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A calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) activity was detected in the soluble fraction of rod outer segments (ROS) of the bovine retina. The enzyme required calcium, phosphatidylserine (PS) and diacylglycerol for maximal activity. In the presence of calcium and PS, C-kinase endogenously phosphorylated proteins with molecular weights of 95,000, 91,000, 31,000, 21,000, 19,000, 18,000, 16,000, 14,000 and 11,000. Addition of diolein in the reaction mixture further enhanced the endogenous phosphorylation of these proteins. Retinal was found to inhibit the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins by C-kinase in a concentration dependent manner. Half-maximal inhibition of enzyme activity was obtained at a retinal concentration of about 12 microM. These results suggest that calcium, phospholipids and the C-kinase enzyme may play an important role in the functional regulation of rod photoreceptors and, with retinal, perhaps in the visual process as well.

Dispersed pinealocytes have been used to study the role of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in the "turnoff" of N-acetyltransferace activity. Activity was first stimulated 100-fold by treating cells with 1-norepinephrine. 1-Propranolol acted stereospecifically to rapidly reverse this, resulting in a 70 percent loss of enzyme activity within 15 minutes. An even more rapid 1-propranolol-induced decreased in cyclic AMP also occurred. This together with the observation that the inhibitory effect of 1-propranolol on N-acetyltransferase was blocked by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and phosphodiesterase inhibitors indicate that an abrupt decrease in cyclic AMP may be the signal for the rapid decrease in pineal N-acetyltransferase activity.

Carbamylcholine (30 micronM) increased the concentration of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) in guinea pig pancreatic lobules about eight-to tenfold over the basal concentration in 30 seconds with a concomitant increase in the rate of amylase secretion. The concentration of cyclic GMP rapidly declined to a plateau value of about 16 percent of the peak level in 10 minutes. Cellular cyclic GMP decreased, mostly because the nucleotide was secreted into medium; cellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), however did not change, nor was this nucleotide secreted into the medium. An immunocytochemical technique showed that cyclic GMP was distributed in the apical plasmalemma membrane and lumen of the pancreas. Carbamylcholine increased the cyclic GMP fluorescence in tha apical plasmalemma membrane within 30 seconds, and in zymogen granules and the plasma membrane in the apical part of acinar cells in 10 minutes. The islets of Langerhans did not show any change in cyclic GMP. Fluorescence of cyclic AMP in pancreatic lobules was not altered by carbamylcholine and was localized along the apical portion of plasmalemma and cytoplasm. Cyclic GMP may thus participate either in the process of exocytosis or in the activation of enzymes secreted from the pancreas.

Affinity purified RI and RII antibodies of regulatory subunits (R) of type I (RI) and type II (RII) cAMP-dependent protein kinase were utilized to determine the immunological characterization and specific compartmentalization of R in estrogen receptor negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The 8-azido-(32P)-cAMP binding analysis of MDA-MB-231 cell extracts exhibited 47,000- and 50,000-dalton cAMP receptor proteins. RI and RII antibodies, by immunoprecipitation, detected the 47,000- and 50,000-dalton proteins, respectively. The 47,000-dalton protein was identified as RI as it showed a similar molecular weight as of bovine RI on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Although 50,000-dalton protein did not co-migrate with bovine heart 54,000-dalton RII, it was identified as RII of MDA-MB-231 cells since it was specifically precipitated with RII antibody but not with RI antibody. An indirect immunofluorescence revealed that during different phases of growth of MDA-MB-231 cells, 50,000-dalton RII was specifically compartmentalized in the mitotic spindle and nucleoli of the cells whereas RI did not exhibit a specific compartmentalization in the cells, but was distributed throughout the cell components. These results suggest specific role(s) of 50,000-dalton RII at the nuclei of MDA-MB-231 cells.

The male accessory reproductive gland (ARG) of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), contains an exceedingly high concentration of cyclic GMP, about 1,000 pmol/mg protein. Immunofluorescent localization and radioimmunoassay measurements show that cyclic GMP is concentrated in a small number of tubules. It accumulates in the tubule lumina where it is protected from degradation by phosphodiesterases. Cyclic GMP is secreted by the ARG and is incorporated into spermatophores. Over 80% of spermatophore cyclic GMP is found in the handle-capillary tube, a thin conduit through which sperm pass during transfer to the female. The concentration of cyclic GMP in the insemination fluid is about 20 microM but does not appear to be specifically associated with the sperm. Cyclic GMP enters the female spermatheca during insemination but disappears rapidly. Physiological effects of cyclic GMP on sperm were not observed nor was an effect of cyclic GMP observed on egg laying by mated females. Cyclic AMP was localized on sperm flagella in the spermatophore and in the spermatheca. These studies indicate that cyclic nucleotides have important roles in insect reproduction and that the house cricket is a good model for elucidating these functions.

Cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) receptor proteins (high-affinity binding proteins) present in growing and regressing MCF-7 human breast tumors were identified and characterized by the use of the photoaffinity-labeled 8-azido[32P]-cAMP and the affinity-purified antibodies to type I and type II regulatory subunits (RI and RII, respectively) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The cytosol fraction of growing MCF-7 tumors contained four major types of the 8-azido[32P]cAMP-binding proteins with molecular weights of 35,000, 47,000, 50,000, and 52,000. Following estrogen withdrawal, the amount of these proteins increased in the cytosol of regressing tumors. RI antibody immunoprecipitated cAMP receptor protein with a molecular weight of 47,000, whereas RII antibody immunoprecipitated Mr 50,000 and 52,000 proteins. The Mr 35,000 protein was not precipitated by either RI or RII antibodies. In the nuclear extracts of the growing tumors, the 8-azido-[32P]cAMP-binding proteins with molecular weights of 34,000, 35,000, 44,000, and 47,000 were detected. Following estrogen withdrawal, the 8-azido[32P]cAMP-binding proteins with molecular weights of 50,000 and 52,000 newly appeared in the nuclei of regressing tumors. The Mr 47,000 protein was immunoprecipitated by RI antibody and the Mr 34,000, 44,000, 50,000, and 52,000 proteins were precipitated by RII antibody. An indirect immunofluorescence revealed that, during regression of MCF-7 tumors, the intensity of immunofluorescence of RII proteins dramatically increased in the nucleoli, whereas immunofluorescence of RI remained the same in the nuclei. These results suggest that, during hormone-induced regression of human breast tumors, the Mr 50,000 and Mr 52,000 RII cAMP-binding proteins are translocated to the nucleoli from cytoplasm. Thus, the accumulation of these cAMP receptor proteins at nucleolar site(s) correlates with the regression of MCF-7 tumors.

Affinity purified antibodies to type I and type II regulatory subunits (RI and RII, respectively) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were utilized to identify and localize the cAMP receptor proteins in growing vs regressing MCF-7 tumors in nude mice. In the nuclear extracts of growing tumors the RI antibody immunoprecipitated cAMP receptor protein of 47,000 daltons, whereas the RII antibody precipitated 44,000- and 34,000-dalton cAMP receptor proteins. Following estrogen withdrawal, new species of cAMP receptor proteins with molecular weights of 50,000 and 52,000 appeared in the nuclei of regressing tumors. The 50,000- and 52,000-dalton proteins were specifically precipitated by the RII antibody but not by RI antibody. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that during regression of MCF-7 tumors, the intensity of immunofluorescence of RII antibody crossreacting cAMP binding proteins dramatically increased in the nucleoli whereas the immunofluorescence of RI remained the same. These results suggest a regulatory role of RII in mammary cancer regression.

We have previously described the presence of a C-kinase in bovine retinal rod outer segments (ROS) (Kapoor and Chader, 1984). In this study, we have labeled rat retinas with freshly neutralized radiolabeled sodium phosphate (32P or 33P) by intravitreal injection and compared the phosphorylation patterns of ROS proteins induced by light and specific activators of the C-kinase phosphorylation system. Except for light treatment, all procedures were carried out in complete darkness using an infrared image converter. Incubation of 33P-labeled retinas in light for 5 min resulted in the phosphorylation of rhodopsin, 80-, 65-, 47-, 44-, and 15,000 MW proteins of crude ROS. Incubation of 33P-labeled retinas with 0.5 microM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) resulted in the phosphorylation of several proteins including those at 80-, 65-, 47-, 44-, and 15,000 MW in crude ROS. ROS prepared in complete darkness did not exhibit any phosphorylation of proteins whereas ROS prepared in red light exhibited variable low phosphorylation of 80-, 47-, 44- and 15,000 MW proteins. 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) at 500 micrograms ml-1 caused the phosphorylation of the same proteins as observed with TPA. TPA (0.5-500 microM) and OAG (150-500 micrograms ml-1) did not induce rhodopsin phosphorylation. When purified ROS were prepared from 33P-pre-labeled retinas, the complete darkness control did not exhibit phosphorylation of any proteins. TPA, however, induced the phosphorylation of 80- and 65,000 MW proteins and light induced the phosphorylation of 80-, 65,000 MW proteins as well as opsin monomer and dimer. Affinity chromatography of phosphorylated ROS proteins on con A-Sepharose revealed that TPA does not induce rhodopsin phosphorylation whereas light does. Since light and TPA induced the phosphorylation of 80- and 65,000 MW proteins in ROS, it is possible to suggest at least a partial linkage of light- and C-kinase-mediated effects in situ.

A phosphodiesterase (PDE) has been characterized in the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) of light-adapted fresh bovine retinas. It is obtained through a gentle rinsing of the retinal surface under conditions where the light-activated rod outer segment (ROS) enzyme remains attached. The enzyme has an apparent native molecular weight of 350 000 by gel filtration and appears as a doublet at Mr 47 000 and 45 000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. It has an apparent Km value for cGMP of 33 microM and an apparent Km value for cAMP of 2200 microM. It is activated 3-6-fold by protamine and over 40-fold by trypsin. Protamine has no effect on the Km for cGMP while trypsin decreases the Km for cGMP by a factor of 2. The enzyme occurs in at least two forms as evidenced by two distinct peaks of activity after gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. A heat-stable inhibitor is tightly bound to the enzyme. The inhibitor obtained from the IPM PDE inhibits 98% of the activity of the trypsin-activated ROS PDE: conversely, the inhibitor obtained by boiling the ROS PDE completely inhibits the trypsin-activated IPM enzyme. A high-affinity monoclonal antibody to the active site of the ROS PDE, ROS 1 [Hurwitz, R., Bunt-Milan, A.H., & Beavo, J. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 8612-8618], quantitatively absorbs the IPM PDE. These observations indicate a clear relationship between these two PDEs even though their location, sizes, and specific functions in the retina appear to be distinct.

Immunocytochemistry shows that early during phagocytosis of zymosan, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) appears on the cell surface before the phagosome is internalized. The appearance of cyclic AMP on the cell surface is coincident with that of granule products and regulatory subunit of type I cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate is not associated with the initiation site of phagocytosis, but is observed throughout the granular cytoplasmic region. This sharply localized accumulation of cyclic AMP may serve as a signal for the initiation of phagocytosis.

An indirect immunofluorescence technique was employed to determine the intracellular distribution of the regulatory subunit of type II cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (RII) in Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells growing in monolayer culture. During the initial phases of growth (6 hr-6 days after seeding), RII was confined to the cytoplasmic areas of the Y-79 cells, seemingly, the Golgi apparatus. Treatment of cells for 3-5 days with 4 mM butyrate resulted in translocation of RII from cytoplasm to nuclei (mainly nucleoli) of cells. In a later stage of growth (24-day-old cultures), RII immunofluorescence was significantly decreased in all compartments within the untreated cells. In contrast, about 70% of the butyrate-treated cells yet showed nucleoli and/or cytoplasmic localization of RII at this stage. The nucleolar appearance of RII was parallel to the growth arrest and differentiation induced by butyrate.

1. Interaction of bilirubin with collagen fibrils was explored in a two-phase system where collagen was present as an opaque rigid gel composed of striated fibrils, and bilirubin as an aqueous solution. 2. The Ka value of the binding of bilirubin to collagen fibrils is 5.4 X 10(3)M-1. The interaction of bilirubin with collagen fibrils depends on temperature. Below 5 degrees C, the binding is greatly diminished and denaturation of collagen fibril aggregates at 52--53 degrees C into a dissolution state abolishes binding of bilirubin. 3. Salicylate and sulphanilamide do not affect the binding of bilirubin to reconstituted collagen fibrils. 4. Serum albumin (40--80mM), known to reverse the binding of bilirubin to lipids, dissociates only 50% of the bilirubin bound to collagen fibrils. This suggests that sites located on collagen participate in some tight binding of bilirubin and the corresponding binding sites on albumin do not compete with them. 5. Urea (4M) abolishes more than 70% of the binding of bilirubin to collagen. Urea and thermal denaturation studies indicate the importance of conformation and organization of collagen fibrillar aggregates for the binding of bilirubin.

1. Human skin epithelium and human skin were found to absorb both free bilirubin and serum-bound bilirubin from an aqueous buffered medium. The serum-bound bilirubin thus absorbed was readily released when human skin epithelium or human skin were transferred to media containing no bilirubin. 2. The K(m) values for serum-bound bilirubin were 1.8x10(-3)m and 2.2x10(-3)m respectively for human skin epithelium and human skin; corresponding K(m) values for free bilirubin were 3.0x10(-4)m and 5x10(-4)m. The V(max.) for bound and free bilirubin was of the same magnitude, the apparent V(max.) being 1.0 and 1.66mumol/g of tissue for human skin epithelium and human skin respectively. 3. When human skin that had acquired a yellow tinge by absorbing bilirubin was incubated in a buffered medium and exposed to a mercury-vapour light, the yellow colour disappeared and decomposition products of bilirubin accumulated in the medium. 4. Experiments with [(3)H]bilirubin indicated that the pigment absorbed by skin was photo-oxidized to products that were soluble in water and the quantity and number of such products increased with the time of exposure of human skin to the light-source. Under similar conditions [(3)H]bilirubin alone in buffered medium was also oxidized and gave products which by paper chromatography appeared to be different from those released by human skin that had absorbed bilirubin. 5. The results suggest that by virtue of its large surface area human skin can act as a matrix for the degradative action of light on bilirubin.

Homogeneous preparations of type I and type II regulatory subunits (RI and RII, respectively) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP kinase) were utilized as antigens to obtain isozyme specific antisera. Injections of pure catalytic subunit (C) from the type I isozyme resulted in antisera that reacted with C subunit obtained from either isozyme type. Cross-reactivity of the antisera raised against isolated subunits of the kinase was assessed by immunodiffusion analysis and by measuring the cAMP binding and phosphotransferase activities of the subunits after immunoprecipitation. These antisera were used to localize subunits of type I and type II cAMP kinases in rat skeletal muscle, liver, and adrenal by using indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. Specificity of the immunofluorescence was shown by absorption of the antisera with pure homologous antigens. In skeletal muscle, both R and C subunits of the type I and type II cAMP kinases were localized in the area of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and in periodic crossbands. Specific fluorescence for these components was observed in both isotropic and anisotropic band regions of the sarcomere. Densitometric determinations of immunoperoxidase staining revealed a larger amount of RI, RII, and C subunits in the isotropic band than in the anisotropic band regions. In liver, C, RI, and RII subunits were distributed both in cytoplasmic and nuclear areas and along plasma membranes of hepatocytes; however, there were qualitative differences observed among these various subcellular sites. With each antiserum, fluorescence was blocked by prior absorption with homologous antigen. After treatment of rats with glucagon, dramatic changes in the relative distribution patterns of C and RII were noted in the nucleus. In the adrenal gland, RI, RII, and C subunits were localized in both cytoplasmic and nuclear areas, and an apparent redistribution of these subunits occurred after treatment of (dexamethasone-suppressed) rats with ACTH. The application of this immunocytochemical approach provides a tool for examining and monitoring the subcellular distribution of these components of cAMP kinase in biological systems.

Carbamylcholine, caerulein and cholecystokinin octapeptide rapidly increased the cyclic GMP concentration and amylase secretion in isolated guinea pig pancreatic slices. The cyclic GMP concentration was increased eight-fold over the basal concentration in 30 s, with concomitant increase in the rate of amylase secretion. The tissue concentration of cyclic GMP then rapidly declined to a plateau value of approx. 16% of the peak level within 10 min and was maintained at that concentration for the duration of the experiment. We have shown earlier (Kapoor, CL. and Krishna, G. (1977) Science 196, 1003--1005) that the decrease of tissue cyclic GMP was due mainly to the secretion of cyclic GMP into the medium. The cyclic AMP concentration in the tissue was not changed, nor was it secreted into the medium. There was a correlation between the concentration response to various agents for the increase in cyclic GMP concentration and amylase secretion in pancreatic slices. Carbamylcholine increased both the cyclic GMP concentration and amylase secretion; the half-maximal effect was achieved at 1.5 micrometer concentration. Caerulein and cholecystokinin octapeptide were 5000 times more potent than carbamylcholine in increasing cyclic GMP concentration and amylase secretion; the half-maximal effect was achieved at 0.3 nM concentration. Atropine, which completely inhibited the increase in cyclic GMP and amylase secretion induced by carbamylcholine, did not block the effects of caerulein or cholecystokinin octapeptide. These results suggest that various secretagogues induced amylase secretion by increasing the cyclic GMP concentration, but the mechanism by which cyclic GMP caused amylase secretion remains to be elucidated.

We have tested the hypothesis that differentiation and growth arrest of Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells in culture is associated with a modification of gene expression. We first examined proteins translated from mRNAs isolated from Y-79 cells growing in suspension and in attachment cultures in serum-containing medium and found them to be markedly different. This suggests that membrane-substrate interactions are of major consequence in the biochemical differentiation of these cells. Secondly, we examined the patterns of proteins translated from attached cells which had been induced to morphologically differentiate into neuronal-like and glial-like cells by serum-withdrawal and dibutyryl cAMP treatment respectively. The in vitro translatable proteins of mRNAs isolated from these cultures were found to be markedly different from those of the suspension and attachment cultures. Thirdly, we found that treatment of cells growing in attachment culture in serum-containing medium supplemented with 8-bromo cAMP, butyrate and retinoic acid as well as dibutyryl cAMP resulted in discreet alterations in proteins translated in vitro from extracted mRNAs. Although all these substances inhibit the growth of Y-79 cells, only dibutyryl cAMP and butyrate result in morphological differentiation of cells. Our results suggest that (1) attachment and morphological differentiation of Y-79 cells are both related to specific alterations in gene expression and (2) differentiation and inhibition of cell growth by various agents can be correlated with changes in translatable mRNA species although all agents do not act in the same mode.

1. Skin epithelium of albino rat, mouse and guinea pig was shown to accumulate bilirubin from a medium containing free or bound bilirubin. 2. The K(m) values for bound bilirubin were 2.22x10(-3), 1.33x10(-3) and 9.5x10(-4)m for rat, mouse and guinea pig respectively and the corresponding K(m) values for free bilirubin were 5.2x10(-4), 4.0x10(-4), 1.8x10(-4)m; the V(max.) values of bound and free bilirubin were unchanged. 3. The uptake showed saturation kinetics. Bound bilirubin was released together with serum proteins. Free bilirubin bound to skin was not released into the medium. 4. Freezing and thawing of skin epithelium did not cause any significant lowering of the uptake of bilirubin but heat-denatured skin epidermis took up only 50% of the bound bilirubin or free bilirubin taken up by control unheated skin epithelium. 5. The uptake of free and bound bilirubin was prevented by HgCl(2) but not by sodium arsenate, NaCN, NaF, cycloheximide, 2,4-dinitrophenol or iodoacetate. 6. Most of the free bilirubin was bound to the lipids or lipoprotein fraction of skin epithelium and could be extracted by solvents. 7. Rat skin showed the highest accumulation and efflux of bilirubin.