Photochemical attachment of cyclic AMP binding protein(s) to the nuclear genome

Ca2+/calmodulin system: participation on rat sexual hypothalamic differentiation

Modifications of male rat hypothalamic sexual differentiation after neonatal administration of drugs that participate on the Ca2+/calmodulin system (haloperidol, trifluoperazine, penfluridol, pimozide, and verapamil) were studied. Pups treated 72 h after birth were behaviorally tested on day 120 of extrauterine life. Five tests for homotypical behavior were conducted. Afterwards animals were castrated and tested twice for heterotypical (female) behavior under replacement hormonal therapy. Fifty percent (80% in the case of pimozide) of all treated males showed lordotic behavior compared with none of the controls. Haloperidol (39%, lordosis quotient) and pimozide (40%, lordosis quotient) were more active than the others. Results obtained with verapamil were not statistically different from the controls. Pimozide was the most active agent influencing the appetitive masculine behavior (mount latency, intromission latency, and postejaculatory interval). Verapamil was more efficient than the rest of the drugs on the consummatory behavior (mount latency, intromission frequency, interintromission interval, and ejaculatory latency). Our results support the participation of the Ca2+/calmodulin system in hypothalamic sexual differentiation and in the differential modulation of the masculine and feminine behavioral patterns.

Enhancement by GTP of cAMP binding to hepatic nuclei and cytosol

In the present study we have demonstrated specific binding of 3H-labeled adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) to a nuclear extract from rat liver. GTP, GDP, and low concentrations of ATP and ADP increased nuclear binding of [3H]cAMP, and AMP inhibited [3H]cAMP binding. Photoaffinity labeling studies employing [32P]cAMP revealed four nuclear binding proteins [relative molecular weight (Mr) 36,000, 49,000, 54,000 and 57,000]. Unlabeled cAMP decreased [32P]cAMP binding to all four proteins, whereas GTP increased binding to the 57,000 protein. We also observed specific binding of [3H]cAMP in the liver cytosol, which was stimulated by GTP but not by ADP or ATP. Photoaffinity labeling studies of the cytosol in the absence of unlabeled nucleotides revealed three cAMP-binding proteins (Mr 36,000, 49,000, and 54,000). Unlabeled cAMP inhibited binding of [32P]cAMP to all three proteins, whereas in the presence of GTP there was binding of [32P]cAMP to a Mr 57,000 protein. Using DEAE-cellulose, we isolated from the nuclear extract and cytosol a cAMP-binding protein that responded to GTP with an increase in cAMP binding but was unaffected by GDP, ATP, ADP, and AMP. Guanosine imidodiphosphate did not affect cAMP binding, suggesting that the stimulatory effect of GTP may be mediated by phosphorylation. We speculate that alterations in intracellular GTP in vivo may modulate the binding of cAMP to a protein in the nucleus and cytosol.

The regulation of hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase

Tyrosine aminotransferase induction has been studied in hepatocytes from untreated, partially and fully glucocorticoid-induced rats: enzyme activities were initially 12.9 +/- 1.7 (n = 16), 41.4 +/- 3.2 (n = 6) and 117.9 +/- 10.5 (n = 7) munits/mg protein, respectively. Untreated or fully induced hepatocytes maintain initial levels, whereas partially induced hepatocytes increase their tyrosine aminotransferase activity even in the presence of actinomycin D. Fully induced hepatocytes possess a normal protein synthetizing machinery and the mechanisms to degrade selectively tyrosine aminotransferase. The effect of progesterone treatment is consistent with these cells retaining a high dexamethasone level. Glucagon induces tyrosine aminotransferase via its second messenger, cyclic AMP. This induction decreases dramatically with in vivo glucocorticoid treatment. Time courses and effects of inhibitors are consistent with these in vivo and in vitro treatments being alternative methods of inducing tyrosine aminotransferase by the same basic pretranslational step.

Specific nuclear binding of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-binding protein complex with subsequent poly(A) RNA synthesis in embryonic chick cartilage

We used embryonic chick pelvic cartilage as a model to study the mechanism by which cyclic AMP increases RNA synthesis. Isolated nuclei were incubated with [32P]-8-azidoadenosine 3,5'-monophosphate ([32P]N3cAMP) with no resultant specific nuclear binding. However, in the presence of cytosol proteins, nuclear binding of [32P]N3cAMP was demonstrable that was specific, time dependent, and dependent on a heat-labile cytosol factor. The possible biological significance of the nuclear binding of the cyclic AMP-protein complex was identified by incubating isolating nuclei with either cyclic AMP or cytosol cyclic AMP-binding proteins prepared by batch elution DEAE cellulose chromatography (DEAE peak cytosol protein), or both, in the presence of cold nucleotides and [3H]uridine 5'-triphosphate. Poly(A) RNA production occurred only in nuclei incubated with cyclic AMP and the DEAE peak cytosol protein preparation. Actinomycin D inhibited the incorporation of [3H]uridine 5'-monophosphate into poly(A) RNA. The newly synthesized poly(A) RNA had a sedimentation constant of 23S. Characterization of the cytosol cyclic AMP binding proteins using [32P]N3-cAMP with photoaffinity labeling three major cAMP-binding complexes (41,000, 51,000, and 55,000 daltons). The 51,000 and 55,000 dalton cyclic AMP binding proteins were further purified by DNA-cellulose chromatography. In the presence of cyclic AMP they stimulated poly(A) RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. The 51,000-dalton cyclic AMP-binding protein was the predominant one that bound to the nuclei. While cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinsae activity was present in the cytosol and DEAE peak cytosol proteins, it was not present in the DNA-cellulose-bound, cyclic AMP-binding proteins. We conclude that one possible mechanism by which cyclic AMP increases RNA synthesis is by complexing to a 51,000-dalton cytosol cyclic AMP-binding protein and being subsequently translocated to the nucleus, where it is specifically bound and associated with induction of poly(A) RNA synthesis.

Effect of estradiol on neurotransmitter sensitive adenylate cyclase. Its possible role in 'sexual differentiation'

Adenylate cyclase activity is lower in the hypothalamus of 5-day-old male rats than in females. This may be due to the presence of estradiol (E2) in this area of the male but not in the female since castration of the newborn male leads to an enzyme activity in the hypothalamus that is indistinguishable from that of the female and androgenization of the newborn female causes an enzyme activity level comparable to that of the male. In the adult, enzyme activity is highest when the concentration of E2 is at its lowest level; adenylate cyclase activity in the hypothalamus-preoptic area was found to be higher in the metestrus female than in proestrus or in the adult male. In vitro E2 was shown to reduce enzyme activity and this reduction was found to be dependent on induction of protein biosynthesis. In addition, there appears to be a requirement for Ca2+ in the E2-induced reduction of cyclase activity. Although F- activates the enzyme in all of the cases studied, the reduction in enzyme activity brought about by E2 is not reversed by F-, suggesting that the effect of E2 is not on the receptor. As sexual differentiation is brought about by the action of E2 during the first week after birth, it seems plausible to suggest that this interaction between hormone and enzyme is an early step in the sexual differentiation of the brain.

Cyclic AMP receptor triggers nuclear protein phosphorylation in a hormone-dependent mammary tumor cell-free system

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) receptor protein of 56,000 daltons increases markedly in mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) after incubation of tumor slices with cyclic AMP, benzamide, and arginine. Incubation of cytosol from these tumor slices with nuclei from unincubated tumors results in nuclear uptake of the 56,000-dalton cyclic AMP receptor and in phosphorylation of the 76,000-dalton nuclear protein. Binding of the 56,000-dalton receptor and phosphorylation of the 76,000-dalton protein also occur in DMBA tumor nuclei when protein kinase type II of bovine heart is used. The results suggest that cyclic AMP receptor is involved in the nuclear events of a hormone-dependent mammary tumor.