Partial purification and characterization of adenosine- and guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterases from human lung tissue.

Crude extracts of human lung tissue were examined for cyclic adenosine- and guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP and cGMP) phosphodiesterase activities. Nonlinear reciprocal plots were observed for each substrate. DEAE-Sephadex chromatography of the extracts revealed four main fractions of activity, which were further purified by Sephadex gel filtration. The phosphodiesterase activity of the resulting individual fractions was partially characterized with respect to substrate specificity, kinetic parameters, apparent molecular weight (gel filtration), thermal stability at 30 and 37 degrees C, effect of the cyclic nucleotide not utilized as substrate, and the possible influence of Ca2+-dependent protein activator. The results indicate that the tissue contains phosphodiesterases with strict specificity and a high apparent affinity for each of the two cyclic nucleotides (the Km values determined were approximately 0.3-0.4 muM). The high affinity cAMP phosphodiesterase activity was enriched in two of the purified fractions; both activities probably represent fragments of the native high affinity cAMP specific enzyme. A third purified phosphodiesterase showed mixed substrate specificity. The Km value recorded for hydrolysis of either substrate with this enzyme was approximately 25 muM. A fourth, irregularly occurring, phosphodiesterase activity also showed mixed substrate specificity. The Km value registered for hydrolysis of either substrate with this fraction was approximately 0.4 muM. There was no evidence for a Ca2+-dependent specific activation by a boiled lung tissue supernatant of any of the purified enzymes.     

Cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase determined in various human tissues by DEAE-cellulose chromatography.

Tissue extracts from human heart, lung, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and cerebrum displayed at least 3 distinct cyclic 3':5'-nucleotide phosphodieterase (EC 3.1.4.17) activity peaks (FI, FII, FIII) on DEAE-cellulose chromatography and various properties of these forms were compared in each tissue. FI eluted at about 0.08 M sodium acetate, hydrolyzed cyclic GMP more rapidly than it did cyclic AMP, and cyclic GMP hydrolysis by FI in most tissues was enhanced by a protein activator in the presence of CaCl2. As only high concentrations of cyclic AMP inhibited cyclic GMP hydrolytic activity of FI, the enzyme probably has a low affinity for cyclic AMP. FII eluted at about 0.2 M sodium acetate, hydrolyzed both nucleotides at equal rates, and substrate affinities were relatively low. Cyclic GMP hydrolysis by FII was also stimulated by addition of a protein activator in the presence of CaCl2 and cyclic AMP hydrolysis in this fraction was accelerated by a micromolar fraction of cyclic GMP. FII eluted at about 0.35 M hydrolyzed cyclic AMP preferentially and was insensitive to protein activator. These two cyclic nucleotides act as mutual inhibitors of the hydrolysis in this fraction. Ratio of the cyclic GMP to cyclic AMP hydrolysis was in the order FI, FII, FIII. Four activity peaks were eluted from the cerebral extract and enzymes from this tissue exhibited much the same properties as observed in the other tissues examined herein.     

Protein kinases in human renal cell carcinoma and renal cortex. A comparison of isozyme distribution and of responsiveness to adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate.

Two major isozyme forms of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (termed protein kinase I and II according to their order of elution from DEAE-cellulose) were resolved by DEAE-cellulose chromatography of extracts from human renal cortex and renal cell carcinoma. The ratio between protein kinase I and protein kinase II in carcinoma extracts was about twice that in extracts of renal cortex. The total soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was similar in extracts from the normal and malignant tissue. Protein kinase isozymes prepared from renal cortex or carcinoma were highly dependent on cyclic AMP for activity under appropriate assay conditions, were activated to the same degree by various concentrations of cyclic AMP, and had similar affinity for the nucleotide, indicating that the mechanism for regulation of protein kinase activity by cyclic AMP was intact for the tumor kinases. The kinetics of endogenous phosphorylation of protein kinase II was similar for enzyme derived from normal or malignant tissue.     

Effect of Indomethacin on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys.

Our results indicate that indomethacin inhibits cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the myometrium of the pregnant rhesus monkey under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions. Kinetic data on extracts of myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys indicated two cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities. The apparent Km value for the high affinity enzyme averaged 3.9 muM and for the low affinity enzyme 23 muM; the Vmax values averaged 0.56 and 1.4 nmoles cyclic AMP hydrolized per mg protein min-1 respectively. When indomethacin was added to the myometrial extracts, the activity of the high Km phosphodiesterase was competitively inhibited, with an average Ki of 200 muM; the low Km enzyme was noncompetitively inhibited with an average Ki of 110 muM. Experiments on myometrial slices demonstrated that 10 muM indomethsacin potentiated the effect of PGE1 and epinephrine on cyclic AMP levels, presumably by inhibiting the phophodiesterase activity. The uterine relaxing effect of indomethacin is generally attributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase activity. However, treatment of pregnant rhesus monkeys with therapeutic doses of indomethacin resulted in a significant inhibition of myometrial cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in association with uterine relaxation and prolongation of gestation.     

Measurement of adenosine 3'':5''-cyclic monophosphate by competitive binding to salt-dissociated protein kinase.

An assay for cyclic AMP is described which takes advantage of the high affinity of the dissociated receptor moiety of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase I for the nucleotide. The kinase is kept dissociated by salt (800 mM-NaCl/30mM-EDTA). In the presence of a simply prepared heat-stable protein fraction the binding reagent is stable for the time needed to reach equilibrium of binding. A simple procedure [precipitation with poly-(ethylene glycol) followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography] is described for the separation of protein kinase I from other binding proteins for cyclic AMP in rabbit skeletal muscle. The sensitivity, precision, reproducibility and specificity of the assay compared favourably with those of other cyclic AMP assays. The main advantage of the present assay is its resistance towards non-specific interference from a number of salts, tissue-culture media and substances found in crude tissue extracts. The reliability of cyclic AMP measurement directly in crude tissue extracts was ensured by removal of the assayable cyclic AMP with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase digestion or adsorption with antibody against cyclic AMP, by comparison with measurement in tissue extracts purified by chromatography on QAE-Sephadex or sequentially on Dowex 50, and aluminium oxide as well as by dilution and recovery experiments.     

Purification, characterization and production of rabbit antibodies to rat liver particulate, high-affinity, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase

The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.4.16) activities of a rat liver particulate fraction were analyzed after solubilization by detergent or by freeze-thawing. Analysis of the two extracts by DEAE-cellulose chromatography revealed that they contain different complements of phosphodiesterase activities. The detergent-solubilized extract contained a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase, a low affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase whose hydrolysis of cyclic AMP was activated by cyclic GMP and a high affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The freeze-thaw extract contained a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase and two high affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, but no low affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities from the freeze-thaw extract and from the detergent extract all had negatively cooperative kinetics. One of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases from the freeze-thaw extract (form A) was insensitive to inhibition by cyclic GMP; the other freeze-thaw solubilized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (form B) and the detergent-solubilized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase were strongly inhibited by cyclic GMP. The B enzyme appeared to be converted into the A enzyme when the particulate fraction was stored for prolonged periods at -20 degrees C. The B form was purified extensively, using DEAE-cellulose, a guanine-Sepharose column and gel filtration. The enzyme retained its negatively cooperative kinetics and high affinity for both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP throughout the purification, although catalytic activity was always much greater for cyclic AMP. Rabbit antiserum was raised against the purified B enzyme and tested via a precipitin reaction against other forms of phosphodiesterase. The antiserum cross-reacted with the A enzyme and the detergent-solubilized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from rat liver. It did not react with the calmodulin-activated cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase of rat brain, the soluble low affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of rat liver or a commercial phosphodiesterase preparation from bovine heart. These results suggest a possible interrelationship between the high affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of rat liver.     

Glycogen synthase kinases. Distribution in mammalian tissues of forms that are independent of cyclic AMP.

Extracts of rat tissues contain kinases which catalyze the conversion of glycogen synthease from the glucose 6-phosphate-independent (I) form to the glucose 6-phosphatate-dependent (D) form. These kinases were stimulated by adenosine 3':5' monophosphate (cyclic AMP). The glycogen synthase kinase activity ratio (activity in the absence of cyclic AMP divided by activity in the presence of cyclic AMP) varied from 0.28 to 0.97. The activity ratio for histone kinase in the same extracts ranged from 0.11 to 0.29. The levels of glycogen synthase kinase varied by a factor of 80 in the following rat tissues (given in order of decreasing enzyme activity): kidney, liver, stomach mucosa, lung, brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. In the same tissues the levels of histone kinase varied by only a factor of 6 and did not correlate with the levels of glycogen synthase kinase. A modification of the method of Walsh et al. ((1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 1977-1985) was developed for purification of the heat-stable inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases (inhibitor). The modified procedure resulted in good yields of highly purified inhibitor and was much simpler than the previously described procedure. This inhibitor completely inhibited cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase activity of the extracts but much of the glycogen synthase kinase activity was not inhibited. The portion of glycogen synthase kinase that was insensitive to the inhibitor was: stomach mucosa, 95%; brain, 90%; liver, 82%; kidney, 81%; lung, 68%; adipose tissue, 65%; skeletal muscle, 63%; and heart, 54%. This histone kinase activity in the extracts and hte ratio of glycogen synthase kinase to histone kinase activity of purified catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was used to calculate for each extract the glycogen synthase kinase activity contributed by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Based on these calculations, the portion of the glycogen synthase kinase which was due to kinases independent of cyclic AMP was: kidney, 97%; liver, 91%; lung, 89%; brain, 87%, heart, 85%; stomach mucosa, 84%; adipose tissue, 38%; and skeletal muscle, 33%. A significant portion of the glycogen synthase kinase activity, but virtually none of the cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase activity, of these extracts could be adsorbed to phosphocellulose columns. Liver extracts contained, in addition, a form of glycogen synthase kinase which was not adsorbed to phosphocellulose and which could be separated from the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by additional chromatography. These studies demonstrate that kinases independent of cyclic AMP account for most of the glycogen synthase kinase activity of many tissues. The widespread distribution and high concentrations of these enzymes suggest that they are of physiological importance.     

Effect of indomethacin on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys

Our results indicate that indomethacin inhibits cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the myometrium of the pregnant rhesus monkey under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions. Kinetic data on extracts of myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys indicated two cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities. The apparent K_m value for the high affinity enzyme averaged 3.9 μM and for the low affinity enzyme 23 μM; the V_max values averaged 0.56 and 1.4 nmoles cyclic AMP hydrolized per mg protein min^?1 respectively. When indomethacin was added to the myometrial extracts, the activity of the high K_m phosphodiesterase was competitively inhibited, with an average K_i of 200 μM; the low K_m enzyme was noncompetitively inhibited with an average K_i of 110 μM. Experiments on myometrial slices demonstrated that 10 μM indomethacin potentiated the effect of PGE₁ and epinephrine on cyclic AMP levels, presumably by inhibiting the phosphodiesterase activity. The uterine relaxing effect of indomethacin is generally attributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase activity. However, treatment of pregnant rhesus monkeys with therapeutic doses of indomethacin resulted in a significant inhibition of myometrial cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in association with uterine relaxation and prolongation of gestation.     

Purification and general properties of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from guinea pig fetal lung.

Guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP)-dependent protein kinase was purified from the guinea pig fetal lung, a tissue shown to be the richest in this enzyme in all mammalian sources examined, and its general properties studied. The enzyme was purified 150-fold from crude extract by steps of pH 5.4 isoelectric precipitation, Sephadex G-200 filtration, hydroxylapatite treatment and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The purified enzyme, free from contamination with adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase, had a specific activity at least equivalent to 600-fold purification of the enzyme from the adult lung. The pulmonary enzyme exhibited an absolute requirement of protein kinase modulator (prepared from various mammalian tissues with an exception of skeletal muscle) for its activity. Inhibitor protein of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase purified from rabbit skeletal muscle could not stimulate nor inhibit the cyclic GMP target enzyme, indicating the factors from mammalian sources regulating the two classes of protein kinases may not be the same. The enzyme had Ka values of 1.3 times 10(-8) and 3.3 times 10(-8) M for 8-bromo cyclic GMP and cyclic GMP, respectively, compared to 3.0 times 10(-6) M for cyclic AMP. Cyclic GMP lowered the Km of the enzyme for ATP from 6.3 times 10(-5) M in its absence to 2.1 times 10(-5) M in its presence, accompanied by an approximate doubling of the Vmax. The molecular weight of the enzyme (assayed by its catalytic and cyclic GMP-binding abilities) was estimated to be 123,000, corresponding to a sedimendation coefficient of 7.06 S, by means of sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The cyclic GMP-dependent enzyme required Mg2+ and Co2+ for its activity with optimal concentrations of about 30 and 0.7 mM, respectively. The maximal activity seen in the presence of Mg2+, however, was nearly twice as high as that seen in the presence of Co2+. Histones were generally effective substrates for the enzyme, whereas protamine, casein, phosvitin, phosphorylase kinase, and activator protein of phosphodiesterase were not. The cyclic GMP-dependent enzyme exhibited a greater affinity for histones than did the cyclic AMP-dependent enzyme in the presence of Mg2+.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Partial purification and characterization of a high affinity enzyme activity from human lung tissue.

Part of the soluble cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity of crude human lung tissue can be attributed to a thermosensitive (37 degrees) enzyme with a high apparent affinity for both adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP). The enzyme can be partially purified by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. In the presence of 0.1 mM EDTA or ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), it is eluted from the column immediately before a cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase, but in the presence of 0.2 mM Ca2+, the elution follows that of the cyclic GMP-specific enzyme. The two forms of the nonspecific phosphodiesterase activity are referred to as DEAD-Sephadex Fractions Ia and Ic, respectively. Their apparent molecular weights, recorded at gel filtration, vary with different preparations from 230,000 to 150,000. Occasionally, corresponding recordings for main peaks of activity also cluster round the values 120,000, 105,000, and 78,000. The enzymatic properties of Fractions Ia and Ic closely resemble each other. The enzyme activity is blocked by EDTA, partially inhibited in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline, but only slightly affected by EGTA. The inhibitory effect of EDTA can be overcome by Mg2+ and Mn2+ and that of 1,10-phenanthroline, in part, by Zn2+; this cation in itself is inhibitory at millimolar concentrations. With submicromolar substrate concentrations, the activity of either fraction obeys linear kinetics displaying an apparent Km of approximately 0.4 micron for both substrates. Reciprocal inhibition experiments suggest that hydrolysis of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP is performed by the same active site. Examination of the activity using extended substrate concentration ranges indicates nonlinear kinetics; Hill plots of such data also show nonlinear curvature. The activity is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of inosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic IMP), 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, papervine, and some antiallergic agents. Theophylline and disodium cromoglycate are less potent inhibitors. Inhibition of activity by Lubrol PX follows a biphasic dose response curve. The activity of Fraction Ia can be enhanced 2- to 3-fold by a Ca2+-dependent activator prepared from lung tissue, whose action is counteracted by chlorpromazine, and by lysophosphatidylcholine. It is initially enhanced but subsequently decreased at exposure to trypsin. Fraction Ic is less prone to activation by these agents. The results indicate that the present activity represents an enzyme form that differs from three previously described phosphodiesterases of human lung tissue. It is apparently related to, but also shows distinct differences from the Ca2+-dependent enzyme(s) of brain and heart tissue.     

Identification of Nitric Oxide-Sensitive and -Insensitive Forms of Cytoplasmic Guanylate Cyclase

Abstract: Cytoplasmic, nitric oxide-activated guanylate cyclases are expressed in many regions of the mammalian brain and are thought to participate in functions as diverse as synaptogenesis and long-term potentiation. In this study, we have characterized cytoplasmic guanylate cyclases in the nervous system of an invertebrate, the American lobster. Cytoplasmic cyclase specific activity is higher in lobster nerve cord than in any other lobster tissue tested, and considerably higher than in typical rat tissues (cerebellum, lung, and liver). However, nitric oxide donors have minimal effects on lobster nerve cord cyclic GMP production, when applied either to intact tissue or to cytoplasmic extracts. Parallel immunocytochemical studies, using an anti-cyclic GMP antibody, reveal that only a small subset of lobster neurons responds to nitric oxide with a significant elevation of cyclic GMP levels. HPLC analysis of nerve cord cytoplasm reveals two chromatographically separable cyclases, a minor nitric oxide-sensitive form whose retention time is identical to that of the conventional mammalian enzyme and a more abundant nitric oxide-insensitive form that appears to be novel. The physiological function and phylogenetic distribution of this nitric oxide-insensitive enzyme, and the signaling mechanisms that regulate its activity, are not known.     

Allosteric properties of rat lung phosphofructokinase

Rat lung phosphofructokinase is purified 250-fold to a specific activity of about 10 by using ATP-sepharose affinity chromatography. The enzyme is activated by cyclic AMP, 5'-AMP, ADP, Pi, NH4+ and K+ ions. Depending upon the concentration of these effectors, the enzyme can exist in several interconvertible forms, differing widely in their affinity for fructose-6-P. These activators also overcome the inhibition of the enzyme by ATP and citrate, thus increasing the glycolytic rate in lung during hypoxia. Unlike the enzyme from other sources, the lung phosphofructokinase is not inhibited by cyclic GMP or phosphoenolpyruvate. The enzyme is very sensitive to inactivation by trypsin and this inactivation is completely reversed by assaying the proteolyzed enzyme in presence of its activators.     

Regulation by insulin of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) from rat luteal cells

The effect of insulin on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) in rat luteal cells was studied. Cells were obtained from PMSG/hCG primed rats and further incubated or not with insulin. The hormone produced an increase of enzyme activity after a 10 min incubation of intact cells. Maximal stimulation was achieved at 0.2 nM of insulin. Two peaks of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity were resolved after chromatography of cell cytosolic extracts on DEAE-cellulose. These peaks (I and II) were active with cAMP as substrate but only peak I was active with cGMP. The enzyme activity of both peaks was increased in cells treated with insulin. Phosphodiesterase activity in the two peaks show two kinetic components for cAMP hydrolysis, one of high affinity (Km 2-4 microM) and the other of low affinity (47-56 microM). Treatment of the cells with insulin produced a 2 to 8 fold increase of the Vmax of these peaks. In addition after stimulation with insulin, the activation of peak I phosphodiesterase by calmodulin was less effective.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in Trypanosoma cruzi.

A cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity from epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi was characterized. Cytosolic extracts were chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose columns, giving two peaks of kinase activity, which were eluted at 0.15 M- and 0.32 M-NaCl respectively. The second activity peak was stimulated by nanomolar concentrations of cyclic AMP. In addition, a cyclic AMP-binding protein co-eluted with the second kinase activity peak. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was further purified by gel filtration, affinity chromatography on histone-agarose and cyclic AMP-agarose, as well as by chromatography on CM-Sephadex. The enzyme ('holoenzyme') could be partially dissociated into two different components: 'catalytic' and 'regulatory'. The 'regulatory' component had specific binding for cyclic AMP, and it inhibited phosphotransferase activity of the homologous 'catalytic component' or of the 'catalytic subunit' from bovine heart. Cyclic AMP reversed these inhibitions. A 'holoenzyme preparation' was phosphorylated in the absence of exogenous phosphate acceptor and analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. A 56 kDa band was phosphorylated. The same preparation was analysed by Western blotting, by using polyclonal antibodies to the regulatory subunits of protein kinases type I or II. Both antibodies reacted with the 56 kDa band.     

Ontogenetic changes in levels of phosphodiesterase for adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and glucosine 3':5'-monophosphate in the lung, brain and heart from guinea pigs.

Changes in tissue levels of the low Km phosphodiesterase for adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclc GMP) in the lung, liver, heart and brain from developing guinea pigs were studied. It was found that the contents of the soluble (cytosol) phosphodiesterase for both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were higher in the lung from the fetus than from the neonate and adult. The ontogenetic changes seen in the liver were qualitatively similar to thos in the lung with respect to cyclic GMP hydrolysis, while a reversed pattern of change was noted in the brain. The level of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was highest in the fetal heart. Throughout the fetal stage, the levels of the enzyme for cyclic GMP hydrolysis were higher than those for cyclic AMP in the lung. At or around birth, a reversal in the relative levels of the two enzymes took place; two days after birth, the level of the enzyme for cyclic AMP was 2-3times higher than thos for cyclic GMP. Kinetic analysis showed that phohphodiesterases from extracts of the lung from all developmental stages of guinea pigs had the same Km (2.6 muM) for cyclic AMP and the same Km (6.6 muM) for cyclic GMP. The relative values of V, based on assays using the same amount of enzyme protein, in decreasing order, were fetus greater than neonate greater than adult. The present findings suggest that metabolism of the two cyclic nucleotides may be closely related to developmental processes of the tissues. Moreover, the actions involving cyclic GMP may be more predominent in the fetal lung and adult brain.     

Calmodulin activation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the B16 mouse melanoma

Mouse B16 melanoma extracts of both cultured cells and tumour tissue contain cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity, with 95% present in the soluble fraction. Although activation of the enzyme by added calmodulin did not occur, it was found that endogenous calmodulin was present at a level sufficient to activate fully the enzyme. The ability of Ca-calmodulin to stimulate cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in this tissue was shown by the inhibitory effect of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloronaphthalenesulphonamide (W7), a known calmodulin antagonist; by the activation of the enzyme with exogenous calmodulin observed in supernatants depleted of endogenous calmodulin by passage over fluphenazine-Sepharose 6B in the presence of Ca2+; by the Ca-dependent binding of the enzyme to calmodulin-agarose and its activation by Ca-calmodulin after elution from the column with EGTA-containing buffer. It was calculated that about 50% of the total cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was calmodulin-activated in this tissue.     

β-1,3-glucanase activity in the stigma of healthy petunia flowers

β-1,3-Glucanase activity was detected in extracts of different tissues of healthy mature petunia flowers except the filament. The stigma was studied further as it had the highest enzyme activity and there is a paucity of information on the occurrence of this enzyme in this tissue. Specific activity of the enzyme was found to increase within the stigmatic tissue from early development until just before anthesis. Following non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.8, extracts of dehiscent stigma seem to contain three acidic isoforms of β-1,3-glucanase. Crude extracts of stigma was passed through a pachyman affinity column. A fraction of affinity-purified active β-1,3-glucanase enzyme was found to have no antifungal activity against Trichoderma viride, Phloma clematidina and Cladosporium fulvum.     

Regulation of cardiac cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase

An assay method based on the ability of high concentrations of Mg²⁺ to stimulate phosphorylation of histone in the presence of low concentrations of ATP was developed for the measurement of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios (activity -cyclic GMP/activity + cyclic GMP). In tissues which contain only trace amounts of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, the basal activity ratios were high due to interference from a cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase. In order to study the regulation of the cardica cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, factors affecting the equilibrium between the active and inactive forms of the enzyme were determined. Since the rate of dissociation of cyclic GMP from its binding site(s) was relatively slow at 0–4°C at pH 7.0, the amount of time required to process tissue samples was the major limiting factor for preserving the equilibrium between active and inactive forms of the enzyme. Dilution of heart tissue extracts at 0–4°C did not significantly alter the activity ratio of the enzyme under conditions of basal or elevated cyclic GMP levels. Experiments using charcoal or exogenous cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in the homogenizing medium demonstrated that the release of sequestered cyclic GMP was not responsible for the elevation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios by agents like acetylcholine. Therefore, the assay reflected in part, at least, the retention of kinase-bound cyclic GMP in the tissue extracts. The effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on cyclic GMP levels, the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios, and force of contraction were studied in the perfused rat heart. Both agents produced rapid, dose-dependent increases in cardiac cyclic GMP. Optimal concentrations of acetylcholine produced a 2–3-fold increase in the levels of cyclic GMP and an increase in the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. No significant effect of acetylcholine on cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activity was observed. Associated witth the acetylcholine-induced protein kinase, factors affecting the equilibrium between the active and inactive forms of the enzyme were determined. Since the rate of dissociation of cyclic GMP from its binding site(s) was relatively slow at 0–4°C at pH 7.0, the amount of time required to process tissue samples was the major limiting factor for preserving the equilibrium between active and inactive forms of the enzyme. Dilution of heart tissue extracts at 0–4°C did not significantly alter the activity ratio of the enzyme under conditions of basal elevated cyclic GMP levels. Experiments using charcoal or exogenous cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in the homogenizing medium demonstrated that the release of sequestered cyclic GMP was not responsible for the elevation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios by agents like acetylcholine. Therefore, the assay reflected in part, at least, the retention of kinase-bound cyclic GMP in the tissue extracts. The effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on cyclic GMP levels, the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios, and force of contraction were studied in the perfused rat heart. Both agents produced rapid, dose-dependent increases in cardiac cyclic GMP. Optimal concentrations of acetylcholine produced a 2–3-fold increase in the levels of cyclic GMP and an increase in the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. No significant effect of acetylcholine on cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activity was observed. Associated with the acetylcholine-induced increase in cyclic GMP and the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio was a reduction in the force of contraction. In contrast, nitroprusside produced little or no increase in the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio despite increasing the level of cyclic GMP 8–10-fold. Nitroprusside also had no effect on contractile force. In combination, nitroprusside and acetylcholine produced additive effects on cyclic GMP levels, but protein kinase activation and force of contraction were similar to those seen with acetylcholine alone. The results suggest that the cyclic GMP produced by acetylcholine in the rat heart is coupled to activation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, while that produced by nitroprusside is not.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in mammary tissue of the lactating rat. Activity ratio and responsiveness of the target enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase and glycogen phosphorylase to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

The role of cyclic AMP in acute regulation of the metabolism of mammary tissue in the lactating rat was examined by measuring the activity ratio of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) and by examining the properties of this enzyme in its two major isoenzymic forms. Isoenzyme II is the major form in soluble extracts of rat mammary tissue. A-kinase activity ratio in such extracts is unaffected by starvation of the lactating rat. Treatment of the intact rat with isoprenaline, or addition of isoprenaline to incubations in vitro of mammary acini, resulted in a major increase in the activity ratio of A-kinase. These treatments equally affected isoenzymes I and II. The treatment in vitro lead to a rapid depletion of A-kinase as subsequently measured in extracts of acini. The degree of activation of the enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase and glycogen phosphorylase in extracts of mammary tissue and of acini was assessed as a function of these treatments. The increased activation of A-kinase induced by isoprenaline was unaccompanied by significant changes in the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in acini, although we previously showed that this agent activates acetyl-CoA carboxylase in intact mammary tissue. Contrastingly, isoprenaline-induced enhancement of A-kinase activity was accompanied by an increase in the activity ratio of phosphorylase in acini. These results indicate that: (a) a normal response of expressed A-kinase activity to cyclic AMP operates in mammary acini and mammary tissue from lactating rats; (b) rapid modulation of the total amount of soluble A-kinase is mediated in mammary epithelial cells by cyclic AMP; (c) phosphorylase, an ultimate target of the protein phosphorylation cascade initiated by A-kinase, is activated in acini under conditions where A-kinase activity is enhanced; and (d) mechanisms other than that of the A-kinase phosphorylation/inhibition model for acetyl-CoA carboxylase regulation must operate in mammary tissue preparations and in vivo to account for the response of this enzyme to enhanced A-kinase activity.     

Effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, imidazole and phosphate on cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase are different from those on cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases.

The effects of various agents on the newly identified cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase (C-PDE) in crude extracts of a number of rat tissues and on the enzyme partially purified from the rat liver were examined. Papaverine and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine were without effects on C-PDE at concentrations that inhibited up to 90% of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (A-PDE) and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (G-PDE) activities. When assayed using 1 micron substrates, theophylline inhibited C-PDE to a lesser extent than A-PDE and G-PDE. 2'-Deoxy cyclic AMP (specific A-PDE inhibitor) and 2'-deoxy cyclic GMP (specific G-PDE inhibitor) were relatively poor and non-specific inhibitors for C-PDE. Imidazole, while augmenting the high Km A-PDE and G-PDE from the liver but not from the heart, was without effect on the liver C-PDE but stimulated the heart C-PDE. Potassium phosphate was more specific in inhibiting C-PDE than A-PDE and G-PDE. The present findings suggest that C-PDE represents a potential site of specific pharmacological regulations, and that C-PDE may be a separate enzyme distinguishable from the purine cyclic nucleotide class of phosphodiesterases.