scholarly journals The role of protein kinase activation in the control of steroidogenesis by adrenocorticotrophic hormone in the adrenal cortex

1973 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 993-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm C. Richardson ◽  
Dennis Schulster

A method has been developed for investigation of the effect of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) on the state of activation of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase within cells of the adrenal cortex. Enzyme activity was measured in terms of the quantity of32P transferred from [γ-32P]ATP to histone under conditions in which bound cyclic AMP did not dissociate from the regulatory subunit of the protein kinase ACTH (1×10-2i.u./ml) caused a rapid and complete activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity within 2min of hormone addition to the isolated cells. In response to a range of ACTH concentrations a sigmoid log dose–response curve for protein kinase activation was obtained, with half-maximal stimulation attained at about 1×10-3i.u./ml. However, some low doses of ACTH that elicited a marked (but submaximal) steroidogenic response failed to cause a clear stimulation of protein kinase activity in isolated adrenal cells. Theophylline (2mm) potentiated the effect of ACTH on protein kinase activity. The results implicate an important role for protein kinase in ACTH action on the adrenocortical cell.

1977 ◽  
Vol 233 (2) ◽  
pp. H269-H275 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Keely ◽  
J. D. Corbin

The effects of perfusate epinephrine, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, calcium, and filling pressure were investigated in the perfused working rat heart. Epinephrine produced a rapid increase in cAMP, in the protein kinase activity ratio, and in active phosphorylase. These effects preceded the increase in contractile force produced by the hormone. There was good correlation between protein kinase activation and the increase in force. Epinephrine and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine were synergistic in their stimulatory effects on cAMP, protein kinase activity, active phosphorylase, and contractile force. When an increase in the force of contraction was produced either by increasing the filling pressure of the heart or by increasing the perfusate Ca2+ concentration, there was no change in either cAMP levels or protein kinase activity. These data suggest that the effect of beta-adrenergic catecholamines on contractile force is due, at least in part, to cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation. The increase in contractile force produced either by increasing the filling pressure (Frank-Starling phenomenon) or by increasing the perfusate Ca2+ concentration is apparently not mediated by cAMP or the protein kinase.


1977 ◽  
Vol 232 (1) ◽  
pp. F50-F57
Author(s):  
T. P. Dousa ◽  
L. D. Barnes

Results of this study demonstrate that vasopressin activates protein kinase in intact renal medullary cells as detected by measurement of the (-cyclic AMP/+cyclic AMP) protein kinase activity ratios in freshly prepared tissue extracts (40,000 X g supernates) from bovine renal medullary slices. The activation of protein kinase was specific for vasopressin since parathyroid hormone, histamine, angiotensin II, or the inactive analog of vasopressin did not activate protein kinase. There was a direct correlation between the extent of protein kinase activation and the elevation in tissue levels of cyclic AMP elicited by increasing doses of vasopressin or with an increase in incubation time. The elevation of tissue cyclic AMP level and maximum activation of protein kinase reached maximum level at a vasopressin concentration of about 2 X 10(-9) M. Incubation of slices with vasopressin caused a dose-dependent decrease in the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in the 40,000 X g supernate of homogenate from the renal medullary slices. This effect of vasopressin was specific for protein kinase since activity of lactate dehydrogenase or a specific [3H]colchicine-binding activity was not affected, and the decrease in the protein kinase was not due to the accumulation of a heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor. There was an increase in protein kinase was not due to the accumulation of a heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor. There was an increase in protein kinase activity extracted from 40,000 X g pellets of homogenate prepared from slices exposed to vasopressin. Results thus provide evidence that cyclic AMP-mediated protein kinase activation in the intact cells is an integral part of cellular response of the mammalian renal medulla to vasopressin.


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