Phorbol Esters Increase GTP-Dependent Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Brain Striatal Membranes

Abstract: 4β-Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), added to a lysed mitochondrial fraction of rat striatum, stimulates adenylate cyclase activity with an apparent time lag of ～30 s. Half-maximal and maximal enzyme stimulations are obtained with 8 and 200 nM PMA, respectively. The PMA stimulation is GTP dependent, reaching a maximum of ～60% at 50 μ.M GTP, and is associated with disappearance of the enzyme inhibition induced by micromolar concentrations of GTP. Enhancement of enzyme activity by cholera toxin and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine is amplified by PMA only at micromolar concentrations of GTP. PMA does not affect the enzyme stimulation by forskolin but reverses the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated enzyme by GTP. When guanyl-5′-yl-imidodiphosphate is substituted for GTP, PMA does not modify adenylate cyclase activity. Enzyme inhibition by acetylcholine, Leu-enkephalin, and R(-)N⁶-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine is magnified by PMA. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by PMA is markedly reduced following EGTA treatment, is not observed when adenyl-5′-yl-imidodiphosphate is substituted for ATP as substrate for adenylate cyclase, and is enhanced by l-α-phosphatidyl-l-serine. Like PMA, 4β-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol stimulate striatal adenylate cyclase, whereas 4β-phorbol and 4β-phorbol 13-acetate are ineffective. The results indicate that phorbol esters increase striatal adenylate cyclase activity by reducing the GTP-induced inhibition of the enzyme, presumably as a result of protein kinase C activation.     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase activity by Ca2+, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase in rat brain striatum

Summary The effects of purified Ca²⁺, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) were studied on adenylate cyclase activity from rat brain striatum. C-kinase treatment of the membranes stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, the maximal stimulation between 50–80% was observed at 3.5 U/ml, whereas the catalytic subunit of cAMP dependent protein kinase did not show any effect on enzyme activity. The inclusion of Ca²⁺ and phosphatidyl serine did not augment the percent stimulation of adenylate cyclase by C-kinase, however EGTA inhibited the stimulatory effect of C-kinase on enzyme activity. Furthermore, the known inhibitors of C-kinase such as polymyxin-B and 1-(5-Isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7) also inhibited the stimulatory effect of C-kinase on adenylate cyclase activity. In addition, in the presence of GTP the stimulatory effects of C-kinase on basal and N-Ethylcarboxamide adenosine- (NECA-), dopamine-(DA) and forskolin- (FSK) sensitive adenylate cyclase activities were augmented. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of high concentrations of GTP on enzyme activity was attenuated by C-kinase treatment. In addition, oxotremorine inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in a concentration dependent manner, with an apparent Ki of about 10 µM and C-kinase treatment almost completely abolished this inhibition. These data suggest that C-kinase may play an important role in the regulation of adenylate cyclase activity possibly by interacting with a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein.Abbreviations C-kinase Ca^2– phospholipid-dependent protein kinase - NECA N-Ethylcarboxamide adenosine - DA Dopamine - FSK Forskolin - PMA Phorbol 12-(-Myristate), 13-Acetate, H-7, 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride Presented in part at the VIth International Conference on Cyclic nucleotides, calcium and protein phosphorylation signal transduction in biological systems. September 2-6, 1986, Bethesda, MD (USA).M.B.A.-S. was Canadian Heart Foundation Scholar during the course of these studies.     

Characterization of ANF-R2 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase

We have characterized the ANF-R2 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase with respect to its modulation by several regulators. ANF (99–126) inhibits adenylate cyclase activity only in the presence of guanine nucleotides. The maximal inhibition ( 45%) was observed in the presence of 10-30 M GTPS, and at higher concentrations, the inhibitory effect of ANF was completely abolished. ANF-mediated inhibition was not dependent on the presence of monovalent cations, however Na⁺ enhanced the degree of inhibition by about 60%, whereas K⁺ and Li⁺ suppressed the extent of inhibition by about 50%. On the other hand, divalent cation, such as Mn²⁺ decreased the degree of inhibition in a concentration dependent manner, with an apparent Ki of about 0.7 mM, and at 2 mM; the inhibition was completely abolished. In addition, proteolytic digestion of the membranes with trypsin (40 ng/ml) resulted in the attenuation of ANF-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase. Other membrane disrupting agents such as neuraminidase and phospholipase A₂ treatments also inhibited completely, the ANF-mediated inhibition of enzyme activity. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM), phorbol ester and Ca²⁺-phospholipid dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) which have been shown to interact with inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulating protein (Gi) also resulted in the attenuation of ANF-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. These results indicate that in addition to the Gi, the phospholipids and glycoproteins may also play an important role in the expression of ANF-R2 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase.Abbreviations ANF Atrial Natriuretic Factor - GTPS Guanosine 5-0-(Thiotriphosphate) - Gi inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein - NEM N-Ethylmaleimide - PMA Phorbol, 12-Myristate, 13-Acetate, C-kinase, Ca ²⁺, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase - PHL-A₂ Phospholipase A,     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase of human platelets by phorbol ester. Impairment of the hormone-sensitive inhibitory pathway

The influence of the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a direct activator of the Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), was studied on regulation of human platelet adenylate cyclase. Intact platelets were pretreated with the phorbol ester and, thereafter, membranes were prepared and the regulation of the hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase in these membranes was studied. The following data were obtained: The TPA treatment applied had apparently no effect on the activity of the catalytic moiety of the platelet adenylate cyclase nor on the stimulatory NS protein nor on stimulatory hormone receptors (prostaglandin E1) and the mutual interactions of these components of the stimulatory hormone-sensitive pathway. However, the TPA treatment of intact platelets largely impaired the GTP-dependent, hormone-sensitive inhibitory pathway to the adenylate cyclase, involving the inhibitory Ni protein. The pretreatment led to a large reduction or loss of adenylate cyclase inhibition by GTP itself and by the inhibitory agonists, epinephrine and thrombin, inhibiting the untreated enzyme via separate receptors by an Ni-mediated process. In contrast, platelet adenylate cyclase inhibition not involving the Ni protein was not affected by the TPA treatment. The observed effects of TPA were very rapid in onset and were not shared by a derivative of TPA which did not activate protein kinase C. The data obtained suggest than protein kinase C activated by the phorbol ester interferes with the platelet adenylate cyclase system, leading to a specific alteration of the Ni-protein-mediated signal transduction to the adenylate cyclase.     

Tyrosine Hydroxylase Is Activated and Phosphorylated on Different Sites in Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells Treated with Phorbol Ester and Forskolin

Abstract: Incubation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells with 4β-phorbol-12β-myristate-13α-acetate (PMA), an activator of Ca²⁺/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), or forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, is associated with increased activity and enhanced phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase. Neither the activation nor increased phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase produced by PMA is dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺. Both activation and phosphorylation of the enzyme by PMA are inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with trifluo-perazine (TFP). Treatment of PC 12 cells with l-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol also leads to increases in the phosphorylation and enzymatic activity of tyrosine hydroxylase; 1, 2-diolein and 1, 3-diolein are ineffective. The effects of forskolin on the activation and phosphorylation of the enzyme are independent of Ca²⁺ and are not inhibited by TIT⁵. Forskolin elicits an increase in cyclic AMP levels in PC 12 cells. The increases in both cyclic AMP content and the enzymatic activity and phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase following exposure of PC 12 cells to different concentrations of forskolin are closely correlated. In contrast, cyclic AMP levels do not increase in cells treated with PMA. Tryptic digestion of the phosphorylated enzyme isolated from untreated cells yields four phosphopeptides separable by HPLC. Incubation of the cells in the presence of the Ca²⁺ ionophore ionomycin increases the phosphorylation of three of these tryptic peptides. However, in cells treated with either PMA or forskolin, there is an increase in the phosphorylation of only one of these peptides derived from tyrosine hydroxylase. The peptide phosphorylated in PMA-treated cells is different from that phosphorylated in forskolin-treated cells. The latter peptide is identical to the peptide phosphorylated in dibutyryl cyclic AMP-treated cells. These results indicate that tyrosine hydroxylase is activated and phosphorylated on different sites in PC 12 cells exposed to PMA and forskolin and that phosphorylation of either of these sites is associated with activation of tyrosine hydroxylase. The results further suggest that cyclic AMP-dependent and Ca²⁺/ phospholipid-dependent protein kinases may play a role in the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in PC 12 cells.     

Inhibition of hCG-stimulated adenylate cyclase in purified mouse Leydig cells by the phorbol ester PMA

The tumour-promoting phorbol ester, PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), markedly reduced the steroidogenic response of mouse Leydig cells to stimulation by hCG and cholera toxin. However, 8Br-cAMP-and forskolin-stimulated steroidogenesis was not inhibited by PMA. PMA did not inhibit hCG-induced steroidogenesis in the simultaneous presence of 1 microM forskolin. The analysis of intracellular cAM P indicated that the PMA-induced inhibition of steroidogenesis was the result of an impaired cAMP accumulation. Adenylate cyclase in membranes prepared from PMA-treated cells showed a diminished response to hCG, GTP, guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] or to a combination of the stimulants. PMA, however, was unable to inhibit adenylate cyclase when added directly to the membrane preparation from untreated cells. As previous observations have indicated that 125I-hCG binding and phosphodiesterase activity in mouse Leydig cells are not influenced by PMA, it is concluded from the present study that the site of inhibition has to be localised to the regulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein of the adenylate cyclase system.     

Activation of adipocyte adenylate cyclase by protein kinase C

Adenylate cyclase activity in purified rat adipocyte membranes is stimulated by the calcium- and phospholipid-dependent enzyme protein kinase C. Over the concentration range of 100-1000 milliunits/ml, both highly purified (approximately 3000 units/mg of protein) protein kinase C from rat brain and partially purified (14 units/mg of protein) protein kinase C from guinea pig pancreas stimulate cyclase activity. The actions of both protein kinase C preparations on adenylate cyclase activity are dependent on added calcium, which is effective at concentrations less than 10 microM. Exogenous phospholipids are not required for stimulation of adenylate cyclase by protein kinase C; but, under typical cyclase assay conditions, the adipocyte membranes satisfy the lipid requirement for protein kinase C phosphorylation of histone. The tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate enhances the kinase action on cyclase, and the phorbol ester is effective at concentrations equimolar with the kinase (less than 10 nM). With the brain protein kinase C, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate effects are especially evident at limiting calcium concentrations. Inhibitors of protein kinase C activity, such as chlorpromazine, palmitoylcarnitine, and polymyxin B, inhibit selectively that adenylate cyclase activity which is stimulated by protein kinase C plus calcium. It is concluded that protein kinase C acts directly on the adipocyte adenylate cyclase system.     

Effect of phorbol ester and phospholipase C on LH-stimulated steroidogenesis in purified rat Leydig cells

When the phorbol ester, 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or bacterial phospholipase C (PL-C) is added to a preparation of purified adult rat Leydig cells, containing 2 mM CaCl2, a time- and dose-dependent decreases of LH-stimulated testosterone production is observed. After a 3 h stimulation with oLH (100 ng/ml), PMA (100 ng/ml) and PL-C (1.6 U/ml) do not affect the cell viability or the hCG specific binding, while cAMP accumulation is significantly reduced; cAMP-stimulated steroidogenesis is diminished only in the presence of PL-C. These observations suggest that in vitro: (i) activated Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase is implicated in the regulation of rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis by LH at a step before the adenylate cyclase; (ii) phospholipids play an important role in cAMP-stimulated testosterone synthesis.     

Inhibition of a Low Km GTPase Activity in Rat Striatum by Calmodulin

In rat striatum, the activation of adenylate cyclase by the endogenous Ca2+-binding protein, calmodulin, is additive with that of GTP but is not additive with that of the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate (GppNHp). One possible mechanism for this difference could be an effect of calmodulin on GTPase activity which has been demonstrated to "turn-off" adenylate cyclase activity. We examined the effects of Ca2+ and calmodulin on GTPase activity in EGTA-washed rat striatal particulate fractions depleted of Ca2+ and calmodulin. Calmodulin inhibited GTP hydrolysis at concentrations of 10(-9)-10(-6) M but had no effect on the hydrolysis of 10(-5) and 10(-6) M GTP, suggesting that calmodulin inhibited a low Km GTPase activity. The inhibition of GTPase activity by calmodulin was Ca2+-dependent and was maximal at 0.12 microM free Ca2+. Maximal inhibition by calmodulin was 40% in the presence of 10(-7) M GTP. The IC50 for calmodulin was 100 nM. In five tissues tested, calmodulin inhibited GTP hydrolysis only in those tissues where it could also activate adenylate cyclase. Calmodulin could affect the activation of adenylate cyclase by GTP in the presence of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (DA, dopamine). Calmodulin decreased by nearly 10-fold the concentration of GTP required to provide maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by DA in the striatal membranes. The characteristics of the effect of calmodulin on GTPase activity with respect to Ca2+ and calmodulin dependence and tissue specificity parallel those of the activation of adenylate cyclase by calmodulin, suggesting that the two activities are closely related.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modulation of adenylate cyclase in human keratinocytes by protein kinase C

Adenylate cyclase (ATP-pyrophosphate lyase (cyclizing); EC 4.6.1.1) in the human keratinocyte cell line SCC 12F was potentiated by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), phorbol-12,13-diacetate, and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol. Keratinocytes exposed to TPA showed a 2-fold enhancement of adenylate cyclase activity when assayed in the presence of isoproterenol or GTP. The half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) for both isoproterenol and GTP were unaltered by TPA treatment of the cells. Basal adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from TPA-treated cultures was also increased 2-fold relative to activity in control membranes. Potentiation of adenylate cyclase activity was dependent on the concentration of TPA to which the keratinocytes were exposed (EC50 for TPA = 3 nM). TPA actions on adenylate cyclase were maximal after 15 min of incubation of the cells with the compound, correlating well with the time course of translocation of protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) from cytosol to membrane. The action of cholera toxin on adenylate cyclase was additive with TPA. In contrast, pertussis toxin actions on adenylate cyclase were not additive with TPA. Treatment of control cells with pertussis toxin activated adenylate cyclase 1.5-fold, whereas cells exposed to pertussis toxin for 6 h followed by TPA for 15 min showed the same 2-fold increase in adenylate cyclase activity as observed in membranes from cells exposed to TPA without prior exposure to pertussis toxin. Pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation was increased 2-fold in membranes from SCC 12F cells exposed to TPA, indicating an increase in the alpha beta gamma form of Gi. These data suggest that exposure of human keratinocytes to phorbol esters increases adenylate cyclase activity by a protein kinase C-mediated increase in the heterotrimeric alpha beta gamma form of Gi resulting in decreased inhibition of basal adenylate cyclase activity.     

Subcellular distributions of calcium/calmodulin-stimulated and guanine nucleotide-regulated adenylate cyclase activities in the cerebral cortex

The subcellular distribution of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was studied in comparison with that of guanine nucleotide-stimulated cyclase activity. The distributions of these activities were similar among the crude fractions but differed among the purified subsynaptosomal fractions. The specific activity of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated cyclase was highest in a light synaptic membrane fraction, which has few, if any, postsynaptic densities, whereas that of guanine nucleotide-stimulated cyclase was highest in a heavier synaptic membrane fraction rich in postsynaptic densities. These results suggest that the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated cyclase has, at least in part, a different cellular or subcellular location than the guanine nucleotide-stimulated cyclase.Abbreviations used CaM calmodulin - GppNHp guanosine 5-(,-imino) triphosphate     

A proper transmembrane Ca2+ gradient is essential for the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by stimulatory GTP-binding protein

Stimulatory GTP-binding Protein (Gs) and adenylate cyclase prepared from bovine brain cortices were co-reconstituted into asolectin vesicles with or without 1000-fold transmembrane Ca²⁺ gradient. The results showed that both basal activity and Gs-stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase were highest in proteoliposomes with a transmembrane Ca²⁺ gradient similar to physiological condition (1 M Ca²⁺ outside and 1 mM Ca²⁺ inside) and lowest when the transmembrane Ca²⁺ gradient was in the inverse direction. Such a difference could be diminished following dissipation of the transmembrane Ca²⁺ gradient by A23187. Comparable conformational changes of Gs in proteoliposomes were also observed when Gs was labeled with the fluorescence probe, acrylodan. These results may indicate that a proper transmembrane Ca²⁺ gradient is essential not only for higher adenylate cyclase activity but also for its stimulation by Gs.     

Inhibitory effect of phorbol ester on carbachol-induced signal transduction in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

Regulation of the increases in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) production and intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) by activation of protein kinase C (PKC) was investigated in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). Stimulation of TSMCs by carbachol led to IP₃ formation and caused an initial transient peak of [Ca²⁺]_i followed by a sustained elevation in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment of TSMCs with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 1 µM) for 30 min blocked the carbachol-induced IP₃ formation and Ca²⁺ mobilization. Following preincubation, carbachol-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization recovered within 24 h. The concentrations of PMA that gave half-maximal inhibition of carbachol-induced IP₃ formation and increase in [Ca²⁺]_i were 7 and 4 nM, respectively. Prior treatment of TSMCs with staurosporine (1 µM), a PKC inhibitor, inhibited the ability of PMA to attenuate carbachol-induced responses. Inactive phorbol ester, 4-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate at 1 µM, did not inhibit these responses to carbachol. The K_d and B_max of the muscarinic receptor for [³H]N-methylscopolamine binding were not significantly changed by PMA treatment. PMA also decreased PKC activity in the cytosol of TSMCs, while increasing it transiently in the membranes within 30 min. Thereafter, the membrane-associated PKC activity decreased and persisted for at least 24 h of PMA treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of PKC may inhibit phosphoinositide hydrolysis and consequently attenuate the [Ca²⁺]_i increase or inhibit both responses independently. The inhibition by PMA of carbachol-induced responses was inversely correlated with membranous PKC activity.     

Inhibitory effect of clonidine upon adenylate cyclase activity,cyclic AMP production,and insulin release in rat pancreatic islets

Conflicting opinions were recently expressed concerning the possible effect of ₂-adrenergic agonists upon cyclic AMP production in pancreatic islets. In the present: study, clonidine inhibited glucose-induced insulin release from rat pancreatic islets, this inhibitory effect being abolished by idazoxan. Clonidine did not suppress the capacity of forskolin to augment glucose-induced insulin release. In a particulate subcellular fraction derived from the islets, adenylate cyclase was activated by calmodulin (in the presence of Ca²⁺), NaF, GTP,, L-arginine, and forskolin, and slightly inhibited by clonidine. The inhibitory action of clonidine upon basal adenylate cyclase activity was more pronounced in islet crude homogenates. The inhibitory effect of clonidine was antagonized by forskolin whether in the particulate fraction or crude homogenate. At variance with the modest effects of glucagon, D-glucose, L-arginine, or a tumor-promoting phorbol ester upon cyclic AMP production by intact islets, forskolin caused a six-fold increase in cyclic AMP production. Clonidine inhibited cyclic AMP production by intact islets, whether in the absence or presence of forskolin. It is proposed that the inhibitory action of clonidine upon insulin release is attributable , in part at least, to inhibition of adenylate cyclase.     

Characterization of calcium-dependent forms of protein kinase C in adult rat ventricular myocytes

The presence and subcellular localization of the Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms and were investigated in freshly isolated adult rat cardiac ventricular myocytes. PKC activity was measured in cytosolic and particulate fractions prepared from control myocytes and those treated with either phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA) or a permeant synthetic diacylglycerol analog (1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, OAG) in the absence or presence of an inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase activity, compound R59022. Preliminary studies detected no Ca2+-/phospholipid-dependent histone kinase activity in either subcellular fraction. To reproducibly observe Ca2+-/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity, partial purification using a MonoQ HR 5/5 column and the presence of the peptide inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase were essential. MonoQ chromatography of cytosolic and particulate fractions resulted in three peaks of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity. In the cytosolic fraction a large peak of activity eluted at 230-300 mM NaCl. Isoform-specific antisera indicated both PKC and PKC were present. In the particulate fraction two peak of Ca2+-/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity, both containing PKCa immunoreactivity, were observed. The larger peak eluted at 230-300 mM NaCl. In addition, a peak eluting at lower salt concentrations contained a Ca2+-/phospholipid-independent histone kinase activity. This peak of kinase activity contained PKC immunoreactive bands of 80- and 50-kDa. The 80-kDa band was the holoenzyme of PKC whereas the band of lower molecular mass was likely a proteolytic fragment. In both cytosolic and particulate fractions, the peak of kinase activity eluting at 230-300 mM NaCl contained PKC in the form of an 80-kDa doublet; this suggested the presence of autophosphorylated PKC. Incubation of the myocytes with PMA, but not OAG, resulted in translocation of PKC from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction. Curiously, a transient decrease in PKC activity was observed in both subcellular fractions following treatment with either OAG or ethanol (1%). Results from this study show that freshly isolated adult rat cardiac ventricular myocytes contain both PKC and PKC, and that these isoforms translocate to the particulate fraction in response to treatment with PMA, but not OAG. (Mol Cell Biochem 166: 11-23, 1997)     

Modulation of sodium-sensitive GTPase by partial opiate agonists. An explanation for the dual requirement for Na+ and GTP in inhibitory regulation of adenylate cyclase

Opiates and opioid peptides inhibit adenylate cyclase and stimulate specific low Km GTPase activity in membranes from neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. The effects of opiate agonists on both enzymes are mediated by high affinity stereospecific receptors and require Mg2+, GTP, and Na+. In the presence of Mg2+, Na+ inhibits basal GTPase activity; opiates stimulate GTP hydrolysis by antagonizing the Na+-induced inhibition. Activation of GTPase leads, in turn, to inactivation of GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The intrinsic activities (or efficacies) of a series of opiates are identical for stimulation of GTPase and inhibition of adenylate cyclase. These results provide a mechanism for the dual requirement for Na+ and GTP in the inhibitory coupling of opiate receptors to the adenylate cyclase system in these cells and may be of general significance to the action of other inhibitory hormones.     

Regulation of exocytosis in electrically permeabilized insulin-secreting cells. Evidence for Ca2+ dependent and independent secretion

The regulation of insulin secretion from RINm5F cells exposed to high voltage discharge has been investigated. Electron microscopy revealed that the overall structure of the cells was preserved after permeabilization. In this preparation insulin release was stimulated by Ca²⁺ (EC₅₀=2.4 M). The stable GTP analogue GTPS enhanced secretion both at intermediate (nano- to micromolar) and vanishingly low (<10 pM) Ca²⁺ concentrations. At optimal Ca²⁺ (10 M) the effect of GTPS was greatly reduced. We investigated whether the secretory response to GTP analogues was mediated by any of three enzyme systems regulated by GTP-binding proteins, i.e. generation of cyclic AMP by adenylate cyclase, of diacylglycerol by phospholipase C and of arachidonic acid by phospholipase A₂. The involvement of these messenger systems could be excluded as (i) cyclic AMP only had minor, Ca²⁺ dependent effects, (ii) phospholipase C was not activated in the absence of Ca²⁺ and insulin secretion due to the phorbol ester TPA displayed a different Ca²⁺ dependency, (iii) arachidonic acid did not elicit Ca²⁺ independent insulin secretion. These results, taken together with the finding that insulin secretion due to Ca²⁺ or TPA is attenuated by the inhibitory guanine nucleotide GDPS, suggest the existence of a regulatory site in exocytosis which is sensitive to guanine nucleotides.Abbreviations InsP₃ inositol trisphosphate - Ptd-InsP₂ phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate - GTPS guanosine 5-(3-O-thio)triphosphate - GDPS guanosine 5-(2-O-thio)diphosphate - Gpp(NH)p guanyl-5-yl imidodiphosphate - TPA 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate - OAG 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol - Hepes 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid - EGTA (ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid - DAG diacylglycerol - [Ca²⁺]_i cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration     

Receptor-mediated supra-additive activation of guinea pig superior cervical ganglion adenylate cyclase: Role of Mn2+ ions and calmodulin

The effects of Mn²⁺ and calmodulin were studied on the basal and agonist-modulated adenylate cyclase activity of the guinea pig superior cervical ganglion. The divalent cation strongly stimulates the basal and agonist-modulated enzyme in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, in the presence of Mn²⁺ the inhibitory effects of high GTP concentrations and of D-Ala²-Met-enkephalinamide on adenylate cyclase are eliminated, while the stimulation exerted by prostaglandin E₂ and the supra-additive activation of the enzyme by the combination of the two drugs are unaffected. In EGTA-washed, calmodulin-depleted membrane preparations, Mn²⁺ still activates the cyclase but the enkephalin inhibition and the superactivation of the enzyme induced by the combination of opiate and prostaglandin are lost, both in the absence and in the presence of the cation. Reconstituting the depleted membranes with exogenous Ca²⁺/calmodulin fully restored the enzyme responsivity to the combination and, partially, to the enkephalin. The findings suggest the existence in the guinea pig superior cervical ganglion of both the calmodulin-sensitive and differently regulated calmodulin-insensitive adenylate cyclase.     

Effects of protein kinase C activation on human platelet cyclic AMP metabolism

Treatment of intact human platelets with the tumour-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), specifically inhibited PGD2-induced cyclic AMP formation without affecting the regulation of cyclic AMP metabolism by PGI2, PGE1, 6-keto-PGE1, adenosine or adrenaline. This action of PMA was: (i) concentration-dependent; (ii) not mediated by evoked formation or release of endogenous regulators of adenylate cyclase activity (thromboxane A2 or ADP); (iii) mimicked by 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8) but not by 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (which does not activate protein kinase C); (iv) attenuated by Staurosporine. These results indicate that activation of protein kinase C in platelets may provide a regulatory mechanism to abrogate the effects of the endogenous adenylate cyclase stimulant PGD2 without compromising the effects of exogenous stimulants of adenylate cyclase (PGI2, 6-keto-PGE1, adenosine).     

Calcium-dependent adenylate cyclase of pituitary tumor cells

Effects of Ca²⁺ and calmodulin on the adenylate cyclase activity of a prolactin and growth hormone-producing pituitary tumor cell strain (GH₃) were examined. The adenylate cyclase activity of homogenates was stimulated approx. 60% by submicromolar free Ca²⁺ concentrations and inhibited by higher (μM range) concentrations of the cation. A 2–3-fold stimulation of the activity in response to Ca²⁺ was observed at physiologic concentrations of KCl, with both the stimulatory and inhibitory responses occurring at respectively higher free Ca²⁺ concentrations. Calmodulin in incubations at low KCl concentrations increased the enzyme activity at all Ca²⁺ concentrations tested. In incubations conducted at physiologic KCl concentrations, both the inhibitory and stimulatory responses to Ca²⁺ were shifted by calmodulin to lower respective concentrations of the cation, without significant change occurring in the maximal rate of enzymic activity at optimal free Ca²⁺. Mg²⁺ concentrations in the incubation also influenced the Ca²⁺ concentration dependence of adenylate cyclase; at high Mg²⁺ more Ca²⁺ was required to obtain maximal activity. Trifluoperazine inhibited adenylate cyclase of GH₃ cells only in the presence of Ca²⁺; as Ca²⁺ concentrations in the assay were increased, higher drug concentrations were required to inhibit the enzyme. Ca²⁺ was also observed to reduce the extent of enzyme destabilization which occurred during pretreatments at warm temperatures. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and phorbol myristate acetate, which stimulate prolactin secretion in intact GH₃ cells, enhanced enzyme activity 4- and 2.5-fold, respectively, without added Ca²⁺. Increasing free Ca²⁺ concentrations reduced the enhancement by VIP and eliminated the stimulation by PMA.