Differential roles of high and low affinity guanosine 5'-triphosphate binding sites in the regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone binding to receptor and signal transduction in bovine calf testis membranes.

We have previously shown that FSH receptors are physically and functionally associated with a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Gs) in membranes of calf testis. Using N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), forskolin, and cholera toxin as probes, we have investigated the role of low and high affinity GTP-binding sites of stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein of adenylate cyclase (Gs) in the activation of adenylate cyclase. When calf testis membranes were exposed to NEM (1 mM), FSH binding to receptors was slightly (30%) decreased, but the receptors showed continued sensitivity to GTP, resulting in a further decrease in [125I]human FSH binding to receptors. Pretreatment of membranes with NEM (up to 20 microM) produced no effect on GTP-binding. A dose-dependent decrease in high affinity GTP-binding sites, however, was observed at higher (greater than 50 microM) NEM. Adenylate cyclase activity was reduced in response to GTP gamma S or NaF concomitant to a decrease in high affinity GTP-binding sites in membranes treated with 50-100 microM NEM, or completely abolished in membranes exposed to 300 microM NEM. Stimulation by forskolin indicated that the significant inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity occurring in membranes exposed to low NEM (50-100 microM) was not due to inactivation of catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase by NEM. Pretreatment of membranes with 100 micrograms/ml cholera toxin and NAD slightly (18%) reduced specific FSH binding but did not affect Gpp(NH)p-binding. However, adenylate cyclase stimulation by GTP plus FSH in these membranes was significantly enhanced. When membranes were treated with higher concentration of cholera toxin (250 micrograms/ml), the adenylate cyclase stimulation by GTP plus FSH was abolished due to uncoupling of FSH receptors from Gs and a significant decrease in high affinity GTP-binding sites. Our results suggest that high affinity GTP-binding sites of Gs coupled to FSH receptors are essential for FSH and guanine nucleotide activation of adenylate cyclase. The low affinity binding sites bind GTP and thereby regulate FSH binding but are not involved in the activation of adenylate cyclase.