Regulation of phosphodiesterase synthesis: requirement for cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase

Endogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and its dibutyryl derivative increase cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in cultured lymphoma cells. This effect is prevented by cycloheximide. A variant population of cells deficient in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase contains lower basal phosphodiesterase activity, which cannot be induced by cyclic AMP.     

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate waves in Dictyostelium discoideum: a demonstration by isotope dilution--fluorography

The distribution of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in fields of aggregating amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum was examined by a novel isotope dilution-fluorographic technique. Cellular cyclic AMP was visualized by its competition with exogenous 3H-labeled cyclic AMP for high-affinity binding sites on protein kinase immobilized on a Millipore filter used to blot the monolayer. The cyclic AMP was distributed in spiral or concentric circular wave patterns which centered on the foci of the aggregations. These patterns were correlated with those of cell shape change that propagate through the monolayers: cells in regions of high concentrations of cyclic AMP were elongated (presumably moving up a cyclic AMP gradient), whereas those in regions of low cyclic AMP concentrations were randomly directed. The highest cyclic AMP concentrations were about 10(-6)M. The widths of the regions of elevated cyclic AMP were about 0.3 to 1 millimeter which, assuming a wave velocity of 300 micrometers per minute, suggests that a cell signals for about 1 to 3 minutes. These observations support the hypothesis that the aggregation process in Dictyostelium is mediated by the periodic relay of cyclic AMP signals and suggest a simple scheme for the dynamics of the aggregation process.     

Selective reduction of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation by inhibitors of protein synthesis

Inhibiting protein synthesis by incubating C6-2B rat astrocytoma cells with cycloheximide or emetine for periods up to 24 hours caused a progressive decrease in the accumulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) when the cells were challenged for 30 minutes with 100 microM forskolin. In contrast, cholera toxin-stimulated (6 nM, 3 hours) cyclic AMP accumulation was not diminished in cycloheximide-treated cells, and cyclic AMP was only minimally diminished in response to a 30-minute challenge with 10 microM (-)-isoproterenol. These experiments suggest the presence of a previously unrecognized cyclase component, which is essential for forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and has a shorter half-life than the beta-adrenergic receptor, the guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins, or the cyclase catalytic component.     

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate modulates thyrotropin receptor clustering and thyrotropin activity in culture

A biologically active rhodamine conjugate of thyrotropin binds at 4 degrees C to diffusely distributed membrane thyrotropin receptors which patch and become endocytosed into thyroid cells in a temperature-sensitive process. When the cells are first incubated with 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate at 37 degrees C, the conjugate also binds to clustered receptors at 4 degrees C. Furthermore, 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate reduces the amount of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) induced by thyrotropin. Hence, increased intracellular cyclic AMP induces receptor patching and reduces the concentration of cyclic AMP normally induced by thyrotropin. This suggests that cyclic AMP acts both as the second messenger of thyrotropin and also as the regulator of the level of thyrotropin receptors.     

A chemoattractant receptor controls development in Dictyostelium discoideum

During the early stages of its developmental program, Dictyostelium discoideum expresses cell surface cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) receptors. It has been suggested that these receptors coordinate the aggregation of individual cells into a multicellular organism and regulate the expression of a large number of developmentally regulated genes. The complementary DNA (cDNA) for the cyclic AMP receptor has now been cloned from lambda gt-11 libraries by screening with specific antiserum. The 2-kilobase messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes the receptor is undetectable in growing cells, rises to a maximum at 3 to 4 hours of development, and then declines. In vitro transcribed complementary RNA, when hybridized to cellular mRNA, specifically arrests in vitro translation of the receptor polypeptide. When the cDNA is expressed in Dictyostelium cells, the undifferentiated cells specifically bind cyclic AMP. Cell lines transformed with a vector that expresses complementary mRNA (antisense) do not express the cyclic AMP receptor protein. These cells fail to enter the aggregation stage of development during starvation, whereas control and wild-type cells aggregate and complete the developmental program within 24 hours. The phenotype of the antisense transformants suggests that the cyclic AMP receptor is essential for development. The deduced amino acid sequence of the receptor reveals a high percentage of hydrophobic residues grouped in seven domains, similar to the rhodopsins and other receptors believed to interact with G proteins. It shares amino acid sequence identity and is immunologically cross-reactive with bovine rhodopsin. A model is proposed in which the cyclic AMP receptor crosses the bilayer seven times with a serine-rich cytoplasmic carboxyl terminus, the proposed site of ligand-induced receptor phosphorylation.     

Growth arrest and morphological change of human breast cancer cells by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and L-arginine

The growth in vitro of human breast cancer cells, line MCF-7, was inhibited by a daily supplement of L-arginine (1 milligram per milliliter). Arginine acted synergistically with dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) (10(-6) molar) to enhance the growth inhibitory effect: the cell replication ceased completely within 2 days after treatment. The growth arrest accompanied a change in cell morphology and was preceded by increases in the cellular concentration of cyclic AMP, adenylate cyclase, and type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activities as well as a decrease of estrogen binding activity. The results suggest that growth of human breast cancer cells is subject to cyclic AMP-mediated regulation and that arginine may play a specific role in this process.     

Failure to confirm cyclic AMP as second messenger for norepinephrine in rat cerebellum

Microiontophoretic applications of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) to spontaneously active, electrophysiologically identified Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum failed to mimic the strong depressant action of norepinephrine on the same cells. These findings, in combination with a reevaluation of other studies, cast doubt on the hypothesis that cyclic AMP mediates the depressant actions of norepinephrine in the cerebellum.     

Reversal of catecholamine refractoriness by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis

The generation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in response to catecholamines in the 2B subclone of RGC6 rat glioma cells previously exposed to norepinephrine and refractory to further norepinephrine addition is substantially increased by addition of inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. The time course of the effect of these inhibitors on cyclic AMP concentration suggests that rapid protein synthesis and turnover are involved in catecholamine refractoriness. Norepinephrine induction of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase is demonstrable in RGC6 cells but not in the 2B subclone. Thus, catecholamine refractoriness cannot be attributed to induction of phosphodiesterase. This implies that induction of a protein or proteins, important in catecholamine refractoriness, affects the synthesis rather than the degradation of cyclic AMP.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone: regulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in ovarian granulosa cells

The antigonadal effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in ovarian granulosa cells are due to attenuation of the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) response to follicle-stimulating hormone. Agonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormone progressively inhibit adenylate cyclase and stimulate phosphodiesterase activities in cultured granulosa cells, indicating that blockade of gonadotropin action is attributable to the combined effects of decreased production and increased degradation of cyclic AMP.     

Catecholamine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP effects on myosin adenosine triphosphatase in cultured rat heart cells

Catecholamines and dibutyryl adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) increase the activity of myosin adenosine triphosphatase in cultured rat heart cells. Dichloroisoproterenol, an inhibitor of the beta receptor of the catecholamines, inhibits the action of the catecholamines but not of cyclic AMP.     

Growth inhibition by adenosine 3',5-monophosphate derivatives does not require 3',5' phosphodiester linkage

Analogs of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) inhibit the growth of cultured cell lines. The effects of 8-bromo- and N6-butyryl-substituted analogs of cyclic and noncyclic AMP on six cell lines were examined and were equally inhibitory. Variant cell lines with altered cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase were more resistant to both cyclic and noncyclic nucleotides. We conclude that growth inhibition by analogs of cyclic AMP (i) does not require a 3',5' phosphodiester bond and (ii) may be mediated by a pathway involving endogenous cyclic AMP.     

Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation of colcemid-inhibited axonal elongation

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and its dibutyryl derivative induce a variety of morphological changes, including those associated with in vitro axonal maturation. Established sensory ganglia treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP show significant increases in average axonal length and number in comparison with controls; those treated with maintenance doses of Colcemid show no increases in either parameter; simultaneous treatment with both agents results in growth statistically similar to that produced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone. The data are consistent with our hypothesis that cyclic AMP promotes axonal elongation by stimulating microtubule assembly from a preexisting subunit pool.     

Hormonal control of neutrophil lysosomal enzyme release: effect of epinephrine on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

Human neutrophilic leukocytes release neutral protease and beta-glucuronidase during cell contact with, and phagocytosis of, zymosan particles treated with rheumatoid arthritic serum. Release of lysosomal enzymes is inhibited by epinephrine and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), but not by phenylephrine or adenosine 5'-monophosphate. Inhibition of enzyme release by epinephrine may be mediated by cyclic AMP because the cyclic AMP in the neutrophils is increased by epinephrine treatment at the time when enzyme release is reduced.     

Oscillation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration during the myocardial contraction cycle

The concentration of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) rises and falls during each myocardial contraction cycle. Peak concentrations of cyclic AMP precede peak development of systolic tension. Epinephrine alters the normal oscillation in myocardial cyclic AMP and increases both diastolic and systolic concentrations of the cyclic nucleotide. These transient changes in myocardial cyclic AMP indicate a potential role for cyclic AMP as a beat-to-beat regulator of myocardial contractility.     

Phagocyte impotence caused by an invasive bacterial adenylate cyclase

For unknown reasons, humans infected with the bacterium Bordetella pertussis are exceptionally vulnerable to secondary infections. Bordetella species elaborate a soluble, heat-stable, and highly active adenylate cyclase. This enzyme is internalized by phagocytic cells and catalyzes the unregulated formation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), thereby disrupting normal cellular function. This unusual phenomenon may explain Bordetella-induced aphylaxis and may prove to be useful for investigating a variety of cyclic AMP-governed processes.     

Compartmentalization of cyclic AMP during phagocytosis by human neutrophilic granulocytes

Immunocytochemistry shows that early during phagocytosis of zymosan, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) appears on the cell surface before the phagosome is internalized. The appearance of cyclic AMP on the cell surface is coincident with that of granule products and regulatory subunit of type I cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate is not associated with the initiation site of phagocytosis, but is observed throughout the granular cytoplasmic region. This sharply localized accumulation of cyclic AMP may serve as a signal for the initiation of phagocytosis.     

Cyclic guanosine and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphates in canine thyroid: localization by immunofluorescence

When guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) are localized in canine thyroid by a flurescence Immunocytochemical procedure, distinct staining patterns for each nucleotide are seen: Cyclic AMP is distributed throughout the follicular cell cytoplasm before and after administration of thyroid-stimulating hormone, while cyclic GMP is localized to the follicular cell mumbrane in the control state, and increased cytoplasmic fluorescence is visualized after acetylcholine. These data provide histological evidence that correlates with cyclic nucleotide tissue measurements, sugesting diverse roles of the two nucleotides in thyroid function.