Cell fractionation, detergent sensitivity and solubilization of Dictyostelium adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase

Abstract

Cell fractionation studies have been performed, in order to obtain insight into the subcellular distribution of Dictyostelium adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase and also to provide a starting point for further study and isolation of these enzymes and their regulatory components. Adenylate cyclase and cAMP receptors were found in the same membrane fractions, but were distributed different from the plasma membrane marker alkaline phosphatase. Guanylate cyclase was partially soluble, partially particulate. In isopycnic gradients, particulate guanylate cyclase was present in other fractions than cAMP receptors and adenylate cyclase, but in similar ones to alkaline phosphatase. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that cell-surface cAMP receptors and adenylate cyclase interact via a membrane-bound G-protein, whereas the receptors activate guanylate cyclase via a cytosolic factor. The adenylate cyclase activity in membranes obtained by sucrose gradient centrifugation was retained in the presence of various detergents, while with the same detergents the activity of particulate guanylate cyclase was lost. This adenylate cyclase was solubilized as assessed by gel filtration and centrifugation experiments, and it behaved heterogeneous in fractionation studies. In gel filtration, the major component eluted at a position corresponding to a Stokes radius of 4-7 nm. A purification of about 70-fold as compared to the cell homogenate was obtained by affinity chromatography of adenylate cyclase on ATP-Sepharose. We conclude that cell fractionation provides useful starting material for isolation and further study of Dictyostelium adenylate cyclase.