Regulation by cyclic adenosine monophosphate of functional activity of the adenylyl cyclase system in the infusorian Dileptus anser

Abstract

In some unicellular eukaryotes, cAMP performs functions not only of the second messenger, but also of hormone, the primary messenger. We have found that cAMP binds to surface receptors of the free-living infusorian Dileptus anser and stimulates activity of the adenylyl cyclase signaling system (AC-system) including heterotrimeric G-proteins and enzyme adenylyl cyclase (AC). The binding of cAMP to receptor is performed with a high affinity (K(D), 27 nM) and is highly specific, as cGMP and adenosine do not produce a marked effect on it. The infusorian cAMP-receptors have been shown to be coupled to G-proteins, which is indicated by a decrease of their affinity to the ligand in the presence of GTP, stimulation of the GTP-binding of G-proteins with the cyclic nucleotide, and block of the cAMP regulatory effects with suramin, an inhibitor of heterotrimeric G-proteins. cAMP stimulates dose-dependently the AC activity, its effect remaining virtually unchanged in the presence of cGMP, AMP, GMP, and adenosine. N6,O2-dibutyryl-cAMP, a non-hydrolyzed cAMP analog, only at comparatively high concentrations competes with cAMP for binding sites and decreases the cAMP stimulating effects on the AC activity and GTP binding. Thus, we have shown for the first time that the AC system of the infusorians D. anser is stimulated with the extracellular cAMP that in this case functions as the external signal regulates activity of extracellular cAMP-dependent effector systems.