Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and protein activator in human cancer cell lines and Brown-Pearce carcinoma

3':5'-Cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) and the activating factor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase were detected in cultured human cell lines from patients with lymphoblastic leukemia and retinoblastoma and in the Brown-Pearce (rabbit) carcinoma. The homogenate of lymphoblasts contained levels of the activating factor in excess of that required to produce maximal activation of the endogenous phosphodiesterase. The activating factor found in these malignant cells appears to be similar to the calcium-binding protein activator of bovine brain phosphodiesterase on the basis of the molecular weight obtained from gel filtration, electrophoretic patterns, calcium requirement for the activity, and the effect of calcium on the proteolysis. In addition, the tumor-derived activator was able to restore the activity of activator-deficient phosphodiesterase from the bovine brain.