Discovery of zoniporide: a potent and selective sodium-hydrogen exchanger type 1 (NHE-1) inhibitor with high aqueous solubility.

Zoniporide (CP-597,396) is a potent and selective inhibitor of NHE-1, which exhibits high aqueous solubility and acceptable pharmacokinetics for intravenous administration. The discovery, synthesis, activities, and rat and dog pharmacokinetics of this compound are presented. The potency and selectivity of zoniporide may be due to the conformation that the molecule adopts due to the presence of a cyclopropyl and a 5-quinolinyl substituent on the central pyrazole ring of the molecule.

A novel sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 inhibitor, zoniporide, reduces ischemic myocardial injury in vitro and in vivo.

The cardioprotective efficacy of zoniporide (CP-597,396), a novel, potent, and selective inhibitor of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1), was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo using rabbit models of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. In these models, myocardial injury was elicited with 30 min of regional ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Zoniporide elicited a concentration-dependent reduction in infarct size (EC(50) of 0.25 nM) in the isolated heart (Langendorff) and reduced infarct size by 83% (50 nM). This compound was 2.5- to 20-fold more potent than either eniporide or cariporide (EC(50) of 0.69 and 5.11 nM, respectively), and reduced infarct size to a greater extent than eniporide (58% reduction in infarct size). In open-chest, anesthetized rabbits, zoniporide also elicited a dose-dependent reduction in infarct size (ED(50) of 0.45 mg/kg/h) and inhibited NHE-1-mediated platelet swelling (maximum inhibition 93%). Furthermore, zoniporide did not cause any in vivo hemodynamic (mean arterial pressure, heart rate, rate pressure product) changes. Zoniporide represents a novel class of potent NHE-1 inhibitors with potential utility for providing clinical cardioprotection.

Modulation of A2A adenosine receptor(s) by K+(ATP) channels in bovine brain striatal membranes.

The modulation of adenosine receptor with K+(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide, was investigated using the radiolabeled A2A-receptor selective agonist [3H]CGS 21680. Radioligand binding studies in bovine brain striatal membranes (BBM) indicated that unlabeled CGS 21680 displaced the bound [3H]CGS 21680 in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum displacement being approximately 65% at 10(-4) M. In the presence of 10(-5) M glibenclamide, unlabeled CGS 21680 increased the displacement of bound [3H]CGS 21860 by approximately 28% at 10(-4) M. [3H]CGS 21680 bound to BBM in a saturable manner to a single binding site (Kd = 10.6+/-1.71 nM; Bmax = 221.4+/-6.43 fmol/mg of protein). In contrast, [3H]CGS 21680 showed saturable binding to two sites in the presence of 10(-5) M glibenclamide; (Kd = 1.3+/-0.22 nM; Bmax = 74.3+/-2.14 fmol/mg protein; and Kd = 8.9+/-0.64 nM; Bmax = 243.2+/-5.71 fmol/mg protein), indicating modulation of adenosine A2A receptors by glibenclamide. These studies suggest that the K+(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide, modulated the adenosine A2A receptor in such a manner that [3H]CGS 21680 alone recognizes a single affinity adenosine receptor, but that the interactions between K+(ATP) channels and adenosine receptors.

Immunological characterization of adenosine A2A receptors in human and porcine cardiovascular tissues.

Antipeptide antibody was raised in rabbit against the sequence (361-390) of RDC-8, the presumed adenosine A2A receptor cDNA from canine. The antibody titer was estimated by solid phase radioimmunoassay. Western blot analysis under reducing conditions identified a major 45 +/- 1 kDa protein in bovine striatal membranes. This immunoreactive band was competed in the presence of excess peptide. Furthermore, the antibody recognized a single 45-kDa immunoreactive band in membranes from cells transfected with the recombinant human adenosine A2A receptors, whereas, fail to cross-react with membranes from cells transfected with recombinant rat A1 and human A3 receptors. Membranes from human and porcine coronary artery, ventricle, atria and platelets (human only) showed a major immunoreactive band at 45 +/- 1 kDa size. Under nonreducing conditions, the migration patterns of the immunoreactive bands were not altered indicating the absence of interchain disulfide bond. The 45-kDa immunoreactive band co-migrated with 2-[4-(2-¿2-[(4-aminophenyl)methylcarbonylamino]ethyl-aminocarbo nyl¿et hyl)phenyl]ethylamino-5'-Nethylcarboxamidoadenosine photoaffinity labeled A2A adenosine receptor using SANPAH as the photoaffinity cross-linker. We provide immunological evidence for the presence of A2A adenosine receptor in human cardiovascular tissues that exists as a 45-kDa monomeric protein. This study also presents evidence for the presence of A2A adenosine receptor in ventricle and atria in both human and porcine.

Adenosine A1 receptor-induced upregulation of protein kinase C: role of pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein(s).

Biochemical and pharmacological studies have established that adenosine modulates protein kinase C (PKC), which plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular tone. Our earlier studies [Marala and Mustafa. Am. J. Physiol. 268 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 37): H271-H277, 1995. Marala, R. B., K. Ways, and S. J. Mustafa. Am. J. Physiol. 264 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 33): H1465-H1471, 1993] have shown the involvement of adenosine A1 receptors and not the A2 receptors in the upregulation of PKC in porcine coronary artery. The mechanism(s) by which adenosine upregulates PKC is not yet clearly understood. We now report the increased expression of PKC by adenosine A1 receptor through an upstream activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein(s). Incubation of porcine coronary artery for 24 h with a relatively specific A1-receptor agonist (2S)-N6-(2-endo-norbornyl)adenosine (ENBA) elevated the contractile responses to endothelin-1 by about twofold, probably due to an increased expression of PKC. Incubation of porcine coronary artery with ENBA also protected against the phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu)-induced depletion of PKC. Inclusion of pertussis toxin in the incubation medium completely blocked both the upregulatory and the protective effects of ENBA. Incubation with pertussis toxin did not alter the PKC activity as judged by the contractile responses to PDBu. On the contrary, incubation of porcine coronary artery with cholera toxin for 24 h did not alter any of the ENBA responses (upregulation of PKC and the protection against PDBu-induced PKC depletion). Incubation conditions of coronary arteries with toxins are sufficient to cause ADP ribosylation of respective G proteins as judged by back ADP ribosylation studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modulation of protein kinase C by adenosine: involvement of adenosine A1 receptor-pertussis toxin sensitive nucleotide binding protein system.

The objective of this study was to determine whether adenosine A1 or A2 receptor was responsible for the regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) in porcine coronary artery and its coupling to G-protein. Endothelium denuded arterial rings were incubated with PDBu (200 nM) in the presence or absence of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists for 1 day. Following incubation, the arterial rings were contracted with increasing concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) (10(-10)-10(-7) M). Arteries incubated with PDBu alone failed to produce contraction in response to ET-1. On the contrary, inclusion of A1 receptor agonist ENBA at 10(-9) M in the incubation media with PDBu protected against the PDBu induced blunting of the ET-1 contractions by 50%. Incubation with ENBA alone increased ET-1 dependent contractions by about 2 fold. Inclusion of A1 receptor antagonist, N0861 at 10(-6) M along with PDBu and ENBA, completely blocked the protective effect of ENBA against the PDBu induced attenuation of ET-1 contractions. N0861 also completely blocked the increase in ET-1 contractions in the arterial rings incubated with ENBA alone. Another A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX also produced similar results as N0861. On the contrary, arterial rings incubated with relatively specific A2 receptor agonist CGS 21680 at 10(-4) M did not produce any protection against PDBu induced blunting of the ET-1 contractions. Incubation with CGS 21680 alone also did not significantly alter the ET-1 contractions. Interestingly, inclusion of A2 receptor antagonist DMPX at 10(-4) M in the incubation media along with CGS 21680 mimicked the effects of ENBA alone i.e. produced protection against PDBu and enhanced ET-1 contractions. Incubation of the arteries with ENBA alone caused an accumulation of PKC levels, whereas, incubation with CGS 21680 had no significant effect on PKC levels. To study the coupling of adenosine receptor with G-protein, the tissue was incubated for one day with cholera (CT) or pertussis toxin (PT) in the presence or absence or ENBA and PDBu as described above. Incubation with PT blocked the protective effect of ENBA against PDBu as well as the elevation of ET-1 response when incubated with ENBA alone. On the contrary, incubation with CT did not produce any significant effect on ENBA responses. These results indicate that PKC is modulated by adenosine via A1 adenosine receptors and through a PT sensitive G-protein.

Adenosine analogues prevent phorbol ester-induced PKC depletion in porcine coronary artery via A1 receptor.

This study was undertaken to determine the adenosine receptor involved in the modulation of protein kinase C (PKC) in porcine coronary artery. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings were incubated with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) in the presence or absence of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists for 24 h. After incubation, contractile responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1) were compared in various treatment groups. Arterial rings incubated with PDBu alone failed to produce significant contractions in response to ET-1. (2s)-N6-[2-endo-norbornyl]adenosine (ENBA), an A1-receptor agonist, attenuated the PDBu-induced blunting of the ET-1 contractions. Incubation with ENBA alone elevated ET-1 contractility by about twofold. Inclusion of A1-receptor antagonists completely blocked both effects of ENBA: protection against PDBu and increase in ET-1 contractility. On the contrary, arterial rings incubated with the A2-receptor agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethyl-amino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS-21680) did not show significant alteration of the ET-1 contractility when incubated with CGS-21680 alone or in combination with PDBu. Inclusion of A2-receptor antagonist in combination with CGS-21680 mimicked the effects of ENBA alone, i.e., protected against PDBu and enhanced ET-1 contractions. Measurement of PKC activities in arteries indicated that exposure to ENBA caused a twofold increase in the enzyme activity, whereas exposure to CGS-21680 had no significant effect on PKC activity. Adenosine analogues caused an accumulation of PKC through the activation of A1- but not A2-adenosine receptors. These results indicate that the modulation of PKC by adenosine analogues is mediated through A1-adenosine receptors in the coronary artery.

Direct evidence for the coupling of A2-adenosine receptor to stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding-protein in bovine brain striatum.

This study was designed to provide evidence for the coupling of A2-adenosine receptor with stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs) protein and adenylate cyclase in bovine brain striatum. Binding studies were conducted in striatal membranes using [3H]-2(-)[4-(2-carboxy-ethyl)phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarbox++ +- amido adenosine (CGS-21680) as radioligand. Competition profiles of adenosine agonists and antagonists for the binding of [3H]CGS-21680 were typical for A2-adenosine receptor subtype. [3H]CGS-21680 binding in striatal membranes was saturable and recognized a single class of binding sites with a Kd of 9.08 +/- 1 nM and an apparent Bmax of 378 +/- 34.6 fmol/mg protein. CGS-21680 and 2-chloroadenosine (CAD) stimulated adenylate cyclase in a concentration-dependent fashion which was blocked significantly by Gs alpha antibody. To evaluate coupling of A2 receptor with Gs protein, [3H]GDP release assays were performed. The membranes were labeled with [alpha 32P]GTP in the presence of alpha or beta adrenergic agonists to label specifically inhibitory G protein (Gi) or Gs pools. When membranes were labeled in the presence of isoproterenol, [32P]GDP release was stimulated by A2 receptor agonist but not by A1 receptor agonist, and vice versa when the membranes were labeled in the presence of alpha agonist. Thus, the adenylate cyclase activation by A2 agonist, its blockage by Gs alpha antibody and the [32P]GDP release studies show that the A2-adenosine receptors are coupled to Gs protein.

2-Chloroadenosine prevents phorbol ester-induced depletion of protein kinase C in porcine coronary artery.

In this study we investigated the role of the adenosine analogue 2-chloroadenosine (CAD) in the regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) in porcine coronary artery. Arterial rings were contracted with endothelin-1 (ET-1; 10(-10) to 10(-7) M) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu; 10(-7) M) after incubating them for 1 and 2 days with PDBu (200 nM) in the presence and absence of CAD (10(-4) M). Chronic exposure to PDBu alone attenuated ET-1-induced contractions, while inclusion of CAD during incubation protected against the PDBu-induced blunting of ET-1-induced contraction. Similarly, PDBu (10(-7) M)-induced contraction of the arterial rings was attenuated upon chronic incubation with PDBu, and once again, inclusion of CAD showed an improved response to PDBu-induced contraction when compared with PDBu alone. Incubation with PDBu (200 nM) for 20 min caused the PKC translocation from cytosol to membrane, whereas CAD totally blocked this translocation. Chronic (1 and 2 days) incubation with PDBu caused a substantial depletion of PKC activities in cytosol and membrane. The presence of CAD protected the PDBu-induced depletion of PKC in both cytosol and membrane. To replete PKC, after incubation with the drugs, the arteries were incubated in the absence of drugs for another 2 days. Arteries incubated with PDBu in the presence and absence of CAD recovered significantly in their response to ET-1 as well as PDBu. These results indicate that CAD protects against the PDBu-induced activation and depletion of PKC in porcine coronary artery.

Interaction of atrial natriuretic factor and endothelin-1 signals through receptor guanylate cyclase in pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

The endothelial cell has a unique intrinsic feature: it produces a most potent vasopressor peptide hormone, endothelin (ET-1), yet it also contains a signaling system of an equally potent hypotensive hormone, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). This raises two related curious questions: does the endothelial cell also contain an ET-1 signaling system? If yes, how do the two systems interact with each other? The present investigation was undertaken to determine such a possibility. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (BPAE) cells were chosen as a model system. Identity of the ANF receptor guanylate cyclase was probed with a specific polyclonal antibody to the 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase (mGC) ANF receptor. A Western-blot analysis of GTP-affinity-purified endothelial cell membrane proteins recognized a 180 kDa band; the same antibody inhibited the ANF-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity; the ANF-dependent rise of cyclic GMP in the intact cells was dose-dependent. By affinity cross-linking technique, a predominant 55 kDa membrane protein band was specifically labeled with [125I]ET-1. ET-1 treatment of the cells showed a migration of the protein kinase C (PKC) activity from cytosol to the plasma membrane; ET-1 inhibited the ANF-dependent production of cyclic GMP in a dose-dependent fashion with an EC50 of 100 nM. This inhibitory effect was duplicated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a known PKC-activator. The EC50 of PMA was 5 nM. A PKC inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methyl piperazine (H-7), blocked the PMA-dependent attenuation of ANF-dependent cyclic GMP formation. These results demonstrate that the 180 kDa mGC-coupled ANF and ET-1 signaling systems coexist in endothelial cells and that the ET-1 signal negates the ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity and cyclic GMP formation. Furthermore, these results support the paracrine and/or autocrine role of ET-1.

Genetically tailored atrial natriuretic factor-dependent guanylate cyclase. Immunological and functional identity with 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase and ATP signaling site.

Biochemical and immunological studies have established that one of the signal transducers of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase (180 kDa mGC), which is also an ANF receptor; obligatory in the transduction process is an intervening ATP-regulated step, but its mechanism is not known. GC alpha is a newly discovered member of the guanylate cyclase family whose activity is independent of the known natriuretic peptides, and the enzyme is not an ANF receptor. The genetically tailored GC alpha, GC alpha-DmutGln338Leu364, however, is not only a guanylate cyclase but also an ANF receptor and is structurally and functionally identical to the cloned wild-type ANF receptor guanylate cyclase, GC-A. We now report that the ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity in the particulate fractions of cells transfected with GC alpha-DmutGln338Leu364 was inhibited by the 180 kDa mGC polyclonal antibody, and with this antibody probe it was possible to purify the 130 kDa expressed receptor; the hormone-dependent cyclase activity of this receptor was exclusively dependent upon ATP; and through site-directed mutational studies with GC alpha mutants, the signaling sequence that defines ATP binding site was identified. We thus conclude that 180 kDa mGC and the mutant protein are immunologically similar, both proteins are linked to the ANF signal in the generation of cyclic GMP synthesis; and in both the ligand binding and catalytic activities are bridged through a defined ATP binding module.

Three immunologically similar atrial natriuretic factor receptors.

One of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptors is a 180 kDa protein (180 kDa mGC) which possesses the extraordinary characteristic of being bifunctional: it is both a receptor and a guanylate cyclase. In addition to the 180 kDa mGC, there exists another 120-130 kDa protein which is also bifunctional and a 120 kDa disulfide-linked dimeric cell surface protein that is an ANF receptor, but is not a part of guanylate cyclase. A fundamental question that needs to be resolved is: Are these three apparently biochemically distinct ANF receptors structurally similar? With the aid of affinity crosslinking techniques, a highly specific antibody to the 180 kDa mGC, and GTP-affinity techniques, we now demonstrate the presence of three immunologically similar proteins in rat adrenal gland and testes. These proteins migrate as 180 kDa, 130 kDa and 65 kDa under denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and specifically bind ANF, raising one or more of the following possibilities about their relationships: 1) Degradation of 180 kDa to 130 kDa and 65 kDa occurs during purification; 2) 180 kDa bears a precursor-product relationship with 130 kDa and 65 kDa, suggesting the role of a protease in the processing procedure; 3) these proteins are a result of gene splicing; or 4) they are the products of three separate, but very closely related genes.

Interactions of nucleotide analogues with rod outer segment guanylate cyclase.

Light activation of cyclic GMP hydrolysis in rod outer segments is mediated by a G-protein which is active in the GTP-bound form. Substitution of GTP with a nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue is thought to leave the G-protein in a persistently activated state, thereby prolonging the hydrolysis of cyclic GMP. Restoration of cyclic GMP concentration in the cell also depends upon GTP since it is the substrate for guanylate cyclase, but little is known about the effects of GTP analogues on this enzyme. We report here the effects of the analogues of GTP and ATP as inhibitors and substrates of rod disk membrane guanylate cyclase. The rate of cyclic GMP synthesis from GTP in rod disk membranes was about 50 pmol min-1 (nmol of rhodopsin)-1. Analogues of GTP and adenine nucleotides competitively inhibited the cyclase activity. The order of inhibition, with magnesium as metal cofactor, was ATP greater than GMP-PNP greater than AMP-PNP approximately GTP-gamma-S; with manganese, AMP-PNP was more inhibitory than GTP-gamma-S. The inhibition constants, with magnesium as cofactor, were 0.65-2.0 mM for GTP-gamma-S, 0.4-0.8 mM for GMP-PNP, 1.5-2.3 mM for AMP-PNP, and 0.07-0.2 mM for ATP. The fraction of cyclase activity inhibited by analogues was similar at 1 and 0.03 microM calcium. Besides inhibition of cyclase, the analogues also served as its substrates. GTP-gamma-S substituted GTP with about 85% efficiency while GMP-PNP and ATP were about 5 and 7% as efficient, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dual regulation of atrial natriuretic factor-dependent guanylate cyclase activity by ATP.

The 'second messenger' of certain atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) signals is cyclic GMP. One type of ANF receptor linked to the synthesis of cyclic GMP is a transmembrane protein which contains both the ANF-binding and guanylate cyclase activities. The consensus is that the maximal activity of this guanylate cyclase is observed in the presence of ATP. We now show that depending upon the cofactors Mg2+ or Mn2+, ATP stimulates or inhibits the ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity in the testicular plasma membranes: stimulation in the presence of Mg2+ and inhibition in the presence of Mn2+. With Mg2+ as cofactor neither ATP nor ANF stimulate the cyclase activity--it is only when the two are together that the enzyme is activated. Furthermore, this investigation for the first time demonstrates binding of ATP to the ANF receptor guanylate cyclase, suggesting that ATP-mediated responses could occur by direct ATP binding to the cyclase.

Ubiquitous and bifunctional 180 kDa atrial natriuretic factor-dependent guanylate cyclase.

Original studies with rat adrenocortical carcinoma identified a 180 kDa cell-surface protein which contained both guanylate cyclase and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptor, representing a potentially new type of bifunctional receptor protein. It is both a receptor and a guanylate cyclase. This critical conclusion of bifunctionality was based on the observation that the pure 180 kDa protein, whose purity was established by protein staining of the denatured gels, contained both the ligand binding and guanylate cyclase activities. Utilizing the antibody to 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase (180 kDa mGC), we now (i) report the complete purification of 180 kDa mGC from rat testes; (ii) demonstrate by affinity cross-linking studies that the homogeneous 180 kDa protein isolated from rat testes and adrenal gland binds ANF and (iii) show that bovine aortic endothelial cell membranes contain the 180 kDa mGC that is ANF-dependent in the production of cyclic GMP. These results validate the conclusion of the bifunctionality, ubiquity, and the general linkage to the ANF-dependent generation of cyclic GMP signal of this protein.

Purification and characterization of the 180-kDa membrane guanylate cyclase containing atrial natriuretic factor receptor from rat adrenal gland and its regulation by protein kinase C.

The original concept that cyclic GMP is one of the mediators of the hormone-dependent process of steroidogenesis has been strengthened by the characterization of a 180-kDa protein from rat adrenocortical carcinoma and rat and mouse testes. This protein appears to have an unusual characteristic of containing both the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-binding and guanylate cyclase activities, and appears to be intimately involved in the ANF-dependent steroidogenic signal transduction. In rat adrenal glands we now demonstrate: 1) the direct presence of a 180-kDa ANF-binding protein in GTP-affinity purified membrane fraction as evidenced by affinity cross-linking technique and by the Western blot analysis of the partially purified enzyme; 2) that the enzyme is biochemically and immunologically different from the soluble guanylate cyclase as there is no antigenic cross-reactivity of 180-kDa guanylate cyclase antibody with soluble guanylate cyclase; 3) in contrast to the soluble guanylate cyclase, the particulate enzyme is not stimulated by nitrite-generating compounds and hemin; and 4) protein kinase C inhibits both the basal and ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity and phosphorylates the 180-kDa guanylate cyclase. These results reveal the presence of a 180-kDa protein in rat adrenal glands and support the contention that: (a) this protein contains both the guanylate cyclase and ANF receptor; (b) the 180-kDa enzyme is coupled with the ANF-dependent cyclic GMP production; (c) the 180-kDa enzyme is biochemically distinct from the nonspecific soluble guanylate cyclase; and (d) there is a protein kinase C-dependent negative regulatory loop for the operation of ANF-dependent cyclic GMP signal pathway which acts via the phosphorylation of 180-kDa guanylate cyclase.

Characterization and regulation by protein kinase C of renal glomerular atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-coupled guanylate cyclase.

The nature and regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-sensitive guanylate cyclase in rat renal glomerular membranes was examined. By affinity crosslinking techniques, three bands with apparent molecular masses of 180, 130 and 64 kDa were specifically labeled with [125I]ANP. A specific antibody to the 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase of rat adrenocortical carcinoma recognized a 180 kDa band on Western blot analysis of solubilized, GTP-affinity purified glomerular membrane proteins. The same antibody completely inhibited ANP-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity in glomerular membrane fractions. Partially purified protein kinase C inhibited ANP-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity in glomerular membrane fractions. It is concluded that a 180 kDa ANP-sensitive guanylate cyclase is present in glomerular membranes, and that this enzyme is inhibited directly by protein kinase C.

Characterization of atrial-natriuretic-factor-receptor-coupled membrane guanylate cyclase from rat and mouse testes.

Studies with isolated adrenal cells and mouse testicular cells have supported a mediatory role of cyclic GMP in ANF (atrial natriuretic factor)-dependent steroidogenic signal transduction. This concept has been strengthened by the purification and biochemical characterization of a 180 kDa protein, which appears to contain both ANF receptor and guanylate cyclase activities, from rat adrenocortical carcinoma cells. Utilizing the antibody to 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase as a probe, we now demonstrate the direct presence of ANF-dependent membrane guanylate cyclase in mouse and rat testes. The antibody blocks the ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity in isolated membranes, and Western-blot analysis of the partially purified enzyme reveals a single 180 kDa protein. The presence of this enzyme in mouse and rat testes, together with its previous demonstration in rat adrenocortical carcinoma, represent an important potential biochemical role for this enzyme in receptor-mediated steroidogenic signal transduction.

Coexistence of guanylate cyclase and atrial natriuretic factor receptor in a 180-kD protein.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a peptide hormone that is released from atria and regulates a number of physiological processes, including steroidogenesis in adrenal cortex and testes. The parallel stimulation of membrane guanylate cyclase and corticosterone production in isolated fasciculata cells of rat adrenal cortex has supported the hypothesis of a mediatory role for cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP) in signal transduction. A novel particulate guanylate cyclase tightly coupled with ANF receptor was purified approximately 273,000-fold by two-step affinity chromatography. The enzyme had a molecular size of 180 kilodaltons and was acidic in nature with a pI of 4.7. Its specific activity was 1800 nanomoles of cyclic GMP formed per minute per milligram of protein. The purified enzyme bound ANF with a specific binding activity of 4.01 nanomoles per milligram of protein, a value that is close to the theoretical binding activity of 5.55 nanomoles per milligram of protein for 1 mole of the ligand binding 1 mole of the receptor protein. These results indicate that the guanylate cyclase-coupled ANF receptor exists in a 180-kilodalton protein of rat adrenocortical carcinoma and represent a step toward the elucidation of the basic mechanism of cyclic GMP-mediated transmembrane signal transduction in response to a hormone.