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M D Houslay

Publications and source records attributed to M D Houslay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Glucagon, vasopressin and angiotensin all elicit a rapid, transient increase in hepatocyte protein kinase C activity.

Challenge of intact hepatocytes with one of the hormones vasopressin, angiotensin and glucagon or with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) led to a rapid increase in the activity of protein kinase C found in both cytosol and membrane fractions. Maximal activation by hormones occurred within 1-6 min of challenge of cells, after which activity declined. In membrane fractions protein kinase C activity return to basal levels some 15 min after exposure of cells to either angiotensin or glucagon. In cytosol fractions of cells challenged with hormones a second phase of activation ensued after about 10 min, with levels of protein kinase C activity remaining elevated above basal level 15 min afterwards. Activity changes elicited by PMA were rather different; it took about 15 min to achieve maximal activation of cytosolic protein kinase C activity. In membranes of cells challenged with PMA, an initial rapid and transient activation was followed by a sustained increase in activity occurring about 10 min after exposure of cells to this ligand. Only when hepatocytes were challenged with PMA was the translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to membrane fraction observed. The kinetics of PMA-induced translocation suggested that it accounted for the second phase of the increase in membrane protein kinase C activity which was unique to this ligand.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of cardiac adenylate cyclase activity in rodent models of obesity.

We have investigated beta-adrenergic regulation of adenylate cyclase activity in heart tissue membranes from the genetically obese Zucker rat, the genetically obese CBA mouse and the genetically obese diabetic (db/db) mouse. Responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation was impaired in membranes from the obese Zucker rat, but not in the other models. The membranes from obese Zucker rats showed both decreased beta-adrenergic-receptor number and altered coupling between beta-adrenergic receptors and the stimulatory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein, Gs. In contrast, no alterations in either the levels of Gs or the functional interaction between this protein and the catalytic moiety of adenylate cyclase were observed. In these three genetic models of obesity we observe dissimilar alterations in the control of adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1992

Alterations in G-protein expression, Gi function and stimulatory receptor-mediated regulation of adipocyte adenylyl cyclase in a model of insulin-resistant diabetes with obesity.

The stimulatory effect of Mn2+ (1.5-fold), forskolin (1.6-fold) and low (1 microM) concentrations of GTP (1.9-fold) on the adenylyl cyclase of adipocyte membranes from obese, diabetic CBA/Ca mice was markedly enhanced compared to that seen using membranes prepared from their lean littermates. In contrast, receptor-mediated stimulation, achieved with either isoprenaline or secretin was reduced and that by glucagon abolished in membranes from diabetic animals. The levels of expression of alpha-subunits of Gi-1, Gi-2 and Gi-3 were reduced to some 49, 76 and 54%, respectively, in membranes from diabetic animals compared with those from normal animals. Levels of G-protein beta-subunits and Gs alpha-subunits were similar. Receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate activity elicited by either nicotinic acid or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was of a similar magnitude in membranes from normal and diabetic animals but the inhibitory action of N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (PIA) was greater in membranes from diabetic animals by about 30%. Gi function was similarly evident in membranes from both lean and diabetic animals, as assessed using low concentrations of guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. However, assessing Gi function using GTP showed marked dissimilarities in that the elevated GTP concentrations expected to occur physiologically were incapable of reversing the stimulation achieved at low concentrations of GTP in membranes from diabetic but not normal animals. The adipocytes of CBA/Ca mice, as do other animal models of insulin resistance, show lesions in adenylyl cyclase regulation, Gi function and G-protein expression.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1991

Determination of G-protein levels, ADP-ribosylation by cholera and pertussis toxins and the regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity in liver plasma membranes from lean and genetically diabetic (db/db) mice.

Liver plasma membranes prepared from genetically diabetic (db/db) mice expressed levels of Gi alpha-2, Gi alpha-3 and G-protein beta-subunits that were reduced by some 75, 63 and 73% compared with levels seen in membranes from lean animals. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the expression of the 42 and 45 kDa forms of Gs alpha-subunits. Pertussis toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of membranes from lean animals identified a single 41 kDa band whose labelling was reduced by some 86% in membranes from diabetic animals. Cholera toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation identified two forms of Gs alpha-subunits whose labelling was about 4-fold greater in membranes from diabetic animals compared with those from lean animals. Maximal stimulations of adenylyl cyclase activity by forskolin (100 microM), GTP (100 microM), p[NH]ppG (100 microM), NaF (10 mM) and glucagon (10 microM) were similar in membranes from lean and diabetic animals, whereas stimulation by isoprenaline (100 microM) was lower by about 22%. Lower concentrations (EC50-60 nM) of p[NH]ppG were needed to activate adenylyl cyclase in membranes from diabetic animals compared to those from lean animals (EC50-158 nM). As well as causing activation, p[NH]ppG was capable of eliciting a pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory effect upon forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes from both lean and diabetic animals. However, maximal inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes from diabetic animals was reduced to around 60% of that found using membranes from lean animals. Pertussis toxin-treatment in vivo enhanced maximal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by glucagon, isoprenaline and p[NH]ppG through a process suggested to be mediated by the abolition of functional Gi activity. The lower levels of expression of G-protein beta-subunits, in membranes from diabetic compared with lean animals, is suggested to perturb the equilibria between holomeric and dissociated G-protein subunits. We suggest that this may explain both the enhanced sensitivity of adenylyl cyclase to stimulation by p[NH]ppG in membranes from diabetic animals and the altered ability of pertussis and cholera toxins to catalyse the ADP-ribosylation of G-proteins in membranes from these two animals.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1991

Treatment of intact hepatocytes with synthetic diacyl glycerols mimics the ability of glucagon to cause the desensitization of adenylate cyclase.

Incubation of intact hepatocytes with either of the synthetic diacyl glycerols 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol (OAG) or dihexanoyl glycerol (DHG) caused the transient uncoupling of the ability of glucagon to stimulate adenylate cyclase in membranes prepared from those cells. No change occurred in either the activity of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase or the coupling of Gs to adenylate cyclase. Diacyl glycerol action appeared to mimic glucagon-mediated desensitization of adenylate cyclase, suggesting that protein kinase C activation may provide the molecular trigger for glucagon desensitization.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1991

Alterations in G-protein expression and the hormonal regulation of adenylate cyclase in the adipocytes of obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats.

Attenuated maximal activations by forskolin, Mn+. NaF or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) were noted for adenylate cyclase activity in adipocytes from obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats compared with their lean (Fa/Fa) littermates. GTP[S] achieved half-maximal activation of adenylate cyclase at some 10-fold lower concentrations in membranes from lean animals compared with those from obese. Levels of the 42 and 45 kDa forms of Gs were some 40-50% lower in membranes from obese animals, and levels of Gi-1 and Gi-3 were some 62-65% lower. No differences in levels of Gi-2 alpha-subunits or G-protein beta-subunits were observed. Gi function, as assessed by inhibiting forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase, achieved by prostaglandin E1, nicotinate and phenylisopropyladenosine, was similar in membranes from both lean and obese animals. Levels of beta-adrenoceptors were some 50% lower in membranes from obese animals. It is suggested that the attenuated activation of adenylate cyclase by stimulatory ligands in membranes from obese animals may be caused by decreases in both Gs and receptors, and that this may contribute to the attenuated lipolytic response seen in adipocytes from such animals.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1991

Okadaic acid identifies a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle controlling the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein Gi2.

Recently, the alpha-subunit of the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein Gi2 (alpha-Gi2) has been shown to be a substrate for phosphorylation both by protein kinase C and also by other unidentified kinase(s) which are activated as a result of elevated cyclic AMP levels in intact rat hepatocytes [Bushfield, Murphy, Lavan, Parker, Hruby, Milligan & Houslay (1990) Biochem. J. 268, 449-457]. Here we show that the incorporation of [32P]Pi into alpha-Gi2 was enhanced 3-fold by incubation of intact hepatocytes with the tumour promoter and protein phosphatase (1 and 2A) inhibitor, okadaic acid. This action was both time- and concentration-dependent and was accompanied by a loss of guanine-nucleotide-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The increased labelling of alpha-Gi2 induced by okadaic acid was partially additive with that elicited by 8-bromo cyclic AMP, but not with that elicited by the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. We suggest that, in the absence of hormones, the activity of alpha-Gi2 is under the control of a dynamic phosphorylation/dephosphorylation system involving protein kinase C and protein phosphatases 1 and/or 2A. This highlights the regulation of kinases and phosphatases as both providing potentially important mechanisms for causing 'cross-talk' between different signalling systems, in this instance controlling cellular responsiveness through regulation of alpha-Gi2 phosphorylation.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1991

Genetically acquired diabetes: adipocyte guanine nucleotide regulatory protein expression and adenylate cyclase regulation.

Adipocyte membranes from diabetic (db/db) animals showed marked elevations in the levels of alpha-subunits for Gi-1 which were almost twice those found in membranes from their normal, lean littermates. In contrast, no apparent differences were noted for levels of the alpha-subunits of Gi-2 and Gi-3, the 42 and 45 kDa forms of Gs and for G-protein beta-subunits. Adenylate cyclase specific activity was similar in membranes from both normal and diabetic animals under basal conditions and also when stimulated by optimal concentrations of either NaF or forskolin. In contrast, the ability of isoprenaline, glucagon and secretin to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity was greater in membranes from normal animals compared with membranes from diabetic animals. Receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase, as assessed using PGE1 and nicotinate, was similar using membranes from both sources, but PIA (phenylisopropyladenosine) was a slightly more effective inhibitor in membranes from diabetic animals. A doubling in the expression of Gi-1 thus appears to have little discernible effect upon the inhibitory regulation of adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1991

Altered G-protein expression and adenylate cyclase activity in platelets of non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) male subjects.

Adenylate cyclase activity and levels of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G-proteins) were compared in platelets from normal and non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) male subjects. Whilst no differences were noted in basal and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities the degree of stimulation achieved by both forskolin and prostaglandin, E1 was lower by some 34 and 52% respectively, in platelet membranes from diabetic subjects compared with those from normal control subjects. Altered alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was evident; it being some 34% lower in platelet membranes from diabetic subjects compared to controls. Analysis of G-protein alpha-subunits, using specific anti-peptide antisera, showed that platelets from all subjects exhibited the Gi-2 and Gi-3, but not the Gi-1 forms of the inhibitory G-protein 'Gi' and all expressed the 42 kDa species of alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G-protein Gs. Whilst platelets of diabetic subjects had levels of Gs which were comparable to those found in control subjects their levels of Gi-2 and Gi-3 were some 49 and 75%, respectively, of those found in platelets from control subjects. It is suggested that changes in adenylate cyclase functioning and G-protein expression may contribute to altered platelet functioning in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1991

Desensitization of atriopeptin stimulated accumulation and extrusion of cyclic GMP from a kidney epithelial cell line (MDCK).

Atriopeptin caused dose- (EC50 ca. 2 x 10(-8) M) and time-dependent increases in the intracellular concentration of cyclic GMP in the MDCK kidney epithelial cell line; an effect potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, IBMX. The atriopeptin-catalysed increase in cyclic GMP was transient and reached a maximum some 10-20 min after challenge of cells with atriopeptin. The basis for the transience of this increase was shown to be due to the desensitization of guanylate cyclase coupled with extrusion of cyclic GMP from the cells and the degradation of cyclic GMP by phosphodiesterase activity. Atriopeptin-catalysed extrusion of cyclic GMP was time- and dose-(EC50 ca. 1.5 x 10(-8) M) dependent and was inhibited by probenecid but not by high external cyclic GMP concentrations. The extrusion process underwent apparent desensitization as did guanylate cyclase with similar half lives (T1/2 of ca. 20 min). Desensitization was dose-dependent upon atriopeptin and did not appear to be mediated by elevated cyclic GMP concentrations as pre-incubation with 8-bromo cyclic GMP did not cause desensitization and the half-times for desensitization were similar whether or not IBMX was present. The majority of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity was found in the cytosol fraction of the cells and could be separated into two cyclic AMP specific forms and two cyclic GMP preferring forms.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1990

Diabetes-induced changes in guanine-nucleotide-regulatory-protein mRNA detected using synthetic oligonucleotide probes.

Synthetic oligonucleotide probes were designed to detect the alpha-subunits of the guanine-nucleotide-regulatory proteins (G-proteins) Gi-1, Gi-2, Gi-3 and Gs (Gi is inhibitory and Gs is stimulatory). Each probe detected a single major mRNA species in Northern blots of RNA extracted from a variety of tissues. A probe was designed to identify the two forms of G-protein beta-subunits, beta 1 and beta 2. This probe hybridised with a single 1.8-kb transcript (beta 2) in RNA from all tissues studied except for brain, where a less-abundant 3.4-kb transcript (beta 1) was also detected. These probes were used to assess whether the induction of diabetes, using streptozotocin, altered the levels of mRNA coding for specific G-protein components. In hepatocytes, diabetes caused a significant reduction in the number of transcripts coding for alpha-Gs, alpha-Gi-2 and alpha-Gi-3; mRNA for alpha-Gi-1 was undectable. In adipocytes, diabetes increased dramatically the mRNA coding for alpha-Gi-1 and alpha-Gi-3, whilst no significant changes occurred in the fractions coding for alpha-Gi-2 and alpha-Gs. No significant changes in the mRNA coding for G-protein alpha-subunits were observed in either brain, heart, skeletal muscle or kidney. Diabetes did not cause any significant changes in the mRNA coding for beta 2 in any tissue or cell population studied. Such results on the relative levels of mRNA encoding G-protein components was obtained by comparing equal amounts of total RNA from tissues of control and diabetic animals. G-protein mRNA levels were expressed relative to ribosomal 28S RNA levels and, in some instances, relative to transcripts for a structural protein called CHO-B. The total cellular levels of both RNA and DNA were assessed in the various tissues and cells studied. Major falls in RNA levels/cell appeared to occur in hepatocytes and to a lesser extent in adipocytes and skeletal muscle. Thus major reductions in G-protein transcripts occurred in hepatocytes. The detected changes in G-protein mRNA are discussed in relation to the available evidence on G-protein expression. We suggest that diabetes causes tissue-specific changes in the levels of mRNA for particular G-protein species; this may have consequences for the functioning of cellular signal-transduction mechanisms in the affected tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Diabetes-induced alterations in the expression, functioning and phosphorylation state of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein Gi-2 in hepatocytes.

Levels of the G-protein alpha-subunits alpha-Gi-2, alpha-Gi-3 and the 42 kDa, form of alpha-Gs were markedly decreased in hepatocyte membranes from streptozotocin-diabetic animals as compared with normals. In contrast, no detectable changes in alpha-Gi subunits were seen in liver plasma membranes of streptozotocin-diabetic animals, although levels of the 45 kDa form of Gs were increased. G-protein beta subunits in plasma membranes were unaffected by diabetes induction. Analysis of whole-liver RNA indicated that the induction of diabetes had little effect on transcript levels of Gi-3, caused an increase in Gs transcripts and decreased transcript number for Gi-2, albeit to a much lesser extent than was observed upon analysis of hepatocyte RNA. In both hepatocyte and liver plasma membranes, immunoblot analysis showed that levels of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase were increased upon induction of diabetes. Under basal conditions, alpha-Gi-2 from hepatocytes of diabetic animals was found to be both phosphorylated to a greater extent than alpha-Gi-2 isolated from hepatocytes of normal animals, and furthermore was resistant to any further phosphorylation upon challenge of hepatocytes with angiotensin, vasopressin or the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Treatment of isolated plasma membranes from normal, but not diabetic, animals with purified protein kinase C caused the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2. Treatment of membranes from diabetic animals with alkaline phosphatase caused the dephosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 and rendered it susceptible to subsequent phosphorylation with protein kinase C. Low concentrations of the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in both hepatocyte and liver plasma membranes from normal, but not diabetic, animals.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1990

Changes in the phosphorylation state of the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein Gi-2 in hepatocytes from lean (Fa/Fa) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats.

Treatment of intact, 32Pi-labelled hepatocytes from lean Zucker rats with a range of agents including 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), vasopressin, and angiotensin II elicited substantial increases in the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of the inhibitory G protein of adenylate cyclase (alpha Gi-2). These agonist-induced phosphorylations of alpha Gi-2 were associated with loss of Gi function as assessed by the ability of low concentrations of guanylyl 5'-[beta,gamma imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Hepatocytes from obese Zucker rats displayed a resistance to both agonist-induced phosphorylation of alpha Gi-2 and to p[NH]ppG-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The basal level of alpha Gi-2 phosphorylation in hepatocytes from obese Zucker rats was considerably greater at 1.06 +/- 0.09 mol phosphate/mol alpha Gi-2 than in hepatocytes from lean animals which gave 0.54 +/- 0.09 mol phosphate/mol alpha Gi-2. Incubation with TPA (10 ng/ml, 15 min) approximately doubled the level of phosphorylation of alpha Gi-2 in the hepatocytes from lean animals but had little effect on the phosphorylation of alpha Gi-2 in hepatocytes from obese animals. Incubation of hepatocytes from lean animals with ligands which lead to the phosphorylation of alpha Gi-2 abolished the ability of low concentrations of p[NH]ppG to inhibit adenylate cyclase expressed in isolated membranes. Treatment of hepatocyte plasma membranes from lean but not obese Zucker rats with pure protein kinase C led to the phosphorylation of alpha Gi-2. The resistance to protein-kinase-C-mediated phosphorylation in hepatocyte membranes from obese animals could be overcome by treatment of the membranes with alkaline phosphatase. These results indicate that the defect in guanine-nucleotide-mediated 'Gi function' seen in obese Zucker rats may be due to an inactivating phosphorylation of alpha Gi-2.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1990

Identification and selective inhibition of four distinct soluble forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity from kidney.

Homogenization of rat kidney under isotonic conditions and in the presence of protease inhibitors showed that some 92% of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity and some 83% of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was released into the soluble fraction. Analysis of soluble phosphodiesterase activity by FPLC on a Mono-Q column resolved four distinct fractions expressing cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. Lineweaver-Burk plots for the hydrolysis of both cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP yielded linear results. The first two peaks (KPDE-MQ-II, KPDE-MQ-III) showed higher activities towards cyclic GMP than cyclic AMP with the ratio of their Vmax values for the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP/cyclic GMP being 0.66 and 0.16, respectively. For the second two peaks (KPDE-MQ-IV, KPDE-MQ-V) the Vmax ratios for the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP/cyclic GMP were 6.4 and 16.7, respectively. All enzymes exhibited similar low Km values for both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP but had very different Vmax values. KPDE-MQ-II was activated by Ca2+/calmodulin. The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of KPDE-MQ-III was augmented by the presence of low concentrations of cyclic GMP. Thermal denaturation studies showed that the phosphodiesterase activity of each fraction decayed as a single exponential indicating that each phosphodiesterase fraction contained but a single phosphodiesterase activity. The inhibitors IBMX, zaprinast, milrinone, amrinone, buquineran, carbazeran, ICI 118233, ICI 63197 exerted selective effects on the activities of these enzymes. We compared the action of these compounds on cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases from bovine retina. Over the concentration ranges used, the bovine retinal enzyme was only inhibited by IBMX, zaprinast and carbazeran. The cytosolic isoenzymes of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases play a much more important role in metabolizing cyclic AMP in kidney compared with liver, where the activity of membrane-bound isoenzymes predominate.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗