Summary
Adenylate cyclase from rat hippocampus was separated by electrophoresis in polyacryl amide microgels and stained for enzymatic activity using a new histochemical procedure. This method involves the use of AMP-PNP, aminophylline, dithiotreitole, and Sr2+ as “primary” capture ions, thus fulfilling all the demands for a really specific histochemical incubation medium for the enzyme. The incubation of the gels with this medium resulted in the inhibition of other enzymes, which are capable of splitting AMP-PNP (ATP: pyrophosphatase, alkaline phosphatase), whereas adenylate cyclase remained highly active under these conditions. The enzyme was found to be present in two forms in the gels. Both protein bands were stimulated by the addition of various biogenic amines to the incubation medium. One protein band was fully GMP-PNP dependent in its activity. It is reasonable to suppose that these forms are either differently high aggregated molecules of the enzyme or enzyme molecules bound to their regulatory sites.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramowitz J, Iyengar R, Birnbaumer L (1979) Guanyl nucleotide regulation of hormonally-responsive adenylyl cyclases. Mol Cell Endocrinol 16:129–146
Cohen KL, Bitensky MW (1969) Inhibitory effects of alloxan on mammalian adenyl cyclase. J Pharm Exp Ther 169:80–86
Howell SL, Whitfield M (1972) Cytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase activity in rat islands of Langerhans. J Histochem Cytochem 20:873–879
Johnson RA, Welden J (1977) Characteristics of the enzymatic hydrolysis of 5′-adenylylimidodiphosphate: Implications for the study of adenylate cyclase. Arch Biochem Biophys 183:216–227
Kempen HJM, De Pont JJHHM, Bonting SL, Stadhouders AM (1978) The cytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase: Fact or artifact? J Histochem Cytochem 26:298–312
Lemay A, Jarett L (1975) Pitfalls in the use of lead nitrate for the histochemical demonstration of adenylate cyclase activity. J Cell Biol 65:39–50
Nathanson JA (1977) Cyclic nucleotides and nervous system function. Phys Rev 57:157–256
Poeggel G, Bernstein H-G, Luppa H (1980) Failure to demonstrate rat hippocampus adenylate cyclase. Histochemistry 65:315–319
Poeggel G, Bernstein H-G (1981) Towards as specific histochemical localization of adenylate cyclase in the rat hippocampus: Methodical aspects. Acta Histochem 69:171–175
Rodbell M, Birnbaumer L, Pohl SL, Krans HMJ (1971) Glucagon-sensitive adenyl cyclase in plasma membranes of rat liver. An obligatory role of guanyl nucleotides in glucagon action. J Biol Chem 246:1877–1882
Rodbell M (1978) The role of nucleotide regulatory components in the coupling of hormone receptors and adenylate cyclase. In: Folco G, Paoletti R (eds) Molecular biology and pharmacology of cyclic nucleotides. Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam New York, pp 1–12
Sheppard H (1970) Inhibition of norepinephrine stimulated adenyl cyclase by theophylline. Nature 228:567–568
Stengel D, Hanoune J (1979) Solubilization and physical characterization of the adenylate cyclase from rat liver plasma membranes. Eur J Biochem 102: 21–34
Sugimura K, Mizutami A (1979) The inhibitory effect of xanthine derivates on alkaline phosphatase in the rat brain. Histochemistry 61:131–137
Yount RG, Babcock D, Ballentyne W, Ohala D (1971) Adenylyl imidodiphosphate — an adenosine triphosphate analog containing a P-N-P linkage. Biochemistry 10:2484–2489
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by “Ministerium für Hoch- und Fachschulwesen der DDR”
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poeggel, G., Bernstein, H.G., Luppa, H. et al. Specific demonstration of rat brain adenylate cyclase in polyacryl amide microgels by a new histochemical procedure. Histochemistry 73, 305–309 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00493028
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00493028