Adenylyl cyclase in yeast: antibodies and mutations identify a regulatory domain

The adenylyl cyclase system of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains the CYR1 polypeptide, responsible for catalyzing formation of cAMP from ATP, and two RAS polypeptides, responsible for stimulation of cAMP synthesis by guanine nucleotides. We have obtained rabbit antibodies that recognize the CYR1 protein. Antibodies were raised against synthetic oligopeptides and against a recombinant beta-galactosidase/CYR1 fusion protein. These antibodies have allowed the identification of the CYR1 gene product as a 205 kDa protein. Treatment with trypsin (2 micrograms/ml) reduced the size of the CYR1 protein from 205 to 155 kDa and produced an activated enzyme which no longer responded to guanine nucleotides. This result is consistent with a model in which adenylyl cyclase activity is regulated by an inhibitory domain near the amino-terminus of the CYR1 protein. This model is further supported by the finding that adenylyl cyclase activity is also markedly elevated and unresponsive to guanine nucleotides in mutant yeast strains that express only the carboxy-terminal half of the CYR1 protein. Treatment with high trypsin concentrations (greater than 10 micrograms/ml) caused release of adenylyl cyclase activity from the membrane. Comparison of immunoreactive CYR1 fragments released by trypsin and membrane bound genetically altered proteins suggests that the CYR1 protein is attached to the membrane via a separate trypsin sensitive anchoring protein rather than via a membrane anchoring domain.     

Adenylate cyclase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a peripheral membrane protein.

The adenylate cyclase system of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains the CYR1 polypeptide, responsible for catalyzing formation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) from ATP, and two RAS polypeptides, which mediate stimulation of cAMP synthesis of guanine nucleotides. By analogy to the mammalian enzyme, models of yeast adenylate cyclase have depicted the enzyme as a membrane protein. We have concluded that adenylate cyclase is only peripherally bound to the yeast membrane, based on the following criteria: (i) substantial activity was found in cytoplasmic fractions; (ii) activity was released from membranes by the addition of 0.5 M NaCl; (iii) in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl, activity in detergent extracts had hydrodynamic properties identical to those of cytosolic or NaCl-extracted enzyme; (iv) antibodies to yeast adenylate cyclase identified a full-length adenylate cyclase in both membrane and cytosol fractions; and (v) activity from both cytosolic fractions and NaCl extracts could be functionally reconstituted into membranes lacking adenylate cyclase activity. The binding of adenylate cyclase to the membrane may have regulatory significance; the fraction of activity associated with the membrane increased as cultures approached stationary phase. In addition, binding of adenylate cyclase to membranes appeared to be inhibited by cAMP. These results indicate the existence of a protein anchoring adenylate cyclase to the membrane. The identity of this protein remains unknown.     

Interactions between adenylate cyclase and the yeast GTPase-activating protein IRA1.

The adenylate cyclase system of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains many proteins, including the CYR1 polypeptide, which is responsible for catalyzing the formation of cyclic AMP from ATP, RAS1 and RAS2 polypeptides, which mediate stimulation of cyclic AMP synthesis by guanine nucleotides, and the yeast GTPase-activating protein analog IRA1. We have previously reported that adenylate cyclase is only peripherally bound to the yeast membrane. We have concluded that IRA1 is a strong candidate for a protein involved in anchoring adenylate cyclase to the membrane. We base this conclusion on the following criteria: (i) a disruption of the IRA1 gene produced a mutant with very low membrane-associated levels of adenylate cyclase activity, (ii) membranes made from these mutants were incapable of binding adenylate cyclase in vitro, (iii) IRA1 antibodies inhibit binding of adenylate cyclase to the membrane, and (iv) IRA1 and adenylate cyclase comigrate on Sepharose 4B.     

A guanine nucleotide-sensitive adenylate cyclase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Adenylate cyclase in particulate extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilized either MnATP or MgATP as substrate. A mutation in the CYR1 gene, which codes for the catalytic unit of yeast adenylate cyclase (Matsumoto, K., Uno, I., and Ishikawa, T. (1983) Cell 32, 417-423), eliminated utilization of both MgATP and MnATP, indicating that a single enzyme was responsible for both activities. GTP and guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate stimulated yeast adenylate cyclase, while a GDP analog, guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), competitively inhibited this stimulation. Thermal inactivation studies distinguished putative guanine-nucleotide regulatory protein (N) from the catalytic unit (C) of yeast adenylate cyclase. Yeast N, which conferred guanine nucleotide regulation and the ability to utilize MgATP on yeast C, was quickly inactivated by incubation of particulate extracts at 30 degrees C. In contrast, yeast C, which apparently utilized MnATP as substrate in the absence of a functional N protein, resisted inactivation at 30 degrees C. These observations suggested that physically distinct protein components mediated the catalytic activity of yeast adenylate cyclase and its regulation by guanine nucleotides. These findings indicate a striking homology between the adenylate cyclase systems of S. cerevisiae and those of vertebrate cells.     

Guanine nucleotide activation of, and competition between, RAS proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast RAS proteins are potent activators of adenylate cyclase. In the present work we measured the activity of adenylate cyclase in membranes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which overexpress this enzyme. The response of the enzyme to added RAS2 proteins bound with various guanine nucleotides and their analogs suggests that RAS2 proteins are active in their GTP-bound form and are virtually inactive in their GDP-bound form. Also, active RAS2 protein is not inhibited by inactive RAS2, suggesting that the inactive form does not compete with the active form in binding to its effector.     

The regulation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides in Dictyostelium discoideum membranes

Extracellular cAMP induces the activation of adenylate cyclase in Dictyostelium discoideum cells. Conditions for both stimulation and inhibition of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides in membranes are reported. Stimulation and inhibition were induced by GTP and non-hydrolysable guanosine triphosphates. GDP and non-hydrolysable guanosine diphosphates were antagonists. Stimulation was maximally twofold, required a cytosolic factor and was observed only at temperatures below 10 degrees C. An agonist of the cAMP-receptor-activated basal and GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase 1.3-fold. Adenylate cyclase in mutant N7 could not be activated by cAMP in vivo; in vitro adenylate cyclase was activated by guanine nucleotides in the presence of the cytosolic factor of wild-type but of not mutant cells. Preincubation of membranes under phosphorylation conditions has been shown to alter the interaction between cAMP receptor and G protein [Van Haastert (1986) J. Biol. Chem. in the press]. These phosphorylation conditions converted stimulation to inhibition of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides. Inhibition was maximally 30% and was not affected by the cytosolic factor involved in stimulation. In membranes obtained from cells that were treated with pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase stimulation by guanine nucleotides was as in control cells, whereas inhibition by guanine nucleotides was lost. When cells were desensitized by exposure to cAMP agonists for 15 min, and adenylate cyclase was measured in isolated membranes, stimulation by guanine nucleotides was lost while inhibition was retained. These results suggest that Dictyostelium discoideum adenylate cyclase may be regulated by Gs-like and Gi-like activities, and that the action of Gs but not Gi is lost during desensitization in vivo and by phosphorylation conditions in vitro.     

Analysis of the function of the 70-kilodalton cyclase-associated protein (CAP) by using mutants of yeast adenylyl cyclase defective in CAP binding.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, adenylyl cyclase forms a complex with the 70-kDa cyclase-associated protein (CAP). By in vitro mutagenesis, we assigned a CAP-binding site of adenylyl cyclase to a small segment near its C terminus and created mutants which lost the ability to bind CAP. CAP binding was assessed first by observing the ability of the overproduced C-terminal 150 residues of adenylyl cyclase to sequester CAP, thereby suppressing the heat shock sensitivity of yeast cells bearing the activated RAS2 gene (RAS2Val-19), and then by immunoprecipitability of adenylyl cyclase activity with anti-CAP antibody and by direct measurement of the amount of CAP bound. Yeast cells whose chromosomal adenylyl cyclase genes were replaced by the CAP-nonbinding mutants possessed adenylyl cyclase activity fully responsive to RAS2 protein in vitro. However, they did not exhibit sensitivity to heat shock in the RAS2Val-19 background. When glucose-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) was measured in these mutants carrying RAS2Val-19, a rapid transient rise indistinguishable from that of wild-type cells was observed and a high peak level and following persistent elevation of the cAMP concentration characteristic of RAS2Val-19 were abolished. In contrast, in the wild-type RAS2 background, similar cyclase gene replacement did not affect the glucose-induced cAMP response. These results suggest that the association with CAP, although not involved in the in vivo response to the wild-type RAS2 protein, is somehow required for the exaggerated response of adenylyl cyclase to activated RAS2.     

Differential effects of GTP on the coupling of beta-adrenergic receptors to adenylate cyclase from frog and turkey erythrocytes. Application of new methods for the analysis of receptor-effector coupling.

A detailed comparison of the interaction of beta-adrenergic receptors with adenylate cyclase stimulation and modification of this interaction by guanine nucleotides has been made in two model systems, the frog and turkey erythrocyte. Objective analysis of the data was facilitated by the development of new graphical methods which involve the use of logit-logit transformations of percent receptor occupancy versus percent enzyme stimulation plots (coupling curves). Receptor-cyclase coupling in turkey erythrocyte membranes demonstrates a proportional relationship between receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation and is unaffected by exogenous guanine nucleotides. By comparison, the proportional relationship of receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation observed in frog erythrocyte membranes in the absence of guanine nucleotides is modified by the addition of exogenous guanine nucleotides such that a greater fractional enzyme stimulation is elicited by low receptor occupancy. Methodological criteria crucial for valid comparison of receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activity are delineated. In addition, the possible molecular mechanisms of receptor-cyclase coupling which might give rise to the coupling curves observed are discussed.     

Differential effects of GTP on the coupling of β-adrenergic receptors to adenylate cyclase from frog and turkey erythrocytes application of new methods for the analysis of receptor-effector coupling

A detailed comparison of the interaction of β-adrenergic receptors with adenylate cyclase stimulation and modification of this interaction by guanine nucleotides has been made in two model systems, the frog and turkey erythrocyte. Objective analysis of the data was facilitated by the development of new graphical methods which involve the use of logit-logit transformations of percent receptor occupancy versus percent enzyme stimulation plots (coupling curves). Receptor-cyclase coupling in turkey erythrocyte membranes demonstrates a proportional relationship between receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation and is unaffected by exogenous guanine nucleotides. By comparison, the proportional relationship of receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation observed in frog erythrocyte membranes in the absence of guanine nucleotides is modified by the addition of exogenous guanine nucleotides such that a greater fractional enzyme stimulation is elicited by low receptor occupancy. Methodological criteria crucial for valid comparison of receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activity are delineated. In addition, the possible molecular mechanisms of receptor-cyclase coupling which might give rise to the coupling curves observed are discussed.     

Properties and possible functions of the adenylate cyclase in plasma membranes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have examined the possible role of adenosine 3',5'-phosphate (cAMP) in functions associated with the plasma membranes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Purified membranes from this source contained an adenylate cyclase which was insensitive to activation by fluoride or guanine nucleotides, only weakly responsive to changes of carbon source in the growth medium, and strongly stimulated by vanadate. They also contained at least two classes of receptor proteins for guanine nucleotides (as measured by binding of labeled 5'-guanylyl methylene diphosphate) with apparent dissociation constants equal to 1.0 x 10(-7) and 3 x 10(-6) M, a protein kinase capable of phosphorylating added histones, the activity of which was stimulated by cAMP, and cAMP receptors that may function as regulatory subunits for this kinase. Membrane proteins were also susceptible to phosphorylation by endogenous kinase(s), with polypeptides of apparent molecular weights equal to 160 x 10(3), 135 x 10(3), 114 x 10(3), and 58 x 10(3) as the major targets. Of these, the 114,000-molecular-weight polypeptide was probably identical to the proton-translocating ATPase of the membranes. However, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not appear to be involved in these reactions. Intact (rho+ or rho0) cells responded to dissipation of the proton electrochemical gradient across their plasma membranes by rapid and transient changes in their intracellular level of cAMP, as suggested earlier (J. M. Trevillyan and M. L. Pall, J. Bacteriol., 138:397-403, 1979). Thus, although yeast plasma membranes contain all the essential components of a stimulus-responsive adenylate cyclase system, the precise nature of the coupling device and the targets involved remain to be established.     

Nonreceptor-mediated responses of adenylate cyclase in membranes from liver, muscle, and white and brown adipose tissue of obese (fa/fa) and lean (Fa/) Zucker rats

Adenylate cyclase activity was determined in membranes of liver, muscle, white adipose tissue, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) of lean (Fa/) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Responses were monitored following beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation and addition of GTP, GTP gamma S, or forskolin. beta-Adrenergic responses in liver, white adipose tissue, and BAT were lower in obese than in lean animals. No such difference was observed in muscle membranes. Production of cAMP after addition of guanine nucleotides was lower in liver and white adipose tissue membranes from obese rats compared with their lean littermates. Synthesis of cAMP in muscle membranes of obese animals after addition of GTP was either not different, or slightly higher, than that observed in muscle membranes from lean animals. Furthermore, production of cAMP after forskolin addition to muscle membranes of obese rats was significantly higher than that observed from lean rats under the same conditions. Interestingly, BAT membranes of obese rats were significantly more sensitive to guanine nucleotide activation than those of lean animals. The results confirm recent findings indicating inferior function of G proteins in liver plasma membranes of obese Zucker rats, and extend this observation to adipose tissue. The present results further suggest that the "nonreceptor" components (e.g., G proteins) responsible for the activation of adenylate cyclase in BAT membranes of obese rats are more responsive to stimulation than those of lean animals. Such sensitivity may be related to and perhaps compensate for the reduced thermogenic activity in the obese Zucker rat during the development of obesity.     

Differential activation of yeast adenylate cyclase by wild-type and mutant RAS proteins

In these experiments we demonstrate that purified RAS proteins, whether derived from the yeast RAS1 or RAS2 or the human H-ras genes, activate yeast adenylate cyclase in the presence of guanine nucleotides. These results confirm the prediction of earlier genetic and biochemical data and for the first time provide a complete biochemical assay for RAS protein function. Furthermore, we observe a biochemical difference between the RAS2 and RAS2val19 proteins in their ability to activate adenylate cyclase after preincubation with GTP.     

Bovine olfactory cilia preparation: thiol-modulated odorant-sensitive adenylyl cyclase

We have characterized the adenylyl cyclase activity in a newly developed preparation of isolated olfactory cilia from the bovine chemosensory neuroepithelium. Like its counterparts from frog and rat, the ciliary enzyme was stimulated by guanine nucleotides, by forskolin, and by a variety of odorants in the presence of GTP. The main difference between the bovine olfactory cilia preparation and the frog and rat olfactory cilia preparation is that odorant stimulation of the bovine olfactory adenylyl cyclase is strongly inhibited by submillimolar concentrations of dithiothreitol. This inhibition is a consequence of a concomitant increase in the GTP-stimulated level and the decrease of the odorant stimulation of the enzyme. Nasal respiratory cilia have a much lower level of adenylyl cyclase activity and show no odorant stimulation. Owing to the large quantities of material available, the bovine olfactory cilia preparation is advantageous for studies of the proteins involved in chemosensory transduction.     

Evidence for a rabbit luteal ADP-ribosyltransferase activity which appears to be capable of activating adenylyl cyclase.

1. An ADP-ribosyltransferase activity which appears to be capable of activating adenylyl cyclase was identified in a plasma membrane fraction from rabbit corpora lutea and partially characterized by comparing the properties of the luteal transferase with those of cholera toxin. 2. Incubation of luteal membranes in the presence of GTP and varying concentrations of NAD resulted in concentration-dependent increases in adenylyl cyclase activity. 3. Stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by NAD and cholera toxin plus NAD was observed in the presence of GTP but not in the presence of guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) or guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate. 4. NAD or cholera toxin plus NAD reduced the Kact values for luteinizing hormone to activate adenylyl cyclase 3- to 3.5-fold. 5. NAD or cholera toxin plus NAD increased the extent to which cholate extracts from luteal membranes were able to reconstitute adenylyl cyclase activity in S49 cyc- mouse lymphoma membranes. 6. It was necessary to add ADP-ribose and arginine to the incubation mixture in order to demonstrate cholera toxin-specific ADP-ribosylation of a protein corresponding to the alpha subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory component (alpha Gs). 7. Treatment of luteal membranes with NAD prior to incubation in the presence of [32P]NAD plus cholera toxin resulted in reduced labeling of alpha Gs. 8. Endogenous ADP-ribosylation of alpha Gs was enhanced by Mg but was not altered by guanine nucleotide, NaF or luteinizing hormone and was inhibited by cAMP. 9. Incubation of luteal membranes in the presence of [32P]ADP-ribose in the absence and presence of cholera toxin did not result in the labeling of any membrane proteins.     

Inhibitory regulation of adenylyl cyclase in the absence of stimulatory regulation. Requirements and kinetics of guanine nucleotide-induced inhibition of the cyc- S49 adenylyl cyclase

cyc- S49 cell membranes contain an adenylyl cyclase activity which is stimulated by forskolin and inhibited by guanine nucleotides and NaF. These inhibitory effects are mediated by an inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory component (Ni) affecting the adenylyl cyclase catalytic unit (Hildebrandt, J. D., Sekura, R. D., Codina, J., Iyengar, R., Manclark, C. R., and Birnbaumer, L. (1983) Nature (Lond.) 302, 706-709). Since cyc- S49 cells do not contain a stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory component (Ns), these membranes were used to study the requirements and kinetics of activation of Ni in the absence of Ns. Activation of Ni by guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate was time-dependent (i.e. hysteretic) and pseudo-irreversible. Although GTP and guanosine 5'-(beta-thio)diphosphate could prevent the inhibition caused by guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate if added simultaneously with it, they could not reverse the inhibited state induced by previous exposure to guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate. Activation of Ni had an absolute requirement for Mg2+. Unlike the activation of Ns, however, which requires millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ in the absence of hormonal stimulation, activation of Ni requires only micromolar concentrations of the divalent cation. These results support the contention that hormones which activate Ni or Ns do so by altering different parameters of a similar activation mechanism.     

Characterization of Mamalian GS-α Proteins Expressed in Yeast

Abstract

The guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, G_s, mediates transmembrane signaling by coupling membrane receptors to the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. The full length coding sequences for the Mp 42-45,000, short form (S), and M₁= 46-52,000, long form (L), of the a-subunits of rat G_s were placed in yeast expression vectors under the regulatory control of the copper-inducible CUP 1 promoter and transformed into Saccharomvces cerevisiae. In the presence of 100 pM CuSOq, the transformed yeast expressed Gs-a mRNAs and proteins. In reconstitution experiments, rat Gs-a(S and L), solubilized from yeast membranes with 1% cholate, conferred NaF-, (-)isoproterenol, and guanine nudeotidedependent sensitivity to adenylyl cyclase catalytic units in S49 lymphoma cyc- cell membranes, which are devoid of endogenous G_s-a. G_s-a(S) demonstrated twice the activity of Gs-a(L) in reconstitution assays of fluoride-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. Comparison of Gs-a(S) expressed in yeast with Gs purified from rabbit liver or human erythrocytes showed that the crude recombinant protein was fully competent in reconstituting NaF-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, but was only 2-5% as potent as puriiied G,. Addition of bovine brain py subunits during reconstitution enhanced all parameters of adenylyl cyclase activity for Gq-a(S and L) obtained from yeaa. In contrast, transducin py only enhanced agonist-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity for Gs-a(S and L) following reconstitution. These results demonstrate that the expression of functional mammalian Gs-a subunits in yeast may be useful for their biochemical characterization.     

A functional chimera of mammalian guanylyl and adenylyl cyclases

Adenylyl and guanylyl cyclases synthesize second messenger molecules by intramolecular esterification of purine nucleotides, i.e., cAMP from ATP and cGMP from GTP, respectively. Despite their sequence homology, both families of mammalian cyclases show remarkably different regulatory patterns. In an attempt to define the functional domains in adenylyl cyclase responsible for their isotypic-common activation by Galphas or forskolin, dimeric chimeras were constructed from soluble guanylyl cyclase alpha1 subunit and the C-terminal halves of adenylyl cyclases type I, II, or V. The cyclase-hybrid generated cAMP and was inhibited by P-site ligands. The data establish structural equivalence and the ability of functional complement at the catalytic sites in both cyclases. Detailed enzymatic characterization of the chimeric cyclase revealed a crucial role of the N-terminal adenylyl cyclase half for stimulatory actions, and a major importance of the C-terminal part for nucleotide specificity.     

Hydrodynamic properties of adenosine Ri receptors solubilized from rat cerebral-cortical membranes.

Adenosine Ri receptors and inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-regulatory components were solubilized from rat cerebral-cortical membranes with sodium cholate. (-)-N6-Phenylisopropyl[2,8-3H]adenosine [( 3H]PIA) binds with high affinity to the soluble receptors, which retain the pharmacological specificity of adenosine Ri receptors observed in membranes. The binding is regulated by bivalent cations and guanine nucleotides. Bivalent cations increase [3H]PIA binding by increasing both the affinity and the apparent number of receptors. Guanine nucleotides decrease agonist binding by increasing the dissociation of the ligand-receptor complex. Adenosine agonists stabilize the high-affinity form of the soluble receptor. The hydrodynamic properties of the adenosine receptor were determined with cholate extracts of membranes that were treated with [3H]PIA. Sucrose-gradient-centrifugation analysis indicates that the receptor has a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 S. The receptor is eluted from Sepharose 6B columns with an apparent Stokes radius of 7.2 nm. Labelling of either sucrose-gradient or gel-filtration-column fractions with pertussis toxin and [32P]-NAD+ reveals that both the 41,000- and 39,000-Mr substrates overlap with the receptor activity. These studies suggest that the high-affinity adenosine-receptor-binding activity in the cholate extract represents a stable R1-N complex.     

Soluble adenylate cyclase activity in Neurospora crassa.

A soluble form of adenylate cyclase was extracted from mycelia of Neurospora crassa wild-type strains. This enzyme activity was purified by chromatography on hexyl-amino-Sepharose, agarose and Blue Sepharose and preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. On sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, peak fractions from the later purification steps showed a main polypeptide band with an apparent molecular weight of about 66 000. The following hydrodynamic and molecular parameters were established for the Neurospora soluble adenylate cyclase activity: sedimentation coefficient, 6.25 S; Stokes radius, 7.3 nm; partial specific volume, 0.74 ml/g; molecular weight, 202 000; frictional ratio, 1.65. The isoelectric point of this enzyme activity was 4.65. The enzyme was not activated by GTP, [beta gamma-imido]GTP, fluoride or cholera toxin.