epinephrine and isoproterenol and also with GTP. In the presence of NaCl (200 mM), which alone produced 2-3-fold increase in basal enzyme activity, GDP (0.1 mM) and GDP beta S (50 microM) produced 8- and 15-fold increases of activity, respectively. Addition of UDP, to prevent possible conversion of GDP to GTP, had no effect on NaCl-enhanced activation by GDP. The results indicate that the human fat cell adenylate cyclase system is unique in responding to GDP and its analog GDP beta S by stimulation in the absence of hormone but suggest that as in other systems catecholamine-mediated stimulation is normally dependent on GTP. Salts (Na+) appear to stimulate the enzyme by facilitating the interaction of the guanyl nucleotide regulatory protein (N8) with the catalytic unit.     

Thyroliberin receptor binding and adenylyl cyclase activation in cultured prolactin-producing rat pituitary tumor cells (GH cells)

A thyroliberin (TRH)-responsive particulate bound adenylyl cyclase is present in two rat anterior pituitary tumor cell strains (GH4C1 and GH3) which synthesize and secrete prolactin. At a given Mg2+ concentration, ATP and the guanyl nucleotides GTP and guanyl 5'-yl-imidodiphosphate (GMP-P(NH)P) caused a dose-dependent increase in adenylyl cyclase activity. The maximum response to thyroliberin occurred with ATP and GTP at concentrations above 0.30 mM and 2 microM, respectively. The maximal stimulatory effect of thyroliberin on adenylyl cyclase activity was 2-fold in the presence of GTP. GMP-P(NH)P increased the basal enzyme activity 4- to 10-fold over and above that of equimolar concentrations of GTP but supported poorly the TRH-induced response. Mg2+ caused a dose-dependent increase in the basal enzyme activity and reduced TRH and fluoride-induced responses. Also, Mn2+ and Co2+ stimulated the basal adenylyl cyclase activity while Zn2+, Ca2+, and Cu2+ inhibited the enzyme, and neither cations supported the TRH response. Half-maximal stimulation of the adenylyl cyclase by TRH and half-maximum binding of [3H]TRH to membranes at 35 degrees C were 102 and 56 nM, respectively. Pretreatment with TRH decreased the apparent Vmax of the enzyme and the maximal binding of [3H]TRH. Of 6 TRH analogs tested, only one was able to displace [3H]TRH from its receptor and to increase the adenylyl cyclase activity. We suggest that adenylyl cyclase activation is an early event in the stimulus secretion coupling between TRH and prolactin-producing GH cells.     

Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate on adenylate cyclase activity of cardiac sarcolemma.

A nucleotide phosphohydrolase-resistant analog of GTP, guanyl-5′-yl imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P], caused stimulation of basal adenylate cyclase activity of cardiac sarcolemma when ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)- N,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) was absent in the assay mixture, whereas the nucleotide, in the presence of EGTA, inhibited basal cyclase activity. GTP, GDP, GMP, and guanosine failed to show such an inhibition of basal enzyme activity. The degree of both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of GMP-P(NH)P depended on the concentration of magnesium ions. The apparent affinities toward magnesium ions of the metal binding site and toward MgATP^2? of the catalytic site of control and ?GMP-P(NH)P-inhibited” enzyme were similar. Isoproterenol reversed the inhibitory effect, whereas calcium ions failed to revert it. Both in the presence and absence of EGTA, GMP-P(NH)P plus isoproterenol caused a synergistic stimulation of the enzyme activity, the degree of stimulation being lower with EGTA present. Exposure of sarcolemma to GMP-P(NH)P (with and without isoproterenol and in the absence and presence of EGTA) caused an activation of adenylate cyclase, the degree of activation being higher with isoproterenol present. The activated enzyme displayed increased affinity toward Mg²⁺ at the metal binding site. When activated enzyme preparations were assayed in the presence of EGTA, reversal of the activated state was observed in the case of the GMP-P(NH)P-activated enzyme but not in the case of the GMP-P(NH)P + isoproterenol-activated enzyme.     

A transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor--3. Isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) responsive adenylyl cyclase (AC). Regulatory effects of nucleotides and magnesium

The activity of the membrane bound adenylyl cyclase (AC), the effects of nucleotides, Mg2+-cations and its responsiveness to isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) were examined in a transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor (H-540). Both isoproterenol and PGE1 caused activation of the AC in Leydig cell tumors. The degree of activation by PGE1 (4-5-fold) was approximately twice that of isoproterenol (2-3-fold). The addition of both AC agonists simultaneously was not additive indicating that they activate AC of the same cell. Increasing concentrations of ATP (0.025-2.0 X 10 mM) caused a concentration dependent increase in both the basal and hormone stimulated AC activity, and the activation by isoproterenol and PGE1 (relative response) revealed a slight but significant increase with increasing ATP concentrations. Lineweaver-Burke analysis of these data indicated an apparent Km for ATP (Mg X ATP) of 0.16 mM. Free magnesium did not influence the apparent Km of the AC for ATP. Increasing concentrations of free Mg2+ (0.24-13.2 mM) also caused a concentration dependent increasing activation of AC activity up to a concentration of approx 6 mM in excess of Mg2+-binding ingredients. Higher concentrations of free Mg2+ (13.1 mM) caused a small but significant decrease in both basal and agonist stimulated AC activity. In contrast to other reports, activation by isoproterenol and PGE1 was in general not influenced by the concentration of Mg2+. Both GTP and GMP-P(NH)P stimulated basal and hormone stimulated AC activity (Kact 1 microM), but with different kinetics. In the presence of GTP, AC activity was almost constant for 90 min. In the presence of GMP-P(NH)P, AC activity was much higher, but constant AC activity occurred after a certain lag time (7-10 min), which was reduced by PGE1 and isoproterenol. In conclusion, cAMP production in Leydig cell tumors is stimulated by both PGE1 and isoproterenol. The AC activity and activation by these agonists are regulated by Mg2+ and nucleotides in a slightly different manner from most other cells. The association between AC activation and stimulation of steroid production by Leydig cell tumors remains to be investigated.     

Regulation of human platelet adenylate cyclase by epinephrine, prostaglandin E1, and guanine nucleotides. Evidence for separate guanine nucleotide sites mediating stimulation and inhibition.

A method for preparing human platelet membranes with high adenylate cyclase activity is described. Using these membranes, epinephrine and GTP individually are noted to inhibit adenylate cyclase slightly. When present together, epinephrine and GTP act synergistically to cause a 50% inhibition of basal activity. The epinephrine effect is an alpha-adrenergic process as it is reversed by phentolamine but not propranolol. The quasi-irreversible activation of adenylate cyclase by Gpp(NH)p is time, concentration, and Mg2+-dependent but is not altered by the presence of epinephrine. Adenylate cyclase activated by Gpp(NH)p, and extensively washed to remove unbound Gpp(NH)p, is inhibited by the subsequent addition of Gpp(NH)p, GTP, and epinephrine. This effect of epinephrine is also an alpha-adrenergic phenomenon. In contrast to epinephrine which inhibits the cyclase, PGE1 addition results in enzyme stimulation. PGE1 stimulation does not require GTP addition. PGE1 accelerates the rate of Gpp(NH)p-induced activation. Low GTP concentrations (less than 1 x 10(-6) M) enhance PGE1 stimulation while higher GTP concentrations cause inhibition. These observations suggest that human platelet adenylate cyclase possesses at least two guanine nucleotide sites, one which interacts with the alpha-receptor to result in enzyme inhibition and a second guanine nucleotide site which interacts with the PGE1 receptor and causes enzyme stimulation.     

Catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase of caudate nucleus and cerebral cortex. Effects of guanine nucleotides.

1. GTP and GMP-P(NH)P (guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate) were observed to increase the stimulation of neural adenylate cyclase by dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) and noradrenaline. 2. GMP-P(NH)P had a biphasic effect on the enzyme activity. 3. Preincubation of membranes with GMP-P(NH)P activated the enzyme by a process dependent on time and temperature. Catecholamines increased the speed and the extent of this activation. 4. Membrane fractions contained high- and low-affinity sites for GMP-P(NH)P binding: this binding was due to protein(s) of the membrane preparations. 5. Low-affinity-site binding of GMP-P(NH)P appeared to be related to the stimulatory effect on the adenylate cyclase activity.     

Prostaglandin receptor-adenylate cyclase system in plasma membranes of rat liver and ascites hepatomas, and the effect of GTP upon it.

1. Adenylate cyclase in plasma membranes from rat liver was stimulated by prostaglandin E1, and to a lesser extent by prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandin F1alpha and A1 did not stimulate the cyclase. The prostaglandin E1-mediated activation was found to require GTP when the substrate ATP concentration was reduced from 3 mM to 0.3 mM in the reaction mixture. Adenylate cyclase of the plasma membranes from rat ascites hepatomas AH-130 and AH-7974 was not stimulated by prostaglandin E1 in the presence or the absence of GTP, although the basal activity of adenylate cyclase as well as its stimulation by GTP alone were similar to normal liver plasma membranes. 2. Liver plasma membranes were found to have two specific binders for [3H] prostaglandin E1 with dissociation constants of 17.6-10(-9) M and 13.6-10(8) M (37 degrees C) and one specific binder for [3H]prostaglandin F2alpha with a dissociation constant of 2.31-10(8) M (37 degrees C). The specific binders for prostaglandin E1 could not be detected in the hepatoma plasma membranes. 3. Binding of [3H] prostaglandin E1 to the liver plasma membranes was exchange by, GTP dGPT, GDP, ATP and GMP-P(N)P, but not by GMP, CGMP, DTTP, UTP or CTP. The increase in the binding of [3H] prostaglandin E1 was found to be due to the increased affinity of the specific binders to prostaglandin F2alpha was not affected by GTP. 4. GTP alone was found to increase V of adenylate cyclase of liver plasma membranes, while GTP plus prostaglandin E1 was found to decrease Km of adenylate cyclase in addition to the increase of V to a further extent.     

Association of binding sites for guanine nucleotides with adenylate cyclase activation in rat pancreatic plasma membranes. Interaction of gastrointestinal hormones

1. The activation of rat pancreatic adenylate cyclase by guanosine 5'-(beta-gamma-imido)triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) and GTP, and by the two gastrointestinal hormones pancreozymin (as C-terminal octapeptide) and secretin was correlated with the binding of [8-3H]guanosine 5'-(beta-gamma-imido)triphosphate to rat pancreatic plasma membranes. 2. The low basal adenylate cyclase activity was stimulated 17-fold by p[NH]ppG (after a 2 min lag period), 3,5-fold only by GTP, 21-fold by C-terminal octapeptide of pancreozymin, and 8-fold by secretin. GTP inhibited competitively the activation of adenylate cyclase by p[NH]ppG with a Ki,app almost identical with the Ka,app (0.3 micron). p[NH]ppG and GTP enhanced the stimulation by secretin more markedly than that by the C-terminal octapeptide of pancreozymin, leading to the same maximal activity. Both hormones suppressed the lag period of activation by p[NH]ppG. 3. The binding of [8-3H]p[NH]ppG was dependent on time, temperature and Mg2+ and it was also a saturable and reversible process. Scatchard plots with a concavity upward were linearized after co-addition of ATP, Mg2+ and an ATP-regenerating system that abolished low-affinity sites for p[NH]ppG without saturating higher affinity sites, GTP, ITP and UTP inhibited [8-3H]p[NH]ppG binding to the high-affinity sites in concentration ranges identical with those found for adenylate cyclase activation. Considerable binding of [8-3H]p[NH]ppG was still evident at 20 degrees C, but enzyme activation was not observed any more, except in the presence of hormones.     

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.     

Change of coupling system of receptor-adenylate cyclase induced by epinephrine and GTP in plasma membranes of rat liver.

1. The binding of [3H]epinephrine to plasma membranes was affected (temporary release of bound epinephrine and characteristic retardation of epinephrine binding) not only by GTP but also by dGTP and guanylylimidodiphosphate, whereas the binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol was not affected by GTP. GTP affected the binding of [3H]epinephrine in the presence of alpha-antagonists, but not in the presence of beta-antagonists, suggesting that the GTP effects are specific to beta-agonists and beta-receptors. 2. The half-maximal release of bound [3H]epinephrine was found at 8.8 . 10(-6) M GTP in the absence of ATP, whereas it was found at 1.6 . 10(-6) M GTP in the presence of 0.3 mM ATP in coincidence with the half-maximal activation of adenylate cyclase by GTP in the presence of 0.3 mM ATP (as measured at 30 s of incubation). 3. In the presence of 4 . 10(-5) M GTP, adenylate cyclase activity as measured at 30 s of incubation (State I) tended to increase with epinephrine concentration, showing no saturation tendency even at 1 . 10(-4) M epinephrine. The activity of State II, which is established at 4 min of incubation, was much lower than that of State I but was found to reach a plateau as the epinephrine concentration increased, showing half-maximal activation at an epinephrine concentration between 2 . 10(-6) and 2 . 10(-7) M. 4. Apparent kinetic parameters (Km and V) for State I as assayed at 30 s of incubation suggested that GTP alone may increase V slightly, whereas epinephrine plus GTP may increase the V to a further extent and simultaneously decrease the Km. 5. Adenylate cyclase of plasma membranes pretreated with epinephrine plus GTP was stimulated by GTP alone similarly to untreated membranes, but it was no longer responsive to the synergistic activation by epinephrine plus GTP. Accordingly, the binding of [3H]epinephrine to the pretreated plasma membranes was no longer affected by GTP. 6. The results of the present study seem to support the idea that the most active and coherently coupling state (State I) of the beta-receptor-adenylate cyclase system generated in the presence of epinephrine plus GTP is very labile and degenerates before reaching equilibrium. In turn, State II, in which the coherently coupling mechanism is largely impaired, seems to be established in due time. The characteristic biphasic kinetics of [3H]epinephrine binding in the presence of GTP seem to be related to the above change occurring in the beta-receptor-adenylate cyclase system.     

Characterization of an ATP-Mg2+-dependent guanine nucleotide-stimulated adenylate cyclase from Neurospora crassa

A novel adenylate cyclase activity was found in crude homogenates of Neurospora crassa. The adenylate cyclase had substantial activity with ATP-Mg2+ as substrate differing significantly from the strictly ATP-Mn2+-dependent enzyme characterized previously. Additionally, the ATP-Mg2+-dependent activity was stimulated two- to fourfold by GTP or guanyl-5'-yl-imido-diphosphate (Gpp(NH)p). We propose that the ATP-Mg2+-dependent, guanine nucleotide-stimulated activity is due to a labile regulatory component (G component) of the adenylate cyclase which was present in carefully prepared extracts. The adenylate cyclase had a pH optimum of 5.8 and both the catalytic and G component were particulate. The Km for ATP-Mg2+ was 2.2 mM in the presence of 4.5 mM excess Mg2+. Low Mn2+ concentrations had no effect on adenylate cyclase activity whereas high concentrations of Mn2+ or Mg2+ stimulated the enzyme. Maximal Gpp(NH)p stimulation required preincubation of the enzyme in the presence of the guanine nucleotide and the K1/2 for Gpp(NH)p stimulation was 110 nM. Neither fluoride nor any of a variety of glycolytic intermediates or hormones, including glucagon, epinephrine, and dopamine, had an effect on ATP-Mg2+-dependent adenylate cyclase activity. However, the enzymatic activity was stimulated not only by GTP but also by 5'-AMP and was inhibited by NADH.     

On the mechanism of activation of fat cell adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides. An explanation for the biphasic inhibitory and stimulatory effects of the nucleotides and the role of hormones.

Adenylate cyclase activity in purified plasma membranes from rat fat cells displays transient kinetic characteristics in the absence and presence of guanyl=5'=yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p). Gpp(NH)p causes immediate inhibition of enzyme activity; the inhibitory phase is followed by a slow increase in activity which, depending on incubation temperature, exceeds activity stimulated in the presence of hormones (glucagon, secretin, epinephrine, or adrenocorticotropin). Basal activity displays an initial high rate of activity which decays to a low state of activity within 2 min of incubation. Hormones do not alter the initial rate but prevent the decay in enzyme activity. The inhibitory phase of Gpp(NH)p action and the previously reported (Harwood, J.P., Low, H., and Rodbell, M. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6239-6245) inhibitory effects of GTP are abolished by increasing (Mg2+) and pH to 50 mM and 8.5, respectively. Under these conditions, Gpp(NH)p and GTP cause marked stimulation of activity, the stimulatory effect of Gpp(NH)p being greater than that of GTP both in the absence and presence of hormones...     

Adenylate cyclase system of bovine adrenal plasma membranes.

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

Fasting increases fat cell adenylate cyclase sensitivity to stimulatory agonists through enhanced ability of the stimulatory regulatory component Ns to dissociate

In rat fat cell membranes, a 72-hour fasting fails to alter the adenylate cyclase stimulatory responses to Mn2+, forskolin and cholera toxin and the cholera toxin catalyzed [alpha-32P] ADP ribose incorporation into the Mr = 42,000 and 46,000/48,000 alpha s peptides of Ns. In contrast, dose-response curves for GTP-stimulation of basal and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase display higher maximal responses in fasted rats under conditions restraining (2 mM Mg2+) but not promoting (10 mM Mg2+) the dissociation of Ns. Moreover, at 10 mM Mg2+, the sensitivity of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase to GTP is clearly increased in fasted rats. Finally, fasting reduces by 40% the lag-phase of adenylate cyclase activation by Gpp(NH)p. Taken together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the permissive effect of fasting on the fat cell adenylate cyclase response to stimulatory agonists is related to increased ability of Ns and the ternary H.R.Ns. complex to dissociate which is likely due to enhanced Ns affinity for guanine nucleotides.     

Cholera toxin action on rabbit corpus luteum membranes: effects on adenylyl cyclase activity and adenosine diphospho-ribosylation of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory component

Cholera toxin elicited 5- to 7-fold stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. Half-maximal activation was at 4.42 micrograms/ml cholera toxin. Cholera toxin-mediated activation was time dependent. At 0.1 mM ATP, both guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) were required for cholera toxin activation of luteal adenylyl cyclase. The concentrations of GTP and NAD+ required for half-maximal activation were 1 and 200 microM, respectively. The GTP requirement could be eliminated by increasing the ATP concentration to 1.0 mM. Guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) [GDP beta S] did not support cholera toxin activation of the luteal enzyme. Cholera toxin treatment increased GTP-stimulated activity, did not significantly alter guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P]-stimulated activity, and depressed NaF-stimulated activity. Furthermore, toxin treatment resulted in a 3.4-fold reduction in the Kact values for ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) to activate adenylyl cyclase. A similar reduction in Kact values for oLH was obtained when concentration-effect curves performed in the presence of GMP-P(NH)P were compared to those performed in the presence of GTP. In addition, luteal membranes treated with cholera toxin and [32P]NAD+ were subjected to autoradiographic analysis following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This treatment resulted in the [32P] adenosine diphospho (ADP)-ribosylation of a 45,000-dalton protein doublet, corresponding to the alpha subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory component (Ns). As with activation of adenylyl cyclase activity, cholera toxin-specific [32P] ADP-ribosylation was time dependent and increased with increasing concentrations of cholera toxin. GTP, GMP-P(NH)P, and NaF, but not GDP beta S, were capable of supporting [32P] ADP-ribosylation of the protein doublet. oLH did not alter the ability of cholera toxin to ADP-ribosylate the protein activation of luteal adenylyl cyclase activity is due to the ADP-ribosylation of the alpha subunit of Ns and the concomitant inhibition of a GTPase associated with adenylyl cyclase.     

The glucagon receptor of rat liver plasma membrane can couple to adenylate cyclase without activating it.

1. Activation of adenylate cyclase in rat liver plasma membranes by fluoride or GMP-P (NH)P yielded linear Arrheniun plots. Activation by glucagon alone, or in combination with either fluoride or GMP-P(NH)P resulted in biphasic Arrhenius plots with a well-defined break at 28.5 +/- 1 degrees C. 2. The competitive glucagon antagonist, des-His-glucagon did not activate the adenylate cyclase but produced biphasic Arrhenius plots in combination with fluoride or GMP-P(NH)P. The break temperatures and activation energies were very similar to those observed with glucagon alone, or in combination with either fluoride or GMP-P(NH)P. 3. It is concluded that although des-His-glucagon is a potent antagonist of glucagon, it nevertheless causes a structural coupling between the receptor and the catalytic unit.     

Multiple inhibitory and activating effects of nucleotides and magnesium on adrenal adenylate cyclase.

Adenylate cyclase in particulate fractions from rat adrenal glands is subject to regulation by purine nucleotides, particularly guanine nucleotides. While GTP activates the enzyme, this effect is not evident in all particulate fractions. Following dialysis of the refractory fractions activation by GTP is observed, an indication that endogenous nucleotides may obscure the effects of added GTP. The analog, guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p gives considerable more activity than does GTP. GDP, on the other hand, is inhibitory, an effect revealed only in the absence of a nucleotide-regenerating solution. GDP blocks the action of both GTP and Gpp(NH)p. These results show that the gamma-phosphate of the nucleotide is required for but need not be metabolized in the activation process. At low substrate concentration (0.1 mM ATP or adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate) stimulation of the enzyme by ACTH occurs only in the presence of added guanine nucleotide (GTP or Gpp(NH)p); the hormone and nucleotide act synergistically. While both GTP and Gpp(NH)p inhibit fluoride-stimulated activity, the level of fluoride required to demonstrate such inhibition appears not to be related to the level of fluoride required for activation of the enzyme. In the presence of GTP, or GTP plus ACTH, the enzyme exhibits normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to substrate utilization (K-m equal to 0.16 mM). In the activated state, produced with ACTH plus GTP, the enzyme is less susceptible to inhibition by a species of ATP uncomplexed with Mg2+, but is more susceptible to inhibition by Mg2+. These results demonstrate that fundamental differences exist between different states of the adenylate cyclase. The difficulties in describing kinetically the regulation of adenylate cyclase systems in view of the multiple actions of nucleotides and magnesium are discussed.     

Irreversible stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity of fat cell membranes of phosphoramidate and phosphonate analogs of GTP.

The ability of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) to stimulate irreversibly the adenylate cyclease activity of fat cell membranes has been studied by preincubating the membranes with this or related analogs followed by assaying after thoroughly washing the membranes. Activation can occur in a simple Tris-HCl buffer, in the absence of added divalent cations and in the presence of EDTA. Dithiothreitol enhances the apparent degree of activation, perhaps by stabilization. The importance of utilizing optimal conditions for stabilizing enzyme activity, and of measuring the simultaneous changes in the control enzyme, is illustrated. The organomercurial, p-aminophenylmercuric acetate, inhibits profoundly the activity of the native as well as the Gpp(NH)p-stimulated adenylate cyclase, but in both cases subsequent exposure to dithiothreitol restores fully the original enzyme activity. However, the mercurial-inactivated enzyme does not react with Gpp(NP)p, as evidenced by the subsequent restoration of only the control enzyme activity upon exposure to dithiothreitol. Thus, reaction with Gpp(NH)p requires intact sulfhydryl groups, but the activated state is not irreversibly destroyed by the inactivation caused by sulfhydryl blockade. GTP and, less effectively, GDP and ATP inhibit activation by Gpp(NH)p, but interpretations are complicated by the facts that this inhibition is overcome with time and that GTP and ATP can protect potently from spontaneous inactivation. These two nucleotides can be used in the Gpp(NH)p preincubation to stabilize the enzyme. The Gpp(NH)p-activated enzyme cannot be reversed spontaneously during prolonged incubation at 30 degrees C in the absence or presence of GTP, ATP, MgCl2, glycine, dithiothreitol, NaF or EDTA. The strong nucleophile, neutral hydroxylamine, decreases the Gpp(NH)p-activated enzyme activity and no subsequent activation is detected upon re-exposure to the nucleotide.     

Effects of clofibrate on the human fat cell adenylate cyclase system.

The effects of chlofibrate on the adenylate cyclase system of human adipocytes were studied. Clofibrate reduced basal as well as hormone-NaF)stimulated adenylate cyclase activities to about the same extent (45% inhibition at 1 mg/ml clofibrate). The relative extent of hormonal stimulation was not altered by this compound. The inhibitory action of clofibrate was non-competitive with respect to the substrate ATP and cofactors (Mg2+-ions). Inhibition of enzyme activity was detectable after 2.5 min. Our results suggest that the antilipolytic activity of clofibrate is mediated via inhibition of the catalytic subunit of the fat cell adenylate cyclase.     

Activation by GTP of liver adenylate cyclase in the presence of high concentrations of ATP

Effect of GTP on adenylate cyclase of liver plasma membrane was examined using ATP which was extensively purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. In the incubation containing 2mM purified ATP as substrate, GTP enhanced basal and glucagon- or fluoride-stimulated activities. When the unpurified ATP at 2mM was used, all the activities were high and the stimulatory effect of GTP was not detected. The substance(s) which was recovered from a small but significant peak on DEAE-cellulose column was equivalent to 10–100μM GTP in stimulating adenylate cyclase. These results indicate that, if highly purified ATP is used as substrate, GTP can enhance adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of millimolar concentration of ATP and that GTP enhances not only the glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase but also the basal as well as fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities.