Distinctive patterns of cAMP-binding proteins and their relationship to hemopoietic cellular differentiation

Patterns of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase gene expression during ontogeny of the murine palate

Normal growth and differentiation of embryonic palatal tissue depends on regulated levels of intracellular cAMP. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA) act to mediate the biological activities of cAMP. PKA isozyme protein profiles demonstrate a clear pattern of temporal alterations in embryonic palatal tissue during its development. In order to ascertain the molecular basis for changing PKA isozyme profiles during palatal ontogeny, the spatial and temporal expression of mRNAs for regulatory (RI alpha, RII alpha, and RII beta) and catalytic (C alpha) subunits of PKA was examined. RNA extracted from murine embryonic palatal tissue (days 12-14 of gestation) was examined by Northern blot analysis. Significant levels of constitutively expressed RI alpha and C alpha mRNA were seen on all days of gestation examined. RI alpha transcripts were substantially less abundant in palate mesenchymal cells in vitro than in palatal tissue in vivo. Levels of RII alpha and RII beta mRNA were highest on gestational day (GD) 12, a period characterized by pronounced palatal tissue growth. In addition, patterns of tissue distribution of RII beta, not previously described, were examined in the developing embryonic palate. A dramatic developmental shift in tissue distribution of RII beta was seen. The isozyme was evenly distributed between palatal epithelial and mesenchymal cells on GD 12 but by GD 14, RII beta was predominantly localized to palatal epithelial cells. Direct activation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin in murine embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells resulted in an increase in RII alpha mRNA levels but had no effect on steady state levels of RII beta or C alpha mRNA. In addition, elevation of intracellular levels of cAMP resulted in a shift in the transcriptional profile of RI alpha mRNAs. Results of this study document specific patterns of expression for the genes encoding the various cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory and C alpha subunits in murine embryonic palatal tissue. In addition, we have demonstrated adaptational changes of this kinase in MEPM cells in response to conditions of increased intracellular levels of cAMP.

A nuclear cAMP binding protein in retinoic acid-treated HL-60 cells

A cAMP binding protein was detected in HL-60 cells using photoaffinity labeling with 8-azido [32P]cAMP. The binding protein was found in a 0.35 M NaCl nuclear protein extract from untreated HL-60 cells and from the HL-60 cells induced to mature with retinoic acid. While the quantity of the cAMP binding protein did not change following the induced differentiation, a second form of the subunit, altered in charge, was present at 3 and 5 days after retinoic acid treatment. The findings indicate that the regulatory subunit of the type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase could be involved in nuclear functions associated with human myeloid cell differentiation.

Protein kinases in human leukemic cells

Protein kinase activities and cyclic AMP binding capacity were investigated in human peripheral blood cells from leukemic patients and normal controls. Using [gamma 32P] ATP as phosphoryldonor, the phosphorylating activities were not found to be significantly different in either normal or leukemic cells when measured on both artificial basic and acidic substrates. In contrast, the GTP-dependent casein kinase activity, CK2, which is almost undetectable in normal granulocytes, was markedly increased in highly proliferating myeloblastic cells from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) or with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic crisis (BC-CML). Levels of endogenous phosphotyrosine were not higher in leukemic cells than in normal peripheral lymphocytes or granulocytes. Finally, cAMP binding capacity was found to be increased in several types of proliferating leukemic cells, due to a higher amount of the R1-type regulatory subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinases. Specific patterns of cAMP binding proteins observed in the different types of normal blood cells were rather blurred in leukemic cells. In conclusion, modifications observed in human leukemic cells seem to be more related to proliferation or blockage in normal differentiation than to their cellular origin.

A cyclic AMP binding protein pattern useful as a biochemical differentiation marker of erythroleukemic cell lines and normal cloned erythroblasts

Previous study of a variety of a human hemopoietic cell lines and normal samples with 8-N3-[32P]-cAMP photoaffinity labelling, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography revealed five distinct cAMP binding protein patterns, each of which were restricted to cells of particular lineages. One pattern unique to K562 cells was characterized by the presence of three bands designated a, b and d. In order to ascertain the significance of this finding, we studied by the same methods normal human erythroblasts harvested from methylcellulose cultures of fetal liver and adult blood, and murine and human erythroleukemic cells (MEL and HEL) as well as K562, cultured with and without chemical inducers of erythrodifferentiation. Three band patterns recognizable as similar to that of K562, but distinctive from those of myeloid and lymphoid cells, were noted of cells of erythroblastic origin. Both HEL and MEL, as well as the normal erythroblasts, exhibited heaviest labeling of band a in contrast to K562, which exhibited heaviest labelling of band d. Relative labelling of band b and d of HEL and MEL increased following treatment with 50 mu hemin or 4 mM hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA), respectively. Treatment of K562 with hemin, however, resulted in increased band a. Thus, among hemopoietic cells, an isozymic cAMP binding protein pattern has been identified which is characteristic of the erythroid lineage. The relative abundances of the three components (a, b and d) have been furthermore noted to undergo a series of shifts during induced differentiation. Cyclic AMP binding proteins may thus prove useful as a biochemical marker system in the recognition and analysis of erythroid differentiation.

Identification of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors in the developing mammalian palate

A direct radioligand binding technique utilizing a beta-adrenergic antagonist [3H]Dihydroalprenolol [( 3H]DHA) was employed in the identification and characterization of fetal palatal beta-adrenergic receptors. [3H]DHA binding was saturable (Bmax 16 fmol/mg protein) with high affinity and an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 1.5 nM. Binding of [3H]DHA was displaced by the competitive beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol in a concentration-dependent manner. Dissociation kinetic studies demonstrated almost complete reversibility of radioligand binding within 60 min. The functionality of these beta-adrenergic receptors was demonstrated by showing that fetal palatal mesenchymal cells responded to catecholamine agonists with dose-dependent accumulations of intracellular cAMP. This effect could be entirely blocked by the beta-antagonist, propranolol. The relative potency order of catecholamines in eliciting an elevation of cellular cAMP was characteristic of a beta 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated response: (-) isoproterenol greater than (-) epinephrine greater than (-) norepinephrine. In addition, this response was found to be stereospecific with (-) isoproterenol being significantly more potent than (+) isoproterenol. Both the [3H]DHA binding characteristics and the catecholamine sensitivity of fetal palatal tissue support the presence of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors in the developing mammalian secondary palate.