Olfactory adenylyl cyclase. Identification and purification of a novel enzyme form.

Rat olfactory adenylyl cyclase has been identified by means of a monoclonal antibody BBC-2, which reacts with both Ca2+/calmodulin-sensitive and -insensitive forms of adenylyl cyclase (Mollner, S., and Pfeuffer, T. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 171, 265-271). The antibody recognized a 180-kDa polypeptide in olfactory cilia but not in decilitated olfactory epithelial membranes. A protein of the same mobility was observed when olfactory adenylyl cyclase was purified by forskolin-agarose affinity chromatography followed by radioiodination. Its identity was further established by cross-linking to [32P]ADP-ribosylated Gs alpha (GTP-binding protein), to yield a single radiolabeled product of Mr approximately 220. Olfactory adenylyl cyclase has a approximately 3-fold higher turnover number, as assessed from stoichiometric binding of [35S]guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate. Therefore, the considerably higher specific adenylyl cyclase activity in olfactory cilia must be due to a approximately 100-fold higher molar concentration of enzyme in this tissue.

Affinity labeling of forskolin-binding proteins. Comparison between glucose carrier and adenylate cyclase.

An [125I]iodoazidosalicylic acid derivative of forskolin was synthesized for identification of the diterpene's binding sites on the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase and on glucose transport proteins. The affinity label was selectively incorporated into proteins of Mr 40,000-60,000 in membranes from human erythrocytes and from various other tissues. The iodoazidosalicylic acid derivative also specifically labeled the catalytic moiety of adenylate cyclase from rabbit myocardial membranes. However, the structural requirements of the two forskolin-binding sites must be different, since the affinity of the photolabel for the glucose carriers is much higher than that for the cyclase catalyst. Furthermore, the label is readily competed with by D-glucose and cytochalasin B for its binding site on the glucose carrier but not on adenylate cyclase.

Adenylate cyclase from bovine brain cortex: purification and characterization of the catalytic unit.

The non-stimulated (basal) adenylate cyclase from bovine brain cortical membranes was purified 10 000-fold to apparent homogeneity by Lubrol PX extraction and two cycles of affinity chromatography on forskolin-agarose. The final product appears as one major band (mol. wt. 115 000) on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Further identification was achieved by affinity cross-linking using Gs (stimulatory GTP-binding protein) that was [32P]ADP-ribosylated by cholera-toxin/[32P]NAD: cross-linking with disuccinimidyl suberate gave products with mol. wts. of 160 000, approximately 270 000 and higher. The distribution of these products was dependent on the concentration of cross-linker, suggesting aggregation of two or more adenylate cyclase complexes. In contrast, photo-affinity cross-linking with 4-azidobenzoyl-[32P]Gs yielded a single product with a mol. wt. of 160 000. Purified adenylate cyclase was completely unresponsive towards stimulators (GTP-analogs, NaF) acting via Gs suggesting that this component was removed during purification. On the other hand, stimulation by forskolin and by added activated Gs was preserved but to a smaller degree as compared with the crude enzyme. In contrast, the stimulation of Ca2+/calmodulin was only marginal. Purified adenylate cyclase reversibly bound to wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose. This suggests that bovine brain adenylate cyclase is a glycoprotein.

Catalytic unit of adenlyate cyclase: purification and identification by affinity crosslinking.

The guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG)-activated adenylate cyclase from rabbit myocardial membranes was purified approximately equal to 60,000-fold to a specific activity of 15 mumol X mg-1 X min-1 by Lubrol PX extraction, affinity chromatography, and gel permeation HPLC. The major purification (greater than 2000-fold) was achieved by affinity chromatography on forskolin-Sepharose, a method previously developed in this laboratory. The final product appeared as two major peptides of Mr 150,000 and 42,000 and one minor peptide of Mr 45,000 when analyzed by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is suggested that the Mr 42,000 and 150,000 components represent the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein (GS) and the catalytic unit, respectively, because upon crosslinking of a reconstituted adenylate cyclase containing the [32P]ADP-ribosylated alpha-subunit of GS (Mr, 42,000), a single radiolabeled product of Mr 190,000 appeared on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels. Further identification is based on the correlation of the Mr 150,000/42,000 bands with enzymatic activity when the purified enzyme was analyzed by various chromatographic procedures.