The hormone-sensitive adenylyl cyclase system of the ciliate Dileptus anser

The hormone-sensitive adenylyl cyclase system (AC system) was found and characterized for unicellular eukaryotes--the ciliatae Dileptus anser. It has been first shown that hormones of higher eukaryotes--biogenic amines (adrenalin, isoproterenol and serotonin) and peptide glucagon--stimulate in dose-dependent manner the activity of adenylyl cyclase (AC) of D. anser. The enzymatic activity was stimulated also by guanine nucleotides--GTP and their non-hydrolysable analogue Gpp[NH]p. Stimulating effects of hormones and guanine nucleotides strongly depend on the level of AC basal activity, which is relatively easy to reach (1430 to 3900 pmol cAMP/min per 1 mg of protein). The sensitivity of D. anser AC system to hormones and guanine nucleotides shows the presence of receptor or receptor-related molecules, capable of interacting with the hormone and activating AC through heterotrimeric G-proteins, in ciliatae. On the base of obtained data, a conclusion is made about the similarity of the structural-functional organization of AC systems of D. anser and higher eukaryotes.