Action Of Cholera Toxin Research Articles

Hemagglutinating activity ofvibrio choleraeenterotoxin

The hemagglutinating activity and carbohydrate specificity of cholera toxin (cholera enterotoxin) was studied using hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition. Hemagglutination was obtained with cholera toxin at >108 μg/ml for human types A, B, and O erythrocytes, >216 μg/ml for chicken erythrocytes, and >865 μg/ml for sheep erythrocytes. When the erythrocytes were treated with either neuraminidase or pronase, the hemagglutinating activity of cholera toxin was enhanced about 8- to 32-fold. Hemagglutination of pronase-treated human type B erythrocytes induced by cholera toxin was inhibited by lactose, galactose, melibiose and l-arabinose. Lactose was the most effective of the mono-, di-, and polysaccharides used as inhibitors, being a slightly better inhibitor than galactose, and much more potent than melibiose. These results suggest that cholera toxin is a bacterial lectin specific for galactose and/or lactose.

Hemagglutinating activity of vibrio cholerae enterotoxin

The hemagglutinating activity and carbohydrate specificity of cholera toxin (cholera enterotoxin) was studied using hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition. Hemagglutination was obtained with cholera toxin at >108 μg/ml for human types A, B, and O erythrocytes, >216 μg/ml for chicken erythrocytes, and >865 μg/ml for sheep erythrocytes. When the erythrocytes were treated with either neuraminidase or pronase, the hemagglutinating activity of cholera toxin was enhanced about 8- to 32-fold. Hemagglutination of pronase-treated human type B erythrocytes induced by cholera toxin was inhibited by lactose, galactose, melibiose and l-arabinose. Lactose was the most effective of the mono-, di-, and polysaccharides used as inhibitors, being a slightly better inhibitor than galactose, and much more potent than melibiose. These results suggest that cholera toxin is a bacterial lectin specific for galactose and/or lactose.

Somatostatin inhibits cAMP-mediated cholinergic transmission in the myenteric plexus.

The mechanism by which somatostatin acts to modulate cholinergic transmission is not clear. In this study we investigated the role of the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) system in mediating cholinergic transmission in the guinea pig myenteric plexus and examined the ability of somatostatin to alter acetylcholine (ACh) release stimulated by various cAMP agonists. Forskolin, 8-bromo-cAMP, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and cholera toxin each stimulated the release of [3H]ACh in a dose-related manner. Addition of theophylline enhanced the release of [3H]ACh stimulated by these cAMP agonists. In contrast 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, antagonized the action of forskolin, VIP, and cholera toxin but had no effect on that evoked by 8-bromo-cAMP. These observations suggest that cAMP may serve as a physiological mediator for ACh release from myenteric neurons. Somatostatin inhibited release of [3H]ACh evoked by various cAMP agonists in a dose-related manner. Maximal inhibition, observed in the presence of 10(-6) M somatostatin was 48 +/- 5, 47 +/- 9, and 43 +/- 12% of control for forskolin-, VIP-, and cholera toxin-evoked release of [3H]ACh. In contrast somatostatin at 10(-6) M inhibited only 20 +/- 5% of the release of [3H]ACh stimulated by 8-bromo-cAMP. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin antagonized the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on the release of [3H]ACh evoked by forskolin, VIP, or cholera toxin but had no effect on the inhibitory action of somatostatin on the release of [3H]ACh evoked by 8-bromo-cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alpha 2-adrenergic regulation of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase in organ-cultured chick pineal gland: characterization with agonists and modulation of experimentally stimulated enzyme activity.

In the chicken pineal gland, norepinephrine, released at sympathetic nerve endings, plays a role in synchronizing the circadian rhythm of melatonin synthesis. This effect appears to be exerted via an adrenergic inhibition of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, the melatonin rhythm-generating enzyme. The present study indicates that the nighttime peak of N-acetyltransferase activity developed by organ-cultured chick pineal glands is inhibited by adrenergic agonists with a potency order characterizing alpha 2-adrenergic receptors: UK 14,304 greater than clonidine greater than alpha-methylnorepinephrine = epinephrine greater than cirazoline greater than phenylephrine greater than isoproterenol. The mechanism of this alpha 2-adrenergic response was further analyzed in organ cultures, by studying the ability of clonidine to block the cyclic AMP-dependent and the depolarization-dependent stimulations of N-acetyltransferase activity. Clonidine prevented the rise in N-acetyltransferase activity evoked by the adenylate cyclase activators forskolin and cholera toxin or by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Ro 20,1724. The stimulatory effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP was also blocked by clonidine. Activation of pineal alpha 2-adrenergic receptors effectively prevented the stimulation of N-acetyltransferase by depolarizing concentrations of KCl. The possibility that the alpha 2-adrenergic effect might be exerted at a step distal to cyclic AMP production is discussed.

Calcium transport affinity, ion competition and cholera toxin effects on cytosolic Ca concentration.

The physiological relevance of an apparent ionophore activity of cholera toxin towards Ca2+ has been examined in several different systems designed to measure affinity, specificity, rates of ion transfer, and effects on intracellular ion concentrations. Half-maximal transfer rates across porcine jejunal brush-border vesicles were obtained at a concentration of 0.20 microM Ca2+. When examined in the presence of competing ions the transfer process was blocked by very low concentrations of La3+ or Cd2+, Sr2+, Ba2+ and Mg2+ were relatively inefficient competitors for Ca2+ transport mediated by cholera toxin. The relative affinities observed would be compatible with a selectivity for Ca2+ transfer at physiological ion concentrations, as well as an inhibition of this ionophore activity by recognized antagonists of cholera toxin such as lanthanum ions. Entry rates of Ca2+ into brush-border vesicles exposed to cholera toxin were large enough to accelerate the collapse of a Ca2+ gradient generated by endogenous Ca, Mg-ATPase activity. The treatment of isolated jejunal enterocytes with cholera toxin caused a significant elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations as measured by Quin-2 fluorescence. This effect was specifically prevented by prior exposure of the cholera toxin to excess ganglioside GM1. We conclude that cholera toxin has many of the properties required for promoting transmembranes Ca2+ movement in membrane vesicles and appears to be an effective Ca2+ ionophore in isolated mammalian cells.

A-protein catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of G-protein from cow rod outer segments.

A 20-kilodalton adenosine nucleotide-binding protein (A-protein) extracted from rod outer segments is shown to catalyze the cholera toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding protein (G-protein) from the outer segment. Radiolabel from [adenylate-32P] NAD+ was associated specifically with both the alpha-subunit of G-protein and with A-protein in the presence of activated cholera toxin. In the absence of added A-protein, G-protein appears to undergo ADP-ribosylation at a slower rate. In the absence of G-protein, A-protein was found to be labeled following incubation with [adenylate-32P]NAD+ and cholera toxin. In the presence of G-protein, a light-dependent component of A-protein labeling was observed. A-protein is a labile component of rod outer segments and has an affinity for ADP. The findings suggest that A-protein may act as an ADP-ribosyltransferase in the cholera toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of G-protein.

Dual role of GTP-binding proteins in the control of endothelial prostacyclin

Pretreatment of bovine aortic endothelial cells with pertussis toxin inhibited partially the accumulation of inositol phosphates in response to ATP, whereas cholera toxin had no effect. Both pertussis and cholera toxins enhanced the stimulatory effect of ATP on prostacyclin release from the same cells. This action of cholera toxin was mimicked neither by an increase of cyclic AMP nor by the dissociated subunits of the toxin. Cholera and pertussis toxins, as well as aluminum fluoride, also potentiated the release of prostacyclin induced by ionophore A23187. These results suggest that a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein is involved in the coupling between P2-purinergic receptors and phospholipase C. In addition, another GTP-binding protein would play a crucial role at a further step in the control of PGI2 biosynthesis.

Hypertrophy of pheochromocytoma cells treated with nerve growth factor and activators of adenylate cyclase.

PC12 pheochromocytoma cells treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) in combination with high concentrations of the activators of adenylate cyclase, forskolin or cholera toxin, become more neuron-like in size than cells treated with NGF or with activators of adenylate cyclase alone. Cells treated simultaneously with NGF plus forskolin or cholera toxin paradoxically show less process outgrowth than cells treated with NGF alone. Addition of forskolin or cholera toxin to cells pretreated with NGF, however, produces enlarged cells with intact processes that are indistinguishable from cultured neurons. One possible implication of these findings is that NGF might act in concert with agents that increase intracellular cyclic AMP to cause neuronal maturation during embryogenesis, and that the proper sequence of exposure to these signals is necessary for normal development. Specific activity of acetylcholinesterase is increased by NGF but is unaffected or slightly decreased by forskolin, suggesting that individual aspects of the developing neuronal phenotype are subject to different types of control.

Cyclic Adenosine-3′,5′-Monophosphate Stimulates the Acute Release of Placental Lactogen from Human Trophoblast Cells*

cAMP has been shown to be a second messenger in the release of many hormones and other secretory products. To determine whether cAMP also plays a role in the mechanism of release of human placental lactogen (hPL), we examined the effects of (Bu)2cAMP, isobutyl methylxanthine, forskolin, and cholera toxin on the acute release of hPL from an enriched fraction of hPL-producing trophoblast cells. Static cultures of trophoblast cells exposed to (Bu)2cAMP (5 mM) for 2 h released 2.6 times as much hPL as control cells (P less than 0.01) during the first 0.5 h of exposure. The increase in hPL release was followed by a decrease rate of release during the subsequent 1.5 h. Perifused trophoblast cells (1.5 X 10(6) exposed to 5 mM cAMP for 20 min released 3.2 times as much hPL as control cells. The rate of hPL increased markedly during the first 10 min of exposure, rapidly decreased toward control values during the remainder of the exposure period, and then declined to a subnormal rate for the next 30 min before returning to normal to control values. (Bu)2cAMP, however, had no acute effects on the release of human CG or the release of the cytosolic enzymes alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline (5 mM) and isobutyl methylxanthine (0.5 mM) and the adenylate cyclase activators forskolin (5 micrograms/ml) and cholera toxin (25 micrograms/ml) stimulated hPL release by 75-95%. These results strongly suggest that cAMP is a second messenger in the acute release of hPL.

Alteration by v-Ki- [formula omitted] in NaF, cholera toxin and forskolin-induced adenylate cyclase activation in NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells

It has been suggested that ras proteins are involved in the transmembrane signaling mechanism and they share structural features with GTP-binding proteins. To identify the role of ras oncogene and it's products in the coupling mechanism of GTP-binding proteins to adenylate cyclase, we examined effect of NaF, cholera toxin and forskolin in normal and v-Ki- ras transformed NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. In transformants, adenylate cyclase activity was markedly enhanced by NaF and cholera toxin, in contrast to normal cells. It is suggested that ras oncogene proteins plays enhancing role in coupling of GTP-binding proteins to adenylate cyclase.

Polyphosphoinositide labeling in rat liver plasma membranes is reduced by preincubation with cholera toxin.

Incubation of a crude rat liver plasma membrane preparation with [gamma-32P]ATP resulted in a rapid Mg2+-dependent incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Preincubation of the membranes with cholera toxin under ADP-ribosylating conditions reduced the labeling of the polyphosphoinositides. This action of cholera toxin required NAD+ and guanine nucleotides, was dose-dependent with respect to cholera toxin, and could not be mimicked by cAMP. It therefore appears that ADP-ribosylation of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase, or another G-protein, in rat liver plasma membranes affects the activity of enzymes in the polyphosphoinositide pathway.

Actions of cholera toxin on dispersed Chief cells from guinea pig stomach

Although much is known about the actions of cholera toxin on intestinal and extra-gastrointestinal tissues, almost nothing is known about the interaction of this toxin with cells in the stomach. In the present study, we prepared 125I-labeled cholera toxin (1900 Ci/mmol) and examined the binding of this radioligand to dispersed Chief cells from guinea pig stomach. Moreover, we examined the actions of cholera toxin on cellular cAMP and pepsinogen secretion from Chief cells. Binding of 125I-labeled cholera toxin could be detected within 5 min, was maximal by 60 min, and was increased by increasing the radioligand or cell concentrations. Inhibition of binding by unlabeled toxin indicated a dissociation constant of 3 nM and 8.7·10 5 cholera toxin receptors per Chief cell. In contrast to the rapidity of binding, a cholera toxin-induced increase in cAMP and pepsinogen secretion was not detected until 30–45 min of incubation. A 3 to 6-fold increase in cAMP and pepsinogen secretion was observed with maximal concentrations of cholera toxin. Binding of 125I-labeled cholera toxin and the toxin's actions on cAMP and pepsinogen secretion were inhibited by the B subunit of the toxin. Binding was not altered by other agents that have been shown to stimulate pepsinogen secretion (carbachol, CCK-8, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, prostaglandin E 1, or forskolin). These data indicate that Chief cells from guinea pig stomach possess a specific class of cholera toxin receptors. Binding of cholera toxin to these receptors causes an increase in cellular cAMP that stimulates pepsinogen secretion.

G protein and diacylglycerol regulate metamorphosis of planktonic molluscan larvae

The regulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) activators cholera toxin and the GTP analog 5-guanylyl imidophosphate, the second messenger diacylglycerol, and certain diamino acids all facilitate (amplify) the settlement and metamorphic responses of planktonic larvae of Haliotis rufescens (marine mollusc) to morphogenetic chemical stimuli. In contrast, the G protein-inhibiting analog guanosine 5'-O-[beta-thio]diphosphate inhibits facilitation by L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid but does not block facilitation by diacylglycerol. Diacylglycerol, cholera toxin, and the guanine nucleotide analogs alone neither induce the settlement and metamorphosis of the larvae nor do they inhibit induction of metamorphosis by gamma-aminobutyric acid. These results thus establish the existence of separate regulatory and inductive pathways controlling larval metamorphosis in response to two classes of exogenous chemical signals from the environment. The regulatory pathway, operating independently through a G protein-diacylglycerol cascade apparently controlled by facilitating diamino acids in the water column, can amplify the larval responsiveness to inducers of metamorphosis. This mechanism may have adaptive significance in the recognition and selection of favorable habitats for metamorphosis of the larvae. Similar regulatory pathways, based on exogenous control of a G protein-diacylglycerol cascade, may govern responsiveness to stimuli in other sensory and developmental systems.

ALTERED BINDING KINETICS OF CHOLERA TOXIN TO DEVELOPING RAT MUCOSA

Children suffer a disproportionate share of the morbidity attributed to enterotoxigenic diarrhea. Receptor density on cell surfaces is known to effect the action of Cholera Toxin (CT). We hypothesize that structural changes during development in enterocyte membranes will modulate the binding and enterocyte response to CT. A complete randomized block design was used to compare the binding kinetics of CT to developing rat enterocyte microvillus membrane (MVM) prepared from newborn (NB), two week (2wk), four week (4wk) and adult (AD) animals. Enrichments of sucrase and lactase ranged from 9 to 22 fold. Saturation binding isotherms were generated on twelve independent samples (3 blocks) under conditions shown to be at steady state and reversible. Scatchard analysis suggested positive cooperative binding to a single class of receptor and tne isotherms were analyzed using both the Hill-Waud and Michael-is -Menton function. The Hill-Waud model explained significantly more of the observed data (P<.05-.001). Receptor density varied significantly by age (ANOVA F=4.62 P=.013) as did the “half” dissociation constant (Kh) (ANOVA model: F=6.28 P=.022 Age: F=7.48 P=.019). Neither receptor concentration nor membrane “purity” confounded these observations. Changes in binding affinity (Ka) paralleled changes in Kh. We conclude that receptor density and “affinity” change with postnatal age. We speculate that developmental differences in receptor density and binding affinity may partially explain the enhanced morbidity due to toxigenie diarrhea in children.

Tumor promoters as probes of protein kinase C in dog thyroid cell: Inhibition of the primary effects of carbamylocholine and reproduction of some distal effects

The acute effects of phorbol esters, used as probes of protein kinase C activation, were studied on dog thyroid slices incubated in vitro. The derivatives used were: tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), phorbol-12,13, didecanoate (PDD), phorbol-12,13-diacetate (PDA), and phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) and as inactive controls, phorbol itself, phorbol-12, myristate and phorbol-13, acetate, in concentrations ranging from 5.10 −8 to 5.10 −6 mol/L. The active phorbol esters had no effect on basal cyclic AMP concentrations; they inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation induced by prostaglandin E 1 but not that induced by thyrotropin (TSH) 1 mU/mL and forskolin 10 μmol/L. Phorbol esters like carbamylcholine acutely stimulated iodide organification and inhibited the stimulation of hormone secretion resulting from TSH, Cholera Toxin, forskolin, and Bu 2-cyclic AMP action. These metabolic effects did not require the presence of extracellular Ca ++, and could not be antagonized by Ca ++ depletion or manganese addition. The active phorbol esters abolished the cyclic AMP independent increased PI turnover induced by TSH 10 mU/mL or carbamylcholine (Cchol) 10 −6 mol/L but did not affect the basal incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol. They reduced the 45Ca efflux from preloaded slices below basal levels and blocked the increased 45Ca release induced by TSH and Cchol. They also inhibited the increase in cyclic GMP concentrations resulting from Cchol action but not the effect of the ionophore A23187 (10 −5 mol/L) nor the basal levels of cyclic GMP. They relieved the inhibitions of TSH induced cyclic AMP accumulation by Cchol 10 −6 to 10 −5 mol/L and prostaglandin F 1α (2 μg/mL), but not the inhibitions caused by norepinephrine 100 μmol/L, adenosine (5 mmol/L), or potassium iodide (10 −4 mol/L) additions. None of the above described effects could be reproduced by the inactive phorbol esters. In conclusion, the data presented here show that active phorbol esters reproduce the effects of carbachol and prostaglandin F α on iodine metabolism in dog thyroid slices. On the other hand, they inhibit phosphatidylinositol turnover, calcium translocation, and the consequences of increased ionized free calcium in the slices, ie, cyclic GMP accumulation and inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation. This suggests that diacylglycerol released by the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol in response to thyrotropin and acetylcholine acts in parallel with calcium as an intracellular signal controlling iodine metabolism but also as a feedback inhibition of the initial interaction of these agonists with this system.

Pathophysiological role of thyroid blocking antibody in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

The pathophysiological role of thyroid blocking antibody (TBAb) in patients with adult primary hypothyroidism and the mechanism of TBAb action were studied. A sensitive bioassay for TBAb, which inhibits the TSH-induced cAMP accumulation, was established using normal human thyroid cells in culture. Thirty-four patients with primary hypothyroidism consisting of 17 goitrous and 17 non-goitrous patients were examined. Two out of 17 goitrous patients (11.8%) and three out of 17 non-goitrous patients (17.6%) were TBAb positive. There were no significant differences between TBAb positive and negative patients in terms of the severity of hypothyroidism or the titers of MCHA or TGHA. Four out of the five TBAb-positive IgGs had strongly positive thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulin activities. All five TBAb-positive IgGs inhibited the cAMP increase induced by Graves' IgG, but did not affect the action of either prostaglandin E1 or cholera toxin. However, three TBAb positive IgG also inhibited the cAMP increase induced by forskolin. These findings indicate: 1) TBAb is present in hypothyroid patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and TBAb may play a role in the pathophysiology of these patients. 2) TBAb may inhibit the action of TSH not only at the level of the TSH receptor, but also at a different site from the TSH receptor.

Rat heart cell membranes contain three substrates for cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation and a single substrate for pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation

Three peptides (Mr = 45,000, 47,000 and 52,000) in the cholate extract from rat heart cell membranes were radiolabeled when the extract was incubated in the presence of activated cholera toxin and [32P]NAD. A single peptide of Mr = 41,000 in this extract was ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin in the presence of [32P]NAD.

Stimulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) release and phospholipid breakdown by guanosine triphosphate in permeabilized pituitary gonadotropes: antagonist action suggests association of a G protein and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor.

The stimulation of gonadotropin release from pituitary cell cultures by GnRH has been linked to inositol phospholipid breakdown to diacylglycerols and subsequent activation of protein kinase C as well as Ca2+ mobilization. In order to examine the means of receptor coupling to a phospholipase C-type reaction, we evaluated the role of guanine nucleotides in inositol phospholipid breakdown. In these studies ATP (50 microM) was used for cell permeabilization to allow guanine nucleotides access to the intracellular compartment. Under these conditions GTP and the GTP analog, guanylylimidodiphosphate (GMP-PNP), stimulated a time- and dose-dependent increase in LH release and inositol phosphate accumulation. These actions of GTP and GMP-PNP were not observed unless ATP was included in the treatment media. Other closely related nucleotides and nucleosides alone, or in the presence of ATP, did not elevate LH release above basal levels. We also evaluated the actions of pertussis toxin and cholera toxin on mediating the effect of GTP, GMP-PNP, and GnRH on LH release and inositol phosphate accumulation. After treatment with these agents, no changes were observed in the ability of GnRH, GTP, or GMP-PNP to stimulate either LH release or inositol phosphate accumulation. The additional observation that GnRH-, GTP-, or GMP-PNP-stimulated LH release and inositol phosphate accumulation were blocked by a potent GnRH antagonist suggests that a G protein is functionally associated with the GnRH receptor recognition site.

Isolation of a mutant LLC-PK1 cell line defective in hormonal responsiveness. A pleiotropic lesion in receptor function.

A mutant LLC-PK1 cell line, M18, was isolated after a single treatment of the parent culture with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine. In contrast to LLC-PK1 cells, the mutant did not exhibit production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in response to the hormones calcitonin and vasopressin, but produced the expected levels of uPA upon stimulation by the receptor-independent adenylate cyclase activators forskolin and cholera toxin, as well as by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine and the 8-bromo analogue of adenosine cyclic monophosphate, Br8cAMP. The patterns of activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were identical to those of uPA induction: calcitonin and vasopressin were without effect, but the response to all other agents was normal. In similar fashion, mutant cell homogenates displayed normal activation of adenylate cyclase upon treatment with sodium fluoride, forskolin, or the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imino]triphosphate, but were unresponsive to calcitonin or vasopressin. The ability of M18 cells to bind radioactively labelled calcitonin and vasopressin was measured. The mutant possessed less than 4% of the normal levels of the receptor binding activity for both hormones. Somatic cell hybrids formed between M18 and LLC-PK1 cells were found to retain normal hormone binding activity and responsiveness to hormones, indicating that the defect in M18 cells was recessive. M18 was concluded most probably to contain a single mutation impairing the function of two distinct polypeptide hormone receptors.

Characterization of the plasma membrane bound GTPase from rabbit neutrophils. I. Evidence for an Ni-like protein coupled to the formyl peptide, C5a, and leukotriene B4 chemotaxis receptors.

We have characterized the GTPase activity of the Ni-like guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein in rabbit neutrophil plasma membranes. The low Km (3.64 +/- 0.87 X 10(-7) M) GTPase copurified with the formyl peptide receptor in the plasma membrane fraction obtained by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The Vmax (23.9 +/- 2.91 pmol/mg/min) and Km of the unstimulated enzyme were similar to those reported for Ni in other cell types. The activity of the unstimulated enzyme was both magnesium and sodium dependent and linear over the first 4 min of the assay. The chemoattractants, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), C5a, and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) stimulated the GTPase in purified neutrophil plasma membrane preparations, whereas other secretagogues, such as A23187 and PMA, were without effect. Lineweaver-Burk analysis showed an fMLP-induced increase in Vmax (31.94 +/- 4.80 pmol/mg/min) (33.1 +/- 9.5%) but not in Km. The dose-response curve for fMLP stimulation showed an ED50 of 4.1 +/- 1.0 X 10(-8) M and an overall 22.2 +/- 3.1% maximal stimulation. C5a (30 micrograms/ml) increased the activity of the GTPase 21.3 +/- 5.7% and 10(-7) M LTB4 produced a 32.2 +/- 5.4% increase. Activated pertussis toxin treatment of neutrophil plasma membranes inhibited by 72.5 +/- 14.3% the stimulation of GTPase activity induced by fMLP; however, activated cholera toxin had no effect on the inhibition of fMLP stimulation, suggesting a direct role for an Ni-like protein in the coupling process. In contrast to the lack of inhibition of fMLP stimulation by activated cholera toxin treatment of plasma membranes, both pertussis toxin and to a lesser extent cholera toxin treatment reduced fMLP, C5a, and LTB4 stimulation of the GTPase in sonicates prepared from pretreated whole cells. Pertussis toxin inhibited fMLP stimulation of the GTPase by 75 +/- 7%, C5a stimulation was inhibited by 83 +/- 13%, and LTB4 stimulation was inhibited completely. Sonicates prepared from neutrophils treated similarly with cholera toxin showed a smaller inhibition of GTPase activity (50 +/- 4% and 14 +/- 9% for fMLP and LTB4, respectively) with the exception of C5a, where CT inhibition (81 +/- 32%) equaled pertussis toxin inhibition. Similarly, pertussis toxin completely inhibited the release of the granule enzyme N-acetyl-glucosaminidase by all three chemoattractants, whereas cholera toxin, except with C5a stimulation, had little or no effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)