Biomedical subjects

J E Gerst

Publications and source records attributed to J E Gerst.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1987

Inhibition by melittin and fluphenazine of melanotropin receptor function and adenylate cyclase in M2R melanoma cell membranes.

Melanotropin (MSH) receptor activity in the M2R mouse melanoma cell line is tightly controlled by calcium by an unknown mechanism. The possibility that calcium regulation is mediated by calmodulin or a calmodulin-related calcium binding protein has been addressed in this report by studying the effects of two known calmodulin antagonists, fluphenazine and melittin, on MSH receptor function. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase (AC) in M2R plasma membranes by beta MSH was strongly inhibited by both antagonists. The concentrations of fluphenazine and melittin yielding half-maximal inhibition (IC50) of AC were 16 microM and 2.4 microM, respectively. Both fluphenazine and melittin also inhibit prostaglandin E1-, GTP gamma S, and forskolin-stimulated AC activity, as well as that of unstimulated enzyme, although inhibition is shown to occur at significantly higher concentrations of antagonist. We have shown that the calcium-dependent rate-limiting step in MSH stimulation of adenylate cyclase, that of hormone binding, is strongly inhibited by these antagonists at concentrations identical to, if not lower than, those required for the inhibition of AC activity (fluphenazine-IC50, 14 microM; melittin-IC50, 0.7 microM). The actions of these antagonists, furthermore, appear to be calcium insensitive, as melittin affects the stability of both the high affinity (calcium containing) and low affinity (calcium depleted) receptor-MSH complexes. The sensitivity of the MSH receptor to inhibition by calmodulin antagonists resembles that described for purified calmodulin-sensitive enzyme systems, which suggests a possible role for calmodulin in MSH receptor function. Among peptide hormone receptors, this effect by calmodulin antagonists appears to be unique for the MSH receptor.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1987

Dual regulation of beta-melanotropin receptor function and adenylate cyclase by calcium and guanosine nucleotides in the M2R melanoma cell line.

Binding of beta-melanotropin (beta-MSH) and subsequent activation of adenylate cyclase in the M2R mouse melanoma cell line is strongly dependent on the concentration of extracellular free calcium. This effect can be demonstrated both in the intact cell and in a plasma membrane preparation derived therefrom, using an EGTA buffer system. In contrast, stimulation of adenylate cyclase by prostaglandin E1, forskolin, or guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiotriphosphate) is calcium insensitive. It is shown that calcium increases the binding affinity of beta-MSH for its receptor by a factor of 20 (from 400 nM to 20 nM) without affecting maximal hormone binding. At supersaturating concentrations of beta-MSH (greater than 200 nM) binding gradually becomes calcium independent. Hormone-receptor complexes formed in the presence of calcium dissociated rapidly (less than or equal to 2 min) and reversibly upon the elimination of calcium by excess EGTA. Among nine divalent metal cations tested, calcium was found to be the most effective in facilitating hormone binding. Whereas calcium promotes beta-MSH binding, GTP and its stable analogs lead to a reduction in both maximal binding (65%) and affinity (2-fold). These effects are calcium independent, suggesting that the reciprocal control of beta-MSH binding by calcium and guanosine nucleotides is mediated by two separate and independent mechanisms.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1986

Regulation of adenylate cyclase by beta-melanotropin in the M2R melanoma cell line.

We have examined adenylate cyclase (AC) in the M2R melanoma cell line, a novel clone of transplantable B16 melanoma cells. It has been found that activity of this enzyme is highly responsive to beta-melanotropin (beta-MSH) and other hormones possessing melanotropic activity (e.g., alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH1-24)). beta-MSH stimulation of adenylate cyclase, both in the intact cell and in a plasma membrane-enriched fraction derived thereof, was shown to be saturable and dose-dependent. In addition, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was found to be a potent stimulator of AC activity in these cells. Hormone stimulation of enzyme activity in the intact cell was strongly potentiated by forskolin which not only enhanced maximal AC activity 3-fold, but lowered by 40-fold the concentration of beta-MSH required for half-maximal stimulation. Using biologically active [125I]iodo-beta-MSH prepared in our laboratory we have examined the specificity of beta-MSH binding to its receptor in both intact M2R cells and plasma membranes derived thereof. Among a series of hormones tested only alpha-MSH and ACTH1-24 competed with [125I]iodo-beta-MSH for binding to the melanotropin receptor in accordance with the results obtained with AC. In contrast to the strong effect on cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in M2R cells forskolin has no effect on [125I]iodo-beta-MSH binding. It appears that the kinetic properties of beta-MSH binding and beta-MSH stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity are essentially identical, the half-maximal effects of which are demonstrated at approximately 20 nM beta-MSH.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗