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L L Brunton

Publications and source records attributed to L L Brunton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Association of decreased myocardial beta-receptors and chronotropic response to isoproterenol and exercise in pigs following chronic dynamic exercise.

The effects of chronic dynamic exercise on myocardial beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors and chronotropic sensitivity to isoproterenol were studied in 5 Yucatan miniswine. Right atrial and left ventricular biopsies, heart rate responses to isoproterenol, and maximal exercise treadmill testing were obtained before and after 10-19 weeks of treadmill running. Radioligand studies using 125I-iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) and 3H-quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) were used to determine the number of beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Maximal oxygen consumption increased from 52 +/- 5 to 65 +/- 7 ml/kg/min (mean +/- SD; p less than 0.02), maximal workload from 530 +/- 111 to 1,074 +/- 179 KPM/min (p less than 0.01), resting heart rate decreased from 91 +/- 13 to 62 +/- 4 beats/min (p less than 0.01), heart rate at 75% of pretraining maximal workload decreased from 253 +/- 15 to 196 +/- 12 beats/min (p less than 0.01), and maximal exercise heart rate decreased from 273 +/- 6 to 254 +/- 9 beats/min (p less than 0.01). Decreased heart rate responsiveness to adrenergic stimulation was observed following chronic exercise. Maximal isoproterenol-stimulated heart rate decreased from 225 +/- 13 to 185 +/- 28 beats/min (p less than 0.05) and the slope of the isoproterenol dose-response relation decreased from 63 +/- 16 to 40 +/- 16 (p less than 0.05). Radioligand studies revealed a decrease in beta-receptor number in the right atrium following chronic exercise (61 +/- 9 vs. 34 +/- 8 fmol/mg; p less than 0.02), but receptor number in membranes from the left ventricle did not change (60 +/- 9 vs. 62 +/- 4 fmol/mg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1986

Enhancement of adenylate cyclase activity in S49 lymphoma cells by phorbol esters. Withdrawal of GTP-dependent inhibition.

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhances the apparent maximal velocity of adenylate cyclase in S49 lymphoma cells, an effect that seems not to result from an increased rate of activation of the catalytic subunit by the stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs) (Bell, J. D., Buxton, I. L. O., and Brunton, L. L. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2625-2628). In membranes from wild type S49 cells, this enhancing effect of TPA is largely GTP-dependent; TPA enhances forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 35% in the presence of guanine nucleotide but only slightly (approximately 10%) in its absence. TPA causes comparable results in membranes from the cyc- variant that lacks the GTP-binding subunit of Gs. Blockade of the activity of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi) by high concentrations of Mg2+ (100 mM) or Mn2+ (3 mM) abolishes the effect of TPA to enhance adenylate cyclase activity in wild type membranes. The potentiation by TPA of cAMP accumulation in intact cells is greater than and not additive with the similar effect of pertussis toxin (an agent known to abolish hormonal inhibition of adenylate cyclase). Kinetic experiments indicate that TPA decreases the rate of activation of Gi by guanine nucleotide. We conclude that the resultant withdrawal of tonic inhibition of adenylate cyclase is one mechanism by which phorbol esters enhance guanine nucleotide-dependent cAMP synthesis.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1986

Alpha-adrenergic receptors on rat ventricular myocytes: characteristics and linkage to cAMP metabolism.

When incubated with purified cardiomyocytes from adult rat ventricle, the alpha 1-antagonist [3H]prazosin binds to a single class of sites (8 X 10(4) per cell) with high affinity [dissociation constant (KD) = 82 pM]. Competition for [3H]prazosin binding by the alpha 2-selective antagonist yohimbine [inhibitor dissociation constant (KI) = 714 nM] and the nonselective alpha-antagonist phentolamine (KI = 168 nM) demonstrates that these receptors are of the alpha 1-subtype. In addition, incubation of myocyte membranes with [3H]yohimbine results in no measurable specific binding. Agonist competition for [3H]prazosin binding to membranes prepared from purified myocytes demonstrates the presence of two components of binding: 28% of alpha 1-receptors interact with norepinephrine with high affinity (KD = 36 nM), whereas the majority of receptors (72%) have a low affinity for agonist (KD = 2.2 microM). After addition of 10 microM GTP, norepinephrine competes for [3H]prazosin binding to a single class of sites with lower affinity (KD = 2.2 microM). Incubation of intact myocytes for 2 min with 1 microM norepinephrine leads to significantly less cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation (13.6 pmol/mg) than stimulation with either norepinephrine plus prazosin or isoproterenol (18 pmol/mg). Likewise, incubation of intact myocytes with 10(-6) M norepinephrine leads to significantly less activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (71 +/- 4%) than when myocytes are stimulated by both norepinephrine and the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist, prazosin (95 +/- 1%), or the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (100%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Prostaglandin A1 metabolism and inhibition of cyclic AMP extrusion by avian erythrocytes.

Prostaglandins (PG) inhibit active cyclic AMP export from pigeon red cells, PGA1 and PGA2 most potently (Brunton, L.L., and Mayer, S.E. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 9714-9720). To probe the mechanism of this action of PGA1, we have studied the interaction of [3H]PGA1 with suspensions of pigeon red cells. The interaction of PGA1 with pigeon red cells is a multistep process of uptake, metabolism, and secretion. [3H] PGA1 rapidly enters red cells and is promptly metabolized (Vmax greater than or equal to 1 nmol/min/10(7) cells) to a compound(s) that remains in the aqueous layer after ethylacetate extraction. The glutathione-depleting agent, diamide, inhibits formation of the PGA1 metabolite. In agreement with the order of potency of other prostaglandins to inhibit cAMP efflux (A much greater than E congruent to B greater than F), PGA2 forms a polar adduct whereas prostaglandins E2, B1, and F2 alpha do not. The red cells secrete the polar metabolite of PGA1 by a saturable mechanism (at 37 degrees C, Km congruent to 0.6 microM, Vmax congruent to 0.5 pmol/min/10(7) cells) that lowered temperatures inhibit (Eact congruent to 21 kcal/mol). Because uptake and metabolism progress with much greater rates than metabolite secretion, red cells transiently concentrate the polar compound intracellularly. Onset and reversal of inhibition of cyclic AMP export by PGA1 coincide with accumulation and secretion of PGA1 metabolite, suggesting that the polar metabolite acts at an intracellular site to inhibit cyclic AMP efflux. In the accompanying Appendix, we present chromatographic and amino acid analyses demonstrating that the polar metabolite is a glutathione adduct of PGA1.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Putative inhibitor of cyclic AMP efflux: chromatography, amino acid composition, and identification as a prostaglandin A1-glutathione adduct.

Avian red cells rapidly and extensively metabolize prostaglandin A1 (PGA1) to a polar form that extracts into 80% ethanol and is quantitatively desalted and recovered over a Waters C18 Sep-Pak. This material co-chromatographs with synthetic PGA1-GSH and with the human red cell PGA1 metabolite on cellulose and silica gel thin layer plates and on normal phase high performance liquid chromatography. Quantitation of the amino acid composition by [35S]cysteine incorporation and by fluorometric amino acid analysis of the material eluting from high performance liquid chromatography indicates the presence of PGA1, cysteine, glutamate, and glycine in equimolar ratios. Base sensitivity of the metabolite indicates that it exists largely (80%) in the 9-hydroxyl form. We conclude that the polar metabolite of PGA1 that acts intracellularly to inhibit cyclic AMP efflux by avian red cells is a glutathione conjugate of PGA1.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1985

Action of the cardiac alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. Activation of cyclic AMP degradation.

Using purified rat ventricular myocytes and membranes prepared from them, we have previously found that alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation causes decreased cyclic AMP accumulation and decreased activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. We have now analyzed the mechanism by which alpha 1 stimulation is linked to cyclic AMP metabolism. In an adenylate cyclase assay in which carbachol inhibits the stimulatory effect of norepinephrine, the addition of prazosin (alpha 1-antagonist) has no effect on the response to norepinephrine. In membranes prepared from myocytes treated with pertussis toxin, norepinephrine competes for alpha 1-receptors (assessed by [3H]prazosin binding) with two components, binding to the high affinity component being sensitive to exogenous GTP, exactly as in membranes prepared from control myocytes. In intact cells labeled with [3H]adenine in which carbachol antagonizes the norepinephrine response, prazosin enhances accumulation of [3H]cyclic AMP due to norepinephrine. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin eliminates inhibition by carbachol but does not alter prazosin's capacity to enhance the norepinephrine response. Addition of phosphodiesterase inhibitors eliminates this effect of alpha 1 blockade. In [3H]adenine-labeled cells loaded with [3H]cyclic AMP by prior treatment with isoproterenol, alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation enhances disappearance of [3H]cyclic AMP. Measurements of cellular cyclic AMP give results similar to those obtained with the adenine labeling technic. We conclude that occupation of the myocyte alpha 1-receptor results in stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity.

Adenine↗
PubMed1985

Enhancement of adenylate cyclase activity in S49 lymphoma cells by phorbol esters. Putative effect of C kinase on alpha s-GTP-catalytic subunit interaction.

Addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to S49 lymphoma cells (wild type and a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase-lacking clone) has little effect alone but doubles accumulation of cyclic AMP in response to isoproterenol. The effect is immediate and has an apparent affinity and order of potency characteristic of the activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters. Enhancement does not reflect an altered time course of the beta-adrenergic response, enhanced affinity of the cellular beta-receptor for agonist, or decreased degradation and export of cellular cyclic AMP. Reduction of the beta-adrenergic response by somatostatin does not remove the effect of TPA nor does TPA abolish the effect of somatostatin. Phorbol ester enhances cyclic AMP accumulation in response to cholera toxin in wild type and UNC clones but not in H21a or cyc-. TPA also enhances cAMP accumulation in response to forskolin in wild type cells. The effect of TPA is stable to rapid preparation of membranes. In adenylate cyclase assays on membranes from cells treated with TPA, the activation by guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate is enhanced by 40% with no change in lag time; the effect of beta-agonist plus Gpp(NH)p is similarly enhanced; activation by Mn2+ is unchanged. We conclude that phorbol ester facilitates the productive interaction of the alpha subunit of the transducer protein Gs with the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase, hypothetically via an action of protein kinase C.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1985

Effect of phosphate depletion on blood pressure and vascular reactivity to norepinephrine and angiotensin II in the rat.

Phosphate depletion (PD) adversely affects myocardial function but its influence on blood pressure is not well elucidated. In this study we evaluated whether PD influences blood pressure and/or affects its hormonal regulation or the peripheral vascular response to pressor agonists. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) in PD rats was lower than in normal animals, whereas heart rate was not significantly different between the two groups. Cardiac index (CI) in PD rats was lower and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was higher than in controls. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) in the resting state and during the stress of immobilization was significantly greater in PD rats than in controls. Base-line plasma renin activity was also significantly higher in PD rats and increased similarly in the two groups of rats after administration of isoproterenol. Bolus injections of NE or angiotensin II produced a smaller rise in MAP in PD rats than in controls. Reduced responsiveness to NE was also demonstrated in isolated hind-limb preparation from PD rats. When NE was infused to achieve a rise in MAP of 30 mmHg, the dose required in PD was higher than in controls. Treatment with indomethacin did not affect the response in MAP to NE. The content and affinity of both alpha- and beta-receptors in PD hearts were not different from those of control hearts. The contents of PiATP, and AMP in the mesenteric vessels of PD rats were significantly lower than in control animals. These data show that PD leads to reductions in MAP, arteriolar response to pressor agents, and CI with appropriate compensatory rise in NE but with inadequate compensatory increase in SVR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1985

Direct analysis of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes on intact adult ventricular myocytes of the rat.

beta 1- and beta 2-Adrenergic receptors co-exist in the adult rat ventricle. We have employed radioligand binding and cell purification techniques to determine the cellular origin of these receptors. The beta-adrenergic antagonist ligand (+/-)-[125I] iodocyanopindolol binds to 2 X 10(5) receptors per purified adult rat cardiomyocyte, with a dissociation constant of 70 pM. The subtype-selective antagonists betaxolol (beta 1), practolol (beta 1), and zinterol (beta 2) compete for [125I]iodocyanopindolol-binding sites on intact myocytes in monophasic manners with dissociation constants of 46, 845, and 923 nM, respectively. [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding to membranes prepared from nonmyocyte elements of rat ventricle occurs with a dissociation constant of 43 pM and a capacity of 88 fmol/mg membrane protein. Computer analysis of competition of [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding by betaxolol, practolol, and zinterol in nonmyocyte membranes demonstrates biphasic curves that comprise binding to both beta 1- and beta 2-receptors. These data demonstrate that purified adult ventricular myocytes possess only beta 1-receptors, and that the beta 2-receptors found in rat ventricle are located on nonmyocyte cell types.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1985

Alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in adult rat cardiomyocytes.

Cardiac alpha-adrenergic receptors mediate cellular responses to norepinephrine through an undefined series of molecular events. We examined the possibility that phosphoinositide hydrolysis was stimulated through alpha-adrenergic receptors in cardiomyocytes purified from adult rat ventricle. Phosphoinositide stores were labeled with [3H]inositol, and [3H]inositol phosphate formation was assessed after the addition of lithium chloride and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine increased the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphate by approximately 5-fold, giving a maximal response at approximately 30 microM and a half-maximal response at approximately 1 microM. There was a significant increase in [3H]inositol phosphate formation in response to norepinephrine at 5 minutes, and the response was linear over 40 minutes. Norepinephrine-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate formation was not blocked by propranolol (1 microM) or yohimbine (0.1 microM) but was completely antagonized by the alpha 1-selective antagonist prazosin (0.1 microM). Muscarinic cholinergic receptor activation by carbachol also stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate formation in rat ventricular myocytes. The maximal effect of carbachol (approximately 2-fold) was always less than that of norepinephrine. The combined effects of norepinephrine and carbachol were additive, suggesting that the two hormones do not share a common rate-limiting step. Removal of extracellular calcium and addition of ethylene glycol bis(beta-amino ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid, attenuated, but did not abolish, norepinephrine- or carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate formation. Neither the calcium ionophore A23187 nor the calcium channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine had any effect on basal or hormone-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate formation. We suggest that some of the physiological and metabolic effects of adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation on the rat myocardium are secondary to receptor-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Export of cyclic AMP from avian red cells. Independence from major membrane transporters and specific inhibition by prostaglandin A.

Prostaglandin A1 (PGA1) inhibits energy-dependent cyclic AMP export by pigeon red cells [Brunton and Mayer, J. Biol. Chem. 254:9714 (1979)]. To assess the specificity of this action, we observed the effect of 10 microM PGA1 (a concentration that inhibits cyclic AMP efflux greater than 95%) on a variety of membrane-protein-mediated processes that we could readily characterize and quantify in the pigeon red cell. Included in this study were isoproterenol-sensitive cyclic AMP production, ouabain-inhibitable 86Rb+ influx, furosemide-sensitive NaCl-KCl symport, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyano-2, 2'-disulfonic stilbene (SITS)-sensitive sulfate exchange, Na+-dependent alpha-aminoisobutyrate influx, and glucose and adenosine uptake. Remarkably, none of these membrane activities is significantly affected by PGA1. Furthermore, SITS, nitrobenzylthioinosine, cytochalasin B, and Na+-free extracellular medium (inhibitors of band 3, the nucleoside transporter, the hexose transporter, and amino acid uptake, respectively), failed to inhibit cyclic AMP export by pigeon red cells. On the basis of this data, we conclude that PGA1 does not act via a generalized alteration of a basic property at the plasma membrane, such as its fluidity; rather, PGA1 acts specifically to inhibit cyclic AMP extrusion. The data also imply that a transporter not relying on the Na+ gradient and distinct from transporters of cations, anions, amino acids, sugars, and nucleosides mediates cyclic AMP export.

4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfo↗
PubMed1985

A glutathione adduct of prostaglandin A1 acts intracellularly to elevate cyclic AMP by inhibiting its extrusion.

Prostaglandin A1 inhibits the energy-dependent export of cyclic AMP from avian red cells. When exposed to PGA1, avian red cells rapidly accumulate the prostaglandin and convert it to a polar metabolite. Inhibition of cyclic AMP efflux correlates with the intracellular content of this metabolite. Data in the literature and our chemical and chromatographic analyses indicate that the prostaglandin metabolite is a glutathione adduct of PGA1. Thus, we hypothesize that a GSH adduct of PGA1 acts intracellularly to elevate cyclic AMP by blocking its extrusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes and subcellular compartmentation of cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in rabbit cardiomyocytes.

In purified ventricular myocytes from adult rabbit, beta-adrenergic stimulation causes cyclic AMP accumulation and cyclic AMP-protein kinase activation in both particulate and soluble fractions of the cell, whereas prostaglandin E1 elevates cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-protein kinase activity in the soluble fraction exclusively. Only activation of particulate cyclic AMP-protein kinase activity results in phosphorylase b----a conversion. Using radioligand binding technics, we have determined whether beta 1- and beta 2-receptor subtypes mediate beta-adrenergic effects in particulate and soluble subcellular compartments, respectively. The non-selective antagonist [125I]iodocyanopindolol binds to intact ventricular myocytes with KD of 25 pM and a Bmax of 2.6 X 10(5) receptors/myocyte. Competition for [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding to intact myocytes by the beta-receptor subtype-specific antagonists practolol (beta 1) and zinterol (beta 2) results in monophasic curves with antagonist KD values of 1 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively. We conclude that adult rabbit cardiac myocytes do not possess detectable beta 2 receptors. Further, the ability of isoproterenol to cause elevation of cyclic AMP in two functionally distinct regions within the myocyte must pertain to the actions of a single subtype of beta-receptor, the beta 1-receptor.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1984

A kinetic isotope dilution assay for glycerol.

Using glycerol kinase and [3H]glycerol, a kinetic isotope dilution assay for glycerol has been developed. Reactant and product are separated by stepwise elution from QAE-Sephadex. This assay is sensitive to as little as 100 pmol of glycerol, avoids numerous drawbacks of the traditional fluorescent assay, and readily detects glycerol production by fewer than 10(5) cardiomyocytes.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗
PubMed1984

Effects of adrenalectomy on activation of glycogen phosphorylase in rat myocardium.

Adrenalectomy causes a depressed glycogenolytic response to catecholamines in myocardium. Total phosphorylase activity (a + b) is 20% lower in isolated, perfused hearts from adrenalectomized (ADX) rats compared with hearts from sham-operated (sham) rats even though the basal activity ratios (-AMP/+AMP) do not differ. In response to epinephrine (50 nM), the sham group has a higher activity ratio than the ADX group (0.23 vs. 0.16); the difference in specific activities of phosphorylase a in the two groups is even greater, 87 versus 49 U/mg protein. The glycogen content of the heart is 30% lower in the ADX group. Adrenalectomy does not alter the accumulation of cAMP and activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase caused by epinephrine. Although rat heart contains a heat-stable phosphatase inhibitor, the activity of this inhibitor, as judged by phosphorylase phosphatase activity, is not altered by epinephrine stimulation or by adrenalectomy. Epinephrine perfusion increases the activity ratios (pH 6.8:8.2) of phosphorylase kinase equally in sham and ADX hearts; however, the specific activities of phosphorylase kinase (basal and hormone-stimulated) at either pH are lower after adrenalectomy. The sensitivity of phosphorylase kinase activity to stimulation by calcium is the same in the sham and ADX groups. A radioimmunoassay for phosphorylase kinase detects 10% less of this enzyme in hearts from adrenalectomized animals. Specific activities at pH 6.8 and 8.2 based on the quantity of phosphorylase kinase detected by radioimmunoassay suggest a lower phosphorylation state in the ADX group. Decreases in quantities of phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase and enzyme dissociation due to glycogen depletion could all contribute to a depressed glycogenolytic response in the ADX group.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1983

Compartments of cyclic AMP and protein kinase in mammalian cardiomyocytes.

We have studied the compartmentation of cyclic AMP action in purified ventricular cardiomyocytes prepared by collagenase perfusion of adult rabbit hearts. Incubation of purified adult myocytes with 1 microM isoproterenol causes rapid accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP in both soluble (2.3 leads to 7.7 pmol/ mg of protein) and particulate (3.0 leads to 9.2) fractions of cell homogenates (3000 X g for 5 min), increases in the total activity and activity ratio of soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (0.21 leads to 0.66), a decrease in protein kinase activity remaining in the particulate fraction (47 leads to 30%), and an increase in the activity ratio of glycogen phosphorylase (0.15 leads to 0.47). Incubation of myocytes with 10 microM prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) leads to a comparable increase in soluble cyclic AMP (2.3 leads to 5.8 pmol/mg of protein) and activation of soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (0.21 leads to 0.39) but does not result in any change in cAMP or protein kinase in the particulate fraction and fails to cause an activation of glycogen phosphorylase. PGE1 does not inhibit the effects of isoproterenol; when myocytes are incubated with both isoproterenol and PGE1, the accumulation of cyclic AMP, activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase b leads to a conversion are equal to that achieved with isoproterenol alone. Perturbation of cellular calcium using the ionophore A23187, verapamil, or high or low extracellular calcium did not alter the ability of isoproterenol to cause activation of particulate cAMP-dependent protein kinase or influence the inability of PGE1 to do so. Activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin (30 microM) caused immediate activation of both soluble and particulate cAMP-dependent protein kinase leading to rapid activation of phosphorylase. We conclude that the hormonally specific compartmentation of cyclic AMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase that occurs in intact heart (Hayes, J. S., Brunton, L. L., Brown, J. H., Reese, J. B., and Mayer, S. E. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 1570-1574) is not explained on the basis of cellular heterogeneity but has a subcellular basis within the cardiomyocyte.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1982

Cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases in airway smooth muscle.

Because of the potential importance of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases in the regulation of airway smooth muscle tone, we have examined some of the characteristics of these enzymes in the soluble fraction of canine trachealis homogenates. In the absence of added cAMP, the heat-stable cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) abolished only a half of the 32P incorporation into mixed histones. The remaining activity appeared to be contributed by a cyclic nucleotide-independent enzyme. Phosphotransferase activity was enhanced 5-fold by 5 microM cAMP but only 70% of the cAMP-stimulated activity could be inhibited by PKI. The sensitivity of the cyclic nucleotide-dependent, PKI-resistant enzyme to cAMP, cGMP, and Mg2+ indicated that it was cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Because of the large amount of cyclic nucleotide-independent activity, and the ability of cAMP to activate cGMP-dependent protein kinase, the traditional "-cAMP/+cAMP" ratio did not provide an accurate assessment of the in vivo activation state of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. However, a modified assay was developed which allowed the precise measurement of cAMP-dependent, cGMP-dependent, and cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activities. Using this new method, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio of 0.239 in untreated trachealis strips was increased to 0.355 and 0.386 by prior exposure of the intact tissue to the smooth muscle relaxants isoproterenol and prostaglandin E2, respectively. The results of this study are consistent with the proposed role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the regulation of smooth muscle contractile function.

Animals↗