Activation by cyclic 3':5'-adenosine monophosphate of tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat brain

Membrane-permeable derivatives of cyclic AMP (cAMP) produced concentration-dependent increases in activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.16.2) in membrane-limited nerve endings (synaptosomes) prepared from three regions of rat brain. Increased hydroxylation occurred even after preincubation and removal of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. In all brain regions, the hydroxylation of phenylalanine and tyrosine was increased, but dibutyryl cAMP had little effect on activity of tryptophan hydroxylase, no effect on aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase, on uptake of tyrosine or phenylalanine, uptake or efflux of dopamine, or distribution of hydroxylase between cytoplasmic and particulate components of the synaptosomes. Dibutyryl cAMP decreased inhibition of catecholamine synthesis in synaptosomes by dopamine and apomorphine. In a soluble preparation of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase, activity was increased by addition of lower concentrations of cAMP or dibutyryl cAMP than with unbroken nerve endings, when subsaturating concentrations of tyrosine and cofactor were employed, while butyrate, chloride, 5'-AMP, ADP, ATP, and cyclic GMP had no activating effect. Increased activity of soluble tyrosine hydroxylase was reflected in increased affinity (Km) for substrate and cofactor and decreased affinity (Ki) for inhibitory end-product (dopamine), suggesting a change in the physical-chemical state of the enzyme or an activator molecule. Cyclic AMP may activate tyrosine hydroxylase during periods of increased neuronal activity.