Multiple non-specific effects of sphingosine on adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP accumulation in S49 lymphoma cells preclude its use as a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C.

Recent studies with phorbol esters have suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) may play a role in the regulation of adenylate cyclase in mammalian cells. Since D-sphingosine has been reported to specifically inhibit PKC in many cell types, we evaluated its effects on stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by adrenaline in S49 lymphoma cells. We found sphingosine to have multiple non-specific effects which could not be explained by an inhibition of PKC. These effects included: (i) inhibition by sphingosine (50 microM) of adrenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and sphingosine permeation of the cells which rendered them leaky to ATP; (iii) sphingosine (20 microMs) augmentation of adrenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation; (iii) inhibition by sphingosine of adrenaline-stimulated adenylate cyclase in isolated membranes by up to 95%; and (iv) sphingosine (20 microM) inhibition of cellular mechanisms for the elimination of cyclic AMP. These results demonstrate the importance of evaluating the non-specific effects of sphingosine before concluding that its actions are the consequences of a specific inhibition of PKC.     

Regulation of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol second-messenger formation in thrombin-stimulated human platelets. Potentiation by protein kinase C inhibitors.

Stimulation of platelets with thrombin leads to rapid degradation of inositol phospholipids, generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and subsequent activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Previous studies indicated that prior activation of PKC with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) desensitizes platelets to thrombin stimulation, as indicated by a decreased production of inositol phosphates and decreased Ca2+ mobilization. This suggests that PKC activation generates negative-feedback signals, which limit the phosphoinositide response. To test this hypothesis further, we examined the effects of PKC activators and inhibitors on thrombin-stimulated DAG mass formation in platelets. Pretreatment with PMA abolishes thrombin-stimulated DAG formation (50% inhibition at 60 nM). Pretreatment of platelets with the PKC inhibitors K252a or staurosporine potentiates DAG production in response to thrombin (3-4-fold) when using concentrations required to inhibit platelet PKC (1-10 microM). K252a does not inhibit phosphorylation of endogenous DAG or phosphorylation of a cell-permeant DAG in unstimulated platelets, indicating that DAG over-production is not due to inhibition of DAG kinase. Sphingosine, a PKC inhibitor with a different mechanism of action, also potentiates DAG formation in response to thrombin. Several lines of evidence indicate that DAG formation under the conditions employed occurs predominantly by phosphoinositide (and not phosphatidylcholine) hydrolysis: (1) PMA alone does not elicit DAG formation, but inhibits agonist-stimulated DAG formation; (2) thrombin-stimulated DAG formation is inhibited by neomycin (1-10 mM) but not by the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor propranolol; and (3) no metabolism of radiolabelled phosphatidylcholine was observed upon stimulation by thrombin or PMA. These data provide strong support for a role of PKC in limiting the extent of platelet phosphoinositide hydrolysis.     

The sustained second phase of hormone-stimulated diacylglycerol accumulation does not activate protein kinase C in GH3 cells

Numerous hormones activate cells through receptor-regulated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides resulting in elevated cellular diacylglycerol (DAG), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). Our previous studies showed that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) treatment of GH3 cells stimulated a rapid (less than 10 s) but transient (less than 60 s) association of cytosolic PKC with the membrane. In this study, we investigated the roles of hormone-stimulated Ca2+ and DAG levels in initiating and terminating the membrane association of PKC. The initial effects of TRH were not mimicked by elevating CA2+ levels, however, inhibiting TRH-stimulated Ca2+ increases blocked hormone-stimulated PKC translocation. Hence, the TRH stimulation of both Ca2+ and DAG levels were essential for the initial PKC translocation. The termination of PKC membrane association could not be attributed to proteolysis of PKC nor to limiting Ca2+ levels. Treatment of cells with phorbol diesters potentiated and prolonged the effects of TRH on PKC translocation, suggesting that DAG levels limited the membrane association of PKC. Since TRH stimulated a sustained increase in DAG levels, DAG composition was analyzed. There was a marked shift in DAG from tetraenoic (at 15 s) to more saturated DAGs at longer times. In addition, increases in plasma membrane DAG in response to TRH were transient rather than sustained. We propose that the TRH stimulation of PKC translocation is short-lived due to the metabolism of plasma membrane DAGs which are effective in promoting PKC activation. In contrast, DAGs which accumulate in intracellular membranes during the sustained phase of TRH treatment appear to be ineffective as activators of PKC.     

Cross-talk regulation between cyclic AMP production and phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by prostaglandin E2 in osteoblast-like cells.

In cloned osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, PGE2 stimulated both cAMP accumulation and the formation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) dose dependently. The cAMP accumulation showed the peak value at 5 min and decreased thereafter, whereas the IP3 formation reached a plateau almost within 10 min and sustained it up to 30 min. The effect of PGE2 on cAMP accumulation (EC50 was 80 nM) was more potent than that on IP3 formation (EC50 was 0.8 microM). 12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C (PKC)-activating phorbol ester, reduced the PGE2-induced cAMP accumulation, whereas 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, a PKC-nonactivating phorbol ester, had little effect on the cAMP accumulation. 1-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, a specific activator for PKC, inhibited PGE2-induced cAMP accumulation. TPA had little effect on cAMP accumulation induced by forskolin or NaF, a GTP-binding protein activator. So, the effect of TPA is presumed to be exerted at the point between the PGE2 receptor and Gs. On the other hand, forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP had little effect on the IP3 formation stimulated by PGE2. H-7, a PKC inhibitor, enhanced the PGE2-induced cAMP accumulation in comparison with HA1004, a control for H-7. Our data suggest that PGE2 regulates cAMP production through self-induced activation of PKC. These results strongly suggest that there is an autoregulatory mechanism in PGE2 signaling, and PGE2 modulates osteoblast functions through a cross-talk interaction between cAMP production and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in osteoblast-like cells.     

Guanine nucleotide-dependent inhibition of phospholipase C in human endothelial cells.

Treatment of intact human umbilical vein endothelial cells with NaF results in a dose-dependent biphasic response in both prostacyclin and inositol phosphate production: the stimulation observed with 10-20 mM NaF decreases with higher concentrations. High concentrations of NaF furthermore reduce thrombin- or A23187-stimulated prostacyclin production. Direct assay of phospholipase C activity in cell homogenates shows a similar biphasic response to NaF, also after chelation of Ca2+; addition of AlCl3 shifts the inhibition toward lower NaF concentrations. Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) also causes a dose-dependent biphasic response in inositol phosphate formation in permeabilized cells and homogenates; a higher inhibitory concentration of GTP gamma S abolishes the stimulation of inositol phosphate production by low NaF concentrations. A high concentration of NaF furthermore inhibits the non-G-protein-dependent activation of phospholipase C by deoxycholate. NaF also induces a dose-dependent biphasic response in cyclic AMP formation in intact cells, indicating that the inhibition of phospholipase C at higher NaF concentrations does not result from a rise in cyclic AMP. The data are compatible with the existence of a guanine nucleotide-dependent, cyclic AMP-independent, phospholipase C-inhibitory pathway in endothelial cells.     

Extracellular ATP stimulates polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis and prostaglandin synthesis in rat renal mesangial cells. Involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding protein and feedback inhibition by protein kinase C

ATP stimulated a rapid and dose-dependent formation of inositol polyphosphates in rat glomerular mesangial cells. In parallel there was a 80% increase in 1, 2-diacylglycerol (DAG) after 15 s upon stimulation with ATP. The rank order of potency of a series of ATP and ADP analogues for stimulation of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) formation was ATP greater than ATP gamma S greater than beta gamma-methylene-ATP greater than beta gamma-imido-ATP greater than ADP, while ADP beta S, AMP, adenosine and GTP were inactive, indicating the presence of P2y-purinergic receptors. ATP also stimulated a marked synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The rank order of potency of different ATP and ADP analogues was identical to that of InsP3 generation. Pre-treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin strongly attenuated ATP-induced formation of InsP3 and DAG. Short-term (10 min) pre-treatment of the cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a potent activator of protein kinase C, produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the ATP-stimulated InsP3 generation. Furthermore, inhibition of protein kinase C by the potent inhibitor staurosporin, or downregulation of protein kinase C by longterm (24 h) incubation of the cells with TPA, resulted in an enhanced formation of InsP3 towards a stimulation with ATP.     

5—HT和NA增强大鼠骶髓后连合核神经元甘氨酸门控Cl^—通道电流由蛋白激...

用制霉菌素穿孔膜片钳方法研究５－ＨＴ和ＮＡ对急性分离的大鼠骶髓后连合核神经元甘氨酸门控氯离子通道电流（ＩＧｌｙ）的调控作用及其胞内机制。发现：（１）５－ＨＴ激活与非胰岛激活蛋白（ＩＡＰ）敏感型Ｇ蛋白偶联的５－ＨＴ２受体亚型,激活磷脂酶Ｃ（ＰＬＣ）,增加甘油二酯（ＤＡＧ）的生成。ＤＡＧ增强不依赖Ｃａ＾２＋的新型ＰＫＣ（ｎＰＫＣ）的活性,从而增强ＩＧｌｙ;（２）ＮＡ激活与ＩＡＰ敏感型Ｇ蛋白偶联的α２受     

Effects of maitotoxin on atrial natriuretic factor-mediated accumulation of cyclic GMP in PC12 cells

Maitotoxin (MTX) activates calcium channels and stimulates phosphoinositide breakdown in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, while having no effect on basal levels of the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) induces a dose-dependent accumulation of cGMP in PC12 cells through the activation of a membrane bound guanylate cyclase. Effects of ANF on cGMP are independent of extracellular concentrations of calcium. Since agents that activate phosphoinositide breakdown can indirectly affect cyclic nucleotide formation, the effects of MTX on ANF-mediated accumulation of cGMP was studied. MTX induces a dose-dependent inhibition of ANF-mediated accumulation of cGMP. The inhibition by MTX requires the presence of extracellular calcium, but is unaffected by the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. The inhibitory effect of MTX is not mimicked by the calcium ionophore ionomycin. A phorbol ester, PMA, which stimulates protein kinase C, also inhibits ANF-mediated accumulation of cGMP. Sodium nitroprusside induces large accumulations of cGMP in PC12 cells through the stimulation of a soluble guanylate cyclase. Neither MTX nor PMA inhibit nitroprusside-mediated accumulation of cGMP. The results indicate that in PC12 cells, protein kinase C activation, either directly with PMA, and indirectly with MTX through phosphoinositide breakdown and formation of diacylglycerol, leads to inhibition of ANF-mediated, but not nitroprusside-mediated accumulation of cGMP.     

Control of platelet protein kinase C activation by cyclic AMP

Experiments were performed to elucidate the role of adenosine 3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in the control of platelet protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Platelet aggregation and secretion in response to 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) were inhibited by dibutyryl cAMP in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of these functional activities paralleled a decrease in the PMA-induced phosphorylation of the Mr 47,000 substrate (p47) of PKC by pre-incubation of platelets with dibutyryl cAMP. These changes were also observed when platelet cAMP was increased by prostacyclin (PGI2), forskolin, or theophylline. The ADP scavenger creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase (CP/CPK) and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin also diminished the aggregation and p47 phosphorylation responses to PMA or OAG. Pre-incubation of platelets with dibutyryl cAMP significantly potentiated the inhibition of aggregation and p47 phosphorylation effected by CP/CPK and indomethacin. These results are consistent with the model that PMA- or OAG-induced activation of platelets is amplified by secreted ADP and that the response to secreted ADP is inhibited by cAMP. Furthermore, the findings that increased intracellular cAMP inhibits PMA- or OAG-induced p47 phosphorylation in excess of that due solely to CP/CPK, and that cAMP significantly potentiates the effects of ADP removal and inhibition of cyclooxygenase in blocking p47 phosphorylation suggest that cAMP also exerts non-ADP-mediated inhibitory effects on PKC in intact platelets.     

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein is a substrate for protein kinase C

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), an actin binding protein localized to areas of focal contacts, is a substrate for the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cAMP/cGMP)-dependent protein kinases (PKA, PKG). In this study, we show that serum stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) induces VASP phosphorylation on Ser157, in a mechanism not dependent on PKA or PKG. We tested the possibility that protein kinase C (PKC), a regulator of cytoskeletal function, is involved. PKC inhibition or down-regulation prevented serum-induced phosphorylation of VASP at Ser157 in rat vascular SMCs. Additionally, recombinant PKCalpha directly phosphorylated Ser157 on VASP. In summary, our data support the hypothesis that PKC phosphorylates VASP and mediates serum-induced VASP regulation.     

Interaction of calcium and cyclic nucleotides in thyroliberin-stimulated prolactin release

The object of the present study was to determine the relative importance of Ca++ and cyclic nucleotides as “second messengers” in thyroliberin (TRH)-mediated prolactin (PRL) release in the GH₃ and GH₄ rat pituitary tumor cell lines. PRL, cyclic adenosine 3': 5'-monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclic guanosine 3': 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) following TRH stimulation. TRH increased PRL release and cAMP levels in GH₃ and GH₄ cells, but cGMP increases were variable. Treatment with 1 mM theophylline increased PRL release and raised cAMP and cGMP. Addition of TRH to theophylline-pretreated cells produced further significant increases in PRL release without any additional increases in cAMP and cGMP. Co++, a Ca++ antagonist, abolished TRH-induced PRL release in a dose-dependent manner. The Co++ inhibition was partially reversed by Ca++ in GH₃ or GH₄ cells. Furthermore, the Ca++ ionophore A23187 stimulated PRL release. We conclude that Ca++ is the primary “second messenger” for TRH-mediated PRL release from GH₃ or GH₄ cells.     

Oxidant and angiotensin II-induced subcellular translocation of protein kinase C in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

We recently reported that nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), an environmental oxidant, alters the dynamics of the plasma membrane lipid bilayer structure, resulting in increased phosphatidylserine content and angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor binding. Angiotensin II is known to elicit receptor-mediated stimulation of diacylglycerol (DAG) production in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Because protein kinase C (PKC) is a phosphatidylserine-dependent enzyme and is activated by DAG, we examined whether NO₂ resulted in activation and/or translocation of PKC from predominantly cytosolic to membrane fractions of these cells. We also evaluated whether NO₂ exposure resulted in increased production of DAG in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Exposure to 5 ppm NO₂ for 1–24 hr resulted in significant increases in PKC activity in the cytosolic and membrane fractions (p < 0.05 for both fractions) compared to activities in control fractions. Exposure to Ang II resulted in translocation of PKC activity from cytosol to membrane fractions of both control and NO₂-exposed cells. This translocation of PKC from cytosolic to membrane fraction was prevented by the specific receptor antagonist [Sar¹ Ile⁸] Ang II. Exposure of 5 ppm NO₂ for 1–24 hr provoked rapid increases in [³H]glycerol labeling of DAG in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. These results demonstrate that exposure to NO₂ increases the production of second messenger DAG and activates PKC in both the cytosolic and membrane fractions, whereas Ang II stimulates the redistribution of PKC from cytosolic to membrane fractions of pulmonary artery endothelial cells.     

Maintaining RNA integrity in a homogeneous population of mammary epithelial cells isolated by Laser Capture Microdissection

Background

We investigated the effects of the signaling molecules, cyclic AMP (cAMP) and protein-kinase C (PKC), on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between thymic epithelial cells (TEC).

Results

Treatment with 8-Br-cAMP, a cAMP analog; or forskolin, which stimulates cAMP production, resulted in an increase in dye transfer between adjacent TEC, inducing a three-fold enhancement in the mean fluorescence of coupled cells, ascertained by flow cytometry after calcein transfer. These treatments also increased Cx43 mRNA expression, and stimulated Cx43 protein accumulation in regions of intercellular contacts. VIP, adenosine, and epinephrine which may also signal through cyclic nucleotides were tested. The first two molecules did not mimic the effects of 8-Br-cAMP, however epinephrine was able to increase GJIC suggesting that this molecule functions as an endogenous inter-TEC GJIC modulators. Stimulation of PKC by phorbol-myristate-acetate inhibited inter-TEC GJIC. Importantly, both the enhancing and the decreasing effects, respectively induced by cAMP and PKC, were observed in both mouse and human TEC preparations. Lastly, experiments using mouse thymocyte/TEC heterocellular co-cultures suggested that the presence of thymocytes does not affect the degree of inter-TEC GJIC.

Conclusions

Overall, our data indicate that cAMP and PKC intracellular pathways are involved in the homeostatic control of the gap junction-mediated communication in the thymic epithelium, exerting respectively a positive and negative role upon cell coupling. This control is phylogenetically conserved in the thymus, since it was seen in both mouse and human TEC preparations. Lastly, our work provides new clues for a better understanding of how the thymic epithelial network can work as a physiological syncytium.     

Regulation of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channel function by diacylglycerol and protein kinase C

The mechanism of receptor-induced activation of the ubiquitously expressed family of mammalian canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels has been the focus of intense study. Primarily responding to phospholipase C (PLC)-coupled receptors, the channels are reported to receive modulatory input from diacylglycerol, endoplasmic reticulum inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and Ca2+ stores. Analysis of TRPC5 channels transfected within DT40 B cells and deletion mutants thereof revealed efficient activation in response to PLC-beta or PLC-gamma activation, which was independent of inositol 1,4,5-trisphoshate receptors or the content of stores. In both HEK293 cells and DT40 cells, TRPC5 and TRPC3 channel responses to PLC activation were highly analogous, but only TRPC3 and not TRPC5 channels responded to the addition of the permeant diacylglycerol (DAG) analogue, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG). However, OAG application or elevated endogenous DAG, resulting from either DAG lipase or DAG kinase inhibition, completely prevented TRPC5 or TRPC4 activation. This inhibitory action of DAG on TRPC5 and TRPC4 channels was clearly mediated by protein kinase C (PKC), in distinction to the stimulatory action of DAG on TRPC3, which is established to be PKC-independent. PKC activation totally blocked TRPC3 channel activation in response to OAG, and the activation was restored by PKC-blockade. PKC inhibition resulted in decreased TRPC3 channel deactivation. Store-operated Ca2+ entry in response to PLC-coupled receptor activation was substantially reduced by OAG or DAG-lipase inhibition in a PKC-dependent manner. However, store-operated Ca2+ entry in response to the pump blocker, thapsigargin, was unaffected by PKC. The results reveal that each TRPC subtype is strongly inhibited by DAG-induced PKC activation, reflecting a likely universal feedback control on TRPCs, and that DAG-mediated PKC-independent activation of TRPC channels is highly subtype-specific. The profound yet distinct control by PKC and DAG of the activation of TRPC channel subtypes is likely the basis of a spectrum of regulatory phenotypes of expressed TRPC channels.     

Differential regulation of Raf-1 and B-Raf and Ras-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by cyclic AMP in PC12 cells.

Growth factor stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in fibroblasts is inhibited by cyclic AMP (cAMP) as a result of inhibition of Raf-1. In contrast, cAMP inhibits neither nerve growth factor-induced MAP kinase activation nor differentiation in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Instead, in PC12 cells cAMP activates MAP kinase. Since one of the major differences between the Ras/Raf/MAP kinase cascades of these cell types is the expression of B-Raf in PC12 cells, we compared the effects of cAMP on Raf-1 and B-Raf. In PC12 cells maintained in serum-containing medium, B-Raf was refractory to inhibition by cAMP, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In contrast, both B-Raf and Raf-1 were inhibited by cAMP in serum-starved PC12 cells. The effect of cAMP is thus dependent upon growth conditions, with B-Raf being resistant to cAMP inhibition in the presence of serum. These results were extended by studies of Rat-1 fibroblasts into which B-Raf had been introduced by transfection. As in PC12 cells, B-Raf was resistant to inhibition by cAMP in the presence of serum, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In addition, the expression of B-Raf rendered Rat-1 cells resistant to the inhibitory effects of cAMP on both growth factor-induced activation of MAP kinase and mitogenesis. These results indicate that Raf-1 and B-Raf are differentially sensitive to inhibition by cAMP and that B-Raf expression can contribute to cell type-specific differences in the regulation of the MAP kinase pathway. In contrast to the situation in PC12 cells, cAMP by itself did not stimulate MAP kinase in B-Raf-expressing Rat-1 cells. The activation of MAP kinase by cAMP in PC12 cells was inhibited by the expression of a dominant negative Ras mutant, indicating that cAMP acts on a target upstream of Ras. Thus, it appears that a signaling component upstream of Ras is also require for cAMP stimulation of MAP kinase in PC12 cells.     

Protein kinase C activation reduces microglial cyclic AMP response to prostaglandin E2 by interfering with EP2 receptors

We studied the modulation by protein kinase C (PKC) of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation induced by prostaglandin (PG) E2 in rat neonatal microglial cultures. Short pretreatment of microglia with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 4beta-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, which activate PKC, but not with the inactive 4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, substantially reduced cAMP accumulation induced by 1 microM PGE2. The action of PMA was dose and time dependent, and the maximal inhibition (approximately 85%) was obtained after 10-min preincubation with 100 nM PMA. The inhibitory effect of PMA was mimicked by diacylglycerol and was prevented by the PKC inhibitor calphostin C. As PMA did not affect isoproterenol- or forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation, we investigated whether activation of PKC decreased cAMP production by acting directly at PGE2 EP receptors. Neither sulprostone (10(-9)-10(-5) M), a potent agonist at EP3 receptors (coupled to adenylyl cyclase inhibition), nor 17-phenyl-PGE2 (10(-6)-10(-5) M), an agonist of EP1 receptors, modified cAMP accumulation induced by forskolin. On the contrary, 11-deoxy-16,16-dimethyl PGE2, which does not discriminate between EP2 and EP4 receptors, both coupled to the activation of adenylyl cyclase, and butaprost, a selective EP2 agonist, induced a dose-dependent elevation of cAMP that was largely reduced by PMA pretreatment, as in the case of PGE2. These results indicated EP2 receptors as a possible target of PKC and suggest that PKC-activating agents present in the pathological brain may prevent the cAMP-mediated microglia-deactivating function of PGE2.     

Effects of exogenous cyclic AMP on growth characteristics and radiation response of Reuber H35 hepatoma cells

Reuber H35 rat hepatoma cells, clone KRC, were used to study the effect of cyclic AMP on radiation-induced cell death. Treatment of logarithmically growing cultures with 0.5 mM cAMP for 17 hr prior to irradiation resulted in a decreased cell survival. Similar results were obtained with cultures irradiated after treatment with Bt2cAMP. Treatment of H35 cells with cAMP or Bt2cAMP caused inhibition of their proliferation and resulted in an accumulation of cells in early S phase and a depletion of G2-phase cells. In synchronized cultures cells were relatively radioresistant during their S phase. In addition to single-dose treatment with X rays, the effect of Bt2cAMP on radiation-induced cell death was studied during fractionated irradiation with 2.5 Gy per day. This fractionated irradiation resulted in a dose-reduction factor of 1.6 at the 10% survival level and a 10-fold decrease in the surviving cell population due to the cooperative effects of Bt2cAMP on growth rate and radiation survival. The effect of cAMP on radiation-induced mitotic delay was also studied. It appeared that whereas cAMP had no effect on the progression of G2 cells into mitosis, it prevented cells from recovery from the X-ray mitotic delay in G2.