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The alpha subunits of five members of the Gi family of bovine brain proteins were reconstituted with adenylate cyclase in phospholipid vesicles. Our results support both the views that much of the inhibition of the enzyme by Gi is due to the action of its liberated beta gamma subunits, and that the alpha subunits themselves interact with the enzyme. Inhibition of basal or Gs-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is small or undetectable by alpha subunits of Go, Go* and Gi-2B. On the other hand, adenylate cyclase activity is stimulated by the alpha subunits of Gi-1 and Gi-2A. The G proteins act in the absence of added GTP when reconstituted with phospholipids of low but not high fluidity.

Reactions mediated by the opiate receptors that inhibit adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) are closely coupled to subsequent reactions that gradually increase adenylate cyclase activity of neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. Opiate-treated cells have higher basal-, prostaglandin E1-, and 2-chloroadenosine-stimulated activities than do control cells. However, NaF or guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate abolishes most of the differences in adenylate cyclase activity observed with homogenates from control and opiate-treated cells. Cycloheximide blocked some, but not all, of the opiate-dependent increase in adenylate cyclase activity. These results suggest that the opiate-dependent increase in adenylate cyclase is due to conversion of adenylate cyclase to a form with altered activity. Protein synthesis also is required for part of the opiate effect. We propose that activity of adenylate cyclase determines the rate of conversion of the enzyme from one form to the other and that opiates, by inhibiting adenylate cyclase, alter the relative abundance of low- and high-activity forms of the enzyme.

Membranes from neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells were purified by equilibrium centrifugation on continuous and discontinuous gradients of sorbitol, using homogenates of cells which were pretreated with concanavalin A to increase membrane density. Adenylate cyclase was purified 24-fold in a heavy (H) membrane fraction from discontinuous gradients, opiate-stimulated guanosine-5'-triphosphatase was purified 3-fold, and opiate binding to receptors was increased 10-fold in this fraction. The relative purification of this membrane fraction is also verified by the fact that it contains a single protein (Mr = 58,000) which is covalently labeled by a reactive opiate analog (Klee, W. A., Simonds, W. F., Sweat, F. W., Burke, T. R., Jacobson, A. E., and Rice, K. C. (1982) FEBS Lett. 150, 125). The method of plasma membrane purification after cell treatment with concanavalin A (Lutton, J. K., Frederich, R. C. Jr., and Perkins, J. P. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 11181) appears generally applicable as established here with 3H-concanavalin A. Between 15 and 20% of the adenylate cyclase in whole-cell homogenates was recovered at low densities in continuous and discontinuous gradients and was only purified 2-fold above activity in the cell homogenate. There are significant differences between ligand binding, adenylate cyclase, and GTPase activities in light (L) and heavy (H) membrane fractions. GTPase activity in the L-membrane fraction was decreased from that in the cell homogenate and was not stimulated by opiates. Adenylate cyclase from L-membranes is only slightly inhibited by opiates in support of other data relating opiate inhibition to stimulation of GTPase (Koski, G., and Klee, W. A. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 78, 4185).

Incubation of neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells for 12-97 hr with methionine-enkephalin results in an increase in adenylate cyclase activity [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] that is mediated by the opiate receptor. The results show that cells become tolerant to, and dependent upon, enkephalin.

Narcotics affect adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] in two opposing ways, both mediated by the opiate receptor. The first process is the readily reversible inhibition of the enzyme by narcotics; the second is a compensatory increase in enzyme activity which is delayed in onset and relatively stable. Late positive regulation of the enzyme counteracts the inhibitory influence of morphine and is responsible for narcotic dependence and tolerance. The coupled inhibitory and positive regulatory mechanisms for adenylate cyclase provide a means of activating and deactivating neural circuits hours after the initial event and thus may play a role in a memory process.