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Effects of histone deacetylation and DNA methylation on the constitutive and TCDD-inducible expressions of the human CYP1 family in MCF-7 and HeLa cells.

Human CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 mRNAs were constitutively expressed in MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma) cells and were extensively (6-12-fold) induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In contrast, in HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma) cells, CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 were induced by TCDD by up to 2-3-fold but CYP1A2 was not detected even when the cells were treated with TCDD. In the present study, the involvement of histone deacetylation and DNA methylation in the cell-specific inducibility of the human CYP1 family was investigated. The treatment of MCF-7 cells with trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, and 5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine (AzaC), an inhibitor of DNA methylase, increased the constitutive expression level of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 by 2-3-fold. However, these treatments did not affect the levels of induction by TCDD. In HeLa cells, TSA and AzaC treatment increased the constitutive expression levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. The induction of CYP1A2 was enhanced to a detectable level by TSA and AzaC even when the cells were not exposed to TCDD. Interestingly, pretreatment with TSA and AzaC increased the levels of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 induced by TCDD in HeLa cells. Furthermore, it was observed that TSA and AzaC treatment increased the constitutive expression level of AhR by 2-fold only in HeLa cells. To compare the methylation status of the 5'-flanking region of the human CYP1A1 gene including five XREs and the promoter region in MCF-7 and HeLa cells, the bisulfite-modified genes were amplified and sequenced. Since there was no remarkable difference in the methylation status within a -1.4 kb region of the human CYP1A1 gene, the methylation status in the CpG sites that exist in other regions of the human CYP1A1 gene might be involved in the cell-specific induction.

5' Flanking Region↗

Age at diagnosis to discriminate those patients for whom constitutional DNA sequencing is appropriate in sporadic unilateral retinoblastoma.

RB1 gene constitutional mutations were studied using 'exon-by-exon' sequencing in a series of 17 patients with sporadic unilateral retinoblastomas. Constitutional de novo germline mutations were detected in 4 patients. The age at diagnosis of retinoblastoma in all these cases was lower (mean 10.8 months; range 5-18) than in cases in which constitutional mutations were not found (mean 31.7 months; range 19-42). These results strongly indicate that age at retinoblastoma diagnosis may be a major factor for discriminating patients for whom a search for RB1 gene constitutional mutations could be justifiable in sporadic unilateral retinoblastomas.

Adolescent↗

Rac is required for constitutive macropinocytosis by dendritic cells but does not control its downregulation.

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells use constitutive macropinocytosis to capture exogenous antigens for presentation on MHC molecules. Upon exposure to inflammatory stimuli or bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), macropinocytosis is dramatically downregulated as part of a developmental programme leading to dendritic cell maturation, migration and activation of T cells. It is not known, however, how macropinocytosis is sustained in dendritic cells in the absence of exogenous stimuli, nor how it is downregulated upon maturation. We have tested the possibility that one or more members of the Rho family of GTPases are involved in and control pinocytosis in dendritic cells. RESULTS: We established dendritic cell populations that show constitutive macropinocytosis that was downregulated by LPS treatment. Microinjection of immature cells with dominant-negative Rac (N17Rac1) or treatment with Clostridium difficile toxin B, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor wortmannin, or LPS all inhibited the formation of macropinosomes but, surprisingly, did not eliminate membrane ruffling. Microinjection of N17Cdc42 or the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase eliminated actin plaques/podosomes and actin cables, respectively, but had little effect on the formation of macropinosomes. Surprisingly, dendritic cells matured with LPS had equivalent or even somewhat higher levels of active Rac than immature cells. Moreover, microinjection of a constitutively active form of Rac (V12Rac1) into mature dendritic cells did not reactivate macropinocytosis. CONCLUSIONS: Rac has an important role in the constitutive formation of macropinosomes in dendritic cells but may be required downstream of membrane ruffling. Furthermore, regulation of Rac activity does not appear to be the control point in the physiological downregulation of dendritic cell pinocytosis. Instead, one or more downstream effectors may be modulated to allow Rac to continue to regulate other cellular functions.

Animals↗

Constitutive activation of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of p47phox by a membrane-targeted phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

BACKGROUND: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity is required for mitogenic signaling and for secretory responses. Cell activation is presumed to cause the translocation of PI 3-kinase from the cytosol to the plasma membrane where the kinase interacts with its substrate phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate. Thus, a membrane-targeted and therefore constitutively active kinase could help elucidate the role of PI 3-kinase in intracellular signaling. RESULTS: The membrane-targeting sequence of Ha-Ras, containing the consensus sequence for palmitoylation and farnesylation, was fused to the carboxyl terminus of p110 alpha, the catalytic subunit of PI 3-kinase. The lipid anchor directed PI 3-kinase to the membrane and led to constitutively elevated phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate levels in transfected cells. Expression of membrane-targeted PI 3-kinase resulted in the continuous activation of downstream effectors, such as protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt/RAC), which was recently shown to regulate glycogen synthase kinase-3. The constitutive activation of PKB was abolished by the specific PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin, and PKB activation was marginal in transfectants expressing non-membrane-targeted PI 3-kinase. Multiple phosphorylation of the cytosolic factor p47phox is required for the rapid assembly of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase upon stimulation with agonists of G-protein-coupled receptors. We show here that the expression of membrane-targeted PI 3-kinase in the monoblastic cell line GM-1 results in a wortmannin-sensitive continuous phosphorylation of p47phox. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting of PI 3-kinase to the site of its preferred substrate leads to constitutive stimulus-independent enhanced catalysis and is sufficient to regulate different signal transduction pathways.

3T3 Cells↗

Apparent loss-of-function mutant GPCRs revealed as constitutively desensitized receptors.

The DRY motif is a triplet amino acid sequence (aspartic acid, arginine, and tyrosine) that is highly conserved in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Recently, we have shown that a molecular determinant for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, the vasopressin receptor with a substitution at the DRY motif arginine (V2R R137H), is a constitutively desensitized receptor that is unable to couple to G proteins due to its constitutive association with beta-arrestin [Barak, L. S. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98, 93-98]. Additionally, the mutant receptors are localized in endocytic vesicles, identical to wild-type receptors stimulated with agonist. In this study, we asked whether the constitutively desensitized phenotype observed in the V2R R137H represents a general paradigm that may be extended to other GPCRs. We show that arginine substitutions in the DRY motifs of the alpha(1B) adrenergic receptor (alpha(1B)-AR) and angiotensin II type 1A receptor (AT(1A)R) result in receptors that are uncoupled from G proteins, associated with beta-arrestins, and found localized in endocytic vesicles rather than at the plasma membrane in the absence of agonists. The localization of the alpha(1B)-ARs and AT(1A)Rs with arginine substitutions can be restored to the plasma membrane by either using selective antagonists or preventing the endocytosis of the beta-arrestin-receptor complexes. These results indicate that the arginine residue of the DRY motif is essential for preserving the localization of the inactive receptor complex. Furthermore, constitutive desensitization may underlie some loss-of-function receptor phenotypes and represent an unappreciated mechanism of hormonal resistance.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

The local environment at the cytoplasmic end of TM6 of the mu opioid receptor differs from those of rhodopsin and monoamine receptors: introduction of an ionic lock between the cytoplasmic ends of helices 3 and 6 by a L6.30(275)E mutation inactivates the mu opioid receptor and reduces the constitutive activity of its T6.34(279)K mutant.

Activation of rhodopsin and monoamine G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been proposed to involve in part the disruption of a conserved E6.30-R3.50 ionic interaction between transmembrane segments (TMs) 3 and 6. However, this interaction does not occur in the opioid receptors, which have L275 at 6.30. On the basis of our findings that mutations of T6.34(279) to K and D produced, respectively, a constitutively active and an inactive form of the mu opioid receptor, we previously suggested that the functional role of the 6.30(275) residue could be assumed by T6.34(279), but the interplay between residues at positions 6.30 and 6.34 remained unresolved. In this study, we examined the effects of introducing an E in position 6.30(275) of the wild type (WT) and of the T6.34(279) mutants of the mu opioid receptor to compare the participation of the 6.30 locus in molecular events during activation in this receptor with its role in other GPCRs. The L6.30(275)E and the L6.30(275)E/T6.34(279)D mutants displayed no constitutive activity and could not be activated by the agonist DAMGO or morphine. The L6.30(275)E/T6.34(279)K mutant had some constitutive activity, but much less than the T6.34(279)K mutant, and could be activated by both agonists. The rank order of affinity for the agonist DAMGO is as follows: T6.34(279)K > WT congruent with L6.30(275)E/T6.34(279)K > L6.30(275)E congruent with T6.34(279)D > L6.30(275)E/T6.34(279)D; however, all constructs have a similar affinity for the antagonist [(3)H]diprenorphine. These data are interpreted in the context of interactions with the conserved R3.50(165) in TM3. When L6.30(275) is mutated to E, the favorable E6.30(275)-R3.50(165) interaction stabilizes an inactive state, as in rhodopsin, and hence reduces the activities of T6.34(279) mutants. Thus, the mu opioid receptor is shown to be different from rhodopsin and monoamine GPCRs, of which the WTs with native E6.30 can be activated, and the 6.34D or 6.34K mutants display enhanced constitutive activities. Our molecular modeling results suggest that some specific differences in local geometry at the cytoplasmic ends of TM5 and TM6 may account in part for the observed differences in the molecular mechanisms of receptor activation.

Animals↗

Synergism of constitutive activity in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor activation.

Recently a number of mutations have been found in vitro which maintain alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (ARs) in a partially activated form. We have previously identified two amino acid residue positions in the alpha 1b-adrenergic receptor (AR), Cys128 and Ala204, one in each of the third and fifth transmembrane segments, that constitutively activate the receptor when substituted for a phenylalanine or valine, respectively [Perez et al. (1996) Mol. Pharmacol. 49, 112-122; Hwa et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 7956-7964]. Another mutation analyzed previously, Ala293Glu, located in the third intracellular loop, also constitutively activates the receptor [Kjelsborg et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1430-1433]. All three mutations displayed similar manifestations of constitutive activity such as higher binding affinity and potency for agonists as well as higher basal signal transduction as predicted by the revised ternary complex model of receptor activation. We hypothesized that the individual mutations because of their critical location alter the conformation of the transmembrane helices such that mimicry occur that partially conforms to the activated state, R*. To explore whether these potential conformations are independent, we combined these three mutations in all possible permutations. The combined triple mutation displays 700-fold higher binding affinity for (-)-epinephrine and 20-fold higher basal IP3 release than the wild-type receptor. We also observed that each mutation contributed independently and synergistically to both receptor agonist binding and activation with the combined mutations basal activity exceeding that of the fully-stimulated wild-type receptor. There was also a direct correlation between epinephrine's binding affinity and the degree of constitutive activity. Because the mutations affect different transmembrane domains, these results are consistent with a mechanism that helical movement acts in a concerted fashion in agonist-induced activation, a synergism predicted if multiple helix movement is involved in receptor activation.

Animals↗

Constitutive activation of opsin by mutation of methionine 257 on transmembrane helix 6.

Rhodopsin is a member of the large family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR's). Constitutive activity of GPCR's, defined as ligand-independent signaling, has been recognized as an important feature of receptor function and has also been implicated in the molecular pathophysiology of a number of human diseases. Rhodopsin has evolved a unique mechanism to minimize receptor basal activity. The chromophore 11-cis-retinal, which acts as an inverse agonist in rhodopsin, is covalently bound to the receptor to ensure extremely low receptor signaling in the dark. In this study, we replaced Met257 in TM helix 6 of opsin with each of the remaining 19 amino acids. Only mutant opsin M257R failed to be expressed in COS-cell membranes. Each of the remaining 18 mutant opsins, with the exception of M257L, was significantly constitutively active. Two mutants in particular, M257Y and M257N, displayed very high levels of constitutive activity. In addition, the double-site mutants with substitutions of both Met257 and Glu113 in TM helix 3 tended to be much more constitutively active than the sums of the activities of the individual single-site mutants. Based on existing structural models of rhodopsin, we conclude that Met257 may form an important and specific interhelical interaction with a highly conserved NPXXY motif in TM helix 7, which stabilizes the inactive receptor conformation by preventing TM helix 6 movement in the absence of all-trans-retinal. Furthermore, we are able to show that the pharmacological properties of the large number (approximately 50) of mutant opsins that we have characterized to date support the two-state model of GPCR function. These results suggest that rhodopsin and other GPCR's share a common mechanism of receptor activation that involves specific changes in helix-helix interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence that constitutively active luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptors are rapidly internalized.

The luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) receptor, which belongs to the family of G-protein coupled receptors, plays an important role in gonadal steroidogenesis. Substitution of aspartic acid 556 of the LH/hCG receptor with glycine (D556G) creates a constitutively active receptor that activates adenylyl cyclase in the absence of hormone. To examine receptor internalization, human embryonic kidney cells (293 T) expressing wild type (WT) or D556G mutant receptors were incubated with [125I]hCG and subsequently analyzed for cell surface bound and internalized radioactivity. Comparison of the rate constants of internalization of the D556G mutant and WT receptors revealed that the rate of internalization of the D556G mutant was five times greater than that of the WT receptor. Although the D556G receptor internalizes [125I]hCG rapidly, a corresponding increase in [125I]hCG degradation was not seen. The internalization of another constitutively active LH/hCG receptor (aspartic acid 556 to tyrosine) was also greater than that of the WT receptor. Internalization of receptor bound [125I]hCG was inhibited by a hypertonic sucrose solution, confirming that the ligand enters the cell by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, the constitutively active D556G and D556Y LH/hCG receptors utilize the arrestin dependent internalization pathway. These results suggest that the active state conformation of the constitutively active receptor is conducive to rapid internalization.

Arrestins↗

Which behaviors constitute "having sex" among university students in the UK?

The aim of this study was to establish which behaviors were considered to constitute sexual relations and to compare a group of undergraduates in the UK with a group in the US. An opportunistic sample of 190 female and 124 male UK undergraduate university students was surveyed by questionnaire. The main outcome measure was percentage of responses to 11 different behaviors believed to constitute "having sex." The majority of respondents regarded having sex as involving penile-vaginal and penile-anal intercourse. One-third of respondents regarded oral-genital contact as having sex, around 17% regarded touching genitals, whilst 6% regarded oral or other touching of breasts and nipples as constituting having sex. There were significant gender- and age-related differences in responses. These findings broadly support the findings of an earlier US study. It is clear that British students hold divergent opinions about which behaviors do and do not constitute having sex. The age-related trends merit further exploration. Any studies of sex-related behaviors need to specify precisely which are encompassed by the terms used.

Adult↗

Constitutive activation of pp125fak in newly isolated human breast cancer cell lines.

Our laboratory has developed twelve human breast cancer cell lines from primary and metastatic sites. In this report we demonstrate that eight of eight breast cancer cell lines examined exhibit constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated and enzymatically active endogenous pp125fak when grown in monolayer. The activation status of pp125fak in breast cancer cells in monolayer is significantly elevated over that exhibited by normal mammary epithelial cells cultured under the same conditions. Constitutive activation of pp125fak is the only characteristic so far studied that all of these breast cancer cell lines have in common. In contrast to HBC cells, tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125fak in HME cells was low or absent in monolayer culture but was induced to high levels by culturing the cells in Matrigel. Thus tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of pp125fak is a regulated process in normal mammary epithelial cells, but is constitutive in breast cancer cells. Finally, analysis of the ability of normal human mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cell lines to grow under anchorage-independent conditions indicated that normal human mammary epithelial cells rapidly and uniformly lost viability when not substrate-attached, whereas all of the breast cancer cell lines survived for a 3-week culture period. Furthermore, a subset of the breast cancer cell lines grew to form large colonies under anchorage-independent conditions. Interestingly, pp125fak activation decreased dramatically in HBC cells cultured for two weeks in suspension, suggesting that activation of this kinase is not necessary for long-term growth under anchorage-independent conditions. These results suggest that constitutive activation of pp125fak results in preferential survival of human breast cancer cells under anchorage-independent conditions but that activation of pp125fak is not the sole mediator of anchorage-independent colony formation.

Breast↗

A tobacco cryptic constitutive promoter, tCUP, revealed by T-DNA tagging.

We have isolated a constitutive promoter sequence, tCUP, from tobacco by T-DNA tagging using a promoterless GUS-nos3' reporter gene construct. The T-DNA integration event produced a translational fusion with the GUS gene that is expressed widely in organs, at both the mRNA and enzyme activity levels. In tobacco transformed with a tCUP-GUS-nos3' gene, GUS specific activity in leaves was within a range of values similar to those of plants transformed with the widely used constitutive promoter gene fusion, CaMV 35S promoter-GUS-nos3'. Characteristics of the tCUP promoter sequence differ from those of other plant constitutive promoters; for instance, the tCUP sequence lacks a TATA box. Transcription initiates at a single site within the tCUP sequence which is similar to a transcriptional start site consensus sequence determined for plant genes. The tCUP promoter is cryptic as RNA accumulation at the transcriptional start site is not detected in untransformed tobacco. Thus, tCUP is the first example of a cryptic, constitutive promoter isolated from plants. The tCUP-GUS-nos3' gene fusion produced GUS activity in tissues of all species tested suggesting that tCUP may utilize fundamental transcription mechanisms found in plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chloroquine diverts ACTH from a regulated to a constitutive secretory pathway in AtT-20 cells.

AtT-20 cells, a mouse pituitary line, externalize a viral membrane glycoprotein and the precursor of ACTH constitutively, that is, rapidly without storage or regulation. They also have a regulated pathway in which they cleave the precursor to mature hormones, ACTH and beta-endorphin, store them in secretory granules and discharge them only in the presence of a secretagogue. An analogy exists for newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes which are either delivered to the lysosome or secreted from the cell. Targeting to the lysosomes may require a low pH step, since chloroquine causes the enzymes to be secreted from the cell. Here we show that chloroquine (200 microM) also appears to block the storage of newly synthesized ACTH in secretory granules and instead diverts it to the outside of the cell via the constitutive pathway. Chloroquine has no effect on the constitutive pathway and does not block the exocytosis of pre-packaged ACTH. Thus like lysosomal enzymes, peptide hormones are not sent to their correct destinations in the presence of chloroquine, but are diverted instead to a constitutive pathway that is chloroquine-insensitive.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Constitutive synthesis of interleukin-3 by leukaemia cell line WEHI-3B is due to retroviral insertion near the gene.

Interleukin-3 (multi-CSF) is a multilineage haematopoietic growth regulator that initiates the proliferation and differentiation of multipotential stem cells. Complementary DNA clones encoding interleukin-3 (IL-3) have recently been isolated and the structure of the IL-3 gene determined. IL-3 is produced by T lymphocytes or T lymphomas only after stimulation with antigens, mitogens or chemical activators such as phorbol esters. The myelomonocytic leukaemia line WEHI-3B also produces IL-3 but its production is constitutive and the WEHI-3B cells do not appear to produce significant levels of any of the other lymphokines normally secreted by T lymphocytes after stimulation. It has been proposed that the genetic change leading to the constitutive expression of IL-3 may have been a key event in the development of this leukaemia. We report here that the constitutive synthesis of IL-3 by the WEHI-3B cell line is due to the insertion of an endogenous retrovirus-like element close to the 5' end of the gene. The insertion, an intracisternal A particle (IAP) genome, is positioned with its 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) close to the promoter region of the IL-3 gene, resulting in constitutive synthesis of IL-3.

Animals↗

Evolutionary change from induced to constitutive expression of an indirect plant resistance.

Induced plant resistance traits are expressed in response to attack and occur throughout the plant kingdom. Despite their general occurrence, the evolution of such resistances has rarely been investigated. Here we report that extrafloral nectar, a usually inducible trait, is constitutively secreted by Central American Acacia species that are obligately inhabited by ants. Extrafloral nectar is secreted as an indirect resistance, attracting ants that defend plants against herbivores. Leaf damage induces extrafloral nectar secretion in several plant species; among these are various Acacia species and other Fabaceae investigated here. In contrast, Acacia species obligately inhabited by symbiotic ants nourish these ants by secreting extrafloral nectar constitutively at high rates that are not affected by leaf damage. The phylogeny of the genus Acacia and closely related genera indicate that the inducibility of extrafloral nectar is the plesiomorphic or 'original' state, whereas the constitutive extrafloral nectar flow is derived within Acacia. A constitutive resistance trait has evolved from an inducible one, obviously in response to particular functional demands.

Acacia↗

Constitutive activation of STAT3 and STAT5 is present in the majority of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and correlates with better prognosis.

Constitutively activated signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) factors, in particular STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5, have been demonstrated in a variety of human tumours and cancer cell lines. However, data on the expression of these STATs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are limited. In this study, the expression patterns of STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5 were immunohistochemically examined on the archival specimens from 61 patients with NPC. Staining results of each STATs were then correlated with the clinical parameters and prognosis of these patients. The results showed that constitutive activation of STAT3 and STAT5 was detected in the majority, 70.5 and 62.3%, respectively, of the 61 tumour specimens. Furthermore, coexpression of activated STAT3 and STAT5 was found in 54.1% of the specimens. In contrast, constitutive activated STAT1 could only be detected in 8 (13.1%) cases. Surprisingly, following radiotherapy, patients with constitutive STAT5 activation, or activation of both STAT3 and STAT5, had better disease-free survival and overall survival than those without activated STAT5. To our knowledge, this is the first report providing the overall expression patterns and prognostic significance of specific STATs in NPC.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Differential contribution of two serine residues of wild type and constitutively active beta2-adrenoceptors to the interaction with beta2-selective agonists.

1. We have studied the difference in receptor binding activity between partial and full beta2-adrenoceptor agonists and the abilities of the agonists to interact with Ser204 and Ser207 in the fifth transmembrane region of the beta2-adrenoceptor, amino acid residues that are important for activation of the beta2-adrenoceptor. 2. In the binding study with [125I]-iodocyanopindolol, the Ki values of (+/-)-salbutamol, (+/-)-salmeterol, TA-2005 and (-)-isoprenaline for the beta2-adrenoceptor expressed in COS-7 cell membranes were 3340, 21.0, 12.0 and 904 nM, respectively. The beta1/beta2 selectivity of these agonists was in the order of (+/-)-salmeterol (332 fold) > TA-2005 (52.8) > (+/-)-salbutamol (6.8) > (-)-isoprenaline (1.1), and the beta3-/beta2-adrenoceptor selectivity of these agonists was in the order of TA-2005 (150 fold) > (+/-)-salmeterol (88.6) > (+/-)-salbutamol (10.4) > (-)-isoprenaline (3.2). 3. The maximal activation of adenylyl cyclase by stimulation of the beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptors by TA-2005 was 32, 100 and 100% of that by (-)-isoprenaline, respectively, indicating that TA-2005 is a full agonist at the beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptors and a partial agonist at the beta1-adrenoceptor. (+/-)-Salbutamol and (+/-)-salmeterol were partial agonists at both beta1- (8% and 9% of (-)-isoprenaline) and beta2- (83% and 74% of (-)-isoprenaline) adrenoceptors. 4. The affinities of full agonists, TA-2005 and (-)-isoprenaline, were markedly decreased by substitution of Ala for Ser204 (S204A) of the beta2-adrenoceptor, whereas this substitution slightly reduced the affinities of partial agonists, (+/-)-salbutamol and (+/-)-salmeterol. Although the affinities of full agonists for the S207A-beta2-adrenoceptor were decreased, those of partial agonists for the S207A-beta2-adrenoceptor were essentially the same as for the wild type receptor. 5. The constitutively active mutant (L266S, L272A) of the beta2-adrenoceptor had an increased affinity for all four agonists. The affinities of full agonists were decreased by substitution of Ser204 of the constitutively active mutant, whereas the degree of decrease was smaller than that caused by the substitution of the wild type receptor. Although the affinities of (+/-)-salbutamol and (+/-)-salmeterol for the S207A-beta2-adrenoceptor were essentially the same as those for the wild type beta2-adrenoceptor, the affinities of (+/-)-salbutamol and (+/-)-salmeterol for the constitutively active beta2-adrenoceptor were decreased by substitution of Ser207. 6. These results suggest that Ser204 and Ser207 of the wild type and constitutively active beta2-adrenoceptors differentially interacted with beta2-selective agonists.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Pathological role of a constitutively active population of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors in arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. The role of a constitutively active population of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors was analysed in arteries obtained from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and controls (WKY) divided into three groups: young prehypertensive, adult hypertensive, and adult animals chronically treated with captopril (50 mg kg(-1) per day orally) in order to prevent the hypertensive state. 2. In adult SHR, a significant increase in BMY 7378 potency (not in prazosin potency) was observed in aorta, mesenteric artery, and the first and second branches of the small mesenteric arteries with respect to WKY rats. This difference was not observed in iliac and tail arteries, which suggests an increased functional role of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors only in some vessels of SHR. 3. The increase in the resting tone (IRT) observed in absence of agonist, inhibited by BMY 7378, that represents the constitutively active population of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors, was also significantly greater in aorta and mesenteric artery from adult SHR. 4. In young and captopril treated adult animals, no differences between strains with respect to BMY 7378 potency, or IRT were observed. 5. The increase in the functional role of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors and their constitutive activity observed in hypertension is prevented by captopril treatment. The pathological consequence of this change is the slower rate of recovery of the basal tone after removal of an adrenergic stimulus, observed in vessels from hypertensive animals that had shown an increase in the functionality of constitutively active alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors. This change was not observed in prehypertensive or captopril treated animals.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗