Adenylate sequence interactions

The sequences of events that occur during activation of adenylate cyclase after receptor occupancy are shown in Figure 6.3. This scheme thus shows activation of a Gofc-type protein (i.e. a process that leads to the activation of adenylate cyclase), whereas similar processes will occur with a Ga protein, except that the interaction with adenylate cyclase will result in its inactivation. In the same way, activation of phospholipases by mobile Ga-type subunits will occur via similar mechanisms. In the unstimulated state, Gas (or Gcq) is bound to GDP. Binding of the receptor with its agonist induces a conformational change in the receptor that activates its G-protein. This stim-... 

Figure 6.3. Mechanism of action of heterotrimeric G-proteins. Upon receptor occupancy, the Ga-subunit binds GTP in exchange for GDP, and then moves in the membrane until it encounters its target enzyme, shown here as adenylate cyclase (alternatively, a phospholipase). The activated target enzyme then becomes functional. Inherent GTPase activity within the a-subunit then hydrolyses bound GTP to GDP, and the a-subunit dissociates from its target enzyme (which becomes inactive) and rebinds the / - and ysubunits. Upon continued receptor occupancy, further catalytic cycles of GTP exchange and target enzyme activation may occur. The scheme shown is for a stimulatory G-protein (Got,), but similar sequences of events occur with inhibitory G-proteins (Gcx,) except that the interaction of the a-subunit with adenylate cyclase will result in its inhibition. The sites of action of pertussis and cholera toxins are shown.

Figure 14.13 The kinetic sequence of reactions that control the cyclic AMP concentration, and its binding to the effector system, and the kinetic sequence that controls the concentration of a neurotransmitter and its binding to the receptor on the postsyn-aptic membrane. Processes (1) are reactions catalysed by adenyl cyclase, and exocytosis. Reactions (2) are catalysed by phosphodiesterase and, for example, acetylcholinesterase. Reactions (3) are the interactions between the messenger and the effector system both the latter are equilibrium binding processes. (See Chapter 12 (p. 266) for discussions of equilibrium binding.)...

The picture that has emerged from these studies is of an initial interaction of a stimulus with a matched portion of a receptor protein embedded in the cell membrane (13,65). This initial interaction causes stimulation of the linked G-protein to form cGMP. This is coupled to the reactivity of adenylate cyclase in the cells, leading to increased levels of cAMP, which opens ion channels in the cell membrane. A similar sequence can alternatively activate inositol phosphate as a second messenger. Either odorants, cAMP or cGMP can cause a potential change in the membrane (13,70,71,72). As in hormone-sensitive and neurotransmitter-... 

Fig. 9. The interaction of ACTH with the cyclic AMP and calcium intracellular messenger systems in the regulation of steroidogenesis in the adrenocortical zona glomerulosa cell comparison with angiotensin II and potassium. ACTH activates both adenylate cyclase and calcium influx, here shown as involving two receptor subtypes (R, and R2) although such receptor subtypes have not been identified. The A-kinase and calmodulin systems produce individual responses of characteristic amplitudes and time-courses, which combine to give the observed response of the intact cell. The sequence of events for ACTH is compared to those for the other two major stimuli of steroidogenesis in the zona glomerulosa cell, angiotensin II and potassium. From Ref. 41.

Fig. 2. Generalized interaction between adenylate energy charge and the concentration of a metabolite modifier expected in the control of a regulatory enzyme in an amphibolic sequence. The curves correspond to low (/), normal ( ), and high h) concentrations of the metabolite modifier, From Atkinson [9],...

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