Presence in liver of a 3':5'-cyclic AMP stimulated kinase for the I form of UDPG-glycogen glucosyltransferase

Biological roles of cAMP: variations on a theme in the different kingdoms of life

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) plays a key regulatory role in most types of cells; however, the pathways controlled by cAMP may present important differences between organisms and between tissues within a specific organism. Changes in cAMP levels are caused by multiple triggers, most affecting adenylyl cyclases, the enzymes that synthesize cAMP. Adenylyl cyclases form a large and diverse family including soluble forms and others with one or more transmembrane domains. Regulatory mechanisms for the soluble adenylyl cyclases involve either interaction with diverse proteins, as happens in Escherichia coli or yeasts, or with calcium or bicarbonate ions, as occurs in mammalian cells. The transmembrane cyclases can be regulated by a variety of proteins, among which the α subunit and the βγ complex from G proteins coupled to membrane receptors are prominent. cAMP levels also are controlled by the activity of phosphodiesterases, enzymes that hydrolyze cAMP. Phosphodiesterases can be regulated by cAMP, cGMP or calcium-calmodulin or by phosphorylation by different protein kinases. Regulation through cAMP depends on its binding to diverse proteins, its proximal targets, this in turn causing changes in a variety of distal targets. Specifically, binding of cAMP to regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKAs) affects the activity of substrates of PKA, binding to exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac) regulates small GTPases, binding to transcription factors such as the cAMP receptor protein (CRP) or the virulence factor regulator (Vfr) modifies the rate of transcription of certain genes, while cAMP binding to ion channels modulates their activity directly. Further studies on cAMP signalling will have important implications, not only for advancing fundamental knowledge but also for identifying targets for the development of new therapeutic agents.

The origins of protein phosphorylation

The reversible phosphorylation of proteins is central to the regulation of most aspects of cell function but, even after the first protein kinase was identified, the general significance of this discovery was slow to be appreciated. Here I review the discovery of protein phosphorylation and give a personal view of the key findings that have helped to shape the field as we know it today.

Desensitization of the insulin receptor by antireceptor antibodies in vivo is blocked by treatment of mice with beta-adrenergic agonists

In previous studies we reported that immunization of mice with ungulate insulins induced the development of antiinsulin antibodies, which include an idiotype that appeared to recognize the part of the insulin molecule recognized by the hormone receptor. The antiinsulin antibodies of this idiotype were replaced spontaneously by antiidiotypic antibodies. The antiidiotypic antibodies, which persisted for about 14 d, mimicked insulin and functioned as antibodies to the insulin receptor. They induced down regulation, desensitization and refractoriness of the insulin receptor and disturbances in glucose homeostasis in vivo (Shechter, Y., D. Elias, R. Maron, and I.R. Cohen., 1984; Elias, D., R. Maron, I.R. Cohen, and Y. Shechter. 1984, J. Biol. Chem. 259: 6411-6419). We now report that effects of the antiidiotypic antibodies on the insulin receptor effector system can be modified pharmacologically. Administration of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol during the period of insulin resistance (days 26-40 after primary immunization), largely restored fat cell responsiveness to insulin, and eliminated the appearance of fasting hyperglycemia. This restoration appeared to be caused by inhibition of both insulin receptor desensitization and refractoriness. In contrast, down regulation of insulin receptors was not reversed by isoproterenol treatment in vivo. The effects of treatment with isoproterenol persisted for 2-4 d after termination of treatment. The beta-antagonist, propranolol and more so, the beta 1a-antagonist metoprolol, specifically blocked the effect of isoproterenol at a molar ratio of 3-10:1. Oral administration of the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, aminophylline, was also effective in inhibiting the development of desensitization in fat cells. These results indicate that treatment with beta 1-adrenergic agonists in vivo, or other agents that elevate cellular cAMP levels, can inhibit the development of the "postbinding" defects induced by insulin-mimicking, antireceptor antibodies. These observations have both basic and clinical implications.

Use of fluoride to inactivate phosphorylase a phosphatases from rat liver cytosol. Presence of fluoride-insensitive glycogen synthase-specific phosphatase

The diverse metal requirements for activity of the phosphoprotein phosphatases (EC 3.1.3.16) concerned with glycogen metabolism in rat liver were postulated to reflect the diverse binding intensities of their essential metal(s). After inactivation by fluoride, three of these phosphatases had similar metal requirements in contrast to a fourth phosphatase. Further similarities led to a grouping of these enzymes into two general types. Phosphatases designated type 1 consisted of three enzymes which had the following properties; (1) preference for glycogen phosphorylase a as a substrate; (2) molecular weights in excess of 100 000; (3) conversion to an active 30 000 dalton 'subunit' form upon selective denaturation by 80% ethanol; (4) diverse degrees of stimulation by metals (Mg2+ and Mn2+); and (5) changes to an absolute dependence upon added Mn2+ (but not Mg2+) for activity of both the holoenzyme and the subunit after a demetallating treatment with fluoride in EDTA. The phosphatase designated type 2 exhibited the following properties; (1) preference for glycogen synthase D as a substrate; (2) molecular weight of 50 000; (3) no conversion to an active 30 000 dalton subunit form upon selective denaturation by 80% ethanol; (4) complete metal-dependence upon either Mg2+ or Mn2+; and (5) no change to an absolute dependence on added Mn2+ for activity after a demetallating treatment with fluoride in EDTA.

ATP-dependent and cyclic AMP-dependent activation of rat adipose tissue lipase by protein kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle

Brief incubation of partially purified preparations of hormone-sensitive lipase from rat epididymal fat pads with ATP, Mg(++), cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and rabbit muscle protein kinase (phosphorylase b kinase kinase) resulted in enhancement of lipolytic activity (44-93%). Little or no activation was observed when either the cofactor mixture or the protein kinase was omitted. When the fat pads were incubated with epinephrine prior to homogenization, addition of kinase and cofactors to the soluble supernatant fraction caused no activation whereas good activation was obtained in preparations from paired fat pads not exposed to epinephrine. The results indicate that the cyclic AMP-mediated activation of hormone-sensitive lipase in adipose tissue involves a protein phosphorylation step. Whether the lipase itself is phosphorylated and thus activated or whether the protein kinase is activating a mediating enzyme, in analogy with its action in the glycogen phosphorylase system, remains to be determined.

Interconversion of phospho- and dephospho- forms of pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase

Pyruvate dehydrogenase from pig heart exists in active and inactive forms. Interconversion from the active (dephospho) form into the inactive (phospho) form is catalyzed by an ATP-dependent kinase. Conversely the enzyme is reactivated by a phosphatase which removes the phosphate group from the protein. By gradient centrifugation pyruvate dehydrogenase was prepared free of phosphatase but still containing the kinase. Reactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase is stimulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate. There is incorporation of (32)P from gamma-(32)P-ATP into the protein fraction containing the phosphatase and this phosphorylation reaction is also stimulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate. The participation of this phosphate in the pyruvate dehydrogenase interconversion system suggests that, in heart muscle, pyruvate oxidation may be under hormonal control by a mechanism similar to that involved in the regulation of glycogen synthesis and breakdown.