Regulation of guanylate cyclase by atrial natriuretic factor and the role of cyclic GMP in vasodilation.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
F Murad
Publications and source records attributed to F Murad.
Effects of glyceryl trinitrate on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation and cyclic GMP levels in rat aorta and human coronary artery.
The effects of glyceryl trinitrate-induced desensitization on relaxations and/or elevated cyclic GMP levels due to the nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators (glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside), the endothelium-dependent vasodilators (acetylcholine and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187), and the atrial peptides (atriopeptin II) were investigated in the rat thoracic aorta and human coronary artery. Prior exposure of rat thoracic aorta to glyceryl trinitrate decreased relaxations to glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine, whereas relaxations to atriopeptin II and 8-bromo cyclic GMP remained unaltered. In human coronary artery, glyceryl trinitrate pretreatment inhibited relaxations to glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside, and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Relaxation to glyceryl trinitrate was inhibited more than that to sodium nitroprusside in both tissues. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation in rat thoracic aorta was slightly inhibited, whereas relaxation to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in human coronary artery was markedly depressed. Pretreatment with glyceryl trinitrate decreased the elevated cyclic GMP levels due to glyceryl trinitrate and acetylcholine in rat thoracic aorta and to glyceryl trinitrate and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in human coronary artery. Removal of the endothelium abolished the increased cyclic GMP levels and relaxation due to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and decreased basal cyclic GMP levels in the human coronary artery. In contrast, atriopeptin II-induced increased cyclic GMP levels were unaltered by glyceryl trinitrate pretreatment in rat thoracic aorta. The present results suggest that: glyceryl trinitrate-induced desensitization inhibits relaxation to the nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators and endothelium-dependent vasodilators in both the rat thoracic aorta and human coronary artery: the inhibition of relaxation is associated with decreased formation of cyclic GMP;(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Acetylcholine↗
Effect of in vivo nitroglycerin therapy on endothelium-dependent and independent vascular relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation in rat aorta.
Vascular relaxation by the organic (nitroglycerin) and inorganic (sodium nitroprusside) nitrovasodilators and the endothelium-dependent vasodilators (acetylcholine and histamine) has been associated with cyclic GMP accumulation. Tolerance to vasodilation by nitroglycerin commonly occurs following prolonged exposure to nitroglycerin. This study investigates the effects of in vivo nitroglycerin therapy on vascular relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation induced by the nitrovasodilators and the endothelium-dependent vasodilators. Rats were injected with nitroglycerin or the propylene glycol diluent control for 4-7 days. Thoracic aortas from the nitroglycerin-treated rats were 750-fold less sensitive to the relaxant effects of nitroglycerin. In contrast, these aortas were only threefold less sensitive to the relaxant effects of sodium nitroprusside, while the maximum relaxation to acetylcholine and histamine was depressed by 50 and 41%, respectively. Desensitization to relaxation was associated with reduced cyclic GMP elevations to all the vasodilators. Relaxation to 8-bromo cyclic GMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or diltiazem was unaffected by nitroglycerin therapy. Tolerance was also associated with an increased sensitivity to the contractile effects of low concentrations of norepinephrine. This increased sensitivity to norepinephrine was associated with a decrease in cyclic GMP levels. The present results suggest that: (1) desensitization to nitroglycerin, sodium nitroprusside, acetylcholine, and histamine by nitroglycerin therapy may be at the level of cyclic GMP accumulation; (2) cyclic GMP is the common mediator of relaxation induced by the nitro- and endothelium-dependent vasodilators; (3) the mechanisms involved in the activation of guanylate cyclase and relaxation by sodium nitroprusside, acetylcholine, and histamine are probably different than those of nitroglycerin; and (4) cyclic GMP may be acting as a physiological negative feedback signal in agonist-induced contraction.
Acetylcholine↗
Atrial natriuretic factors stimulate accumulation and efflux of cyclic GMP in C6-2B rat glioma and PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell cultures.
Atrial natriuretic factors (ANFs) were tested for their effects on cyclic GMP production in two neurally derived cell lines, the C6-2B rat glioma cells and the PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. These cell lines were selected because both are known to possess high amounts of the particulate form of guanylate cyclase, a proposed target of ANF in peripheral organs. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that ANF selectively activates particulate, but not soluble, guanylate cyclase in homogenates of a variety of rat tissues and that one class of ANF receptor appears to be the same glycoprotein as particulate guanylate cyclase. In the present study we found that four analogs of ANF stimulate cyclic GMP accumulation in both C6-2B and PC12 cells with the rank order of potency being atriopeptin III = atriopeptin II greater than human atrial natriuretic polypeptide greater than atriopeptin I. Atriopeptin II (100 nM) for 20 min elevated cyclic GMP content in C6-2B cells fourfold and in PC12 cells 12-fold. Atriopeptin II (100 nM) for 20 min also stimulated the efflux of cyclic GMP from both C6-2B cells (47-fold) and PC12 cells (12-fold). Accumulation of cyclic GMP in both cells and media was enhanced by preincubation with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (250 microM). After 20 min of exposure to atriopeptin II, cyclic GMP amounts in the media were equal to or greater than the amounts in the cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
Cyclic GMP synthesis and function.
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Animals↗
Regulation and role of guanylate cyclase-cyclic GMP in vascular relaxation.
Three classes of vasodilators mediate their effects through the activation of guanylate cyclase and the increased synthesis of cyclic GMP. Nitrovasodilators such as nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, hydroxylamine, azide, etc. result in the generation of the nitric oxide free radical that activates the cytosolic (soluble) isoenzyme form of guanylate cyclase. These agents have been useful in increasing cyclic GMP synthesis in numerous model systems and these effects are independent of extracellular calcium. The increased synthesis of cyclic GMP and the activation of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase result in the altered phosphorylation of many smooth muscle proteins including the dephosphorylation of myosin light chain, which is associated with vascular and tracheal smooth muscle relaxation. These latter effects may result from cyclic GMP decreasing cytosolic free calcium concentrations and the activity of myosin light chain kinase. Another class of vasodilators, designated endothelium-dependent vasodilators, includes a long list of agents such acetylcholine, histamine, A23187, ATP, thrombin, etc. that relax vessels only when the endothelium is intact. These agents result in the increased endothelial synthesis and/or release of a factor(s) designated endothelial-derived relaxant factor (EDRF), the structure of which is unknown. This labile factor also activates the soluble isoenzyme form of guanylate cyclase in the smooth muscle resulting in cyclic GMP accumulation and the same cascade of events as above. There is evidence that even under basal, non-stimulated conditions there is EDRF release that influences vascular tone due to the increased synthesis of cyclic GMP. A third class of vasodilators, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) or atriopeptins, includes a family of peptides that are produced in cardiac atria and other tissues and influence cardiovascular volume and dynamics by causing natriuresis, diuresis, vasodilation and decreased renin, aldosterone and vasopressin secretion. These peptide hormones also increase cyclic GMP synthesis in vascular, renal, adrenal and other tissues. These effects are mediated through specific ANF receptors that couple to and activate the membrane (particulate) isoenzyme form of guanylate cyclase and increase cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity. There are two ANF receptor subtypes in most cells and tissues that are 130,000 and 66,000 daltons. The ANF receptor of about 130,000 daltons, designated receptor ANF-R1 copurifies with particulate guanylate cyclase through numerous procedures and may be part of the membrane-associated guanylate cyclase complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Animals↗
Atrial natriuretic factor receptor heterogeneity and stimulation of particulate guanylate cyclase and cyclic GMP accumulation.
Since the seminal discovery by deBold that atria contain factors that produce diuresis and natriuresis, the biologic effects attributed to ANF have expanded to the point where the name "atrial natriuretic factor" seems inappropriate. In addition to promoting diuresis and natriuresis, ANF has been shown to produce vascular smooth muscle relaxation and to inhibit the secretion of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex, renin from the juxtaglomerlular apparatus, vasopressin from the hypothalamus, and salt and water intake after central administration. ANF also promotes intestinal secretion and stimulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells. However, the cellular mechanisms whereby ANF elicits these diverse effects are poorly understood. ANF has been reported to inhibit adenylate cyclase in a number of tissues. However, the significance of ANF inhibition of adenylate cyclase is unknown. This effect cannot be associated with vascular relaxation since decreased cyclic AMP would be expected to promote contraction rather than relaxation. ANF inhibition of adenylate cyclase may mediate the inhibitory effects of ANF on hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary gland. The inhibition of adenylate cyclase could also explain the inhibitory effect of ANF on aldosterone synthesis, since agents that stimulate cyclic AMP increase aldosterone synthesis. However, ANF also inhibits the dibutyryl-cyclic AMP-induced stimulation of aldosterone secretion, suggesting that an inhibition of adenylate cyclase cannot account fully for the inhibitory effects of ANF on aldosterone synthesis. There is no evidence to support a role for cyclic AMP in the diuretic and natriuretic action of ANF. An inhibition of membrane phosphoinositide breakdown by ANF and the subsequent formation of IP3 and intracellular calcium release could explain the inhibitory effects of ANF on vascular contraction and steroid synthesis. However, there is very little evidence to suggest that ANF regulates phosphoinositide metabolism, while some recent studies suggest that ANF may regulate calcium fluxes in vascular tissue. Clearly, cyclic GMP has emerged as the most likely intracellular mediator of ANF effects. ANF increases cyclic GMP in a wide range of tissues by selectively activating particulate guanylate cyclase. However, it is not known which effects of ANF are mediated by cyclic GMP. The discovery that ANF increases cyclic GMP in vascular tissue clearly suggests that cyclic GMP mediates the vascular relaxation effect of ANF, since other classes of vasodilators also increase cyclic GMP. There is preliminary evidence that cyclic GMP may inhibit renin secretion and sodium transport in kidney cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Adenylyl Cyclases↗
Desensitization to nitroglycerin in vascular smooth muscle from rat and human.
Guanylate cyclase in high speed supernatant fractions obtained from rat thoracic aorta or human coronary arteries pretreated with nitroglycerin exhibited a marked desensitization to activation by nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, and nitric oxide. However, activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by arachidonic acid was unaffected by pretreatment of vessels with nitroglycerin. Furthermore, activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by protoporphyrin IX was increased 4-fold when vessels were pretreated with nitroglycerin. Soluble guanylate cyclase partially purified from nitroglycerin-pretreated rat thoracic aorta by immunoprecipitation with a specific monoclonal antibody exhibited persistent desensitization to nitrate-induced activation. These data suggest that nitroglycerin-induced desensitization of guanylate cyclase to activation by nitrovasodilators represents a stable alteration of the enzyme. In contrast, activation by protoporphyrin IX of guanylate cyclase immunoprecipitated from nitroglycerin-pretreated or control vessels was not significantly different. This suggests that the mechanism of protoporphyrin activation of guanylate cyclase is different than the mechanism with nitrovasodilators. Activation of particulate guanylate cyclase by Lubrol-PX, hemin, or atrial natriuretic factor was not significantly different with enzyme prepared from nitroglycerin-pretreated or control vessels from rat and human. Thus, nitroglycerin-induced desensitization of rat thoracic aorta or human coronary artery results in a relatively stable molecular alteration of soluble guanylate cyclase such that the enzyme is specifically less sensitive to activation by nitrovasodilators whereas the effects of other activators of the enzyme are either unchanged or increased.
Animals↗
Identification of multiple binding sites for atrial natriuretic factor by affinity cross-linking in cultured endothelial cells.
In a previous study, we found that atriopeptin I was much weaker (EC50 greater than 500 nM) than atrial natriuretic factor (ANF-(8-33)) (EC50 = 0.3 nM) at increasing cyclic GMP in cultured endothelial cells. In this study, we used the cross-linking reagent disuccinimidyl suberate to investigate whether the differences in activity were due to the presence of multiple ANF receptors. When 98% of the ANF-binding sites on endothelial cells were occupied by tyrosine-atriopeptin I after cross-linking, there was no difference in the concentration-response curve to ANF-(8-33) with regard to cyclic GMP accumulation. In contrast, when 96% of the binding sites were occupied by cross-linked ANF-(8-33), a 60% decrease in the maximal cyclic GMP response was observed after the readdition of ANF-(8-33). These results suggest that ANF-(8-33) is binding to an additional site that atriopeptin I does not effectively bind. Affinity cross-linking of 125I-ANF to intact endothelial cells resulted in the labeling of two sites of Mr approximately 66,000 and approximately 130,000. Approximately 94% of the 125I-ANF binding sites had an Mr approximately 66,000. Labeling of this site was inhibited by both tyrosine-atriopeptin I (KI = 0.9 nM) and ANF-(8-33) (KI = 0.09 nM). Although 0.1 microM tyrosine-atriopeptin (AP I) inhibited labeling of the 66,000-dalton site to nearly the same degree as ANF-(8-33), it produced only a 4-fold increase in cyclic GMP compared to a 400-fold increase with ANF-(8-33). These results suggest that the 66,000-dalton site is not coupled to guanylate cyclase and cyclic GMP formation. Tyrosine-AP I (KI greater than 10 nM) was much weaker at competing for the 130,000-dalton site than ANF-(8-33) (KI = 0.075 nM). Because the EC50 for cyclic GMP stimulation for tyrosine-AP I (greater than 100 nM) and ANF-(8-33) (0.4 nM) is closer to the KI values for the 130,000-dalton protein, this site probably mediates the marked stimulation of cyclic GMP. Our results demonstrate that endothelial cells contain two binding sites for ANF-(8-33) and suggest that only the less abundant site (Mr approximately 130,000) is the receptor coupled to the activation of guanylate cyclase.
Animals↗
Soluble guanylate cyclase from rat lung exists as a heterodimer.
The soluble form of guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2) from rat lung has been purified to homogeneity by a one-step immunoaffinity chromatographic procedure. The purified soluble guanylate cyclase has specific activities of 432 and 49.1 nmol of cyclic GMP formed per min/mg protein with manganese and magnesium ions as a cofactor, respectively. This represents a purification of approximately 2,000-fold with a 50% recovery. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 150,000 and a Stokes radius of 4.8 nm as determined on Spherogel TSK-G3000SW gel permeation chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results in two protein-staining bands with molecular weights of 82,000 and 70,000. The purified soluble guanylate cyclase was also subjected to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, ion exchange chromatography, and GTP-agarose affinity chromatography. These additional purification procedures confirmed the presence of a single protein peak coincident with enzyme activity. The two subunits separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were shown to have different primary structures by immunoblotting with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies prepared against purified soluble guanylate cyclase and by peptide mapping with papain or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease treatment. These data demonstrate that soluble guanylate cyclase purified from rat lung is a heterodimer composed of 82,000- and 70,000-dalton subunits with different primary structures.
Animals↗
Effects of atriopeptins on relaxation and cyclic GMP levels in human coronary artery in vitro.
The effects of atriopeptins on relaxation and cyclic GMP levels were examined in human coronary artery. alpha-Atrial natriuretic polypeptide and atriopeptins I, II and III all induced relaxation. Relaxations to atriopeptin I were of a smaller magnitude. The atriopeptins elevated cyclic GMP levels from 2- to 3-fold. These studies suggest that atriopeptins released from the heart may dilate the vasculature of this organ and increase coronary blood flow through the formation of cyclic GMP.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
Co-purification of an atrial natriuretic factor receptor and particulate guanylate cyclase from rat lung.
An atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptor from rat lung was solubilized with Lubrol-PX and purified by sequential chromatographic steps on GTP-agarose, DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-agarose, and wheat germ agglutinin-agarose. The ANF receptor was enriched 19,000-fold. The purified receptor has a binding profile and properties that correspond to the affinity and specificity found in membranes and crude detergent extracts. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified preparation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dithiothreitol showed the presence of one major protein band with a molecular mass of 120,000 daltons. When purified preparations were incubated with 125I-ANF, then cross-linked with disuccinimidyl suberate, the 120,000-dalton protein was specifically radiolabeled. This high affinity binding site for ANF co-purified with particulate guanylate cyclase. Particulate guanylate cyclase was purified to a specific activity of 19 mumol cyclic GMP produced/min/mg of protein utilizing Mn-GTP as substrate. This represented a 15,000-fold purification compared to the initial lung membrane preparation with Lubrol-PX. Gel permeation high performance liquid chromatography and glycerol density gradient sedimentation studies of the purified preparation also resulted in co-migration of specific ANF binding and guanylate cyclase activities. The co-purification of these activities suggests that both ANF binding and guanylate cyclase activities reside in the same macromolecular complex. Presumably ANF binding occurs at the external membrane surface and cyclic GMP synthesis at the internal membrane surface of this transmembrane glycoprotein.
Animals↗
Characterization of the receptor for heat-stable enterotoxin from Escherichia coli in rat intestine.
The receptor for the heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) from Escherichia coli was solubilized with Lubrol-PX from rat intestinal brush-border membranes and characterized. The binding kinetics and analog specificity of the solubilized receptor were virtually identical to those obtained with the membrane-bound receptor. Furthermore, the regulation of the receptor's affinity by cations was also maintained after solubilization, indicating a conservation of the toxin-binding site after removal of the receptor from its membrane environment. Gel filtration and sucrose density gradient sedimentation studies gave a Stokes radius of 5.5 nm and a sedimentation coefficient of 7.0 S for the solubilized receptor. The isoelectric point of the receptor was determined as 5.5 using Sephadex isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. In all of these separation techniques, the ST receptor showed a single peak of activity that was clearly separated from that of guanylate cyclase. When 125I-ST was cross-linked to brush-border membranes with disuccinimidyl suberate, the affinity-labeled receptor solubilized with 0.1% Lubrol-PX eluted at a similar position as the native receptor on gel filtration chromatography. Analysis of the affinity-labeled receptor by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of reducing agent and by autoradiography revealed the presence of three specifically labeled polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 80,000, 68,000, and 60,000. These results suggest that the ST receptor is solubilized by Lubrol-PX in an active form with preservation of its regulation by cations. Also, the ST receptor is separable from particulate guanylate cyclase indicating that the receptor is coupled to the activation of guanylate cyclase by an as yet undefined mechanism. Three subunit peptides may constitute a binding region of the receptor.
Animals↗
Comparison of binding and cyclic GMP accumulation by atrial natriuretic peptides in endothelial cells.
Rat 125I-labeled atrial natriuretic factor (ANF (8-33)) was used to identify ANF receptors on cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. Specific binding of 125I-ANF at 37 degrees C to confluent endothelial cells was saturable and of high affinity. Scatchard analysis of the equilibrium binding data indicated that endothelial cells contain a single class of binding sites with a Kd of 0.1 +/- 0.01 nM. This particular clone of endothelial cells had 16000 +/- 1300 receptors per cell. The order of potency for competing with 125I-ANF binding was human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) = atrial natriuretic factor (ANF (8-33)) greater than atriopeptin II greater than atriopeptin III greater than atriopeptin. The weakest competitor, atriopeptin I, had a K1 of 0.45 nM, which was only 6-fold higher than the K1 for hANP and ANF (8-33). ANF (8-33) and hANP in the presence of 0.5 mM isobutylmethyl-xanthine produced a 15-20-fold increase in cyclic GMP content at 10 pM and a maximal 500-fold elevation of cyclic GMP at 10 nM. The concentrations required to elicit a half-maximal increase in cyclic GMP for hANP, ANF (8-33), atriopeptin I, atriopeptin II and atriopeptin III were 0.30, 0.35, greater than 500, 4.0 and 5.0 nM, respectively. Although atriopeptin I acted as a partial agonist, it was unable to antagonize the effect of ANF (8-33) on cyclic GMP formation. These findings suggest that endothelial cells have multiple and functionally distinct ANF-binding sites.
Animals↗
Effects of atriopeptins on relaxation and cyclic GMP levels in rat and rabbit aortas.
The effects of atriopeptins I and II on relaxation and cyclic GMP levels were studied on rat and rabbit aortas. Atriopeptin I was 2- and 100-fold less potent than atriopeptin II in causing relaxation of rat and rabbit aortas, respectively. The atriopeptin-elevated cyclic GMP levels generally correlated with the amount of relaxation. These results demonstrate that the vasodilator profile and, presumably, the receptor for atrial natriuretic factor, varies among different blood vessels and species.
Animals↗
Forskolin, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and cyclic AMP analogs inhibit proliferation of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells.
The role of cyclic AMP on endothelial cell proliferation was investigated, since these cells can be exposed to high concentrations of physiological and pharmacological agents that alter cyclic AMP metabolism. Cloned bovine aortic endothelial cells were plated at 25,000 cells/35mm dish and grown for 5 days in the presence of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, forskolin, or cyclic AMP analogs. The PDE inhibitors dipyridamole, ZK 62 711, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and theophylline inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner. Dipyridamole produced a 30% and a 50% inhibition at 5 microM and 12.5 microM, while higher concentrations were cytotoxic. At its therapeutic plasma concentration range (50-100 microM) theophylline inhibited cell proliferation by 15-25%, while IBMX and the highly specific cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, ZK 62 711 inhibited growth by 60-80% and 40-50%, respectively. Forskolin (5 microM) increased cyclic AMP levels and cyclic AMP-kinase activity ratios by 2.5-fold and 2-fold. In the absence of PDE inhibitors forskolin produced a 20% growth inhibition at 0.5 microM and a 60% inhibition at 10 microM. The forskolin dose-response curve was not altered by theophylline, but was shifted to the left by approximately 10-fold with dipyridamole and ZK 62 711 and 5-fold with IBMX. Forskolin (5 microM), by itself produced a 1.8-fold increase in cyclic AMP. In the presence of 5 microM theophylline, dipyridamole, IBMX, and ZK 62 711, cyclic AMP was increased by forskolin 2.0, 2.6, 3.5, and 6.6-fold, respectively. 8-Bromo cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP produced a 55% and 60% growth inhibition at 100 microM. The cyclic GMP analogs were less effective inhibitors of growth (15-30%). Our results demonstrate that cyclic AMP analogs and pharmacological agents that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels inhibit cell growth and suggest that cyclic AMP may be an important endogenous regulator of endothelial cell proliferation.
Animals↗
The involvement of catalytic site thiol groups in the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside.
Sodium nitroprusside, a potent activator of soluble guanylate cyclase, potentiated mixed disulfide formation between cystine, a potent inhibitor of the cyclase, and enzyme purified from rat lung. Incubation of soluble guanylate cyclase with nitroprusside and [35S]cystine resulted in a twofold increase in protein-bound radioactivity compared to incubations in the absence of nitroprusside. Purified enzyme preincubated with nitroprusside and then gel filtered (activated enzyme) was activated 10- to 20-fold compared to guanylate cyclase preincubated in the absence of nitroprusside and similarly processed (nonactivated enzyme). This activation was completely reversed by subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C (activation-reversed enzyme). Incorporation of [35S]cystine into guanylate cyclase was increased twofold with activated enzyme, while no difference was observed with activation-reversed enzyme, compared to nonactivated enzyme. Cystine decreased the activity of nonactivated and activation-reversed enzyme about 40% while it completely inhibited activated guanylate cyclase. Mg+2- or Mn+2-GTP inhibited the incorporation of [35S]cystine into nonactivated or activated guanylate cyclase. Also, diamide, a potent thiol oxidant that converts juxtaposed sulfhydryls to disulfides, completely blocked incorporation of [35S]cystine into nonactivated or activated guanylate cyclase. These data indicate that activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitroprusside results in an increased availability of protein sulfhydryl groups for mixed disulfide formation with cystine. Protection against mixed disulfide formation with diamide or substrate suggests that these groups exist as two or more juxtaposed sulfhydryl groups at the active site or a site on the enzyme that regulates catalytic activity. Differential inhibition by mixed disulfide formation of nonactivated and activated enzyme suggests a mechanism for amplification of the on-off signal for soluble guanylate cyclase within cells.
Animals↗
Myosin light chain phosphorylation in contraction and relaxation of intact rat thoracic aorta.
Myosin light chain phosphorylation in intact rat thoracic aorta was elevated during contraction induced by 0.3 microM norepinephrine, but was not maintained. Addition of 0.5 microM sodium nitroprusside to norepinephrine treated rat aorta strips led to elevation of cyclic GMP levels, relaxation of tension, and dephosphorylation of myosin light chain. Depletion of extracellular calcium or addition of calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and W7 diminished the contraction and phosphorylation of myosin light chain by norepinephrine, but did not prevent dephosphorylation by sodium nitroprusside or the elevated levels of cyclic GMP. Isoproterenol, 8-bromo cyclic GMP, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP all caused dephosphorylation of myosin light chain and induced relaxation during the period of development of tone. Eight other proteins had increased phosphorylation following norepinephrine treatment and one protein had less phosphorylation. The different proteins phosphorylated by norepinephrine showed varying degrees of sensitivity to Ca2+-free solution and to the calmodulin antagonists. The pattern of protein phosphorylation caused by sodium nitroprusside was best mimicked by 8-bromo cyclic GMP, rather than isoproterenol and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. These proteins were, generally, unaffected by Ca2+-free solution and the calmodulin antagonists. The present observations support the hypothesis that vasodilators inhibit tone development through myosin light chain dephosphorylation. Furthermore, the nitrovasodilators act through elevation of cyclic GMP and phosphorylation of proteins by cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase.
Animals↗