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Fluorescent indicators of cAMP and Epac activation reveal differential dynamics of cAMP signaling within discrete subcellular compartments.

Second messenger cAMP regulates many cellular functions through its effectors, such as cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Epac (exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP). Spatial and temporal control of cAMP signaling is crucial to differential regulation of cellular targets involved in various signaling cascades. To investigate the compartmentalized cAMP signaling, we constructed fluorescent indicators that report intracellular cAMP dynamics and Epac activation by sandwiching the full-length Epac1 between cyan and yellow mutants of GFP. Elevations of cAMP decreased FRET and increased the ratio of cyan-to-yellow emissions by 10-30% in living mammalian cells. This response can be reversed by removing cAMP-elevating agents and abolished by mutating the critical residue responsible for cAMP binding. Targeting of the reporter to the plasma membrane, where cAMP is produced in response to the activation of beta-adrenergic receptor, revealed a faster cAMP response at the membrane than in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Simultaneous imaging with targeted cAMP indicator and PKA activity reporter allowed the detection of a much delayed PKA response in the nucleus after the rapid accumulation of cAMP at the plasma membrane of the same cell, despite the immediate presence of a pool of cAMP in the nucleus. Thus, cAMP dynamics and the activation of its effectors are precisely controlled spatiotemporally in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A 3',5' cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterase modulates cAMP levels and optimizes competence in Haemophilus influenzae Rd.

Changes in intracellular 3',5' cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration regulate the development of natural competence in Haemophilus influenzae. In Escherichia coli, cAMP levels are modulated by a cAMP phosphodiesterase encoded by the cpdA gene. We have used several approaches to demonstrate that the homologous icc gene of H. influenzae encodes a functional cAMP phosphodiesterase and that this gene limits intracellular cAMP and thereby influences competence and other cAMP-dependent processes. In E. coli, expression of cloned icc reduced both cAMP-dependent sugar fermentation and beta-galactosidase expression, as has been shown for cpdA. In H. influenzae, an icc null mutation increased cAMP-dependent sugar fermentation and competence development in strains where these processes are limited by mutations reducing cAMP synthesis. When endogenous production of cAMP was eliminated by a cya mutation, an icc strain was 10,000-fold more sensitive to exogenous cAMP than an icc+ strain. The icc strain showed moderately elevated competence under noninducing conditions, as expected, but had subnormal competence increases at onset of stationary phase in rich medium, and on transfer to a nutrient-limited medium, suggesting that excessive cAMP may interfere with induction. Consistent with this finding, a cya strain cultured in 1 mM cAMP failed to develop maximal competence on transfer to inducing conditions. Thus, by limiting cAMP levels, the H. influenzae cAMP phosphodiesterase may coordinate its responses to nutritional stress, ensuring optimal competence development.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Nitric oxide potentiates cAMP-gated cation current in feeding neurons of Pleurobranchaea californica independent of cAMP and cGMP signaling pathways.

Critical roles for nitric oxide (NO) in regulating cell and tissue physiology are broadly appreciated, but aspects remain to be explored. In the mollusk Pleurobranchaea, NO synthase activity is high in CNS ganglia containing motor networks for feeding and locomotion, where a cAMP-gated cation current (I(Na,cAMP)) is also prominent in many neurons. We examined effects of NO on I(Na,cAMP) using voltage-clamp methods developed to analyze cAMP signaling in the live neuron, focusing on the identified metacerebral giant neuron of the feeding network. NO donors enhanced the I(Na,cAMP) response to injected cAMP by an averaged 85%. In dose-response measures, NO increased the current stimulated by cAMP injection without altering either apparent cAMP binding affinity or cooperativity of current activation. NO did not detectably alter levels of native cAMP or synthesis or degradation rates as observable in both current saturation and decay rate of I(Na,cAMP) responses to cAMP injection. NO actions were not exerted by cGMP signaling, as they were not mimicked by cGMP analogue nor blocked by inhibitors of guanylate cyclase and protein kinase G. NO potentiation of I(Na,cAMP) was broadly distributed among many other neurons of the feeding motor network in the buccal ganglion. However, NO did not affect a second type of I(Na,cAMP) found in locomotor neurons of the pedal ganglia. These results suggest that NO acts through a novel mechanism to regulate the gain of cAMP-dependent neuromodulatory pathways that activate I(Na,cAMP) and may thereby affect the set points of feeding network excitability and reactivity to exogenous input.

Animals↗

Effects of cAMP-binding site mutations on intradomain cross-communication in the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I.

Each protomer of the regulatory subunit dimer of cAMP-dependent protein kinase contains two tandem and homologous cAMP-binding domains, A and B, and cooperative cAMP binding to these two sites promotes holoenzyme dissociation. Several amino acid residues in the type I regulatory subunit, predicted to lie in close proximity to each bound cyclic nucleotide based on affinity labeling and model building, were replaced using recombinant techniques. The mutations included replacement of 1) Glu-200, predicted to hydrogen bond to the 2'-OH of cAMP bound to site A, with Asp, 2) Tyr-371, the site of affinity labeling with 8-N3-cAMP in site B, with Trp, and 3) Phe-247, the position in site A that is homologous to Tyr-371 in site B, with Tyr. Each mutation caused an approximate 2-fold increase in both the Ka(cAMP) and Kd(cAMP); however, the off-rates for cAMP and the characteristic pattern of affinity labeling with 8-N3-cAMP differed markedly for each mutant protein. Furthermore, these mutations affect the cAMP binding properties not only of the site containing the mutation, but of the adjacent nonmutated site as well, thus confirming that extensive cross-communication occurs between the two cAMP-binding domains. Photoaffinity labeling of the native R-subunit results in the covalent modification of two residues, Trp-260 and Tyr-371, by 8-N3-cAMP bound to sites A and B, respectively, with a stoichiometry of 1 mol of 8-N3-cAMP incorporated per mol of R-monomer (Bubis, J., and Taylor, S. S. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 3478-3486). A stoichiometry of 1 mol of 8-N3-cAMP incorporated per R-monomer was observed for each mutant regulatory subunit as well, even when 2 mol of 8-N3-cAMP were bound per R-monomer; however, the major sites of covalent modification were altered as follows: R(Y371/W), Trp-371; R(E200/D), Tyr-371, and R(F247/Y), Tyr-371.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Two different intrachain cAMP binding sites of cAMP-dependent protein kinases.

The regulatory subunits of both isozymes of cAMP-dependent protein kinase bind 2 mol of cAMP/mol of monomer. cAMP dissociation studies indicate similar cAMP binding behavior for each isozyme. Each has two different intrachain cAMP binding components present in approximately equal amounts and the rate of cAMP dissociation is 5- to 10-fold slower from one site (Site 1) than from the other (Site 2). Equilibrium [3H]cAMP binding is inhibited by several competing cyclic nucleotides. Following equilibrium binding using saturating [3H]cAMP in the presence of competing nucleotide, the pattern of release of [3H]cAMP, monitored in the presence of an excess of nonradioactive cAMP, suggests site-specific selectivity of some of the cyclic nucleotides. As compared with cAMP, cIMP prefers Site 2 for both regulatory subunits, whereas N6, O2-dibutyryl-cAMP shows a similar preference only with isozyme II regulatory subunit. 8-Bromo-cAMP, 8-bromo-cGMP, and 8-azido-cAMP prefer Site 1 of both proteins. The results indicate that for each isozyme the two intrachain binding sites have different analogue specificities and cAMP dissociation rates. Site 1 or Site 2 of one isozyme has a similar but not identical cyclic nucleotide specificity and cAMP dissociation rate to the corresponding site of the other isozyme.

Animals↗

Kinetics and concentration dependency of cAMP-induced desensitization of a subpopulation of surface cAMP receptors in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Extracellular cAMP induces the rapid activation of guanylate cyclase, which adapts within 10 s to constant cAMP concentrations. A new response can be induced either by a higher cAMP concentration or by the same cAMP concentration at some time (t1/2 = 90 s) after removal of the previous stimulus. Stimulation of guanylate cyclase is supposed to be mediated by a subpopulation of cell surface cAMP receptors (B-sites). These sites can exist in three states, BF, BS, and BSS, which interconvert in a cAMP and guanine nucleotide dependent manner. It has been proposed that the transition of BS to BSS represents the activation of a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein [Van Haastert, P.J.M., De Wit, R.J.W., Janssens, P.M.W., Kesbeke, F., & DeGoede, J. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 9604-9611]. Binding of [3H]cAMP to these sites was measured after a short preincubation with an identical concentration of nonradioactive cAMP. [3H]cAMP could still bind to BF and BS, but not to BSS, indicating that the transition of BS to BSS is blocked by the preincubation with cAMP. This blockade was rapid and showed first-order kinetics with t1/2 = 4 s. A half-maximal blockade was induced by 0.7 nM cAMP; at this concentration only 5% of the B-sites are occupied with cAMP. The blockade of the transition of BS to BSS was released by two conditions: (i) When the concentration of cAMP was increased, the blockade was released within a few seconds. (ii) When cAMP was removed, the blockade was released slowly with t1/2 = 90 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Membrane↗

The effects of UVB and temperature on the survival of natural populations and pure cultures of Campylobacter jejuni, Camp. coli, Camp. lari and urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC) in surface waters.

AIMS: To determine whether diurnal and seasonal variations in campylobacters in surface waters result from the effects of temperature and u.v. radiation, and whether natural populations of Campylobacter lari and urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC) from birds survive better in surface waters than Camp. jejuni from sewage. METHODS AND RESULTS: Natural populations of Camp. lari and UPTC in sea water, and Camp. jejuni in river water, were exposed to artificial sunlight (equivalent to a sunny day in June). Both populations became non-culturable within 30 min, with T90s of 15 min and 25 min, respectively. Cultures of Camp. jejuni became non-culturable within 40 min and those of Camp. coli, Camp. lari and UPTC, within 60 min. In darkness, survival was temperature-dependent. Natural populations took 12 h at 37 degrees C and 5 days at 4 degrees C to become non-culturable in sea water, and slightly less in river water. Cultures of Camp. lari and UPTCs survived for significantly longer than Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli. Loss of culturability for all isolates was most rapid at 37 degrees C and slowest at 4 degrees C. Newly isolated strains from sea water and river water behaved in an almost identical manner to NCTC strains. CONCLUSION: Campylobacter lari and UPTCs survive for longer in surface waters than Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli, particularly in the dark. Low Campylobacter numbers in coastal waters in the summer, especially in the afternoon, are due to the combined effects of higher temperatures and higher levels of u.v. radiation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Campylobacter lari and UPTCs from birds predominate in bathing waters in Morecambe Bay because they are better able to survive; they also originate from closer to the shore than Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli in sewage effluent, which survive poorly and die before the incoming tide reaches the shore. The predominance of Camp. jejuni in river water results from its dominance of the inputs and not from its ability to survive.

Animals↗

A cell number-counting factor regulates group size in Dictyostelium by differentially modulating cAMP-induced cAMP and cGMP pulse sizes.

A secreted counting factor (CF), regulates the size of Dictyostelium discoideum fruiting bodies in part by regulating cell-cell adhesion. Aggregation and the expression of adhesion molecules are mediated by relayed pulses of cAMP. Cells also respond to cAMP with a short cGMP pulse. We find that CF slowly down-regulates the cAMP-induced cGMP pulse by inhibiting guanylyl cyclase activity. A 1-min exposure of cells to purified CF increases the cAMP-induced cAMP pulse. CF does not affect the cAMP receptor or its interaction with its associated G proteins or the translocation of the cytosolic regulator of adenylyl cyclase to the membrane in response to cAMP. Pulsing streaming wild-type cells with a high concentration of cAMP results in the formation of small groups, whereas reducing cAMP pulse size with exogenous cAMP phosphodiesterase during stream formation causes cells to form large groups. Altering the extracellular cAMP pulse size does not phenocopy the effects of CF on the cAMP-induced cGMP pulse size or cell-cell adhesion, indicating that CF does not regulate cGMP pulses and adhesion via CF's effects on cAMP pulses. The results suggest that regulating cell-cell adhesion, the cGMP pulse size, or the cAMP pulse size can control group size and that CF regulates all three of these independently.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Cyclic 3',5'-AMP relay in Dictyostelium discoideum V. Adaptation of the cAMP signaling response during cAMP stimulation.

In dictyostelium discoideum, extracellular cAMP activates adenylate cyclase, which leads to an increase in intracellular cAMP and the rate of cAMP secretion. The signaling response to a constant cAMP stimulus is terminated after several minutes by an adaptation mechanism. The time- course of adaptation stimuli of 10(-6) or 10(-7) M cAMP was assessed. We used a perfusion technique to deliver defined cAMP stimuli to [(3)H]adenosine-labeled amoebae and monitored their secretion of [(3)H]cAMP. Amoebae were pretreated with 10(-6) or 10(-7) M cAMP to periods of 0.33-12 minutes, and then immediately given test stimuli of 10(-8) M to 2.5 x 10(-7) M cAMP. The response to a given test stimulus was progressively attenuated and finally extinguished as the duration of the pretreatment stimulus increased. During concentration of the test stimulus. The responses to test stimuli of 10(-8), 5 x 10(-8), 10(-7), or 2.5 x 10(-7) M cAMP were extinguished after approximately 1, 2.25,2.5, and 10 min, respectively. 1.5 min of stimulation with 10(-7) M cAMP was necessary to extinguish the response of a test stimulus of 10(-8) M cAMP. Our data suggest that adaptation begins within 20 s of stimulation, rises rapidly for approximately 2.5 min, and reaches a plateau after approximately 10 min. The absolute rate of rise was faster during pretreatment with 10(-6) than with 10(-7) M cAMP. These results support a working hypothesis in which the occupancy of surface cAMP receptors leads to changes in two opposing cellular processes, excitation and adaptation, that control the activity of D. discoideum adenylate cyclase.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Inhibitory action of certain cyclophosphate derivatives of cAMP on cAMP-dependent protein kinases.

A series cAMP derivatives with modifications in the adenine, ribose and cyclophosphate moiety were screened for their binding affinity for the two types of cAMP-binding sites in mammalian protein kinase type 1. In addition, the activation of the kinase by these analogs was monitored. The binding data indicate that cAMP is bound to both sites in a comparable manner: the adenine appears to have no hydrogen-bond interactions with the binding sites, whereas the ribose may be bound by three hydrogen bonds involving the 2', 3' and 5' positions of cAMP. The binding data are not conclusive about the nature of the interaction with the exocyclic oxygen atoms on phosphorus, though a charge interaction seems to be absent. The cAMP molecule seems to be bound in the syn conformation. The results of activation experiments show that modifications in the adenine and ribose moiety do not affect the maximal activation level, while alteration of the two exocyclic oxygen atoms may result in a reduced maximal activation level and in one case, (Rp)-adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphorothioate [Rp-cAMPS], in total absence of activation even at concentrations at which the analog saturates both binding sites. Since occupancy of the cAMP-binding sites by this derivative apparently did not lead to activation of the enzyme, we examined whether this compound could antagonize the activation by cAMP. Indeed (Rp)-cAMPS was found to inhibit cAMP stimulated kinase activity at concentrations compatible to its binding affinity. Also with mammalian protein kinase type II (Rp)-cAMPS showed antagonistic activity, while with a cAMP-dependent protein kinase from Dictyostelium discoideum partial agonistic activity was observed. Previously a mechanism for activation of protein kinase type I was proposed involving a charge interaction between the equatorial exocyclic oxygen atom and the binding site [De Wit et. al. (1982) Eur. J. Biochem 122, 95-99]. This was based on measurements with impure preparations of (Rp)-cAMPS and the Rp and Sp isomers adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphodimethylamidate. cAMPN(CH3)2. The present work using highly purified compounds suggests the absence of a charge interaction, since the uncharged analog (Sp)-cAMPN(CH3)2 activates the kinase effectively. The data seem compatible with an activation model involving the formation of a covalent bond with phosphorus in both cAMP binding sites.

Adenine↗

Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in rat aorta by cAMP analogs is not correlated with relaxation.

The role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle by cAMP analogs was studied. The analog N6,2'-O-dibutyryl-cAMP (dbu-cAMP) reduced KCl- and phenylephrine (PE)-induced tension in rat aortic rings in a dose-dependent fashion (10-100 microM). Conversely, incubation with 8-bromo-cAMP (8Br-cAMP; 10-100 microM) had very little effect on tension. The soluble and particulate PKA activity was determined in the analog-treated, PE-contracted tissue. Interference from extracellular analogs was eliminated by washout of analog prior to homogenization of the tissue for the PKA assay and by the addition of charcoal (10 mg/ml) to the homogenization buffer. The nonrelaxant analog 8Br-cAMP significantly increased the activity ratio of soluble PKA at a concentration of 30 microM and, in the particulate fraction, increased the activity ratio at 30- and 100 microM. Total PKA activity in the soluble fraction was significantly decreased by all concentrations of 8Br-cAMP used (10, 30, 100 microM). The relaxant analog dbu-cAMP had no significant effect at any concentration on catalytically active or total PKA activity levels. The only effect seen, at 30 microM, was an increase in the particulate activity ratio, and this was smaller than that seen with 8Br-cAMP. The basis for the alteration in PKA activity by 8Br-cAMP was a decrease in total soluble PKA activity as opposed to an increase in free catalytic PKA subunit. The fall in total activity was most likely due to adsorption by charcoal of catalytic subunit released from the 8Br-cAMP-activated holoenzyme. Thus, under the conditions used to assay PKA activity in cAMP-analog-treated vascular tissue, a decrease in total PKA activity represents an activation of the enzyme and, in fact, appears to be a better indicator of activation than changes in activity ratios. In either case, activation of soluble and particulate PKA by cAMP analogs did not correlate with relaxation of rat aortic rings.

Animals↗

8-Chloro-cAMP inhibits transforming growth factor alpha transformation of mammary epithelial cells by restoration of the normal mRNA patterns for cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit isoforms which show disruption upon transformation.

Differential regulation of the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes correlates with the growth inhibitory effect of site-selective 8-Cl-cAMP demonstrated in cancer cell lines (Ally, S., Tortora, G., Clair, T., Grieco, D., Merlo, G., Katsaros, D., Ogreid, D., Døskeland, S.O., Jahnsen, T., and Cho-Chung, Y.S. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 85, 6319-6322). Such selective modulation of protein kinase isozyme regulatory subunits was also found in the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced inhibition of both transformation and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) production in Ki-ras-transformed rat kidney fibroblasts (Tortora, G., Ciardiello, F., Ally, S., Clair, T., Salomon, D. S., and Cho-Chung, Y. S. (1989) FEBS Lett. 242, 363-367). In this work, we have demonstrated that 8-Cl-cAMP antagonizes the TGF alpha effect in TGF alpha-transformed mouse mammary epithelial cells (NOG-8TFC17) at the level of gene expression for cAMP receptor protein isoforms, RI and RII (the regulatory subunits of protein kinase isozymes). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that in the transformed NOG-8TFC17 cells, compared with the nontransformed counterpart NOG-8 cells, the mRNA levels for the RI alpha cAMP receptor protein markedly increased, whereas the mRNA levels for the RII alpha and RII beta cAMP receptor proteins decreased. 8-Cl-cAMP, which induced growth inhibition and phenotypic reversion in NOG-8TFC17 cells, caused an inverse change in the mRNA patterns of the cAMP receptor proteins; RI alpha cAMP receptor mRNA sharply decreased to levels comparable with that of the nontransformed NOG-8 cells, whereas RII beta mRNA increased to a level even greater than that in the NOG-8 cells. In addition, one mRNA species of RII alpha increased, whereas the other RII alpha mRNA species decreased during the treatment. The mRNA level for the catalytic subunit of protein kinase, however, did not change during 8-Cl-cAMP treatment. In addition, 8-Cl-cAMP brought about a reduction in both TGF alpha mRNA and protein levels. These coordinated changes in the expression of the cAMP receptor proteins and TGF alpha were not observed during cis-hydroxyprolineor TGF beta-induced growth inhibition of the NOG-8TFC17 cells. Thus, the antagonistic effect of 8-Cl-cAMP toward TGF alpha-induced transformation involves modulation of the expression of a specific set of cellular genes.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Characterization of small cAMP-binding fragments of cAMP-dependent protein kinases.

Monomeric cAMP-binding fragments of molecular mass 16,000 and 14,000 daltons were obtained by Sephadex G-75 chromatography of partially trypsin-hydrolyzed regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes I and II, respectively. The Stokes radii were 19.1 and 16.4 A, the frictional ratios were 1.15 and 1.03, and the sedimentation coefficients were 1.94 and 1.91 S for the 16,000- and 14,000-dalton fragments, respectively. The 16,000-dalton fragment retained specific cyclic nucleotide binding characteristics of the native protein. The specificity of cyclic nucleotide binding to the 14,000-dalton fragment (cAMP greater than cIMP = 8-bromo-cAMP = 8-oxo-cAMP greater than cUMP = cGMP) differed from that of the native subunit (cAMP = 8-oxo-cAMP greater than 8-bromo-cAMP greater than cIMP greater than cUMP = cGMP). The 14,000-dalton fragment bound nearly 1 mol of cAMP/mol of fragment. The binding exchange rate of cAMP was much faster for the 14,000-dalton fragment than for either of the native regulatory subunits or for the 16,000 dalton fragment. Although hemin inhibited cAMP binding to the native regulatory subunits and to the 16,000 dalton fragment, the molecule did not affect cAMP binding to the 14,000-dalton fragment. Both of the native regulatory subunits and the isolated 16,000- and 14,000-dalton fragments could be covalently labeled with the photoaffinity analog, 8-N3-[32P]cAMP. The 14,000-dalton fragment could not be phosphorylated and neither fragment could recombine with the catalytic subunit to inhibit its activity. The results indicate that the functional entities of the regulatory subunit other than cAMP binding are destroyed by trypsin. The properties of the 16,000-dalton fragment suggest that the intact cAMP-binding site is contained in a small trypsin-resistant "core" of the native regulatory subunit. The properties of the 14,000-dalton fragment imply that part of the binding site of the native regulatory subunit was slighlty modified or lost during preparation of this fragment.

Animals↗

Enhanced activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by rapid synthesis and degradation of cAMP.

Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II by static and dynamic steady-state cAMP levels was studied by reconstituting an in vitro model system composed of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase II. The rates of cAMP synthesis were regulated by incubating isolated membranes from AtT20 cells with various concentrations of forskolin. In the presence of 3-methylisobutylxanthine, the rate of protein kinase activation was proportional to the rate at which cAMP was synthesized, and there was a direct relationship between the degree of activation and the level of cAMP produced. The activation profiles of protein kinase generated in the presence of exogenous cAMP or cAMP produced by activation of adenylate cyclase in the absence of cAMP degradation were indistinguishable. Dynamic steady-state levels of cAMP were achieved by incubating the membranes with forskolin in the presence of purified cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Under these conditions, the apparent activation constant of protein kinase II for cAMP was reduced by 65-75%. This increased sensitivity to activation by cAMP was seen when phosphotransferase activity was measured directly in reaction mixtures containing membranes, protein kinase, and histone H2B or when regulatory and catalytic subunits were first separated by immunoprecipitation of holoenzyme and regulatory subunits with specific anti-serum. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that rapid cAMP turnover may function as a mechanism for amplifying hormonal signals which use the cAMP-dependent protein kinase system.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Competitive cAMP antagonists for cAMP-receptor proteins.

The two exocyclic oxygen atoms at phosphorus of cAMP have been replaced by a sulfur atom or by a dimethylamino group. These substitutions introduce chirality at the phosphorus atom; therefore, two diastereoisomers are known for each derivative: (SP)-cAMPS, (RP)-cAMPS, (SP)-cAMPN(CH3)2, and RP-cAMPN(CH3)2. We have investigated the agonistic and antagonistic activities of these compounds in four cAMP-dependent reactions: activation of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum via its cell surface cAMP receptor, and phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinases type I, type II (both mammalian enzymes), and type D (derived from D. discoideum). The results show that 1) the compounds (SP)-cAMPS and (SP)-cAMPN(CH3)2 are (mostly full) agonists for the four proteins. Half-maximal activation is at micromolar concentrations (0.8-7 microM). 2) (RP)-cAMPS is a full antagonist for the cell surface receptor and protein kinases type I and II, with apparent inhibition constants between 0.8 and 8 microM. This compound is a partial agonist for protein kinase type D, where it induces maximally 50% activation of the enzyme if compared with cAMP. 3) (RP)-cAMPN(CH3)2 is a full antagonist for the cell surface receptor, and for protein kinase type II. This compound is a partial agonist for protein kinase type I (at least 50% activation if compared with cAMP), and inactive for protein kinase type D. This derivative is at least 25-fold less active as an antagonist than (RP)-cAMPS. 4) The activity of mixtures of different concentrations of the antagonist (RP)-cAMPS with different concentrations of cAMP reveals that the compound is a competitive antagonist of cAMP at micromolar concentrations.

Animals↗

Maintenance of meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes by purines: modulation of cAMP levels and cAMP phosphodiesterase activity.

Hypoxanthine and adenosine are present in preparations of mouse ovarian follicular fluid, and these purines maintain mouse oocytes in meiotic arrest in vitro (Eppig et al.: Biology of Reproduction 33:1041-1049. 1985). The first hypothesis tested in this study is that purines which maintain meiotic arrest act by maintaining meiosis-arresting levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the oocyte. Oocyte-cumulus cell complexes were incubated in control medium (no added purines), or medium containing 0.75 mM adenosine, 4 mM hypoxanthine, or both for 3 hr and the percentage of the oocytes that underwent germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB) and the cAMP content of the intact complexes and the oocytes were determined. Adenosine alone had little inhibitory effect on GVB at this time point but sustained higher levels of cAMP in the oocytes. Hypoxanthine maintained 80% of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes in meiotic arrest and also sustained higher cAMP levels in the oocytes. The addition of adenosine to hypoxanthine-containing medium increased the percentage of oocytes maintained in meiotic arrest, and increased the amount of cAMP in the oocytes above that maintained by either hypoxanthine or adenosine alone. Neither hypoxanthine, adenosine, nor hypoxanthine plus adenosine altered the cAMP content of intact complexes when assayed after 3 hr culture. Microinjection of an inhibitor of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase induced GVB in denuded oocytes cultured in medium containing hypoxanthine. This purine, therefore, maintained meiotic arrest by sustaining elevated cAMP levels within the oocytes. The second hypothesis tested in this study is that purines maintain meiosis-arresting levels of cAMP, at least in part, by inhibiting cAMP phosphodiesterase activity. In descending order of potency, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), guanosine, hypoxanthine, adenosine, and xanthosine inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase in oocyte lysates. Moreover, like the potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX, hypoxanthine augmented the meiotic arrest and cAMP accumulation mediated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in intact complexes. Therefore, inhibition of oocyte phosphodiesterase appears to be one mechanism by which the purines could maintain meiosis-arresting levels of cAMP.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Specificity of the action of cAMP agonists in the induction of RI cAMP-binding protein in mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Differentiation in the mouse neuroblastoma cells is induced by cAMP and is characterized by neurite extension and increased acetylcholinesterase, cAMP-phosphodiesterase, and RI cAMP-binding activities. To gain a better understanding of the regulation of expression and the possible function of the RI cAMP-binding protein in neuroblastoma cell differentiation, we evaluate the specificity of action of cAMP analogues and agents that increased intracellular cAMP concentration in the induction of the 47,000-dalton RI protein. The amount of RI in cell extracts was quantitated by the photoactivated incorporation of 8-N3-[32P]cAMP into the 47,000-dalton RI and by ELISA and Western blot techniques. Our results showed that dibutyryl cAMP, forskolin, prostaglandin E1, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine, and papavarine gave a 2- to 4-fold increase in the RI cAMP-binding protein coincident with the expression of various morphological and biochemical differentiation phenotypes in the mouse neuroblastoma cells. However, the effects of 8-bromo-cAMP were different. 8-Bromo-cAMP effectively promoted neurite extension and increased acetylcholinesterase and cAMP-phosphodiesterase activities; however, there was no concomitant increase in the RI cAMP-binding protein. The result raises interesting questions concerning the coupling of expression of the various differentiation phenotypes in the mouse neuroblastoma cells.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Imidazoquinoline derivatives: potent inhibitors of platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase which elevate cAMP levels and activate protein kinase in platelets.

Compounds containing the imidazoquinoline nucleus are a new class of potent, broad-spectrum inhibitors of platelet aggregation. This report describes studies with a simply-substituted imidazoquinoline (BMY 20844) and several new ether-linked side chain derivatives (BMY 21638 and BMY 43351). These compounds are potent inhibitors of platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase (IC50 values: BMY 20844, 1.3 X 10(-8); BMY 21638, 2 X 10(-10); and BMY 43351, 1 X 10(-10) M, measured using 0.15 microM cAMP) but have little effect on platelet homogenate cGMP phosphodiesterase (IC50 greater than 10(-5) M). Inhibition of different cAMP phosphodiesterase isozymes was tested to determine if the compounds inhibited similar isozymes in other tissues. Rabbit heart cAMP phosphodiesterase isozymes were resolved by ion-exchange chromatography and three peaks of activity were obtained. BMY 20844 inhibited only fraction III (a "cGMP-inhibitable, low Km" cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase) with an IC50 value of 5 X 10(-8) M. These compounds also inhibited canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane-bound "cGMP-inhibitable, low Km" cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase with virtually the same potency as inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase in platelet homogenate. In washed platelets these compounds elevated cAMP levels and activated the platelet cAMP dependent protein kinase. Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was determined by cAMP-dependent protein kinase ratio measurements and phosphorylation of intracellular proteins. These studies suggest that this potent new class of agents inhibits platelet phosphodiesterase activity in intact platelets causing an elevation in cAMP levels sufficient to activate the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and stimulate protein phosphorylation. This mechanism is, at least in part, responsible for the ability of these compounds to prevent platelet aggregation and thrombosis in experimental animal models.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗