Membrane receptor function and the loss of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in hepatomas

Plasma membranes were prepared from homogenates of two well differentiated hepatomas (Morris rat 7787 and Dalton mouse 9815), two poorly differentiated hepatomas (Morris rat 7288-C and Dalton mouse 129), and normal liver. Adenylate cyclase activity and [125I]iodoglucagon binding were measured in the plasma membrane preparations over a wide range of glucagon concentrations. Nether glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity nor [125I]iodoglucagon binding could be detected in the poorly differentiated hepatomas. Fluoride and epinephrine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in all hepatomas. Maximum activity of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase and maximum binding of glucagon in the wall differentiated hepatomas were less than those of normal liver. Plasma membranes from liver and hepatomas were solubilized with Lubrol-PX and, after reducing the concentration of detergent, were incubated with [125I]iodoglucagon and then chromatographed on a column of Bio-Gel A 1,5 m. Two peaks containing both protein and [125I]iodoglucagon were found for normal liver but not for the poorly differentiated hepatomas. Fractions from the Bio-Gel column containing the greatest concentration of protein were also subjected to a binding microassay. Material from the poorly differentiated tumors did not bind glucagon in this system, whereas the solubilized normal liver membranes bound up to 1.4 pmol [125I]iodoglucagon/mg protein. This indicates that there is no detectable glucagon receptor in these undifferentiated tumors.