The role of cAMP in nerve growth factor-promoted neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells has been described to be synergistically potentiated by the simultaneous addition of dibutyryl cAMP. To elucidate further the role of cAMP in NGF-induced neurite outgrowth we have used the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, cAMP, and a set of chemically modified cAMP analogues, including the adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphorothioates (cAMPS) (Rp)-cAMPS and (Sp)-cAMPS. These diastereomers have differential effects on the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinases, i.e., (Sp)-cAMPS behaves as a cAMP agonist and (Rp)-cAMPS behaves as a cAMP antagonist. Our data show that the establishment of a neuritic network, as observed from PC12 cells treated with NGF alone, could not be induced by either forskolin, cAMP, or cAMP analogues alone. The presence of NGF in combination with forskolin or cAMP or its agonistic analogues potentiated the initiation of neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. The (Sp)-cAMPS-induced stimulation of NGF-mediated process formation was successfully blocked by the (Rp)-cAMPS diastereomer. On the other hand, NGF-stimulated neurite outgrowth was not inhibited by the presence of the cAMP antagonist (Rp)-cAMPS. We conclude that the morphological differentiation of PC12 cells stimulated by NGF does not require cAMP as a second messenger. The constant increase of intracellular cAMP, caused by either forskolin or cAMP and the analogues, in combination with NGF, not only rapidly stimulated early neurite outgrowth but also exerted a maintaining effect on the neuronal network established by NGF.

Evaluation of the acute toxicity of perfluorinated carboxylic acids using eukaryotic cell lines, bacteria and enzymatic assays.

The acute biological activity of a homologous series of perfluorinated carboxylic acids - perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) - was studied. To analyze the potential risk of the perfluorinated acids to humans and the environment, different in vitro toxicity test systems were employed. The cytotoxicity of the chemicals towards two different types of mammalian cell lines and one marine bacteria was investigated. The viability of cells from the promyelocytic leukemia rat cell line (IPC-81) and the rat glioma cell line (C6) was assayed calorimetrically with WST-1 reagent. The evaluation was combined with the Vibrio fischeri acute bioluminescence inhibition assay. The biological activity of the compounds was also determined at the molecular level with acetylcholinesterase and glutathione reductase inhibition assays. This is the first report of the effects of perfluorinated acids on the activity of purified enzymes. The results show these compounds have a very low acute biological activity. The observed effective concentrations lie in the millimole range, which is well above probable intracellular concentrations. A relationship was found between the toxicity of the perfluorinated carboxylic acids and the perfluorocarbon chain length: in every test system applied, the longer the perfluorocarbon chain, the more toxic was the acid. The lowest effective concentrations were thus recorded for perfluorononanoic and perfluorodecanoic acids.

Structure and bonding of the multifunctional amino acid L-DOPA on Au(110).

In investigations of the proteins which are responsible for the surface adhesion of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, an unusually frequent appearance of the otherwise rare amino acid 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine (L-DOPA) has been observed. This amino acid is thought to play a major role in the mechanism of mussel adhesion. Here we report a detailed structural and spectroscopic investigation of the interface between L-DOPA and a single-crystalline Au(110) model surface, with the aim of understanding fundamentals about the surface bonding of this amino acid and its role in mussel adhesion. Molecular layers are deposited by organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD) in an ultrahigh-vacuum environment. The following experimental techniques have been applied: ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Vibrational spectra of isolated L-DOPA molecules and the zwitterionic bulk have been calculated using density functional theory (DFT). The predicted modes are assigned to observed spectra, allowing conclusions regarding the molecule-substrate and molecule-molecule interactions at the L-DOPA/Au(110) interface. We find that zwitterionic L-DOPA forms a monochiral, one-domain commensurate monolayer on Au(110), with the catechol rings on top of [110] gold rows, oriented parallel to the surface. The (2 x 1)-Au(110) surface reconstruction is not lifted. The carboxylate group is found in a bidentate or bridging configuration, the amino group is tilted out of the surface plane, and the hydroxyl groups do not dehydrogenate on Au(110). Similar to the case for the bulk, molecules form dimers on Au(110). However, the number of hydrogen bridge bonds between L-DOPA molecules is reduced as compared to the bulk. Thicker layers which are deposited onto the commensurate interface do not order in the bulk structure. In conclusion, our study shows that the aromatic ring system of L-DOPA functions as a surface anchor. Since it is also known that the hydroxyl groups support cross-link reactions between L-DOPA residues in the mussel glue protein, we can conclude that the catechol ring supports surface adhesion of mussel proteins via two independent functions.

Unhydrolyzable analogues of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate demonstrating growth inhibition and differentiation in human cancer cells.

A set of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) analogues that combine exocyclic sulfur substitutions in the equatorial (Rp) or the axial (Sp) position of the cyclophosphate ring with modifications in the adenine base of cAMP were tested for their effect on the growth of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells and LS-174T human colon carcinoma cells. Both diasteromeres of the phosphorothioate derivatives were growth inhibitory, exhibiting a concentration inhibiting 50% of cell proliferation of 3-100 microM. Among the analogues tested, Rp-8-Cl-cAMPS and Sp-8-Br-cAMPS were the two most potent. Rp-8-Cl-cAMPS was 5- to 10-fold less potent than 8-Cl-cAMP while Sp-8-Br-cAMPS was approximately 6-fold more potent than 8-Br-cAMP. The growth inhibition was not due to a block in a specific phase of the cell cycle or due to cytotoxicity. Rp-8-Cl-cAMPS enhanced its growth-inhibitory effect when added together with 8-Cl-cAMP and increased differentiation in combination with N6-benzyl-cAMP. The binding kinetics data showed that these Sp and Rp modifications brought about a greater decrease in affinity for Site B than for Site A of RI (the regulatory subunit of type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and a substantial decrease of affinity for Site A of RII (the regulatory subunit of type II protein kinase) but only a small decrease in affinity for Site B of RII, indicating the importance of the Site B binding of RII in the growth-inhibitory effect. These results show that the phosphorothioate analogues of cAMP are useful tools to investigate the mechanism of action of cAMP in growth control and differentiation and may have practical implication in the suppression of malignancy.

8-Chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate inhibits the growth of Chinese hamster ovary and Molt-4 cells through its adenosine metabolite.

8-Chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate has been reported to inhibit growth of various mammalian cell lines at micromolar concentrations. We have used Chinese hamster ovary cell lines with mutated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or altered cyclic nucleotide metabolism to show that a metabolite, 8-chloroadenosine, is formed in the medium and is the active inhibitor of cell growth in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Adding adenosine deaminase to the Chinese hamster ovary cell growth media removes the inhibition of cell growth attributed to 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Adenosine deaminase or dipyridamole also protects Molt-4 lymphoblasts from the growth-inhibitory effects of 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotides by a purified cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase: structural requirements for hydrolysis.

Hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP analogues by a purified cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase from bovine adrenal tissue was investigated by reversed-phase HPLC. The results indicate that both a negative charge and an equatorial oxygen atom located at the cyclic phosphate residue are absolute requirements for the process of hydrolysis. Other substituents only gradually decreased the apparent hydrolytic activity. C-8-substituted derivatives were generally poor substrates due to the limited ability of these compounds to rotate freely around the glycosidic bond. While C-6- and 0-2'-substituted analogues carrying bulky substituents were also poorly hydrolysed, all other derivatives, including different C-2-, C-6-, 0-3'- and 0-5'-modified cyclic nucleotides, were good substrates. We consistently observed that cyclic GMP and cyclic GMP analogues were better hydrolysed than the corresponding cyclic AMP analogues. Hydrolysis was correlated with neither the hydrogen bond donor/acceptor abilities nor the hydrophobicity of selected cyclic nucleotide analogues. Based on quantum-chemical calculations of the size and direction of the dipole moments of different purine bases, we propose that the polarization of inducible amino acid side-chains within the binding site is involved in the differential binding of adenine-derived and guanine-derived nucleotides. However, the size of the dipole moment alone is not sufficient to explain the observed cGMP-preference. Rather, the direction of the polarization power relative to the other molecular structures involved in binding and hydrolysis seems to be the molecular mechanism by which the enzyme is able to discriminate between cAMP- and cGMP-like structures.

An extended Scatchard analysis for competitively bound ligands and its application to cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and cyclic 5'-amido-5'-deoxyadenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate binding to beef skeletal muscle protein.

A method for determining the dissociation constants of ligands and ligand analogs is described. It is based on competition binding studies in the presence of an isotope-labeled, or otherwise measurable, ligand and suitable analog concentrations. The steps used are determination of (1) the maximal amount of radioactive ligand that can be bound, (2) the slopes and intercepts from Scatchard plots at different analog concentrations and (3) the values for the dissociation constants of radioactive ligand and ligand analog from replots of the reciprocals of the slopes and intercepts obtained from the Scatchard plots. Application of the method to a cyclic AMP-binding protein from beef muscle is demonstrated, yielding dissociation constants of 2.10-9 M for cyclic (3H) AMP and cyclic AMP, and 3.10-5 M for cyclic 5'-amido-5'-deoxyadenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate.

A model for cyclic AMP-chemoreceptor interaction in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Based on the chemotactic activity of approximately 50 different adenosine 3',5'-cyclic-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) derivatives with substitutions at the phosphate, ribose and adenine moieties, a model for the cyclic AMP-chemoreceptor interaction in Dictyostelium discoideum is proposed. In this model the cyclic AMP molecule is bound to the receptor by three hydrogen bonds at, respectively, the 3'-oxygen of the ribose and the 6-amino and the 7-nitrogen of the base, and possibly by one ionic interaction of the negatively charged phosphate group. The conformation of the adenine moiety is in the anti range and binds additionally to the receptor by hydrophobic interactions betueen its pi-electron system and a corresponding acceptor at the active site. Although this receptor clearly differs from that involved in protein kinase activation in higher organisms, the existence of striking similarities suggests a basic mechanism for cyclic AMP interaction conserved during evolution.

Cyclic nucleotide analogs as biochemical tools and prospective drugs.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) are key second messengers involved in a multitude of cellular events. From the wealth of synthetic analogs of cAMP and cGMP, only a few have been explored with regard to their therapeutic potential. Some of the first-generation cyclic nucleotide analogs were promising enough to be tested as drugs, for instance N(6),O(2)'-dibutyryl-cAMP and 8-chloro-cAMP (currently in clinical Phase II trials as an anticancer agent). Moreover, 8-bromo and dibutyryl analogs of cAMP and cGMP have become standard tools for investigations of biochemical and physiological signal transduction pathways. The discovery of the Rp-diastereomers of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate as competitive inhibitors of cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases, as well as subsequent development of related analogs, has proven very useful for studying the molecular basis of signal transduction. These analogs exhibit a higher membrane permeability, increased resistance against degradation, and improved target specificity. Furthermore, better understanding of signaling pathways and ligand/protein interactions has led to new therapeutic strategies. For instance, Rp-8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate is employed against diseases of the immune system. This review will focus mainly on recent developments in cyclic nucleotide-related biochemical and pharmacological research, but also highlights some historical findings in the field.

Effect of cAMP analogues on glomerular inulin space of isolated rats renal glomeruli.

Cyclic AMP has been generally recognised as activator of cAMP-dependent protein kinases. However, there is little evidence about role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), in particular izoenzymes PKA-I and PKA-II, in glomeruli contractility. We measured changes of glomerular inulin space (GIS) as a marker of its contractility in the presence of phosphodiesterase resistance cAMP analogues; activators and inhibitors of PKA. Activator of PKA i.e. (Sp) 8-Cl-cAMPS (0.1-100 microM) decreased GIS. (Rp) 8-Cl-cAMPS (0.1-100 microM), inhibitor of PKA, was ineffective but shifted concentration-response curve of (Sp) 8-Cl-cAMPS to right at 50 microM. Specific A site activation by N6-benzoyl-cAMP decreased GIS with maximum at 0.1 microM. Activation of B site by 8-aminobutyloamino-cAMP (0.1-100 microM) had no effect. However, specific activation of both sites on PKA-I or PKA-II by site-selective analogue pairs e.g. 8-aminobutyloamino-cAMP plus 8-piperidino-cAMP or N6-benzoyl-cAMP plus 8-piperidino-cAMP respectively, significantly increased sensitivity of glomeruli to analogues. Our data suggest that activation of PKA-I or PKA-II might have an important role in the regulation of glomerular contractility.

Differential effects of two structurally related N6-substituted cAMP analogues on C6 glioma cells.

Membrane permeable derivatives of cAMP are widely used to investigate the role of cAMP in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms, underlying the effects of cAMP analogues on growth control and differentiation, the concentration-dependent action of four structurally related cAMP analogues with substitutions at the N6-position in the adenine moiety, namely N6-benzyl-cAMP (Bn-cAMP), N6-benzoyl-cAMP (Bz-cAMP), N6-butyryl-cAMP (Bt-cAMP) and N6, O2'-cAMP (Bt2-cAMP), on C6 rat glioma cell proliferation was determined. The four analogues tested showed different specificities, and the order of growth inhibitory potency was: Bn-cAMP >> Bt-cAMP = Bt2-cAMP >> Bz-cAMP. Thus, although both derivatives have been described to equally bind and activate cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAK) isozymes, Bn-cAMP most effectively inhibited C6 glioma cell proliferation with an IC50 of 25 microM, while Bz-cAMP was almost ineffective in C6 cells (IC50 >> 1000 microM). In vivo and in vitro studies using HPLC analysis, revealed that Bn-cAMP was subject to enzymatic degradation and that the metabolite Bn-adenosine (Bn-Ado) exerted growth inhibitory effects at a concentration even below 10 microM. Additionally, C6 glioma cells morphologically differentiated in the presence of Bn-cAMP (100 microM) and of Bn-Ado (10 microM), by extending long cellular processes. The growth inhibitory activity of Bn-Ado was not influenced, when dipyridamole, an inhibitor of adenosine uptake, was added to the incubation medium, indicating that adenosine action was mediated through a receptor-mediated mechanism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase by (Rp)-guanosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioates.

The activation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase by the diastereomers of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioate, (Sp)-cGMPS and (Rp)-cGMPS, and 8-chloroguanosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioate, (Sp)-8-Cl-cGMPS and (Rp)-8-Cl-cGMPS, was investigated using the peptide Kemptide as substrate. The (Sp)-diastereomers, which have an axial exocyclic sulfur atom, bound to the cGMP-dependent protein kinase and stimulated its phosphotransferase activity. In contrast, the (Rp)-isomers, which have an equatorial exocyclic sulfur atom, bound to the enzyme without stimulation of its activity. (Rp)-cGMPS and (Rp)-8-Cl-cGMPS antagonized the activation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase with a Ki of 20 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively. (Rp)-cGMPS also antagonized the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase with a Ki of 20 microM. In contrast, (Rp)-8-cGMPS ws a weak inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase with a Ki of 100 microM. (Rp)-8-Cl-cGMPS appears to be a rather selective inhibitor of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase and may be a useful tool for studying the role of cGMP in broken and intact cell systems.

Catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase is essential for cAMP-mediated mammalian gene expression.

Cyclic AMP-stimulated mRNA levels in cultured rat hepatocytes were inhibited by three different inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity: (i) Rp-cAMPS, a cAMP analog with a sulfur substitution at the equatorial oxygen of the cyclic monophosphate; (ii) H8, an isoquinoline sulfonamide derivative; and (iii) PKI, a 20-amino acid synthetic peptide of the Walsh protein kinase inhibitor. These inhibitors specifically blocked the cAMP-stimulated increase in mRNA for tyrosine aminotransferase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; they had no effect on the level of albumin mRNA which is not cAMP regulated. These results provide functional evidence that kinase activity involving protein phosphorylation is required in cAMP-mediated gene expression in mammalian cells.

Ala335 is essential for high-affinity cAMP-binding of both sites A and B of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type I.

A single amino acid substitution (Ala335Asp) in cAMP binding site B of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type I was sufficient to abolish high affinity cAMP binding for both cAMP binding sites A and B. Furthermore, the Ala335Asp mutation increased the activation constant for cAMP of the mutant holoenzyme 30-fold and also enhanced the rate of holoenzyme formation. Thus, the substitution was responsible for the dominant negative phenotype of the enzyme. Activation of mutant holoenzyme with site-selective cAMP analogs indicated that the enzyme dissociated through binding to site A only. Our results provide evidence that Ala335 is an essential residue for high affinity cAMP binding of both sites as well as for the functional integrity of the enzyme.

Analysis of the functional role of cGMP-dependent protein kinase in intact human platelets using a specific activator 8-para-chlorophenylthio-cGMP.

8-(p-Chlorophenylthio)-cGMP (8-pCPT-cGMP) and 8-bromo-cGMP were compared with respect to their chemical and biological properties in order to evaluate their potential as selective activators of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-PK; EC 2.7.1.37) in intact human platelets. 8-pCPT-cGMP, 8-Br-cGMP and cGMP were shown to be potent and selective activators of purified bovine lung cGMP-PK and of cGMP-PK present in human platelet membranes when compared with the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK; EC 2.7.1.37). 8-pCPT-cGMP was not hydrolysed by the purified cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (cGS-PDE), cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase (cGI-PDE) and Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase (CaM-PDE), whereas cGMP and, to a lesser extent, 8-Br-cGMP were hydrolysed by all three types of 3',5' cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (EC 3.1.4.17) examined. Also, 8-pCPT-cGMP was not hydrolysed by a human platelet homogenate which contains a high level of the cGMP-specific cGMP-binding phosphodiesterase (cGB-PDE). Additionally, 8-pCPT-cGMP did not activate the cGS-PDE or inhibit the cGI-PDE, whereas half-maximal inhibition of cGI-PDE occurred at 8 microM 8-Br-cGMP. The apparent lipophilicity of 8-pCPT-cGMP was higher than that of 8-Br-cGMP. Extracellular application of 8-pCPT-cGMP to intact human platelets reproduced the pattern of protein phosphorylation induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a cGMP-elevating inhibitor of platelet activation. Quantitatively, 8-pCPT-cGMP was more effective than 8-Br-cGMP in inducing phosphorylation of the 46/50 kDa vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, a major substrate of cGMP-PK in intact platelets. As observed with SNP, pretreatment of human platelets with 8-pCPT-cGMP prevented the aggregation induced by thrombin. The results suggest that 8-pCPT-cGMP is a very potent and selective activator of cGMP-PK in cell extracts and in intact human platelets and, in this respect, is superior to 8-Br-cGMP and other cGMP analogs used for intact cell studies. The data also suggest that inhibition of platelet activation in intact human platelets by nitrovasodilators is mediated by cGMP-PK.

Blockade of granulosa cell differentiation by an antagonistic analog of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP): central but non-exclusive intermediary role of cAMP in follicle-stimulating hormone action.

The intermediary role and relative importance of cAMP in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) hormonal action were reinvestigated at the level of the rat granulosa cell employing Rp-cAMPS, a novel antagonistic analog of cAMP. This approach may not only provide for direct documentation of cAMP dependence, but may also, by inference, highlight the potential relative importance of other putative intracellular second messenger systems. Initial cell-free validation studies indicated that Rp-cAMPS is capable of effectively competing with cAMP for binding to and activation of the regulatory subunit of the granulosa cell A-kinase holoenzyme. Subsequent whole-cell studies employed cultured rat granulosa cells, the cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity of which was suppressed with ZK62711. Basal progesterone accumulation was relatively low, remaining unaffected by treatment with a maximally effective dose of Rp-cAMPS by itself (10(-3) M). Whereas treatment with FSH (30 ng/ml) resulted in a substantial increase in progesterone accumulation, concurrent treatment with increasing concentrations (10(-6)-10(-3) M) or Rp-cAMPS brought about dose-dependent decrements in the FSH effect with a median effective dose of 1.8 +/- (SE) 0.4 x 10(-5) M and a maximal, but incomplete inhibitory effect of 70 +/- (SE) 6%. Higher concentrations of FSH (greater than or equal to 100 ng/ml) progressively diminished, but did not abolish the Rp-cAMPS blockade. Removal of Rp-cAMPS resulted in progressive resumption of FSH responsiveness suggesting reversibility of action. Significantly, Rp-cAMPS proved highly effective in blocking the action of its agonistic diastereomer Sp-cAMPS. However, Rp-cAMPS was unable to block the action of the lactogenic receptor agonist prolactin, the second messenger of which remains uncertain. Taken together, these findings provide additional direct support to the notion that cAMP may be an intracellular second messenger of FSH. However, to the extent that Rp-cAMPS is incapable of complete neutralization of FSH action, our findings further suggest that cAMP may play a central, albeit non-exclusive role in FSH-supported granulosa cell differentiation and that other putative second messenger systems may also be at play.

Kinetics and nucleotide specificity of a surface cAMP binding site in Dictyostelium discoideum, which is not down-regulated by cAMP.

Dictyostelium cells exhibit four types of kinetically distinct surface cAMP binding sites, the AH, AL, BS, and BSS sites, which are down-regulated during persistent stimulation with cAMP. Although most cAMP-induced responses are subject to desensitization during constant stimulation, some responses, notably the induction of post-aggregative gene expression, require persistent cAMP stimulation. The kinetics and specificity of residual cAMP-binding activity in cells treated for 4 h with micromolar cAMP were investigated. It was found that around 4000 rapidly dissociating binding sites per cell with an affinity of about 300 nM are retained after down-regulation. The nucleotide specificity of the remaining sites was very similar, but not completely identical to the AH, AL and B sites, suggesting that these sites belong to the same class of cell surface cAMP receptors and may be utilized to mediate responses requiring continuous cAMP stimulation.

Zn2+ and Cd2+ increase the cyclic GMP level in PC12 cells by inhibition of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase.

In the present study, the influence of the heavy metal ions Cd2+ and Zn2+ on cGMP metabolism in the neurosecretory rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line has been investigated. Cadmium and zinc ions showed a concentration-dependent increase of intracellular cGMP levels as determined by radioimmunoassay: a 20-fold increase in cGMP concentration was found after 15 min of incubation with 20 microM Cd2+, and a 7-fold increase in cGMP was found after incubation with 50 microM Zn2+ (control: 6.05+/-2.1 pmol cGMP/mg protein). To obtain further mechanistic informations, the effects of Cd2+ and Zn2+ on intracellular 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase have been studied by a high performance liquid chromatography-based phosphodiesterase-assay. The cellular cGMP hydrolysis was found to be inhibited by these ions with an IC(50) value of 6+/-0.7 microM for Cd2+ and 13+/-2.5microM for Zn2+ . Hence, dose-dependent increase in cellular cGMP content is due to an inhibition of cGMP hydrolysis and not due to an increase in cGMP synthesis. Cd2+ and Zn2+ were taken up by PC12 cells as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, all measurements were performed in a subtoxic concentration range. Our data illustrate that zinc and cadmium ions are efficient inhibitors of the cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide PDEII in PC12 cells resulting in elevated cellular cGMP concentrations. Therefore, subtoxic doses of these metals may disturb intracellular cGMP/cAMP-signalling pathways leading to an impaired or altered gene expression.

Transport and metabolism of N6- and C8-substituted analogs of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and adenosine 3'5'-cyclic phosphorothioate by the isolated perfused rat kidney.

The clearance and metabolism of N6-substituted (N6-dimethyl-), C8-substituted (8-bromo-, 8-p-chlorophenylthio- (PCPT-)), and exocyclic oxygen substituted phosphorothioate diastereomers (cAMPS(Sp)) and cAMPS (Rp)) of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP, cAMP) has been studied in an isolated perfused rat kidney. The N6- and C8-substituted analogs of cyclic AMP (10-100 microM) were not cleared as rapidly as exogenous cyclic AMP and were metabolized: N6- and C8-substituted analogs of adenosine accumulated in perfusate and urine. All analogs exhibited net transtubular secretion, i.e. their urinary excretion rate greater than glomerular filtration rate. Probenecid (0.9 mM) included in the perfusate abolished transtubular secretion and inhibited the metabolism of PCPT-cyclic AMP, suggesting that cyclic AMP analogs, like cyclic AMP itself, penetrate the renal cell at the peritubular membrane by an organic acid transport system. The phosphorothioate diastereomers of cyclic AMP: cAMPS(Sp) and cAMPS(Rp) were cleared as rapidly from the perfusate as cyclic AMP, were extensively secreted (urinary excretion/ glomerular filtration greater than or equal to 10) and exhibited no metabolism. The latter analog would seem most suitable as an intracellular agonist for cyclic AMP-mediated phenomena in the rat kidney.

New leading electrolyte for the direct determination of chloride and other anions in analytical isotachophoresis.

In a number of experiments it was shown that the dithionate ion possesses a higher effective mobility than the chloride ion in aqueous solution, thus enabling the direct and simultaneous isotachophoretic determination of chloride and other anions. Using an acid-base titration, we found only one pKa value for dithionic acid, which is in contrast to the two pKa values stated in the literature. Based on this pKa value, theoretical calculations and the experimentally observed effective mobility of the dithionate ion indicate a higher effective mobility compared to the chloride ion from pH 3. Taking into account the physico-chemical properties of the dithionate, its unrestricted use as isotachophoretic leading ion was confirmed. Based on the dithionate ion, new electrolyte systems for the determination of chloride were used. One system was optimised for the determination of chloride and other low-molecular-mass anions and applied to the analysis of waste water and drinking water. The water samples were analysed in parallel by ion chromatography and compared with the isotachophoretic results.