Gene synthesis, expression, and processing of human ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins

In order to study 1) the mechanisms responsible for generating free ubiquitin monomer and 2) the function of ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins in eukaryotes, we have developed a system for expression of human ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. When expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the intact ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins were rapidly processed to free ubiquitin monomer and extension protein. Furthermore, expression in this host conferred a slow growth phenotype mediated by the extension protein. Expression in Escherichia coli did not result in processing of the fusion proteins. However, when the expressed fusion proteins were purified from E. coli and incubated with a rabbit reticulocyte extract, the proteins were rapidly processed to free ubiquitin monomer and extension protein. These results show that human ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins are processed to ubiquitin and extension protein when expressed in eukaryotic but not prokaryotic cells and that pre- and co-translational events are not necessary for their processing. Establishment of this system will allow for large scale purification of these proteins which will aid future studies on the function and structure of ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins, as well as the mechanisms responsible for their processing.

The signal transduction system of the leukotriene D4 receptor

During the past several years, substantial progress in understanding the receptors and signal transduction processes for peptidyl leukotrienes has been reported. Receptors have been identified and characterized, the major steps in the signal transduction pathway have been described, and the genetic and epigenetic regulatory processes have been characterized. Very recent studies have defined the mechanisms by which LTE4 acts as a partial agonist at the LTD4 receptor. The cloning of the genes for the proteins involved in the major steps of the signalling process has also been initiated. Stanley Crooke and co-authors summarize this recent progress and present their current notions about the LTD4 receptor signalling process.

Solubilization of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive form of vasopressin V2 receptors from porcine kidney

Vasopressin (V2) receptors were solubilized from porcine kidney membranes with the detergent egg lysolecithin. Binding of [3H]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction was rapid, specific, and saturable. The agonist dissociation constants observed in membranes and solubilized fractions were 1.7 +/- 0.3 and 2.3 +/- 0.2 nM, respectively. In competition binding experiments, the solubilized fraction exhibited the same pharmacological profile as the membranes. Chemical crosslinking of [125I]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated a 62-kDa band which was specifically labeled with [125I]vasopressin. Vasopressin binding sites from the solubilized fractions were resolved by gel filtration and ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient. In addition, agonist high affinity binding to V2 receptors and its sensitivity to guanine nucleotides were preserved even after solubilization in the absence of prebound agonist prior to solubilization. Addition of guanine nucleotides such as GTP gamma S decreased the specific binding of [3H]arginine vasopressin to these solubilized fractions in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the solubilization of a V2 receptor-G protein complex. [32P]ADP ribosylation of the solubilized fraction by cholera and pertussis toxins revealed specifically labeled proteins with molecular weights of 42,000-43,000 and 39,000-41,000, respectively, on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. Furthermore [35S]GTP gamma S binding to these solubilized fractions was enhanced by vasopressin, confirming that a significant proportion of the vasopressin receptors must be closely coupled to G proteins even when these receptors are solubilized in the absence of agonist. These results are in contrast with those reported for beta, alpha 2 adrenergic and D2 dopaminergic receptor systems, but in agreement with D1 dopaminergic and A1 adenosine receptors. The molecular mechanism responsible for this difference remains to be determined.

Ubiquitin function studied by disulfide engineering

Disulfide engineering was used to probe the role of conformational mobility in ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Six genes that encode cysteine-containing mutants of ubiquitin were constructed, expressed in Escherichia coli and the proteins purified. Single cysteine-containing mutants and a 4/14 disulfide were active in degradation of a substrate protein in vitro, while the 4/66 disulfide, which cross-links the NH2- and COOH-terminal strands of the protein, was only 20-30% active. The solution structure of the 4/66 mutant was solved: the disulfide is left-handed with no perturbations in the backbone from that of wild type ubiquitin. The results suggest that conformational mobility is required for the activity of ubiquitin in signaling proteolysis.

Immunochemical comparison of pertussis toxin substrates in brain and peripheral tissues

The tissue distribution of pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding proteins was examined using specific antibodies raised against the purified alpha-subunit of G0 from bovine brain or against synthetic peptides predicted from cDNAs for distinct Gi subtypes. GTP-binding proteins were partially purified from membrane fractions prepared from rabbit tissues including brain, heart, liver, lung, erythrocytes and neutrophils. Brain contained both G0 and Gi1. Gi1 was also found to be abundant in heart. All peripheral tissues contained readily detectable amounts of Gi2, whereas only barely detectable amounts of Gi2 were found in brain. Gi3 was found to be prominent in erythrocytes and exists as a minor component of G proteins in neutrophils and liver. Thus, Gi2 appears to be widely disseminated in peripheral rabbit tissues, while other pertussis toxin substrates are more limited in their distribution.

Homologous and heterologous desensitization mediated by vasopressin in smooth muscle cells

Prolonged exposure of A-10 cells to Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) resulted in the following responses: (a) loss of vasopressin receptors from the cell surface (30-40%), (b) increased basal levels of inositol and inositol monophosphate, (c) decreased inositol di- and trisphosphate production and decreased intracellular calcium release in response to a second challenge with AVP, (d) attenuation of AVP-mediated inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP and ANF-stimulated cGMP accumulation and (e) attenuation of thrombin and ATP-mediated increase in inositol di- and trisphosphate accumulation and intracellular calcium release. All the above responses depended on the time of exposure of the cells to AVP with the responses being attenuated as early as 5-10 min of exposure to AVP. The desensitization also depended on the concentration of AVP used with 50% of maximal desensitization for each response being observed at 5 nM of AVP. This concentration of AVP corresponded well with the Kd of vasopressin for binding to these sites. Desensitization of protein kinase C (PKC) by prolonged exposure of the cells to PDBu or addition of the PKC inhibitor staurosporine during pretreatment with AVP did not prevent AVP-mediated desensitization, suggesting that PKC may not be involved in AVP-mediated desensitization in smooth muscle cells. It is concluded that AVP induced both homologous and heterologous desensitization of phosphatidylinositol turnover and calcium release in smooth muscle cells. The desensitization processes did not appear to be mediated by protein kinase C. The possibility that the locus of the heterologous desensitization may be at the level of substrates such as PI, PIP and PIP2 is discussed.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate inhibition of leukotriene D4-induced signal transduction was rapidly reversed by staurosporine

Activation of leukotriene D4 receptors results in phospholipase C-mediated breakdown of phosphatidylinositol and increases in intracellular Ca2+ in U-937 cells. Treatment (10 min) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate blocked leukotriene D4-induced phosphatidylinositol metabolism and Ca2+ mobilization (IC50 = 0.2 nM). Treatment with 10 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate produced blockade which was complete within 1 min and no recovery was observed over 7 days. Addition of the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine (100 nM) to U-937 cells pretreated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 5 min or 24 hr resulted in a rapid reappearance of leukotriene D4-induced Ca2+ mobilization. Half of the response recovered within 2 min, with complete recovery in 20 min. Staurosporine produced a concentration-related recovery of signal transduction, with an EC50 of 30 nM. These data describe cells which have a novel response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in that the inhibition of leukotriene D4 signal transduction is persistent and yet rapidly reversed by staurosporine.

Ubiquitin-metallothionein fusion protein expression in yeast. A genetic approach for analysis of ubiquitin functions

We have established a Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic system that expresses the fusion protein ubiquitin-metallothionein. We have evaluated the effects of amino-terminal ubiquitination of metallothionein on the stability and function of metallothionein. The fusion protein of wild type ubiquitin and metallothionein was rapidly processed in vivo to release free ubiquitin and metallothionein. Site-directed mutants of ubiquitin-metallothionein expressed in yeast were used to study the specificity of the (alpha-NH2-ubiquitin) protein endopeptidases. The data suggest that amino-terminal ubiquitination is not a signal for the proteolysis of yeast metallothionein in yeast. We have also discovered that expression of selected ubiquitin mutants blocked the growth of yeast. The data suggest that in addition to its function as a proteolytic signal, ubiquitination of proteins plays multiple roles in the cell.

Leukotriene D4 receptor-mediated phosphoinositol hydrolysis and calcium mobilization in rat basophilic leukemic cells

A basophilic leukemic cell line from rat (RBL-1) was used to characterize leukotriene D4 (LTD4) receptor-mediated biochemical and pharmacological effects. [3H]LTD4 binding to the plasma membrane enriched preparation was stereo-selective, specific and saturable. Sodium ions and guanine nucleotides specifically regulated [3H]LTD4 binding to the membrane receptors. Leukotriene E4 (LTE4) and high affinity specific antagonists bound to the receptor with a rank-order potency equivalent to that for the LTD4 receptors in guinea pig lung. In the [3]myoinositol labeled RBL-1 cells, LTD4 and LTE4 induced a rapid hydrolysis of [3H]phosphoinositides. The biosynthesis of the [3H]inositol-trisphosphate was rapid and was detectable at 15-sec poststimulation. The biosynthesis of [3H]inositol-monophosphate was stereo-selective and specific and was inhibited specifically by receptor antagonists. In fura-2 loaded RBL-1 cells, LTD4 and LTE4 induced a transient intracellular Ca++ mobilization. Agonist-induced Ca++ mobilization was specific and stereo-selective and was inhibited by specific receptor antagonists. The most (greater than 85%) LTD4-induced immediate response of Ca++ mobilization was from intracellular sources, whereas a small amount (less than 15%) was derived from the extracellular milieu. Both components were stimulated by receptor agonists and inhibited by the receptor antagonists, suggesting that they were regulated by the LTD4 membrane receptors. In addition, the results also suggested that a guanine nucleotide binding protein, insensitive to islet activating protein from Bordetella pertussis (not Gi or Go), was involved in the signal transduction mechanisms for LTD4 receptors in RBL-1 cells. These results suggested that the plasma membrane enriched LTD4 receptor was coupled via an islet activating protein insensitive G protein to a phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C. Agonist binding to the receptor could activate phospholipase C and resulted in phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate could function as intracellular messengers that trigger or contribute to calcium mobilization in RBL-1 cells.

Subcellular localization of leukotriene D4 receptors in sheep tracheal smooth muscle

The distribution of [3H]leukotriene D4 [( 3H]LTD4) receptors in subcellular membrane fractions obtained from sheep tracheal smooth muscle was studied. Using differential centrifugation and discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, the subcellular membranes were separated into six fractions. The [3H]LTD4 receptor distribution profile in these fractions correlated with markers for the plasma membrane (5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphodiesterase) and did not correlate with markers for the mitochondria (cytochrome c oxidase and succinate-dependent cytochrome c reductase). The dissociation constant (Kd) and maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) for [3H]LTD4 binding to the receptors in the crude mixture of membranes (PII) were 0.38 +/- 0.2 nM and 77 +/- 14 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. The Kd and Bmax of [3H]LTD4 binding to the receptors in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction (FII) were 0.40 +/- 0.2 nM and 268 +/- 46 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. The specificity profile of the [3H]LTD4 receptors in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction was equivalent to that observed in the crude membrane and correlated with the agonist myotonic activities in the smooth muscle contraction assay system. Furthermore, the binding of [3H]LTD4 to the plasma membrane receptors was modulated by guanine nucleotides in a manner analogous to that observed in crude membranes, suggesting that agonist interaction with the receptors was regulated by guanine nucleotide binding protein. These results suggest that, in sheep tracheal smooth muscle, the plasma membrane is the primary location of specific LTD4 receptors.

Leukotriene D4-induced homologous desensitization in basal and differentiated U-937 cells: characterization with the partial agonist leukotriene E4 and assessment of receptor reserve

U-937 cells express receptors for leukotriene D4, and LTD4 stimulates receptor-mediated Ca++ mobilization with an EC50 of 5 nM. In these cells, LTE4 produces Ca++ mobilization with an EC50 of 500 nM and a maximum response that is 15 to 20% of the LTD4 response. LTE4 was shown to be a partial agonist, with a Kp of 400 nM and a linear relationship between effect and receptor occupancy, and was used as a tool to study LTD4-induced desensitization. Pretreatment of U-937 cells with LTD4 resulted in a concentration-dependent shift to the right and a decrease in the maximum of LTE4 concentration-response curves, indicating that desensitization had occurred. LTD4-induced desensitization was homologous for LTE4 and LTD4; Ca++ mobilization produced by LTB4, N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-Phe and platelet-activating factor was not affected. LTD4-pretreatment produced a concentration-related desensitization of LTE4-induced Ca++ mobilization in both basal and dimethyl sulfoxide-differentiated U-937 cells. However, the maximal desensitization was greater in basal cells (66% +/- 4%) than in differentiated cells (33% +/- 7%). LTD4 pretreatment resulted in a greater percentage of reduction of Ca++ mobilization produced by LTE4 than that produced by LTD4, suggesting that a receptor reserve exists for LTD4. The extent of receptor reserve was assessed in basal and differentiated U-937 cells by comparing LTD4 concentration-response curves from control and desensitized cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A murine model to evaluate the ability of in vitro clonogenic assays to predict the response to tumors in vivo

The use of the human tumor cloning assay as a predictor of clinical response of human tumors to drugs is predicated on the hypothesis that the in vivo response of a tumor to a drug can be correlated with the in vitro response of cells derived from the tumor. To test this hypothesis, we utilized a murine tumor model in which the in vivo and in vitro responses of a tumor can be accurately and reproducibly compared. Drug activity was assessed in P388 leukemia with the standard in vivo antitumor assay (i.p. tumor/i.p. drug administration) and an in vitro assay wherein the ascites tumor cells are removed from mice, treated with a drug, and directly cloned in soft agar to measure clonogenic capacity. The response of P388 cells to analogues within four separate classes of antitumor agents, anthracyclines, anthraquinones, platinum(II) coordination complexes, and phosphinogold(I) complexes was evaluated. The clonogenic assay failed to discriminate between highly active in vivo antitumor agents and analogues with only marginal in vivo efficacy (i.e., doxorubicin and daunorubicin versus rhodomycins A and B, ametantrone versus NSC 276740, cisplatin versus transplatin, [Au(dppe)2]Cl versus [Au(depe)2]PF6. Furthermore, the in vitro clonogenic assay failed to detect carboplatin which was a highly active agent in vivo. The basis for these discrepancies was explored by a more detailed comparison of doxorubicin and rhodomycin B. In vivo or in vitro drug exposure with subsequent measurement of cell kill by the in vitro clonogenic and in vivo tumorigenic assay demonstrated that the in vitro assay overestimated the cytotoxic potency of the drugs relative to the tumorigenic assay. Treatment of tumors in vivo with doxorubicin at doses below the maximally tolerated dose in mice resulted in multiple log cell kill as measured in vitro or in vivo, whereas rhodomycin B was cytotoxic only at dose levels exceeding its maximally tolerated dose. The results indicate that a subset of tumor stem cells capable of forming colonies in soft agar are significantly more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of anthracyclines than are in vivo tumorigenic stem cells. Cytotoxic potency as measured by an in vitro soft agar clonogenic assay is not an accurate predictor of in vivo antitumor efficacy even in a model in which ascites tumor cells are directly exposed to i.p. drug. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay is useful only as a nonselective prescreen and must be used in combination with other indicators of tumor cell selectivity and dose-limiting organ toxicity.

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding rat 5-lipoxygenase

A full-length cDNA clone encoding 5-lipoxygenase, a key enzyme in the formation of leukotrienes, was isolated from a rat basophilic leukemia cell lambda gt11 cDNA library. The 2.5-kilobase (kb) cDNA insert, whose identity was confirmed by hybrid-select translation and DNA sequence analysis, has a 2.0-kb open reading frame encoding a protein of Mr approximately 77,600 and includes 60 base pairs of 5'-untranslated region and 0.4 kb of 3'-untranslated region to the polyadenylation signal. The deduced amino acid sequence shows significant homology with published sequences for the rabbit reticulocyte lipoxygenase and soybean lipoxygenase-1; it also contains sequences similar to a consensus sequence found in several calcium-dependent membrane-binding proteins. The cDNA recognizes a 2.6-kb mRNA species which is detected in all tissues but is particularly abundant in RNA from lung.

Interactions of 5-lipoxygenase with membranes: studies on the association of soluble enzyme with membranes and alterations in enzyme activity

Treatment of rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-1) with the calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in activation of 5-lipoxygenase, as indicated by an induction of leukotriene release [Orning, L., Hammarström, S., & Samuelsson, B. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 2017]. The enzyme activation was accompanied by a time-dependent association of 5-lipoxygenase to the particular fraction. When cells were lysed in the presence of 0.05-10 microM CaCl2, the soluble 5-lipoxygenase became associated with the particulate fraction. This was demonstrated by a decrease in immunoreactivities and enzymatic activities in the soluble fraction and a parallel increase in particulate-associated immunoreactivities. The particulate-bound enzyme was not active. Ca2+ induced the membrane association of 5-lipoxygenase when added into the incubation mixtures containing the membrane fraction with either the cytosolic fraction or the purified enzyme. 5-Lipoxygenase also bound to the microsomal-enriched fraction in the presence of Ca2+. Maximal membrane binding was obtained after a 1-min incubation at 4 degrees C. When a fixed amount of isolated membranes (0.2 mg of protein) and increasing cytosolic protein (0.5-4 mg) were used, a linear increase in enzyme binding was observed. The binding became saturated at 3 mg of cytosolic protein/mg of membrane protein. 5-Lipoxygenase binding to the membrane fraction was unaffected by pretreatment of the membranes with trypsin but was inhibited by treating with phospholipase A2, suggesting that phospholipids are involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of formation of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP by vasopressin in smooth-muscle cells is insensitive to pertussis toxin

Pretreatment of A-10 cells with pertussis toxin had no effect on [arginine]vasopressin-mediated inhibition of cyclic nucleotide accumulation. Pretreatment of the cells with the same concentration of pertussis toxin produced 90-95% inhibition of [32P]ADP ribosylation in membranes, suggesting that these cells possess pertussis-toxin substrate and that the toxin enters the cells to reach its site of action. The functional integrity of the pertussis-toxin substrate in these cells is confirmed by the observation that in these cell membranes increasing concentrations of GTP inhibited basal, forskolin- and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities, and this inhibition was abolished when the cells were pretreated with pertussis toxin. In addition, thrombin-mediated inhibition of isoprenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was also inhibited by pertussis-toxin pretreatment of the cells. These data suggest that, unlike thrombin, [arginine]vasopressin-induced inhibitory effects on cyclic nucleotide accumulation in smooth-muscle cells are not mediated by pertussis-toxin substrate.

Differential effects of fluoride on adenylate cyclase activity and guanine nucleotide regulation of agonist high-affinity receptor binding

Fluoride ion, presumably an Al3+-F- complex, has been proposed to activate the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) of the visual system, transducin, by associating with GDP at the nucleotide-binding site and thus mimicking the effects of non-hydrolysable GTP analogues [Bigay, Deterre, Pfister & Chabre (1985) FEBS Lett. 191, 181-85]. We have examined this proposed model by using the adenylate cyclase complexes of frog erythrocytes, S49 lymphoma cells and human platelets. Preincubation of plasma membranes from frog erythrocytes and S49 cells with 20 mM-fluoride for 20 min at 30 degrees C strongly stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, the preactivated membranes were still able to bind beta-adrenergic agonist with high affinity, as determined by radioligand-binding techniques. Moreover, high-affinity agonist binding in fluoride-treated membranes was fully sensitive to guanine nucleotide, which decreased beta-adrenergic-receptor affinity for agonist. Very similar results were obtained for [3H]prostaglandin E1 binding to S49 membranes pretreated with fluoride. Incubation of human platelet membranes with increasing concentrations of fluoride (1-50 mM) resulted in biphasic regulation of adenylate cyclase activity, with inhibition observed at concentrations greater than 10 mM. Preincubation of platelet membranes with 20 mM-fluoride did not affect agonist high-affinity binding to alpha 2-adrenergic receptors, nor receptor regulation by guanine nucleotide. These results suggest that the model developed from the study of transducin may not be generally applicable to the G-proteins of the adenylate cyclase system.

Molecular cloning and complete amino-acid sequence of form-I phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C

We report the molecular cloning and sequence of a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), an enzyme that is of particular interest because of its central role in cell signal transduction. The signals in question are those delivered by hormones to their cell-surface receptors that activate PI-PLC by means of a guanine nucleotide binding protein. Activation of the enzyme leads to the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to two second messengers, 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, the second of which ultimately mobilizes internal pools of calcium. There are at least five PI-PLC isoenzymes, whose differences in structure and function are unknown. We have focused on isoenzyme I, which we have recently purified and characterized from guinea pig uterus. We have now determined the sequence of a full length complementary DNA of this isoenzyme from the rat. Although the sequence has little similarity with the only other sequenced PI-PLC isoenzyme, it has a surprising degree of similarity to thioredoxins, protein co-factors in thiol-dependent redox reactions.

Leukotriene B4-induced homologous desensitization of calcium mobilization and phosphoinositide metabolism in U-937 cells

Differentiated U-937 cells express leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptors and mobilize Ca++ in response to LTB4. Using this cell line, we have characterized LTB4-induced desensitization. Prior exposure of U-937 cells to LTB4 resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in Ca++ mobilization in response to a subsequent challenge with LTB4 (EC50 = 2 nM; T1/2 = 4 min). Desensitization was temperature-dependent, occurring in cells pretreated with LTB4 at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. LTB4 pretreatment (100 nM, 30 min) decreased the maximal LTB4-induced Ca++ mobilization by 50% and increased the EC50 5-fold. After the cells were treated with LTB4, Ca++ mobilization in response to LTD4, platelet activating factor and chemotactic peptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine were not decreased, suggesting that the desensitization was homologous and specific for LTB4. In U-937 cells, LTB4 and LTD4 induced concentration- and time-dependent and receptor-mediated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis, which correlated with Ca++ mobilization. When U-937 cells were pretreated with LTB4, the amount of intracellular PI metabolites formed in response to LTB4 was reduced, whereas the response to LTD4 was unchanged. Examination of LTB4 membrane receptors in U-937 cells indicated that LTB4 pretreatment resulted in a 15% decrease in receptor number and a 3-fold decrease in affinity for LTB4. These results clearly demonstrate that LTB4-induced Ca++ mobilization and PI metabolism can be desensitized by prior exposure to LTB4 and that the mechanism of desensitization may involve altered affinity in agonist binding to the receptor.

Alkaline phosphatase relieves desensitization of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors in avian erythrocyte membranes

Desensitization of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors in avian erythrocytes results in a 40-65% decrease in agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and correlates with increased phosphorylation of beta-adrenergic receptors. To assess the role of phosphorylation in desensitization, membranes from isoprenaline- and dibutyryl cyclic AMP-desensitized turkey erythrocytes were incubated with alkaline phosphatase for 30 min at 37 degrees C, pH 8.0. In both preparations alkaline phosphatase treatment significantly decreased desensitization of agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 40-75% (P less than 0.05). Similar results were obtained after alkaline phosphatase treatment of membranes from isoprenaline- and dibutyryl cyclic AMP-desensitized duck erythrocytes. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase treatment of membranes from duck erythrocytes desensitized with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate returned agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity to near control values. In all experiments, inclusion of 20 mM-sodium phosphate to inhibit alkaline phosphatase during treatment of membranes attenuated the enzyme's effect on agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In addition, alkaline phosphatase treatment of membranes from control and isoprenaline-desensitized turkey erythrocytes increased the mobility of beta-adrenergic-receptor proteins, specifically photoaffinity-labelled with [125I]iodocyanopindolol-diazirine, on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The increased mobility of the beta-adrenergic-receptor proteins after alkaline phosphatase treatment of membranes was again inhibited by 20 mM-phosphate. These results provide additional evidence for a direct role for phosphorylation in desensitization of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors in avian erythrocytes.