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Molecular basis for regulatory subunit diversity in cAMP-dependent protein kinase: crystal structure of the type II beta regulatory subunit.

BACKGROUND: Cyclic AMP binding domains possess common structural features yet are diversely coupled to different signaling modules. Each cAMP binding domain receives and transmits a cAMP signal; however, the signaling networks differ even within the same family of regulatory proteins as evidenced by the long-standing biochemical and physiological differences between type I and type II regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. RESULTS: We report the first type II regulatory subunit crystal structure, which we determined to 2.45 A resolution and refined to an R factor of 0.176 with a free R factor of 0.198. This new structure of the type II beta regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase demonstrates that the relative orientations of the two tandem cAMP binding domains are very different in the type II beta as compared to the type I alpha regulatory subunit. Each structural unit for binding cAMP contains the highly conserved phosphate binding cassette that can be considered the "signature" motif of cAMP binding domains. This motif is coupled to nonconserved regions that link the cAMP signal to diverse structural and functional modules. CONCLUSIONS: Both the diversity and similarity of cAMP binding sites are demonstrated by this new type II regulatory subunit structure. The structure represents an intramolecular paradigm for the cooperative triad that links two cAMP binding sites through a domain interface to the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The domain interface surface is created by the binding of only one cAMP molecule and is enabled by amino acid sequence variability within the peptide chain that tethers the two domains together.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

cAMP binds with high affinity and specificity to the androgen receptor from murine skeletal muscle.

cAMP binding of the androgen receptor (AR) from murine skeletal muscle was studied. Testosterone affinity chromatography yielded androgen receptor with about 4000-fold purification. Determination of the cAMP binding in the affinity eluate, by adsorption of protein-cAMP complexes to cellulose ester filters or removal of unbound cAMP by dextran-coated charcoal, was not possible, as the observed binding was not stable during the assays. Displacement studies suggest that this is due to a very fast dissociation kinetics of the binding. The problem could be solved by assaying the components of affinity eluate immobilized to a testosterone affinity resin that stabilizes the cAMP-protein complexes. The cAMP binding found in the affinity eluate shows an upward concave Scatchard plot and is compatible with a model containing two independent binding sites with dissociation constants of 7 and 58 nM. However, a larger number of binding sites or negative cooperativity cannot be excluded. Sixteen cAMP binding sites were observed per testosterone binding site. The binding affinity of cAMP exceeds that of cGMP 200-fold, that of cCMP 2000-fold, and that of AMP and 2',3'-cAMP more than 10,000-fold. Results indicate that cAMP is bound by the AR, although it only represents about 1% of the total protein in the affinity eluate: (i) Specific testosterone and cAMP binding of affinity eluate was copurified by affinity chromatography, density gradient centrifugation, and gel filtration. The ratio of cAMP to testosterone binding in each peak was about 16:1, identical with that found in the total affinity eluate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Interaction between cAMP-dependent and insulin-dependent signal pathways in tyrosine phosphorylation in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the interaction between cAMP-dependent and insulin-dependent pathways in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes affects biological functions and tyrosine phosphorylation. Quiescent hepatocytes were pretreated with dibutyryl cAMP or cAMP-generating agents such as glucagon, and then treated or not with insulin. Preincubation for 6 h with dibutyryl cAMP or glucagon enhanced the effect of insulin on DNA synthesis, but not the effect of insulin on amino acid transport or glycogen and protein synthesis. Tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins was determined by immunoblot analysis using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Maximum tyrosine phosphorylation of a 195 kDa protein, which may be a substrate of insulin receptor kinase, of 175-180 kDa proteins, including insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, and of 90-95 kDa proteins, including the insulin receptor beta-subunit, was reached within 30 s of incubation with insulin. Pretreatment for about 3 h with dibutyryl cAMP or cAMP-generating agents clearly increased insulin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the 195 kDa protein, but not IRS-1, IRS-2 or the insulin receptor beta-subunit. Because dibutyryl cAMP and cAMP-generating agents did not increase insulin receptor number or its kinase activity, the effect of cAMP on this potentiation of tyrosine phosphorylation is assumed to be exerted at a step distal to insulin receptor kinase activation. The potentiation by cAMP pretreatment of insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation may in part be secondary to inhibition of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity, because cAMP pretreatment blunted the effect of Na3VO4 on the net tyrosine phosphorylation of the 195 kDa protein as compared with cells pretreated with no additive. In summary, the interactions between cAMP-dependent and insulin-dependent pathways that lead to augmentation of DNA synthesis appear to parallel the changes in tyrosine phosphorylation. Further studies will be required to determine whether there is a causal relationship between these phenomena.

Amino Acids↗

Fructosamine levels demonstrate improved glycemic control for some children attending a diabetes summer camp.

Residential summer camps for youths with diabetes may have a positive effect on glycemic control. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is considered the best measure of control, but it reflects too long a period to evaluate a camp session. The fructosamine test reflects control over a period of 2-3 wk and may be ideal for this purpose. A portable device was used to examine the relationship between 2 wk of glycemic control and the change in fructosamine in order to determine whether control improved at camp. Thirty children, 8-12 yr old, were studied during a 2-wk session of a diabetes summer camp. Pre-camp HbA1c levels were obtained from the childrens' physicians. Each camper measured his/her blood glucose four times daily. Insulin doses were readjusted frequently by camp physicians. Each child's fructosamine was measured at the beginning and end of camp. The baseline fructosamine correlated with HbA1c. The final fructosamine correlated with the 2-wk mean glucose. The subgroup who started camp in below average glycemic control improved their fructosamine levels by the end of camp. Those who started camp in better control did not change. Without continuous glucose monitoring, it is impossible to accurately determine how well fructosamine reflects glucose levels. In this study, fructosamine correlated with the mean glucoses and with an HbA1c obtained prior to camp. Fructosamine appears to be a valid measure of glycemic control and being at camp was at least transiently beneficial to the children who needed it most.

Journal Article↗

A uniform extracellular stimulus triggers distinct cAMP signals in different compartments of a simple cell.

cAMP, the classical second messenger, regulates many diverse cellular functions. The primary effector of cAMP signals, protein kinase A, differentially phosphorylates hundreds of cellular targets. Little is known, however, about the spatial and temporal nature of cAMP signals and their information content. Thus, it is largely unclear how cAMP, in response to different stimuli, orchestrates such a wide variety of cellular responses. Previously, we presented evidence that cAMP is produced in subcellular compartments near the plasma membrane, and that diffusion of cAMP from these compartments to the bulk cytosol is hindered. Here we report that a uniform extracellular stimulus initiates distinct cAMP signals within different cellular compartments. By using cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels engineered as cAMP biosensors, we found that prostaglandin E(1) stimulation of human embryonic kidney cells caused a transient increase in cAMP concentration near the membrane. Interestingly, in the same time frame, the total cellular cAMP rose to a steady level. The decline in cAMP levels near the membrane was prevented by pretreatment with phosphodiesterase inhibitors. These data demonstrate that spatially and temporally distinct cAMP signals can coexist within simple cells.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Mechanism for shifting the phase of a circadian rhythm by serotonin: involvement of cAMP.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) shifts the phase of the circadian rhythm in the eye of Aplysia. We have examined the role of cAMP in mediating the effects of 5-HT on the rhythm. The phase shifts produced by 5-HT are mimicked by treatments that should increase intracellular levels of cAMP. An analogue of cAMP-8-benzylthio-cAMP, advanced and delayed the rhythm at phases in which 5-HT had similar effects on the rhythm. In addition, two phosphodiesterase inhibitors, Ro-20-1724 and papaverine, caused advance phase shifts where 5-HT advances the rhythm. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors Ro-20-1724 and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine each potentiated the effect of subthreshold doses of 5-HT on the rhythm. The effects of 5-HT and 8-benzylthio-cAMP on the rhythm were nonadditive, indicating that 5-HT and 8-benzylthio-cAMP affect the rhythm through a common pathway. Finally, 5-HT produced large changes (13-fold) in the levels of cAMP in the eye. These results indicate that cAMP mediates the effect of 5-HT on the rhythm. There are two possible roles for cAMP in the circadian system. Either the cAMP system is an intracellular step in an entrainment pathway or it is part of the biological clock. Because 5-HT, 8-benzylthio-cAMP, and three phosphodiesterase inhibitors inhibit impulses from the eye, cAMP may also mediate the inhibition produced by 5-HT, or it might be involved in regulating the frequency of spontaneous impulses throughout the day.

Action Potentials↗

Cultured lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects have altered cAMP signal transduction.

Previous work has shown that freshly isolated lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects show significantly reduced basal and adenosine receptor-stimulated cAMP levels. This decrease could be due to ethanol-induced cellular adaptation or to a genetic difference in the regulation of cAMP signal transduction. Therefore, we cultured human lymphocytes in defined medium without ethanol for 7-8 days and then examined differences in receptor-dependent cAMP accumulation between lymphocytes from alcoholic and nonalcoholic subjects. After four to six generations in culture without ethanol, lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects have significantly higher cAMP levels than do cells from nonalcoholic subjects. Thus, a difference in cAMP signal transduction is demonstrable in cells from alcoholic subjects grown without ethanol. We also found that cultured lymphocytes from both alcoholic and nonalcoholic subjects show a decrease in receptor-stimulated cAMP levels after exposure to 200 mM ethanol for 48 hr. To determine whether alcoholic subjects have increased sensitivity to ethanol, lymphocytes were exposed to only 100 mM ethanol for 24 hr. Under these conditions, receptor-dependent cAMP levels did not change in cells from nonalcoholic subjects. However, lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects showed a 39% decrease (P less than 0.003) in adenosine receptor-stimulated cAMP levels. Taken together, the results show that (i) chronic ethanol treatment in culture reproduces the suppression of cAMP levels found in circulating lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects and (ii) despite four to six cell divisions in culture without ethanol, lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects exhibit significantly increased adenosine receptor-dependent cAMP levels and increased sensitivity to chronic exposure to ethanol. These findings suggest that the suppression of cAMP levels observed in freshly isolated lymphocytes from alcoholic subjects results from both a direct effect of chronic exposure to ethanol and a genetic difference leading to altered cAMP signal transduction.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

cAMP-induced phosphorylation and inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 (NHE3) are dependent on the presence but not the phosphorylation of NHE regulatory factor.

The members of the regulatory factor (RF) gene family, Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE)-RF and NHE3 kinase A regulatory factor (E3KARP) are necessary for cAMP to inhibit the epithelial brush border NHE isoform 3 (NHE3). The mechanism of their action was studied using PS120 fibroblasts stably transfected with rabbit NHE3 and wild type rabbit NHE-RF or wild type human E3KARP. 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) had no effect on Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity in cells expressing NHE3 alone. In contrast, in cells co-expressing NHE-RF, 8-Br-cAMP inhibited NHE3 by 39%. In vivo phosphorylation of NHE3 demonstrated that cAMP increased phosphorylation in two chymotrypsin-generated phosphopeptides of NHE3 in cells containing NHE-RF or E3KARP but not in cells lacking these proteins. The requirement for phosphorylation of NHE-RF in this cAMP-induced inhibition of NHE3 was examined by studying a mutant NHE-RF in which serines 287, 289, and 290 were mutated to alanines. Wild type NHE-RF was a phosphorylated protein under basal conditions, but treatment with 8-Br-cAMP did not alter its phosphorylation. Mutant NHE-RF was not phosphorylated either under basal conditions or after 8-Br-cAMP. 8-Br-cAMP inhibited NHE3 similarly in PS120/NHE3 cells containing wild type or mutant NHE-RF. NHE-RF and NHE3 co-precipitated and did so similarly with and without cAMP. Mutant NHE-RF also similarly immunoprecipitated NHE3 in the presence and absence of 8-Br-cAMP. This study shows that members of the regulatory factor gene family, NHE-RF and E3KARP, are necessary for cAMP inhibition of NHE3 by allowing NHE3 to be phosphorylated. This inhibition is not dependent on the phosphorylation of NHE-RF.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Novel single chain cAMP sensors for receptor-induced signal propagation.

cAMP is a universal second messenger of many G-protein-coupled receptors and regulates a wide variety of cellular events. cAMP exerts its effects via cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), cAMP-gated ion channels, and two isoforms of exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac). Here we report the development of novel fluorescent indicators for cAMP based on the cAMP-binding domains of Epac and PKA. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer between variants of green fluorescent protein (enhanced cyan fluorescent protein and enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) fused directly to the cAMP-binding domains was used to analyze spatial and temporal aspects of cAMP-signaling in different cells. In contrast to previously developed PKA-based indicators, these probes are comprised of only a single binding site lacking cooperativity, catalytic properties, and interactions with other proteins and thereby allow us to easily image free intracellular cAMP and rapid signaling events. Rapid beta-adrenergic receptor-induced cAMP signals were observed to travel with high speed ( approximately 40 microm/s) throughout the entire cell body of hippocampal neurons and peritoneal macrophages. The developed indicators could be ubiquitously applied to studying cAMP, its physiological role and spatio-temporal regulation.

Animals↗

Recovery of responsiveness to ACTH and cAMP in a protein kinase-defective adrenal cell mutant following transfection with a protein kinase gene.

The cause and effect relationship between mutations in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity and resistance of adrenocortical tumor cells to ACTH and cAMP was evaluated by transfection with cloned cDNAs encoding subunits of the mouse cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Protein kinase defective, Kin 8 adrenocortical tumor cells were transfected with pRev [an expression vector encoding the regulatory subunit of the type 1 cAMP-dependent protein kinase (RI)] or with pC alpha ev [an expression vector encoding the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (C)]. The pC alpha ev transformant recovered cAMP responsive protein kinase activity, whereas the pRev transformant recovered cAMP-binding activity, but did not recover cAMP responsive protein kinase activity. The pC alpha ev transformant concomitantly recovered steroidogenic and morphologic responsiveness to ACTH- and 8-bromo-cAMP, whereas the pRev transformant remained resistant to these effects of the hormone and cyclic nucleotide. Since Kin 8 cells recovered their responsiveness to ACTH and 8-bromo-cAMP following transfection with pC alpha ev we suggest that the defect in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity is directly responsible for the ACTH- and cAMP-resistant phenotype of the Kin 8 mutant.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

cAMP induces a rapid and reversible modification of the chemotactic receptor in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Stimulation, within 1 min after cAMP stimulation, of aggregation-competent Dictyostelium discoideum amebae was found to cause a rapid (within 1 min) modification of the cell's surface cAMP receptor. The modified receptor migrated on SDS PAGE as a 47,000-mol-wt protein, as opposed to a 45,000-mol-wt protein labeled on unstimulated cells. The length of time this modified receptor could be detected depended upon the strength of the cAMP stimulus: 3-4 min after treatment with 10(-7) M cAMP, cells no longer possessed the 47,000-mol-wt form of the cAMP receptor. Instead, the 45,000-mol-wt form was present. Stimulation of cells with 10(-5) M cAMP, however, resulted in the persistent (over 15 min) expression of the modified receptor. The time course, concentration dependence, and specificity of stimulus for this cAMP-induced shift in the cAMP receptor were found to parallel the cAMP-stimulated phosphorylation of a 47,000-mol-wt protein. In addition, both phenomena were shown to occur in the absence of endogenous cAMP synthesis. The possibility that the cAMP receptor is phosphorylated in response to cAMP stimulation, and the role of this event in cell desensitization, are discussed.

Cell Membrane↗

In vivo assessment of local phosphodiesterase activity using tailored cyclic nucleotide-gated channels as cAMP sensors.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) catalyze the hydrolysis of the second messengers cAMP and cGMP. However, little is known about how PDE activity regulates cyclic nucleotide signals in vivo because, outside of specialized cells, there are few methods with the appropriate spatial and temporal resolution to measure cyclic nucleotide concentrations. We have previously demonstrated that adenovirus-expressed, olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels provide real-time sensors for cAMP produced in subcellular compartments of restricted diffusion near the plasma membrane (Rich, T.C., K.A. Fagan, H. Nakata, J. Schaack, D.M.F. Cooper, and J.W. Karpen. 2000. J. Gen. Physiol. 116:147-161). To increase the utility of this method, we have modified the channel, increasing both its cAMP sensitivity and specificity, as well as removing regulation by Ca(2)+-calmodulin. We verified the increased sensitivity of these constructs in excised membrane patches, and in vivo by monitoring cAMP-induced Ca(2)+ influx through the channels in cell populations. The improved cAMP sensors were used to monitor changes in local cAMP concentration induced by adenylyl cyclase activators in the presence and absence of PDE inhibitors. This approach allowed us to identify localized PDE types in both nonexcitable HEK-293 and excitable GH4C1 cells. We have also developed a quantitative framework for estimating the K(I) of PDE inhibitors in vivo. The results indicate that PDE type IV regulates local cAMP levels in HEK-293 cells. In GH4C1 cells, inhibitors specific to PDE types I and IV increased local cAMP levels. The results suggest that in these cells PDE type IV has a high K(m) for cAMP, whereas PDE type I has a low K(m) for cAMP. Furthermore, in GH4C1 cells, basal adenylyl cyclase activity was readily observable after application of PDE type I inhibitors, indicating that there is a constant synthesis and hydrolysis of cAMP in subcellular compartments near the plasma membrane. Modulation of constitutively active adenylyl cyclase and PDE would allow for rapid control of cAMP-regulated processes such as cellular excitability.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Evidence for the involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the exocytosis of amylase from parotid acinar cells.

To determine the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the exocytosis of amylase from rat parotid acini, I studied the effects of various cAMP analogues on amylase release and protein phosphorylation in saponin-permeabilized parotid cells. The dose-dependent responses of amylase release and protein phosphorylation evoked by cAMP, dibutyryl-cAMP, and 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP were closely correlated. Furthermore, when the permeabilized cells were incubated with a combination of site-selective cAMP analogues, such as N6-benzoyl-cAMP plus 8-thiomethyl-cAMP (RII-directed) or N6-benzoyl-cAMP plus 8-aminohexylamino-cAMP (RI-directed), synergistic stimulation of amylase release was clearly observed. As reported previously [T. Takuma (1988) Biochem. J. 256, 867-871], however, the protein phosphorylation evoked by 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP was markedly inhibited by H-8 without a significant decrease in amylase release. These results suggest that cAMP-dependent protein kinase is involved in the regulation of amylase exocytosis, although the role of its catalytic subunit is still uncertain.

Amylases↗

Involvement of the CDC25 gene product in the signal transmission pathway of the glucose-induced RAS-mediated cAMP signal in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Addition of glucose or related fermentable sugars to derepressed cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae triggers a RAS-protein-mediated cAMP signal, which induces a protein phosphorylation cascade. Yeast strains without a functional CDC25 gene were deficient in basal cAMP synthesis and in the glucose-induced cAMP signal. Addition of dinitrophenol, which in wild-type strains strongly stimulates in vivo cAMP synthesis by lowering intracellular pH, did not enhance the cAMP level. cdc25 disruption mutants, in which the basal cAMP level was restored by the RAS2val19 oncogene or by disruption of the gene (PDE2) coding for the high-affinity phosphodiesterase, were still deficient in the glucose- and acidification-induced cAMP responses. These results indicate that the CDC25 gene product is required not only for basal cAMP synthesis in yeast but also for specific activation of cAMP synthesis by the signal transmission pathway leading from glucose to adenyl cyclase. They also show that intracellular acidification stimulates the pathway at or upstream of the CDC25 protein. When shifted to the restrictive temperature, cells with the temperature sensitive cdc25-5 mutation lost their cAMP content within a few minutes. After prolonged incubation at the restrictive temperature, cells with this mutation, and also those with the temperature sensitive cdc25-1 mutation, arrested at the 'start' point (in G1) of the cell cycle, and subsequently accumulated in the resting state G0. In contrast with cdc25-5 cells, however, the cAMP level did not decrease and normal glucose- and acidification-induced cAMP responses were observed when cdc25-1 cells were shifted to the restrictive temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The lag phase rather than the exponential-growth phase on glucose is associated with a higher cAMP level in wild-type and cAPK-attenuated strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae several phenotypic properties controlled by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) are indicative of high cAPK activity during growth on glucose and low activity during growth on non-fermentable carbon sources and in stationary phase. It has been a matter of debate whether the apparently higher activity of cAPK in cells growing on glucose is due to a higher cAMP level or to an alternative mechanism activating cAPK. The cAMP level during diauxic growth of yeast cells in cultures with different initial glucose levels and different initial cell densities has been reinvestigated and the previously reported twofold increase in cAMP during growth initiation has been confirmed. However, this increase was transient and entirely associated with the lag phase of growth. The initiation of exponential growth on glucose was associated with a decrease in the cAMP level and there was no correlation between this decrease in cAMP and the depletion of glucose in the medium. In mutants defective in feedback inhibition of cAMP synthesis, resuspension of exponential-phase glucose-grown cells in glucose medium caused an extended lag phase during which a huge, transient accumulation of cAMP occurred. The latter required the presence of glucose and nitrogen, but not phosphate or sulfate, and was not due to intracellular acidification, as shown by in vivo 31P-NMR spectroscopy. The initiation of exponential growth on glucose was also associated in this case with a decrease in cAMP rather than an increase. This behaviour was also observed in strains with attenuated catalytic subunit activity and lacking the regulatory subunit and even in strains without catalytic subunits of cAPK. This might indicate that other mechanisms are able to cause down-regulation of cAMP synthesis in a way mimicking feedback inhibition. Transfer of glucose-growing cells of wild-type or cAPK-attenuated strains to a nitrogen starvation medium resulted in an increase in the cAMP level rather than a decrease. The results indicate that the apparent changes in cAPK activity in vivo during diauxic growth on glucose and during nitrogen starvation cannot be explained on the basis of changes in the cAMP level.

Cyclic AMP↗

Ca++ antagonists distinguish different requirements for cAMP-mediated gene expression in the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum.

Cyclic AMP is essential for the accumulation of many prespore mRNAs and can advance the time of appearance of mRNAs specifically enriched in prestalk cells. Additionally, when late-developing cells are washed free of cAMP, a number of growth phase mRNAs reaccumulate. This reaccumulation can be suppressed by cAMP. These effects of cAMP are all mediated through the cell surface cAMP receptor and can occur under conditions where the receptor-associated adenylate cyclase is inactive, indicating that the initial intracellular transduction event necessary for expression of these mRNAs does not depend upon cAMP synthesis. The dihydropyridine derivatives, nifedipine and nitrendipine, are highly specific Ca++ channel blockers. They are shown here to prevent the influx of Ca++ from the external medium that occurs in response to cAMP binding to the cell surface receptor during development. These two compounds as well as another Ca++ antagonist, 8-N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzoate (TMB-8) and a calmodulin inhibitor, N-(6-amino-hexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide (W7), all specifically decrease cAMP-mediated prespore mRNA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. They also prevent cAMP from suppressing the expression of the growth phase genes. The growth phase mRNAs reaccumulate in cAMP-treated cells in the presence of increasing concentrations of these drugs. By contrast, cAMP induction of the pre-stalk-enriched mRNA is not as significantly affected by these agents. These results raise the possibility that the cell surface cAMP receptor can couple to different signal transduction systems and thereby induce or suppress the expression of different sets of cAMP-regulated genes during development.

Animals↗

Kinetics of ion channel modulation by cAMP in rat hippocampal neurones.

Ion channel regulation by cyclic AMP and protein kinase A is a major effector mechanism for monoamine transmitters and neuromodulators in the CNS. Surprisingly, there is little information about the speed and kinetic limits of cAMP-PKA-dependent excitability changes in the brain. To explore these questions, we used flash photolysis of caged-cAMP (DMNB-cAMP) to provide high temporal resolution. The resultant free cAMP concentration was calculated from separate experiments in which this technique was used, in excised patches, to activate cAMP-sensitive cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In hippocampal pyramidal neurones we studied the modulation of a potassium current (slow AHP current, I(sAHP)) known to be targeted by multiple transmitter systems that use cAMP-PKA. Rapid cAMP elevation by flash photolyis of 200 microm DMNB-cAMP completely inhibited the K(+) current. The estimated yield (1.3-3%) suggests that photolysis of 200 microm caged precursor is sufficient for full PKA activation. By contrast, extended gradual photolysis of 200 microm DMNB-cAMP caused stable but only partial inhibition. The kinetics of rapid cAMP inhibition of the K(+) conductance (time constant 1.5-2 s) were mirrored by changes in firing patterns commencing within 500 ms of rapid cAMP elevation. Maximal increases in firing were short-lasting (< 60 s) and gave way to moderately enhanced levels of spiking. The results demonstrate how the fidelity of phasic monoamine signalling can be preserved by the cAMP-PKA pathway.

Action Potentials↗

cAMP-adenosine pathway in the proximal tubule.

The "extracellular cAMP-adenosine pathway" refers to the conversion of cAMP to AMP by ecto-phosphodiesterase, followed by metabolism of AMP to adenosine by ecto-5'-nucleotidase, with all the steps occurring in the extracellular compartment. This study investigated whether the extracellular cAMP-adenosine pathway exists in proximal tubules. Freshly isolated proximal tubules rapidly converted basolaterally administered cAMP to AMP and adenosine. Proximal tubular cells in culture (first passage) rapidly converted apically administered cAMP to AMP and adenosine. In both freshly isolated proximal tubules and cultured proximal tubular cells, conversion of cAMP to AMP and adenosine was affected by a broad-spectrum phosphodiesterase inhibitor (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine), an ecto-phosphodiesterase inhibitor (1,3-dipropyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine), and a blocker of ecto-5'-nucleotidase (alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine-5'-diphosphate) in a manner consistent with exogenous cAMP being processed by the extracellular cAMP-adenosine pathway. In cultured proximal tubular cells, but not freshly isolated proximal tubules, stimulation of adenylyl cyclase increased extracellular concentrations of cAMP, AMP, and adenosine plus inosine, and these changes were also modulated by the inhibitors in a manner consistent with the extracellular cAMP-adenosine pathway. Conversion of renal interstitial (basolateral) cAMP and AMP to adenosine in vivo was shown by microdialysis coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis showed A1, A2A, and A3 receptors on both apical and basolateral proximal tubular membranes, with A1 and A2A receptors more highly expressed on basolateral compared with apical membranes. We conclude that cAMP that reaches either the apical or basolateral membranes of proximal tubular cells is converted in part to adenosine that has ready access to adenosine receptors.

Adenosine↗