Membrane sites regulating developmental gene expression in Dictyostelium discoideum

Postaggregative gene expression in Dictyostelium discoideum requires cell contact. Polyspecific monovalent antibodies (Fab) prepared from sera raised against membranes of aggregation- and postaggregation-stage cells were used to probe the cell interactions that induce rapid postaggregative synthesis of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. When cells of strain V12M2 were dissociated after 8 hr of development and replated in the presence of immune Fab, both reaggregation and pyrophosphorylase synthesis were blocked. Fab neutralized by incubation with EDTA-high salt extracts of cells developed for 3 hr blocked pyrophosphorylase synthesis but not reaggregation. Therefore, some cell-surface components that regulate pyrophosphorylase synthesis (called E sites) are antigenically distinct from those required for reaggregation. The Fab provides a means to assay E sites during their purification. Addition of 10(-3) M cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP enabled the cells to bypass the blocking of E sites by Fab; pyrophosphorylase was synthesized in the absence of reaggregation. We hypothesize that E sites function by raising the level of intracellular cyclic AMP.     

The adnosine 3',5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterases from human lung tissue.

Human lung tissue contains phosphodiesterase enzymes capable of hydrolyzing both adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic GMP). The cyclic AMP enzyme exhibits three distinct binding affinities for its substrate (apparent Km = 0.4μM, 3μM, and 40μM) while the cyclic GMP enzyme reveals only two affinities (Km = 5μM and 40μM). The pH optima for the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase are similar (pH 7.6–7.8). Both are inhibited by known inhibitors of phosphodiesterase activity (aminophylline, caffeine, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine). The divalent cations Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ stimulate cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity (in the absence of Mg²⁺) while Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ inhibit the enzyme. Histamine and imidazole slightly stimulate cyclic AMP hydrolytic activity. Thus, human lung tissue does contain multiple forms of both the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase which are influenced by a variety of effectors.     

Cyclic AMP and the control of aggregative phase gene expression in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The induction of aggregative phase functions and the acceleration of the onset of aggregation competence by nanomolar pulses of cyclic AMP can be mimicked by exposing developing cells to a high extracellular concentration of either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP (5 × 10^?4M) during the first 1–2 hr of development. Pulses of cyclic AMP have previously been shown to result in oscillations of intracellular cyclic AMP concentration; we show that high extracellular concentrations of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP cause intracellular cyclic AMP levels to increase. We describe a mutant, HM11, which has elevated levels of intracellular cyclic AMP from the beginning of development and which begins to accumulate cell-associated phosphodiesterase, an aggregative phase enzyme, within an hour of starvation. Our data suggest that the expression of aggregative phase functions is controlled by an elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP which may be either continuous or periodic.     

Einfluss möglicher phosphodiesterase-inhibitoren und cAMP auf die betacyan-akkumulation

The influence of cyclic AMP, theophylline, papaverine and NH₄NO₃ on the accumulation of betacyanin in callus of Portulaca grandiflora, var. JR, were studied in relation to amounts of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, protein, ‘lipid’ and the nucleotides CMP, AMP, GMP and UMP present. Inhibition of betacyanin formation is characterized by reduced amounts of DOPA and dopamine and a constant rise of GMP and CMP (GMP/CMP = 8). Protein accumulation is also inhibited. The increase in pigment accumulation due to theophylline and NH₄NO₃ is characterized by a raised DOPA and protein concentration and a lower GMP/CMP ratio (=3). The increase in betacyanin accumulation is due to de novo synthesis of enzymes. Inhibition is probably due to the regulation of the callus phosphodiesterase by papaverine and theophylline (≦ 10^?5 M/1) which triggers a change in concentration of nucleotides, which eventually regulates tyrosinase biosynthesis.     

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP control of synthesis of constitutive enzymes in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli was grown in chemostat culture under glycerol-limited and ammonium-limited conditions at growth rates between 0.1 and 0.5 h-1. At steady state, the concentrations of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP and the activities of four constitutive enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, NADH oxidase and cyclic phosphodiesterase) were determined in the organism. Addition of exogenous cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP or phencyclidine perturbed the steady state and caused inhibition or stimulation of synthesis of phosphodiesterase and isocitrate dehydrogenase. A novel hypothesis is proposed to account for the ability of bacteria to regulate the synthesis of constitutive enzymes with cyclic nucleotides and possibly other small molecules.     

Role of Silicon in Diatom Metabolism : Cyclic Nucleotide Levels, Nucleotide Cyclase, and Phosphodiesterase Activities during Synchronized Growth of Cylindrotheca fusiformis

Adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase, and the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases of Cylindrotheca fusiformis were characterized in crude and partially purified preparations. Both cyclases were membrane-bound and required Mn²⁺ for activity, though Mg²⁺ gave 50% activity with adenylate cyclase. Properties of adenylate cyclase were similar to those of higher eukaryotic cyclases in some respects, and in other respects were like lower eukaryotic cyclases. Guanylate cyclase was typical of other lower eukaryotic enzymes.

Two phosphodiesterase activities were found, one selective for cyclic AMP, the other for cyclic GMP. The 5′-nucleoside monophosphate was the major product of both activities and each of the enzymes had distinctive divalent cation requirements, pH optima, and kinetic parameters. Both phosphodiesterases were similar to those of other lower eukaryotes with one notable difference: the cyclic AMP enzyme was inhibited by calcium.

Changes in the cyclic nucleotide levels were quantitated in light-dark and silicon-starvation synchronized cultures using a more sensitive radioimmunoassay than used in a previously published study (Borowitzka and Volcani 1977 Arch Microbiol 112: 147-152). Contrary to the previous report, the cyclic GMP level did not change significantly in either synchrony. The cyclic AMP level increased dramatically very early in the period of DNA replication with the peak cyclic AMP accumulation substantially preceding that of DNA synthesis in both synchronies. There was no significant change in the activity of either cyclase or either phosphodiesterase during either synchrony. Thus, the mechanism for the rise in cAMP level remains unclear.

     

Evidence for a messenger function of cyclic GMP during phosphodiesterase induction in Dictyostelium discoideum

Chemotactic stimulation of vegetative or aggregative Dictyostelium discoideum cells induced a transient elevation of cyclic GMP levels. The addition of chemoattractants to postvegetative cells by pulsing induced phosphodiesterase activity. The following lines of evidence suggest a messenger function for cyclic GMP in the induction of phosphodiesterase: (i) Folic acid and cyclic AMP increased cyclic GMP levels and induced phosphodiesterase activity. (ii) Cyclic AMP induced both cyclic GMP accumulation and phosphodiesterase activity by binding to a rate receptor. (iii) The effects of chemical modification of cyclic AMP or folic acid on cyclic GMP accumulation and phosphodiesterase induction were closely correlated. (iv) A close correlation existed between the increase of cyclic GMP levels and the amount of phosphodiesterase induced, independent of the type of chemoattractant by which this cyclic GMP accumulation was produced. (v) Computer simulation of cyclic GMP binding to intracellular cyclic GMP-binding proteins indicates that half-maximal occupation by cyclic GMP required the same chemoattractant concentration as did half-maximal phosphodiesterase induction.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and protein activator in fetal rabbit tissues.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity (EC 3.1.4.17) was studied in fetal and newborn rabbit brain, heart, liver, kidney, and lung. Kinetic analysis of phosphodiesterase activity from homogenates of organs from the 25-day embryo suggested the presence of a high K_m and a low K_m activity for both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolysis. The addition of 1 μm cyclic GMP to the assay stimulated the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP by whole homogenates of liver, brain, lung, and kidney, but not heart, at all of the ages studied. The addition of micromolar levels of calcium ion stimulated cyclic GMP hydrolysis by homogenates of fetal brain, heart, and kidney, with or without added protein activator. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was not stimulated by the addition of calcium ion in homogenates of early fetal rabbit liver and lung, but stimulation was detected in the late embryo and newborn. The presence of the heat-stable protein activator was demonstrated in brain, heart, kidney, liver, and lung tissue at all of the fetal ages studied, and in the newborn rabbit. DEAE-cellulose chromatography demonstrated the presence of three separable enzymes in brain and liver at 15 days, heart at 19 days, and lung and kidney at 25 days of gestation, with no changes in the kinetic properties of the isolated enzymes during development. These experiments suggest that all of the organs studied have the mature array of phosphodiesterases early in development, but an enzyme from liver and lung becomes sensitive to regulatory control by calcium only late in gestation.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities from isolated fat cells: correlation of subcellular distribution with effects of nucleotides and insulin

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterasc activities were determined in fractions of fat cell homogenates, prepared either by differential centrifugation or by centrifugation on discontinuous sucrose gradients.In the supernatant fraction (150,000g supernatant in 0.25 m sucrose, or 92,000g supernatant in 0.32m sucrose): (a) there was 70% of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of the whole homogenate, and over 90% of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity; (b) double reciprocal kinetic plots were nonlinear for both substrates; (c) cyclic (GMP, 0.02-2 μm, activated hydrolysis of 10 μm cyclic AMP; (d) 25 or 50 μm cyclic GMP noncompetitively inhibited hydrolysis of 5–20 μm cyclic AMP (K_i = 38 μm); (e) cyclic AMP, 0.1 μm, slightly activated hydrolysis of 10 μm cyclic GMP; (f) 10 or 20 μm cyclic AMP competitively inhibited hydrolysis of 5–20 μm cyclic GMP (K_i = 18 μm).In the particle fraction (1000g, 1000-16,000g, and 16,000–150,000g pellets in 0.25m sucrose, or 0.8-1.2m sucrose interface at 92,000g): (a) there was 30% of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of whole homogenate, but less than 5% of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase; (b) the double reciprocal kinetic plot of hydrolysis of cyclic AMP was nonlinear; (c) cyclic GMP, 0.02-2μm, did not affect hydrolysis of 10 μm cyclic AMP; (d) 5 or 10 μm cyclic GMP competitively inhibited hydrolysis of 5–20 μm cyclic AMP (K_i = 1.9 μm).Incubation of fat cells with insulin, 40 ng/ml, increased the maximum velocity of particulate high-affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, but did not affect the supernatant activity. Addition of insulin after homogenization of the cells had no effect on any phosphodiestesterase activity.     

Differential inhibition of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolysis in rat renal cortex.

Adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) metabolism in rat renal cortex was examined. Athough the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases are similarly distributed between the soluble and particulate fractions following differential centrifugation, their susceptibility to inhibition by theophylline, dl-4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro 20-1724), and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX) are quite different. Ro 20-1724 selectively inhibited both renal cortical-soluble and particulate cyclic AMP degradation, but had little effect on cyclic GMP hydrolysis. Theophylline and MIX effectively inhibited degradation of both cyclic nucleotides, with MIX the more potent inhibitor. Effects of these agents on the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP content of cortical slices corresponded to their relative potency in broken cell preparations. Thus, in cortical slices, Ro 20-1724 (2 mm) had the least effect on basal (without agonist), carbamylcholine, and NaN₃-stimulated cyclic GMP accumulation, but markedly increased basal and (parathyroid hormone) PTH-mediated cyclic AMP accumulation, MIX (2 mm) which was as effective as Ro 20-1724 in potentiating basal and PTH-stimulated increases in cyclic AMP also mediated the greatest augmentation of basal, carbamylcholine, and NaN₃-stimulated accumulation of cyclic GMP. By contrast, theophylline (10 mm) which was only 12% as effective as Ro 20-1724 in increasing the total slice cyclic AMP content in the presence of PTH was much more effective than Ro 20-1724 in potentiating carbamylcholine and NaN₃-mediated increases in cyclic GMP. These results demonstrate selective inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities in the rat renal cortex and support the possibility of multiple cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in this tissue. Furthermore, both cyclic nucleotides appear to be rapidly degraded in the renal cortex.     

Activity of imidazole on the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP by bovine heart and rat liver cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases.

The effects of imidazole on the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP by crude and partially purified phosphodiesterases obtained from bovine heart and rat liver were studied in order to determine if imidazole has an activity on cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis under conditions which might explain its ability to antagonize the effects of several hormones. Imidazole-Cl (40 mm, pH 7.4) had no effect on the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP at substrate levels below 10 μm by the crude enzymes but increasing stimulation was observed with increasing substrate concentrations reaching a twofold stimulation at 1 mm cyclic nucleotide. Three phosphodiesterases with varying substrate specificities were partially purified from bovine heart by ammonium sulfate precipitation and diethyl aminoethyl cellulose chromatography. With these enzymes imidazole had less stimulatory activity and some inhibitory effect on the hydrolysis of 10^?4m cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP but was without significant effect on the hydrolysis of 10^?6m cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. The stimulatory activity of imidazole on the hydrolysis of high levels of cyclic nucleotide was dependent on the presence of phosphodiesterase activator. The stimulatory effect of the activator and imidazole plus activator on the hydrolysis of 10^?4m cyclic GMP by the rather cyclic GMP-specific enzyme could be eliminated by the addition of ethylene glycol-bis-(β-aminoethyl ether)N,N′-tetraacetate (EGTA) and restored by Ca²⁺. Imidazole was without effect on the binding of cyclic AMP to a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from bovine heart. The lack of effect of imidazole on the hydrolysis of physiological levels of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP suggests that the activity of imidazole to antagonize the effects of various hormones is probably not due to a direct action of imidazole on the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP.     

Regulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in human lung fibroblasts.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity (3', 5'-cyclic-nucleotide 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, 3.1.2.17) was studied in homogenates of WI-38 human lung fibroblasts using 0.1--200 microgram cyclic nucleotides. Activities were observed with low Km for cyclic AMP(2--5 micron) and low Km for cyclic GMP (1--2 micron) as well as with high Km values for cyclic AMP (100--125 micron) and cyclic GMP (75--100 micron). An increased low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was found upon exposure of intact fibroblasts to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase activity in broken cell preparations, as well as to other agents which elevate cyclic AMP levels in these cells. The enhanced activity following exposure to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine was selective for the low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase since there was no change in activity of low Km cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity or in high Km phosphodiesterase activity with either nucleotide as substrate. The enhanced activity due to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine appeared to involve de novo synthesis of a protein with short half-life (30 min), based on experiments involving cycloheximide and actinomycin D. This activity was also enhanced with increased cell density and by decreasing serum concentration. Studies of some biochemical properties and subcellular distribution of the enzyme indicated that the induced enzyme was similar to the non-induced (basal) low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.     

Increase in Endogenous and Exogenous Cyclic AMP Levels Inhibits Sclerotial Development in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Growth and development of a wild-type Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolate were examined in the presence of various pharmacological compounds to investigate signal transduction pathways that influence the development of sclerotia. Compounds known to increase endogenous cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in other organisms by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity (caffeine and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine) or by activating adenylate cyclase (NaF) reduced or eliminated sclerotial development in S. sclerotiorum. Growth in the presence of 5 mM caffeine correlated with increased levels of endogenous cAMP in mycelia. In addition, incorporation of cAMP into the growth medium decreased or eliminated the production of sclerotia in a concentration-dependent manner and increased the accumulation of oxalic acid. Inhibition of sclerotial development was cAMP specific, as exogenous cyclic GMP, AMP, and ATP did not influence sclerotial development. Transfer of developing cultures to cAMP-containing medium at successive time points demonstrated that cAMP inhibits development prior to or during sclerotial initiation. Together, these results indicate that cAMP plays a role in the early transition between mycelial growth and sclerotial development.     

Regulation by a β-adrenergic receptor of a Ca2+-independent adenosine 3′,5′-(cyclic)monophosphate phosphodiesterase in C6 glioma cells

The hormonal control of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) activity has been studied by using as a model the isoproterenol stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in C6 glioma cells. A 2-fold increase in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase specific activity was observed in homogenates of isoproterenol-treated cells relative to control. This increase reached a maximum 3 h after addition of isoproterenol, was selective for cyclic AMP hydrolysis, was reproduced by incubation with 8-Br cyclic AMP but not with 8-Br cyclic GMP and was limited to the soluble enzyme activity. The presence of 0.1 mM EGTA did not alter the magnitude of the increase in phosphodiesterase activity. Moreover, the calmodulin content in the cell extracts was not changed after isoproterernol. DEASE-Sephacel chromatography of the 100 000×g supernatant resolved two peaks of phosphodiesterase activity. The first peak hydrolyzed both cyclic nucleotides and was activated by Ca²⁺ and purified calmodulin. The second peak was specific for cyclic AMP but it was Ca²⁺- and calmodulin-insensitive. Isoproterenol selectively increased the specific activity of the second peak. Kinetic analysis of the cyclic AMP hydrolysis by the induced enzyme reveled a non-linear Hofstee plot with apparent K_m values of 2–5 μM. Cyclic GMP was not hydrolyzed by this enzyme in the absence or presence of calmodulin and failed to affect the kinetics of the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP. Gel filtration chromatography of the induced DEASE-Sephacel peak resolved a single peak of enzyme activity with an apparent molecular weight of 54 000.     

Assessment of selective inhibition of rat cerebral cortical calcium-independent and calcium-dependent phosphodiesterases in crude extracts using deoxycyclic AMP and potassium ions

The effects of various inhibitors on the activity of calcium-independent and calcium-dependent phosphodiesterases from rat cerebral cortex were examined. While the agents varied greatly in their relative potency, each was found to be approximately equipotent in inhibiting the calcium-dependent hydrolysis of either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. In contrast, the inhibitors displayed a marked substrate specificity for the calcium-independent enzyme with ratios of IC₅₀ values for inhibition of cyclic GMP hydrolysis when compared to cyclic AMP hydrolysis in decreasing order being: ZK 62711 (? 100) > Ro 20–1724 (?>25) papaverine (13) > 7-benzyl IBMX (4) > quercetin and kaempferol (2). The differential selectivity of the inhibitors for the two enzymes was most pronounced for ZK 62711 and Ro 20–1724 which were at least 25–100-times more potent in inhibiting the calcium-independent hydrolysis of cyclic AMP when compared to the calcium-dependent hydrolysis of cyclic AMP. In contrast, 7-benzyl IBMX, kaempferol and quercetin were 8–100-times more effective as inhibitors of cycluc GMP hydrolysis by the calcium-dependent phosphodiesterase while 7-benzyl IBMX and trimazosin displayed a similar enzyme selectivity using cyclic AMP as substrate. With the exception of papaverine, all agents were competitive inhibitors of the calcium-dependent phosphodiesterase. The type of inhibition observed with the calcium-independent enzyme was dependent on the substrate employed. The specificity of potassium ions in inhibiting the activity of the calcium-dependent phosphodiesterase and deoxycyclic AMP in inhibiting the calcium-independent enzyme was found to provide a convenient means to assess the effects of agents on these activities in crude extracts of cerebral cortex.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in the cricket, Acheta domesticus.

Exceptionally high levels of guanosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) in the accessory reproductive gland of the male house cricket, Acheta domesticus, led to an investigation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.--) as a possible regulatory enzyme. Cricket cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity with cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP as substrate had a pH optimum around 9.0, required Mg2+ or Mn2+ for maximal activity, and was inhibited by EDTA and methylxanthines. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase occurred mainly in the soluble fraction of homogenates of accessory glands or whole crickets, but cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the accessory gland was primarily particulate. Kinetic analysis indicated three forms of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase, with Km values at 2.9 muM, 71 muM and 1.5 mM. Chromatography of whole cricket or accessory gland extracts on DEAE cellulose gave an initial peak having comparable activity with either cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP, and a second peak specific for cyclic AMP. There were no appreciable changes in the specific activity or kinetic properties of accessory gland cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase during a developmental period over which cyclic GMP levels rise more than 500-fold. Thus, the accumulation of cyclic GMP in the accessory gland is probably not associated with concomitant developmental modulation of phosphodiesterase activity.     

Levels of cyclic nucleotides in mouse regional brain following 300 ms microwave inactivation.

Abstract— The uniformity and speed of inactivation of mouse brain adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase were measured after 6 kW microwave irradiation (MWR). Inactivation of enzymes was uniform throughout the brain during heating and 100% loss of activity was evident after 300 ms. MWR. For comparison of effects of inactivation times on levels of cyclic nucleotides measured in regional brain areas, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were estimated after 1.5 kW MWR requiring 4 s of heating and 6 kW MWR requiring 300 ms. Except for corpus striatum, uniformly lower levels of cyclic AMP were measured following 300 ms vs. 4s MWR . There was no change in cyclic GMP levels in regional brain areas after 4s vs. 300 ms MWR . Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were measured from the same regional brain tissue samples after 300 ms and ratios calculated. The finding of much lower cyclic AMP:cyclic GMP ratios than had previously been reported suggests that slow inactivation times provide for the measurement of regional brain cyclic nucleotide values which are not consistent with the in-vivo state.     

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.     

Inhibition by purine compounds of cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity from a particulate fraction of rat striatum

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in a particulate fraction of rat striatum is stimulated two fold by cyclic GMP. An investigation of the effects of various purine compounds on basal and cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity as measured at a low substrate concentration (3 uM) was carried out. Adenosine inhibits cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity with an IC₅₀ of 400 uM while inhibiting basal cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity with an IC₅₀ of 2.4 mM. Adenosine blocks cyclic GMP stimulation of cyclic AMP hydrolysis with an IC₅₀ of 80 uM. Inosine and hypoxanthine have a similar profile of action but are less effective with IC₅₀'s of 200 and 400 uM respectively on cyclic GMP stimulation of phosphodiesterase activity and only 20–40% inhibition of basal enzyme activity up to 2.4 mM. Adenine, guanosine and guanine block cyclic GMP stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity with IC₅₀'s of 100–200 uM. Classical phosphodiesterase inhibitors of the alkylxanthine type are also selective for the stimulated enzyme with IC₅₀'s of 200 and 25 uM for theophylline and IBMX on cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP hydrolysis and IC₅₀'s of 500 and 50 uM respectively on basal phosphodiesterase activity. Theophylline and IBMX are potent inhibitors of cyclic GMP stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity with IC₅₀'s of 50 and 5 uM. These findings suggest a role for physiologically available purine compounds and alkylxanthines in the regulation of cyclic nucleotide metabolism through interaction with cyclic GMP stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity.     

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.