Effects of diadenosine triphosphate and diadenosine tetraphosphate on rat liver cells. Differences and similarities with ADP and ATP

Inhibitory effects of some purinergic agents on ecto-ATPase activity and pattern of stepwise ATP hydrolysis in rat liver plasma membranes

Inhibitory effects of various purinergic compounds on the Mg(2+)-dependent enzymatic hydrolysis of [(3)H]ATP in rat liver plasma membranes were evaluated. Rat liver enzyme ecto-ATPase has a broad nucleotide-hydrolyzing activity, displays Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K(m) for ATP of 368+/-56 microM and is not sensitive to classical inhibitors of the ion-exchange and intracellular ATPases. P2-antagonists and diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) progressively and non-competitively inhibited ecto-ATPase activity with the following rank order of inhibitory potency: suramin (pIC(50), 4.570)>Reactive blue 2 (4.297)&z.Gt;Ap(4)A (3. 268)>pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS) (2. 930). Slowly hydrolyzable P2 agonists ATPgammaS, ADPbetaS, alpha, beta-methylene ATP and beta,gamma-methylene ATP as well as the diadenosine polyphosphates Ap(3)A and Ap(5)A did not exert any inhibitory effects on the enzyme activity at concentration ranges of 10(-4)-10(-3) M. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of the formation of [(3)H]ATP metabolites indicated the presence of other enzyme activities on liver surface (ecto-ADPase and 5'-nucleotidase), participating in concert with ecto-ATPase in the nucleotide hydrolysis through the stepwise reactions ATP-->ADP-->AMP-->adenosine. A similar pattern of sequential [(3)H]ATP dephosphorylation still occurs in the presence of ecto-ATPase inhibitors suramin, Ap(4)A and PPADS, but the appearance of the ultimate reaction product, adenosine, was significantly delayed. In contrast, hydrolysis of [(3)H]ATP in the presence of Reactive blue 2 only followed the pattern ATP-->ADP, with formation of the subsequent metabolites AMP and adenosine being virtually eliminated. These data suggest that although nucleotide-binding sites of ecto-ATPase are distinct from those of P2 receptors, some purinergic agonists and antagonists can potentiate cellular responses to extracellular ATP through non-specific inhibition of the ensuing pathways of purine catabolism.

Stimulatory effect of exogenous diadenosine tetraphosphate on insulin and glucagon secretion in the perfused rat pancreas

1. Diadenosine triphosphate (AP3A) and diadenosine tetraphosphate (AP4A) are released by various cells (e.g. platelets and chromaffin cells), and may act as extracellular messengers. In pancreatic B-cells, AP3A and AP4A are inhibitors of the ATP-regulated K+ channels, and glucose increases intracellular levels of both substances. 2. We have studied the effect of exogenous AP3A and AP4A on insulin and glucagon secretion by the perfused rat pancreas. 3. AP3A did not significantly modify insulin or glucagon release, whereas AP4A induced a prompt, short-lived insulin response ( approximately 4 fold higher than basal value; P<0.05) in pancreases perfused at different glucose concentrations (3.2, 5.5 or 9 mM). AP4A-induced insulin release was abolished by somatostatin and by diazoxide. These two substances share the capacity to activate ATP-dependent K+ channels, suggesting that these channels are a potential target for AP4A in the B-cell. 4. AP4A stimulated glucagon release at both 3.2 and 5.5 mM glucose. This effect was abolished by somatostatin. 5. The results suggest that extracellular AP4A may play a physiological role in the control of insulin and glucagon secretion.

Diadenosine polyphosphates and the control of cyclic AMP concentrations in isolated rat liver cells

Extracellular diadenosine polyphosphates (Ap(n)A), through their interactions with appropriate P(2) receptors, influence a diverse range of intracellular activities. In particular, Ap(4)A stimulates alterations in intracellular calcium homeostasis and subsequent activation of glycogen breakdown in isolated liver cells. Here we show that, like ATP, Ap(4)A and other naturally occurring diadenosine polyphosphates attenuate glucagon-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP in isolated rat liver cells. The characteristics of Ap(4)A- and ATP-dependent modulation of glucagon-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation are similar. These results are discussed in the context of the repertoire of intracellular signalling processes modulated by extracellular nucleotides.

Steady-state binding of [3H]ATP to rat liver plasma membranes and competition by various purinergic agonists and antagonists

Steady-state analysis of nucleotide-binding sites on rat liver plasma membranes was carried out using 3H-labelled ATP as radioligand under complete inhibition of ecto-ATPase activity by excess EDTA. Binding of [3H]ATP to the membranes is saturable, reversible and apparently involves one population of specific binding sites with Kd of about 90 nM and binding capacity (Bmax) of 15 pmol/mg protein. A broad spectrum of purinergic agonists and antagonists was examined as potential inhibitors of the measured binding. The displacement studies showed the following rank order of inhibitory potency for [3H]ATP-binding sites (pIC50 values in parentheses): ATPgammaS (7.49)>2-MeSATP (7.18)>ATP (6.91)>ADPbetaS (6.64)>/=ADP (6.56)>>RB2 (6.14)>>suramin (5.40)>>Ap4A (4. 57)>alpha,beta-MeATP (4.19)>/=beta,gamma-MeATP (3.97). AMP, adenosine, Ap5A, PPADS, beta-glycerophosphate as well as non-adenine nucleoside triphosphates GTP, UTP and CTP did not exert any effect on the measured binding at concentration ranges of 10-6-10-4 M. In order to ascertain whether ATP and its analogues are capable of interacting with the same binding domain, 2-MeSATP and ADP were treated as alternative ligands that could compete with unlabelled ATP for its binding sites. A 2-fold increase of Kd value for ATP-receptor interaction was observed in the presence of 2-MeSATP (60 nM) or ADP (250 nM) without any modulation of Bmax value, confirming that inhibitory effects of these compounds are competitive in nature. These studies demonstrate that ATP and its analogues are able to interact with a single binding domain on liver plasma membranes, which may be identified as ligand-binding component of P2 purinoceptors of the P2Y1 subtype.

Diadenosine oligophosphates (Ap(n)A), a novel class of signalling molecules?

The diadenosine oligophosphates (Ap(n)A) were discovered in the mid-sixties in the course of studies on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS). Now, more than 30 years later, about 300 papers have been published around these substances in attempt to decipher their role in cells. Recently, Ap(n)A have emerged as intracellular and extracellular signalling molecules implicated in the maintenance and regulation of vital cellular functions and become considered as second messengers. Great variety of physiological and pathological effects in mammalian cells was found to be associated with alterations of Ap(n)A levels (n from 2 to 6) and Ap3A/Ap4A ratio. Cell differentiation and apoptosis have substantial and opposite effects on Ap3A/Ap4A ratio in cultured cells. A human Ap3A hydrolase, Fhit, appeared to be involved in protection of cells against tumourigenesis. Ap3A is synthesised by mammalian u synthetase (TrpRS) which in contrast to most other aaRS is unable to synthesise Ap4A and is an interferon-inducible protein. Moreover, Ap3A appeared to be a preferred substrate for 2-5A synthetase, also interferon-inducible, priming the synthesis of 2' adenylated derivatives of Ap3A, which in turn may serve as substrates of Fhit. Tumour suppressor activity of Fhit is assumed to be associated with involvement of the Fhit.Ap3A complex in cytokine signalling pathway(s) controlling cell proliferation. The Ap(n)A family is potentially a novel class of signal-transducing molecules whose functions are yet to be determined.