Characterization of the glucagon receptor in a pheochromocytoma

Glucagon activated adenylate cyclase in a homogenate of a pheochromocytoma over the concentration range 1 times 10 minus 8M to 1 times 10 minus 6M. Several other hormones including adrenocorticotropin, thyrotropin, parathyroid hormone and histamine were without effect. The tumor glucagon receptor was characterized and found to be similar in several ways to the glucagon receptor previously reported in normal tissue such as liver and heart. One, the receptor specifically bound 125-I-glucagon. Two, solubilization of the pheochromocytoma abolished glucagon-activation of the adenylate cyclase. Three, glucagon-responsiveness of the adenylate cyclase was partially restored by the addition of phosphatidylserine to the incubations. One major difference was observed between the glucagon receptor in tumor tissue and that in liver and heart, namely, a marked lability in 125-I-glucagon binding and adenylate cyclase activity. Within four days, despite storage in liquid nitrogen, 75% of the binding activity and all of the adenylate cyclase activity in the solubilized preparation were lost. The factor(s) responsible for this lability remains unidentified.