Decrease In Adenylate Cyclase Activity Research Articles

Changes in gene expression in the Ras/adenylate cyclase system of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: correlation with cAMP levels and growth arrest.

Levels of cyclic 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) play an important role in the decision to enter the mitotic cycle in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition to growth arrest at stationary phase, S. cerevisiae transiently arrest growth as they shift from fermentative to oxidative metabolism (the diauxic shift). Experiments examining the role of cAMP in growth arrest at the diauxic shift show the following: 1) yeast lower cAMP levels as they exhaust their glucose supply and shift to oxidative metabolism of ethanol, 2) a reduction in cAMP is essential for traversing the diauxic shift, 3) the decrease in adenylate cyclase activity is associated with a decrease in the expression of CYR1 and CDC25, two positive regulators of cAMP levels and an increase in the expression of IRA1 and IRA2, two negative regulators of intracellular cAMP, 4) mutants carrying disruptions in IRA1 and IRA2 were unable to arrest cell division at the diauxic shift and were unable to progress into the oxidative phase of growth. These results indicate that changes cAMP levels are important in regulation of growth arrest at the diauxic shift and that changes in gene expression plays a role in the regulation of the Ras/adenylate cyclase system.

Correlation of Myosin Heavy Chain Expression in the Rat with cAMP in Different Models of Hypertension-induced Cardiac Hypertrophy

Both genetically determined and artificially-induced hypertension lead to cardiac hypertrophy and shift the myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression to the β-MHC form. The cause of this change in gene expression is unknown. To contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon, we correlated the MHC expression in the left ventricle with basal, Forskolin- and isoprenaline-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (cAMP production of membrane fractions). We used two control rat strains [Wistar-Hagemann (WH), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)] and several rat models of hypertension; one clip-one kidney (1C-1K), desoxycorticosterone-treated rats (DOCA), rats with reduced renal mass (RRM) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The level of hypertension correlated positively with the degree of cardiac hypertrophy ( P < 0.01) and negatively ( P < 0.05) with cAMP production, e.g. the higher the degree of hypertension, the lower both basal and stimulated cAMP levels. In addition we found that the lower the basal, isoprenaline- and Forskolin-stimulated cAMP production the lower was the expression of the α-MHC isoenzyme ( P < 0.05). Thus, our data suggest that the decreased α-MHC expression upon hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy could be mediated via decreased adenylate cyclase activity and thus decreased intracellular cAMP production.

Hypoxia-induced downregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat heart.

To test the desensitization hypothesis of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) in chronic hypoxia, the effect of 1, 3, 7, 15, and 21 days of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (380 Torr) was evaluated in Wistar rats. Exposure to hypoxia for 1-15 days did not induce any change in right and left ventricular beta-AR density (Bmax) determined with [125I]iodocyanopindolol or in antagonist affinity. After 21 days, Bmax decreased by 24% in the left ventricle. In contrast, no change in beta-AR was shown in the right hypertrophied ventricle. Agonist affinity in the left ventricle was not altered, as shown by the analysis of displacement curves of isoproterenol (normoxia 185 +/- 26 nM, hypoxia 170 +/- 11 nM). Moreover, there was no significant decrease in adenylate cyclase activity (pmol.mg-1.min-1) in the left ventricle. In the right ventricle, a 21-day exposure to hypoxia led to a decrease in basal and maximal activity when stimulated by isoproterenol. A decrease in tissue norepinephrine content was observed after 7 days of hypoxia. In conclusion, these data support the beta-AR downregulation hypothesis as one of the mechanisms of myocardial adaptation to high altitude occurring after 2-3 wk of exposure to hypoxia. The regulation pathways of beta-AR may differ between left nonhypertrophied and right hypertrophied ventricles. No evidence of profound abnormality of signal transduction was shown.

The control of cardiac chronotropic function in hypobaric hypoxia.

Altitude hypoxia induces an increase in adrenergic activity in humans. However, a decrease in maximal heart rate is observed after a few days of exposure to altitudes above 3500 m, as well as a decrease in chronotropic response to isoproterenol infusion. This phenomenon has been linked to a desensitization of beta-adrenoceptors (beta AR), and/or an increase in parasympathetic activity. A decrease in the density of beta AR in chronic hypoxia has been found in rat left ventricle and in human lymphocytes, without modification of the affinity of beta AR for an agonist or antagonist, and a decreased adenylate cyclase activity in the right ventricle. In the same conditions, the density of adenosine A1 receptors is decreased by 46% in rat myocardium, without alteration in the coupling between hormone, receptor and Gi protein. The density of muscarinic receptors is increased by 40%, with an increase in the affinity for an agonist, suggesting an augmented parasympathetic effect. Hypoxia probably acts on all the receptors involved in the modulation of cardiac chronotropic activity; the combined effects of chronic hypoxia on these receptors tend to a beneficial limitation of myocardial oxygen consumption, especially during heavy exercise.

Postreceptor modulation of cAMP accumulation in rat brain particulate fraction after ischemia--involvement of protein kinase C.

The brain cyclic AMP generation was studied in rats subjected to 15 min of cardiac arrest. We have used a particulate, synaptoneurosomal fraction to demonstrate the effect of ischemia in vivo on the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase (AC) system. It has been shown that, although there is a slight decrease in AC activity after ischemia, the in vitro fractions produce more cAMP in response to a variety of stimuli, suggesting an indirect, nonadenylate cyclase activation mechanism. For elucidation of this mechanism we have probed phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) as a direct PKC activator, forskolin to activate the catalytic subunit of AC, and cholera toxin (CT) for stabilizing the active, GTP-bound form of stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gs). All these postreceptor AC modulators as well as the receptor activators such as adenosine and alpha 1-adrenergic agonists markedly enhanced cAMP production in the rat brain particulate fraction, although the postischemic hyperactive response to these stimuli was still present. However, when AC was stimulated by the combination of CT and PDBu, cAMP responses were identical in both control and postischemic fractions. The data, taken together, support the hypothesis that ischemia increases cAMP accumulation by facilitating the postreceptor AC activation through a PKC-involving pathway and by promoting the stronger coupling of membrane AC receptors with G-protein. Protein kinase C (PKC) activity during cerebral ischemia was also investigated. In contradistinction to our expectation PKC decreased significantly in the ischemic brain to 85% of the control activity in the cytosol and 72% in the membranes. However, in the incubated post-ischemic brain particulate fraction a relative increase in the membrane-bound form of the enzyme, from 30% for control to 53% for ischemia, was observed. This may suggest that ischemia-induced membrane changes could promote the enzyme translocation/activation during recovery, resulting in the sensitization of cAMP producing system.

Proenkephalin a derivatives in lacrimal gland: Occurrence and regulation of lacrimal function

The derivatives of proenkephalin A were measured in acid extracts of rat lacrimal glands by specific radioimmunoassay. Glands from adult male rats contained all four derivatives of the opiate precursor. The content in the gland of proenkephalin A-derived peptides Met 5-enkephalin, Leu 5-enkephalin, Met 5-enkephalin Arg 6-Phe 7 and Met 5-enkephalin Arg 6-Gly 7-Leu 8 indicates tissue specific processing with an enhancement of the heptapeptide. The effect of enkephalins on the activity of adenylate cyclase in lacrimal membranes was measured and compared with the effect of the synthetic enkephalin analogue d-ala 2-methionine enkephalinamide (DALA) that inhibits both lacrimal protein secretion and lacrimal adenylate cyclase. In the presence of the peptidase inhibitors thiorphan and bestatin, the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by Met 5-enk, Leu 5-enk, Met 5-enk Arg 6-Phe 7 and DALA were identical. Maximum inhibition was approximately 35% at a dose of 50μ m enkephalin. Addition of the octapeptide, Met 5-enk Arg 6-Gly 7-Leu 8 resulted in decreased adenylate cyclase activity; however, the effect was not statistically significant. Activation of δ opioid receptors by the endogenous enkephalins is indicated by the reversal of adenylate cyclase inhibition in the presence of the δ-receptor antagonist ICI 174864. The data support the physiological significance of in vitro inhibition of lacrimal secretion by DALA and indicate a possible role for endogenous enkephalins in lacrimal function.

Gsα availability to cholera toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation is decreased in membranes of retinoic acid-treated leukemic cell lines HL-60 and THP-1: A posttranslational effect

Retinoic acid (RA) induces HL-60 and THP-1 leukemic cell lines to differentiate into granulocyte-like and monocyte-like cells. Limited data are available concerning the effects of RA on components of the cyclic AMP pathway in human myeloid leukemic cells. We showed previously a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of histamine, prostaglandin E1 and forskolin in RA-treated HL-60 cells as compared to untreated cells. We examined the elements of the signal transduction pathway utilized by RA in the human myeloid cell line HL-60 and the human monocytic cell line THP-1. We therefore studied the effect of RA on the activity of the stimulatory G-protein (Gs). We demonstrate that addition of RA to two human myeloid leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and THP-1, does not induce a reduction of the 2 subunit of Gs (Gsα) RNA or Gsα protein in the plasma membrane but leads to a rapid decrease in the cholera toxin (CTX)-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of Gsα. In addition, this effect seems to be specific to RA, since there was no modification in Gsα ADP-ribosylation in the membranes of cells treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), another inducer of differentiation in HL-60 cells.

Age-related changes of growth hormone secretory mechanisms in the rat pituitary gland

The mechanisms underlying the age-related decrease and increase in somatotroph responsiveness to growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF) and somatostatin respectively were studied in rat pituitary membranes in vitro. Basal adenylate cyclase (AC) activity was similar in pituitary membranes from rats of 8 days (either sex) and male rats of 3 months, but it was almost threefold higher in membranes from male rats of 21-23 months. GHRF induced a lower percentage stimulation of AC activity in membranes from infant and old than adult rats. Somatostatin inhibited stimulation of AC induced by forskolin more effectively in membranes from adult than infant and old rats. In parallel experiments, since the tissue we used is formed by a mixed population of pituitary cells, we evaluated, for comparison, the effect on AC of neurohormones, i.e. vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and dopamine which act primarily on lactotrophs. VIP induced a lower fold-stimulation of AC activity in membranes from infant and old than adult rats. Dopamine inhibited forskolin-induced stimulation of AC in the following rank order of magnitude: old, adult and infant rats, and was also more effective in inhibiting basal AC activity in old than in adult rats. The stimulatory and inhibitory G proteins (Gs and Gi) coupled to AC were measured indirectly by evaluating stimulatory and inhibitory effects of different concentrations of GTP on AC. GTP, at stimulatory concentrations, increased AC activity in membranes from infant and adult rats similarly whereas its effect was significantly greater in membranes from old rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Divergent Regulation of β 2-Adrenoceptors and Adenylate Cyclase in the Cyc - Mouse T Lymphoma Cell Line TL2-9

The radiation leukemia virus-induced murine Cyc - T lymphoma cell line TL2-9 expressed one homogeneous population of β 2-adrenoceptors based on competition curves of [ 125I]cy- anopindolol with the specific antagonist ICI 118.551 and three β-adrenergic agonists. These receptors were uncoupled from adenylate cyclase due to the absence of G s. The catalytical unit was directly stimulated by MnCl 2, forskolin, and even more markedly in the simultaneous presence of both reagents. In contrast, the enzyme was inhibited in the presence of Gpp[NH]p, probably through interaction with Gi. Indeed, this inhibitory effect was constrained by preincubating cells in the presence of pertussis toxin and a 41 kDa protein was specifically ADP-ribosylated in the presence of the toxin. This cell line was therefore analogous to the Cyc - cell line derived from the murine S49 lymphoma cell line. When added to the culture medium, butyrate (2 mM) induced β 2-adrenoceptors, the expression of these uncoupled receptors depending on protein synthesis, as judged by inhibitory effects of cycloheximide. In contrast, dBcAMP (1 mM) and TPA (tumor-promoting agent phorbol ester) increased the rate of disappearance of β 2-adrenoceptors. Butyrate, dBcAMP and TPA systematically decreased adenylate cyclase activity. Besides, TPA (but neither butyrate nor dBcAMP) reduced the efficacy of Gpp[NH]p in inhibiting adenylate cyclase, suggesting a proportionately higher alteration of G i. We conclude that β 2-adrenoceptors, uncoupled from adenylate cyclase, are regulated independently from the catalytical unit and G i, in this Cyc - T lymphoma cell line.

TIME COURSE OF RECOVERY OF β‐ AND α1‐ADRENOCEPTORS IN EXPERIMENTAL ASTHMA

SUMMARY1. The time course of recovery of reduced β‐adrenoceptors caused by ovalbumin (OA) challenge was investigated using guinea‐pigs.2. The effects of prednisolone on the recovery time course were also evaluated.3. β‐ and α1‐receptor assays were performed using lung membranes. Adenylate cyclase activity was also measured.4. OA challenge reduced the number of β‐adrenoceptors by 35%, and a significant decrease (13%) persisted for 7 days. The number of β‐adrenoceptors recovered after 14 days.5. OA challenge elevated the number of α1‐adrenoceptors. A significant increase (24%) was observed after 7 days, and it took a further 7 days for the recovery.6. After OA challenge there was a significant decrease in adenylate cyclase activity after 7 days, which recovered after a further 7 days.7. Inhalation of prednisolone accelerated the recovery of β‐adrenergic responsiveness, though it did not affect the recovery of the number of α1‐adrenoceptors. Prednisolone inhalation also elevated β‐adrenergic responsiveness in non‐asthmatic subjects.8. It is concluded that reduced β‐adrenergic responsiveness caused by OA challenge persisted for 7 days and recovered after a further 7 days. Steroid hormone increased β‐adrenoceptors.

Effect of ageing on adenylate cyclase activity and G-proteins in rat submandibular salivary glands

Membranes were prepared from the submandibular salivary glands of male young (3-monthsold) and aged (24-months-old), Fisher 344 rats, and assayed for adenylate cyclase activity and for the ribosylation of G-proteins in the presence of [ 32P]-NAD + and cholera toxin. Adenylate cyclase activity (basal, fluoride-, forskolin-, and isoproterenol-stimulated) was significantly lower ( p < 0.01) in the glands of aged rats. The pattern of ribosylation was different between the 2 groups. Two cholera toxin-specific bands ( M r 42,000 and 44,000) were ribosylated in the glands of young rats whereas in aged rats, only an M r 42,000 band was clearly observed. The incorporation of 32P from NAD + into the M r 42,000 and 44,000 bands increased with the time of ribosylation (7.5–90 min). In aged rats, however, the incorporation of 32P into the M r 42,000 band was much slower and did not increase much after 60 min of ribosylation. At each time point, the extent of ribosylation was lower in the membranes from the aged rats. These findings suggest that the decrease in adenylate cyclase activity in the submandibular salivary glands of aged rats may be due partly to the changes in their levels of G s as a result of ageing.

Phosphodiesterase inhibition by new cardiotonic agents: mechanism of action and possible clinical relevance in the therapy of congestive heart failure.

Cyclic AMP is known as a secondary messenger regulating the myocardial force of contraction. For the degradation of cAMP multiple forms of PDE within the cell are described, which vary according to substrate specificity, kinetic characterization, and cellular localization. One of these isoenzymes, the low Km cAMP-specific PDE (PDE III), which seems to be closely related to cardiotonic effects of PDE inhibitors, exists either in a particulate form (in dogs), probably associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum, or in soluble form (in guinea pig). The existence of different forms of PDE III possibly reflects a different pooling or compartmentalization of cAMP. Many agents selectively inhibiting PDE III are described which potently increase the force of contraction and which exert vasodilatory effects. Besides PDE inhibition some of these agents possess additional cAMP-independent actions, e.g., sensitization of the contractile proteins to Ca2+, prolongation of the action potential, or prolongation of the open state of the Na+-channel. Since agents which nonselectively inhibit PDE are known as potent positive inotropic agents (e.g., IBMX), PDE III inhibition itself, but not a selectivity for PDE III inhibition, seems to be a prerequisite for this mechanism of action of cardiotonic drugs. Investigations with preparations from diseased human myocardium show that the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline as well as the PDE inhibitor IBMX increase the force of contraction to only about one-third of the maximal effect of the cardiac glycoside dihydro-ouabain or Ca2+. In nonfailing human heart preparations all agents had equal activity. Possible reasons for these differences may be a decreased responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation (beta-receptor down-regulation) or an inappropriate increase in cAMP levels due to increased activity of inhibitory Gi-proteins with resulting decrease of adenylate cyclase activity in the failing heart. Besides a short-term clinical and hemodynamic improvement of congestive heart failure, uncontrolled long-term administration of PDE III-inhibitor agents failed to produce sustained clinical benefit and had no effect on survival. Controlled long-term studies with new cardiotonic agents in patients with severe CHF are still lacking.

Beta-receptor-adenylate cyclase coupling in hypoxic neonatal rat ventricular myocytes

This study investigated the influence of hypoxia on alterations in the beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system. Cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were subjected to normoxia (incubator PO2 135-145 mmHg) or hypoxia (incubator PO2 0-14 mmHg) and, in crude membrane preparations, beta-receptor binding properties were measured with [125I]iodocyanopindolol and adenylate cyclase activity by radioimmunoassay. Hypoxia of 30 min in duration caused no alteration in beta-receptor density (Bmax 75 +/- 11 vs. 71 +/- 12 fmol/mg protein) but increased adenylate cyclase activity under basal conditions and during stimulation with l-isoproterenol, 5'-guanylimidotriphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] 5 X 10(-5) M, NaF 10(-4) M, and forskolin 10(-4) M. For example, isoproterenol 10(-5) M + guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) 5 X 10(-5) M gave 221 +/- 34 vs. 143 +/- 11 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1, P less than 0.05 hypoxia vs. normoxia. After 60 min of hypoxia, adenylate cyclase activity was no longer increased. Hypoxia of 120-150 min duration increased Bmax by 64% (73 +/- 8 to 120 +/- 11 fmol/mg protein, P less than 0.05 vs. normoxia) but decreased adenylate cyclase activity during stimulation with isoproterenol, NaF 10(-4) M, and forskolin 10(-4) M. For example, isoproterenol 10(-5) M + GTP 5 X 10(-5) M gave 107 +/- 12 vs. 148 +/- 11 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1, P less than 0.05 hypoxia vs. normoxia. Reoxygenation for 15 min following 120-150 min of hypoxia reversed the increased beta-receptor numbers and decreased adenylate cyclase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Secretion‐stimulating and secretion‐inhibiting hormones stimulate high‐affinity pertussis‐toxin‐sensitive GTPases in membranes of a pituitary cell line

Different peptide hormones influence hormone secretion in pituitary cells by diverse second messenger systems. Recent data indicate that luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) stimulates and somatostatin inhibits voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels of GH3 cells via pertussis-toxin-sensitive mechanisms [Rosenthal et al. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 1627-1633]. In other pituitary cell lines, somatostatin has been shown to cause a pertussis-toxin-sensitive decrease in adenylate cyclase activity, and LHRH and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulate phosphoinositol lipid hydrolysis in a pertussis-toxin-independent manner. Whether stimulation of Ca2+ influx by TRH is affected by pertussis toxin is not known. In order to elucidate which of the hormone receptors interact with pertussis-toxin-sensitive and -insensitive G-proteins, we measured the effects of LHRH, somatostatin and TRH on high-affinity GTPases in membranes of GH3 cells. In control membranes, both LHRH and TRH stimulated the high-affinity GTPase by 20%, somatostatin by 25%. Maximal hormone effects were observed at a concentration of about 1 microM. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin abolished pertussis-toxin-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylation of 39-40-kDa proteins in subsequently prepared membranes and reduced basal GTPase activity. The toxin also reduced by more than half the increases in GTPase activity induced by LHRH and TRH; stimulation of GTPase by somatostatin was completely suppressed. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was not impaired by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. Somatostatin but not LHRH and TRH decreased forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The results suggest that the activated receptors for LHRH and TRH act via pertussis-toxin-sensitive and -insensitive G-proteins, whereas effects of somatostatin are exclusively mediated by pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-proteins.

Differential effects of prostaglandin E2 on contractions of airway smooth muscle

In an in vitro muscle bath, the active tension generated by strips of canine tracheal smooth muscle responding to cumulative additions of either histamine (10(-8) to 10(-3) M) or acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-3) M) was measured in the absence and presence of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (10(-6) to 10(-5) M). When contractile responses of equal magnitude were compared, the contractions elicited by acetylcholine were resistant to the inhibitory effects of PGE2, relative to comparable contractions elicited by histamine. To assess the role of adenylate cyclase in determining the different responses to histamine and acetylcholine in the presence of PGE2, we assayed adenylate cyclase activity in membranes prepared from canine tracheal smooth muscle and found that acetylcholine, but not histamine, decreased PGE2-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 48 +/- 2% (mean +/- SE; n = 5). However, in other experiments, we found that even large pharmacological increases in tissue adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content only partially inhibited muscarinic tone. Also, exogenously applied analogues of cyclic AMP inhibited contractions induced by histamine more effectively than comparable contractions induced by acetylcholine. We concluded that acetylcholine decreased adenylate cyclase activity in membranes prepared from canine tracheal smooth muscle and that this effect may have contributed to, but did not completely account for, the relative resistance of muscarinic contractions to the inhibitory effects of PGE2.

Adipocyte G-proteins and adenylate cyclase. Effects of adrenalectomy

Steroid hormones modulate the ability of cells to respond to hormones that act via cyclic AMP. In adipocytes of adrenalectomized rats, cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis in response to adrenaline are attenuated. However, the mechanism(s) of these effects are poorly understood. The effects of altered glucocorticoid status in vivo on the steady-state amounts of components of the hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase were analysed in rat adipocytes. beta-Adrenergic receptors were analysed by using radioligand binding and immunoblotting with an anti-receptor antiserum. Neither the amount of radioligand binding nor the amount of beta-adrenergic-receptor peptide (Mr 67,000) was altered by adrenalectomy, whereas treatment of adrenalectomized rats with dexamethasone was found to increase both parameters by more than 25% with respect to the control. Forskolin-stimulated adenylated cyclase activity was unchanged in membranes isolated from adipocytes of adrenalectomized rats, but was decreased (50%) in those from dexamethasone-treated rats. The alpha-subunit of Gs was probed by using cholera-toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation. Immunoblotting was used to analyse the steady-state amounts of G-protein beta-subunits (beta-G35/36). Adrenalectomy was associated with decreases in the steady-state amounts of alpha-Gs (30%) and beta-G35/36 (50%). Dexamethasone treatment of adrenalectomized animals partially restored the lipolytic response of adipocytes to adrenaline and the amounts of alpha-Gs, increased the amounts of beta-G35/36 subunits from 50% to 150% of control values, increased beta-adrenergic receptors by more than 25% and decreased adenylate cyclase activity (50%). These results suggest that the steady-state amounts of components of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase are differentially regulated by glucocorticoids.

Mechanism of inhibition by methacholine of norepinephrine-stimulated ANP secretion.

We have previously reported that methacholine inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP-IR) secretion by 65% in vitro. In the present study, we examined the mechanism by which methacholine inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated secretion using isolated, paced rat left atria superfused in vitro. Norepinephrine has beta- and alpha-adrenergic properties, both of which stimulate ANP secretion. Thus we separately examined the effect of 10 microM methacholine on ANP-IR secretion stimulated by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (0.1 microM) and by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (10 microM). Methacholine lowered isoproterenol-stimulated ANP-IR secretion to base line but did not inhibit phenylephrine-stimulated ANP-IR secretion. Atria were superfused with 0.5 mM dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) to determine whether inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated secretion by methacholine occurred by a reduction in adenylate cyclase activity or at a point distal to cAMP. Methacholine inhibited dibutyryl cAMP-stimulated ANP-IR secretion by 50%. This inhibition could not be reversed by 20 microM isobutylmethylxanthine. We conclude that 1) methacholine completely blocks isoproterenol-stimulated ANP-IR secretion; 2) inhibition appears to be primarily due to a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity; however, inhibition occurs at a point(s) distal to cAMP production; 3) methacholine does not inhibit phenylephrine-stimulated ANP-IR secretion; and 4) inhibition by methacholine of norepinephrine-stimulated ANP-IR secretion reflects a block in beta-adrenergic activity.

Effects of chronic exposure to ethanol on the physical and functional properties of the plasma membrane of S49 lymphoma cells.

The effects of chronic exposure to ethanol on the physical and functional properties of the plasma membrane were examined with cultured S49 lymphoma cells. The beta-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system was used as a probe of the functional properties of the plasma membrane. Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene and the lipid composition of the plasma membrane were used as probes of the physical properties of the membrane. Cells were grown under conditions such that the concentration of ethanol in the growth medium remained stable and oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde was not detected. Chronic exposure of S49 cells to 50 mM ethanol or growth of cells at elevated temperature resulted in a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity. There were no changes in the density of receptors or in the affinity of beta-adrenergic receptors for agonists or antagonists following chronic exposure to ethanol. The fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene was lower in plasma membranes prepared from cells that had been treated with 50 mM ethanol than in membranes prepared from control cells. However, this change was not associated with changes in the fatty acid composition or the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio of the plasma membrane. There was a small but statistically significant decrease in the amount of phosphatidylserine and an increase in the amount of phosphatidylethanolamine. These changes cannot account for the decrease in anisotropy. In contrast to the effect of ethanol, a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity following growth of S49 cells at 40 degrees C was not associated with a change in anisotropy.

Thrombin-like inhibitory action of trypsin and trypsin-like proteases on human platelet adenylate cyclase.

The effects of trypsin, acrosin and a recently described trypsin-like protease from bovine sperm were studied on adenylate cyclase activity in membranes of human platelets. These proteases caused an immediate decrease in adenylate cyclase activity, which was independent of the platelet membrane concentration used and which was constant for up to 20 min of incubation at 25 degrees C. When the incubation was prolonged, the proteases eliminated their own inhibitory action as well as that of the inhibitory hormone epinephrine. The adenylate cyclase inhibition caused by the proteases was strictly dependent on the presence of GTP (EC50 approximately 0.1 microM), whereas in the absence of GTP only minor changes in enzyme activity were observed at the conditions and protease concentrations used. Maximal inhibition caused by the proteases was between 40% and 60%. Half-maximal inhibition by the purified proteases trypsin and acrosin was observed at about 30 ng/ml and 2 micrograms/ml respectively. Inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase by the proteases was partially additive with that caused by epinephrine, while with thrombin no additivity was observed. The serine protease inhibitor leupeptin blocked the actions of the proteases when added simultaneously with the enzymes, but was ineffective when added later on. Treatment of platelet membranes with the alkylating N-ethylmaleimide at low concentrations and Mn2+ ions (greater than or equal to 1 mM), both agents known to abolish inhibition of adenylate cyclase via the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein Gi, eliminated the inhibitory action of the proteases. The data indicate that trypsin and trypsin-like proteases have two opposite effects on the platelet adenylate cyclase system, the well-documented elimination of Gi action and, as shown here, an immediate activation of Gi with subsequent adenylate cyclase inhibition. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the activation of Gi caused by the proteases is due to an interaction of the proteases with specific cell-surface receptor sites in a manner similar to thrombin.

Decreased stimulatory guanosine triphosphate binding protein in dogs with pressure-overload left ventricular failure.

Alterations in the level and function of the stimulatory guanyl nucleotide binding protein (Gs) from the cardiac sarcolemma were examined in a canine model of heart failure. The present study is based on our previous investigations that demonstrated both a loss of beta-adrenergic agonist high-affinity binding sites and a decreased adenylate cyclase activity in sarcolemma from failing hearts. Using cholera toxin and [32P]NAD, we labeled the alpha subunit of Gs (Gs alpha) and found a 59% reduction in the level of this protein. Further, a 50% reduction in Gs activity was noted in a reconstitution assay utilizing membranes from the mouse S49 lymphoma cell line cyc-, which is deficient in Gs. These data suggest that, in this model of pressure-overload left ventricular failure, the acquired defect in the beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase system involves a deficiency in the coupling protein Gs. Such an abnormality may explain the decreased adrenergic responsiveness of the failing left ventricle.