Metabolism of N6,O2'-[3H]dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and macromolecular interactions of the products perfused rat liver

Transport of cyclic AMP and synthetic analogs in the perfused rat liver

The purpose of the present work was to investigate the transport of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and analogs in the rat liver. The experimental system was the isolated once-through perfused liver. Transport was measured by employing the multiple-indicator dilution technique. The single-pass recovery of tracer [(32)P]cAMP was equal to 94.4 +/- 1. 4%; no significant extracellular transformation of cAMP occurred during a single passage. The unidirectional influx rates of dibutyryl-cAMP were a saturable function of its concentration, with K(m) = 72.75 +/- 9.24 microM and V(max) = 0.464 +/- 0.026 micromol min(-1) (mL cellular space)(-1). The unidirectional influx rates of cAMP were much lower than those of dibutyryl-cAMP and were a linear function of the concentration (up to 100 microM). The transfer coefficient for influx (k(in)) was equal to 0.860 +/- 0.058 mL min(-1) (mL extracellular space)(-1). cAMP inhibited the influx of dibutyryl-cAMP; the IC(50) was 0.83 mM. The following series of increasing unidirectional influx rates was found: cAMP < monobutyryl-cAMP approximately 2-aza-epsilon-cAMP < rp-cAMPS approximately sp-cAMPS < 8-Br-cAMP approximately dibutyryl-cGMP approximately 8-Cl-cAMP < O-dibutyryl-cAMP. There was no precise correlation between the rates of influx of the various cyclic nucleotides and their lipophilicity. It was concluded that the penetration of cAMP and its analogs into the liver cells was a facilitated process. Lipophilicity was not the only factor determining the rate of transport. The transformation of dibutyryl-cAMP was limited by both transport and activity of the intracellular enzymic systems. The intracellular transformation of exogenous cAMP, however, was limited by the transport process.

In situ regulation of cell-cell communication by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C

The effects of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A and protein kinase C on cell-cell communication have been examined in primary ovarian granulosa cells microinjected with purified components of these two regulatory cascades. These cells possess connexin43 (alpha 1)-type gap junctions, and are well-coupled electrotonically and as judged by the cell-to-cell transfer of fluorescent dye. Within 2-3 min after injection of the protein kinase A inhibitor (PKI) communication was sharply reduced or ceased, but resumed in about 3 min with the injection of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit. A similar resumption also occurred in PKI-injected cells after exposure to follicle stimulating hormone. Microinjection of the protein kinase C inhibitor protein caused a transient cessation of communication that spontaneously returned within 15-20 min. Treatment of cells with activators of protein kinase C, TPA or OAG for 60 min caused a significant reduction in communication that could be restored within 2-5 min by the subsequent injection of either the protein kinase C inhibitor or the protein kinase A catalytic subunit. With a longer exposure to either protein kinase C activator communication could not be restored and this appeared to be related to the absence of aggregates of connexin43 in membrane as detected immunologically. In cells injected with alkaline phosphatase communication stopped but returned either spontaneously within 20 min or within 2-3 min of injecting the cell with either the protein kinase A catalytic subunit or with protein kinase C. When untreated cells were injected with protein kinase C communication diminished or ceased within 5 min. Collectively these results demonstrate that cell-cell communication is regulated by both protein kinase A and C, but in a complex interrelated manner, quite likely by multiple phosphorylation of proteins within or regulating connexin-43 containing gap junctions.

Modulation of the glucagon-dependent induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase by adenosine, but not ketone bodies or ammonia in rat hepatocyte cultures. Possible significance for the zonal heterogeneity of liver parenchyma

In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes the glucagon-dependent induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was studied in the presence of putative local hormone and substrate modulators which form clear concentration gradients during liver passage such as adenosine, ketone bodies and ammonia. 1) Adenosine inhibited the induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in a concentration-dependent manner between 50 and 200 microM up to 4 h after glucagon application; AMP had similar, adenine, inosine and guanosine had no effect. Adenosine was almost totally metabolized by the liver cells during the first 4 h of the induction period. The inhibitory action of adenosine was also observed using dibutyryl-cAMP or 8-bromo-cAMP as inducer; it could not be prevented by the adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine nor could it be mimicked by the selective adenosine receptor agonist N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine. 2) Acetoacetate suppressed the induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in a concentration-dependent manner between 5 and 20mM during the first 4 h after glucagon addition. beta-Hydroxybutyrate showed no effect. Neither starting with acetoacetate nor with beta-hydroxybutyrate did the cell cultures establish the thermodynamic equilibrium between the two compounds. 3) Ammonia did not affect induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase at concentrations up to 2mM. Ammonia was converted to urea within the first 4 h; yet it remained at clearly hyperphysiological concentrations in the medium during that period. It is concluded that the glucagon-dependent induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was modulated by the local hormone adenosine via a mechanism not involving adenylate cyclase and by acetoacetate via an unknown mechanism. The inhibitory action of adenosine may, that of acetoacetate can hardly be physiologically relevant.

Initial evidence for the modification of hamster sperm Na+, K+-ATPase activity by cyclic nucleotide-mediated processes

Na+, K+-ATPase activity of homogenates prepared from cauda epididymal golden hamster sperm increased after the addition of cGMP (50 microM), monobutyryl cGMP (0.5 microM) or cGMP-dependent protein kinase (0.94 micrograms/ml). Addition of monobutyryl cAMP (0.5 microM) or purified catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (1.26 micrograms/ml) inhibited the activity of the Na+, K+-ATPase. Preincubation with a partially purified preparation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (75 micrograms/ml) stimulated the activity of the Na+, K+-ATPase, and this stimulation was decreased by the addition of 5 microM monobutyryl cAMP. It is not yet known whether direct and/or indirect mechanisms are involved, but these results are the first to describe such opposing effects by cyclic nucleotide-mediated processes on a Na+, K+-ATPase activity.

Synergistic stimulation of DNA synthesis by cyclic AMP derivatives and growth factors in mouse 3T3 cells

Addition of the cAMP derivatives butcAMP or 8BrcAMP to quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 causes synergistic stimulation of DNAk synthesis with insulin, phorbol esters, vasopressin, epidermal growth factor, or fetal bovine serum (2-5%). In the presence of insulin, 8BrcAMP, and butcAMP stimulate [3H]-thymidine incorporation into acid-precipitable material in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of these agents is specific since 8Br5'AMP, 5'AMP, butyrate, or 8BrcGMP fail to stimulate DNA synthesis under identical experimental conditions. Furthermore, the mitogenic effects of the cAMP derivatives were markedly potentiated by 1-methyl-3-isobutyl xanthine and 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxy benzyl)-2-imidazolidine, both of which are potent inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. The growth-promoting effects of the cAMP derivatives were demonstrated by [3H]-thymidine incorporation (either by scintillation counting or by autoradiography), by flow cytofluorometric analysis, and by increase in cell number. When quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells were exposed to butcAMP and insulin, DNA synthesis began after a lag of 17h. The result of sequential additions of cAMP derivatives and insulin to quiescent 3T3 cells suggest that these agents must act simultaneously in G0/G1 to stimulate entry into DNA synthesis in these cells. The findings support the proposition that an increase in cellular levels of cAMP (but not cGMP) act sas a mitogenic stimulus for confluent and quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells.

Potentiation of the growth inhibitory effects of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate analogues by homocysteine

The growth inhibitory effects of N6-monobutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (mbcAMP) and N6,O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (dbcAMP) towards Walker carcinoma in vitro are significantly potentiated by the addition of L-homocysteine to the culture medium. This effect is not seen with L-cysteine or when exogenous cAMP or prostaglandin E2(PGE2) replace the butyrylated cyclic nucleotide. Combinations of mbcAMP or dbcAMP and L-homocysteine significantly inhibit nucleic acid methylations. Both the butyrylated cyclic nucleotides cause an elevation of the intracellular level of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH), a potent inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) dependent methyltransferases, and this is significantly enhanced in combination with L-homocysteine. The increase in SAH level produced by such combinations is proportional to the inhibition of methyl group incorporation into 5-methyl cytosine and 7-methyl guanine. These results suggest that L-homocysteine potentiates accumulation of SAH in the presence of mbcAMP and dbcAMP and that the resultant inhibition of methylation accounts for the enhanced growth inhibition.

Evidence suggesting a role for cyclic nucleotides in acrosome reactions of hamster sperm in vitro

There have been conflicting reports concerning the involvement of cyclic nucleotides in sperm capacitation. We have examined the effects of micromolar concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors SQ20009 and ICI63,197 on hamster sperm incubated under in vitro capacitating conditions. Washed hamster sperm were incubated in a capacitation media containing bovine serum albumin, and a protein-free "motility-factor" from bovine adrenal cortex. Incubation for 3.5 hours was followed by addition of one of the compounds (0.1-10 microM) or control buffer. At the time of addition and after 30-120 minutes further incubation, sperm were examined by phase contrast microscopy. The final motility was similar to the initial motility (50-70%) and the same in incubation of controls or experimental compounds. Bt2cAMP, SQ20009, and ICI63,197 at these concentrations stimulated acrosome reactions to a statistically significant extent (P less than 0.005) compared to controls. Activation was stimulated to a varying degree by all three experimental compounds. These results suggest a role for cyclic nucleotides in capacitation and the acrosome reaction of hamster sperm.