Characterization of trypsin stimulation of cardiac adenylate cyclase

The activity of adenylate cyclase present in a purified dog heart sarcolemmal preparation in the presence of magnesium as cosubstrate is biphasically influenced by increasing concentrations of trypsin: Stimulation at low concentrations (0.5 to 1 microgram/mL) is followed by inhibition at higher concentrations. In the presence of manganese in place of magnesium, the stimulation phase is abolished but the inhibition is still observed at the same trypsin concentrations. The trypsin stimulatory effect does not occur when trypsin is preincubated with cardiac membranes prior to the addition of ATP. When trypsin is added with ATP, the stimulation is expressed by an increase in the Maximal Velocity (Vmax) rather than a decrease in the Michaelis constant (Km). The stimulatory effect of trypsin on AC activity is rapid, linear and irreversible. GTP, Gpp(NH)p and adrenaline stimulatory curves are shifted to the left in the presence of trypsin. These results suggest that protease stimulation of cardiac AC involves the GTP-binding protein (N) activity, but the exact mechanism remains to be determined.