Glucagon stimulates adenylate cyclase through GR2 glucagon receptors: a process which can be attenuated by glucagon stimulating inositol phospholipid metabolism through GR1 glucagon receptors

Allostery and Biased Agonism at Class B G Protein-Coupled Receptors

Class B G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) respond to paracrine or endocrine peptide hormones involved in control of bone homeostasis, glucose regulation, satiety, and gastro-intestinal function, as well as pain transmission. These receptors are targets for existing drugs that treat osteoporosis, hypercalcaemia, Paget's disease, type II diabetes, and obesity and are being actively pursued as targets for numerous other diseases. Exploitation of class B receptors has been limited by difficulties with small molecule drug discovery and development and an under appreciation of factors governing optimal therapeutic efficacy. Recently, there has been increasing awareness of novel attributes of GPCR function that offer new opportunity for drug development. These include the presence of allosteric binding sites on the receptor that can be exploited as drug binding pockets and the ability of individual drugs to enrich subpopulations of receptor conformations to selectively control signaling, a phenomenon termed biased agonism. In this review, current knowledge of biased signaling and small molecule allostery within class B GPCRs is discussed, highlighting areas that have progressed significantly over the past decade, in addition to those that remain largely unexplored with respect to these phenomena.

Effects of intracerebroventricular injections of des-His1 (Glu9) glucagon amide on the regulatory thermogenesis in muscovy ducklings

Recent investigations have demonstrated a modulatory action of glucagon on shivering via the central nervous system in ducklings. Such an action could be mediated by glucagon receptors that have been recently detected in several brain areas involved in the central control of the involuntary motricity in this avian species. The present study using des-His1 (Glu9) glucagon amide, was performed to investigate the central mechanisms of glucagon on shivering. This glucagon analog was found to be an antagonist of glucagon devoid of adenylate cyclase activity (GR2) by triggering the breakdown of inositol phosphate (GR1) in mammals hepatocytes. The intracerebroventricular administration of des-His1 (Glu9) glucagon amide or glucagon induced a marked inhibition of shivering in ducklings exposed to cold. It seems likely that GR1 receptors contribute to decreased shivering in ducklings exposed to cold. Central glucagon or des-His1 (Glu9) glucagon amide were devoid of thermogenic effect at thermoneutrality.

Signaling in unicellular eukaryotes

Aspects of intercellular and intracellular signaling systems in cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, chemosensory behavior, and programmed cell death in free-living unicellular eukaryotes have been reviewed. Comparisons have been made with both bacteria and metazoa. The central organisms were flagellates (Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Crithidia), slime molds (Dictyostelium), yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and ciliates (Paramecium, Euplotes, and Tetrahymena). There are two novel aspects in this review. First, cellular responses are viewed in an evolutionary perspective, rather than from the more prevailing one, in which the unicellular eukaryotes are seen by the mammalian organisms. Second, results obtained with cell cultures in minimal, chemically defined nutrient media at low cell densities where intercellular signaling is strongly reduced are discussed. These results shed light on control mechanisms and their cooperation inside the living cell. Intracellular systems have many common features in unicellular and multicellular organisms.

Expression and signal transduction of the glucagon receptor in betaTC3 cells

The expression and signal transduction of the glucagon receptor (GR) have been studied in betaTC3 cells. Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis indicated the expression of the GR gene in betaTC3 cells. One-5 nM glucagon stimulated a 2.5-fold increase in the IP(S) production. At glucagon concentrations higher than 5 nM, the production of IP(S) was blunted but not abolished. The accumulation of intracellular cAMP was observed following the stimulation with 5 nM of glucagon. A maximal 4.5-fold increase in cAMP was observed using 250 nM glucagon and higher. Comparative studies using a glucagon anatogonist, des-His1[Glu]9glucagon, showed no effect on intracellular cAMP and IPs in betaTC3 cells. Our data shows that the GR gene is expressed in betaTC3 cells. The GR in betaTC3 cells transmits its intracellular signal by causing the accumulation of both IP(S) and cAMP.

Antinociceptive effect of alpha-trinositol, a novel D-myo-inositol phosphate derivative, in the formalin test in rats

The antinociceptive effect of alpha-trinositol was examined in rats using the formalin test following systemic, spinal and local subcutaneous administration. Injection of formalin into the paw evoked two phases (phase 1: 0-9 min; phase 2: 10-60 min) of flinching behavior of the injected paw. Intrathecal administration of alpha-trinositol resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of the first (ED50: 8 microg) and second (ED50: 9 microg) phase of formalin-evoked behavioral response. Similarly, intraperitoneal delivery showed a dose-dependent reduction of the first (ED50: 83 mg/kg) and second (ED50: 56 mg/kg) phase of the formalin test. Subcutaneous injection of 100 microg, but not 10 mu g, alpha-trinositol into the rat paw together with the formalin solution, had no effect on the first phase, but reduced by 20% the second phase of behavior. These data show that alpha-trinositol produces a suppression of acute and prolonged nociceptive behaviors with a central mechanism of action, although some peripheral component may contribute to the reduction of the late phase following systemic administration.

Glucagon modulates superoxide generation in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

It has been found that leucocytes possess receptor sites for glucagon and glucagon was shown to increase during bacterial infection. To verify the interconnection between glucagon, leucocytes and bacterial infection we studied the effect of glucagon on superoxide generation and second messenger transduction in PMNs. We found that glucagon could not stimulate chemiluminescence by itself but it could enhance FMLP- but not PMA-induced chemiluminescence in a concentration (50-800 pg/ml) dependent manner. However, after incubation of PMNs with 10 microM of ST-638 (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) the enhancement effect converted into inhibitory effect. We also found that glucagon treatment of PMNs increased both IP3 and cyclic AMP levels as second messengers. ST-638 greatly attenuated the IP3 increment in the glucagon-treated FMLP-stimulated PMNs. From these results we can conclude that glucagon could enhance superoxide generation from FMLP-stimulated PMNs by elevating IP3. Inhibition of IP3 increment by tyrosine kinase blockade uncover the inhibitory effect of the increasing cyclic AMP on superoxide production.

Unitary model of cell activation, growth control, cancer and other diseases: 1. Activated oxygen species and arachidonic acid modulation of solute permeabilities, internal Ca, Na and AOS levels and DNA transcription and synthesis

A comprehensive model of cellular activation and proliferation is developed. The model has arachidonic acid (ARA) produced mainly from PLA2 on both sides of the membrane, and superoxide and other activated oxygen species (AOS) formed from O2 by electrons passing out through membrane NANPH and NADH oxidases, as the immediate stimulants of solute permeability. Both ARA and AOS interact with the various solute channel proteins especially their external thiols and disulfides, to increase influx of metabolic substrates, Na, Ca and O2. PLA2 and NADPH oxidase are turned on by growth factors at their receptors acting through tyrosine kinase phosphorylations of messenger proteins GP and ras p-21, stimulated proteases, and by Ca-calmodulin. The adenylate cyclase system has opposite, deactivating character as it increases efflux of Ca and desensitizes growth factor receptors by phosphorylation to shut down the increased solute permeability. Most cancer types are due to carcinogen binding to cell membrane channel and mitochondrial sites for increased solute influx with excessive AOS production inside the cell from mitochondria and other vesicles. High Ca, Na and AOS stimulate proliferation with extra high levels causing transformation to the autogenic, more embryonic-type cancer cell.

Regulation of Ki-ras expression in Reuber H35 cells

Glucagon at a low concentration has a stimulatory effect on Ki-ras expression, whereas, at high concentrations the hormone suppresses the level of the Ki-ras transcripts. Incubation of the hepatoma cells with 10 microM dibutyryl cyclic AMP results in suppression of Ki-ras expression but the phorbol ester, 21-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) causes an increase. Down regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged exposure of hepatoma cells to TPA causes a dramatic decrease in the glucagon-stimulated effect on Ki-ras expression. The presence of diacylglycerol for 2 h in the culture medium results in a significant increase in Ki-ras expression, while treatment of the cells with 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, leads to a dramatic reduction. The calcium ionophore, A23187 is able to stimulate Ki-ras expression, whereas, addition of verapamil or EGTA results in its suppression. The present findings suggest that the inductive effect of glucagon on Ki-ras expression at low concentrations is via the activation of protein kinase C which causes phosphorylation of some regulatory proteins that may eventually affect the level of Ki-ras mRNA. The suppressive effect of glucagon at higher concentrations is via an increase in cAMP through activation of adenylate cyclase.

Diabetes-induced alterations in the expression, functioning and phosphorylation state of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein Gi-2 in hepatocytes

Levels of the G-protein alpha-subunits alpha-Gi-2, alpha-Gi-3 and the 42 kDa, form of alpha-Gs were markedly decreased in hepatocyte membranes from streptozotocin-diabetic animals as compared with normals. In contrast, no detectable changes in alpha-Gi subunits were seen in liver plasma membranes of streptozotocin-diabetic animals, although levels of the 45 kDa form of Gs were increased. G-protein beta subunits in plasma membranes were unaffected by diabetes induction. Analysis of whole-liver RNA indicated that the induction of diabetes had little effect on transcript levels of Gi-3, caused an increase in Gs transcripts and decreased transcript number for Gi-2, albeit to a much lesser extent than was observed upon analysis of hepatocyte RNA. In both hepatocyte and liver plasma membranes, immunoblot analysis showed that levels of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase were increased upon induction of diabetes. Under basal conditions, alpha-Gi-2 from hepatocytes of diabetic animals was found to be both phosphorylated to a greater extent than alpha-Gi-2 isolated from hepatocytes of normal animals, and furthermore was resistant to any further phosphorylation upon challenge of hepatocytes with angiotensin, vasopressin or the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Treatment of isolated plasma membranes from normal, but not diabetic, animals with purified protein kinase C caused the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2. Treatment of membranes from diabetic animals with alkaline phosphatase caused the dephosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 and rendered it susceptible to subsequent phosphorylation with protein kinase C. Low concentrations of the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in both hepatocyte and liver plasma membranes from normal, but not diabetic, animals.

Protein kinase C and a viral K-RAS protein cooperatively enhance the response of adenylate cyclase to stimulators

The protein kinase C stimulator TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) enhanced the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to IPR (isoproterenol) and PGE1 (prostaglandin E1) in quiescent tsKSV-NRK cells at the nonpermissive 41 degrees C. Reactivating the thermolabile mitogenic/oncogenic K-ras protein in tsKSV-NRK cells by dropping the temperature to 36 degrees C also enhanced the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to IPR and PGE1. The enhancement was transient and peaked at 6 hours after the temperature shift. This enhanced responsiveness was specifically due to the reactivated viral K-ras protein rather than the temperature shift because the same temperature shift did not affect adenylate cyclase responsiveness in uninfected NRK cells, nor was it a result of the mitogenic stimulus since reacting the mitogenic pp60v-src protein in tsASV-NRK cells did not affect adenylate cyclase responsiveness. The increased responsiveness of adenylate cyclase at 6 hours after the temperature shift was not a result of elevated membrane-associated PKC activity. However, the reactivated viral K-ras protein strongly increased the stimulability of membrane-associated PKC by TPA and it further increased TPA's ability to enhance the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to IPR and PGE1. Thus, a viral K-ras protein and membrane-associated protein kinase C can cooperate to increase the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to agonists.

The effects of corticotrophin (ACTH1-24), cyclic AMP and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) on DNA replication and proliferation of primary rabbit adrenocortical cells in a synthetic medium

ACTH1-24 stimulated the parenchymal cells in cultures of rat adrenal cortex in serum-free synthetic HiWoBa 2000 medium to replicate DNA, enter mitosis and divide. But ACTH's principal mediator, cyclic AMP, was not a complete mitogen: the adenylate cyclase-stimulating cholera toxin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulated parenchymal cells to replicate DNA but not to enter mitosis. Thus, there must have been an additional mediator of the response to ACTH1-24 that enabled the parenchymal cells to enter mitosis. This additional mediator might have been protein kinase C because a protein kinase C activator and cyclic AMP elevator, TPA, stimulated the adrenocortical parenchymal cells to replicate DNA, enter mitosis and divide.

A viral K-RAS protein increases the stimulability of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin in NRK cells

Incubation at 41 degrees C stops the proliferation of tsK-NRK rat kidney cells in serum-deficient medium by inactivating the mitogenic/oncogenic thermolabile viral K-RAS protein that is produced in these cells. Dropping the temperature to 36 degrees C reactivates the viral K-RAS protein which stimulates the serum-starved quiescent cells to resume proliferating without added serum factors. Here it is shown that while the reactivated viral protein does not by itself significantly stimulate adenylate cyclase, it greatly increases the stimulability of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin. The data suggest that the viral K-RAS protein directly or indirectly affects adenylate cyclase by inactivating the Gi inhibitory component of the membrane associated enzyme.