Partial purification and some properties of pyruvate carboxylase from the flight muscle of the locust (Schistocerca gregaria).

A procedure is described for the partial purification of pyruvate carboxylase (pyruvate:CO2 ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.4.1.1) from the flight muscle of the locust (Schistocerca gregaria). Characterisation of the kinetic properties of this enzyme indicates that it is activated by acetyl-CoA, is insensitive to inhibition by di- and tricarboxylic acids and exhibits an apparent Km for HCO3-(16 mM) which differs by an order of magnitude from that observed for other pyruvate carboxylases. It is suggested that activation of this locust flight muscle pyruvate carboxylase during the rest leads to flight transition may result from increases in the concentrations of pyruvate and HCO3- under these conditions.

Studies on signal transduction mechanisms for adrenaline-driven lipolysis in white and brown adipocytes.

White and brown rat adipocytes have been permeabilised by repeated exposure of the cells in suspension to high voltage electrical discharges. The resulting preparations were permeable to low molecular weight materials, e.g., cyclic AMP, propidium iodide, and were stable in suspension with little evidence of rapid resealing, or of gross damage to the cell membrane. Leakage of lactate dehydrogenase was not markedly enhanced except at voltages in excess of 2 kV cm-1 for brown adipocytes. Exogenously-added cyclic AMP stimulated lipolysis (measured as glycerol release) in the electropermeabilised adipocytes far more effectively than in intact adipocytes. In brown, but not in white, adipocytes this effect was enhanced by addition of millimolar ATP. The EC50 for stimulation of glycerol release by cyclic AMP was 0.2 microM in electropermeabilised brown adipocytes, and 2 microM and 40 microM in electropermeabilised white adipocytes obtained from weanling and adult rats respectively. The effect of cyclic AMP on lipolysis was enhanced by addition of an inhibitor of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases and was reduced by addition of 5'-AMP, adenosine or inosine (in brown adipocytes). Addition of adenosine deaminase caused a small, but significant, enhancement of cyclic AMP-driven lipolysis. Catecholamine-driven lipolysis was observed in electropermeabilised brown and white adipocytes, especially in the presence of GTP. Adrenaline-, and to a lesser extent cyclic AMP-, driven lipolysis in electropermeabilised white adipocytes was inhibited by insulin. This effect of insulin was not enhanced by addition of GTP or of a metabolically stable GTP analogue. The results obtained establish the electropermeabilised preparation as suitable for analysis of signal transduction pathways in white and brown adipocytes.

Effect of various excitatory agonists on the secretion of 5-hydroxytryptamine from permeabilised human platelets induced by Ca2+ in the presence or absence of GTP.

Addition of GTP markedly enhances the ability of thrombin to cause a leftward shift in the Ca2+ dose/response curve for 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion from permeabilised human platelets. Little effect is observed on addition of GTP in the absence of thrombin. Neither ADP nor adrenaline, in the presence or absence of GTP, causes such a shift, whereas 5-hydroxytryptamine does so to a small extent but only in the presence of GTP. The leftward shift in the Ca2+ dose/response curve induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate or 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol is not enhanced by addition of GTP. The thrombin concentration required for half-maximal enhancement of the response to Ca2+ is markedly reduced by addition of GTP. The results support the postulate that the effects of excitatory agonists in this system correlate with their ability to activate phospholipase C and provide further evidence for a role for GTP in signal transduction between the receptor and phospholipase C.

Secretion of 5-hydroxytryptamine from electropermeabilised human platelets. Effects of GTP and cyclic 3',5'-AMP.

Enhancement by thrombin of Ca2+-dependent 5HT secretion in the absence of added GTP decreases as the time between electropermeabilisation and addition of thrombin is increased. No decrease occurs if thrombin is added with GTP. Observation of apparent GTP-independent receptor/phospholipase C coupling may result from the presence of bound GTP in the preparation. Enhancement by GTP of Ca2+-dependent 5HT secretion occurs with a significant lag indicating an agonist-independent effect. Cyclic 3'5'-AMP inhibits enhancement by GTP of Ca2+-dependent 5HT secretion while having no effect on enhancement induced by GTP gamma S. Hence cyclic AMP may impair receptor/phospholipase C coupling by enhancing Np GTPase activity.

The role of 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (AcGEPC) and palmitoyl-lysophosphatidate in the responses of human blood platelets to collagen and thrombin.

Desensitisation of human blood platelets to the effects of 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (1-O-alkylAcGEPC) and palmityl-lysophosphatidate by pre-incubation with these agonists has no effect on the aggregatory or secretory responses to collagen but causes 30-40% inhibition of these responses to thrombin in aspirin-treated platelets. The effects of 1-O-alkylAcGEPC and palmitoyl-lysophosphatidate are not additive. The results are not consistent with the proposal that 1-O-alkylAcGEPC or lysophosphatidate are the mediators for the responses to collagen observed when prostaglandinendoperoxide synthesis is prevented, although they may play some role in the responses to thrombin under these conditions.

Effect of 781094, a new selective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the aggregatory responses of human blood platelets and on binding of [3H]-dihydroergocryptine to these cells.

781094 (2-(2(1, 4-benzodioxanyl))-2-imidazoline hydrochloride) is a potent competitive inhibitor of the aggregatory responses of human platelets induced by adrenaline (pA2 = 7.3) and UK-14304. 781094 is a more potent inhibitor of the pro-aggregatory response to clonidine than of that to methoxamine. The alpha 2/alpha 1-adrenoceptor selectivity ratio is 11.4. 781094 is a potent inhibitor of the binding of [3H]-dihydroergocryptine to platelet lysates. 781094 has no effect on the aggregatory responses of human platelets induced by adenosine-5'-pyrophosphate (ADP), 5-hydroxytryptamine, thrombin, U-46619, or arginine-vasopressin provided that the platelet-rich plasma does not exhibit enhanced responsiveness. In some instances high concentrations of 781094 potentiate the aggregatory response to collagen. In platelet-rich plasma which exhibits enhanced responsiveness, 781094 causes partial inhibition of the aggregatory responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine, ADP and vasopressin at concentrations similar to those required to inhibit the response to adrenaline. 781094 acts as a specific antagonist for the responses mediated by human platelet alpha-adrenoceptors and exhibits moderate selectivity for the alpha 2-adrenoceptors on this cell.

Platelet beta-adrenoceptors.

Inhibition by isoprenaline of the aggregatory response of human and rat platelets induced by various excitatory agonists is blocked by beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonists. beta 1-Adrenoceptor antagonists are ineffective. beta 2-Adrenoceptor agonists cause inhibition of the response of human platelets to various excitatory agonists. The maximal extent of inhibition is less than that observed for isoprenaline. beta 1-Adrenoceptor agonists fail to cause detectable inhibition of this response. Neither beta 1 nor beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists cause inhibition of the response of rat platelets to excitatory agonists. Only beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists block the inhibitory response to isoprenaline. The extent of inhibition by isoprenaline is a function of the excitatory agonist used and in human platelets is correlated with the ability of that agonist to suppress elevated platelet cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels. Inhibition by isoprenaline is prevented in the presence of an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase. Isoprenaline increases platelet cyclic AMP levels with an EC50 similar to that required to observe inhibition of the aggregatory response. These data indicate that human platelets carry beta 2-adrenoceptors whose occupancy causes inhibition of the response to excitatory agonists as a consequence of elevation of platelet cyclic AMP. The beta-adrenoceptor present on rat platelets also appears to be of the beta 2-subtype.

Interaction of selective alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists with human and rabbit blood platelets.

1 The selectivity of alpha-adrenoceptors mediating the pro-aggregatory response of human and rabbit platelets to adrenaline and the conditions required to permit expression of an aggregatory response to partial agonists at these alpha-adrenoceptors have been studied.2 Yohimbine causes effective blockade of the pro-aggregatory responses whereas indoramin and prazosin are ineffective.3 The clonidine analogue, UK-14304, is nearly as effective as adrenaline in inducing an aggregatory response in human platelets and a pro-aggregatory response in rabbit platelets. Cross-tachyphylaxis between adrenaline and UK-14304 has been demonstrated.4 Clonidine is a weak agonist for the pro-aggregatory response of rabbit platelets and in some donors for the aggregatory response of human platelets.5 Methoxamine induces a pro-aggregatory response in human platelets which is blocked by indoramin or prazosin but not by yohimbine. No such response to methoxamine is observed in rabbit platelets.6 The divalent cation ionophore, A-23187, induces an aggregatory response to clonidine (in platelets from a non-responsive donor), phenylephrine and methoxamine in human platelets and to adrenaline, UK-14304 and clonidine in rabbit platelets. A secretory response to clonidine is also induced by A-23187 in human platelets.7 The adenylate cyclase inhibitor, SQ-22536, is ineffective in either inducing a response to the alpha-agonists or potentiating the effect of A-23187.8 The aggregatory responses to adrenaline and UK-14304 in rabbit platelets and to clonidine in human and rabbit platelets, which can be induced by A-23187, are blocked by yohimbine but not by prazosin or indoramin.9 From these studies we conclude that the pro-aggregatory responses of human and rabbit platelets to adrenaline are mediated primarily by alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. The presence of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors on human platelets is confirmed but these receptors do not appear to be present on rabbit platelets. The conditions required for expression of an aggregatory response to partial agonists at the human and rabbit platelet alpha-adrenoceptors implicate an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration as a key event in stimulus-response coupling but do not indicate such a role for depression of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate concentration.

Mammalian platelet adrenoceptors.

Mammalian platelets vary widely in their responses to catecholamines in part because these agonists can act via excitatory alpha- and inhibitory beta-adrenoceptors. In the absence of antagonists, adrenaline enhances the response of rabbit platelets to an excitatory agonist, e.g. adenosine-5'-O-(1-thiodiphosphate) (ADP-alpha-s) acting at another receptor, but has no effect on the response of rat or guinea pig platelets to such an agonist. In the presence of a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, adrenaline enhances the response of rat, but not guinea-pig platelets to ADP-alpha-S and the extent of the enhanced effect on rabbit platelets is increased. In the presence of an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, adrenaline inhibits the response of rabbit and rat platelets to ADP-alpha-S but has no such effect on the response of guinea-pig platelets. Studies using selective agonists and antagonists demonstrate that the excitatory response of rat platelets to adrenaline is mediated by an alpha 2-adrenoceptor, and the inhibitory response of rabbit platelets to adrenaline by a beta 2-adrenoceptor as is the case in other species which have been examined. The mean alpha 2-adrenoceptor density on human, rabbit, rat and guinea-pig platelets as assessed using [3H]-yohimbine as radioligand is obtained as 258, 270, 42 and less than 10 receptors per platelet. The mean beta 2-adrenoceptor density on human, rabbit, rat and guinea-pig platelets as assessed using (-)-[125I]-iodocyanopindolol is obtained as 66, 14, 41 and less than 5 receptors per platelet. The nature of the effect of adrenaline on the response of mammalian platelets to other excitatory agonists, e.g. ADP-alpha-S, appears therefore to be largely determined by the absolute number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and by the relative content of alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenoceptors on these cells for the species which have been examined in this analysis.

Effects of alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists and of related compounds on aggregation of, and on adenylate cyclase activity in, human platelets.

A range of 2-(,5-dihydroimidazolyl)-benzene, -quinoline, and -quinoxaline derivatives and 2-morpholino-4-catechol have been characterized as agonists or partial agonists for human platelet aggregation; and for inhibition of adenylate cyclase by measurement of their effect on platelet [cyclic-3',5'-AMP]. Antagonist activity for these compounds versus adrenaline as agonist has also been assessed for these two responses. The compounds can be divided into 4 groups. Group I contains compounds that are agonists for both responses; group II, compounds that are agonists for inhibition of adenylate cyclase but antagonists for the aggregatory response; group III, compounds that are agonists for the aggregatory response but are antagonists for inhibition of adenylate cyclase by adrenaline; and group IV, compounds that are antagonists for both responses. In group I the EC50 values for induction of aggregation are not significantly different from the EC50 values for inhibition of adenylate cyclase except for 2-morpholino-4-catechol which is significantly more potent as an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase. In group IV a linear correlation is observed between the K1 values for the two responses for 8 compounds but 2 other compounds do not conform to this correlation. The data are not consistent with a model in which a single chi 2-adrenoceptor mediates both the aggregatory response and inhibition of adenylate cyclase and hence support a model in which unique chi 2-adrenoceptors mediate these two responses.

Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and human platelets: relationship of effects to lipid solubility.

Six beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (propranolol (+ and - isomers); ICI-118,551; oxprenolol; timolol; metoprolol; and practolol (+ and - isomers), chosen to represent a spectrum of physicochemical and pharmacological properties, inhibited the response of human platelets to all aggregating agents tested. For any given aggregating agent the extent of inhibition correlated with the lipid solubility of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist and showed no relation to other properties of these compounds. Inhibition of aggregation by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists was manifested as a parallel shift to the right in the dose-response curve. Analysis of these data according to Arunlakshana and Schild (Br. J. Pharmac. 14, 48-58 (1969] showed a dependence of the apparent pA2 on the agonist employed and gave a slope approximating unity when ADP, 9,11-epoxymethanoprostaglandin H2 (U-46619), adrenaline, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (PAF) or arachidonate were used as agonists. Slopes significantly greater than unity, and approaching a value of 2, were obtained when this analysis was applied to data obtained using collagen in the presence or absence of aspirin, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), or a divalent cation ionophore (A-23187) as agonists. Inhibition by (+/-) propranolol of secretion induced by collagen was manifested as a parallel shift to the right in the dose-response curve for collagen. The Schild plot of these data has a slope of unity. (+/-)-Propranolol inhibited thromboxane B2 production induced by collagen but over a similar concentration range had little effect on conversion of arachidonate to thromboxane B2. (+/-)Propranolol had no significant effect on the level of cyclic-3',5'-AMP (cAMP) in unstimulated platelets or on the increase in the level caused by addition of forskolin, but caused partial inhibition of the increase in platelet cAMP induced by prostaglandin E1. It also completely abolished inhibition by ADP of the increase in [cyclic-3',5'-AMP] induced by prostaglandin E1. These data are interpreted on the basis of a model in which interaction of propranolol with phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol causes inhibition of phospholipases C and A2, inhibition of protein kinase C and alteration of membrane receptor properties as a consequence of distortion of their microenvironment.

Identification of small peptide analogues having agonist and antagonist activity at the platelet thrombin receptor.

Two tripeptide analogues (N-[3-methyl-1-S[[2-S [(methyl-amino)carbonyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl] carbonyl]butyl-D-analine) (SC40476) and N-[3-methyl-S-(1-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)butyl]-D-alanine, ethyl ester, hydrochloride (SC42619], inhibit aggregation of, and secretion from, human platelets induced by thrombin but cause no significant inhibition of esterolysis or fibrin formation catalysed by this enzyme. Inhibition by SC40476 of the aggregatory response induced by thrombin is incomplete. Neither peptide analogue inhibits aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, vasopressin or 11,9-epoxymethanoprostaglandin H2 (U-46619). Enhancement of the response is observed when nonsaturating concentrations of these agonists are employed. SC42619 causes a parallel shift to the right in the concentration-response curve describing aggregation induced by thrombin. The Schild plot of these data has a slope of 1.05 and the pA2 is 2.9 +/- 0.1. Both SC40476 and SC42619 induced a small but significant decrease in the single platelet content of platelet suspensions. Neither peptide analogue increases platelet cytosolic [Ca2+] measured using quin 2 or Fura 2. Both analogues cause inhibition of the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] induced by thrombin. Inhibition by SC42619 is competitive with respect to thrombin when the extracellular [Ca2+] is reduced to less than 0.1 microM but is non-competitive in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+. SC42619 also inhibits the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+]induced by ADP in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+ but not the smaller increase caused by this agonist when the medium contains less than 0.1 microM Ca2+. SC42619 inhibits Mn2+ influx induced by thrombin and ADP. SC40476 and SC42619 inhibit the enhanced incorporation of [32P] into phosphatidic acid observed on stimulation by thrombin of platelets pre-labelled with [32P]-phosphate. Addition of the peptide analogues alone fails to increase significantly the 32P content of phosphatidate, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylethanolamine. SC40476 causes no detectable hydrolysis of glycoprotein V as detected by release of the proteolytic product (glycoprotein VFR). The results indicate that SC40476 and SC42619 interact selectively with the platelet thrombin receptor. Both peptide analogues act as effective antagonists for this receptor but also possess weak agonist activity which may also result from interaction with the thrombin receptor. The molecular basis for this latter activity has not been defined. SC42619 non-selectively inhibits Ca2+ influx induced by several agonists but this effect does not appear to contribute to the observed inhibition of the aggregatory and secretory responses.

Thrombin receptor antagonists. Structure-activity relationships for the platelet thrombin receptor and effects on prostacyclin synthesis by human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Structure-activity studies on a series of analogues of N-(3-methyl-S-(1-pyrrolidinyl carbonyl) butyl)-D-alanine ethyl ester hydrochloride (SC42619) have defined the features of this dipeptide analogue required for observation of thrombin receptor antagonist activity on the human platelet. The affinity for SC42619, and for its structural analogue SC43583 is enhanced by pretreatment of the platelets with chymotrypsin. Endothelial cell prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis induced by thrombin and trypsin is selectively inhibited by SC42619 provided that prolonged exposure to this antagonist is avoided. However inhibition of PGI2 synthesis by SC42619 is not overcome by increasing the thrombin concentration. The data provide further support for identification of SC42619 and certain of its analogues as selective antagonists at the platelet thrombin receptor but suggest that these compounds may have more complex, and possibly non-selective effects on the endothelial cell.

Adenylate kinase isoenzymes in Aspergillus nidulans.

Adenylate kinase isoenzymes localised in the mitochondria and in the cytosol have been detected in extracts of glucose-grown Aspergillus nidulans using specific staining after electrophoresis on cellulose acetate. The isoenzymes have similar Km values for AMP, ADP and MgATP2- but may differ in the mechanism used for internucleotide phosphate transfer.

Inhibition by luciferin-luciferase reagents of aggregatory responses to excitatory agonists in washed platelet suspensions.

Addition of two commercial luciferin-luciferase reagents caused marked inhibition of the aggregatory response of washed human platelets to thrombin, ADP, vasopressin and platelet-activating factor (PAF). Analysis of the effects of the individual components of one of these reagents revealed that Mg2+, and to a lesser extent bovine serum albumin, was responsible for the observed inhibition. A modified luciferin/luciferase reagent has been designed on the basis of these data for use in washed platelet suspensions which causes minimal inhibition of the aggregatory and secretory responses to thrombin but which gives a near maximal luminescence yield.

Binding of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol and [3H]-acetobutolol to human blood platelets is not related to occupancy of beta-adrenoceptors.

Binding of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol to human platelet lysates is inhibited by (+/-)-propranolol and (+/-)-butoxamine, but less effectively by (+/-) practolol. (-)-Isoprenaline causes no significant inhibition of binding where stimulation of adenylate cyclase can be shown. Binding of [3H]-acetobutolol is also inhibited by (+/-)-propranolol. "Specific" binding of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol and [3H]-acetobutolol defined by (+/-) propranolol shows a non-classical saturation curve. 50% maximal binding is observed in the range 15-25 mM. The extent of "specific" binding is 2-fold greater for [3H]-dihydroalprenolol. Similar and rapid rates of binding of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol are observed at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C. No stereoselectivity is observed for inhibition of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol binding by (+) and (-)-propranolol. Binding of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol and [3H]-acetobutolol may relate to the lipophilic character of these radioligands and does not represent interaction with beta-adrenoceptors.

Particle volume changes associated with light transmittance changes in the platelet aggregometer: dependence upon aggregating agent and effectiveness of stimulus.

The increase in light transmittance of aspirin-treated platelet-rich plasma caused by addition of non-saturating doses of ADP and, at earlier times, of adrenaline is correlated with formation of aggregates having a volume in the range 490-8580 fl. and containing 100-2000 platelets. The disappearance of single platelets and the formation of aggregates having volumes less than 490 fl. makes no significant contribution to the increase in light transmittance. Similar relationships are observed on addition of saturating doses of ADP and adrenaline except that the formation of aggregates larger than 8580 fl. contributes significantly to the initial phase of the increase in light transmittance and is more closely correlated with the overall change in this parameter.

Synergistic responses and receptor occupancy in rabbit blood platelets.

Several observations indicate that simultaneous receptor occupancy is necessary for generation of a synergistic response of rabbit platelets to two excitatory agonists. First, an aggregatory response to adrenaline induced by prior addition of 5HT reverses rapidly unless stabilised by inhibition of 5HT uptake. The extent of response correlates with the extracellular 5HT concentration. Second, addition of an ADPase following adrenaline enhances the rate of disaggregation if the response to this agonist has been induced by prior addition of ADP. Third, disaggregation is induced, or enhanced, if an antagonist selective to the inducing agonist is added following completion of the induced aggregatory response. These data suggest marked lability in the mechanisms responsible for generation of synergistic responses.

Some properties of the human platelet vasopressin receptor.

Aggregation of human platelets by vasopressin is potently inhibited by 1-[beta mercapto-(beta, beta'-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid)]-L-arginine vasopressin, a selective vasopressor (V1) antagonist. 1-Desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin, a selective anti-diuretic (V2) agonist failed to induce aggregation and acted as a weak antagonist. Vasopressin analogues which lacked the N-terminal amino group or which contained an uncharged amino acid residue at position 8 acted as partial agonists for the human platelet. The response to such partial agonists could be enhanced by increasing the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration but not by altering the level of cyclic-3', 5'-AMP. These observations provide further evidence indicating that the platelet vasopressin receptor is of the V1 sub-type.

Synergistic interaction and platelet inhibitory agonists.

Marked synergistic interaction is observed between two platelet excitatory agonists neither of which cause inhibition of adenylate cyclase. No synergistic interaction is observed between the platelet inhibitory agonists PGI2, PGD2 and adenosine nor between ADP and adrenaline when acting as inhibitory agonists for adenylate cyclase. The studies suggest that synergistic interaction between platelet agonists may be restricted to the excitatory responses.