Hydrodynamic properties of the regulatory component of adenylate cyclase

Hydrodynamic parameters of the regulatory component of adenylate cyclase, G/F, have been estimated by gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. In solutions containing Lubrol 12A9, the protein has an apparent molecular weight of 130,000. G/F from various sources and resolved from the catalytic moiety of the enzyme by different techniques behaves similarly. Consistent with our previous proposal that this protein is the site of action of both guanine nucleotides and fluoride, treatment with these activating ligands causes a reduction in both the sedimentation coefficient and the Stokes radius of G/F. These changes suggest a loss of mass of approximately 40,000 daltons. Nevertheless, this alteration is fully reversible when ligands are removed, even if the liganded protein is first fractionated by gel filtration or sucrose density gradient centrifugation.