cAMP Flashcards
What was the first second messenger to be isolated?
cAMP
What are the basal levels of cyclic nucleotides in the cell?
100 nM
What sort of increase in cyclic nucleotide is required to produce a maximum response in most tissues?
2- to 3- fold
Which enzyme catalysed the formation of cAMP from ATP?
Adenylyl Cyclades
How many genes for adenylyl cyclase (AC) have been identified in mammals?
10
Of the 10 mammalian AC genes, how many are bound to the plasma membrane?
9
AC10 is a soluble enzyme insensitive to G proteins. What is it regulated by?
Bicarbonate
The 10 different isoforms of AC differ in regulation and tissue distribution. In which organ are all 10 isoforms found?
The brain
AC1-AC9 adenylyl cyclases are regulated by a number of factors. Give some examples.
- Activity increased by Gs
- Activity decreased by Gi (BUT not for all, eg AC2)
- Gby subunits (eg increase AC2 and decrease AC1)
- Activity increased by Ca/calmodulin (AC1)
- Activity decreased by [Ca]i (AC5)
- PKC and PKA phosphorylation of proteins
- Activated by FORSKOLIN
G-beta-gamma subunits can regulate AC activity. Give an example of an isoform whose activity it:
- Increases
- Decreases
- AC2
2. AC1
Give an example of an AC isoform that is not affected by Gi-linked receptor activity.
AC2
Different AC isoforms are regulated in different ways. What does this heterogeneity of properties allow for?
- Cell-specific responsiveness to different extracellular signals (depending on which AC isoforms are present)
- “Cross-talk” with other signalling pathways affecting Ca++ and PKC activity
What terminates cAMP signalling?
Breakdown to 5’AMP by phosphodiesterase enzymes
What does the vast majority of cAMP signalling result from?
It binding to and activating PKA
Whilst the vast majority of cAMP signalling results from it binding to and activating PKA, which channels can it bind?
Cyclic Nucleotide Gated Channels
Which G-proteins does cAMP regulate? How?
Monomeric G-proteins such as Rap1 by activating Epac (Exchange protein activated by cAMP) 1 and 2 which are GEFs for Rap1
How does cAMP regulate the monomeric G protein Rap1?
By activating Epac1/2 (Exchange protein activated by cAMP) which are GEFs for Rap1
What is Epac1/2?
Exchange Protein Activated by cAMP
It is a GEF for Rap1
Epac 1 and Epac 2 are GEFs for which protein?
Monomeric G protein Rap1
What is PKA?
Protein kinase A - ie cAMP-dependent kinase
It is a serine-threonine kinase
What type of kinase is PKA?
Serine-threonine kinase
What consensus recognition sequence does PKA phosphorylate?
K/R - K/R - X - S/T - I/V/L
Give three examples of the signalling functions of cAMP
- Regulation of gene transcription
- Control of excitation-contraction coupling in the heart
- Regulation of metabolism
How is efficient and specific signal transduction achieved by cAMP?
It is often concentrated into MICRODOMAINS
- the receptors, AC and PKA are compartmentalised by AKAPs
- Local pools of cAMP are generated by PDEs which break down cAMP
What is the purpose of concentrating cAMP mediated signalling into microdomains?
Allows efficient and specific signal transduction to occur
How are receptor, AC, and PKA compartmentalised?
By A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins (AKAPs)
How do AKAPs enable efficient and specific signal transduction by cAMP?
They compartmentalise receptors, AC and PKA
How does Forskolin affect AC activity?
Activates it
How does PKA exist in its unstimulated state?
As an inactive TETRAMER consisting of:
2 x regulatory subunits
2 x catalytic subunits
How many isoforms are there of each of PKA’s subunits?
4 isoforms of the regulatory subunit (R1alpha, R1beta, RIIalpha, RIIbeta)
3 isoforms of the catalytic subunit (Calpha, Cbeta, Cgamma)
How many classes of PKA exist based on their composition of regulatory subunits?
2: PKAI and PKAII
What is the difference between the two classes of PKAs, PKAI and PKAII?
PKAI
Contains RI subunits. Low affinity for AKAPs. Mainly found free in cytoplasm. Has high affinity for cAMP- response to low [cAMP]
PKAII
Contains RII subunits. High affinity for AKAPs. Usually docked to these scaffolding proteins- localised to specific cellular targets
PKAI is mainly found in the cytoplasm whilst PKAII is mainly found docked to AKAP scaffolding proteins. Why is this?
PKAI has low affinity for AKAPs whilst PKAII has high affinity for them.
How do PKI and PKII differ in their subunit composition?
PKI contains RI regulatory subunits whilst PKII contains RII regulatory subunits
How many molecules of cAMP bind to each R subunit of PKA?
2
What happens when cAMP binds to PKA?
2 molecules of cAMP bind to each PKA R subunit, causing a conformational change in the regulatory subunits so that the catalytic subunits are released.
Why does phosphorylation of a protein lead to its conformational change?
The phosphate group carried a negative charge
Why does phosphorylation affect the function of a protein?
Because the negatively charged phosphate group changes the confirmation of the protein
What does cAMP stand for?
Cyclic 3’,5’ adenosine monophosphate
Give some examples of cellular targets for PKA
1) neurotransmitter biosynthesis
2) GPCRs
3) ion channels
4) cytoskeletal proteins
5) transcription factors
6) protein phosphatase inhibitors
PKA can target transcription factors. Give an example of such a transcription factor
CREB protein (cAMP-response element binding protein)