Alterations in cerebral β-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system induced by halothane,ketamine and ethanol

The effect of halothane, ketamine and ethanol on β-adrenergic receptor adenylate cyclase system was studied in the brain of rats. An anesthetic concentration of halothane and ketamine added in vitro decreased the stimulatory effect of norepinephrine on cyclic AMP formation in slices from the cerebral cortex. On the other hand, ethanol increased the basal activity of cerebral adenylate cyclase without affecting on the norepinephrine-stimulated activity. The increase of the basal activity induced by ethanol was not antagonized by propranolol, a β-adrenergic antagonist. In the crude synaptosomal (P₂) fraction, these drugs had no significant effect on the basal adenylate cyclase activity, binding of [³H]dihydroalprenolol to β-receptor, and binding of [³H]guanylylimido diphosphate ([³H]Gpp(NH)p) to guanyl nucleotide binding site. In contrast, the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by Gpp(NH)p or NaF was significantly inhibited by an anesthetic concentration of these drugs. An anesthetic concentration of these drugs increased the membrane fluidity of P₂ fraction monitored by the fluorescence polarization technique. The addition of linoleic acid (more than 500 μM) also induced not only the increase of fluidity, but also the decrease of Gpp(NH)p- or NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the cerebral P₂ fraction. The present results suggest that general anesthetics may interfere with the guanyl nucleotide binding regulatory protein-mediated activation of cerebral adenylate cyclase by disturbing the lipid region of synaptic membrane.     

Osteosarcoma cytosol factor promotes parathyroid hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase independent of GTP

The adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1)-stimulating factor from rat osteosarcoma cytosol was purified 600-fold by ion-exchange chromatography. The factor has an apparent M_r of 20 000, is cold-labile, but retains activity at ?20°C in 10% glycerol.The factor enhanced parathyroid hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase and restored hormone responsiveness to membranes washed with 0.5 M NaCl. These ‘GTP-like’ effects were not inhibited by 100 μM GDP-β-S, which completely abolished the GTP enhancement of both basal and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase.Adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of the stimulating factor was linear with time, and showed hyperbolic dependence on factor concentration. The factor also linearized (in double reciprocal plots) the downward-concave Mg²⁺-dependence of adenylate cyclase, increasing the apparent affinity of the enzyme for Mg²⁺.The presence of the factor in two clonal osteosarcoma cell lines correlated with parathyroid hormone-stimulatable adenylate cyclase. Factor stimulation was absent while GTP stimulation was retained in the hormone-nonresponsive clone. Factor and hormone sensitivity were restored by in vivo passage. This factor thus may represent a guanyl nucleotide-independent path for cellular regulation of hormone response.     

Adenylate cyclase in cilia from Paramecium: Localization and partial characterization

A particulate adenylate cyclase was identified in the excitable ciliary membrane from Paramecium tetraurelia. MnATP was preferentially used as substrate, the K_m was 67 μM, V_max was 1 nmol cAMP.min^?1.mg^?1, a marked temperature optimum of 37°C was observed. Adenylate cyclase was not inhibited by 100 μM EGTA or 100 μM La³⁺, whereas under these conditions guanylate cyclase activity was abolished. Fractionation of ciliary membrane vesicles by a Percoll density gradient yielded two vesicle populations with adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, calmodulin/Ca-dependent guanylate cyclase was associated with vesicles of high buoyant density only.     

Effect of hormonal and neuronal agents on adenylate cyclase from smooth muscle of the gastric antrum

Smooth muscle adenylate cyclase of a membrane preparation of canine gastric antrum has been characterized, and the effect of hormonal and neuronal agents examined. The enzyme is active in the presence of Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺, but is inhibited by Ca²⁺. The K_m is 0.5 mM ATP, similar to the K_m of skeletal muscle adenylate cyclase. The enzyme is activated by isoproterenol but not norepinephrine, consistent with a β₂-catecholamine receptor-adenylate cyclase interaction. Secretin activates the enzyme in concentrations as low as 1 · 10^?11 M, while glucagon was effective only at 1 · 10^?6 M. Prostaglandin E₁ and E₂ have a biphasic effect with activation of adenylate cyclase at 1 · 10^?5 M and a small but significant inhibition of enzyme activity at 1 · 10^?11 M.     

Biochemical characterization of histamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in mammalian brain.

Certain biochemical characteristics of an adenylate cyclase that is activated by low concentrations of histamine (K_a, 8 μm) and that is present in cell-free preparations from the dorsal hippocampus of guinea pig brain have been studied. Histamine increased the maximal reaction velocity of adenylate cyclase without altering the K_m (0.18 mm) for its substrate, MgATP. Increasing concentrations of free Mg²⁺ stimulated enzymatic activity; the kinetic properties of this activation by Mg²⁺ suggest the existence of a Mg²⁺ allosteric site on the enzyme. Histamine increased the affinity of this apparent site for free Mg²⁺. Free ATP was a competitive inhibitor with respect to the MgATP substrate. The apparent potency of free ATP as an inhibitor increased in the presence of histamine. In the presence of Mg²⁺, low concentrations of Ca²⁺ markedly inhibited adenylate cyclase activity; half-maximal inhibition of both basal and histamine-stimulated enzyme activity occurred at 40 μm Ca²⁺. Other divalent cations, including Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cd²⁺, were also inhibitory. Of the divalent cations tested, only Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ could replace Mg²⁺ in supporting histamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The nucleoside triphosphates GTP and ITP increased basal adenylate cyclase activity and markedly potentiated the stimulation by histamine. Preincubation of adenylate cyclase with 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate dramatically increased enzyme activity; in this activated state, the adenylate cyclase was relatively refractory to further stimulation by histamine or F^?. The subcellular distribution of histamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was studied in subfractions from guinea pig cerebral cortex. The highest total and specific activities were observed in those fractions enriched in nerve endings, while adenylate cyclase activity was not detectable in the brain cytosol fraction. A possible physiological role for this histamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in neuronal function is discussed.     

Study of the Functional Organization of a Novel Adenylate Cyclase Signaling Mechanism of Insulin Action

In this study we continued decoding the adenylate cyclase signaling mechanism that underlies the effect of insulin and related peptides. We show for the first time that insulin signal transduction via an adenylate cyclase signaling mechanism, which is attended by adenylate cyclase activation, is blocked in the muscle tissues of the rat and the mollusk Anodonta cygnea in the presence of: 1) pertussis toxin, which impairs the action of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (G_i); 2) wortmannin, a specific blocker of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; and 3) calphostin C, an inhibitor of different isoforms of protein kinase C. The treatment of sarcolemmal membrane fraction with cholera toxin increases basal adenylate cyclase activity and decreases the sensitivity of the enzyme to insulin. We suggest that the stimulating effect of insulin on adenylate cyclase involves the following stages of hormonal signal transduction cascade: receptor tyrosine kinase → G_iprotein (βγ) → phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase → protein kinase C (ζ?) → G_sprotein → adenylate cyclase → cAMP.     

Guanosine diphosphate binding,metabolism and regulation of follitropin-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in Sertoli cell membranes

Nucleotides such as GTP and GDP appear to be involved in signal transduction via G protein modulation of adenylate cyclase activity. Studies on direct binding of [³H]GDP to membranes prepared from cultured immature rat Sertoli cells indicated that this process was reversible, approached steady state within 10 min, had a K_a of 4.5 ·10⁶M⁻¹ and was specific for guanine nucleotides. The non-hydrolyzable analog, guanosine 5′-O-[3-thio]triphosphate (GPPP[S]), was most effective as an inhibitor of [³H]GDP binding (ED₅₀ = 4.8·10⁻⁸M), whereas guanosine 5′-O-[2-thio]diphosphate (Gpp[S]) was less potent (ED₅₀ = 3.4·10⁻⁷M). Release of bound GDP was enhanced by follitropin (FSH) in the presence of Gppp[S], although not by FSH alone. Sertoli cell membranes possess guanine nucleotide hydrolase activity, where 95% of added nucleotide was rapidly degraded to guanosine. Binding kinetics were significantly influenced by nucleotide metabolism, which was prevented by controlling the Mg²⁺ concentration with EDTA and including App[NH]p to reduce nonspecific hydrolysis. Kinetic studies indicated that Gpp[S] inhibited (P < 0.05) Gppp[S]-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (K_i = 1.8·10⁻⁷M), whereas basal activity remained unaffected. Addition of Gpp[S] to pre-activated enzyme (FSH plus GTP) resulted in a time-dependent decay of adenylate cyclase activity with a K_off value of 6 ± 1·min⁻¹. Using a two-stage pre-inculbation technique, adenylate cyclase activity was demonstrated to be sensitive to the nucleotide bound. When FSH was included, catalytic activity was not altered by the order of pre-incubation with the nucleotides. This suggested that the exchange of bound Gpp[S] for Gppp[S] was enhance by FSH. Activation and attenuation of FSH-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity is dependent on a nucleotide exchange mechanism which is driven by (1) the higher affinity of G for GTP than GDP, (2) enhanced release of GD when FSH is present and (3) GTP hydrolysis coupled to rapid metabolism of guanine nucleotides.     

Differential effects of guanine nucleotides on the first step of VIP and glucagon action in membranes from liver cells

Despite the presence of a similar number of glucagon and VIP receptors in liver membranes, VIP induces a negligeable stimulation of adenylate cyclase when compared with glucagon effect. In order to elucidate these discrepancies, the effects of guanine nucleotides on the VIP and glucagon-responsive adenylate cyclase of liver were compared using pure ATP as substrate. 10^?8 M VIP accounted for a 1.5-fold increase of basal activity. In the presence of GTP or Gpp(NH)p (10^?9 to 10^?5 M), the level of cAMP production induced by VIP was no more than additive. In contrast, Gpp(NH)p potentiated the effect of glucagon on liver adenylate cyclase. These discrepancies are not explained by a difference in the peptide binding process. These data suggest that, in liver membranes, a GTP-binding protein N₂ is associated with the glucagon-sensitive adenylate cyclase, but is not detected for VIP. It is suggested that N₂ appears to be specific for the peptidic receptor.     

Interaction of clonidine and clonidine analogs with human platelet α2-adrenergic receptors

Several new clonidine analogs were synthesized and their ability to inhibit [³H] phentolamine binding to human platelet α₂-adrenergic receptors was tested. The order of potency and calculated dissociation constants for clonidine and its analogs were as follows: clonidine (0.020 ± 0.005 μM) >p-aminoclonidine (0.100 ± 0.010 μM) > hydroxy-phenacetyl-aminoclonidine (0.20 ± 0.03 μM) >p-dansyl clonidine (1.00 ± 0.20 μM) >t-boc-tyrosine clonidine (1.80 ± 0.60 μM). Thus, p-amino substitution reduces α₂-adrenergic affinity in the platelet system. The effects of clonidine and its p-amino analogs on platelet adenylate cyclase were also evaluated. This enzyme is inhibited by epinephrine acting via α₂-adrenergic receptors. Both clonidine and p-aminoclonidine cause slight inhibition of basal adenylate cyclase and reverse the inhibition induced by epinephrine. These observations indicate that clonidine is a partial agonist for platelet α₂-adrenergic receptors.     

Stimulation of brain adenylate cyclase activity by the undecapeptide substance P and its modulation by the calcium ion

Synthetic substance P stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in particulate preparations from rat and human brain.The concentration of substance P for half maximal stimulation in rat brain was 1.8 · 10⁻⁷ M.The stimulatory effect of substance P on the rat brain adenylate cyclase activity was 88% compared with 48% by noradrenalin, 163% by prostaglandin E₁ and 184% by prostaglandin E₂.Both the basal and substance P-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in rat brain were inhibited by concentration of Ca²⁺ above 10⁻⁶ M.The chelating agent ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethylether)-N,N′-tetraacetic acid at a concentration of 0.1 mM reduced the basal adenylate cyclase activity by 64% and eliminated the substance P-stimulated activity.The inhibition by ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethylether)-N,N′-tetraacetic acid was completely reversed by increasing concentrations of Ca²⁺.     

Desensitization of prostaglandin-activated platelet adenylate cyclase

Prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) is one of several prostaglandins that can inhibit platelet aggregation and activate adenylate cyclase. Platelets were exposed to varying concentrations of PGD₂, washed, and the adenylate cyclase response to prostaglandins, epinephrine, and sodium fluoride determined. Incubating platelets with 5 × 10^?5 M PGD₂ for 2 hr resulted in a 45% decrease in PGD₂ activation of adenylate cyclase and a 25% decrease in stimulation by PGE₁. Fluoride activation (7-fold) epinephrine inhibition (30%) and basal enzyme activity were unchanged by exposure of the platelets to PGD₂. Desensitization was concentration dependent, with loss of enzyme activity first noted when platelets were incubated with 10^?7 M PGD₂. Enzyme sensitivity could be partially restored when desensitized platelets were washed free of PGD₂ and incubated in buffer for 2 hr; complete resensitization required incubation for 24 hr in plasma. Regulation of prostaglandin sensitive platelet adenylate cyclase could be of importance in mediating the response of platelets to aggregating agents.     

Adenylate cyclase system of human skeletal muscle: Subcellular distribution and general properties

The subcellular localization of adenylate cyclase was examined in human skeletal muscle. Three major subcellular membrane fractions, plasmalemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, were characterized by membrane-marker biochemical studies, by dodecyl sulfate polycrylamide gel electrophoresis and by electron microscopy. About 60% of the adenylate cyclase of the homogenate was found in the plasmalemmal fraction and 10–14% in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. When the plasmalemmal preparation was subjected to discontinuous sucrose gradients, the distribution of adenylate cyclase in different subfractions closely paralleled that of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. The highest specific activity was found in a fraction which setteled at the 0.6–0.8 M sucrose interface. The electron microscopic study of this fraction revealed the presence of flattened sacs of variable sizes and was devoid of mitochondrial and myofibrillar material. The electron microscopy of each fraction supported the biochemical studies with enzyme markers. The three major membrane fractions also contained a low K_m phosphodiesterase activity, the highest specific activity being associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum.The plasmalemmal adenylate cyclase was more sensitive to catecholamine stimulation than that associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria. The catecholamine-sensitive, but not the basal, enzyme was further stimulated by GTP. The plasmalemmal adenylate cyclase had typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to ATP and the apparent K_m for ATP was approx. 0.3. mM. The pH optimum for that enzyme was 7.5. The enzyme required Mg²⁺, and the concentration to achieve half-maximal stimulation was approx. 3 mM. Higher concentrations of Mg²⁺ (about 10 mM) were inhibitory. Solubilization of the plasmalemmal membrane fraction with Lubrol-PX resulted in preferential extraction of 106 000- and 40 000-dalton protein components. The solubilized adenylate cyclase lost its sensitivity for catecholamine stimulation, and the extent of fluoride stimulation was reduced to one-sixth of that of the intact membranes. It is concluded that the catalytically active and hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase is predominantly localized in the surface membranes of the cells within skeletal muscle. (That “plasmalemmal” fraction is considered likely to contain, in addition to plasmalemma of muscle cells, plasmalemma of bloodvessel cells (endothelium, and perhaps smooth muscle) which may be responsible for a certain amount of the adenylate cyclase activity and other propertiesobserved in that fraction.)The method of preparation used in this study provides a convenient material for evaluating the catecholamine-adenylate cyclase interactions in human skeletal muscle.     

Catecholamine and guanine nucleotide activation of skeletal muscle adenylate cyclase

Activation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotide and catecholamines was examined in plasma membranes prepared from rabbit skeletal muscle. The GTP analog, 5′-guanylyl imidodiphosphate caused a time and temperature-dependent activation of the enzyme which was persistent, the K_a was 0.05 μM. 5′-Guanylyl imidodiphosphate binding to the membranes was time and temperature dependent, K_D 0.07 μM. Beta adrenergic amines accelerated the rate of 5′-guanylyl imidodiphosphate activation of the enzyme with an order of potency isoproterenol ≈ soterenol ≈ salbutamol > epinephrine ? norepinephrine. Catecholamine activation was antagonized by propranolol and the β₂ antagonist butoxamine; the β₁ antagonist practolol was inactive. [³H]Dihydroalprenolol bound to the membranes and binding was antagonized by β adrenergic agonists with an order of potency similar to the activation of adenylate cyclase and was antagonized by butoxamine but not by practolol. The data are consistent with the idea that adenylate cyclase in skeletal muscle plasma membranes is coupled to adrenergic receptors of the β₂ type.     

Vasopressin inhibits the adenylate cyclase activity of human platelet particulate fraction through V1-receptors

Arg⁸-vasopressin inhibited the adenylate cyclase activity of human platelet particulate fraction up to a maximum of 27% (IC₅₀ = 1.2 nM). This inhibition required the presence of 10 μM GTP and was optimal with 100 mM NaCl. Orn⁸-vasopressin had similar effects. 1-Deamino-Val⁴, D-Arg⁸-vasopressin did not by itself affect adenylate cyclase activity but competitively inhibited the action of Arg⁸-vasopressin (pA₂ = 7.74). Arg⁸-vasopressin did not inhibit adenylate cyclase in intact platelets but instead caused platelet aggregation, an effect that was also competitively inhibited by 1-deamino-Val⁴, D-Arg⁸-vasopressin (pA₂ = 7.82). Thus, platelets possess vasopressin receptors of the V₁ type that, under appropriate conditions, can mediate either inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase or platelet aggregation.     

Evidence for adenylate cyclase as a scaffold protein for Ras2–Ira interaction in Saccharomyces cerevisie

Data in literature suggest that budding yeast adenylate cyclase forms a membrane-associated complex with the upstream components of the cAMP/PKA pathway. Here we provide evidences that adenylate cyclase (Cyr1p) acts as a scaffold protein keeping Ras2 available for its regulatory factors. We show that in a strain with deletion of the CYR1 gene (cyr1Δ pde2Δ msn2Δ msn4Δ) the basal Ras2-GTP level is very high and this is independent on the lack of feedback inhibition that could result from the absence of adenylate cyclase activity. Moreover, strains effected either in the intrinsic adenylate cyclase activity (fil1 strain) or in the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by active G-proteins (lcr1 strain) had a normal basal and glucose-induced Ras2-GTP level, indicating that adenylate cyclase activity does not influence the Ras2 activation state and suggesting that Cyr1 protein is required for the proper interaction between Ras2 and the Ira proteins. We also provide evidence that the two Ras-binding sites mapped on Cyr1p are required for the signalling complex assembly. In fact, we show that the cyr1Δ strain expressing CYR1 alleles lacking either the LRR region or the C-terminal domain still have a high basal and glucose-induced Ras2-GTP level. In contrast, a mutant expressing a Cyr1 protein only missing the N-terminal domain showed a normal Ras2 activation pattern. Likewise, the Ras2-GTP levels are comparable in the wild type strain and the srv2Δ strain, supporting the hypothesis that Cap is not essential for the Ras-adenylate cyclase interaction.     

Characterization of a vasoactive intestinal peptide-sensitive adenylate cyclase in rat intestinal epithelial cell membranes

A vasoactive intestinal peptide-sensitive adenylate cyclase in intestinal epithelial cell membranes was characterized. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity was a function of vasoactive intestinal peptide concentration over a range of 1 · 10⁻¹⁰−1 · 10⁻⁷ M and was increased six-times by a maximally stimulating concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Half-maximal stimulation was observed with 4.1 ± 0.7 nM vasoactive intestinal peptide. Fluoride ion stimulated adenylate cyclase activity to a higher extent than did vasoactive intestinal peptide. Under standard assay conditions, basal, vasoactive inteetinal peptide- and fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were proportional to time of incubation up to 15 min and to membrane concentration up to 60 μg protein per assay. The vasoactive intestinal peptide-sensitive enzyme required 5–10 mM Mg²⁺ and was inhibited by 1 · 10⁻⁵ M Ca²⁺. At sufficiently high concentrations, both ATP (3 mM) and Mg²⁺ (40 mM) inhibited the enzyme.Secretin also stimulated the adenylate cyclase activity from intestinal epithelial cell membranes but its effectiveness was 1/1000 that of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Prostaglandins E₁ and E₂ at 1 · 10⁻⁵ M induced a two-fold increase of cyclic AMP production. Vasoactive intestinal peptide was the most potent stimulator of adenylate cyclase activity, suggesting an important physiological role of this peptide in the cyclic AMP-dependent regulation of the intestinal epithelial cell function.     

Decreased response with age of the cardiac catecholamine sensitive adenylate cyclase system

The cardiac β-adrenergic coupled adenylate cyclase system was examined in young and old male Wistar rats. The concentration of binding sites for (?) ³H-DHA in membranes prepared from cardiac ventricles was 21.1 ± 2.78 (SD) fmoles/mg protein in 3–4 month old rats (young rats) and 31.2 ± 2.20 fmoles/mg protein in 24 month old rats (old rats). The dissociation constant, K_D was 4.3 ± 1.8 nM and 6.7 ± 1.7 nM for young and old rats, respectively. Various compounds were used to study the characteristics of activation of adenylate cyclase in homogenates from cardiac ventricles. Basal adenylate cyclase was reduced 30% in old animals compared to young (6.1 pmoles/min/mg protein in 24 month vs. 8.6 pmoles/min/mg protein in 3–4 month). (?)Isoproterenol (10^?5M) alone stimulated adenylate cyclase greater than two-fold in young rats (10.6 pmoles/min/mg protein above basal) and this stimulation was 34% lower in old animals. GppNHp (100 μM), fluoride (10 mM), and forskolin (100 μM) activation of adenylate cyclase above basal was reduced 38, 37, and 34%, respectively, in the old animals. No significant changes between the two groups were noted in the apparent affinity of GppNHp either alone or in the presence of (?)isoproterenol nor in the affinities of catecholamine agonists for activation of cyclase. These results suggest a reduction in the amount of functional regulatory protein or possibly cyclase in 24 month old rat ventricular tissue compared to 3–4 month old tissue. However, this data does not rule out the possibility of altered molecular interactions of a full complement of regulatory protein (s) with β-adrenergic receptor and/or catalytic adenylate cyclase.     

Effects of adenosine and adenosine-analogs on adenylate cyclase activity in the rat adipocyte plasma membrane: comparison of the properties of the enzyme with Mn2+ and Mg2+ as divalent cations

Summary We investigated the influence of Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ on the effects of adenosine and some derivatives on basal adenylate cyclase activity in rat fat cell membranes as well as on enzyme activity stimulated by isoprenaline or sodium fluoride. Adenosine and derivatives modified in the ribose function were inhibitory, irrespective of the stimulant used, both in the presence of MgCl₂ or MnCl₂. Inhibition of basal and sodium fluoride stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was more pronounced in the presence of MnCl₂ than in the presence of MgCl₂. N⁶-substituted adenosine analogs proved to be inhibitory in the presence of 5 MM MgCl₂, but in the presence of 1 mM MnCl₂ the fluoride stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was potentiated, while basal and isoprenaline stimulated activity were not significantly inhibited. These effects of adenosine and derivatives could not be blocked by theophylline with or without guanyl nucleotides.The potentiating effect of N⁶-substituted adenosine derivatives on sodium fluoride activated adenylate cyclase is dependent on the structure of the N₆-substitutent and consists of an enhancement of Vrnax in combination with a small decrease of the K_m for MnATP^2–, indicative of an allosteric effect on adenylate cyclase. No potentiation by N⁶-phenylisopropyladeno sine of sodium fluoride stimulated cyclase was found on digitonin solubilized cyclase, while the inhibitory effect of adenosine was retained. The relevance of these findings is discussed in connection with the current hypothesis concerning the presence of two adenosinesensitive sites on rat fat cell membranes.     

Effect of proteases and protease inhibitors on adenylate cyclase activity in rat cerebral cortical membranes

Mild proteolysis of membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex with low concentrations of endopeptidases such as trypsin or chymotrypsin caused a 50–400% increase in the basal adenylate cyclase activity. Maximal activation of adenylate cyclase was obtained by including the protease in the adenylate cyclase assay, although an activated preparation could be obtained by pretreatment of the membranes with proteolytic enzymes. The proteolytically activated enzyme showed an increased V, with very little change in the K_m for the substrate, ATP. The proteolytically activated enzyme retained responsiveness to activation by sodium fluoride and 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp), but was no longer activated by gangliosides or calcium-dependent activator protein. Activation by alcohols and detergent was lost or reduced in magnitude. The activity of adenylate cyclase after protease treatment showed a very marked temperature dependence, with maximal activity expressed in the 30–40 °C range and no activation due to the prior protease treatment expressed at either 10 or 50 °C. Basal adenylate cyclase activity was usually slightly inhibited in the presence of various protease inhibitors. Activation by fluoride, gangliosides, or GppNHp was little affected by protease inhibitors although one inhibitor, N-α-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone, caused an inhibition of the ganglioside and GppNHp responses, slightly inhibited the fluoride response, and blocked the norepinephrine response normally seen in the presence of gangliosides or GppNHp. This inhibitor caused a loss of β-adrenergic binding sites for dihydroalprenolol in rat cortical membranes which paralleled the loss of the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to a GppNHp-norepinephrine combination.     

Partial purification and properties of the cytoplasmic factors modulating adenylate cyclase activity in rat lung plasma membranes

The adult rat lung supernatant contains some factors which markedly enhance adenylate cyclase activity in membranes (Nijjar, M.S. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 584, 43–50). These factors were separated into two less active components (peaks 1 and 2) by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. However, their recombination restored the full activation of adenylate cyclase. Further purification and characterization of these factors revealed that the activation in peak 1 contained two proteins of low (14 500) and high (65 000) molecular weight whereas the activator in peak 2 contained only one protein of 65 000. The kinetics of adenylate cyclase activation revealed that both the K_m and V values were affected. The data also demonstrate that calmodulin was not involved in the cytoplasmic activation of adenylate cyclase in rat lungs.