JBC, Vol. 250, Issue 18, 7245-7250, Sep, 1975
Evidence for specific binding sites for guanine nucleotides in adipocyte and hepatocyte plasma membranes. A difference in fate of GTP and guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imino) triphosphate
Y. Salomon and M. Rodbell
Binding and degradation of GTP and guanosine 5'-(beta,
gamma-imino)triphosphate (Gpp(NH)p by plasma membranes from rat liver and
fat cells were investigated. Gpp(NH)p is hydrolyzed predominantly by
nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolases in the membranes, whereas GTP is
hydrolyzed primarily by nucleotide phosphohydrolases. These enzymes are not
specific for the guanine nucleotides since co-addition of the analogous
adenine nucleotides spares their hydrolysis. Both Gpp(NH)p and GTP are
taken up by the membranes at sites which, to the extent that high
concentrations of the corresponding adenine nucleotides fail to inhibit
uptake, appear to be specific for guanine nucleotides. Gpp(NH)p taken up at
these sites remains essentially intact irrespective of the degree of
hydrolysis of unbound Gpp(NH)p by nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolases,
indicating that the binding siteis incapable of degrading Gpp(NH)p. GTP and
GDP inhibit competitively the binding of Gpp(NH)p; the binding constants
for the three nucleotides are similar (0.1 to 0.4 muM) and are in the same
range required for their effects on adenylate cyclase activity. Binding of
the nucleotides is inhibited by sulfhydryl agents, suggesting that a
sulfhydryl group is involved in the binding process. In contrast to binding
of Gpp(NH)p, uptake of GTP is accompanied by substantial hydrolysis,
primarily to GDP, under incubation conditions (high [ATP] plus ATP
regenerating system) in which [GTP] in the medium remains essentially
constant. GDP bound to the membranes is progressively hydrolyzed to 5'-GMP.
Thus, GTP and Gpp(NH)p, although binding to the same specific sites, are
differentially susceptible to hydrolysis at their terminal phosphates when
bound to these sites. These findings are discussed in terms of the markedly
different potencies of GTP and Gpp(NH)p as activators of adenylate cyclase
systems.