Cytosolic AMP Research Articles

The physiological role of mitochondrial ADNT1 carrier during senescence in Arabidopsis

The Adenine Nucleotide Transporter 1 (ADNT1) carrier resides in the mitochondrial inner membrane of plants. Unlike other ADP/ATP carriers, ADNT1 mediates preferably an exchange of mitochondrial matrix ATP by cytosolic AMP, and, to a lesser extent, cytosolic ADP. Because we have previously demonstrated that ADNT1 expression is stronger in senescing tissues, we investigated here the role of ADNT1 carrier during natural and dark-induced senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana. ADNT1 deficient lines displayed an early onset of developmental senescence during both natural and dark-induced senescence. In agreement, moderate loss of chlorophyll content and a reduced PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was observed in the ADNT1 deficient lines at the end of an extended period of darkness. Despite these changes, minor alterations in the levels of sucrose and protein were observed in the ADNT1 deficient lines during dark treatment. However, the levels of a few amino acids as well as the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates correlated with ADNT1 expression mainly at the end of dark treatment. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the physiological influence of the AMP/ATP transporter ADNT1 increases during the natural aging and in the later stages of extended darkness treatment. Our data suggest that proper expression of the ADNT1 is important in plant senescence.

AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase activities in liver and brain regions in acute ammonia intoxication and subacute toxic hepatitis

Cytosolic enzymes AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) catalyze AMP and adenosine deamination, constitute rate-limiting steps of adenine nucleotide catabolism and play important roles in cellular energy metabolism. In this study, AMP deaminase and ADA activities of rat liver, neocortex, cerebellum, striatum and hippocampus were investigated in acute ammonia intoxication and subacute CCl 4-induced hepatitis. Activities of both AMP deaminase and ADA in the liver were elevated by 2.4–4.2-fold ( p < 0.0001) in both models of hepatotoxic injury as compared with controls. In acute hyperammonemia activities of AMP, deaminase and ADA increased by 46–59% ( p < 0.02) in the neocortex and did not change in the striatum. In the hippocampus of hyperammonemiс rats, only AMP deaminase activity was increased by 48% ( p = 0.0004), and in the cerebellum only ADA activity was increased significantly (by 26%, p < 0.05). The adenylate pool size and energy charge were greatly reduced in the neocortex of hyperammonemiс rats. Results suggested that two parallel pathways of AMP breakdown, including AMP deaminase and ADA, respectively, are up-regulated under pathological conditions, probably in order to overcome compensatory synthesis of adenylates, to ensure prompt adenylate pool depletion and reduce the adenylate energy charge in liver and selected brain regions.

ATP Binding to the C Terminus of the Arabidopsis thaliana Nitrate/Proton Antiporter, AtCLCa, Regulates Nitrate Transport into Plant Vacuoles

Nitrate, one of the major nitrogen sources for plants, is stored in the vacuole. Nitrate accumulation within the vacuole is primarily mediated by the NO(3)(-)/H(+) exchanger AtCLCa, which belongs to the chloride channel (CLC) family. Crystallography analysis of hCLC5 suggested that the C-terminal domain, composed by two cystathionine beta-synthetase motifs in all eukaryotic members of the CLC family is able to interact with ATP. However, interaction of nucleotides with a functional CLC protein has not been unambiguously demonstrated. Here we show that ATP reversibly inhibits AtCLCa by interacting with the C-terminal domain. Applying the patch clamp technique to isolated Arabidopsis thaliana vacuoles, we demonstrate that ATP reduces AtCLCa activity with a maximum inhibition of 60%. ATP inhibition of nitrate influx into the vacuole at cytosolic physiological nitrate concentrations suggests that ATP modulation is physiologically relevant. ADP and AMP do not decrease the AtCLCa transport activity; nonetheless, AMP (but not ADP) competes with ATP, preventing inhibition. A molecular model of the C terminus of AtCLCa was built by homology to hCLC5 C terminus. The model predicted the effects of mutations of the ATP binding site on the interaction energy between ATP and AtCLCa that were further confirmed by functional expression of site-directed mutated AtCLCa.

AMPK controls epithelial Na+ channels through Nedd4-2 and causes an epithelial phenotype when mutated

The metabolic sensor adenosine-monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) detects the cellular energy status and adjusts metabolic activity according to the cytosolic AMP to ATP ratio. Na(+) absorption by epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaC) is a highly energy-consuming process that is inhibited by AMPK. We show that the catalytic subunit alpha1 of AMPK inhibits ENaC in epithelial tissues from airways, kidney, and colon and that AMPK regulation of ENaC is absent in AMPKalpha1-/- mice. These mice demonstrate enhanced electrogenic Na(+) absorption that leads to subtle changes in intestinal and renal function and may also affect Na(+) absorption and mucociliary clearance in the airways. We demonstrate that AMPK uses the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 to inhibit ENaC by increasing ubiquitination and endocytosis of ENaC. Thus, enhanced expression of epithelial Na(+) channels was detected in colon, airways, and kidney of AMPKalpha1-/- mice. Therefore, AMPKalpha1 is a physiologically important regulator of electrogenic Na(+) absorption and may provide a novel pharmacological target for controlling epithelial Na(+) transport.

Metformin and phenformin activate AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart by increasing cytosolic AMP concentration

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) acts as a cellular energy sensor: it responds to an increase in AMP concentration ([AMP]) or the AMP-to-ATP ratio (AMP/ATP). Metformin and phenformin, which are biguanides, have been reported to increase AMPK activity without increasing AMP/ATP. This study tests the hypothesis that these biguanides increase AMPK activity in the heart by increasing cytosolic [AMP]. Groups of isolated rat hearts (n = 5-7 each) were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer with or without 0.2 mM phenformin or 10 mM metformin, and (31)P-NMR-measured phosphocreatine, ATP, and intracellular pH were used to calculate cytosolic [AMP]. At various times, hearts were freeze-clamped and assayed for AMPK activity, phosphorylation of Thr(172) on AMPK-alpha, and phosphorylation of Ser(79) on acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an AMPK target. In hearts treated with phenformin for 18 min and then perfused for 20 min with Krebs-Henseleit buffer, [AMP] began to increase at 26 min and AMPK activity was elevated at 36 min. In hearts treated with metformin, [AMP] was increased at 50 min and AMPK activity, phosphorylated AMPK, and phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase were elevated at 61 min. In metformin-treated hearts, HPLC-measured total AMP content and total AMP/ATP did not increase. In summary, phenformin and metformin increase AMPK activity and phosphorylation in the isolated heart. The increase in AMPK activity was always preceded by and correlated with increased cytosolic [AMP]. Total AMP content and total AMP/ATP did not change. Cytosolic [AMP] reported metabolically active AMP, which triggered increased AMPK activity, but measures of total AMP did not.

Modeling transmural heterogeneity of KATP current in rabbit ventricular myocytes

To investigate the mechanisms regulating excitation-metabolic coupling in rabbit epicardial, midmyocardial, and endocardial ventricular myocytes we extended the LabHEART model (Puglisi JL and Bers DM. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 281: C2049-C2060, 2001). We incorporated equations for Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) buffering by ATP and ADP, equations for nucleotide regulation of ATP-sensitive K(+) channel and L-type Ca(2+) channel, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPases, and equations describing the basic pathways (creatine and adenylate kinase reactions) known to communicate the flux changes generated by intracellular ATPases. Under normal conditions and during 20 min of ischemia, the three regions were characterized by different I(Na), I(to), I(Kr), I(Ks), and I(Kp) channel properties. The results indicate that the ATP-sensitive K(+) channel is activated by the smallest reduction in ATP in epicardial cells and largest in endocardial cells when cytosolic ADP, AMP, PCr, Cr, P(i), total Mg(2+), Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), and pH diastolic levels are normal. The model predicts that only K(ATP) ionophore (Kir6.2 subunit) and not the regulatory subunit (SUR2A) might differ from endocardium to epicardium. The analysis suggests that during ischemia, the inhomogeneous accumulation of the metabolites in the tissue sublayers may alter in a very irregular manner the K(ATP) channel opening through metabolic interactions with the endogenous PI cascade (PIP(2), PIP) that in turn may cause differential action potential shortening among the ventricular myocyte subtypes. The model predictions are in qualitative agreement with experimental data measured under normal and ischemic conditions in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

Mechanism for fatty acid "sparing" effect on glucose-induced transcription: regulation of carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein by AMP-activated protein kinase.

Carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a new transcription factor that binds to the carbohydrate-responsive element of the l-type pyruvate kinase gene (l-PK). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which feeding high fat diets results in decreased activity of ChREBP in the liver (Yamashita, H., Takenoshita, M., Sakurai, M., Bruick, R. K., Henzel, W. J., Shillinglaw, W., Arnot, D., and Uyeda, K. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98, 9116-9121). We cloned the rat liver ChREBP gene for use throughout this study. Acetate, octanoate, and palmitate inhibited the glucose-induced activation of l-PK transcription in ChREBP-overexpressed hepatocytes. In these hepatocytes, the cytosolic AMP concentration increased 30-fold and AMP-activated protein kinase activity was activated 2-fold. Similarly to the fatty acids, 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribotide, a specific activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) also inhibited the l-PK transcription activity in ChREBP-overexpressed hepatocytes. Using as a substrate a truncated ChREBP consisting of the C-terminal region, we demonstrated that phosphorylation by AMPK resulted in inactivation of the DNA binding activity. AMPK specifically phosphorylated Ser(568) of ChREBP. A S568A mutant of the ChREBP gene showed tight DNA binding and lost its fatty acid sensitivity, whereas a S568D mutant showed weak DNA binding and inhibited l-PK transcription activity even in the absence of fatty acid. These results strongly suggested that the fatty acid inhibition of glucose-induced l-PK transcription resulted from AMPK phosphorylation of ChREBP at Ser(568), which inactivated the DNA binding activity. AMPK was activated by the increased AMP that was generated by the fatty acid activation.

Nitrate reductase in higher plants: A case study for transduction of environmental stimuli into control of catalytic activity

In higher plants, cytosolic NAD(P)H‐nitrate reductase (NR) is rapidly modulated by environmental conditions such as light, CO2, or oxygen availability. In leaves, NR is activated by photosynthesis, reaching an activation state of 60–80%. In the dark, or after stomatal closure, leaf NR is inactivated down to 20 or 40% of its maximum activity. In roots, hypoxia or anoxia activate NR, whereas high oxygen supply inactivates NR. Spinach leaf NR is inactivated by phosphorylation of serine 543 and subsequent Mg2+‐dependent binding of 14‐3‐3 proteins at, or close to, this phosphorylation site. At least three different protein kinases (NR‐PK) have been identified in spinach leaves that are able to phosphorylate NR on serine 543. Two of them show up as calmodulin‐like domain protein kinases (CDPKs), and one as a SNF1‐like protein kinase. Dephosphorylation of serine 543 is catalyzed by a Mg2+‐dependent protein phosphatase and by a type 2A protein phosphatase (NR‐PP), which is regulated by a trimer/dimer interconversion. The NR‐PKs, NR‐PPs, and 14‐3‐3s are present even in NR‐depleted plant tissues. Artificial activation of NR in vivo is achieved by cellular acidification, by respiratory inhibitors, or by mannose feeding. As for anoxia, these treatments seem to act, at least in part, via cytosolic acidification, mediated by low cytosolic ATP levels. Activation is also achieved by ionophore‐induced release of divalent cations from the cytosol. In addition, cytosolic AMP and phosphate esters seem to regulate NR‐PK and NR‐PP activities, thereby adapting NR activity within minutes to the changing environment.

Hypoxia-induced inhibition of adenosine kinase potentiates cardiac adenosine release.

To elucidate the physiological role of the AMP-adenosine metabolic cycle and to investigate the relation between AMP and adenosine formation, the O2 supply of isolated guinea pig hearts was varied (95% to 10% O2). The net adenosine formation rate (AMP-->adenosine) and coronary venous effluent adenosine release rate were measured; free cytosolic AMP was determined by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance. Switching from 95% to 40% O2 increased free AMP and adenosine formation 4-fold, whereas free cytosolic adenosine and venous adenosine release rose 15- to 20-fold. In the AMP range from 200 to 3000 nmol/L, there was a linear correlation between free AMP and adenosine formation (R2 = .71); however, adenosine release increased several-fold more than formation. At 95% O2, only 6% of the adenosine formed was released; however, this fraction increased to 22% at 40% O2, demonstrating reduced adenosine salvage. Selective blockade of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase indicated that flux through adenosine kinase decreased from 85% to 35% of adenosine formation in hypoxia. Mathematical model analysis indicated that this apparent decrease in enzyme activity was not due to saturation but to the inhibition of adenosine kinase activity to 6% of the basal levels. The data show (1) that adenosine formation is proportional to the AMP substrate concentration and (2) that hypoxia decreases adenosine kinase activity, thereby shunting myocardial adenosine from the salvage pathway to venous release. In conclusion, because of the normal high turnover of the AMP-adenosine metabolic cycle, hypoxia-induced inhibition of adenosine kinase causes the amplification of small changes in free AMP into a major rise in adenosine. This mechanism plays an important role in the high sensitivity of the cardiac adenosine system to impaired oxygenation.

Open-system kinetics of myocardial phosphoenergetics during coronary underperfusion.

A novel hypothesis is proposed and tested describing open-system kinetics for myocardial phosphoenergetics. The hypothesis is that during severe coronary underperfusion there is precise matching of the rates of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis, but despite the precise balance of ATP rates, there is a decrease in the concentration of ATP and an increase in the concentration of phosphocreatine (PCr) caused by the hydrolysis of AMP to adenosine. Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused using a crystalloid medium, and coronary flow was reduced by 95% from baseline for 45 min followed by reperfusion. Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed a rapid decrease in PCr concentration to 25% of baseline at the onset of underperfusion followed by a gradual increase in PCr to 42% of baseline, while ATP decreased continuously to 65% of baseline. The kinetics of PCr and ATP could only be described by the precise matching of the rates of ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis and an open adenylate system that included the decrease in cytosolic AMP concentration via the production and efflux of adenosine. To confirm the hypothesis of open-system kinetics, two independent predictions were tested in separate experiments: 1) total coronary venous purine efflux (adenosine+inosine+hypoxanthine) during underperfusion was equal to the decrease in ATP concentration, and 2) there was no increase in PCr during moderate coronary underperfusion (80% flow reduction). In conclusion, the open nature of the myocardial adenylate system causes mass action effects that exert novel control over PCr and ATP concentrations during coronary underperfusion. The open-system kinetics cause ATP to decrease and PCr to increase, even though there is precise matching of the rates of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis. Finally, the hydrolysis of AMP to adenosine may benefit tissue survival during ischemia by improving the free energy of ATP hydrolysis, thereby delaying or preventing calcium overload.

Magnesium activated adenosine formation in intact perfused heart: Predominance of ecto 5′-nucleotidase during hypermagnesemia

Magnesium ion is an allosteric effector of 5′-nucleotidase and thus activates adenosine production from AMP. Two distinct 5′-nucleotidase systems, the membrane-bound ecto and the soluble cytosolic isoforms, exist in mammalian myocardium. The aim of this study was to delineate the contributions of the ecto vs. cytosolic isoforms to Mg 2+-stimulated cardiac purine nucleoside formation and release. Isolated guinea pig hearts were retrogradely perfused at their physiological aortic pressure with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer fortified with 10 mM glucose. AMP and the adenylate degradatives adenosine and inosine were measured in coronary venous effluent and in epicardial transudate, which was sampled to estimate concentrations of adenylate degradatives in the interstitium. When perfusate Mg 2+ was increased from 0.6 to 6 mM, coronary vascular resistance and spontaneous heart rate fell, and steady-state coronary venous release of adenosine + inosine rose severalfold. Cytosolic free magnesium, as estimated by 31P-NMR after 15 min of perfusion with 6 mM Mg 2+ or from chemically measured indicator metabolites after 30 min, rose 60 and 144% respectively ( P < 0.05). Excess Mg 2+ stimulated purine nucleoside release nearly threefold in coronary venous effluent and four- to sevenfold in epicardial transudate. 50 μM α,β-methylene adenosine 5′-diphosphate (AOPCP), a selective inhibitor of ecto 5′-nucleotidase, elevated interstitial AMP concentration tenfold, did not attenuate basal nucleoside release, but completely inhibited Mg 2+-stimulated coronary venous purine nucleoside release and blunted Mg 2+-stimulated interstitial purine nucleoside formation by 69%. During perfusion with exogenous 1 μM [8- 14C]AMP, excess perfusate MgCl 2 increased [ 14C]adenosine release by 63% in coronary effluent and 133% in epicardial transudate. AOPCP decreased baseline [ 14C]adenosine release in coronary effluent and epicardial transudate by 85–90%, caused equilibration of arterial and epicardial AMP, and attenuated MgCl 2, activation of [ 14C]adenosine formation by approx. 75%, in both the vascular and interstitial compartments. Intramyocytic concentrations of allosteric regulators of the cytosolic 5′-nucleotidases were evaluated in stop-frozen myocardium. Excess magnesium did not appreciably alter intracellular pH and ATP concentration, but lowered free cytosolic ADP and AMP concentrations by 50 and 70%, respectively. A simplified model of compartmentalized adenosine metabolism is proposed in which magnesium ion-activated cardiac purine release originates predominantly from the ecto 5′-nucleotidase; magnesium ion stimulation of metabolic flux through the cytosolic isoforms was constrained by concomitant reductions in intracellular AMP substrate and allosteric activator ADP. Magnesium ion-enhanced adenosine formation by 5′-nucleotidase could contribute to the known cardioprotective effects of this clinically used cation.

Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase Activity in Neonatal Rat Cardiac Myocytes in Culture: Citrate Dependence and Effects of Hypoxia

The presence of a 280,000Mrisoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC-280) in the cardiac myocyte suggests that heart muscle is capable of malonyl-CoA synthesis. Cellular factors which regulate activity of ACC-280 are unknown. We have employed a neonatal rat cardiac myocyte culture (where the majority of ACC is present as ACC-280) to examine the effects of hypoxia and decreased cellular ATP on the activity of ACC in the cells. The myocyte culture has the following advantages over similar studies in the intact rat heart: the presence of a pure population of myocytes and the ability to measure cytosolic ACC free from contamination by mitochondrial carboxylases. ACC activity in cultured cardiac myocytes is completely dependent on the presence of citrate (A0.5= 3.8 mM). Under control conditions, the cytosolic citrate concentrationin situis determined to be less than 1 mM. With 5 h of hypoxia, cytosolic ATP decreases from 9.85 ± 0.23 to 2.83 ± 0.25 mMand cytosolic AMP increases from undetectable levels to 40 ± 0.4 μM. With hypoxia, a significant portion of the total ACC activity is now expressed in the absence of citrate and the amount of activity which is stimulated by 10 mMcitrate is significantly less (1.268 ± 0.106 nmol/4 × 105cells) than is seen under control conditions (3.042 ± 0.048). There are no significant changes in the total amount of cellular protein on the plates after 5 h of hypoxia. Consistent with net ACC activation in hypoxia, malonyl-CoA levels increase in the cells by 7 h of hypoxia. Decreased radioactive phosphate content of immunopurified ACC-280 after 5 h of hypoxia is consistent with net dephosphorylation of ACC-280 and increased citrate-independent activity.

Glycogen Phosphorolysis Can Form a Metabolic Shuttle to Support Ca 2+ Uptake by Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Membranes in Skeletal Muscle

In the presence of glycogen, ADP, phosphoglucomutase and hexokinase, the glycogen phosphorylase b activity associated to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes stimulates Ca 2+ uptake by SR membrane fragments in the absence of added ATP. Phosphoglucomutase and hexokinase lead to the formation of glucose 6-phosphate which in turn is used as an ATP regenerating system by the Ca 2+ pump. It is proposed that a raise of cytosolic AMP and ADP concentrations after muscle contraction can activate an alternative metabolic route which would be used to ensure the maintenance of a low cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration and avoid unnecessary metabolic energy depletion in muscle cells.

Comprehensive model of transport and metabolism of adenosine and S-adenosylhomocysteine in the guinea pig heart.

Regulation of blood flow and mitochondrial respiration in the heart would be clarified by improved knowledge of interstitial concentrations and cellular production rates of adenosine; however, these variables cannot be measured directly. To interpret indexes that are available, a comprehensive mathematical model was developed, based on a large body of experimental data. The model describes most of the important pathways of capillary-tissue transport and cellular metabolism of adenosine in the guinea pig heart. It includes capillary flow, solute transport between tissue regions, nonlinear enzyme kinetics for adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase, and reversible biunireactant kinetics for S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase in cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, intracellular production of adenosine via AMP hydrolysis and transmethylation, and extracellular production of adenosine. A single set of parameter values for the model was obtained in the first stage of the analysis by taking certain values directly from published sources, other values were subject to specific constraints, and other values were determined by parameter optimization. The effects of flow and endothelial metabolism on the relation between interstitial and venous adenosine concentrations were determined. The relation between myocardial adenosine production rate and S-adenosylhomocysteine accumulation in the presence of excess homocysteine was estimated. In the second stage of the analysis, the model was used to investigate the mechanism of myocardial adenosine production, without changing the parameter values. Cellular adenosine production rates were estimated by fitting measurements of venous adenosine release obtained during altered energetic conditions in experiments by different investigators. The original results showed a dissociation between measurements of cytosolic AMP concentrations and venous adenosine release. It is concluded that 1) it is essential to account for the effect of flow on interstitial and venous adenosine concentrations, since decreased flow may produce effects outwardly resembling inhibition of the enzyme 5'-nucleotidase, 2) adenosine concentrations in epicardial transudate are not in equilibrium with interstitial fluid, and 3) the rate of cellular adenosine production increases monotonically with free cytosolic concentrations of AMP during a variety of alterations in energy balance of the guinea pig heart.

Determination of cytosolic ADP and AMP concentrations and the free energy of ATP hydrolysis in human muscle and brain tissues with 31P NMR spectroscopy

Based on experimentally determined concentrations of PCr, Pi, ATP, and H+, the ADP and AMP concentrations and the free energy for the ATP hydrolysis in normal human brain and muscle were calculated assuming that the creatine kinase- and the myokinase-catalyzed reactions were in equilibrium, accounting for changes in pH and free Mg2+ ion concentration.

Partial purification and properties of an AMP-specific soluble 5′-nucleotidase from pigeon heart

A soluble 5'-nucleotidase was purified 200-fold from pigeon heart. The enzyme (1) had an apparent molecular mass close to 150 kDa, (2) had a neutral pH optimum and hydrolysed a wide range of nucleoside 5'-monophosphates with a 15-fold preference for AMP over IMP, (3) at near-physiological concentrations of AMP was activated by ADP but not by ATP, (4) was inhibited by high Mg2+ concentration and high ionic strength, (5) was weakly inhibited by p-nitrophenol phosphate and Pi, and (6) was non-competitively inhibited more potently by 5'-deoxy-5'-isobutylthioinosine than by 5'-deoxy-5'-isobutylthioadenosine, but not by [alpha,beta-methylene]ADP. The data show that the enzyme is distinct from the ecto-5'-nucleotidase and from the previously purified IMP-specific 5'-nucleotidase. They also predict that the enzyme is activated during ATP catabolism and hence will generate a more-than-linear increase in the adenosine-formation rate in response to an increase in cytosolic AMP concentration.

Characterization of a 25-pS nonselective cation channel in a cultured secretory epithelial cell line

We have studied a 25-pS nonselective cation channel from the apical membranes of cell line ST885, derived from neonatal mouse mandibular glands. Its Cl- permeability was not significantly different from zero. The permeabilities (relative to Na+) for inorganic cations were NH4+ (1.87) greater than K+ (1.12) greater than Li+ (1.02) greater than Na+ (1) greater than Rb+ (0.81) greater than Mg2+ (0.07) greater than Ca2+ (0.002), and for organic cations, guanidinium (1.61) greater than ethanolamine (0.70) greater than 4-aminopyridine (0.66) greater than diethylamine (0.54) greater than piperazine (0.25) greater than Tris (0.18) greater than N-methylglucamine (0.12). The Tris and N-methylglucamine permeabilities differed significantly from zero. Fitting the Renkin equation indicated that the channel had an equivalent pore radius of 0.49 nm. The channel was activated by Ca2+ on the cytosolic surface (greater than 0.1 mmol/liter) with a Hill coefficient of 1.2; it was also activated by depolarization. Open- and closed-time histograms indicated that it had at least two open and two closed states. The channel was blocked by cytosolic AMP or ATP (0.1 mmol/liter). It was also blocked by the Cl- channel blocker, diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC; 0.1 mmol/liter), applied to the extracellular but not the cytosolic surface. 4-Amino-pyridine, which permeated the channel when applied to the extracellular surface, blocked it when applied in low concentrations (5 mmol/liter) to the cytosolic surface. Quinine (0.1 mmol/liter) blocked from both the extracellular and cytosolic surfaces, blockade from either side being enhanced by depolarization. The channel was held open by application of SITS (0.1 mmol/liter) to the cytosolic surface. The channel shows striking similarities to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel, viz., both channel types are abnormally permeable to 4-aminopyridine applied externally, and their selectivity sequences for inorganic ions are similar and for organic cations are identical.

Adenosine production and energy metabolism in ischaemic and metabolically stimulated rat heart

Adenosine may modulate blood flow and electrical activity in heart in response to changes in myocardial energy metabolism. In the present study, 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to examine the relation between cytosolic phosphate metabolite levels and release of adenosine into the venous effluent of isovolumic heart during graded low-flow ischaemia or metabolic stimulation with isoproterenol. When coronary flow rate was varied in steps between 1.6 and 12 ml/min/g, cytosolic ATP levels did not change significantly but the phosphorylation potential exhibited a linear correlation with flow rate below approximately 7 ml/min/g. Purine release (adenosine and inosine) correlated linearly with the cytosolic phosphorylation potential and free AMP concentration. Metabolic stimulation of hearts with isoproterenol (0.4, 3.0, and 60 n m), produced a significant fall in cytosolic ATP levels and decreased the cytosolic phosphorylation potential. Purine release in these hearts increased exponentially as the cytosolic phosphorylation potential dropped, and as cytosolic free AMP increased. These results support a link between the phosphorylation potential and the mechanism of adenosine production during ischaemia and metabolic stimulation. Presumably, this link is the activity of the enzyme 5′-nucleotidase, which is responsible for converting AMP to adenosine, together with the concentration of its substrate, AMP. In low-flow ischaemia, cytosolic AMP may control adenosine formation. With isoproterenol stimulation, a more complex relationship exists, indicating possible allosteric regulation of the enzyme(s) responsible for adenosine formation, in addition to changes in AMP concentration.

The pigeon heart 5'-nucleotidase responsible for ischaemia-induced adenosine formation.

1. A 5'-nucleotidase with a strong preference for AMP over IMP was characterized in homogenates and subcellular fractions of pigeon heart by using concentrations of ATP, ADP and AMP which mimicked those present in the ischaemic tissue. 2. The AMP-5'-nucleotidase had a neutral pH optimum and an apparent Km in the range 4.6-5.2 mM. It was stimulated by ATP plus ADP, and was inhibited by other nucleoside monophosphates, Pi and p-nitrophenyl phosphate, but not by ribose 5-phosphate or beta-glycerophosphate. The enzyme was not inhibited by [alpha beta-methylene] ADP or by 5'-deoxy-5'-isobutylthioadenosine, an inhibitor of the previously purified IMP-preferring cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase. 3. Subcellular-fractionation studies indicated that the enzyme has access to cytosolic AMP, although it may be associated by weak ionic interactions with an organelle present in the low-speed particulate fraction. 4. A 5'-nucleotidase was detected under similar conditions in homogenates of rat heart. 5. The activity of the pigeon heart AMP-5'-nucleotidase was sufficient to account for previously measured rates of ischaemia-induced adenosine formation. The similar activity in rat heart could, however, account for only part of ischaemia-induced adenosine formation in this tissue.

Subcellular distribution of high-affinity type IV cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in rabbit ventricular myocardium: relations to the effects of cardiotonic drugs.

Rabbit ventricular myocardium contains distinct cytosolic and particulate cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterase activities that exhibit characteristics ascribed to a high-affinity type IV cAMP phosphodiesterase activity found in several tissues. The particulate activity associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles has an apparent Km for cAMP of about 0.3 microM and a Vmax of 2.45 +/- 0.55 nmol/min/mg. Cyclic GMP (cGMP) inhibits hydrolysis measured at 0.25 microM cAMP with an IC50 value of 0.28 microM. In comparison, a ventricular cytosolic high-affinity cAMP phosphodiesterase activity obtained by anion exchange chromatography (Peak III) has an apparent Km of 0.93 microM and a Vmax of 17 +/- 1 nmol/min/mg. Hydrolysis of 0.25 microM cAMP by this cytosolic activity is weakly inhibited by cGMP with an IC50 value of 142 microM. Particulate enzyme activity is 60-fold more sensitive to inhibition by milrinone than is the cytosolic form (Ki = 0.18 versus 11 microM, respectively); the pyridazinone imazodan is a 12-fold more potent inhibitor of the particulate activity than of the cytosolic form (Ki = 1.5 versus 18 microM, respectively). Inhibition of both cytosolic and particulate enzyme activities appears competitive in nature. Solubilization of particulate activity did not significantly alter its affinity for substrate or sensitivity to inhibition by cGMP. In the presence of a submaximally activating concentration of forskolin (0.4 microM), selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors potentiated the activation of protein kinase in isolated ventricular septal slices. Under these conditions, changes in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios correlated more closely with contractile responses than did changes in intracellular content of cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)