adenosine-5--o-(3-thiotriphosphate) and Pheochromocytoma

Adrenomedullin (AM), a potent and novel vasodilator 52-residue peptide originally isolated from pheochromocytoma, is processed from a precursor molecule (preproAM) in which another unique 20-residue sequence, termed proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP), exists. Using [125I Tyr0] rat PAMP as a radioligand, we have examined PAMP binding sites in various rat tissues and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from rat aorta. Specific binding sites for rat PAMP, although very low, were widely distributed in various rat tissues examined. The relatively more abundant sites were present in aorta and adrenal glands, followed by lung, kidney, brain, spleen, and heart. An equilibrium binding study using cultured rat VSMC revealed the presence of a single class of high-affinity [dissociation constant (Kd): 3.5 x 10(-8) M] binding sites for rat PAMP with a maximal binding capacity of 4.5 x 10(6) sites per cell. Binding studies revealed that synthetic rat PAMP(1-19)-NH2 was about 10-fold less potent, and rat PAMP(1-20)-OH and human PAMP were about 20-fold less potent than rat PAMP(1-20)-NH2. SDS-polyacylamide gel electrophoresis after affinity-labeling of membranes from various rat tissues (aorta, adrenal glands, lung) and VSMC revealed a distinct labeled band with the apparent molecular mass of 90 kDa, which was diminished by excess unlabeled rat PAMP. A nonhydrolyzable GTP analog (GTP-gammaS) dose-dependently reduced binding of [125I] rat PAMP to VSMC membranes, while ATP-gammaS had no effect. Neither cyclic AMP nor inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation was affected by rat PAMP in rat VSMC. The present study demonstrates for the first time that PAMP receptors are widely distributed in various rat tissues, among which aorta and adrenal glands have the most abundant sites. Our data suggest that PAMP receptors are functionally coupled to G-proteins, although its signal transduction remains obscure. The present study also shows that amidation of C-terminal residue of PAMP is critical for receptor binding. The physiological function of PAMP remains undetermined.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Adrenomedullin; Animals; Aorta, Thoracic; Binding Sites; Binding, Competitive; Cell Membrane; Cells, Cultured; Cyclic AMP; Endothelins; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Humans; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; Iodine Radioisotopes; Kinetics; Male; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Organ Specificity; Peptide Fragments; Peptides; Pheochromocytoma; Proteins; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Rats, Wistar

1. In pheochromocytoma PC12 cells ATP and, to a lesser extent, 2-methylthioATP stimulate phosphoinositide breakdown, release of intracellular calcium, and influx of external calcium, leading to stimulation of norepinephrine release. In contrast, although UTP also stimulates phosphoinositide breakdown, release of intracellular calcium, and influx of external calcium, there is no stimulation of norepinephrine release. 2. 2-MethylthioATP, presumably acting at P2y receptors, and UTP, presumably acting at P2u receptors, in combination elicit a phosphoinositide breakdown greater than that elicited by either alone. Intracellular levels of calcium measured with Fura-2 increase to greater levels with ATP than with UTP and are sustained, while the UTP intracellular levels of calcium rapidly return to basal values. Both ATP and UTP cause a similar influx of 45 Ca2+ presumably by stimulation of a P2 receptor directly linked to a cation channel. 3. It is proposed that PC12 cells contain two distinct G protein-coupled P2 receptors that activate phospholipase C and a P2 receptor linked to a cation channel. The P2y receptor sensitive to ATP (and to 2-methylthioATP) causes the depletion of a pool of intracellular calcium, sufficient to activate so-called "receptor-operated calcium entry". The sustained elevation of intracellular calcium after ATP treatment is proposed to result in stimulation of norepinephrine release and activation of calcium-dependent potassium channels and sodium-calcium exchange pathways. 4. The P2u receptor sensitive to UTP (and to ATP) causes only a transient elevation in levels of intracellular calcium, perhaps from a different pool, insufficient to activate so-called receptor-operated calcium entry. Further sequelae do not ensue, and the functional role of the UTP-sensitive P2u receptor is unknown.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Enzyme Activation; GTP-Binding Proteins; Kinetics; Norepinephrine; PC12 Cells; Pheochromocytoma; Phosphatidylinositols; Potassium; Rats; Receptors, Purinergic P2; Rubidium; Sodium; Thionucleotides; Type C Phospholipases; Uridine Triphosphate

1. The effects of suramin on an adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-activated inward current were investigated in PC12 phaeochromocytoma cells with whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. 2. Suramin (30 to 300 microM) inhibited the ATP-activated current in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects were reversible and competitive. 3. Suramin also suppressed the current activated by adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) but did not affect the current activated by nicotine. Suramin did not affect the suppression of a K current induced by methacholine. 4. The results suggest that suramin antagonizes the ATP-receptor-operated membrane current reversibly and selectively.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Cell Membrane; Methacholine Compounds; Nicotine; Pheochromocytoma; Potassium Channels; Suramin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Adenosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) was used to examine the role of phosphorylation in the regulation of norepinephrine secretion by digitonin-permeabilized PC12 cells. While most kinases will use ATP gamma S to thiophosphorylate proteins, thiophosphorylated proteins are relatively resistant to dethiophosphorylation by protein phosphatases. Norepinephrine secretion by permeabilized PC12 cells was ATP- and Ca2+-dependent but resistant to calmodulin antagonists. Half-maximum secretion was obtained in 0.75 microM Ca2+. Permeabilized PC12 cells were incubated with ATP gamma S in the absence of Ca2+, the ATP gamma S was removed, and norepinephrine secretion was determined. Preincubation with ATP gamma S increased the amount of norepinephrine secreted in the absence of Ca2+, but it had no effect on the amount released in the presence of Ca2+. After a 15-min preincubation in 1 mM ATP gamma S, there was almost as much secretion in the absence of Ca2+ as in its presence. Inclusion of ATP in the preincubation inhibited the effect of ATP gamma S. Ca2+ stimulated the rate of modification by ATP gamma S as brief preincubations with ATP gamma S in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in higher levels of Ca2+-independent secretion than did preincubations with ATP gamma S in the absence of Ca2+. Similarly, brief preincubations of permeabilized cells with ATP in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in elevated levels of Ca2+-independent secretion. Secretion of norepinephrine from ATP gamma S-treated cells was ATP-dependent. These results suggest that norepinephrine secretion by PC12 cells is regulated by a Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation. Once this phosphorylation has occurred, secretion is still ATP-dependent, but it no longer requires Ca2+.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcium; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Kinetics; Norepinephrine; Pheochromocytoma; Phosphorylation; Rats