Forskolin stabilizes a functionally coupled state between activated guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory regulatory protein, Ns, and catalytic protein of adenylate cyclase system in rat erythrocytes

Changes of the level of G protein alpha-subunit mRNA by tolerance to and withdrawal from pentobarbital in rats

Pentobarbital was continuously infused intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at the rate of 300 micrograms/10 microliters/h for 7 days, and withdrawal from pentobarbital was rendered 24 h after the stopping of the infusion. To eliminate the induction of hepatic metabolism by systemic administration of pentobarbital, an i.c.v. infusion model of tolerance to and withdrawal from pentobarbital was used. Little is known about the functional modulation of the G protein alpha-subunits at the molecular level. The effects of continuous infusion of pentobarbital on the modulation of G protein alpha-subunits mRNA were investigated by using in situ hybridization study. In situ hybridization showed that the level of G alpha s mRNA was increased in the septum and brainstem, and the level of G alpha o mRNA was elevated in the cortex during the pentobarbital withdrawal. The level of G alpha i mRNA was significantly elevated in almost all area of brain during the pentobarbital withdrawal. These results suggest that region-specific changes of G protein alpha-subunit mRNA were involved in the withdrawal from pentobarbital, whereas alpha-subunit is not so highly involved in the pentobarbital tolerance.

Evidence for regulation of human platelet adenylate cyclase by phosphorylation. Inhibition by ATP and guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate occur by distinct mechanisms

1. Incubation of human platelet membranes with guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) causes a time-dependent increase in the activation of adenylate cyclase due to Gs (the stimulatory GTP-binding protein). Forskolin enhances adenylate cyclase activity but does not interfere with the process of activation. The activation follows first-order kinetics in both the presence and the absence of the assay components. 2. ATP in the presence or the absence of an ATP-regenerating system of phosphocreatine and creatine kinase inhibits activation. 3. Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP does not lead to receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase acting via Gi (the inhibitory GTP-binding protein). The ADP analogue adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (ADP[S]) does not inhibit the activation process. 4. Phosphocreatine alone inhibits adenylate cyclase activation at concentrations above 1 mM. 5. Inhibition by phosphocreatine is not due to the chelation of free Mg2+ ions. 6. Inhibition by ATP and the other assay components occurs throughout the activation process, decreasing both the rate of activation and the maximum activity obtained. 7. Maximal activation of adenylate cyclase after prolonged incubation with p[NH]ppG slowly reverses in the presence of the assay components. 8. A 10-fold excess of the GDP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]) over p[NH]ppG inhibits the activation process completely, at all stages of the time course. 9. Preincubations in the presence and absence of ATP, cyclic AMP, phosphocreatine and creatine kinase show equal sensitivity to increasing GDP[S] concentration. These data show that the inhibition observed in the presence of ATP is not due to endogenous or contaminating guanine nucleotides, and suggest that phosphoryl transfer may regulate adenylate cyclase activity.

Ca2+ channel currents in rat sensory neurones: interaction between guanine nucleotides, cyclic AMP and Ca2+ channel ligands

1. The characteristics have been examined of the high threshold calcium channel current in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones recorded in the presence of guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S; 200 microM in the patch pipette). This current, termed IBa, GTP gamma S, was slowly activating and showed little inactivation over 100 ms. 2. External application of forskolin (10 microM) to elevate internal cyclic AMP levels increased the amplitude of IBa, GTP gamma S whereas it had no effect on the control IBa. This cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKI; 25 microM). 3. The cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation induced enhancement of IBa, GTP gamma S was voltage dependent and either did not occur or was observed only transiently at a holding potential (VH) of -30 mV. The forskolin-stimulated enhancement seen at VH -80 mV was lost with a t1/2 of about 1 min when VH was depolarized to -30 mV. Cholera toxin pre-treatment also increased the amplitude of IBa, GTP gamma S at VH -80 mV but not at VH -30 mV. 4. The calcium channel antagonist (-)-202-791 (5 microM) increased the amplitude of IBa, GTP gamma S when applied at VH -80 mV, but either not, or only transiently, at VH -30 mV, as previously observed. This 'agonist' effect of (-)-202-791 was prevented by PKI and was occluded by prior enhancement of IBa, GTP gamma S with forskolin. (-)-202-791 did not increase cyclic AMP levels in DRG neurones. 5. The 'agonist' response of IBa, GTP gamma S to D600 (10 microM) was also occluded by application of forskolin (10 microM) in the patch pipette. Forskolin alone, applied in this manner, increased IBa, GTP gamma S to a similar extent to D600 applied alone. 6. The agonist effect of (+)-202-791 (5 microM) on IBa, GTP gamma S was not prevented by prior enhancement with forskolin, nor was it prevented by PKI. 7. In conclusion, internal GTP gamma S activates G proteins which may interact directly with calcium channels to influence the kinetics of activation and to reduce steady-state inactivation of the channels. There is also an indirect effect on the generation of second messengers such as cyclic AMP. It is likely that forskolin enhances IBa, GTP gamma S by increasing activated Gs coupling to adenylyl cyclase and increasing cyclic AMP generation. The mechanism of action of (-)-202-791 to enhance IBa, GTP gamma S also involves cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Homologous desensitization of the D1 dopamine receptor

Preincubation of D384 cells, derived from the human astrocytoma cell line G-CCM, with dopamine resulted in a time-dependent attenuation of cyclic AMP responsiveness to subsequent dopamine stimulation. This effect was agonist specific because the prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) stimulation of cyclic AMP of similarly treated cells remained unchanged. The attenuation by dopamine was concentration dependent with a maximum observed at 100 microM. A comparison of dopamine concentration-response curves of control and dopamine-preincubated cells revealed no change in the Ka apparent value, but a marked attenuation of the maximal response. Preincubation of cells with dopamine in the presence of D1 but not D2 selective antagonists partially prevented the observed attenuation. Attenuations in dopamine responsiveness were also obtained when D384 cells were preincubated with D1 but not D2 receptor agonists. The level of attenuation attained related to agonist efficiency in stimulating cyclic AMP: SKF38393 less than 3,4-dihydroxynomifensine less than fenoldopam less than 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene = dopamine. However, increasing the efficiency of 3,4-dihydroxynomifensine stimulation of cyclic AMP, using the synergistic effect of adding a low concentration of forskolin, produced no further change in the attenuation of the subsequent response to dopamine. Thus, the D1 dopamine receptors expressed by D384 cells undergo homologous desensitization. Uncoupling of the D1 dopamine receptor appears to be independent of cyclic AMP formation, analogous to a mechanism proposed for the beta-adrenergic receptor.

Difference in sensitivity to alkaline phosphatase treatment between rat reticulocyte membranes in which beta-adrenoceptor desensitization was induced by isoproterenol, dibutyryl cAMP and phorbol ester

The effect of alkaline phosphatase (3.1.3.1) on desensitization of beta-adrenoceptor-responsive adenylate cyclase and the role of phosphorylation in desensitization were examined. Treatment of rat reticulocytes with isoproterenol, dibutyryl cAMP and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) caused the desensitization of beta-adrenoceptor-coupled adenylate cyclase. When the membranes from dibutyryl cAMP- and TPA-desensitized cells were incubated with alkaline phosphatase for 60 min at 30 degrees C, pH 8.0, the desensitization of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase was markedly attenuated in both preparations. When the membranes from isoproterenol-desensitized cells were treated with alkaline phosphatase under the same conditions, the attenuation of the desensitization of alkaline phosphatase was less than in the case of treatment with dibutyryl cAMP or TPA. In other words, isoproterenol-induced desensitization was more resistant to alkaline phosphatase treatment. Isoproterenol- and dibutyryl cAMP-induced desensitization of NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase were also attenuated by alkaline phosphatase treatment. Although the stability of the Gs-catalytic unit complex of adenylate cyclase was reduced by isoproterenol treatment, the reduction of stability was also decreased by alkaline phosphatase treatment.

Brain forskolin binding in mice dependent on and tolerant to ethanol

Chronic ethanol ingestion by mice was previously shown to result in decreased activation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides and beta-adrenergic agonists, and in the loss of the high affinity beta-adrenergic agonist binding site in frontal cortex and hippocampus but not in cerebellum. These results indicate a regional specificity of ethanol's actions on beta-adrenergic receptors, the guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gs) and/or adenylate cyclase. To further detail the anatomical specificity of the effects of ethanol ingestion on receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase (AC) systems we have quantified the binding of [3H]forskolin to brain sections of control and ethanol-fed mice. High-affinity forskolin binding, thought to represent the complex of the alpha-subunit of Gs (as) and AC, was decreased in several brain areas including frontal cortex and hippocampus, but not in cerebellum, nucleus accumbens and certain other brain areas of ethanol-fed mice. Guanine nucleotides, such as Gpp(NH)p, generally enhanced forskolin binding in control animals. In ethanol-fed mice, however, Gpp(NH)p failed to enhance forskolin binding in most brain regions. These findings suggest that chronic ethanol ingestion may decrease the amount or function of as-AC in certain brain regions. Moreover, the regulation of the formation of this complex in different brain regions may affect responses to ethanol ingestion in mice.

Interactive effects of isoprenaline, forskolin and acetylcholine on Ca2+ current in frog ventricular myocytes

1. Calcium currents (ICa) were measured in single cells isolated from frog ventricle using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and a perfused pipette. The dose-dependent stimulatory effects of isoprenaline (Iso, 0.1-100 microM) and forskolin (Fo. 0.1-50 microM) on ICa were determined in the presence and absence of acetylcholine (ACh, 10 microM) and/or threshold concentrations of Fo (0.2 microM) and Iso (0.05 microM), respectively. EC50 (i.e. concentration of Iso or Fo at which the response was 50% of the maximum) and Emax (i.e. maximal stimulation of Ica expressed as percentage increase in ICa with respect to control) were measured under each condition. 2. ACh increased EC50 for the stimulatory action of Iso on ICa from 0.84 to 3.72 microM while it reduced Emax from 658 to 185%. Thus, ACh mainly reduced the efficacy of Iso to stimulate ICa. 3. ACh increased EC50 for the stimulatory action of Fo on ICa from 2.06 to 10.26 microM but only slightly reduced Emax from 893 to 778%. Thus, ACh mainly reduced the potency of Fo to stimulate ICa. 4. Intracellular perfusion with 100 microM of hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogues, GTP-gamma-S [guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)] and Gpp (NH)p (5'-guanylylimido-diphosphate), had no effect on basal ICa but reduced by greater than 50% the stimulatory effect of 2 microM-Iso on ICa. 5. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p or GTP-gamma-S, Fo (3 microM) reversibly increased ICa by 490%, as compared to a 717% increase in control (GTP) intracellular solution. Although ACh could still inhibit Fo-stimulated ICa, the degree of inhibition was significantly smaller than in the presence of GTP. 6. Extracellular perfusion with low concentrations of a combination of Iso (33 nM) and Fo (330 nM) enhanced ICa to a much greater extent than did either agent alone at 3 times higher concentrations. Thus, low concentrations of Iso and Fo appear to increase ICa in a synergistic fashion. 7. ICa stimulated by a combination of Iso and Fo appeared to be more resistant to inhibition by ACh than when stimulated by either alone. It was the efficacy, rather than the potency, of ACh to inhibit ICa that was reduced upon dual stimulation of ICa. 8. In the presence of 0.2 microM-Fo, EC50 and Emax for the effects of Iso on ICa were 0.27 microM and 619%, respectively. By comparison with the effects of Iso alone, Fo reduced EC50 approximately 3 times with no significant change in maximal stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Regulation of GH3 pituitary tumour-cell adenylate cyclase activity by activators of protein kinase C

The influence of protein kinase C (PKC) activation on cyclic AMP production in GH3 cells has been studied. The stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation induced by forskolin and cholera toxin was potentiated by 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). Moreover, PDBu, which causes attenuation of the maximal response to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), also induced a small right shift in the dose-response curve for VIP-induced cyclic AMP accumulation. PDBu-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was unaffected by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin or the inhibitory muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine. PDBu stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity required the presence of a cytosolic factor which appeared to translocate to the plasma membrane in response to the phorbol ester. The diacylglycerol-generating agents thyroliberin, bombesin and bacterial phospholipase C each stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, but, unlike PDBu, did not attenuate the stimulation induced by VIP. These results suggest that PKC affects at least two components of the adenylate cyclase complex. Stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation is probably due to modification of the catalytic subunit, whereas attenuation of VIP-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation appears to be due to the phosphorylation of a different site, which may be the VIP receptor.

Reduction in the stability of the Gs-catalytic unit complex of adenylate cyclase in isoproterenol-induced heterologous desensitization

Treatment of rat reticulocytes with isoproterenol resulted in the heterologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase, causing a reduction in NaF/AlCl3- and guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p)-stimulated activities as well as in activity stimulated by beta-adrenoceptor agonists. Desensitization was also induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), an inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A), prevented the isoproterenol-induced desensitization, suggesting the involvement of protein kinase A in the desensitization. Gs in the desensitized cell membrane was activated by treatment with Gpp(NH)p or NaF/AlCl3 in the presence of Mg2+. The activated state, the Gs-C complex, was gradually shifted to the basal state, i.e. the Gs-C complex was dissociated by removal of Mg2+. The rate constant of the dissociation was increased in the desensitized cell membranes (0.074 min-1) as compared with that in the control cell membranes (0.022 min-1). The half life of the Gs-C complex, calculated from the rate constant, was decreased during the process of desensitization. The results indicate that reduction in the stability of the Gs-C complex is related to heterologous desensitization. Agents which increase the level of cyclic AMP in the cell also reduced the stability of the complex. The potency of such an effect was in the following order; isoproterenol approximately NaF/AlCl3 (k = 0.071 min-1) greater than forskolin (0.039 min-1) greater than Mn2+ approximately dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.030 min-1). The former two activate Gs and form Gs-C complex, while the latter two cause intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation without activation of Gs. It may be deduced from this order that the reduction of the stability depends not only on the increase in the cyclic AMP level but also on the level of Gs-C complex formed.

Ion transport across the frog olfactory mucosa: the action of cyclic nucleotides on the basal and odorant-stimulated states

The action of cyclic nucleotides on the short-circuit current across the isolated bullfrog olfactory mucosa was studied both in the absence and presence of odorants. 8-Bromo-cAMP applied to the ciliated side of the mucosa caused a concentration-dependent, reversible increase in the basal short-circuit current, but not when it was applied to the submucosal side. The current had a sigmoidal concentration dependence described by the Hill equation. The magnitude of the odorant-evoked current was enhanced after bathing the ciliated side with cAMP analogs or modulators of intracellular cAMP. GTP gamma S added to the ciliated side increased the odorant-evoked current, while GDP beta S caused a decrease. Current transients induced by stimulating the ciliated side with either pulses of odorant or 8-bromo-cAMP were partially suppressed by amiloride, but only when amiloride and stimulant were presented simultaneously. Pulses of 8-bromo-cAMP and odorant presented simultaneously resulted in currents that added nonlinearly. In the absence of odorant, 8-bromo-cGMP caused a concentration-dependent decrease in net inward current that was reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP. Odorant-evoked currents were also reduced by 8-bromo-cGMP, and these could not be reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP. The results indicate that one type of olfactory transduction process involves the activation by cAMP of an inward current through an amiloride-sensitive apical ion channel and that this mechanism is mediated by a stimulatory G-protein.

Differential regulation by calmodulin of basal, GTP-, and dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities in bovine striatum

The concentration requirements of calmodulin in altering basal, GTP-, and dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities in an EGTA-washed particulate fraction from bovine striatum were examined. In the bovine striatal particulate fraction, calmodulin activated basal adenylate cyclase activity 3.5-fold, with an EC50 of 110 nM. Calmodulin also potentiated the activation of adenylate cyclase by GTP by decreasing the EC50 for GTP from 303 +/- 56 nM to 60 +/- 10 nM. Calmodulin did not alter the maximal response to GTP. The EC50 for calmodulin in potentiating the GTP response was only 11 nM as compared to 110 nM for activation of basal activity. Similarly, calmodulin increased the maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase by dopamine by 50-60%. The EC50 for calmodulin in eliciting this response was 35 nM. These data demonstrate that calmodulin can both activate basal adenylate cyclase and potentiate adenylate cyclase activities that involve the activating GTP-binding protein, Ns. Mechanisms that involve potentiation of Ns-mediated effects are much more sensitive to calmodulin than is the activation of basal adenylate cyclase activity. Potentiation of GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by calmodulin was apparent at 3 and 5 mM MgCl2, but not at 1 or 10 mM MgCl2. These data further support a role for calmodulin in hormonal signalling and suggest that calmodulin can regulate cyclic AMP formation by more than one mechanism.

Phorbol ester regulates stimulatory and inhibitory pathways of the hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase system in rat reticulocytes

Treatment of rat reticulocytes with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), a tumor-promoting phorbol ester which activates protein kinase C, resulted in an about 50% decrease in the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by a subsequent challenge with a beta-adrenoceptor agonist. This phenomenon mimics agonist-induced desensitization. This decline is due to a reduction in the Vmax of the adenylate cyclase system rather than to a change in affinity to the agonist. The beta-adrenoceptor number was not changed while the KD for an agonist but not for an antagonist was increased by TPA treatment. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) plus GTP, NaF plus AlCl3, and guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate (GppNHp) regulated adenylate cyclase activity in a biphasic manner, i.e. stimulation at lower concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations. The same treatment also caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction of the inhibitory phase of the PGE1/GTP action but did not affect the inhibitory phase of GppNHp and NaF/AlCl3 actions. Pertussis toxin (IAP) treatment caused a reduction of the inhibitory phase of PGE1/GTP action similar to that caused by TPA treatment. No synergistic effect was observed when the cells were treated with TPA and IAP simultaneously. These results suggest that TPA treatment impairs the coupling between PGE1 receptor and Gi rather than enhances that between PGE1 receptor and Gs. Protein kinase C was involved in the regulation of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase, the beta-agonist-induced stimulatory pathway and the PGE1-induced inhibitory pathway in rat reticulocytes, since other phorbol esters and diacylglycerol, which activate this kinase, caused the same response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Concurrent LH and forskolin action on adenylate cyclase activation and progesterone synthesis in corpora lutea from pregnant ewes

The present communication documents LH- and forskolin-induced activation of adenylate cyclase (AC) system and progesterone synthesis in corpora lutea from pregnant ewes. The activation of AC in plasma membranes by LH or forskolin was amplified by Gpp(NH)p. These results suggest that regulatory nucleotide component (Ns) of the AC complex is required for forskolin. Simultaneous addition of maximal concentrations of forskolin (10(-4) M), Gpp(NH)p (10(-4) M) and LH (10(-7) M) led to greater than additive (i.e. synergistic) responses: the experimental value was 4.71 +/- 0.19 nmoles cAMP/mg of membrane protein, whereas the theoretical additive effect was 3.17 +/- 0.10 nmoles/mg of membrane protein (p less than 0.001). These data reveal that more Ns or C component is being activated in these cells when combined treatments with these agents are applied. In intact cells maximum stimulatory concentrations of forskolin or LH caused similar increase in progesterone production with similar time courses. In striking contrast, the exposure of the luteal cells to LH and forskolin simultaneously led to a decrease in progesterone synthesis as early as 1h30 (40%, p less than 0.001). Thus, the synergism observed between LH and forskolin on the stimulation of plasma membranes AC activity did not occur in steroidogenesis. The AC responses in crude plasma membranes form these cells to different stimulants were enhanced (i.e. 15%, p less than 0.2 for Gpp(NH)p, 33%, p less than 0.01 for LH plus Gpp(NH)p and 52%, p less than 0.01 for forskolin). These findings suggest that an early desensitization of the AC system cannot explain the impaired steroidogenic response observed.

Alteration by v-Ki-ras in NaF, cholera toxin and forskolin-induced adenylate cyclase activation in NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells

It has been suggested that ras proteins are involved in the transmembrane signaling mechanism and they share structural features with GTP-binding proteins. To identify the role of ras oncogene and it's products in the coupling mechanisms of GTP-binding proteins to adenylate cyclase, we examined effect of NaF, cholera toxin and forskolin in normal and v-Ki-ras transformed NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. In transformants, adenylate cyclase activity was markedly enhanced by NaF and cholera toxin, in contrast to normal cells. It is suggested that ras oncogene proteins plays enhancing role in coupling of GTP-binding proteins to adenylate cyclase.

Regulation by forskolin of octopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase from brain of the dipterous Ceratitis capitata

Forskolin, a diterpene that exerts several pharmacological effects, activates adenylate cyclase in brain and in some other mammalian tissues. Properties of forskolin activation of adenylate cyclase from central nervous system of the dipterous Ceratitis capitata are described. The interaction of forskolin with the insect adenylate cyclase system was studied by evaluating its effect on metal-ATP kinetics, protection against thermal inactivation, membrane fluidity and enzyme modulation by fluoride, guanine nucleotides, octopamine, and ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin. The diterpene stimulated basal enzyme activity both in membranes and Triton X-100-solubilized preparations, apparently devoid of functional regulatory unit, this effect being rapidly reversed by washing the membranes. An increase of Vmax accounts for the activation of soluble and membrane adenylate cyclase preparations by forskolin, whereas the affinity of the enzyme for the substrate was not affected. Forskolin apparently protects the membrane enzyme from thermal inactivation, and at concentrations that promote the enzyme activity the diterpene does not alter membrane microviscosity. Forskolin does not appear to alter the sensitivity of insect adenylate cyclase to sodium fluoride, guanine nucleotide, or regulatory subunit ADP ribosylated by cholera toxin, the combined effect of these factors with the diterpene resulting in a nearly additive enzymatic activation. However, forskolin blocks the octopamine stimulatory input. Results obtained with the insect adenylate cyclase system are discussed and compared to what is known about mammalian systems to propose a mechanism of enzyme activation by forskolin.