Membrane-bound adenylate cyclase activity in the testis of the blue fox

Membrane-bound adenylate cyclase (AC) activity was much higher in the presence of Mn2+ than of Mg2+. The Mn2+-sensitive adenylate cyclase (MnAC) showed a linear rate of activity for at least 60 min. In contrast, the Mg2+-sensitive AC (MgAC) displayed a considerable burst in activity, so that after 90 min of activity it was approximately tenfold higher than at the start of incubation. Guanine nucleotides enhanced MgAC activity; 10(-6) to 10(-5) M of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate caused a threefold stimulation. The MgAC could be stimulated by hormones (FSH, hCG, PGE1, isoproterenol, glucagon), the highest activation being achieved with FSH. Increasing levels of ATP produced a concentration-dependent increase in MgAC activity. The apparent affinity of the AC for MgATP increased threefold (Km 0.50-0.15 mM) by raising the free Mg2+ concentration from 0.4 to 10.0 mM. The membrane-bound AC of the blue fox testis is thus regulated by hormones, Mg2+, and guanine nucleotides in a similar manner to ACs in other somatic cells and in testes from other species. The high MnAC activity in membrane particles from these testes probably represents membrane-bound AC activity in germ cells. The burst in MgAC activity during incubation may represent proteolytic activation of membrane-bound germ cell AC, with a gradual appearance of Mg2+ sensitivity.