Prostaglandin-stimulated GTP hydrolysis associated with activation of adenylate cyclase in human platelet membranes.

In membranes purified from human blood platelets, basal guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis is reduced by a factor of approximately 6 by exposure to N-ethylmaleimide (10 mM). This decreased background enables the detection of an additional GTP hydrolysis in the presence of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). The PGE1-stimulated GTPase has several properties correlated with PGE1-stimulated adenylate cyclase in this preparation. The two enzymes have similar dose-response relationships (half-maximal stimulation at 0.1 microM PGE1). Exposure to cholera toxin blocks the PGE1-stimulated GTPase and activates adenylate cyclase. Both enzymes are activated by submicromolar concentrations of GTP, although the Km for the GTPase is about 10 times greater than that for the adenylate cyclase. The data are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase (i) is activated as a regulatory component binds a molecular of GTP and (ii) is deactivated as this molecule is hydrolyzed.     

Mechanism of adenylate cyclase activation by cholera toxin: Inhibition of GTP hydrolysis at the regulatory site

Treatment of turkey erthrocyte membranes with cholera toxin caused an enhancement of the basal and catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] activities. Both of these activities required the presence of GTP. The toxin effect on the adenylate cyclase activity concided with an inhibition of the catecholamine-stimulated guanosinetriphosphatase activity. Inhibition of the guanosinetriphosphatase, as well as enhancement of the adenylate cyclase activity, showed the same dependence on cholera toxin concentrations, and the effect of the toxin on both activities was dependent on the presence of NAD.It is proposed that continuous GTP hydrolysis at the regulatory guanyl nucleotide site is an essential turn-off mechanism, terminating activation of the adenylate cyclase. Cholera toxin inhibits the turn-off guanosinetriphosphatase reaction and thereby causes activation of the adenylate cyclase. According to this mechanism GTP should activate the toxin-treated preparation of adenylate cyclase, as does the hydrolysis-resistant analog guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-immino)triphosphate [Gpp(NH)p]. Indeed, the toxin-treated adenylate cyclase was maximally activated, in the presence of isoproternol, by either GTP or Gpp(NH)p, while adenylate cyclase not treated with toxin was stimulated by hormone plus GTP to only one-fifth of the activity achieved with hormone plus Gpp(NH)p. Furthermore, the toxin-treated adenylate cyclase activated by isoproterenol plus GTP remained active for and extended period (half-time of 3 min) upon subsequent addition of the beta-adrenergic blocker, propranolol. The native enzyme, however, was refractory to propranolol only if activated by Gpp(NH)p but not by GTP.     

Muscarinic cholinergic-receptor stimulation of specific GTP hydrolysis related to adenylate cyclase activity in canine cardiac sarcolemma

One component of muscarinic receptor inhibition of the function of cardiac ventricles is mediated by the inhibition of activated adenylate cyclase activity in sarcolemma. We have shown previously that muscarinic agonists inhibit GTP- but not Gpp(NH)p-activated adenylate cyclase activity, and various studies in other tissues indicate that nonhydrolyzable GTP analogues prevent inactivation of the enzyme. These data have suggested a role for GTP hydrolysis in the mechanism of inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The present study demonstrates that purified canine cardiac sarcolemma displays high-affinity GTPase activity that is reciprocally related to adenylate cyclase activity. The high-affinity GTPase activity was stimulated by muscarinic agonists and blocked by atropine. Furthermore, the one-half maximal effects of oxotremorine for binding to muscarinic receptors, stimulation of high-affinity GTPase activity, and inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity were similar. Muscarinic stimulation of GTPase activity and inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity required functional activity of the pertussis toxin (IAP) substrate(s). Treatment of sarcolemmal membranes with IAP attenuated the ability of oxotremorine to both stimulate high-affinity GTPase activity and inhibit adenylate cyclase activity. These studies indicate that muscarinic receptor stimulation of high-affinity GTPase activity dependent on functional IAP substrate(s) is closely linked to the mechanism of muscarinic inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity.     

Facilitation of GABAergic signaling in the retina by receptors stimulating adenylate cyclase.

The gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor is the predominant Cl(-)-channel protein mediating inhibition in the retina and elsewhere in the mammalian brain. We have observed a time-dependent increase of GABA-induced whole-cell currents when dopamine was applied externally to rat retinal amacrine cells. After 20 min, the peak current was increased to 208% +/- 10% of its initial value. A comparable effect was observed with the dopamine D1 receptor agonist (+)-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro(1H)-3-benzazepine-7,8-diol hydrochloride (SKF-38393) but not with the D2 agonist bromocryptine. The action of dopamine involved phosphorylation of GABAA receptors by protein kinase A, as evident from intracellular application of protein kinase A, cAMP, and forskolin. Both guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate and cholera toxin augmented the GABA response, indicating a role for the guanosine 5'-triphosphate-binding protein Gs in the transduction cascade. Phosphorylation of GABAA receptors shifted the half-maximally effective GABA concentration from 71 microM to 47 microM without affecting the maximal response amplitude. The elevated binding affinity for GABA was caused by an increase of the open probability of the channels from 0.09 to 0.33 (2 microM GABA); conductance and mean open time did not change. Several other receptor agonists such as adenosine, histamine, somatostatin, enkephalin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were found to couple to the same intracellular phosphorylation pathway. Since some of these cotransmitters colocalize with GABA in amacrine cells, they may fine-tune GABAergic inhibition in the retina.     

Thyroid adenylate cyclase stimulating immunoglobulins in thyroid diseases

The occurrence of serum immunoglobulins with capacity to stimulate thyroid adenylate cyclase (TSAb) was studied in seventy-two healthy volunteers and 120 unselected patients with various thyroid diseases. A high frequency of TSAb (82.5%, P less than 0.00006) was found in Graves' disease, while TSAb was present only in 13--20% of serum from patients with nontoxic nodular goitre, nontoxic diffuse goitre, toxic adenoma, toxic nodular goitre and myxoedema. These patients had low level of TSAb compared to patients with Graves' disease. In patients with Graves' disease there was no correlation between the level of TSAb and hormonal status except serum triiodothyronine (rs = 0.29, P less than 0.05), and no relation with eye involvement or presence of microsomal thyroid antibodies was found. The results indicate that the human thyroid adenylate cyclase assay system with 1 hour incubation periods is a sensitive method for detection of immunoglobulins with TSH-like capacity to stimulate the thyroid gland.     

GTP is not required for calmodulin stimulation of bovine brain adenylate cyclase.

The importance of guanyl nucleotides for calmodulin stimulation of bovine cerebral cortex adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] was examined by using a partially purified calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase that was resolved from calmodulin-insensitive forms of the enzyme. By using 5'-adenylyl imidodiphosphate as a substrate, in the absence of an ATP-regenerating system, it was determined that GTP is not required for calmodulin stimulation of the enzyme. Maximal activation by 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate (p[NH]ppG) was 5.3-fold, whereas the combination of p[NH]ppG and calmodulin stimulated the enzyme 27-fold. Although GDP inhibited p[NH]ppG stimulation of the calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase, it did not affect calmodulin stimulation. In addition, calmodulin did not alter the kinetics for activation of the enzyme by p[NH]ppG. It is concluded that GTP is not required for calmodulin stimulation of brain adenylate cyclase and that calmodulin regulation of this enzyme is probably not due to effects of calmodulin on the affinity of the guanyl nucleotide regulatory complex for guanyl nucleotides.     

Salts promote activation of fat cell adenylate cyclase by GTP: special role for sodium ion.

The effects of GTP on adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] of human and rat fat cell membranes ("ghosts" and purified membranes) were examined in the absence and presence of added inorganic salts. With human ghosts GTP alone (0.1 mM) inhibited enzyme activity by 40% at 30 degrees C and had no significant effect at 37 degrees C. At both temperatures Na+ salts of Cl-, N3-, and SO2-(4) stimulated activity (up to 4-fold basal activity for 200 mM NaN3), with maximal effects at salt concentrations of 100-200 mM. Over the same concentration range these salts also allowed temperature-dependent stimulation by GTP. GTP increased the maximal activity produced by salt alone by about 2-fold at 30 degrees C and about 4-fold at 37 degrees C. Na+ (added as Cl-) was much more effective than other alkali metal cations in promoting activation by GTP. Na+ salts allowed activation of the human enzyme by the GTP analog 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate and also promoted stimulation of rat fat cell adenylate cyclase by both nucleotides. In time course studies of human and rat fat cell ghosts, GTP appeared to sustain an initial high rate of salt-stimulated activity, which in the absence of nucleotide subsequently fell to a lower rate, suggesting that salts might activate adenylate cyclase by promoting the stimulatory effect of endogenous membrane-bound GTP. However, with purified human fat cell membranes and a GTP-free system, salts were still stimulatory and promoted activation by added GTP. These results differ from those of previous reports in other systems in which Na+ has promoted only inhibitory effects in GTP regulation of adenylate cyclase.     

Mechanism of adenylate cyclase activation through the beta-adrenergic receptor: catecholamine-induced displacement of bound GDP by GTP.

The fate of the guanyl nucleotide bound to the regulatory site of adenylate cyclase was studied on a preparation of turkey erythrocyte membranes that was incubated with [3H]GTP plus isoproterenol and subsequently washed to remove hormone and free guanyl nucleotide. Further incubation of this preparation in the presence of beta-adrenergic agonists resulted in the release from the membrane of tritiated nucleotide, identified as [3H]GDP. The catecholamine-induced release of [3H]GDP was increased 2 to 3 times in the presence of the unlabeled guanyl nucleotides GTP, guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imino)triphosphate [gpp(NH)p], GDP, and GMP, whereas adenine nucleotides had little effect. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p, isoproterenol induced the release of [3H]GDP and the activation of adenylate cyclase, both effects following similar time courses. The findings indicate that the inactive adenylate cyclase possesses tightly bound (GDP, produced by the hydrolysis of GTP at the regulatory site. The hormone stimulates adenylate cyclase activity by inducing an "opening" of the guanyl nucleotide site, resulting in dissociation of the bound GDP and binding of the activating guanosine triphosphate.     

Coupling of opiate receptors to adenylate cyclase: requirement for Na+ and GTP.

Inhibition of the adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of mouse neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15) by the opioid peptide [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalin amide (AMEA) requires the presence of Na+ and GTP. In this process, the selectivity for monovalent cations is Na+ greater than or equal Li+ greater than K+ greater than choline+; ITP will replace GTP but ATP, UTP, or CTP will not. The apparent Km for Na+ is 20 mM and for GTP it is 1 microM. Under saturating Na+ and GTP conditions, the apparent Ki for AMEA-directed inhibition is 20 nM for basal and 100 nM for prostaglandin E1-activated adenylate cyclase activity. For both cyclase activities, maximal inhibition is only partial (i.e., approximately 55% of control in each case). In intact viable NG108-15 cells, the decrease in basal and prostaglandin E1-stimulated intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations by AMEA is also dependent upon extracellular Na+. The enkephalin-directed reductions in cyclic AMP concentrations are at least 75%. The specificity of the monovalent cation requirement for enkephalin action on intact cells is the same as for enkephalin regulation of homogenate adenylate cyclase activity. Based on these data, a model is presented in which the transfer of information from opiate receptors to adenylate cyclase requires active separate membrane components, which correspond to the sites of action of Na+ and GTP in this process.     

Mechanism of GTP hydrolysis by G-protein alpha subunits.

Hydrolysis of GTP by a variety of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins is a crucial step for regulation of these biological switches. Mutations that impair the GTPase activity of certain heterotrimeric signal-transducing G proteins or of p21ras cause tumors in man. A conserved glutamic residue in the alpha subunit of G proteins has been hypothesized to serve as a general base, thereby activating a water molecule for nucleophilic attack on GTP. The results of mutagenesis of this residue (Glu-207) in Gi alpha 1 refute this hypothesis. Based on the structure of the complex of Gi alpha 1 with GDP, Mg2+, and AlF-4, which appears to resemble the transition state for GTP hydrolysis, we believe that Gln-204 of Gi alpha 1, rather than Glu-207, supports catalysis of GTP hydrolysis by stabilization of the transition state.     

Opiate-dependent modulation of adenylate cyclase.

Reactions mediated by the opiate receptors that inhibit adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) are closely coupled to subsequent reactions that gradually increase adenylate cyclase activity of neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. Opiate-treated cells have higher basal-, prostaglandin E1-, and 2-chloroadenosine-stimulated activities than do control cells. However, NaF or guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate abolishes most of the differences in adenylate cyclase activity observed with homogenates from control and opiate-treated cells. Cycloheximide blocked some, but not all, of the opiate-dependent increase in adenylate cyclase activity. These results suggest that the opiate-dependent increase in adenylate cyclase is due to conversion of adenylate cyclase to a form with altered activity. Protein synthesis also is required for part of the opiate effect. We propose that activity of adenylate cyclase determines the rate of conversion of the enzyme from one form to the other and that opiates, by inhibiting adenylate cyclase, alter the relative abundance of low- and high-activity forms of the enzyme.     

Calmodulin activates prokaryotic adenylate cyclase.

The adenylate cyclase of Bordetella pertussis is stimulated 100- to 1000-fold in a dose-dependent manner by calf brain calmodulin. The system has the following properties. (i) The activation is prevented by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid and restored by Ca2+. (ii) Oxidation of the methionine residues of calmodulin abolishes the ability to activate the cyclase. (iii) Trifluoperazine inhibits calmodulin-activated cyclase. (iv) A troponin C preparation stimulates the B. pertussis cyclase with < 0.01 the potency of calmodulin. Although calmodulin has not been demonstrated in prokaryotes, this is an example of a (eukaryotic) calmodulin effect in a prokaryote.     

Cardiac adenylate cyclase: Kinetics of synergistic activation by guanosine-5′-triphosphate (GTP) and glucagon

Kinetic analysis of cardiac adenylate cyclase activation by GTP and glucagon has been performed. The maximal stimulation produced by 1 mm GTP or 10 μm glucagon alone was approximately 2-fold over basal activity; with both GTP and glucagon, activity was synergistically increased 5-fold over basal.The apparent K_D for activation of cardiac adenylate cyclase by glucagon was 0.16 μm and was not altered by maximal or submaximal concentrations of GTP. The apparent K_D for activation by GTP was 4.18 μm; this value was not altered by maximal or submaximal concentrations of glucagon. The apparent K_m values for MgATP and apparent V_m values were determined in the basal state and in the presence of 10 μm glucagon and various fixed levels of GTP (none, 1, 10, and 100 μm) and in the presence of 1 mm GTP and various fixed concentrations of glucagon (none, 0.1, 1, 10 μm). No difference in the apparent K_m for the substrate was determined under these various conditions (mean of all determination = 0.280 ± 0.01 mm). The apparent V_m values, however, increased greatly in the presence of the two effectors. The V_m values determined under basal conditions or with GTP alone or glucagon alone were 51 ± 3, 67 ± 3, and 79 ± 3 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. At saturating levels of both GTP and glucagon the V_m value was 255 ± 11 pmol/mg protein/min.The kinetic data for the activation of the cardiac adenylate cyclase by GTP and glucagon were analyzed further using a rate equation which expresses the high degree of synergism between GTP and glucagon in terms of interaction constants.     

Relationships between the GTP content and the TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of cultured thyroid cells

The adenylate cyclase activity of a crude membrane fraction derived from cells cultured for 4 days in the presence of TSH (0.1 mU/ml), when acutely stimulated with 25 mU/ml, is 5-8 times higher than that derived from control cells. It has been suggested that changes in the intracellular content of GTP resulting from TSH chronic treatment were the cause of the modified responsiveness of the cyclase. To investigate this hypothesis, a method for GTP determination was developed. The steady-state concentration of GTP in 4-day TSH-treated cells is 2-3 times higher than in 4-day control cells. The increase in GTP content is concentration dependent between 5 and 500 microU/ml TSH in the culture medium. It presents a maximum on day 4 of culture, but remains elevated up to day 5. Nevertheless the GTP content is not the only factor controlling the cyclase activity, indeed the addition of 0.1 mM GTP to membranes from control cells does not increase the response up to the level reached by membranes from TSH-treated cells. Treatment of the cells with virazole, a drug inhibiting the biosynthesis of guanyl nucleotides, greatly decreases the GTP level, but is unable to suppress the positive effect of the TSH chronic treatment on adenylate cyclase activity. These results show that the increase in GTP level resulting from culture of the cells in the presence of minute amounts of TSH is not exclusively linked to adenylate cyclase responsiveness to TSH.     

Cardiac adenylate cyclase. I. Preparation and characterisation of a subcellular fraction containing catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase.

Differential centrifugation of homogenates of rat ventricles yielded subcellular fractions which were assayed for adenylate cyclase activity, as well as enzymes associated predominantly with certain intracellular structures. The distribution of adenylate cyclase activity paralleled only that of the marker enzyme for sarcolemma, 5′-AMPase. However, the heterogeneity of the particulate fractions made it impossible to ascertain the exact intracellular localization of adenylate cyclase. Histological examination of the fraction (P₁) containing the bulk of the adenylate cyclase activity revealed large numbers of isolated myofibres. Purification of this fraction was effected by homogenizing it in a large volume of isotonic sucrose to disperse and dissolve the myofibrillar matrix. The resultant homogenate was then subjected to differential centrifugation. A pellet (P₄) was obtained containing only slight activity of marker enzymes for mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum, but which was enriched in 5′-AMPase activity, plasma membranes (as revealed by its cholesterol/phospholipid ratio) and possessed a reduced muscle protein content. Histological examination of this fraction revealed an absence of myofibres. The specific activity of the basal, isoprenaline—and fluoride—stimulated adeynlate cyclase in P₄ was doubled relative to P₁ and this fraction contained approximately half of the total adeynlate cyclase activity of P₁. It was concluded that the bulk of the catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity of the cardiac muscle homogenate was localized in the sarcolemma. The described procedure for the isolation of a purified sarcolemma fraction is rapid and does not require the use of an ultracentrifuge or density gradients.     

Kinetics of interaction between beta-receptors, GTP protein, and the catalytic unit of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase.

The kinetics of turkey erythrocyte membrane adenylate cyclase activation by beta-agonists and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate is explored as a function of the concentration of the GTP regulatory protein and of the catalytic unit. It was found that the overall kinetics of activation is first order and is independent of the concentration of the GTP regulatory unit N, the catalytic unit C, and of hormone over a very wide concentration range. It was established that the rate-limiting step does not involve GDP dissociation from the inactive N unit or the association between activated N' and C. Also, it was found that guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate binding occurs in a random fashion and is not hormone dependent. These results enable us to exclude models of the sequential type in which N in its inactive form is bound to receptor R, is released in an active form N' upon hormone activation, and then binds to C, activating the latter. An acceptable model that accounts for all of the data conforms to the original formulation of "collision coupling" in which N is tightly associated to C at all times.     

Stimulatory GTP regulatory unit Ns and the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase are tightly associated: mechanistic consequences.

Turkey erythrocyte membranes were solubilized in the mild detergent octylpenta(oxyethylene) [CH3(CH2)7-(OCH2CH2)5OH], which possesses a high critical micelle concentration (approximately equal to 6 mM) and forms small, dynamic micelles. Both the native enzyme Ns(GDP) X C and the p[NH]ppG-preactivated species N's X p[NH]ppG X C' were found to possess the same molecular mass of 215,000 +/- 17,000 daltons. Both enzyme species migrate as a tight complex between Ns and C on both gel permeation columns and on DEAE-Sephacel columns in detergent. The two functional units, Ns and C, remain associated even in dilute detergent solutions and throughout a 300- to 400-fold purification in octylpoly(oxyethylene). These results strongly support the view that Ns and C do not come apart during the process of enzyme activation by the beta-adrenergic receptor. Furthermore, these results strongly support our previous assertion that the beta-adrenergic receptor activation of adenylate cyclase is by a simple "collision coupling" between the receptor and NsC. These results are not compatible with shuttle mechanisms that postulate that Ns physically migrates from the receptor R to the catalytic unit C and back during the activation cycle, as suggested by Citri and Schramm [Citri, Y. & Schramm, M. (1980) Nature (London) 287, 297-300] and by De Lean et al. [De Lean, A., Stadel, J. M. & Lefkowitz, R. J. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 5108-5117].     

Mechanism of activation of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin.

Cholera toxin (choleragen) can stimulate adenylate cyclase [EC 4.6.1.1; ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing)] activity in whole particulate fractions or purified plasma membranes of homogenates of isolated fat cells provided special precautions are taken to stabilize the enzyme during the required preincubation period. As observed with intact cells, the activation exhibits a protracted (about 25 min) lag phase, and it is blocked by ganglioside GM1 and choleragenoid ("binding" subunit of toxin). The 36,000 molecular weight subunit ("active" subunit), a hydrophobic polypeptide which does not block choleragen binding or action, can directly activate the enzyme in intact cells without a lag phase. Its effects are not blocked by ganglioside GM1 or choleragenoid, yet the stimulated activity exhibits reduced fluoride and enhanced isoproterenol sensitivity, properties characteristic of the choleragen-activated enzyme. Binding of the 125I-labeled 36,000 molecular weight subunit to cells is not saturable and is unaffected by gangliosides, choleragen, or choleragenoid, and the bound material behaves as an integral membrane protein; this protein may simply partition into the membrane matrix. With increasing time of incubation cell-bound choleragen may dissociate into its component subunits, but these remain in the membrane. Using a double antibody immunoprecipitin system, substantial precipitation of cyclase activity occurs with antisera against the 36,000 molecular weight subunit provided toxin activation has occurred. The normal process of activation may involve an initially inactive toxin--ganglioside complex which, as a result of lateral mobility and multivalent binding (lag phase), results in destabilization of the molecule with release of the "active" subunit into the membrane core where it can spontaneously associate with and perturb the cyclase complex.