Protoporphyrin IX activates the Mg dependent guanylate cyclase from rat liver plasma membranes

In the presence of Mg-GTP, the rat liver guanylate cyclase, in either intact membranes or trypsin solubilized form, was stimulated by protoporphyrin IX 6 to 10-fold. However, when Mn-GTP was the substrate, protoporphyrin IX activated the membrane-bound guanylate cyclase only 50%, in contrast to the marked activation reported for the cytosolic enzyme. Meso- and deuteroporphyrin IX, hematoporphyrin and coproporphyrin III also activated membrane guanylate cyclase while uroporphyrin III, and hemin had no effect. Basal, Mg2+-dependent activity exhibited two classes of catalytic sites with apparent Km values of 2 mM and 0.12 mM. Activation by protoporphyrin resulted in the disappearance of the low affinity sites. The activated enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics and no alteration in its requirement for excess Mg2+. These data indicate that, in the presence of Mg2+, a heme-like structure can interact with the membrane-bound guanylate cyclase and regulate its activity.     

Guanine nucleotides allow the trypsin solubilization of an active Mr = 68,000 guanylate cyclase

It has been previously shown that trypsin treatment of rat liver plasma membranes causes the solubilization of a guanylate cyclase of Mr = 140,000 (Lacombe, M. L., Haguenauer-Tsapis, R., Stengel, D., Ben Salah, A., and Hanoune, J. (1980) FEBS Lett. 116, 79-84). In this study, we observed that addition of Mn-GTP during this step greatly protected the enzyme from proteolytic degradation. This effect was specific for guanine nucleotides, being weaker for other nucleotides triphosphate and GDP, and absent for cyclic GMP and GMP. Metal-GTP complex was required with a strict specificity for Mn2+. In addition to the Mr = 140,000 enzyme, trypsin solubilization in the presence of Mn-GTP led to the formation of a small and active form of guanylate cyclase. Based on its behavior on Ultrogel AcA 34 and sucrose gradients, its apparent Mr was calculated to be 68,000. Both forms could be well separated by high performance liquid chromatography and were shown to be sequentially solubilized (the larger appearing before the smaller species). Mr = 140,000 species, but not the cytosolic enzyme, was able to generate the Mr = 68,000 enzyme upon tryptic treatment in the presence of Mn-GTP. The Mr = 140,000 and 68,000 enzymes exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Hill coefficient = 1) with Km for Mn-GTP of 130 and 70 microM, respectively. The proteolytically solubilized enzymes were strickingly heat labile and highly protected by Mn-GTP. These results support the hypothesis that the rat liver membrane-bound guanylate cyclase has a dimeric structure similar to that of the cytosolic enzyme. They also suggest a possible role for GTP in limiting the degradation rate of membrane guanylate cyclase in vivo and, thus, in regulating the active enzyme concentration.     

Activation of guanyl cyclase during lipid peroxidation of biomembranes

The intensity of lipid peroxidation in the microsomal membranes of rat liver influences the activity of "soluble" guanylate cyclase preparations. The increased production of lipid peroxidation products after addition of Fe(II) results in a rise the guanylate cyclase activity; alpha-tocopherol causes a decrease of this activity. An addition of fatty acids hydroperoxides at concentrations above 10(-6) M activates both the membrane-bound and "soluble" guanylate cyclase. It was shown that the hydroperoxide degradation products--carbonyl derivatives responsible for the activation, at concentrations above 10(-9) M provide for activation of the enzyme. The blocking of the SH-groups in "soluble" enzyme preparations by N-ethylmaleimide completely prevents the enzyme activation by carbonyl.     

Ultracytochemistry as a tool for the study of the cellular and subcellular localization of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase (GC) activity. Applicability to both receptor-activated and receptor-independent GC activity

Membrane-bound guanylate cyclase activity was detected by ultracytochemistry at the electron microscope level in several mammalian tissues. The technique used in these studies allows the detection of active enzyme at the membrane site where it is located. In a few cases, such as normal and regenerating peripheral nerves and placenta, membrane-bound guanylate cyclase could be detected in the absence of stimulators of enzyme activity. However, in the majority of these studies membrane-bound guanylate cyclase was investigated following stimulation with natriuretic peptides, guanylin, or the Ca²⁺ sensor proteins, S100B and S100A1. In general, membrane-bound guanylate cyclase was localized to plasma membranes, in accordance with the functional role of this enzyme. Yet, in secretory cells the enzyme activity was localized on intracellular membranes, suggesting a role of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase in secretory processes. Finally, S100B and S100A1 were found to colocalize with membrane-bound guanylate cyclase on photoreceptor disc membranes and to stimulate enzyme activity at these sites in dark-adapted retinas in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. The results of these analyses are discussed in relation to the proposed functional role(s) of this enzyme.     

Participation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate in the activation of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase by the atrial natriuretic factor

The addition of ANF to Percoll-purified liver plasma membranes produced a slight activation of guanylate cyclase; the ANF-stimulated cyclase activity was further increased upon the addition of ATP to the enzyme assay mixture. The effect of ATP to potentiate the cyclase activation was concentration-dependent, required Mg2+ as a divalent cation, and was seen with membranes from various tissues and cells. ATP increased the maximal velocity of the cyclase without a change in the affinity for GTP or ANF. Phosphorylation by ATP might not be involved since ANF-stimulated guanylate cyclase was enhanced by non-phosphorylating ATP analogues as well. Thus, an allosteric ATP binding site is suggested to participate in ANF-induced regulation of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase.     

Sea urchin sperm guanylate cyclase antibody. Cross-reactivity various rat tissue guanylate cyclases.

After the repeated injection of sea urchin sperm guanylate cyclase into rabbits, antibodies to the enzyme were formed. These antibodies inhibited the particulate or the Triton-dispersed forms of the sperm enzyme by greater than 97%. The sperm adenylate cyclase, cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase, adenosine triphosphatase, guanosine triphosphatase, and 5'-nucleotidase enzymes were not affected by the antiserum. The antiserum inhibited the Triton-dispersed guanylate cyclase from rat heart, liver, lung, spleen, and kidney but did not inhibit the soluble form of the enzyme from any of these tissues. The inhibition of the Triton-dispersed enzyme in these tissues was partial, however, ranging from 30% (liver) to 70% (heart). These results provide evidence that adenylate cyclase is antigenically different from guanylate cyclase, and that the soluble form of guanylate cyclase is antigenically different from a particulate form of the enzyme in various rat tissues.     

Activation of rat liver guanylate cyclase by proteolysis.

Guanylate cyclase activity (GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.2.), measured in purified rat liver plasma membranes, was markedly increased by treatment with various purified proteases. The effect was maximal with trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, papain, and thermolysin (6- to 8-fold increase with 5 to 20 microgram of protease/ml) and lower with subtilisin and elastase (3- to 4-fold increase). The activation was due to an increase in the maximal velocity of the cyclizing reaction. No modification was observed either in the apparent affinity for the substrate MnGTP or in the cooperative behavior of the enzyme kinetics which displayed Hill coefficients of 1.6 for both basal and activated states. The Triton X-100-dispersed guanylate cyclase remained sensitive to papain, which suggests that the action of proteases was not restricted to an indirect action upon the membranous environment of the guanylate cyclase. In contrast, the cytosolic soluble guanylate cyclase, assayed in the presence or absence of sodium azide, was absolutely insensitive to papain. Thus, proteolysis represents a previously undescribed mechanism for activating membranous guanylate cyclase systems, which might be of importance in the physiological regulation of this enzyme.     

Localization of particulate guanylate cyclase in plasma membranes and microsomes of rat liver.

The subcellular localization of guanylate cyclase was examined in rat liver. About 80% of the enzyme activity of homogenates was found in the soluble fraction. Particulate guanylate cyclase was localized in plasma membranes and microsomes. Crude nuclear and microsomal fractions were applied to discontinuous sucrose gradients, and the resulting fractions were examined for guanylate cyclase, various enzyme markers of cell components, and electron microscopy. Purified plasma membrane fractions obtained from either preparation had the highest specific activity of guanylate cyclase, 30 to 80 pmol/min/mg of protein, and the recovery and relative specific activity of guanylate cyclase paralleled that of 5'-nucleotidase and adenylate cyclase in these fractions. Significant amounts of guanylate cyclase, adenylate cyclase, 5'-nucleotidase, and glucose-6-phosphatase were recovered in purified preparation of microsomes. We cannot exclude the presence of guanylate cyclase in other cell components such as Golgi. The electron microscopic studies of fractions supported the biochemical studies with enzyme markers. Soluble guanylate cyclase had typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to GTP and had an apparent Km for GTP of 35 muM. Ca-2+ stimulated the soluble activity in the presence of low concentrations of Mn-2+. The properties of guanylate cyclase in plasma membranes and microsomes were similar except that Ca-2+ inhibited the activity associated with plasma membranes and had no effect on that of microsomes. Both particulate enzymes were allosteric in nature; double reciprocal plots of velocity versus GTP were not linear, and Hill coefficients for preparations of plasma membranes and microsomes were calculated to be 1.60 and 1.58, respectively. The soluble and particulate enzymes were inhibited by ATP, and inhibition of the soluble enzyme was slightly greater. While Mg-2+ was less effective than Mn-2+ as a sole cation, all enzyme fractions were markedly stimulated with Mg-2+ in the presence of a low concentration of Mn-2+. Triton X-100 increased the activity of particulate fractions about 3- to 10-fold and increased the soluble activity 50 to 100%.     

Immobilization of rat lung soluble guanylate cyclase on alkyl-agarose gels.

The soluble guanylate cyclase from rat lung was immobilized by absorption rather than covalent attachment on hexyl-, octyl-, or decyl-agarose. The enzyme retained activity after being bound to these matrices and could be compared to the soluble, mobile form of the enzyme. Compared to the soluble enzyme, the immobilized guanylate cyclase had a lower apparent maximal velocity and a higher apparent Km for MeGTP in the presence of Mg2+, Ca2+, or Mn2+. The apparent maximum velocity was reduced to the same extent by hexyl-, octyl-, or decyl-agarose, but the reduction in activity was greater with Mg2+ than with Ca2+ or Mn2+. Both the soluble and immobilized guanylate cyclase displayed concave downward patterns on double reciprocal polots as a function of Mn2+, and Ca2+ caused apparent activation of either form of the enzyme. MnATP appeared to be a linear competitive inhibitor with respect to MnGTP for both forms of the enzymes but the ki was 3 micron for the soluble form and 30 micron for the immobilized form. These results demonstrate that the soluble form of guanylate cyclase from rat lung retains many of its basic properties after being immobilized on a hydrophobic matrix; however, rather pronounced decreases in the maximum velocity and increases in the apparent Michaelis constant for MeGTP, particularly for MgGTP, are observed upon immobilization.     

The incorporation of a purified, membrane-bound form of guanylate cyclase into phospholipid vesicles and erythrocytes

The purified membrane-bound form of guanylate cyclase was incorporated into artificial unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. The rate and extent of enzyme incorporation into the vesicles was dependent upon the phospholipid concentration and the time period of incubation. The enzyme was incorporated at a significantly faster rate after removal of carbohydrate with endoglycosidase H. The incorporation of the enzyme led to a 10-fold decrease in the apparent maximal velocity and a 2-fold increase in the apparent Michaelis constant for MnGTP. Extraction of liposomes containing guanylate cyclase with 0.2% Lubrol PX resulted in the recovery of 85% of the original amount of added activity, suggesting that the decrease in maximal velocity was not due to enzyme denaturation. Phosphatidylcholine liposomes differentially effected the activity of the membrane-form of guanylate cyclase, dependent on the nature of the fatty acid present on the phospholipid. Specific activities ranged between 458 nmol/min per mg and 2.6 mumol/min per mg, dependent upon the fatty acids present. Liposomes containing the membrane-bound form of guanylate cyclase were subsequently fused with erythrocytes using poly(ethylene glycol) 4000 in attempts to introduce the enzyme into intact cells. The enzyme was successfully introduced into the erythrocytes; greater than 90% of the enzyme activity was subsequently shown to be associated with erythrocyte membranes. Cyclic GMP concentrations of erythrocytes increased from essentially nondetectable to 4 pmol/10(9) cells after introduction of the enzyme. These results demonstrate that guanylate cyclase can be incorporated into liposomes in an active state and that such liposomes can be used to introduce the enzyme into cells where it can subsequently function to generate cyclic GMP.     

Activation of Brain Guanylate Cyclase by Phospholipase A2

Various pure snake venom phospholipases A2 were used for studying their effect on guanylate cyclase activity. All the phospholipases A2 tested were found to activate guanylate cyclase from a rat brain homogenate. It was shown that particulate guanylate cyclase was especially affected. Intact glial cells incubated in presence of phospholipase A2 showed also an increased guanylate cyclase activity, demonstrating that the phospholipase effect, observed in disrupted cells, occurs also at the cellular level. These results suggest that in intact cells membrane-bound phospholipase A2 activity could be involved in the modulation of the cellular cyclic GMP content.     

Characterization of ATP-stimulated guanylate cyclase activation in rat lung membranes

Many of the effects of ANP are mediated through the elevation of cellular cGMP levels by the activation of particulate guanylate cyclase. While the stimulation of this enzyme is receptor-mediated, the molecular mechanism of activation remains unknown. In this study we present evidence that ATP as well as its analogues adenosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) and adenylylimidophosphate (AMPPNP) activates guanylate cyclase from rat lung membranes and markedly potentiates the effect of ANP on the enzyme. The order of potency is ATP gamma S greater than ATP greater than AMPPNP. The enzyme activation by adenine nucleotide and ANP together is much more than the sum of the individual activations, suggesting that ATP may be the physiological component essential for the ANP-stimulated guanylate cyclase activation. The ATP gamma S-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity diminishes in the presence of various kinds of detergents, suggesting either that the conformation of an ATP binding site in guanylate cyclase is altered by detergents or that protein-protein interaction may be involved in the activation of guanylate cyclase by ATP. Guanylate cyclase from rat lung membranes is poorly activated by ANP and/or ATP gamma S after removing the cytosolic and weakly membrane-associated proteins or factors by centrifugation. Pre-incubation of the membranes with ATP gamma S retains enzyme activation after membrane washing. These results suggest either that ATP gamma S stabilizes the conformation of nucleotide binding site in guanylate cyclase from denaturation by membrane washing, or that the stimulatory effect of ATP on guanylate cyclase activity may be mediated by accessory proteins or non-protein cofactors which are lost during membrane washing, but remain bound to membranes by ATP gamma S pretreatment.     

Activatin of guanylate cyclase during the oxidation of arylamine carcinogens.

When added alone, the arylamine procarcinogens N-acetyl-aminofluorene, 4-acetyl-aminobiphenyl or their N-hydroxy derivatives failed to alter partially purified soluble guanylate cyclase from rat liver or particulate guanylate cyclase activity from colonic mucosa. However, addition of linoleic acid hydroperoxide to the enzyme preparation in the presence N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene or N-OH-acetyl-aminobiphenyl significantly increased guanylate cyclase activity. With linoleic acid hydroperoxide plus N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene, both the activation of hepatic guanylate cyclase and the formation of the carcinogen oxidation product 2-nitrosofluorene required hematin but not molecular O₂. Both processes were inhibited by ascorbic acid. These data strongly imply that guanylate cyclase activation was dependent upon hematin catalyzed oxidation of N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene by the lipid peroxide. The results provide the first evidence that guanylate cyclase activation can occur during the conversion of a procarcinogen to a more reactive chemical species, and thereby emphasize the importance of examining carcinogen interaction with the GC system under conditions which permit such chemical conversion.     

Guanylate cyclase activity and cyclic nucleotide concentrations during liver regeneration after experimental injury

Cyclic nucleotide concentrations and guanylate cyclase activity were measured in regenerating rat liver. Previous work has shown that in livers of partially hepatectomized rats the activity of a membrane-bound guanylate cyclase increases considerably during the early replicative phase [Kimura & Murad (1975) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.72, 1965-1969; Goridis & Reutter (1975) Nature (London) 257, 698-700]. Over the same time period after partial hepatectomy, increased tissue concentrations of cyclic GMP were found when the rats were killed under pentobarbital anaesthesia, but not when anaesthesia was omitted. The results obtained on hepatectomized livers were compared with the changes in guanylate cyclase activity and cyclic nucleotide concentrations during the response to galactosamine treatment. Here, a peak of guanylate cyclase activity and of cyclic GMP concentrations occurred at 8h, that is before the beginning of the proliferative response. Both parameters were normal at the time of increased DNA synthesis. There does not, therefore, seem to be a consistent correlation between changes in guanylate cyclase activity or concentrations of cyclic GMP and an increase in liver DNA synthesis. A modest rise in cyclic AMP concentrations was found, however, in livers of galactosamine-treated rats, which was coincident with the time of DNA synthesis.     

The involvement of catalytic site thiol groups in the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside

Sodium nitroprusside, a potent activator of soluble guanylate cyclase, potentiated mixed disulfide formation between cystine, a potent inhibitor of the cyclase, and enzyme purified from rat lung. Incubation of soluble guanylate cyclase with nitroprusside and [35S]cystine resulted in a twofold increase in protein-bound radioactivity compared to incubations in the absence of nitroprusside. Purified enzyme preincubated with nitroprusside and then gel filtered (activated enzyme) was activated 10- to 20-fold compared to guanylate cyclase preincubated in the absence of nitroprusside and similarly processed (nonactivated enzyme). This activation was completely reversed by subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C (activation-reversed enzyme). Incorporation of [35S]cystine into guanylate cyclase was increased twofold with activated enzyme, while no difference was observed with activation-reversed enzyme, compared to nonactivated enzyme. Cystine decreased the activity of nonactivated and activation-reversed enzyme about 40% while it completely inhibited activated guanylate cyclase. Mg+2- or Mn+2-GTP inhibited the incorporation of [35S]cystine into nonactivated or activated guanylate cyclase. Also, diamide, a potent thiol oxidant that converts juxtaposed sulfhydryls to disulfides, completely blocked incorporation of [35S]cystine into nonactivated or activated guanylate cyclase. These data indicate that activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitroprusside results in an increased availability of protein sulfhydryl groups for mixed disulfide formation with cystine. Protection against mixed disulfide formation with diamide or substrate suggests that these groups exist as two or more juxtaposed sulfhydryl groups at the active site or a site on the enzyme that regulates catalytic activity. Differential inhibition by mixed disulfide formation of nonactivated and activated enzyme suggests a mechanism for amplification of the on-off signal for soluble guanylate cyclase within cells.     

Purification and characterization of the 180-kDa membrane guanylate cyclase containing atrial natriuretic factor receptor from rat adrenal gland and its regulation by protein kinase C

The original concept that cyclic GMP is one of the mediators of the hormone-dependent process of steroidogenesis has been strengthened by the characterization of a 180-kDa protein from rat adrenocortical carcinoma and rat and mouse testes. This protein appears to have an unusual characteristic of containing both the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-binding and guanylate cyclase activities, and appears to be intimately involved in the ANF-dependent steroidogenic signal transduction. In rat adrenal glands we now demonstrate: 1) the direct presence of a 180-kDa ANF-binding protein in GTP-affinity purified membrane fraction as evidenced by affinity cross-linking technique and by the Western blot analysis of the partially purified enzyme; 2) that the enzyme is biochemically and immunologically different from the soluble guanylate cyclase as there is no antigenic cross-reactivity of 180-kDa guanylate cyclase antibody with soluble guanylate cyclase; 3) in contrast to the soluble guanylate cyclase, the particulate enzyme is not stimulated by nitrite-generating compounds and hemin; and 4) protein kinase C inhibits both the basal and ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity and phosphorylates the 180-kDa guanylate cyclase. These results reveal the presence of a 180-kDa protein in rat adrenal glands and support the contention that: (a) this protein contains both the guanylate cyclase and ANF receptor; (b) the 180-kDa enzyme is coupled with the ANF-dependent cyclic GMP production; (c) the 180-kDa enzyme is biochemically distinct from the nonspecific soluble guanylate cyclase; and (d) there is a protein kinase C-dependent negative regulatory loop for the operation of ANF-dependent cyclic GMP signal pathway which acts via the phosphorylation of 180-kDa guanylate cyclase.     

Cyclic nucleotide metabolism in differentiated and undifferentiated epithelial thyroid cells in culture

A highly differentiated thyroid cell line (FR-RL) was compared with a less differentiated (FR-T Cl1) and an undifferentiated (1-5G) cell line. FR-TL is modulated in vivo and in vitro by thyrotropin and has the lowest adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase and the highest phosphodiesterase activities. In contrast, 1-5G tumor cells do not respond to thyrotropin and have the highest adenylate cyclase guanylate cyclase and lowest hydrolyzing enzyme activities. Intermediate enzyme activities were found in FR-T Cl1 cells. The differences between the two normal rat thyroid cell lines are not due to differences in the composition of the growth medium.     

Guanylate cyclase. Subcellular distribution in cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, cerebral cortex and liver.

1. Guanylate cyclase of every fraction studied showed an absolute requirement for Mn2+ ions for optimal activity; with Mg2+ or Ca2+ reaction was barely detectable. Triton X-100 stimulated the particulate enzyme much more than the supernatant enzyme and solubilized the particulate-enzyme activity. 2. Substantial amounts of guanylate cyclase were recovered with the washed particulate fractions of cardiac muscle (63-98%), skeletal muscle (77-93%), cerebral cortex (62-88%) and liver (60-75%) of various species. The supernatants of these tissues contained 7-38% of total activities. In frog heart, the bulk of guanylate cyclase was present in the supernatant fluid. 3. Plasma-membrane fractions contained 26, 21, 22 and 40% respectively of the total homogenate guanylate cyclase activities present in skeletal muscle (rabbit), cardiac muscle (guinea pig), liver (rat) and cerebral cortex (rat). In each case, the specific activity of this enzyme in plasma membranes showed a five- to ten-fold enrichment when compared with homogenate specific activity. 4. These results suggest that guanylate cyclase, like adenylate cyclase, and ouabain-sensitive Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase), is associated with the surface membranes of cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, liver and cerebral cortex; however, considerable activities are also present in the supernatant fractions of these tissues which contain very little adenylate cyclase or ouabain-sensitive Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase activities.     

Activation of guanylate cyclase from rat liver and other tissues by sodium azide.

Sodium azide, hydroxylamine, and phenylhydrazine at concentrations of 1 mM increased the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase from rat liver 2- to 20-fold. The increased accumulation of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate in reaction mixtures with sodium azide was not due to altered levels of substrate, GTP, or altered hydrolysis of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The activation of guanylate cyclase was dependent upon NaN3 concentration and temperature; preincubation prevented the time lag of activation observed during incubation. The concentration of NaN3 that resulted in half-maximal activation was 0.04 mM. Sodium azide increased the apparent Km for GTP from 35 to 113 muM. With NaN3 activation the enzyme was less dependent upon the concentration of free Mn2+. Activation of enzyme by NaN3 was irreversible with dilution or dialysis of reaction mixtures. The slopes of Arrhenius plots were altered with sodium azide-activated enzyme, while gel filtration of the enzyme on Sepharose 4B was unaltered by NaN3 treatment. Triton X-100 increased the activity of the enzyme, and in the presence of Triton X-100 the activation by NaN3 was not observed. Trypsin treatment decreased both basal guanylate cyclase activity and the responsiveness to NaN3. Phospholipase A, phospholipase C, and neuraminidase increased basal activity but had little effect on the responsiveness to NaN3. Both soluble and particulate guanylate cyclase from liver and kidney were stimulated with NaN3. The particulate enzyme from cerebral cortex and cerebellum was also activated with NaN3, whereas the soluble enzyme from these tissues was not. Little or no effect of NaN3 was observed with preparations from lung, heart, and several other tissues. The lack of an effect with NaN3 on soluble GUANYLATE Cyclase from heart was probably due to the presence of an inhibitor of NaN3 activation in heart preparations. The effect of NaN3 was decreased or absent when soluble guanylate cyclase from liver was purified or stored at -20degrees. The activation of guanylate cyclase by NaN3 is complex and may be the result of the nucleophilic agent acting on the enzyme directly or what may be more likely on some other factor in liver preparations.     

Molecular cloning and expression of murine guanylate cyclase/atrial natriuretic factor receptor cDNA

The potent diuretic and natriuretic peptide hormone atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), with vasodilatory activity also stimulates steroidogenic responsiveness in Leydig cells. The actions of ANF are mediated by its interaction with specific cell surface receptors and the membrane-bound form of guanylate cyclase represents an atrial natriuretic factor receptor (ANF-R). To understand the mechanism of ANF action in testicular steroidogenesis and to identify guanylate cyclase/ANF-R that is expressed in the Leydig cells, the primary structure of murine guanylate cyclase/ANF-R has been deduced from its cDNA sequence. A cDNA library constructed from poly(A+) RNA of murine Leydig tumor (MA-10) cell line was screened for the membrane-bound form of ANF-R/guanylate cyclase sequences by hybridization with a rat brain guanylate cyclase/ANF-R cDNA probe. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA shows that murine guanylate cyclase/ANF-R cDNA consists of 1057 amino acids with 21 amino acids comprising the transmembrane domain which separates an extracellular ligand-binding domain (469 amino acid residues) and an intracellular guanylate cyclase domain (567 amino acid residues). Upon transfection of the murine guanylate cyclase/ANF-R cDNA in COS-7 cells, the expressed protein showed specific binding to 125I-ANF, stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity and production of intracellular cGMP in response to ANF. The expression of guanylate cyclase/ANF-R cDNA transfected in rat Leydig tumor cells stimulated the production of testosterone and intracellular cGMP after treatment with ANF. The results presented herein directly show that ANF can regulate the testicular steroidogenic responsiveness in addition to its known regulatory role in the control of cardiovascular homeostasis.