G-protein control of inositol phosphate hydrolysis

Guanine nucleotide binding regulatory proteins: their characteristics and identification

Many biological signals are processed by the binding of chemicals to cell surface receptors. Signals are switched to intracellular language via guanine nucleotide binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) which are present in all eukaryotic cells. Thus, G-proteins serve as interfaces between receptor-response coupling. Two forms of G-proteins have been reported: conventional G-proteins which are heterotrimeric and consist of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, and monomeric small molecular weight G-proteins which are generally found as single polypeptides. Recently, high molecular weight G-proteins have also been described. The family of G-proteins contains multiple genes that encode the alpha, beta, or gamma subunits. G-proteins play a pivotal role in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle function and control metabolic and secretory processes. In this review article, we have given a brief overview on the characteristics and methodology for the identification of G-proteins. The heterotrimeric G-proteins are generally identified by Western blotting and ADP-ribosylation with bacterial toxins. The monomeric and high molecular weight G-proteins have been identified by [35S]GTP delta S overlay technique and photoaffinity labeling, respectively. Recently, the use of molecular genetic probes has made it possible to investigate the expression of the message for various G-proteins.

Possible existence of two subsets of platelet-activating factor receptor to mediate polyphosphoinositide breakdown and calcium influx in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) initiated polyphosphoinositide (polyPI) breakdown and a rise of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells. The accumulation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate was evident within 15 s after PAF stimulation, peaked at 1 min, and then gradually decayed. The increase in [3H]inositol monophosphate level was observed at 30 s, plateaued in 5 min, and was sustained up to 10 min in the presence of 10 mM LiCl. On the other hand, the rise of [Ca2+]i evoked by PAF reached a peak within 8-12 s and returned to basal levels within 1 min as measured in fura 2-loaded cells. When cells were suspended in Ca(2+)-depleted medium, the PAF-induced [Ca2+]i rise was reduced by 80%, indicating that the increase of [Ca2+]i was predominantly due to the Ca2+ influx from an extracellular source. Both PAF-induced accumulation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates and [Ca2+]i elevation were concentration dependent with EC50 values of approximately 1 x 10(-10) and 5 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The PAF analogs 1-O-hexadecyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphocholine were much poorer agonists at eliciting the same responses in these cells. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin caused a substantial inhibition of PAF-induced accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphates. In contrast, the rise in [Ca2+]i was not significantly affected by toxin treatment at the same concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ziskind-Somerfeld research Award. The involvement of guanine nucleotide binding proteins in the pathogenesis and treatment of affective disorders

Guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins play a pivotal role in postreceptor information transduction. An important characteristic of G proteins is their increased guanine nucleotide binding following agonist stimulation, which in turn leads to their activation. We have developed a method that enables the measurement of early events in signal transduction beyond receptors, through activated receptor-coupled guanine nucleotide exchange on G proteins. Using this method, lithium was recently demonstrated to inhibit the coupling of both muscarinic cholinergic and beta-adrenergic receptors to pertussis toxin-sensitive and cholera toxin-sensitive G proteins, respectively, thus suggesting alteration of the function of G protein by lithium, as the single site for both the antimanic and antidepressant effects of this drug. One of the most puzzling aspects of the ability of lithium to ameliorate the manic-depressive condition is its relatively selective action upon the central nervous system (CNS). It was previously shown that lithium selectively attenuated the function of Gs proteins in the CNS. In the present study, we show that inhibition by lithium of muscarinic receptor-coupled G protein function is also selective to the CNS. The clinical profile of lithium, carbamazepine, and electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), agents that are effective in the prevention and treatment of bipolar affective disorder, differs from that of purely antidepressant drugs. Antidepressant drugs are effective in the acute treatment and prevention of depression only, and can even precipitate hypomanic or manic "switches," or "rapid cycling" between mania and depression. We have investigated and compared the effects of chronic antibipolar and antidepressant treatments on receptor-coupled G protein function. Antibipolar treatments (lithium, carbamazepine, ECT) attenuate both receptor-coupled Gs and non-Gs (i.e., Gi, Go) proteins function; in contrast, only Gs protein function is inhibited by antidepressant drugs [either tricyclics or monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors]. Moreover, an integral adrenergic neuronal system is required for antidepressant inhibition of Gs protein function, as pretreatment with the noradrenergic neurotoxin DSP-4 (N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine) specifically abolishes the effects of antidepressant drugs on Gs protein, whereas antibipolar drug effects on G protein function are unaffected by DSP-4. Our results suggest that attenuation of beta-adrenergic receptor-coupled Gs protein function, which is common to both antidepressant and antibipolar treatments, may be the mechanism underlying their antidepressant therapeutic efficacy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Lithium sensitive G protein hyperfunction: a dynamic model for the pathogenesis of bipolar affective disorder

Guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) play a pivotal role in information transduction from various membrane receptors to a variety of intracellular effector systems. By influencing the metabolism of adenylate cyclase and phosphatidylinositol, G proteins affect the activities of both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (kinase A) and protein kinase C. The hypothesis of this present study addresses the oscillatory behavior of symptoms observed in manic-depressive patients by suggesting that the cellular phosphorylation state in the central nervous system, which results from the relative activity of protein kinase A and protein kinase C, determines the affective state. From this hypothesis, we developed a kinetic model based on self- and inter-regulatory steps between these two protein kinase systems. The solutions of the differential equations governing this kinetic model can describe oscillatory pathological affective states. More specifically, we show that hyperfunction of G proteins leads to an unstable 'catastrophic' dynamic system characteristic of a manic or depressive state, and that lithium treatment attenuates G protein function and damps the oscillatory system to yield a stable state.

Interleukin (IL)-8-induced in vitro human lymphocyte migration is inhibited by cholera and pertussis toxins and inhibitors of protein kinase C

To further investigate the intracellular mechanisms involved in IL-8-induced human mixed peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) migration, the effects of pertussis toxin (PTX), cholera toxin (CTX), and protein kinase C (pkC) inhibitors were investigated. Potent inhibition of IL-8-induced PBL migration was observed following exposure of PBL to PTX and CTX (1 pM to 0.1 microM), 8-bromo cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP; 1 nM to 1 microM), H7 (1 pM to 0.1 microM), sphingosine (0.1 microM to 100 microM) and the novel pkC inhibitors Ro 31-7549 and Ro 31-8220 (10 pM to 1 microM) for 10 min. Following incubation of the lymphocytes for 30 min in the presence of the direct activators of pkC, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG; 10nM to 100 microM), there was a reversal of the effects of a suboptimal dose of the specific pkC inhibitors Ro 31-7549 and Ro 31-8220. These results suggest that intracellular signals transduced during IL-8-induced in vitro PBL migration may involve pertussis and cholera toxin-sensitive G protein subunits and activation of pkC, processes which are characteristically linked to receptor binding.

G protein complement of SV40-transformed ciliary epithelial cells

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) are a family of receptor-coupled signal-transducing proteins that regulate a variety of second-messenger systems and ion channels. The complement of G proteins in SV40-transformed pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells was determined by Western blot analysis utilizing peptide and holoprotein derived antisera to known G protein alpha and beta subunits and cholera toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. The complement of alpha subunits found in both SV40-transformed NPE and PE cells includes Gs alpha and all three members of the Gi alpha family. Neither cell type contains Go alpha or Gz alpha. Both cell lines contain beta 35 and beta 36. Future studies will examine the functional involvement of these G proteins in the regulation of aqueous humor stimulus-secretion coupling.

Effect of bacterial toxins on human B cell activation. I. Mitogenic activity of pertussis toxin

Pertussis toxin (PT) was found to elicit an increased thymidine uptake in resting B lymphocytes purified from human peripheral blood. A significant mitogenic effect was detected for toxin concentrations greater than 100 ng/ml (1nM) and a plateau of stimulation was reached at 1000 ng/ml (10 nM). B cell blasts, activated by a first signal such as Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I or insolubilized anti-mu chain antibody, were also stimulated to DNA synthesis by PT in the same range of concentrations. At lower sub-mitogenic concentrations, the toxin potentiated the response to the low-molecular weight B cell growth factor (LMW-BCGF or 12-kDa BCGF), a progression factor for activated B cells. The "A" or catalytic subunit was devoid of any activity on B cells, suggesting the stimulatory effect of the toxin might be associated with the binding or "B" subunit, as it has been shown for T cells. This hypothesis was strengthened by the observation that, as in T cell, the whole toxin but not the "A" promoter, was able to induce calcium influx in these cells. In addition, the purified "B" oligomer alone was found to promote DNA synthesis in B cells. Finally, a fragment of the soluble cleaved form of the CD23 molecule (Fc epsilon RII) could be involved in the process of PT mitogenicity for B cells.

Cellular and molecular biological aspects of human bronchogenic carcinogenesis

This is a time of rapid progress in the field of human bronchogenic carcinogenesis due to recent advances in cellular and molecular biology. Important developments over the last 10 years include establishment of methods for culturing NHBE cells under defined conditions, and molecular biological and biochemical epidemiological techniques for identifying genetic changes that are associated with malignant transformation of these cells. Most progress in defining genes associated with human carcinogenesis has been due to discoveries related to oncogenes and more recently, tumor suppressor genes. As was described in Section II.B.3.a, we now know that oncogene products serve as growth factors, growth factor receptors, and cytosolic and nuclear regulatory proteins. In addition, although the actions of putative tumor suppressor genes are less well understood, the first isolated tumor suppressor gene Rb, interacts with the products of DNA viruses which, in turn, are involved in regulation of transcription as was described in Section II.B.3.b. Thus, not surprisingly, both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes code for classes of proteins that are known to play an important role in regulation of cell proliferation. Recently, a second gene that appears to possess tumor suppression activity (p53) has been identified on the short arm of chromosome 17 (17p). The initial data suggesting a possible tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 17p came from cytogenetic and RFLP studies associating loss of heterozygosity in the chromosome 17p13 region with tumor cells and tissues. Since the p53 gene is located in this region it was evaluated and found to be frequently or always altered in several types of tumor cells. Recently, it was determined that introduction of the wild-type p53 gene into NIH3T3 cells will inhibit subsequent malignant transformation. Thus, the preponderance of evidence now supports the hypothesis that while mutated p53 acts as an oncogene, the wild-type p53 gene codes for a tumor suppressor function. The role of balance between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in control of proliferation is presently an active area of investigation. As discussed, introduction of a chromosome containing a tumor suppressor gene will suppress tumorigenicity of a malignant cell line, even though that cell line possesses an active c-Ha-ras oncogene. Whether or not the level of expression of an activated oncogene is related to tumorigenicity is presently being investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Thromboxane A2 activates phospholipase C in astrocytoma cells via pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein

The properties of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptors were examined in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. 9,11-Epithio-11,12-methanothromboxane A2 (STA2), a stable analogue of TXA2, stimulated the accumulation of inositol phosphates (IPs) with an EC50 of about 50 nM. The STA2-induced accumulation of IPs was inhibited concentration dependently by ONO3708, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, with an inhibition constant (Ki) of about 10 nM. Inositol trisphosphate (IP3) was accumulated more rapidly than inositol bisphosphate (IP2) in response to STA2. HPLC analysis indicated that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulated in the presence of STA2. STA2 alone had no effect on the accumulation of IPs in membrane preparations but it potentiated the accumulation induced by GTP gamma S. [3H]SQ29548, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, bound specifically to TXA2 receptors, expressing a single binding site with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 10.9 nM. The competition curve for STA2 inhibition of [3H]SQ29548 binding was shifted to the right and was steeper in the presence of GTP gamma S. Pertussis toxin (IAP) elicited ADP-ribosylation of 41KD protein but had no effect on the sensitivity to GTP of the STA2 inhibition of SQ29548 binding or of STA2-induced accumulation of IPs. It is concluded from these results that the stimulation of TXA2 receptors results in activation of phospholipase C via a GTP binding protein and that the protein is not a substrate for IAP.

[Inositol trisphosphate, a new "second messenger" for positive inotropic effects on the heart?]

Myocardial alpha 1-adrenoceptors mediate a positive inotropic effect and influence the inositol phosphate cycle. The receptor-stimulated, phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) results in the generation of two novel second messengers, inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DG). This effect is concentration-dependent and precedes the increase in force of contraction. Recently, it has been shown that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated increase in IP3 and force of contraction exists in the human heart as well. Possible mechanisms for an inositol phosphate-mediated positive inotropic effect are: (i) release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, elicited by IP3, (ii) increase in Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile proteins, elicited by IP3, inositol tetrakisphosphate (IP4) and/or DG, (iii) increase in slow Ca2+ inward current, elicited directly by IP4 and/or indirectly by DG through a phosphorylation of the protein kinase C substrate in the sarcolemma. In ventricular cardiac preparations muscarinic agonists have a weak positive inotropic effect, but in cardiac atrial preparations they have a negative inotropic effect. In both preparations, these different effects coincide with a concentration-dependent increase in IP3. Thus, the possible positive inotropic effect in atrial preparations is probably masked by an activation of a K+ outward current. The relationship between the inositol phosphate cycle and the positive inotropic effect is in some points still speculative because not all of the mechanisms discussed are well settled yet. However, the stimulation of myocardial phosphoinositide breakdown resulting in an increased IP3 may be involved in the mechanism(s) whereby alpha1-adrenergic and muscarinic receptor stimulation exert an increase in myocardial force of contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pertussis toxin prevents adenosine receptor- and m-cholinoceptor-mediated sinus rate slowing and AV conduction block in the guinea-pig heart

The influence of pertussis toxin on the effects of adenosine, the adenosine receptor agonist (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and the m-cholinoceptor agonist carbachol on heart rate and atrioventricular (AV) conduction was investigated in spontaneously beating isolated perfused guinea-pig hearts. In addition, the effects of the agents on the electrocardiogram recorded from anesthetized guinea pigs were studied. Adenosine (0.1-100 mumol/l) and PIA (0.001-100 mumol/l) had concentration-dependent negative chronotropic and negative dromotropic effects. These effects were prevented by pretreatment of the animals with pertussis toxin (150 micrograms/kg; i.v.). Carbachol (0.001-100 mumol/l) had similar cardiac depressant effects. These effects were also abolished by pertussis toxin. In contrast, the negative chronotropic and negative dromotropic effects of the calcium antagonist verapamil which was investigated for comparison were not influenced by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. Since the cardiac depressant effects mediated via adenosine receptors or via m-cholinoceptors are most probably due to an activation of a K+ conductance, it is concluded that both receptors in the sinus node and in the AV node may be coupled via a common pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein to the K+ channel. It remains to be elucidated whether an additional inhibitory coupling to Ca2+ channels also plays a role.

Transmodulation of the epidermal-growth-factor receptor in permeabilized 3T3 cells

Binding of murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) to its high-affinity receptor can be modulated by a variety of structurally unrelated mitogens. The transmodulation, however, is temperature-dependent and has not been observed in isolated membranes. We report here the transmodulation of high-affinity EGF receptors by platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) and tumour-promoting phorbol esters in 3T3 cells even when they are rendered incapable of fluid-phase endocytosis by treatment with phenylarsine oxide or by permeabilization with lysophosphatidylcholine. The relative affinity of the EGF receptors in the absence of modulating agents is not significantly altered by phenylarsine oxide treatment. Thus the difference in affinity between the two classes of EGF receptors seems to be unrelated to dynamic membrane changes or to differential rates of internalization. In permeabilized cells, non-hydrolysable GTP analogues transmodulate the high-affinity EGF receptor; however, the effects of these analogues are blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor chlorpromazine. In contrast, transmodulation by PDGF is not blocked by chloropromazine. Thus the high-affinity EGF receptor can be transmodulated by both protein kinase C-dependent or -independent pathways, and the transmodulation processes do not require fluid-phase endocytosis.

PTH elevates inositol polyphosphates and diacylglycerol in a rat osteoblast-like cell line

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated signal transduction through mechanisms alternate to adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production were studied in UMR 106-01 cells, a cell line with an osteoblastic phenotype. PTH produced transient, dose-related increases in cytosolic calcium [( Ca2+]i), inositol trisphosphates, and diacylglycerol (DAG). Both inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5P3) and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins-1,3,4P3) production were rapidly stimulated by PTH. Consistent with the production of Ins-1,3,4P3, rapid stimulation of late eluting inositol tetrakisphosphate was observed. The effects on the inositol phosphates were induced rapidly, consistent with roles as signals for changes in [Ca2+]i. In saponin-permeabilized UMR 106-01 cells, Ins-1,4,5P3 stimulated 45Ca release from a nonmitochondrial intracellular pool. Thus the hypothesis that PTH-stimulated Ins-1,4,5P3 production initiates Ca2+ release and contributes to transient elevations of [Ca2+]i is supported. Pretreatment of UMR 106-01 cells with pertussis toxin had no effect on PTH stimulation of inositol phosphates. Pertussis toxin reduced PTH-stimulated elevations of [Ca2+]i, but cAMP analogues had an even greater effect than pertussis toxin. These data suggest that stimulation of cAMP production during PTH stimulation may negatively affect production of rises in [Ca2+]i during PTH stimulation. The inactivation of the inhibitory G protein of adenylate cyclase by pertussis toxin could explain its action similar to cAMP analogues. Cyclic nucleotides diminish the effects of PTH on [Ca2+]i, probably interacting on a biochemical step subsequent to or independent of Ins-1,4,5P3 release.

A gas chromatographic method for the determination of inositol monophosphates in rat brain

Regional levels of cerebral inositol-1-phosphate (Ins1P), an intermediate in phosphoinositide (PI) cycle, were readily detected with a new gas chromatographic (GC) method. GC analysis of trimethylsilyated Ins1P and myo-inositol-2-phosphate with a fused silica capillary SE-30 column and flame ionization detection was linear at picomolar range (pmol/microliter) with a sensitivity to a level of 2 pmol. Also, inositol monophosphates and glucose-6-phosphate are separated in unstimulated brain tissue. The mean recovery of the method is 98 +/- 5.2%. Ins1P levels were higher in frontal than in caudal regions in control brains. Lithium treatment increased the levels of Ins1P throughout the brain but mostly in frontal brain regions and in the hippocampus. The present GC assay to measure the accumulation of Ins1P, an index for the activity of PI signaling, may be suitable for exploring regional differences in cerebral receptor-coupled PI signalling in vivo.

The effects of pertussis toxin and cholera toxin on mitogen-induced interleukin-2 production: evidence for G protein involvement in signal transduction

GTP-binding proteins, known as G proteins, play important roles in transducing signals generated by the binding of specific ligands to cell surface receptors. We examined the possibility that a G protein is involved in transducing the concanavalin A (Con A) signal for IL-2 production using a T-cell hybridoma, FS6-14.13, and the bacterial toxins, pertussis toxin (PTX) and cholera toxin (CTX). These toxins are known to interact with and modify the functions of G proteins. High concentrations of PTX (25-50 micrograms/ml) stimulated IL-2 production in the FS-6 cells in the absence of Con A, presumably due to the ability of its B subunit to crosslink membrane proteins. However, in the presence of Con A, PTX inhibited IL-2 production at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 50 micrograms/ml. It is unlikely that this inhibition was due to a competitive interaction between Con A and PTX for binding sites at the cell surface, since high concentrations of PTX only minimally reduced Con A-FITC binding, evaluated by FACS analysis. In addition, concentrations of PTX which were not able to stimulate IL-2 production in the absence of Con A, retained their ability to inhibit IL-2 production in the presence of Con A. These data suggest the involvement of the PTX A subunit in this activity. In support of this possibility, PTX catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a Mr = 41,000-Da protein in FS-6 membranes. This strongly suggests that a PTX substrate is involved in transducing the Con A signal for IL-2 production in FS-6 cells. CTX also inhibited Con A-induced IL-2 production, an effect mimicked by the addition of dibutyryl-cAMP. This suggests that a CTX substrate linked to the adenylyl cyclase-cAMP pathway is probably not involved in transducing the stimulatory Con A signal, but may play a role in downregulating T-cell activation.

Acetylcholine regulation of nicotinic receptor channels through a putative G protein in chick myotubes

1. Single-channel currents induced by acetylcholine (ACh) were recorded from unstriated and non-innervated embryonic chick myotubes using the cell-attached patch-clamp technique. 2. ACh applied to the non-patched membrane decreased both channel opening probability and conductance. These ACh-induced effects occurred also when the non-patched membrane was exposed to nominally Ca2+-free extracellular medium, but were absent when it was treated with curare. 3. ACh-induced membrane current recorded under whole-cell patch-clamp conditions decreased in amplitude and time course when myotubes were intracellularly loaded with guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) GTP gamma S), but not with guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) or cyclic adenosine-5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP). Internal perfusion of GTP gamma S affected the ACh-induced openings in a similar manner to the non-patch ACh application. 4. These results suggest that ACh, in addition to its direct effect, acts indirectly on the nicotinic receptor channels by delivering an intracellular messenger and through the activation of a putative G protein.

G-protein distribution in canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma: comparison to rabbit skeletal muscle membranes and to brain and erythrocyte G-proteins

Herein we describe the distribution of G-proteins in canine cardiac sarcolemma (SL) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and in rabbit skeletal muscle SL, T-tubules, and junctional and longitudinal SR in comparison to G-proteins of human erythrocyte and bovine brain. G-proteins were unequivocally present in cardiac SL and SR and in skeletal T-tubules. Both cardiac fractions had two substrates specifically ADP-ribosylated by cholera toxin migrating on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel at about 42 and 45 kDa. In skeletal muscle membranes, cholera toxi-labeled substrates migrated at about 42 and 62 kDa. Three substrates for pertussis toxin were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate/urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in cardiac SL at about 38, 40, and 43 kDa. Only the two higher molecular weight substrates were detected in cardiac SR and in any of several skeletal muscle membrane fractions. Comparison of G-proteins in muscle membrane fractions with G-proteins isolated from bovine brain and human erythrocyte as well as their reaction with antisera to either a common sequence of alpha subunits of G-proteins (G alpha common antibody) or to a unique sequence of the alpha subunit of Go (G alpha o antibody) indicated that the two lower molecular weight bands in cardiac SL are Go or Go-like, and therefore the upper band is probably Gi. These data demonstrate that pertussis toxin substrates are more heterogeneous than previously described and have implications for studies attempting to attribute physiological functions to G-protein isolates.

Pertussis toxin distinguishes between muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase and stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in Flow 9000 cells

Pretreatment of human embryonic pituitary tumour cells (Flow 9000) with pertussis toxin significantly reduced carbachol-mediated inhibition of isoprenaline and prostaglandin E2 stimulation of cyclic AMP formation. This is in accord with an action on the inhibitory Gi-protein by pertussis toxin. In contrast, pertussis toxin-pretreatment had no effect on either muscarinic agonist or GTP[S] (a non-hydrolysable GTP analogue) stimulation of [3H]inositol phosphate production in intact and permeabilized [3H]inositol-prelabelled Flow 9000 cells, respectively. These results suggest that muscarinic receptors are linked to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and the stimulation of phosphoinositidase C via two different G-proteins in Flow 9000 cells.

Phospholipase C associated with particulate fractions of bovine brain

We previously reported that cytosolic fractions of bovine brain contain two immunologically distinct phosphoinositide-specific phospholipases C (PLCs), PLC-I and PLC-II. In this report the subcellular distribution of PLC-I and PLC-II in brain homogenates was measured using RIA. Significant differences were found in the distribution of the two forms of PLC in 100,000 X g supernatants (cytosolic fraction) of brain homogenized in hypotonic buffer and 2 M KCl extracts of washed pellets (particulate fraction). More than 90% of PLC-II was found in the cytosolic fractions, whereas the PLC-I-like molecules were equally distributed between cytosolic and particulate fractions. Purification of PLC enzyme to near homogeneity from the particulate fractions yielded two PLC enzymes, both of which could be recognized by anti-PLC-I antibodies but not by anti-PLC-II antibodies. Their Mr values, determined under denaturing conditions, were 150,000 and 140,000. The polypeptide of the enzyme of Mr 150,000 seems to be the same as that of the cytosolic enzyme PLC-I: their Mr values were identical, and their trypsin-digested peptides yielded a similar elution profile on a C18 reverse-phase column. We propose, therefore, that PLC-I and its truncated form are weakly associated with membranes.

Antibody-induced modulation of the CD3/T cell receptor complex causes T cell refractoriness by inhibiting the early metabolic steps involved in T cell activation

We investigated the mechanism involved in T cell unresponsiveness that follows the monoclonal antibody-induced surface modulation of the CD3-TCR complex. We determined whether modulation of CD3-TCR affected the early metabolic steps such as [Ca2+]i rise and InsP3 formation. A strong inhibition of the increase on [Ca2+]i mediated by either anti-TCR or anti-CD2 mAbs was detected. In contrast, surface modulation of CD2 molecules did not prevent the [Ca2+]i increase induced by anti-TCR mAb. Similarly, InsP3 increase was strongly reduced only after modulation of CD3-TCR complex (but not of CD2 molecules). Therefore, it appears that surface modulation of CD3-TCR complex causes T cell refractoriness by inhibiting the very early metabolic events that follow receptor-ligand interactions.

Molecular cloning of a new human G protein. Evidence for two Gi alpha-like protein families

The amino acid sequence of a novel G protein alpha subunit (Gx alpha) has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a human cDNA clone isolated from a differentiated HL-60 cDNA library. The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 354 amino acids (Mr 40,519) which is closely related to Gi alpha proteins. The amino acid sequence homology between Gx alpha and human myeloid Gi alpha is 86% with 15 nonconservative substitutions. Gx alpha also shares 86% homology with both rat brain and mouse macrophage Gi alpha but is more homologous (94%) to bovine brain Gi alpha with only 5 nonconservative amino acid differences. G proteins previously termed Gi alpha may fall into at least two distinct groups, with one including human myeloid Gi alpha, rat brain Gi alpha and mouse macrophage Gi alpha; and other Gx alpha and bovine brain Gi alpha. One group probably contains true Gi and the other a new class of G protein whose function remains to be determined.

Intracellular free calcium and inositol polyphosphate action as potential targets in the ageing process

The concentration of free Ca2+ in the cell cytoplasm is likely to be the most important parameter which should be considered in assessing the contribution of Ca2+ to regulation of neurotransmitter release, memory development and cell growth. Quantitative measurement of the free Ca2+ concentration and elucidation of the membrane transduction systems which control this parameter in aged neuronal cells may make a significant contribution to further define the role of Ca2+ in the ageing nervous system.

Evidence against a role of a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein in the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated positive inotropic effect in the heart

Pertussis toxin, which specifically inactivates guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (N-proteins) involved in the signal transduction in various receptor systems, did not influence the positive inotropic effect of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine in rat isolated left auricles. This indicates that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated positive inotropic effect does not involve a pertussis toxin-sensitive N-protein.

Sensitization of adrenocortical cell adenylate cyclase activity to ACTH by angiotensin II and activators of protein kinase C

Exposure of bovine adrenocortical cells to optimal concentrations of angiotensin II (A II) resulted in an almost 2-fold enhancement of cellular cAMP accumulation in response to steroidogenic concentrations of ACTH. This effect was dose-dependent and transient, with a maximum after 4-6 min of treatment with A II. Activators of protein kinase C such as 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol mimicked that effect in a sustained fashion. The ACTH-sensitized state of the adrenocortical adenylate cyclase system induced by TPA exhibited also an enhanced response to forskolin. On the other hand, previous treatment of the cells by pertussis toxin suppressed any further effect of TPA. It is suggested that, following A II exposure, the Gi inhibitory components of the adrenocortical cell adenylate cyclase system may be inactivated, leading to increased response to ACTH. This process may involve protein kinase C activation, subsequent to intracellular generation of lipidic messengers resulting from accelerated phosphoinositide breakdown induced by angiotensin.

A somatostatin receptor negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase in the human gastric cell line HGT-1

Somatostatin receptors are demonstrated in the human derived gastric cell line HGT-1. Using 125I-Tyr11-somatostatin as ligand, two classes of sites were characterized with apparent dissociation constants KD1 = 0.9 X 10(-10) M and KD2 = 4 X 10(-9) M and maximum binding capacities of N1 = 20 and N2 = 556 fmol per mg protein, respectively. These values are close to those previously reported in freshly isolated parietal cells (Reyl, F., Silve, C. and Lewin, M.J.M., Somatostatin receptors on isolated gastric cells. In S. Bonfils et al. (Eds.), Hormone Receptors in Digestion and Nutrition, Elsevier/North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1979, pp. 391-400). Somatostatin binding to the high affinity sites was partially inhibited by the non-hydrolysable guanyl nucleotide analog Gpp(NH)p and by pretreating the cells with islet activating protein (IAP). Furthermore, IAP counteracted the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on histamine stimulation of adenylate cyclase. These findings are interpreted in terms of somatostatin interaction with the 41,000 Da adenylate cyclase GTP-dependent inhibitory subunit, Ni.