Cell-free Desensitization of Catecholamine-sensitive Adenylate Cyclase

Conditions have been developed for desensitizing the P-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase of turkey erythrocytes in a cell-free system. Desensitization is observed when cell lysates are incubated with isoproterenol or cAMP analogs for 30 min at 37 “C. Maximally effective concentrations of isoproterenol produce a 41.0 2 1.55% loss of iosproterenol-stimulated and a 15.0 2 2.35% loss of fluoride-stimulated enzyme activity. cAMP causes a 26.5 2 1.5% fall in isoproterenol-stimulated and a 21.5 f 4.4% fall in fluoride-sensitive activity. Desensitization by isoproterenol is dose-dependent, stereospecific, and blocked by the &adrenergic antagonist propranolol. Cell-free desensitization required ATP, Mg2+, and factorb) present in the soluble fraction of the cell. Nonphosphorylating analogs of ATP did not support desensitization. Desensitization by agonist or cAMP in the cell-free system caused structural alterations in the B-adrenergic receptor peptides apparent as an altered mobility of the photoaffinity labeled receptor peptides on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As with the desensitization reaction, supernatant factors and ATP were also required for the agonist or CAMP-promoted receptor alterations. These data indicate that &adrenergic agonists promote a CAMPmediated process which leads to receptor alterations and desensitization. The reactions involved in this process require ATP and soluble cellular factors. Additional processes must also occur to account for decreases in fluoride-sensitive nzyme activity. The availability of this cell-free system should facilitate elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes.