Stimulation Of Protein Kinase Activity Research Articles

Stimulated protein kinase activity during acute pancreatitis in rats. Possible mediation by proteolysis, lipolysis, and bile salts.

The rate of protein phosphorylation, as catalyzed by the protein kinase enzymes, was measured in the pancreas of rats with acute experimental pancreatitis. Two different methods were used to induce pancreatitis in rats: retrograde injection of deoxycholate (DOC) into the pancreatic duct, or daily intravenous administration of DL-ethionine. Basal protein kinase activity was elevated in rats with acute experimental pancreatitis. This increase in activity was not dependent on free Ca2+ and did not result from elevated cAMP levels. To assess the possible role of digestive enzymes in protein kinase activation, tissue extracts from healthy controls were subjected to mild treatment with digestive enzymes and DOC. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, phospholipase A, and DOC produced protein kinase activation of a similar magnitude as found in diseased tissue. Results indicate that stimulated protein kinase activity in tissue of animals with acute pancreatitis may arise from the action of digestive enzymes.

Long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A's activate both the ligand-binding and protein kinase activities of phorboid and ingenoid receptor

Modulation of the ligand-binding activity and protein kinase activity of homogeneous phorboid and ingenoid receptor from the brain by various fatty acyl-CoAs, fatty acid esters, fatty acids, and detergents was studied. Long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs (C 10C 2), like certain acidic phospholipids, activated the ligand-receptor interaction. The extent of activation increased with the increasing chain length of fatty acyl-CoA. Shortchain fatty acyl-CoAs (C 0C 6), fatty acids, and fatty acid esters were essentially inactive. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) also activated the ligand binding, but other detergents (Triton X-100, deoxycholic acid, Nonidet-40, and Tween-80) were ineffective. The combination of phosphatidylserine and stearoyl-CoA was as effective as each agent alone in the activation of ligand-receptor interaction, suggesting similar mechanisms of action. The basal protein kinase activity of phorboid receptor was stimulated by long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs (C 10-C 20) and SDS in a dose-dependent manner. K m values for ATP and protein substrate were the same in the absence and presence of stearoyl-CoA; however, V max was increased in the presence of the active agents. The degree of stimulation of protein kinase activity by stearoyl-CoA was independent of receptor protein concentration. Stearoyl-CoA did not significantly influence the activity of the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The combined hydrophobic and acidic nature of the active agents appears to be important in activating both the ligand-binding and protein kinase activities of phorboid receptor.

Cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in mouse skin. I. Systemic effects of retinoids and PUVA.

Skin from hairless mice was incubated with two synthetic retinoids, isotretinoin and etretinate, and the cAMP content as well as the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were determined. A crude plasma membrane preparation was used to measure adenylyl cyclase activity. Neither isotretinoin (10-6 and 10-5M) nor etretinate (10-6–10-4M) produced any siognificant changes in adenylyl cyclase activity. Tissue cAMP levels also remained unaltered after treatment with these retinoids. Although the protein kinase activity ratios remained constant over the concentration range of each retinoid absolute protein kinase activity was stimulated by treatment with etretinate. These data suggest that cAMP may not mediate the action of retinoids in skin, and that the stimulation of protein kinase activity caused by etretinate probably involves an alternative mechanism.

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase and granulosa cell responsiveness to gonadotropins.

The mechanisms by which estradiol enhances the actions of FSH (and cAMP), including the induction of LH receptors in rat ovarian granulosa cells, remain unclear. These studies were conducted to determine the extent to which changes in the activity, content, or intracellular distribution of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase might be altered in granulosa cells as a consequence of estradiol, FSH, and hCG administration in vivo. Dose-dependent stimulation of protein kinase activity (measured by histone phosphorylation in the presence of [gamma 32P]ATP and cAMP) demonstrated that the EC50 for cAMP was consistently 20 X 10(-8) M in cytosols prepared from granulosa cells of hypophysectomized rats before and after treatment with estradiol alone or estradiol and FSH. However, estradiol alone caused a 1.5 to 2.0-fold increase in the total amount of enzyme activity. When the cytosol content of the catalytic subunit (C) was quantitated directly, using immunoblotting procedures, the amount of C was 40 pmol/mg protein in all tissues, regardless of hormone treatments in vivo. When the content of RII, the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase, was measured by similar immunoblotting procedures, a 10-fold increase was observed in granulosa cells exposed to both estradiol and FSH compared to that in cells exposed to estradiol alone. Greater than 80% of the intracellular content of both C and RII was present in the cytosol fraction (30,000 X g supernatant) rather than in the particulate nuclear fraction (30,000 X g pellet) of granulosa cells. This distribution of subunits was not altered by rapidly elevating intracellular concentrations of cAMP in vivo with 10 IU hCG, iv. We conclude that the catalytic subunit of protein kinase is a constitutive component of granulosa cells and that the sensitivity of the enzyme for cAMP is not affected by hormones or by a 10-fold increase in RII. Thus, the ability of estradiol to enhance FSH and cAMP action in granulosa cells appears to come primarily from the induction of specific substrates for the enzyme and a small increase in the catalytic activity but not from a change in the content of the catalytic subunit.

Regulation by histamine of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in guinea-pig stomach.

The present investigation describes experimental conditions under which histamine stimulates cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the guinea-pig stomach. A histamine-responsive cAMP-dependent protein kinase was shown to be present in the soluble fraction obtained after a low speed centrifugation of the stomach homogenate. There was a small, but detectable stimulation of protein kinase activity and cAMP formation when tissue was incubated with histamine. This response to histamine was highly pronounced in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Protein kinase activation was assessed by measuring protein kinase activity ratio (activity -cAMP/+cAMP). Results indicate that protein kinase activity ratios reflect cAMP tissue levels. Binding of free cAMP by charcoal lowered both cAMP levels and protein kinase activity ratio, but histamine activation was still evident. Results suggest that only a portion of intracellular cAMP, probably in a bound form, is actually responsible for protein kinase activation, and the large accumulation of cAMP in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor probably does not reflect physiological levels.

128 Stimulation of protein kinase activity precedes hormone induced growth of the rat mammary tumors

128 Stimulation of protein kinase activity precedes hormone induced growth of the rat mammary tumors

Activation of calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in A431 cells: Attenuation by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)

A calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) was detected in the crude soluble extracts of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. The enzyme required calcium, phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylinositol, and diacylglycerol (DG) for maximal activation. Protein kinase C phosphorylated both endogenous cytosolic proteins and various histones. Addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to A431 cultures resulted in a 2 to 3-fold stimulation of protein kinase activity. 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in concert with EGF attenuated the EGF-induced enhanced phosphorylation of endogenous proteins. It is conceivable that DG, derived from phosphatidylinositol turnover, acts as a natural activator of protein kinase C activity.

The effect of opioids on striatal calmodulin levels

Phosphorylation of proteins in synaptic membranes of rat striatum by endogenous kinases was quantified by scanning the optical density on radioatograms made from gels after electrophoresis of assay samples. Neither the decreased phosphorylation found in samples from morphine-tolerant rats could be raised to control levels, nor could samples from untreated rats be raised to those found after acute opioid administration by the addition of Ca++ and calmodulin to the assay. However, the addition of opioids in vitro to the assay was able to inhibit the stimulation of protein kinase activity by Ca++ and camodulin. Calmodulin seemed to be transported from membranes to cytosol of striatal synaptosomes from morphine tolerant rats. This phenomenon has been related to striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity (5, 10), a condition suggested by many kinds of evidence in tolerant animals. After acute administration of etorphine or methionine-enkephalin, the levels of calmodulin were increased in both compartments of striatal synaptosomes. The increased membranal levels may be related to its ease of extraction from the membranes and thus to a physical change in calmodulin.

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in supernatants from dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.

The presence and characteristics of protein kinase(s) were studied in supernatants of sonicates of dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. cAMP caused a 3- to 5-fold stimulation of protein kinase activity in such extracts, with half of the maximal activation at 4--5 x 10(-8) M cAMP. Protein kinase inhibitor nearly totally abolished both basal and cAMP-stimulated activity, suggesting that most of the activity was cAMP dependent. About 90% of the cAMP-stimulated protein kinase activity eluted from a DEAE-cellulose column at 0.15 m NaCl, consistent with a type II enzyme. The presence of a type II enzyme was also supported by the effects of histone and salt concentrations on enzyme activity; both the basal and cAMP-stimulated activity ratios (activity minus cAMP divided by activity plus 10(-6) M cAMP) were stable in 0.4 M NaCl. The basal activity ratio was not increased by concentrations of histone as high as 10 mg/ml in the protein kinase assay. The predominance of the type II enzyme in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells made it possible to develop conditions for extracting the enzyme from intact intact cells (0.4 m NaCl and 5 mg/ml charcoal), whereby the state of activation of the enzyme remained relatively constant. These studies demonstrate the presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells and define conditions which make it possible to assess the effects of various secretagogues on protein kinase activation in intact parathyroid cells.

Altered epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated protein kinase activity in variant A431 cells with altered growth responses to EGF.

To determine the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated protein kinase in the biological effects caused by EGF, tyrosine-specific kinase activity has been quantitated in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells and six variant cell lines. Because EGF inhibited proliferation of A431 cells, variants resistant to this inhibition were selected by treatment with mutagen and maintenance for 1 month in 0.1 muM EGF. After cloning and growth for 6-20 generations without EGF, the resistance of the variants to the growth-inhibitory effect of EGF was confirmed. Whereas EGF increased cellular phosphotyrosine content approximately 10-fold in parental A431 cells, EGF caused smaller or undetectable increases in the six variant cell lines. Solubilized membranes from the six variants displayed diminished EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and of antibodies to p60(src) (the product of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming gene), which act as an exogenous substrate. The decrease in EGF-stimulated tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity varied from approximately 40% (clone 16) to approximately 8% (clone 18) of parental A431 activity. Phosphorylated EGF receptors from parental and variant cells migrated identically on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels. The number of EGF receptors in variant cells decreased in parallel with EGF-stimulated protein kinase activity, so that the specific activity of EGF-stimulated protein kinase per EGF receptor remained constant in the six variant cell lines with reductions in both activities to as low as 10%. These results suggest that this tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity mediates the growth-inhibitory effect of EGF on A431 cells and that both EGF binding and kinase activities reside in the same or tightly associated molecules.

Interaction of vasoactive intestinal peptide with Hela cells: Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and lack of effect on DNA synthesis

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulated protein kinase activity in HeLa cells. Maximal activation by the peptide required the simultaneous presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The response was dose-dependent in the 0.3–10 nM range, half-maximal stimulation being observed at 1 nM VIP. This value agrees with the concentration of VIP required for half-maximal stimulation of cyclic AMP production as well as with the K d of the high affinity binding sites for VIP in the same cell system (15). Secretin also stimulated protein kinase activity but with a 300-times lower potency than VIP. When DNA synthesis in Hela cells was studied, no effect of VIP could be seen in a 0.1–100 nM range of peptide concentration.

Function of calmodulin in postsynaptic densities. II. Presence of a calmodulin- activatable protein kinase activity

Because the calmodulin in postsynaptic densities (PSDs) activates a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, we decided to explore the possibility that the PSD also contains a calmodulin-activatable protein kinase activity. As seen by autoradiographic analysis of coomassie blue-stained SDS polyacrylamide gels, many proteins in a native PSD preparation were phosphorylated in the presence of [gamma-(32)P]ATP and Mg(2+) alone. Addition of Ca(2+) alone to the native PSD preparation had little or no effect on phosphorylation. However, upon addition of exogenous calmodulin there was a general increase in background phosphorylation with a statistically significant increase in the phosphorylation of two protein regions: 51,000 and 62,000 M(r). Similar results were also obtained in sonicated or freeze thawed native PSD preparations by addition of Ca(2+) alone without exogenous calmodulin, indicating that the calmodulin in the PSD can activate the kinase present under certain conditions. The calmodulin dependency of the reaction was further strengthened by the observed inhibition of the calmodulin-activatable phosphorylation, but not of the Mg(2+)-dependent activity, by the Ca(2+) chelator, EGTA, which also removes the calmodulin from the structure (26), and by the binding to calmodulin of the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine in the presence of Ca(2+). In addition, when a calmodulin-deficient PSD preparation was prepared (26), sonicated, and incubated with [gamma-(32)P]ATP, Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), one could not induce a Ca(2+)-stimulation of protein kinase activity unless exogenous calmodulin was added back to the system, indicating a reconstitution of calmodulin into the PSD. We have also attempted to identify the two major phosphorylated proteins. Based on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it appears that the major 51,000 M(r) PSD protein is the one that is phosphorylated and not the 51,000 M(r) component of brain intermediate filaments, which is a known PSD contaminant. In addition, papain digestion of the 51,000 M(r) protein revealed multiple phosphorylation sites different from those phosphorylated by the Mg(2+)-dependent kinase(s). Finally, although the calmodulin-activatable protein kinase may phosphorylate proteins I(a) and I(b), the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, which definitely does phosphorylate protein I(a) and I(b) and is present in the PSD, does not phosphorylate the 51,000 and 62,000 M(r) proteins, because specific inhibition of this kinase has no effect on the levels of the phosphorylation of these latter two proteins.

Distribution of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the bovine cornea

Soluble and particulate fractions of bovine corneal epithelium, stroma and endothelium were prepared and assayed for protein kinase activity. All preparations exhibited measurable activity in the absence of cyclic AMP (cyclic AMP-independent activity) as well as significant enzyme stimulation in its presence (cyclic AMP-dependent activity). The epithelial layer contained over 90% of the total corneal cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity, almost all of it in the soluble fraction. In contrast, over one-third of the endothelial activity was expressed by the particulate fraction. All preparations showed high affinity and high specificity for, cyclic AMP in terms of binding cyclic [3H]AMP and stimulating protein kinase activity. Elution characteristics of soluble preparations on DEAE cellulose columns demonstrated that epithelial and endothelial layers contained predominantly ‘Type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, whereas stroma had the ‘Type I enzyme. Each preparation studies also exhibited endogenous substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Effect of cGMP Derivatives on Contraction Relaxation Cycle, Release of Norepinephrine and Protein Kinase Activity in Guinea Pig Vas Deferens

Contractions of the guinea pigs vas deferens were induced by field stimulation and the effects of derivatives of cGMP were tested on the contraction-relaxation cycle. Relaxation was induced by 8-Br-cGMP and O2'-mb-cGMP. On the contrary, db-cGMP and N2-mb-cGMP potentiated the contraction. The relaxant effect of 8-Br-cGMP was not mimicked by 8-Br-5'GMP, instead the latter caused the opposite effect. Since neither 8-Br-cGMP nor db-cGMP affected the release of norepinephrine on field stimulation the cGMP derivatives induced their effects at a postsynaptic site. 8-Br-cGMP was found to be 100-fold more potent than cGMP to simulate protein kinase activity in crude extracts from guinea pig was deferens. N2-mb-cGMP and O2'-mb-cGMP were approximately equipotent to cGMP while db-cGMP was less active. 8-Br-5'-GMP did not stimulate the protein kinase. It is suggested that the results support the hypothesis that cGMP acts as a relaxant in the smooth muscle of the vas deferens. The potentiation caused by db-cGMP and N2-mb-cGMP on contractions could be dependent on the substitution in the guanine moiety of the molecules with the butyryl group. Their effect was thus probably unrelated to a specific cGMP effect.

Different effects of cAMP and cGMP derivatives on the activity of an identified neuron: Biochemical and electrophysiological analysis

Eight-position substituted cAMP and cGMP derivatives, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors, modify endogenous ‘bursting’ activity in Aplysia neuron R15. Several different patterns of activity were elicited depending on the agent used. 8-Benzylthio-cAMP or 8-parachlorophenylthio-cAMP, at concentrations between 5 μM and 0.3 mM, markedly enhanced the depth and duration of the interburst hyperpolarization, and in some cells bursting was inhibited completely. In contrast, 8-parachlorophenylthio-cGMP treatment led to some depolarization and to the appearance of long slow bursts, with little effect on the interburst phase. When the parachlorophenylthio-derivatives of cAMP and cGMP were added together at equal concentrations, a pattern consisting of long bursts interrupted by long and deep interburst hyperpolarizations was observed. This pattern could also be elicited by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). IBMX inhibited cAMP and cGMP phosphodiesterases and caused both cAMP and cGMP to accumulate in intact ganglia and in individual identified neuronal cell bodies including that of R15. Another phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro 7-2956, was a more potent inhibitor of cAMP than of cGMP phosphodiesterase; Ro 7-2956 also modified bursting activity, and seemed to enhance preferentially the interburst hyperpolarization. At high concentrations the 8-substituted cAMP and cGMP derivatives also inhibited cAMP and cGMP phosphodiesterases. The 8-parachlorophenylthio-derivatives of cAMP and cGMP were indistinguishable from each other in this assay, and thus phosphodiesterase inhibition cannot be responsible for their differential effects on bursting activity. The derivatives stimulated protein kinase activity in Aplysia ganglion homogenates, as measured by the incorporation of 32P from ATP into histone. IBMX and Ro 7-2956 had no detectable effect on protein kinase activity. The concentrations of cAMP and cGMP derivatives required for protein kinase activation (10 −8M–10 −6M) were much lower than those required for phosphodiesterase inhibition (10 −5M–10 −3M). Thus, differential protein phosphorylation is more likely to be responsible for the effects of cAMP and cGMP derivatives on neuron R15 bursting activity than is differential phosphodiesterase inhibition.

Plasma membrane-associated protein kinase activity of differentiating rabbit bone marrow erythroid cells

1. 1. The activity of plasma membrane-associated protein kinase was determined at different stages of development of rabbit bone marrow erythroid cells. The cells were fractionated by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity and the endogenous phosphorylation of membranes was measured in the presence and in the absence of cyclic AMP. 2. 2. There is continuous decrease in protein kinase activity during the maturation process up to the orthochromatic cell stage. In the late orthochromatic erythroblasts, as well as in the circulating reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes the enzyme activity remains constant. 3. 3. The phosphorylation of endogenous substrates by plasma membrane-bound protein kinase(s) is cyclic AMP-dependent only in the dividing cells. Cyclic AMP stimulates protein kinase activity approx. 2 2.5 times and this effect is lost immediately after the final cell division.

Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in isolated intestinal epithelial cells from rat

VIP stimulates protein kinase activity in intestinal epithelial cells isolated from rat jejuno-ileum. The stimulation is time-dependent and is potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The response occurs in the 0.1–10 nM range of VIP concentrations, half-maximal stimulation being observed with 0.7 nM VIP. The VIP-induced protien kinase activation is thus observed at concentrations similar to those promoting the accumulation of cyclic AMP (11). Secretin also stimulates protien kinase activity but with a 100-times lower potency than VIP, in agreement with the fact that secretin is a VIP agonist of 100-times lower potency with respect to cyclic AMP increase. Prostaglandins E 1 and E 2 (10 −5 M), are also found to increase protein kinase activity.

Effects of prostaglandin E 1 on protein kinase activity and endogenous phosphorylation of intact human platelets

When intact human platelets were treated with prostaglandin E 1, protein kinase activity of the platelet sonicate was elevated when assayed without cyclic AMP. Total protein kinase activity (assayed with cyclic AMP) remained unchanged. Prostaglandin A 1 mimicked this effect, but other prostaglandins and antiplatelet agents had no effect on protein kinase activity. Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity was not influenced by prostaglandin E 1. Basal phosphorylation of several endogenous substrates for protein kinase was also elevated when platelets were treated with prostaglandin E 1. The results demonstrate that prostaglandin E 1 stimulates protein kinase activity and endogenous phosphorylation in intact platelets and suggest that this effect is mediated by the action of prostaglandin E 1 on cyclic AMP levels. An important role of phosphoprotein in mediating the effect of prostaglandin E 1 on platelet function is suggested.

Receptor-mediated gonadotropin action in the ovary. Regulatory role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s) in intracellular adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate turnover and gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone production by rat ovarian cells

The regulatory role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s) and cyclic AMP metabolism in relation to progesterone production by gonadotropins has been studied in isolated rat ovarian cells. Low concentrations of choriogonadotropin (0.4-5ng/ml) increased steroid production without any detectable increase in cyclic AMP, when experiments were carried out in the absence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The concentration of choriogonadotropin (10ng/ml) that stimulated progesterone synthesis maximally resulted in a minimal increase in cyclic AMP accumulation and choriogonadotropin binding. Choriogonadotropin at a concentration of 10ng/ml and higher, however, significantly stimulated protein kinase activity and reached a maximum between 250 and 1000ng of hormone/ml. Higher concentrations (50-2500ng/ml) of choriogonadotropin caused an increase in endogenous cyclic AMP, and this increase preceded the increase in steroid synthesis. Analysis of dose-response relationships of gonadotropin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, progesterone production and protein kinase activity revealed a correlation between these responses over a wide concentration range when experiments were performed in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors papaverine, theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine each stimulated steroid production in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of ovarian cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 8-bromo cyclic AMP mimicked the steroidogenic action of gonadotropins and this effect was dependent on both incubation time and nucleotide concentration. Maximum stimulation was obtained with 2mm-dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 8-bromo cyclic AMP, and this increase was close to that produced by a maximally stimulating dose of choriogonadotropin. Other 8-substituted derivatives such as 8-hydroxy cyclic AMP and 8-isopropylthio cyclic AMP, which were less susceptible to phosphodiesterase action, also effectively stimulated steroidogenesis. The uptake and metabolism of cyclic [(3)H]AMP in ovarian cells was also studied in relation to steroidogenesis. When ovarian cells were incubated for 2h in the presence of increasing concentrations of cyclic [(3)H]AMP, the radioactivity associated with the cells increased almost linearly up to 250mum-cyclic [(3)H]AMP concentration in the incubation medium. The (3)H label in the cellular extract was recovered mainly in the forms ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine and inosine, with cyclic AMP accounting for less than 1% of the total tissue radioactivity. Incubation of cyclic AMP in vitro with ovarian cells resulted in a rapid breakdown of the nucleotide in the medium. The degradation products in the medium have been identified as AMP, adenosine and inosine. The rapid degradation of cyclic AMP by phosphodiesterase(s) makes it difficult to correlate changes in cyclic AMP concentrations with steroidogenesis. These observations thus provide an explanation for the previously observed lack of cyclic AMP accumulation under conditions in which low doses of choriogonadotropin stimulated steroidogenesis without any detectable changes in cyclic AMP accumulation.

The respective roles of the protein kinase and pppA2′ p5′ A2′ p5′ A-activated endonuclease in the inhibition of protein synthesis by double stranded RNA in rabbit reticulocyte lysates

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) inhibits protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates by activating the synthesis of the endonuclease effector pppA2' p5' A2' p5' A(2-5A) and a protein kinase which phosphorylates the protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-2. Under certain assay conditions, high concentrations of dsRNA are without inhibitory effect in many lysates (high dsRNA "reversible" lysates). In these lysates natural dsRNA at low concentrations stimulated protein kinase activity to a greater extent than did the synthetic dsRNA poly rI.rC. Synthesis of 2--5A was greater when poly rI.rC was used. However, a number of factors, including the salt concentration and messenger RNA used, combine to determine the overall effect of dsRNA on protein synthesis under any given set of experimental conditions.