Studies of the thermal inactivation of cardiac adenylyl cyclase: evidence for a conformational change in the reaction mechanism

Membrane bound cardiac adenylyl cyclase was shown to undergo a spontaneous and irreversible thermal inactivation with a t1/2 of approximately 10 min. The loss of activity could not be explained by the action of endogenous proteases. Repeated freeze-thaw of membrane preparations resulted in a much increased rate of thermal inactivation (t1/2 = approx. 2 min). ATP, adenylimidodiphosphate, ADP, and PPi protected the enzyme from thermal inactivation with dissociation constants (Kd) of 193, 5.04, 84.4, and 6.3 microM, respectively. 5'-AMP and cyclic AMP were ineffective as protectors at concentrations as high as 3 mM. Activators of adenylyl cyclase such as Mn2+, forskolin, 5-guanylylimidodiphosphate, and NaF and 9 mM Mg2+ protected against thermal inactivation with Kd of 16.8 microM, 8.81 microM, 0.23 microM and 1.04 mM, respectively. Mg2+ alone was without effect. Thermal inactivation was first order under all conditions tested. Arrhenius plots of the rate constants for inactivation vs temperature were linear. The increased stability of ligand bound adenylyl cyclase was shown to be associated with an increased free energy of activation (delta G 0). These data provide evidence for the existence of two distinct conformations of cardiac adenylyl cyclase based on different susceptibilities to thermal inactivation. These enzyme conformations, termed E1 and E2, may be important reaction intermediates. The thermal stability of E1 was highly influenced by the enzyme's membrane lipid environment. The formation of E2 from E1 was enhanced by interaction with substrate, PPi, activators of adenylyl cyclase, and by interaction with dissociated stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein-alpha beta gamma heterotrimers.

Steady-state fluorescence of Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase reveals a regulatory role for ATP

We have investigated the effects of ligands and effectors on the intrinsic fluorescence of Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase (PFK). We have found that the substrate fructose 6-phosphate (Fru6P) or the allosteric activator ADP can quench the fluorescence up to 35%. The response is hyperbolic with Ks[Fru6P] of 20 microM and Ks[ADP] of 13 microM. The allosteric inhibitor phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) converts the hyperbolic response with respect to Fru6P to a sigmoidal response. AMP-PNP, a nonhydrolyzable analogue of ATP, also inhibits the Fru6P fluorescence response. PFK mutant KA213, which is insensitive to effectors, has a decreased fluorescence response with respect to ADP, and PEP does not convert the Fru6P response to sigmoidicity. However, its fluorescence response with respect to Fru6P is decreased by ATP or AMP-PNP. Taken together, these results suggest that, in the absence of effectors or ligands, E. coli PFK exists in a state with high affinity for Fru6P ("R" state). This state can be altered to a low affinity ("T" state) by PEP binding to the allosteric site or by ATP binding to the enzyme.

Extracellular ATP and some of its analogs induce transient rises in cytosolic free calcium in individual canine keratinocytes

Changes in intracellular free calcium ([Ca++]i) play an important role in a variety of biochemical reactions that lead to cellular responses such as proliferation and differentiation. The response of [Ca++]i to extracellular nucleotides (ATP, UTP, ITP, and AMP-PNP) was determined in individual canine keratinocytes using the fluorescent probe fura-2 and digital video fluorescence imaging microscopy. In the presence of 1.8 mM extracellular Ca++, 100 and 500 microM ATP caused a rapid (less than 9 sec) three- to twelvefold rise in [Ca++]i above resting levels of 50-150 nM followed by occasional fluctuations. Small responses were elicited with doses as low as 0.1 microM ATP. The response of cells stimulated with 500 microM ATP in Ca(++)-free medium was characterized by 1.5 to 3 times rapid initial peak followed by a decrease of [Ca++]i below resting levels. Loss of response occurred in the majority of keratinocytes preincubated for 30 min in Ca(++)-free medium. UTP was as effective as ATP in stimulating rises in [Ca++]i in keratinocytes. Smaller elevations in [Ca++]i up to four- to fivefold resting levels were noted with 100 microM AMP-PNP or 500 microM ITP. Desensitization of cells was demonstrated when a second stimulation followed the primary ATP or UTP treatment. These results are suggestive of the presence of purinergic receptors in the cytoplasmic membrane of canine keratinocytes. Experiments using the calcium channel blocker lanthanum suggest that ATP-induced initial rises and sustained levels of [Ca++]i are dependent on the release of Ca++ from intracellular stores. These intracellular Ca++ stores appear to be rapidly depleted after removal of extracellular calcium ([Ca++]e), thereby abolishing ATP-induced [Ca++]i increases.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Kinetic analysis using Triton X-100/phosphatidylinositol-mixed micelles

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (ATP:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.67) was purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by an improved procedure over that previously reported (Belunis, C.J., Bae-Lee, M., Kelley, M.J., and Carman, G.M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 18897-18903) for the enzyme. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 45 kDa. The 35-kDa protein previously identified as PI 4-kinase was a proteolysis product of the 45-kDa protein. A detailed kinetic analysis of the purified enzyme was performed with Triton X-100/phosphatidylinositol-mixed micelles according to the "surface dilution" (Deems, R.A., Eaton, B.R., and Dennis, E.A. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 9013-9020) and "dual phospholipid" (Hendrickson, H.S., and Dennis, E.A. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 5734-5739) kinetic models. Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity followed saturation kinetics with respect to the bulk and surface concentrations of phosphatidylinositol at concentrations of phosphatidylinositol below 0.1 mM. Above 0.1 mM activity was only dependent on the surface concentration of phosphatidylinositol. The enzyme more closely followed the dual phospholipid model where the enzyme associated with Triton X-100 micelles when phosphatidylinositol was present. The interfacial Michaelis constant (KmB) for phosphatidylinositol was 0.0036 mol fraction and the dissociation constant (KsA) for phosphatidylinositol in the micelle surface was 0.26 mM. The results of glycerol gradient centrifugation studies showed that the enzyme was physically associated with Triton X-100/phosphatidylinositol micelles.

Time-resolved cryo-electron microscopic study of the dissociation of actomyosin induced by photolysis of photolabile nucleotides

The rapid release of a substrate or other ligand from photolabile precursors in a thin layer suspension of biological specimens followed by rapid freezing provides a method of trapping and visualizing short-lived states in a dynamic system. We demonstrate here the first successful application of this method to study the interaction of actin filaments with myosin subfragment 1 (S1) after release of nucleotides. The results obtained suggest that structural changes in actin filaments occur as a result of interaction with S1.

Involvement of protein phosphorylation in activation of Ca2+ efflux from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Preincubation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes with a combination of ATP and NaF resulted in inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation and stimulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ efflux. Under the same conditions, the activity of the SR phosphoprotein phosphatase was inhibited and the phosphorylation of two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 160 and 150 kDa was obtained. The effect of ATP is specific, since the ATP analogue adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate did not replace for ATP. In the absence of NaF, ATP was ineffective. The phosphorylation of the 160 kDa and/or 150 kDa proteins and the stimulation of Ca2+ efflux are clearly related. The phosphorylation of both proteins and the increase in Ca2+ efflux show a similar dependence on the concentration of ATP. The level of protein phosphorylation and the stimulation of Ca2+ efflux were also controlled by the NaF concentration which inhibits the phosphatase and of net Ca2+ accumulation, as well as for the stimulation of phosphorylation of both polypeptides. Quantitative analysis revealed a linear correlation between these three activities. Dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide, which inhibited Ca2+ efflux, also inhibited the phosphorylation of the two polypeptides. These results suggest the involvement of the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of 160 kDa and/or 150 kDa polypeptides in the activation of Ca2+ release from SR membranes.

Phosphoprotein inhibition of calcium-stimulated exocytosis in sea urchin eggs

We have investigated the role of protein phosphorylation in the control of exocytosis in sea urchin eggs by treating eggs with a thio-analogue of ATP. ATP gamma S (adenosine 5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate) is a compound which can be used as a phosphoryl donor by protein kinases, leading to irreversible protein thiophosphorylation (Gratecos, D., and E.H. Fischer. 1974. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 58:960-967). Microinjection of ATP gamma S inhibits cortical granule exocytosis, but has no effect on the sperm-egg signal transduction mechanisms which normally cause exocytosis by generating an increase in [Ca2+]i. ATP gamma S requires cytosolic factors for its inhibition of cortical granule exocytosis: it does not affect exocytosis when applied directly to the isolated exocytotic apparatus. Our data suggest that ATP gamma S irreversibly inhibits exocytosis via thiophosphorylation of proteins associated with the egg cortex. We have identified two thiophosphorylated proteins (33 and 27 kD) that are associated with the isolated exocytotic apparatus. They may mediate the inhibition of exocytosis by ATP gamma S. In addition, we show that okadaic acid, an inhibitor of phosphoprotein phosphatases, prevents cortical granule exocytosis at fertilization without affecting calcium mobilization. Like ATP gamma S, okadaic acid has no effect on exocytosis in vitro. Our results suggest that an inhibitory phosphoprotein can obstruct calcium-stimulated exocytosis in sea urchin eggs; on the other hand, they do not readily support the idea that a protein phosphatase is an essential component of the mechanism controlling exocytosis.

Evidence that rat liver pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activator protein is a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase

It is shown here that rat liver pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase activator protein (KAP) catalyses ATP-dependent inactivation and [32P]phosphorylation of pig heart PDHE1 and of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) PDH complex devoid of PDH kinase activity, that fluorosulphonylbenzoyladenosine inactivates rat liver KAP and the intrinsic PDH kinase of rat liver PDH complex, and that KAP, like PDH kinase, is inactivated by thiol-reactive reagents. It is concluded that KAP is a free PDH kinase.

Evidence that insulin plus ATP may induce a conformational change in the beta subunit of the insulin receptor without inducing receptor autophosphorylation

The effect of insulin and ATP on insulin receptor beta subunit conformation was studied in vitro with radioiodinated monoclonal antibodies directed at several regions of the receptor beta subunit. Insulin plus ATP inhibited their binding to the receptor. The greatest inhibitory effect of insulin and ATP was seen with antibody 17A3 which recognizes a domain of the beta subunit that is near the major tyrosine autophosphorylation sites at residues 1158, 1162, and 1163. ATP alone inhibited 17A3 binding with a one-half maximal ATP inhibitory concentration of 186 +/- 7 microM. Insulin at concentrations as low as 100 pM potentiated the effect of ATP; at 100 nM where insulin had its maximal effect, insulin lowered the one-half maximal inhibitory concentration of ATP to 16 +/- 6 microM. At 1 mM CTP, GTP, ITP, TTP, and AMP were without effect in either the presence or absence of insulin; in contrast, ADP was inhibitory in the presence of insulin. Of major interest was adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP). This nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP inhibited 17A3 binding, and the effect of AMP-PNP (like ATP) was potentiated by insulin. Two insulin receptor beta subunit mutants then were studied. Mutant receptor F3, where the major tyrosine autophosphorylation sites at residues 1158, 1162, and 1163 were changed to phenylalanines, bound to 17A3; antibody binding was inhibited by insulin and ATP in a manner similar to normal receptors. In contrast, mutant receptor M1030, where the lysine in the ATP binding site at residue 1030 was changed to methionine, bound 17A3, but unlike either normal receptors or F3 receptors, the binding of 17A3 was not inhibited by insulin and ATP. Therefore, these studies raise the possibility that, in vivo, ATP binding in the presence of insulin may induce a conformational change in the insulin receptor beta subunit which in turn signals some of the biological effects of insulin.

Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization elicited by adenine compounds in rabbit carotid artery

Electrical responses of the membrane of intimal and adventitial smooth muscle cells of the rabbit carotid artery to ATP, ADP, AMP, and adenosine were recorded. In intimal cells, these compounds hyperpolarized the membrane. Mechanical removal of the endothelium altered the responses to ATP and ADP to one of a transient depolarization, with no alteration of the response to AMP and adenosine. In the adventitial cells, ATP and ADP produced a transient depolarization, whereas AMP and adenosine produced a sustained hyperpolarization, irrespective of the presence or absence of the endothelium. In tissues with an intact endothelium, 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate tetralithium salt and alpha,beta-methylene ATP (mATP) transiently depolarized the membrane in these smooth muscles. In case of stabilization with mATP, only hyperpolarization was generated by ATP, in an endothelium-dependent manner. Our interpretation of these observations is that 1) ATP and ADP depolarize smooth muscle membrane by a direct action and hyperpolarize the membrane indirectly through the release of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, 2) AMP and adenosine hyperpolarize the membrane, independently of the endothelium, and 3) ATP receptors present on the endothelial cell membrane differ from those on smooth muscle membrane.

Severing of stable microtubules by a mitotically activated protein in Xenopus egg extracts

Eukaryotic cells disassemble and reorganize their cytoskeleton during the cell cycle and in response to environmental cues. Disassembly of the actin cytoskeleton is aided by proteins that sever filamentous actin, but microtubule-severing proteins thus far have not been identified. Here, we describe an activity in extracts from Xenopus eggs that rapidly severs stable microtubules along their length. Severing is elicited by a protein(s) whose activity is greatly stimulated during mitosis through a posttranslational mechanism. The microtubule-severing factor may be involved in disassembling the interphase microtubule network prior to constructing the mitotic spindle.

Effects of antineoplastic drugs on the post-strand-passage DNA cleavage/religation equilibrium of topoisomerase II

The post-strand-passage DNA cleavage/religation equilibrium of Drosophila melanogaster topoisomerase II was examined. This was accomplished by including adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue which supports strand passage but not enzyme turnover, in assays. Levels of post-strand-passage enzyme-mediated DNA breakage were 3-5 times higher than those generated by topoisomerase II prior to the strand-passage event. This finding correlated with a decrease in the apparent first-order rate of topoisomerase II mediated DNA religation in the post-strand-passage cleavage complex. Since previous studies demonstrated that antineoplastic drugs stabilize the pre-strand-passage cleavage complex of topoisomerase II by impairing the enzyme's ability to religate cleaved DNA [Osheroff, N. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 6157-6160; Robinson, M.J., & Osheroff, N. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 2511-2515], the effects of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) and etoposide on the enzyme's post-strand-passage DNA cleavage complex were characterized. Both drugs stimulated the ability of topoisomerase II to break double-stranded DNA after strand passage. As determined by two independent assay systems, m-AMSA and etoposide stabilized the enzyme's post-strand-passage DNA cleavage complex primarily by inhibiting DNA religation. These results strongly suggest that both the pre- and post-strand-passage DNA cleavage complexes of topoisomerase II serve as physiological targets for these structurally disparate antineoplastic drugs.

Characteristics of [3H]ryanodine binding to the rabbit cerebral microsomes

Specific binding of [3H]ryanodine to the rabbit cerebral microsomes was dependent on free Ca2+ at micromolar concentrations and significantly increased by AMP-PNP and caffeine. Scatchard analysis showed a high and a low affinity binding site. The results suggest the presence of ryanodine binding sites which are activated by Ca2+ but with low efficacy, and greatly modified by adenine nucleotide, Mg2+ and also by caffeine.

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Kinetic studies on the interaction with substrates and calmodulin

The kinetic reaction mechanism of calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-kinase II), including the regulatory mechanism by CaM, was studied by using microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) as substrate under steady-state conditions. The detailed kinetic analyses of the phosphorylation of MAP2 and its inhibitions by the reaction products and by an ATP analogue, 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate, revealed the rapid-equilibrium random mechanism. In the absence of Ca2+, CaM-kinase II was inactivated by incubation with ATP. The inactivation rate was dependent on the concentrations of ATP and MAP2, suggesting that these substrates can bind to the enzyme even in the absence of Ca2+/CaM. The activation of the enzyme by CaM reached the maximum when about 10 mol of CaM bound to 1 mol of CaM-kinase II, indicating the stoichiometry of the binding of one CaM to one subunit of the enzyme. The enzyme activity as a function of the concentration of CaM showed a sigmoidal curve. The concentration of CaM required for the half-maximal activation was dependent on the concentration of ATP at a fixed concentration of MAP2, although the Hill coefficient was unaffected by the concentration of ATP. A possible reaction mechanism of CaM-kinase II, including the phosphorylation of MAP2 by the enzyme and the binding of CaM to the enzyme, is discussed.

Delayed start-up of kinesin-driven microtubule gliding following inhibition by adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate

Kinesin is a microtubule-activated ATPase that moves objects toward the plus end of microtubules and makes microtubules glide along a glass surface. Here we investigate a remarkable effect of the nonhydrolyzable analogue of ATP, adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppA), on kinesin-driven microtubule gliding. Microtubule gliding that has been blocked by rapid replacement of ATP with p[NH]ppA requires 1-2 min of exposure to ATP before microtubule gliding resumes. This latency is not shortened by prolonged washing of p[NH]ppA-blocked microtubules in nucleotide-free buffer for up to 15 min, suggesting that ATP binding to a second nucleotide binding site on kinesin triggers the release of bound p[NH]ppA. To test this hypothesis, the release of [3H]p[NH]ppA from kinesin-microtubule complexes was followed in parallel biochemical assays. In nucleotide-free buffer, the bound p[NH]ppA was released over several hours from the complexes. However, addition of ATP caused the release of p[NH]ppA from the kinesin-microtubule complexes within 2 min, which was similar to the latent period for start-up of microtubule gliding after p[NH]ppA inhibition. The stoichiometry of p[NH]ppA bound per kinesin heavy chain at saturation was estimated to be approximately 1:2. These results suggest a model in which each molecule of kinesin has at least two nucleotide binding sites that alternately bind nucleotide.

NAN-190: agonist and antagonist interactions with brain 5-HT1A receptors

NAN-190 has been reported to be a 5-HT1A antagonist in drug discrimination studies. In order to determine if the effect of NAN-190 was directly due to competitive inhibition at 5-HT1A receptors, 5-HT1A-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in hippocampal membranes was investigated. NAN-190 (10(-10)-10(-5) M), by itself, was found to have no effect on forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase. NAN-190, however, did shift the 5-carboxamidotryptamine (a 5-HT1A agonist) log-concentration inhibition curve to the right in a concentration-dependent manner, typical of competitive antagonism. Schild analysis revealed a KB of 1.9 nM for NAN-190. Thus, NAN-190 appeared to be a potent competitive 5-HT1A antagonist using the in vitro adenylyl cyclase system. [3H]NAN-190 was synthesized and its 5-HT1A receptor binding properties were characterized and compared with the 5-HT1A agonist radioligand, [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT). The 5-HT1A agonists, serotonin (5-HT) and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) competed with equal affinities regardless of the radioligand used to label the 5-HT1A receptors. [3H]NAN-190 and [3H]8-OH-DPAT labeled the same number of sites in rat hippocampus, striatum and frontal cortex. Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) and 5-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate (GppNHp), non-hydrolyzable analogs of GTP, inhibited specific [3H]NAN-190 binding. Adenosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (ATP gamma S) and 5-adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AppNHp) were ineffective. This guanylyl nucleotide-specific effect is generally associated with agonist radioligand binding to a GTP-binding protein coupled receptor. However, [3H]8-OH-DPAT was far more sensitive than [3H]NAN-190 to the Bmax reducing effects of GTP and GTp gamma S. We propose that the test for a reduction in Bmax by non-hydrolyzable guanylyl nucleotides may be more sensitive than other tests for quantifying agonist activity and may demonstrate that NAN-190 has low intrinsic activity. In summary, NAN-190 displayed antagonist-like properties in functional models of 5-HT1A receptor activity and possibly partial agonist-like properties in radioligand binding experiments.

An ATP, calcium and voltage sensitive potassium channel in porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells

There is increasing interest in the roles played by potassium channels of smooth muscle in protecting against ischemic and anoxic insults. Hence, potassium-selective channels were studied in freshly dispersed porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells using the inside-out variant of the patch-clamp technique. The most abundant potassium channel had a conductance of 148 pS in a 5.4/140 mM K+ gradient, at 0 mV, and was regulated by cytoplasmic ATP (0.05-3.0 mM), cytoplasmic Ca2+ (0.1-10 microM) and voltage. ATP and AMP-PNP (0.5 mM) reduced the probability of channel opening (Po) by 87 and 92%, respectively. This inhibition was partially reversed by the addition of 0.5 mM ADP. ADP on its own (2 mM) reduced Po by 46%. It appears, therefore, that this channel shares properties with both the ATP-sensitive and the calcium-regulated potassium channels, raising the possibility that it plays a central role in the regulation of coronary blood flow.

Differential ATP requirements distinguish the DNA translocation and DNA unwinding activities of the Escherichia coli PRI A protein

The Escherichia coli primosome is a mobile multiprotein DNA replication-priming apparatus that assembles at a specific site (termed a primosome assembly site (PAS] on single-stranded DNA-binding protein-coated single-stranded DNA. The PRI A protein (factor Y, protein n') is a PAS sequence-specific (d)ATPase as well as a DNA helicase and is believed to direct the assembly of the primosome at a PAS. In this report, the PRI A DNA helicase reaction is dissected in vitro, by use of a strand displacement assay, into three steps with distinct ATP requirements. First, the PRI A protein gains entry to the DNA via an ATP-independent, PAS sequence-specific binding event. Second, the PRI A protein translocates along the single-stranded DNA in the 3'----5' direction at a maximal rate of 90 nucleotides/s. DNA translocation requires ATP hydrolysis. The ATP concentration required to support half of the maximal translocation rate is 100 microM, which is identical to the Km for ATP of the PRI A protein DNA-dependent ATPase activity. Finally, the PRI A protein unwinds duplex DNA. The ATP concentration required for duplex DNA unwinding depends upon the length of the duplex region to be unwound. Displacement of a 24-nucleotide long oligomer required no more ATP than that required for the translocation of PRI A protein along single-stranded DNA, whereas displacement of a 390-nucleotide long DNA fragment required a 10-fold higher concentration of ATP than that required for oligomer displacement.

Assembly of correctly spaced chromatin in a nuclear extract from Xenopus laevis oocytes

Assembly of nucleosomes on relaxed, covalently closed DNA has been studied in a nuclear extract of Xenopus laevis oocytes. Nucleosomes containing the four histones H3, H4, H2A and H2B but lacking histone H1 are readily assembled on the DNA. The pattern of micrococcal nuclease digestion shows that the nucleosomes assembled in the absence of ATP and Mg (II) are closely packed, with a periodicity of 150 base pairs (bp). In contrast, in the presence of ATP and Mg (II) the spacing of the nucleosomes is 180 bp, similar to that observed for nucleosomes assembled on DNA microinjected into oocyte nuclei. The ATP and Mg (II) requirements for the assembly of correctly spaced nucleosomes are unrelated to the activity of the ATP and Mg (II) dependent DNA topoisomerase II in the extract; addition of specific inhibitors of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase II has no effect on the spacing of the reconstituted nucleosomes. The ATP requirement in the assembly of correctly spaced nucleosomes can be substituted by adenosine 5'-O-3'-thiotriphosphate (gamma-S-ATP) but not by adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (AMP-P-(NH)-P).

Effect of guanine and adenine nucleotides on bombesin-stimulated phospholipase C activity in membranes from Swiss 3T3 and small cell lung carcinoma cells

In [3H]inositol-labeled membranes prepared from Swiss mouse 3T3 and human small cell lung carcinoma cells, [Tyr4]-bombesin stimulated production of water-soluble inositol phosphates. The reaction was stimulated by guanosine 5'-O-[3-thiotriphosphate] and was specifically inhibited by both [Leu13-psi-CH2NHLeu14]-bombesin and the antibombesin antibody 2A11. [Tyr4]-bombesin-induced activation of phospholipase C is most apparent in Ca2(+)-depleted conditions (less than 1 microM[Ca2+]free). The kinetics of activation by ligand also demonstrate that [Tyr4]-bombesin-dependent phospholipase C activation is most apparent at [Mg2+]free of approximately 0.2 microM. At millimolar concentrations of [Mg2+]free, there is considerably less dependence on [Tyr4]-bombesin for activation of phospholipase C. ATP is not necessary for initial activation of phospholipase C, and beta, gamma-imidoadenosine-5'-triphosphate does not inhibit the reaction. These results demonstrate that in these cell types [Tyr4]-bombesin activates phospholipase C in conjunction with guanine nucleotides. Phospholipase C-coupled guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins would be appropriately considered as novel targets for the development of therapeutic strategies in small cell lung carcinoma.

Subsensitivity to ATP and some analogues in preparations of rat cauda epididymis and vas deferens after vasectomy

1. The effects of ATP and some of its more stable analogues have been examined upon preparations of epididymal and prostatic halves of vasa deferentia and of cauda epididymides from rats that had undergone vasectomy by medial transection of the vas deferens. 2. After unilateral vasectomy, the potencies of ATP, beta, gamma-methylene ATP and 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AppNHp) in tissues ipsilateral to the vasectomy were decreased compared to tissues from the contralateral unoperated side of the animal. 3. Tissues from bilaterally vasectomized rats were less responsive to ATP when compared to tissues taken from sham-operated rats. 4. Tissues taken from rats which had undergone vasovasostomies following unilateral vasectomy remained less responsive to these purines. 5. Responses of cauda epididymides and epididymal halves of vasa deferentia taken from unilaterally and bilaterally vasectomized rats to alpha, beta-methylene ATP usually did not differ from those of respective controls. 6. It is proposed that the subsensitivity which develops to ATP and some of its analogues on the epididymis and vas deferens following vasectomy may reflect increased breakdown, perhaps associated with changes in structural integrity of the tissues, rather than with the sympathetic denervation which is associated with vasectomy.

X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy from Lethocerus flight muscle partially relaxed by adenylylimidodiphosphate and ethylene glycol

The low-angle X-ray diffraction pattern from Lethocerus flight muscle fibres was recorded in rigor or under two conditions that modify crossbridge structure and behaviour, aqueous adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMPPNP) and AMPPNP + calcium in an ethylene glycol-water mixture. The effects on the 38.7 nm layer-line peaks (hk.6) of the diffraction patterns were studied in detail. In aqueous AMPPNP at room temperature, a condition in which rigor tension drops to half without loss of stiffness, the peaks remained nearly as intense as in rigor except for the 10.6, which dropped to half. In 20% (v/v) ethylene glycol-AMPPNP + 100 microM-Ca2+ at 23 degrees C (gly + pnp + Ca), a condition which removed muscle tension but left stiffness close to the rigor value, the 10.6 and 11.6 peaks greatly decreased but the 31.6 remained relatively high. The 14.5 nm meridional peak (00.16) became stronger on addition of AMPPNP and again on adding glycol + calcium. Considered in terms of constructively interfering filaments and crossbridges, the X-ray data indicated a transfer of diffracting crossbridge mass towards the thick filament as relaxation proceeds. We compared the X-ray diffraction patterns and crossbridge structure seen with electron microscopy (EM) under the same chemical conditions. EM and X-ray observations were mutually quite consistent overall. However, X-ray data indicated that more crossbridge mass was stereospecifically related to actin before fixation in the partially relaxed state (gly + pnp + Ca) than was suggested by the disordered crossbridge profiles seen by EM. We conclude that myosin heads at the start of the power stroke may both be closely related to their thick filament origins and form actin-determined attachments to the thin filament.

Guanine nucleotide regulation of B2 kinin receptors. Time-dependent formation of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive receptor state from which [3H]bradykinin dissociates slowly

We have examined the binding of [3H]bradykinin to bovine myometrial membranes and assessed its sensitivity to guanine nucleotides. Total binding displayed a typical B2 kinin receptor specificity. However, saturation binding isotherms were resolved into at least two components with KD values of 8 pM (45%) and 378 pM (55%). Low affinity binding exhibited relatively rapid rates of association (kobs = 1.40 x 10(-2) s-1) and dissociation (k-1 = 3.82 x 10(-3) s-1), while high affinity binding exhibited considerably slower rates (kobs = 9.52 x 10(-4) s-1 and k-1 = 4.43 x 10(-5) s-1). Pre-equilibrium dissociation kinetics revealed that formation of high affinity binding was characterized as a time-dependent accumulation of the slow dissociation rate at the expense of at least one other more rapid dissociation rate. In the presence of 10 microM guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), at least two binding components were resolved with KD values of 37 pM (12%) and 444 pM (88%). Gpp(NH)p apparently specifically perturbed high affinity binding by completely preventing the accumulation of the slow dissociation phase. Instead, two more rapid dissociation rates (k-1 = 8.53 x 10(-3) s-1 and 4.43 x 10(-4) s-1) were observed. These results suggest that [3H]bradykinin interacts with at least two B2 kinin receptor-like binding sites in bovine myometrial membranes. A three-state model for the guanine nucleotide-sensitive agonist interaction with the high affinity binding sites is proposed.

The identification of two antagonistic activities in a Xenopus oocyte extract that can modulate the in vitro transcription of RNA polymerase III genes

In this communication we identify and initially characterize two antagonistic activities in a Xenopus oocyte extract that can modulate the in vitro transcription of RNA polymerase III (pol III) genes (5 S RNA and tRNA genes). It was found that preincubation of an inhibitory factor, referred to here as fraction I, with fractions containing TFIIIB and TFIIIC/pol III leads to the loss of a reaction's ability to support transcription. This inactivation process, which required ATP or adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (but could not use ADP), occurred only in the absence of a 5 S RNA or tRNA gene containing plasmid. Under conditions in which transcription was lost, a loss in TFIIIC's ability to specifically bind to the tRNA gene was also observed. An activity found in the "A" fraction, which was first recognized for its ability to stimulate transcription, was found to inhibit and actually reverse the observed inactivation of transcription. This activity, referred to here as fraction A2, accomplished this reactivation regardless of whether the gene was present or not, but only when a hydrolyzable form of ATP was used in the inactivation process. Transcription in an inactivated reaction could also be restored by addition of fresh transcription factors. The data presented in this paper are consistent with a model in which fraction I and fraction A2 modulate transcription through the activation and inactivation of one or more positive transcription factors.

Binding of ATP to eukaryotic initiation factor 2. Differential modulation of mRNA-binding activity and GTP-dependent binding of methionyl-tRNAMetf

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) is shown to bind ATP with high affinity. Binding of ATP to eIF-2 induces loss of the ability to form a ternary complex with Met-tRNAf and GTP, while still allowing, and even stimulating, the binding of mRNA. Ternary complex formation between eIF-2, GTP, and Met-tRNAf is inhibited effectively by ATP, but not by CTP or UTP. Hydrolysis of ATP is not required for inhibition, for adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), a nonhydrolyzable analogue of ATP, is as active an inhibitor; adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) inhibits far more weakly. Ternary complex formation is inhibited effectively by ATP, dATP, or ADP, but not by AMP and adenosine. Hence, the gamma-phosphate of ATP and its 3'-OH group are not required for inhibition, but the beta-phosphate is indispensible. Specific complex formation between ATP and eIF-2 is shown 1) by effective retention of Met-tRNAf- and mRNA-binding activities on ATP-agarose and by the ability of free ATP, but not GTP, CTP, or UTP, to effect elution of eIF-2 from this substrate; 2) by eIF-2-dependent retention of [alpha-32P]ATP or dATP on nitrocellulose filters and its inhibition by excess ATP, but not by GTP, CTP, or UTP. Upon elution from ATP-agarose by high salt concentrations, eIF-2 recovers its ability to form a ternary complex with Met-tRNAf and GTP. ATP-induced inhibition of ternary complex formation is relieved by excess Met-tRNAf, but not by excess GTP or guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (GMP-PNP). Thus, ATP does not act by inhibiting binding of GTP to eIF-2. Instead, ATP causes Met-tRNAf in ternary complex to dissociate from eIF-2. Conversely, affinity of eIF-2 for ATP is high in the absence of GTP and Met-tRNAf (Kd less than or equal to 10(-12) M), but decreases greatly in conditions of ternary complex formation. These results support the concept that eIF-2 assumes distinct conformations for ternary complex formation and for binding of mRNA, and that these are affected differently by ATP. Interaction of ATP with an eIF-2 molecule in ternary complex with Met-tRNAf and GTP promotes displacement of Met-tRNAf from eIF-2, inducing a state favorable for binding of mRNA. ATP may thus regulate the dual binding activities of eIF-2 during initiation of translation.