Nitric oxide inhibition of adenylyl cyclase type 6 activity is dependent upon lipid rafts and caveolin signaling

Rennolds S Ostrom1, Richard A Bundey, Paul A Insel

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, and Vascular Biology Center of Excellence, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

Insights

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates cardiac function by inhibiting adenylyl cyclase (AC) within lipid rafts. This spatial organization controls beta-adrenergic receptor signaling and cardiac contractility.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by NO synthase (NOS) in cardiac cells and influences cardiac contractility.
  • The precise mechanisms by which NO affects heart function, particularly contractile dysfunction in heart failure, are not fully understood.
  • Adenylyl cyclase (AC) isoforms 5 and 6, prevalent in cardiac myocytes, are potential targets for NO-mediated inhibition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of lipid rafts in organizing signaling molecules involved in beta-adrenergic receptor (betaAR)-G(s)-AC signal transduction and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS).
  • To elucidate how lipid raft disruption affects NO production and AC activity in cardiac myocytes.
  • To understand the spatial regulation of AC activity by eNOS within specific cellular microdomains.

Main Methods:

  • Neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were used to study signaling pathways.
  • Lipid rafts were disrupted using beta-cyclodextrin.
  • AC activity, cAMP production, and protein interactions (caveolin-3 and eNOS) were measured.
  • NO production was assessed, and experiments utilized NO donors (SNAP) and genetic manipulation (eNOS overexpression).

Main Results:

  • Disruption of lipid rafts inhibited forskolin-stimulated AC activity and cAMP production.
  • Beta-cyclodextrin treatment reduced caveolin-3 and eNOS interaction, increased NO production, and inhibited betaAR- and G(s)-mediated AC activation.
  • Prostanoid receptor-stimulated AC activity was unaffected in native cells but altered upon eNOS overexpression and lipid raft disruption.
  • NO donors and eNOS overexpression reduced cAMP production, indicating NO's inhibitory effect on AC.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid rafts play a crucial role in organizing betaAR, G(s), AC isoforms, and eNOS, thereby spatially regulating betaAR signaling.
  • eNOS activity within lipid rafts selectively modulates betaAR signaling compared to other G(s)-coupled receptors in non-raft domains.
  • The co-localization of signaling components within lipid rafts provides critical spatial control over AC activity and cellular function.

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