Purification of putative insulin-sensitive cAMP phosphodiesterase or its catalytic domain from rat adipocytes.

Insulin acutely inhibits the catecholamine-stimulated rise in cAMP levels in fat, liver, and muscle primarily through stimulation of the enzyme cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE). Adipocytes from rat epidydimal fat pads were exposed to insulin and fractionated by centrifugation. Whereas the cytosolic fraction contained a low-affinity cAMP PDE that was unaffected by insulin, the activity of a high-affinity enzyme residing in a particulate fraction was increased by insulin. This enzyme activity could be solubilized with nonionic detergent and chromatographed on ion exchange followed by chromatofocusing. The resulting enzyme preparation was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Silver staining revealed a single band with a molecular weight of 60,000. This apparent molecular weight was verified by calculation of the hydrodynamic properties of the enzyme. Evaluation of its kinetic properties indicated that the enzyme activity residing in this solubilized 60,000-Mr protein exhibited lower affinity than the membrane-bound enzyme but was still specific for cAMP. Activation of this enzyme may be one of the primary mechanisms by which insulin counteracts the effects of adenylate cyclase-stimulating hormones.

DNA base changes and RNA levels in N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene-induced dihydrofolate reductase mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Formerly, we isolated a series of dihydrofolate reductase-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants that were induced by N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene. Deletions and complex gene rearrangements were detected in 28% of these mutants; 72% contained putative point mutations. In the present study, we have localized the putative point mutations in the 25,000 base dhfr gene by RNase heteroduplex mapping. Assignment of a position for each mutation was successful in 16 of 19 mutants studied. We cloned DNA fragments containing the mapped mutations from nine mutants into a bacteriophage lambda vector. In the case of 11 other mutants, DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction procedure. Sequence analysis of cloned and amplified DNA confirmed the presence of point mutations. Most mutants (90%) carried base substitutions; the rest contained frameshift mutations. Of the point mutations, 75% were G.C to T.A transversions in either the dhfr coding sequence or at splice sites; transition G.C to A.T mutations were found in two mutants (10%). In one of these transition mutants, the base substitution occurred at the fifth base of the third intron. Of the frameshift mutations, one was a deletion of G.C pair and the other was an insertion of an A.T pair. Of the mapped mutants, 38% exhibited greatly reduced (approximately 10-fold) steady-state levels of dhfr mRNA. All eight sequenced mutants displaying this phenotype contained premature chain termination codons. Normal levels of dhfr mRNA were observed in five missense mutants and in five mutants carrying nonsense codons in the translated portion of exon VI. Taken together with the results of other mutagens at this locus, we conclude that the low dhfr mRNA phenotype is correlated with the presence of nonsense codons in exons II to V but not in the last exon of the dhfr gene.

Estrogen alters the effects of neuropeptide-Y on luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone release in female rats at the level of the anterior pituitary gland.

In recent years, several studies have shown that neuropeptide-Y (NPY) is involved in the control of LH secretion. We determined the effects of estrogen on NPY-induced LH and FSH release in the absence or presence of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) at the level of the anterior pituitary gland (APG). Adult female rats were ovariectomized. Fifteen to 20 days later, they were given a blank or estrogen-filled capsule subdermally and killed 17-19 h later. APG cells were isolated and cultured for 3 days in medium containing 12.5% rat serum collected at death from the same rats used to make the respective APG cell pools. The cells were then challenged for 3 h with vehicle, NPY (10(-12)-10(-6) M), LHRH (10(-9)-10(-6) M), or combinations of NPY (10(-9)-10(-7) M) and LHRH (10(-9) M). LHRH stimulated LH and FSH release from nonestrogen and estrogen-primed cells. NPY at 6.7 x 10(-8)-10(-6) M increased (P < 0.05) LH release and at 10(-6) M increased (P < 0.05) FSH release from estrogen-primed cells, but was without effect on nonestrogen-primed cells. In contrast, NPY at 10(-9)-10(-7) M potentiated the action of LHRH (10(-9) M) to increase the release of LH and FSH from nonestrogen-primed cells, but was without potentiating effects in cultures of estrogen-primed cells. The results demonstrate that 1) NPY can release LH and FSH by a direct action on estrogen-primed APG cells; and 2) NPY can potentiate the action of LHRH to increase the release of LH and FSH by a direct action on nonestrogen-primed APG cells.

Binding specificity of the mouse cerebral cortex receptor for small cholecystokinin peptides.

Prior studies have shown that the cerebral cortex cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor can bind CCK and gastrin analogs with high affinity. In the present work the brain CCK receptor had approximately a three times greater affinity for CCK8 than its C-terminal tetrapeptide (CCK4) while the C-terminal tripeptide (CCK3) was 1000-fold less potent than CCK4. Thus the C-terminal tetrapeptide appears to be the minimal C-terminal CCK sequence required for high affinity binding. Since brain membranes degrade various peptides including CCK, we also evaluated the stability of CCK analogs under the conditions used to measure receptor binding by the following three methods: (1) Studies of degradation-resistant analogs in binding assays; (2) analysis of analog degradation by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); and (3) determination of the change in potency of CCK analogs in competitive binding studies subsequent to preincubation with brain membranes. These studies indicated that degradation of analogs by the brain membranes although significant did not account for the differences in potency of analogs in competitive binding studies. Therefore, the observed differences in potencies of the analogs tested are due to the receptor affinity and not sensitivity of the analog to degradation.

Characterization of cholecystokinin receptors in bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) brain and pancreas.

The binding of biologically active 125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK-33 to bullfrog brain and pancreatic membrane particles was characterized. Both tissues exhibited time-dependent, saturable, reversible, and high affinity binding without evidence for cooperative interaction. Both bullfrog CCK receptors resembled their mammalian counterparts in having acidic pH optima for tracer binding and a Kd of about 0.5 nM. However, the receptors differed from their mammalian counterparts in that (1) the bullfrog brain membranes bound more tracer per mg protein than did the pancreatic membranes, (2) both bullfrog CCK receptors were relatively insensitive to dibutyryl cGMP, and (3) both bullfrog brain and pancreatic CCK receptors exhibited the same general specificity toward a variety of CCK and gastrin peptides. For both tissues, the relative order of receptor binding potency was CCK-8 greater than caerulein = CCK-33 greater than gastrin-17-II greater than CCK-8-ns = gastrin-17-I greater than caerulein-ns greater than gastrin-4 with the sulfated CCK peptides being 1000-fold more potent than their nonsulfated analogs. Sulfated gastrin was also relatively potent, being only 10-fold weaker than CCK-8. Gastrin-4 was 20 000-fold weaker than CCK-8 in interacting with the brain CCK receptor. The latter finding is in sharp contrast to the mammalian brain CCK receptor. We conclude that the bullfrog brain and pancreas contain similar CCK receptors of probable physiological significance and may represent an ancestral condition from which the two distinct CCK receptors present in mammalian brain and pancreas have evolved.

Transformed rat tracheal epithelial cells exhibit alterations in transforming growth factor-beta secretion and responsiveness.

The purpose of our studies was to define abnormalities in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) system of transformed rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells that might cause their abnormal growth behavior. We found that many, but not all, of the transformed cell lines were hyporesponsive or unresponsive to the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1. Scatchard and receptor cross-linking analyses indicated that loss of TGF-beta 1 responsiveness of transformed cells was probably not due to changes in receptor number or affinity, or to changes in expression of the three TGF-beta-binding protein subtypes. Transformed cells were found to secrete far less TGF-beta-like activity (less than 1/10) than primary cells. Cultured normal and transformed RTE cells expressed three TGF-beta 1 transcripts of 2.5, 1.9, and 1.4 kb. In contrast, rat kidney tissue, a rat embryo fibroblast cell line, and a rat liver cell line expressed only the typical 2.5-kb mRNA transcript commonly reported in the literature. In spite of the marked differences in TGF-beta secretion between normal and transformed cells, their levels of TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression were similar. This suggests a change in the posttranscriptional regulation of TGF-beta 1 expression. TGF-beta 2 message was not detected in either normal or transformed RTE cells in culture. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the abnormal growth behavior of transformed RTE cells is at least in part due to disturbances of the TGF-beta system.

Characterization of cholecystokinin receptors on bovine gallbladder membranes.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) binding to its receptors on a muscularis membrane fraction of bovine gallbladder was characterized using a biologically active CCK-33-[125I]Bolton-Hunter conjugate. Receptor binding was localized to the muscularis layer of the gallbladder; no binding was seen on either mucosal or serosal membranes. At 24 degrees C and pH 6.5, binding was maximal after 60-90 min of incubation, remained at a plateau for at least 240 min, and was reversed by the addition of unlabeled CCK-8. Optimal binding was seen at pH of 5.5 and required the presence of magnesium. Gallbladder binding data, best fit by a two-parameter model using a nonlinear least-squares computer program, was consistent with a single order of binding sites with a Kd of 618 +/- 168 pM and a binding capacity of 100.5 +/- 15.7 fmol/mg prot (mean +/- SE, n = 5). CCK-8 and CCK-33 inhibited 125I-CCK binding to gallbladder membranes with similar potencies, whereas desulfated CCK-8, gastrin I and II, and CCK-4 were at least 500 times less potent than CCK-33. The CCK antagonists dibutyryl cGMP and proglumide inhibited 125I-CCK binding with an IC50 of 31 and 600 microM, respectively. The present studies therefore demonstrate the existence of a specific CCK receptor on bovine gallbladder muscularis membranes with a high degree of selectivity for CCK analogues.

Effects of proglumide on pancreatic acinar cell function.

Proglumide, a putative gastrin receptor antagonist, inhibited cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated amylase release and [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake by isolated mouse pancreatic acini. Inhibition was reversible and competitive in nature with a KI of 0.7 mM. Proglumide also competitively inhibited the binding of 125I-CCK to its receptor in pancreas and brain; the KI for this interaction was 1.0 mM. In contrast, proglumide did not inhibit carbachol-stimulated amylase release, insulin-stimulated glucose transport and protein synthesis, or the binding of insulin to its receptors. Proglumide at 10 mM did, however, reduce both basal [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake and [3H]-leucine incorporation into protein. We conclude that proglumide is a competitive and specific, albeit weak antagonist of CCK receptors. Higher concentrations of the drug may have other more nonspecific effects.

Changes in responsiveness of rat tracheal epithelial cells to transforming growth factor-beta 1 with time in culture.

Primary rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cell cultures have previously been shown to be highly sensitive to growth inhibition by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) when treated within 1-2 days after plating. The purpose of the present studies was to examine the effects of TGF beta 1 on the growth of RTE cells as a function of time in culture. We found that the sensitivity of RTE cells to growth inhibition by TGF beta 1 decreased dramatically as the cultures aged. The IC50 for inhibition of colony forming efficiency was 0.18 pM when TGF beta 1 was added 24 h after cell plating. When TGF beta 1 treatment was begun on day 5 of culture, the IC50 was 3-4 pM as measured by inhibition of growth (cell number) and DNA synthesis. However, when TGF beta 1 was begun on day 19, the IC50 was 65 pM or greater than 500 pM, depending on whether inhibition of growth or DNA synthesis, respectively, was measured. TGF beta 1 accelerated cell death, as measured by exfoliation of cells, and inhibited cell proliferation. The decrease in responsiveness to TGF beta 1 in late cultures was shown to be dependent on culture age as well as on cell density. No evidence was found for inactivation or degradation of the added TGF beta 1 by the late stage cultures. Cells subcultured from late stage primary cultures remained less responsive to TGF beta 1 than subcultured cells from early cultures. Similar to its effect on proliferation, TGF beta 1 down-regulated the expression of two proliferation-related genes, c-myc and transforming growth factor-alpha, in early but not late RTE cell cultures. On the other hand, fibronectin expression was increased by TGF beta 1 by about twofold at both early and late times in culture. This indicates that the changes in TGF beta 1 responsiveness with time in culture are selective, apparently affecting primarily proliferation-related events.

Characterization of mutations induced by 2-(N-acetoxy-N-acetyl)aminofluorene in the dihydrofolate reductase gene of cultured hamster cells.

To determine the types of alterations in gene structure that are induced by the carcinogen 2-(N-acetoxy-N-acetyl)aminofluorene, we used this compound to generate mutations at the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) locus (DHFR) in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Twenty-nine independent enzyme-deficient mutants were isolated. A profile of the 26-kilobase (kb)-long gene was obtained by Southern blot analysis of the mutant and parental DNAs digested with BstEII/Kpn I. Hybridization to a mixed probe of 10 DHFR genomic and cDNA fragments revealed 12 bands that scan 34 kb. Twenty-one DHFR- clones (72%) contained small mutations (changes less than 100 base pairs in size). Large or small deletions involving various parts of the gene occurred in eight of the mutants (28%). A large deletion (greater than 35 kb) with 5' and 3' breakpoints mapping to approximately the same location was noted in four mutants. One mutant has undergone a deletion of 550-900 bp that eliminated the first coding exon. Concomitantly, a chromosomal event (either translocation, insertion, or inversion) has separated the 5' flank from the body of the gene. In another mutant, four deletions have occurred at the DHFR 5' end and internally. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the mutant DNAs with exon-specific probes localized three mutations. One mutant has lost a Taq I (TCGA) site, and another has lost a Sac I (GAGCTC) site. In a third, a GC----TA transversion has created a BstEII (GGTNACC) site. Finally, we used HPLC to determine the ratio of acetylated (12%) to deacetylated (88%) 2-aminofluorene adducts formed in the parental cells. A correlation between the mutational specificities and the conformational changes induced by the two types of DNA adducts is discussed.