Adenylate cyclase receptor system

At micromolar concentrations opioids cause an increase in the cell membrane threshold, shortened action potentials, and inhibition of neurotransmitter release. At nanomolar concentrations opioid agonists are excitatory and prolong the action potential via the stimulatory G proteins, which act on the adenylate cyclase/cAMP system and on protein kinase A-dependent ion channels. Tolerance is proposed to be the result of an increase in the association of opioid receptors to stimulatory G proteins, to an activation of A-methyl-o-aspartate receptors via protein kinase C, and calmodulin-dependent increases in cytosolic calcium, resulting in cellular hyperexcitability. 

Many hormones, such as the hormonal amines and all pep-tidic hormones, are unable to penetrate the lipid matrix of the cell membrane, and thus depend on the presence of receptor sites at the surface of target cells. As listed in Table 30-4, there are several types of cell membrane receptors for these hormones, each of which is coupled to a distinct set of intracellular postreceptor pathways. The surface receptors all initiate postreceptor events that involve the phosphorylation of one or more intracellular proteins, some of which are enzymes whose activities depend on the state of phosphorylation. In two of these cases, an intracellular second messenger is utilized to implement the hormonal action and involves G-protein-coupled receptors. One is coupled to the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system and the other is associated with the phosphatidylinositol-Ca + pathway (IP3 pathway). 

Lithium is one of the group lA alkali metals (like potassium and sodium) and is not normally present in the body. It acts predominantly through the phosphatidylinositol (PI) second messenger system, causing alterations in calcium- and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated processes. Lithium can also alter the adenylate cyclase (AC) system, but this action is probably related to its toxic effects. Many calcium-dependent systems may be affected by lithium, among them regulation of receptor sensitivity, parathyroid hormone release, and proper functioning of intracellular microtubule structures. - ... 

These criteria have been fulfilled for many polypeptide hormones, catecholamines, and certain neurotransmitters. Thus, it is clear that the mechanism of action of a large number of extracellular signal molecules occurs via the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system, by first binding to a membrane receptor. As is pointed out by Sutherland (Robison et al., 1971), the major problems remaining are to determine the molecular events whereby a specific hormone activates adenylate cyclase to generate cAMP, and to determine how cAMP mediates the various physiological functions attributed to the specific hormones. 

Two AT-II receptors, AT and AT2 are known and show wide distribution (27). The AT receptor has been cloned and predominates ia regions iavolved ia the regulation of blood pressure and water and sodium retention, eg, the aorta, Hver, adrenal cortex, and ia the CNS ia the paraventricular nucleus, area postrema, and nucleus of the soHtary tract. AT2 receptors are found primarily ia the adrenal medulla, utems, and ia the brain ia the locus coeruleus and the medial geniculate nucleus. AT receptors are GCPRs inhibiting adenylate cyclase activity and stimulating phosphoHpases C, A2, and D. AT2 receptors use phosphotyrosiae phosphatase as a transduction system. 

Two AR subtypes, Ax and A3, couple through G to inhibit adenylate cyclase, while the other two subtypes, A2a and A2B, stimulate adenylate cyclase through Gs or G0if (for A2a). The A2BAR is also coupled to the activation of PLC through Gq. Furthermore, each of these receptors may couple through the (3,y subunits of the G proteins to other effector systems, including ion channels and phospholipases. Levels of intracellular... 

Caffeine is also effective in the antagonism of peripheral adenosine (type I) receptors, which are known to inhibit lipolysis by subduing adenylate cyclase activity.28 The appeal of this mechanism of action is that the majority of the pharmacological effects of adenosine on the central nervous system can be inhibited by doses of caffeine that are well within physiologically non-toxic levels comparable to only a couple of cups of coffee.5... 

G0 was isolated as an other PTx-ribosylated G-protein which co-purifies with G, but which does not inhibit adenylate cyclase. There are two main isoforms (G0l and Go2), with additional splice-variants. G0 is particularly abundant in the nervous system, comprising up to 1% of membrane proteins. Its main function is to reduce the opening probability of those voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (N- and P/Q-type) involved in neurotransmitter release. Hence, it is largely responsible for the widespread auto-inhibition of transmitter secretion by presynaptic receptors and this effect is mediated through released py subunits. 

This transmembrane signaling system involves a complex consisting of several functional proteins (Figure 7) stimulatory (e.g. P-adrenergic, dopamine Dp serotonin, vasopressin) [124] and inhibitory (e.g. a2-adrenergic, dopamine D2, opiod, and muscarinic) [125] receptors, stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (G ) G-proteins, and the catalytic protein, adenylate cyclase. On stimulation of a receptor, an associated G-protein binds GTP and the resulting receptor/G-protein/GTP complex then activates, or inhibits, adenylate cyclase in the catalysis of the synthesis... 

Two major second messenger systems have been evolved. When the a-sub-unit is temporarily linked to adenylate cyclase, the enzyme is activated and catalyzes the transformation of ATP to cAMP. This second messenger activates a specific protein kinase, which in turn phosphorylates target proteins in the cell leading to the overall physiological response. Such a pathway is utilized by the /1-adrenoceptor, dopaminergic, and prostaglandin receptors, etc. 

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