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A Vandermeers

Publications and source records attributed to A Vandermeers.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Antagonistic properties are shifted back to agonistic properties by further N-terminal shortening of pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating peptides in human neuroblastoma NB-OK-1 cell membranes.

N-terminally shortened analogs of the 27-amino-acid and 38-amino-acid forms of the pituitary-adenylate-cyclase-activating neuropeptide, PACAP(1-27) and PACAP(1-38), were synthesized by a solid-phase method. Systematic deletion of the first 13 amino acids of both PACAP was tested by evaluating their ability to occupy the specific and selective PACAP receptor of human neuroblastoma NB-OK-1 cell membranes and to stimulate adenylate cyclase or, when inactive per se, to inhibit PACAP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. For each peptide, the Kact (concentration required for half-maximal adenylate cyclase activation) or Ki [concentration required to shift the dose/response curve of PACAP(1-27) twofold to the right] was in good agreement with the corresponding IC50 [concentration inhibiting 50% of 125I-[AcHis1]PACAP(1-27) binding to membranes], suggesting interaction with the same homogeneous class of adenylate cyclase-coupled receptors. The deletion of the two first amino acids (His1 and Ser2) sufficed to decrease the affinity for receptors and to suppress the capacity to activate adenylate cyclase. The shorter fragments 3-27 and 3-38, 4-27 and 4-38, 5-27 and 5-38, 6-27 and 6-38, 7-27 and 7-38, 8-27 and 8-38, and 9-27 and 9-38 were all competitive antagonists of PACAP(1-27)-stimulated activity with the N-terminally shortened PACAP(1-38) derivatives being 4-30-fold more potent than the equivalent PACAP(1-27) derivatives. In this group PACAP(6-38) was the most potent antagonist (Ki 1.5 nM). Surprisingly, the N-terminally shorter fragments 10-27 and 10-38, 11-27 and 11-38, 12-27 and 12-38, 13-27 and 13-38, and 14-27 and 14-38 were again able to stimulate adenylate cyclase, the smallest fragments, PACAP(14-27) and PACAP(14-38), being the most potent and efficient (Kact 2 microM and 0.1 microM, respectively). In this group of agonists, PACAP(1-38) derivatives deleted at the N-terminus were also more potent than the equivalent PACAP(1-27) derivatives.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors

Structural requirements for the occupancy of pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating-peptide (PACAP) receptors and adenylate cyclase activation in human neuroblastoma NB-OK-1 cell membranes. Discovery of PACAP(6-38) as a potent antagonist.

In these structure activity studies, the 46 analogs of the 27-amino-acid form of the pituitary-adenylate-cyclase-activating peptide, PACAP(1-27), and the 38-amino-acid form, PACAP(1-38), were either monosubstituted or bisubstituted at positions 1-3, 20 and 21 or N-terminally shortened. All analogs were compared on human neuroblastoma NB-OK-1 cell membranes for their ability to occupy 125I-[AcHis1]PACAP(1-27)-labelled receptors (AcHis, N alpha-acetylhistidine) and to activate adenylate cyclase (in terms of potency and intrinsic activity). The monophasic slope of dose/effect curves on both parameters suggested interaction with one class of PACAP receptor. Residues 28-38 in the C-terminally extended peptide, PACAP(1-38), played a favorable role in recognition, in that receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase were, in general, more sensitive to PACAP(1-38) analogs than to the corresponding PACAP(1-27) analogs. At variance with PACAP(6-27), PACAP(6-38) was well recognized and acted as a potent competitive antagonist (Ki 1.5 nM). Residues 1-3 were all important in enzyme activation: modification of the beta-turn potential gave full agonists (the LAla2 and DAla2 derivatives) or partial agonists (LPhe2 and DPhe2; LArg2 and DArg2; Glu3 and Asn3). Finally, a proper alpha-helix was also important: the combined substitution of Lys21/Lys22 by Gly21/Gly22 decreased the binding affinity sharply.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Purification, primary structure and molecular cloning of a rat ribosomal protein showing homology with yeast ribosomal protein YL34.

1. A new 17-kDa mammalian ribosomal protein (PR17) was purified to homogeneity from the rat exocrine pancreas. The purification procedure was based on acidic extraction of a heat-denatured homogenate, ammonium-sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose and analytical reverse-phase HPLC on mu Bondapak C18. Fractions of interest were collected using an antiserum directed against the first (1-14) moiety of somatostatin (1-28). 30 micrograms pure RP17 were obtained from 1 g fresh pancreas. 2. A short 111-b cDNA encoding RP17 was amplified from rat pancreatic first-strand cDNA template by using two 64-fold degenerate heptadecamer primers in the DNA-polymerase-chain reaction. From the sequence of amplified cDNA, an unambiguous oligonucleotide probe was designed to screen a rat pancreatic cDNA library. A cDNA clone coding for RP17 was isolated, whose nucleotide sequence, with an open reading frame coding for 155 amino acids (molecular mass of 17,199 Da), confirmed the partial amino acid sequences directly obtained from the purified protein. 3. Northern-blot analysis showed that a similar 0.75-kb transcript was present in rat pancreas, in the rat pancreatic acinar cell line AR 4-2J and in the human neuroblastoma cell-line NB-OK-1, the highest level being in the latter two preparations, despite similar levels of RP17 in all three preparations, as tested with a rabbit antiserum directed against purified RP17. 4. The N-terminal sequence of both RP17 and the ribosomal protein YL43 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (39 amino acid residues) showed a high degree of identity (77%), indicating that RP17 is a mammalian homolog of yeast ribosomal protein YL43.

Amino Acid Sequence

Receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation in AR 4-2J rat pancreatic acinar cell membranes by analogs of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptides amino-terminally shortened or modified at position 1, 2, 3, 20, or 21.

In AR 4-2J rat pancreatic acinar cell membranes, receptors for the two pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptides (PACAP) PACAP-27 (the short version of PACAP) and PACAP-38 [the long version, with a carboxyl-terminal (residues 28-38) extension] can be subdivided into (a) type A receptors, with high affinity (Kd, 0.3-0.5 nM) for both PACAP-27 and PACAP-38, and (b) type B receptors, with high affinity for PACAP-38 (Kd, 0.3 nM) but low affinity for PACAP-27 (Kd, 20 nM). Determinants of agonist/antagonist activity in 47 PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 analogs (mono- or disubstituted in positions 1, 2, 3, 20, and 21) or amino-terminally shortened were tested by (a) the occupancy of PACAP-A receptors, preferentially labeled with [125I-N-acetyl-His1]PACAP-27, and that of PACAP-A and -B receptors, both labeled with 125I-PACAP-38, and (b) the resulting activation or inhibition of adenylate cyclase. For PACAP-A receptor recognition, deprotonated His1 was a major determinant for PACAP-27 but not PACAP-38; the Kd of 125I-PACAP-27 decreased 2.4-fold at 37 degrees between pH 6.0 and 7.5 and 3.6-fold at 15 degrees, whereas the IC50 of [N-acetyl-His1]PACAP-27 was less affected and that of PACAP(2-27), PACAP(2-38), and PACAP(1-38) was pH independent. In addition, PACAP-A receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase were much more sensitive to PACAP-38 derivatives than to PACAP-27 derivatives; for instance, [D-Phe2]PACAP-38 was a more potent antagonist (Ki, 5 nM) than [D-Phe2]PACAP-27 (Ki, 350 nM), and PACAP(6-38) was a more potent antagonist (Ki, 7 nM) than PACAP(6-27) (Ki, 300 nM). PACAP-B receptors, apart from showing high affinity for PACAP-38, displayed relatively high affinity for amino-terminally shortened PACAP-38 fragments and poor affinity for PACAP-27 and PACAP-27 fragments.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors

Properties and distribution of receptors for pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) in rat brain and spinal cord.

A high density (in the pmol/mg protein range) of specific functional receptors for PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide) was observed in membranes from rat brain cortex, olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum, pons and cervico-dorsal spinal cord, using [125I]PACAP-27 (PACAP 1-27). The tracer bound rapidly, specifically and reversibly. Competition binding curves were compatible with the coexistence, in the eight central nervous areas explored, of high and low affinity binding sites for PACAP-27 (Kd of 0.2 nM and 3.0 nM, respectively), and of only one class of binding sites for PACAP-38 (PACAP (1-38), Kd 0.2-0.9 nM). VIP inhibited only partially the binding of [125I]PACAP-27, and PHI, GRF(1-29)NH2 and secretin were ineffective at 1 microM. Chemical [125I]PACAP-27 cross-linking revealed a single specific 64 kDa protein species. In rat brain cortical membranes, saturation and competition experiments, using [125I]PACAP-38 as radioligand, indicated the presence of both high (Kd 0.13 nM) and low (Kd 8-10 nM) affinity binding sites for PACAP-38 and of low affinity (Kd 30 nM) binding sites for PACAP-27. These data taken collectively suggest the coexistence of PACAP-A receptors with a slight preference for PACAP-27 over PACAP-38 and of PACAP-B receptors that recognize PACAP-38 with a high affinity and PACAP-27 with low affinity. Both PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 stimulated adenylate cyclase with similar potency and efficacy. VIP was markedly less potent in this respect and also less efficient, except on cerebellar membranes.

Adenylyl Cyclases

The two forms of the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP (1-27) and PACAP (1-38)) interact with distinct receptors on rat pancreatic AR 4-2J cell membranes.

The existence of specific receptors for the two PACAPs (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Peptides of 27 and 38 amino acids) was previously demonstrated on membranes from the pancreatic acinar cell line AR 4-2J (Buscail et al., FEBS Lett. 202, 77-81, 1990) by [125I]PACAP-27 binding. Here we demonstrate, by comparing Scatchard analysis of saturation curves and competition binding curves obtained with [125I]PACAP-27 and [125I]PACAP-38 as radioligands, the coexistence of two classes of receptors: 1/PACAP-A receptors that recognize PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 with the same high affinity (Kd 0.3 nM) and 2/PACAP-B receptors that recognize PACAP-38 with a high affinity (Kd 0.3 nM) and PACAP-27 with a lower affinity (Kd 30 nM). These two receptors are coupled to adenylate cyclase but can be clearly distinguished by the ability of PACAP(6-27) to specifically inhibit PACAP-27 adenylate cyclase activation.

Animals

The activation of adenylate cyclase by pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) via helodermin-preferring VIP receptors in human SUP-T1 lymphoblastic membranes.

Competition binding curves, using [125I-acetyl-His1]PACAP-27 as radioligand and dose-effect curves of adenylate cyclase activation in human SUP-T1 lymphoblastic membranes showed that PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 stimulate the enzyme through a single class of helodermin-preferring VIP receptors with the following order of potency: helodermin = [acetyl-His1]PACAP-27 greater than PACAP-38 greater than PACAP-27 greater than VIP. PACAP (6-27) (Ki 0.5-0.8 microM) and [Des-His1, Asn3]PACAP-27 (Ki 1-2 microM) acted as competitive antagonists. Using a series of 13 PACAP-27 analogues and fragments and three VIP analogues, we identified positions 1, 2, 3, 9 and 13 in PACAP-27 as being of importance for high-affinity binding. Thus, we added further evidence for considering that the present helodermin-preferring VIP receptors, when compared to a majority of VIP receptors and PACAP receptors, exhibit an original specificity pattern.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Differences in primary structure among five phospholipases A2 from Heloderma suspectum.

Five increasingly anionic phospholipases A2 (Pa1-Pa5) exist in the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum. We recently elucidated the sequence of Pa5, the most abundant and most active variant, towards emulsified phosphatidylcholines. Here we present the primary structures of Pa2, Pa3 (subvariants a and b) and Pa4, based on Edman degradation of tryptic, endoproteinase Arg-C and chymotryptic fragments of the reduced and S-carboxymethylated proteins. Pa1-Pa5, considered collectively, belong to an original class of secretory phospholipases A2 with 141-143 residues, a short hydrophobic N-terminus, 10 half-cystine residues and an extended C-terminus. The only known phospholipase A2 with characteristics close enough to be a member of the same class is that present in the venom from the insect Apis mellifera. More specifically, the sequences of Pa3 and Pa5 are almost identical, and those of Pa2 and Pa4 are also quite similar. Both groups diverge enough to indicate the translation of two mRNA species in the venom gland. The primary structure of Pa3 reveals the existence of subvariants a and b, the sequence of which is identical to that previously defined for Pa5, except that the C-terminal tripeptide GEG in Pa5 is replaced by the dipeptide GE in Pa3a and the tetrapeptide GEGR in Pa3b, Pa4, when compared to Pa5, shows 21 substitutions with a cluster of five modified amino acids in positions 40-44, immediately after the catalytic segment amino acids 30-39, and added changes scattered before the C-terminus. Pa2 differs from Pa4 only by the absence of the Gly142 C-terminal residue. The 15% difference in primary structure observed between the Pa3-Pa5 and Pa2-Pa4 subgroups might be largely responsible for their distinct biological properties.

Amino Acid Sequence

Purification and amino acid sequence of vasoactive intestinal peptide, peptide histidine isoleucinamide and secretin from the ovine small intestine.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI) and secretin were separated and purified to homogeneity from ovine small intestine, using radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay for detection. An efficient and rapid purification sequence included acid extraction, concentration on a bulk C18 cartridge, filtration on a Fractogel column, ion-exchange chromatography on Mono-S and a maximum of three successive reverse-phase HPLC steps. The amounts of peptides obtained from 450 g wet weight tissue were 20 micrograms VIP, 15 micrograms PHI and 5 micrograms secretin. The as yet unknown amino acid sequences of the three peptides were found to be identical to those of the corresponding bovine peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence

Structural requirements for the binding of the pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating peptide to receptors and adenylate-cyclase activation in pancreatic and neuronal membranes.

PACAP (pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating peptide)-binding receptors were investigated in membranes from the rat pancreatic acinar cell line, AR 4-2J, the rat hippocampus and the human neuroblastoma cell line NB-OK, by 125I-PACAP(1-27) (amino acid residues 1-27 of N-terminal amidated PACAP) binding and adenylate cyclase activation. The relative binding of 125I-PACAP(1-27) to the receptor, and ability to activate adenylate cyclase were PACAP greater than or equal to PACAP(1-27) greater than PACAP(2-38) greater than PACAP(1-9)-VIP(10-28)(PACAP-VIP) greater than PACAP(2-27) greater than [Ser9,Tyr13]VIP greater than [Tyr13]VIP greater than or equal to [Ser9]VIP greater than or equal to VIP(1-23)-PACAP(24-27)(VIP-PACAP) greater than VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide). The N-terminal moiety of PACAP(1-27) was more important than the three amino acids at the C-terminus for 125I-PACAP(1-27)-binding site recognition. For rat pancreatic 125I-VIP-binding sites tested with 125I-VIP, the order of binding affinity was PACAP = PACAP(1-27) greater than or equal to VIP = [Ser9]VIP = [Tyr13]VIP = [Ser9,Try13]VIP greater than or equal to PACAP-VIP greater than or equal to VIP-PACAP greater than PACAP(2-38) = PACAP(2-27). Pancreatic 125I-VIP-binding sites, when compared to 125I-PACAP(1-27)-binding sites, showed little specificity and only weak coupling, so that PACAP and VIP-PACAP acted only as partial VIP agonists on adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Purification and amino acid sequence of vasoactive intestinal peptide, peptide histidine isoleucinamide (1-27) and secretin from the small intestine of guinea pig.

The neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucinamide (1-27) (PHI) and the hormone secretin were purified from the small intestine of guinea pig, being detected by radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay throughout six to seven chromatographic steps. After elution on a reverse-phase C18 column, the three peptides were separated on a Fractogel column. After cation-exchange chromatography of each peptide on Mono S, the final steps were performed using a reverse-phase RP8-e column. Guinea pig PHI differed from porcine PHI in having Tyr and Arg residues instead of Phe and Lys in, respectively, position 10 and 20. We confirmed the original sequence of guinea pig VIP previously documented (with Leu5, Thr9, Met19 and Val26). We also established the similarity of the primary structure of guinea pig secretin with that of porcine and bovine.

Amino Acid Sequence

Purification and characterization of five variants of phospholipase A2 and complete primary structure of the main phospholipase A2 variant in Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster) venom.

1. Five increasingly anionic variants (Pa1-Pa5) of Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 were purified to homogeneity from the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster). The purification procedure was based on semi-preparative reverse-phase HPLC followed by anion-exchange HPLC and analytical reverse-phase HPLC. 2. Their Mr were 17,000-18,000, as deduced by SDS/PAGE. Specific activities tested by the capacity to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholines at pH 8.5 decreased as follows: Pa3 greater than Pa5 greater than Pa4 greater than Pa1 greater than Pa2. These activities showed the same optimum pH (9.0), were mainly of the phospholipase A2 type and were lost upon p-bromophenacyl bromide treatment. 3. All five phospholipases efficiently stimulated amylase release from dispersed rat pancreatic acini at pH 7.4, their potency decreasing as follows: Pa2 greater than Pa1 approximately equal to Pa4 greater than Pa3 approximately equal to Pa5. No deleterious effect was apparent based on the lack of lactate dehydrogenase release. 4. The five variants, Pa1-Pa5, differed significantly in amino acid composition and this, together with distinct antigenic properties of Pa2 and Pa5, establishes the subheterogeneity of this new type of phospholipase A2, despite the fact that the N-terminal amino acid sequence (31 residues) of Pa1-Pa5 was exactly the same. 5. The full sequence of the major variant, Pa5, showed that this 142-amino-acid protein exhibited greater similarity to the bee venom enzyme than to any class I or class II secretory phospholipase A2 from snake venom and mammalian pancreas. While Pa5 displayed the highly conserved region between Asp30 and Cys39 (the essential active site of all phospholipases A2), its salient original points included 10 half-cystine residues only, an incomplete N-terminal sequence, large changes in the putative calcium loop, several alterations after the active site and a C-terminal extension never seen in other phospholipases A2, with the only exception being bee venom.

Amino Acid Sequence

Homologous and heterologous regulation of the helodermin/vasoactive-intestinal-peptide response in the murine radiation leukemia-virus-induced lymphoma cell line BL/VL3.

1. Functional vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/helodermin receptors and beta 2-adrenoceptors coexist in membranes from a cultured cloned BL/VL3 cell line of murine T-cell lymphoma induced by a radiation leukemia virus (see preceding paper in this journal). 2. Short-term (5-30 min) exposures of BL/VL3 cells to VIP or isoproterenol induced both homologous and heterologous desensitization. The potency of VIP and isoproterenol to desensitize was similar to their potency to occupy receptors and activate adenylate cyclase. 3. Long-term (16-h) exposure of BL/VL3 cells to VIP induced homologous down regulation only, whereas isoproterenol induced both homologous and heterologous down regulation. The potency of VIP, peptide histidine isoleucinamide, helodermin, helospectin, and [D-Phe2]VIP on the one hand, and of isoproterenol on the other hand, to decrease homologous responses was comparable to their potency for receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Isolation and primary structure of rat secretin.

A major form of rat secretin was purified to homogeneity from small intestine, being detected with a porcine secretin radioimmunoassay throughout 7 chromatographic steps. The sequence of the heptacosapeptide amide H-S-D-G-T-F-T-S-E-L-S-R-L-Q-D-S-A-R-L-Q-R-L-L-Q-G-L-V-NH2 shows that rat secretin has a glutamine residue in position 14 instead of arginine as in pig secretin.

Amino Acid Sequence

Peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI)-(1-27)-Gly as a new major form of PHI in the rat small intestine.

Three immunoreactive peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI) forms (I, II, and III) from a rat small intestinal extract were separated on a Fractogel column, using a specific RIA. Peak III was identified as rat PHI-(1-27)-NH2 based on its coelution with a synthetic standard and its amino acid sequence. Peak I was tentatively considered as PHI extended with the connecting peptide preexisting between PHI and vasoactive intestinal peptide in their common precursor, based on its apparent mol wt. Peak II was the most abundant form (based on immunoassay) and has not been described previously. It was purified to homogeneity by using a RIA throughout the first three chromatographic steps, then a fast RRA (on rat liver membranes) during the last three purification steps. This new PHI variant was identified as rat PHI-(1-27)-Gly, as judged by full sequencing amino acid analysis after C-terminal digestion by carboxypeptidase-Y and by coelution with synthetic rat PHI-(1-27)-Gly.

Amino Acid Sequence

Variable distribution of three molecular forms of peptide histidine isoleucinamide in rat tissues: identification of the large molecular form as peptide histidine valine-(1-42).

We previously isolated three forms of peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI) from rat small intestine by chromatography on Fractogel. Rat PHI-(1-27)-NH2 and rat PHI-(1-27)-Gly were identified by microsequence analysis. In the present work the third larger form was purified to homogeneity, being detected by RIA in preliminary steps and by RRA in the last steps. This form could be recognized by a PHI antiserum and an antiserum raised against the synthetic rat PHI-(22-27) fragment C-terminally extended by the connecting peptide linking PHI to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in their common PHI/VIP precursor, as postulated by the reported cDNA analysis of rat brain mRNA. Sequence analysis and C-terminal hydrolysis by carboxypeptidase-Y identified this large form as peptide histidine valine-(1-42), i.e. rat PHI-(1-27) C-terminally extended by the totality of the connecting peptide except for the terminal dibasic residues. We also documented the coexistence of the three PHI forms in rat brain, rachidian bulb, pituitary, adrenal glands, uterine horns, and stomach. Tissue distribution was highly variable. The classical PHI-(1-27)-NH2 form was best represented in rachidian bulb and somewhat less so in brain and uterine horns. PHI-(1-27)-Gly, while being particularly abundant in the small intestine, was very poorly present in rachidian bulb and uterine horns. Peptide histidine valine-(1-42) was the major form in pituitary and adrenal glands and was also well expressed in uterine horns. The three forms coexisted equally in stomach. This uneven distribution suggests a tissue-specific posttranslational processing of rat prepro-PHI/VIP.

Amino Acid Sequence

Interaction of synthetic N- and C-terminal fragments of helodermin with rat liver VIP receptors.

Synthetic helodermin was more potent than natural helodermin (purified from the venom of Gila monster) in activating adenylate cyclase in rat liver membranes. Two possible reasons for this discrepancy were discussed. Comparing adenylate cyclase activation to the binding of 125I-natural helodermin and 125I-VIP in the presence of six synthetic helodermin fragments (1-27, 7-35, 13-35, 17-35, 18-35 and 22-35), we conclude that the effects of both synthetic and natural helodermin were mediated through an interaction with VIP receptors. The C-terminal (28-35) extension of these peptides favored VIP receptor recognition. Their N-terminal extremity was not necessary for binding and for ensuing adenylate cyclase activation, illustrating again the atypical coupling of VIP receptors with the effector enzymatic system, in rat liver membranes.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Effector mechanisms of peptides of the VIP family.

The present review is focused on the exocrine pancreas and liver where the only known effector mechanism of VIP is the activation of adenylate cyclase in plasma membranes. A two-state model of activation-deactivation of the enzyme visualizes the participation of VIP receptors and Ns, the guanyl nucleotide stimulatory protein of adenylate cyclase. In the rat pancreas, VIP and GRF receptors are indistinguishable and disulfide bridges influence their functional integrity. The antagonism of VIP and somatostatin perhaps requires, at the adenylate cyclase level, the contribution of Ni, the guanyl nucleotide inhibitory protein. The potentiation of VIP by various stimulants acting on Ca2+ movements may rely on later events, e.g., on a concerted activation of protein kinases. When comparing quantitatively peptide binding to receptors with adenylate cyclase activation, cyclic AMP levels and amylase secretion, a tool is at hand to tailor synthetic agonists and antagonists of VIP, with appropriate changes in the N-terminal moiety of the peptide (a good agonist allows efficient coupling of receptors to the adenylate cyclase system). Apart from stimulus-secretion coupling, VIP may influence protein synthesis in the rat pancreas, through the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, and may alter the activity of the endoplasmic reticulum via the phosphorylation of Mr = 21 kDa and Mr = 25 kDa proteins. In rat liver membranes, high affinity VIP receptors are specifically labelled with 125I-helodermin and are coupled to adenylate cyclase (at variance with low affinity VIP receptors). These receptors are highly responsive to divalent cations and to guanyl nucleotides.

Adenylyl Cyclases