Separation of cyclic nucleotides by thin-layer chromatography on polyethyleneimine cellulose

Cyclic AMP intoxication of macrophages by a Mycobacterium tuberculosis adenylate cyclase

With 8.9 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths per year, tuberculosis is a leading global killer that has not been effectively controlled. The causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, proliferates within host macrophages where it modifies both its intracellular and local tissue environment, resulting in caseous granulomas with incomplete bacterial sterilization. Although infection by various mycobacterial species produces a cyclic AMP burst within macrophages that influences cell signalling, the underlying mechanism for the cAMP burst remains unclear. Here we show that among the 17 adenylate cyclase genes present in M. tuberculosis, at least one (Rv0386) is required for virulence. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Rv0386 adenylate cyclase facilitates delivery of bacterial-derived cAMP into the macrophage cytoplasm. Loss of Rv0386 and the intramacrophage cAMP it delivers results in reductions in TNF-alpha production via the protein kinase A and cAMP response-element-binding protein pathway, decreased immunopathology in animal tissues, and diminished bacterial survival. Direct intoxication of host cells by bacterial-derived cAMP may enable M. tuberculosis to modify both its intracellular and tissue environments to facilitate its long-term survival.

tRNA-triggered ATP hydrolysis and generation of membrane potential by the leishmania mitochondrial tRNA import complex

Translocation of tRNAs across mitochondrial membranes is a receptor-mediated active transport process requiring ATP. A large tRNA import complex from the inner membrane of Leishmania mitochondria catalyzes translocation into phospholipid vesicles. In this reconstituted system, the import substrate tRNA(Tyr)(GUA) specifically stimulated hydrolysis of ATP within the vesicles, with the subsequent generation of a membrane potential by pumping out of protons, as shown by the protonophore-sensitive uptake of the potential-sensitive dye rhodamine 123. Generation of membrane potential was dependent on ATP hydrolysis, and inhibited by oligomycin, recalling the proton-translocation mechanism of the respiratory F(1)-F(0)-ATPase. For translocation of tRNA, ATP could be replaced by low pH of the medium, but proton-dependent import was resistant to oligomycin. Moreover, ATP hydrolysis, generation of membrane potential and tRNA uptake were inhibited by carboxyatractyloside, a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP-ADP translocase, implying an ATP requirement within the vesicles. These observations imply a gating mechanism in which tRNA, on binding to its receptor, triggers the energetic activation of the complex, leading to the opening of import channels.

Cross-talk between the autocrine (mitogenic) pheromone loop of the ciliate Euplotes raikovi and the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration

Cell type-specific protein signals, called pheromones, are constitutively secreted by Euplotes raikovi and bound back in autocrine fashion, with a positive effect on the vegetative (mitotic) cell growth. In cells growing suspended with their secreted pheromone, it was found that any interruption of this autocrine signaling loop was immediately followed by an effective enhancement of the basal intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level. To establish a cause-effect relationship between these pheromone-induced variations in the cytoplasmic cAMP level and cell growth, cells ready to pass from a resting stage to a new growth cycle were conditioned either to incorporate a cAMP analog resistant to phosphodiesterase degradation, or to utilize cAMP released (following cell irradiation) from incorporated "caged" cAMP. Cells responded at every induced increase in their basal cAMP level by markedly decreasing their commitment to start a new growth cycle. It was deduced that the autocrine signaling of E. raikovi pheromones involves cAMP as inhibitor of its mitogenic activity.

Effect of deletion of the major brain G-protein alpha subunit (alpha(o)) on coordination of G-protein subunits and on adenylyl cyclase activity

Heterotrimeric G-proteins, composed of alpha and betagamma subunits, transmit signals from cell-surface receptors to cellular effectors and ion channels. Cellular responses to receptor agonists depend on not only the type and amount of G-protein subunits expressed but also the ratio of alpha and betagamma subunits. Thus far, little is known about how the amounts of alpha and betagamma subunits are coordinated. Targeted disruption of the alpha(o) gene leads to loss of both isoforms of alpha(o), the most abundant alpha subunit in the brain. We demonstrate that loss of alpha(o) protein in the brain is accompanied by a reduction of beta protein to 32+/-2% (n = 4) of wild type. Sucrose density gradient experiments show that all of the betagamma remaining in the brains of alpha(o)-/- mice sediments as a heterotrimer (s20,w = 4.4 S, n = 2), with no detectable free alpha or betagamma subunits. Thus, the level of the remaining betagamma subunits matches that of the remaining alpha subunits. Protein levels of alpha subunits other than alpha(o) are unchanged, suggesting that they are controlled independently. Coordination of betagamma to alpha occurs posttranscriptionally because the mRNA level of the predominant beta1 subtype in the brains of alpha(o)-/- mice was unchanged. Adenylyl cyclase can be positively or negatively regulated by betagamma. Because the level of other alpha subunits is unchanged and alpha(o) itself has little or no effect on adenylyl cyclase, we could examine how a large change in the level of betagamma affects this enzyme. Surprisingly, we could not detect any difference in the adenylyl cyclase activity between brain membranes from wild-type and alpha(o)-/- mice. We propose that alpha(o) and its associated betagamma are sequestered in a distinct pool of membranes that does not contribute to the regulation of adenylyl cyclase.

Impaired NO release from bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to activated platelets

We have previously shown that aggregated human platelets elicited a decrease in intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), enhanced adenosine egress and damage to mitochondria in bovine aortic endothelial cells (ECs). To test whether such metabolic and ultrastructural changes could be associated with functional impairment of ECs, we investigated the effects of activated platelets on nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin release, and on the antiaggregation property of ECs. Pretreatment of ECs with aggregated platelets transiently stimulated basal NO release while prolonged (> or = 30 min) exposure dose-dependently inhibited NO release, both basal and in response to ATP or serotonin, with NO synthase activity being attenuated in these cells. Supplementary L-arginine (L-A) restored NO release completely. Prostacyclin release was also stimulated transiently but not affected by prolonged pretreatment. The antiaggregation property of ECs was attenuated by pretreatment with activated platelets but restored with L-A supplement. Although the effects of activated platelets and 0.5 mM acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to attenuate the antiaggregation property of ECs were additive, activated platelets had no effect on ECs treated with 0.2 mM N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), suggesting a common mechanism. We conclude that prolonged exposure to aggregated platelets may affect the antiaggregation property of ECs by directly inhibiting NO synthesis, which may be normalized by L-A supplementation.

Ethanol modulates cyclic GMP metabolism in cultured coronary smooth muscle cells

The authors tested the hypothesis that ethanol or its metabolite acetaldehyde might interfere in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) metabolism in coronary smooth muscle cells. Ethanol at the physiologically relevant concentration of 4.0 mg/mL or more significantly decreased basal guanylate cyclase activity and inhibited activation of the enzyme by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in cultured porcine coronary smooth muscle cells. Two isoforms of phosphodiesterase (PDE), cyclic GMP-specific form and calmodulin-stimulated form, were both inhibited by 12.0 mg/mL or more ethanol. Intact cell study revealed that although 12.0 mg/mL or more ethanol was needed to significantly decrease cyclic GMP accumulation in control cells, 4.0 mg/mL or more ethanol significantly inhibited the increase of cyclic GMP accumulation induced by 1 microns SNP. Acetaldehyde showed similar effects, but the concentrations involved were more than physiological. Thus, ethanol may decrease cellular cyclic GMP levels and attenuate cyclic GMP accumulation in response to SNP in coronary smooth muscle cells by inhibiting soluble guanylate cyclase activity at physiologically relevant concentrations.

Guanosine diphosphate binding, metabolism and regulation of follitropin-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in Sertoli cell membranes

Nucleotides such as GTP and GDP appear to be involved in signal transduction via G protein modulation of adenylate cyclase activity. Studies on direct binding of [3H]GDP to membranes prepared from cultured immature rat Sertoli cells indicated that this process was reversible, approached steady state within 10 min, had a Ka of 4.5.10(6) M-1 and was specific for guanine nucleotides. The non-hydrolyzable analog, guanosine 5'-O-[3-thio]triphosphate (Gppp[S]), was most effective as an inhibitor of [3H]GDP binding (ED50 = 4.8.10(-8) M), whereas guanosine 5'-O-[2-thio]diphosphate (Gpp[S]) was less potent (ED50 = 3.4.10(-7) M). Release of bound GDP was enhanced by follitropin (FSH) in the presence of Gppp[S], although not by FSH alone. Sertoli cell membranes possess guanine nucleotide hydrolase activity, where 95% of added nucleotide was rapidly degraded to guanosine. Binding kinetics were significantly influenced by nucleotide metabolism, which was prevented by controlling the Mg2+ concentration with EDTA and including App[NH]p to reduce nonspecific hydrolysis. Kinetic studies indicated that Gpp[S] inhibited (P less than 0.05) Gppp[S]-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (Ki = 1.8.10(-7) M), whereas basal activity remained unaffected. Addition of Gpp[S] to pre-activated enzyme (FSH plus GTP) resulted in a time-dependent decay of adenylate cyclase activity with a Koff value of 6 +/- 1.min-1. Using a two-stage pre-incubation technique, adenylate cyclase activity was demonstrated to be sensitive to the nucleotide bound. When FSH was included, catalytic activity was not altered by the order of pre-incubation with the nucleotides. This suggested that the exchange of bound Gpp[S] for Gppp[S] was enhance by FSH. Activation and attenuation of FSH-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity is dependent on a nucleotide exchange mechanism which is driven by (1) the higher affinity of G for GTP than GDP, (2) enhanced release of GD when FSH is present and (3) GTP hydrolysis coupled to rapid metabolism of guanine nucleotides.

Phosphodiesterase activity of mouse sperm incubated under conditions that modulate fertilizing potential in vitro

Cyclic AMP has been implicated as a regulator of capacitation, but the control of its metabolism in sperm remains obscure. A recent study of mouse sperm has shown capacitation-related changes in the activities of both adenylate cyclase, which increased during incubation, and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, which decreased. The present study was conducted to extend these observations by measuring phosphodiesterase activity in sperm incubated in media with modified calcium and/or glucose content, conditions known to modulate fertilizing ability. Phosphodiesterase activity of sequential sperm samples, taken first when sperm are essentially uncapacitated and then when they are either partially or completely capacitated, decreased with time under all conditions, and in each case the greater fall in activity was seen in the medium that would support the greater change in fertilizing ability of the sperm population. Sperm washed by centrifugation to remove epididymal fluid also displayed a reduction in phosphodiesterase activity with time. The medium surrounding the sperm contained about half of the total phosphodiesterase activity, as well as 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase. The crude enzyme preparation showed complex kinetic behavior when assayed over a range of cAMP concentrations, but the reduction in activity with time was seen at all substrate levels. The observed changes in phosphodiesterase activity, together with the increased adenylate cyclase activity seen under these sperm incubation conditions, would increase cAMP availability with time, thus providing further evidence for a fundamental role for cAMP in controlling the events of capacitation.

Gene isolation by direct in situ cAMP binding

The regulatory subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase expressed in clones isolated by immunoscreening of a lambda gt11 cDNA library from Dictyostelium discoideum exhibits high affinity for cAMP [Mutzel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84 (1987) 6-10]. Based on this property, we have developed a screening procedure to detect in situ cAMP-binding activity directly on phage plaques transferred to nitrocellulose filters. Highly radioactive cAMP was synthesized using [alpha-32P]ATP at 3000 Ci/mmol as the substrate of purified adenylate cyclase from Bordetella pertussis. Filter replicas of the library plated at 3 X 10(4) pfu/dish, were incubated in the presence of 2 nM [32P]cAMP and then washed thoroughly. Three clones out of 1.2 X 10(5) were detected, all of which coded for the regulatory subunit, as judged by hybridization with a specific DNA probe. The cAMP binding to the purified clones was characterized in situ by displacement with specific analogues. The ability to displace labelled cAMP was in accord with the affinities of the analogues previously reported for the regulatory subunit of the Dictyostelium cAMP-dependent protein kinase. We are able to detect fmol levels of regulatory subunit contained in phage plaques and therefore the method could be used to screen libraries from other organisms for proteins exhibiting high affinities for cyclic nucleotides.

ras proteins can induce meiosis in Xenopus oocytes

Injection of human H-ras protein induces maturation of Xenopus oocytes; that is, progression from prophase to metaphase of meiosis. The oncogenic protein encoded by H-rasval12 is nearly a 100-fold more potent than the protein encoded by the wild-type gene. We do not observe any measurable increase or decrease in cyclic AMP concentration in injected oocytes, and the effects of H-ras protein are only partially blocked by cholera toxin. Our results suggest that not all, if any, of the effects of H-rasval12 protein in this system are mediated by adenylate cyclase.

Release of cAMP from a renal epithelial cell line

LLC-PK1 is an established porcine renal cell line with epithelial characteristics. Upon hormonal stimulation by vasopressin, LLC-PK1 cells release adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) into the medium. Release of cAMP is inhibited by the organic anion transport inhibitor probenecid and by cold phosphodiesterase inhibitors and iodoacetate but not by prostaglandins A1 or E1. The kinetics of release are first order, and cAMP analogues do not induce the release of cAMP. When grown on cellulose filters, monolayers of LLC-PK1 have morphological characteristics of transporting epithelia (apical microvilli and intercellular tight junctions) and maintain a transepithelial potential difference. Stimulation of such monolayers by vasopressin elicits probenecid-sensitive release of cAMP into the medium bathing the apical surface. Smaller quantities of cAMP are released from the basolateral surface, but release in this direction is not inhibited by probenecid. In contrast, release of cAMP from the nonepithelial cell line BHK is symmetrical and is symmetrically inhibited by probenecid. Probenecid-sensitive release of cAMP from LLC-PK1 is thus a function of the apical (brush-border) membrane.

Effects of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate on photoreceptor disc shedding and retinomotor movement. Inhibition of rod shedding and stimulation of cone elongation

As a test of the hypothesis that cyclic nucleotides play a role in the regulation of retinomotor movements and disc shedding in the photoreceptor-pigment epithelial complex, we have used an in vitro eyecup preparation that sustains both disc shedding and cone retinomotor movements, Eyecups were prepared in white light from animals in which both shedding and cone movement had been blocked by 4 d of constant-light treatment. In eyecups incubated for 3 h in light, disc shedding was negligible and cones remained in the light-adapted (contracted) position. In eyecups incubated in darkness, however, a massive shedding response (dominated by rod photoreceptors) was induced, and at the same time cone photoreceptors elongated to their dark-adapted position. In eyecups incubated in light dbcAMP promoted cone elongation and thus mimicked darkness; the dbcAMP effect was potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors papaverine and 3-isobutylmethylxanthine. In eyecups incubated in darkness, on the other hand, both phosphodiesterase inhibitors and dbcAMP reduced the phagosome content of the pigment epithelium. The effects of dbcAMP on the cone elongation and rod shedding appear to be specific in that dbcGMP, adenosine, and adenosine 5'-monophosphate had no significant effect. Our results suggest that cAMP plays a role in the regulation of both retinomotor movements and disc shedding.

Uptake of adenosine and release of adenine derivatives in mammalian non-myelinated nerve fibres at rest and during activity

1. Influx of adenosine into rabbit non-myelinated nerve fibres was measured using [2-(3)H]adenosine. The uptake of radioactivity increased linearly with duration of incubation for up to 60 min and adenosine concentration up to 200 mum. The uptake at different adenosine concentrations showed a saturable component with a half-maximal activation at 17.1 mum and a linear part.2. The radioactivity taken up was rapidly incorporated into AMP, ADP and ATP. Isotopic equilibrium between the nucleotides was achieved within 15 min.3. The uptake of (3)H from 0.2 mum-adenosine was almost completely inhibited by addition of 200 mum-adenosine and to a similar extent by 200 mum-tubercidin and AMP; a 70% inhibition was found with ATP and ADP; alpha, beta methylene-ADP had no effect.4. ATP, ADP and AMP added to the extracellular medium of a desheathed vagus were slowly hydrolysed.5. In preparations loaded with [2-(3)H]adenosine and then washed with adenosine and label-free solution there was a steady efflux of radioactivity amounting to 0.18 x 10(-3)/min. Addition of adenosine or tubercidin transiently increased the efflux.6. Electrical stimulation caused an extra release of radioactivity. The extra fractional loss was 21.8 x 10(-6)/impulse in preparations that had rested for several hours; it decreased to 2.3 x 10(-6)/impulse when stimulation was applied after a 30 min rest.7. The radioactivity of the resting efflux and of the extra efflux after stimulation was found mostly in inosine and hypoxanthine; adenosine and adenine accounted for only 3%, and the nucleotides for less than 1% of the efflux.8. Adenosine added to the external medium of a desheathed nerve was slowly deaminated.9. It is concluded that inosine and hypoxanthine found in the effluent from desheathed vagus nerve trunk result from release of these compounds from nerve fibres and not from extracellular breakdown of released ATP or adenosine.10. Electrical activity in non-myelinated nerve fibres of the nerve trunk thus causes the release of metabolites (inosine and hypoxanthine) together with small amounts of adenosine and adenine, while release of ATP and other nucleotides is almost completely absent.

Phosphate ion transport in rabbit brain synaptosomes

Synaptosomes (vesicles of nerve endings) isolated from rabbit brain were studied as a model system for the uptake of inorganic phosphate. The phosphate uptake showed a sodium-dependent, saturable component with a Kt of 0.29 mM. The sodium-dependent component was larger at pH 6 than at pH 7.4 or 8. Application of potassium salts, ouabain, monensin, nigericin or FCCP decreased the uptake. The results indicate that the sodium-sensitive phosphate influx is dependent on the Na+ gradient and on the membrane potential, which might act, preferentially, on the transport of the monovalent phosphate ion.

Activation of lymphocytes by brominated nucleoside and cyclic nucleotide analogues: implications for the "second messenger" function of cyclic GMP

The purine nucleoside guanosine, when derivatized at the C-8 position to give 8-bromoguanosine (8-BrGuo), acquires the capacity to stimulate high-level lymphocyte proliferation in the presence or absence of serum. Direct comparisons were undertaken to determine whether this activity is exerted only by virtue of the structural resemblance of 8-BrGuo to 8-bromo cyclic GMP (8-BrcGMP) (a known intracellular lymphocyte mitogen). They showed that, of the brominated guanosine derivatives studied, 8-BrGuo is the primary activator because (i) it is a far more potent lymphocyte activator than 8-BrcGMP, the order of mitogenic potency being 8-BrGuo greater than 8-bromo GMP (8-BrGMP) greater than 8-BrcGMP; (ii) it acts much more rapidly than 8-BrcGMP; (iii) it is not metabolized to 8-BrcGMP or cGMP; and (iv) it does not elevate intracellular cGMP content. cGMP is not likely to be the second messenger serving to activate B cells because (i) it does not induce significant proliferation unless brominated at the C-8 position; (ii) the brominated form is much less efficient than 8-BrGuo or 8-BrGMP; (iii) 8-BrGuo and many other mitogens do not increase intracellular cGMP; (iv) many agents that increase cGMP fail to initiate lymphocyte activation; (v) certain agents that increase cGMP (i.e., 15-hydroperoxyarachidonic acid, azide) inhibit lymphocyte activation; and (vi) addition of unbrominated cGMP to cultures stimulated with 8-BrGuo actually diminished stimulation. These data (i) indicate that, by interaction with cellular components, 8-BrGuo triggers high level lymphocyte activation and (ii) cast significant doubt on the role of cGMP as an intracellular second messenger in lymphocyte proliferation.

Multiple mechanisms of growth inhibition by cyclic AMP derivatives in rat GH1 pituitary cells: isolation of an adenylate cyclase-deficient variant

GH pituitary cells have been widely utilized for studies of hormone response mechanisms. Studies reported here were motivated by the desirability of isolating characterized GH clones defective in cyclic AMP synthesis or action. Spontaneously occurring GH1 cell variants resistant to the growth-inhibitory effects of cyclic AMP analogs were isolated. Characterization of four variants showed that these were deficient in adenosine kinase and had acquired resistance to the cytotoxic effects of purine nucleoside derivatives formed in the culture medium. A second-stage selection was undertaken with mutagenized adenosine kinase-deficient cells. One 8 Br cAMP-resistant variant was found to have normal cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity but exhibited altered adenylate cyclase activity. Activation of cyclase activity by fluoride, guanyl nucleotides, cholera toxin, and hormone (VIP) was subnormal in the variant. Mn-dependent cyclase activity was also subnormal, suggesting that the 8 Br cAMP-resistant variant may have a deficiency in the catalytic moiety of adenylate cyclase. Surprisingly, adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and 5'-monophosphate derivatives were found to be equally potent in growth-inhibiting adenosine kinase-deficient cells. Cross-resistance to 8 Br AMP was observed in the 8 Br cAMP-resistant variant. We conclude that cyclic AMP derivatives inhibit growth of GH cells by an unanticipated mechanism that is, nonetheless, related to endogenous cyclic AMP synthesis.

Isoelectric-focusing patterns of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from rat heart

1. Isoelectric focusing on a flat gel bed of the rat heart cytosolic fraction resolved cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity into several forms, characterized by their substrate specificity, kinetic constants and dependence towards Ca2+ and calmodulin. A peak of pI 4.9 displayed 20 times more affinity for cyclic GMP than for cyclic AMP and was markedly inhibited by EGTA. A less substrate-specific form, only slightly sensitive to EGTA inhibition, focused at pH 5.45. Several overlapping peaks detected between pH 5.55 and pH6 specifically hydrolysed cyclic AMP, with non-Michaelian kinetics; these peaks were insensitive to Ca2+ chelation. 2. Isoelectric focusing did not dissociate enzyme-calmodulin complexes, as none of the resulting peaks was activatable by calmodulin plus Ca2+. 3. Some new information on rat cardiac phosphodiesterase is obtained with this technique, which is convenient for routine analytical studies of phosphodiesterase, as well as for preparative purposes.

Purification of a soluble, sodium-nitroprusside-stimulated guanylate cyclase from bovine lung

A soluble, sodium-nitroprusside-stimulated guanylate cyclase as been purified from bovine lung by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL-6B and preparative gel electrophoresis. Apparent homogeneity was obtained after at least 7000-fold purification with a yield of 3%. A single stained band (Mr 72000) was observed after gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The purified enzyme migrated as one band also under non-denaturing conditions in acrylamide gels (5-12%). The mobility of this band corresponded to an Mr of 145000. The enzyme sedimented on sucrose gradients with an S20, w of 7.0 S. Gel filtration yielded a Stokes' radius of 4.6 nm. These data suggest that the enzyme has an Mr of approximately 150000 and consists of two, presumably identical, subunits of Mr 72000. Sodium nitroprusside stimulated the purified enzyme 15-fold and 140-fold to specific activities of 8.5 and 15.7 mumol of cGMP formed min-1 mg-1 in the presence of Mn2+ and Mg2+, respectively. Formation of cGMP was proportional to the incubation time and to the amount of enzyme added. The stimulatory effect of sodium nitroprusside was half-maximal at about 2 microM, was observed immediately after addition and could be reversed either by dilution or by removal of sodium nitroprusside on a Sephadex G-25 column. The purified enzyme in the absence of catalase was stimulated by sodium nitroprusside, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and 3-morpholino-sydnonimine and in the presence of catalase by sodium nitrite and sodium azide. In the presence of Mn2+ and sodium nitroprusside, the purified enzyme catalyzed the formation of cAMP from ATP at a rate of 0.6 mumol min-1 mg-1.

Characteristics of a new binding protein distinct from the kinase for guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate in rat platelets

A new type of cyclic GMP binding protein was recently identified in our laboratory (Hamet, P. and Coquil, J.-F. (1978) J. Cyclic Nucleotide Res. 4, 281--290). The binding, recovered in the supernatant fractions, is highly specific for cyclic GMP and is clearly distinct from the binding to cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase. Chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose separated the cyclic GMP binding protein from cyclic AMP binding, cyclic AMP-dependent kinase activities, and from guanylate cyclase. The optimal binding occurs at high pH and in the presence of thiol reagents. Several phosphodiesterase inhibitors increase the affinity of binding (Kd was 353 +/- 60 nM in the absence and 13.4 +/- 1.5 nM in the presence of 1-methyl-3-isobutyl-xanthine). The molecular weight of the binding protein was determined to be about 176,000 and the sedimentation coefficient was 6.4 S. While the binding and phosphodiesterase activities co-migrated on DEAE-Sepharose, gel filtration and sucrose gradients, certain treatments (such as increasing the concentrations of salt and heating) were able to influence one activity while having no effect on the other. Hence, the binding activity may be involved in the regulation of the activity of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase. Since the binding protein appears to be the only 'receptor' for cyclic GMP detectable in platelets, this protein and/or its relation to cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase may play a role in the mechanism of action of cyclic GMP in platelets.

Adenylate cyclase activity of Bordetella organisms. I. Its production in liquid medium

Abundant adenylate cyclase activity was found in the phase I cultures not only of Bordetella pertussis but also fo B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica. The enzyme activity in the culture fluid increased rapidly and reached a peak during the logarithmic growth phase. B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica especially produced a high activity of the enzyme in the culture fluid during the logarithmic phase, but little or no activity was detected in the cells throughout the growth period. In the culture of B. pertussis, the intracellular activity was higher than that in the culture fluid. Phase III cultures of these species lacked both the extracellular and intracellular enzyme activities throughout their growth. In the culture of B. parapertussis, accumulation of cyclic AMP was parallel to that of adenylate cyclase activity through the growth periods, but in B. pertussis there was no parallelism from the stationary through the declining phases. The difference in production patterns of the enzyme activity among the species is discussed.