Endocrinology, Vol 96, 119-128, Copyright © 1975 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Subcellular distribution of the enzymes related to the cellular action of vasopressin in renal medulla

LD Barnes, YS Hui, PP Frohnert and TP Dousa

Subcellular distribution of the enzymes related to the cellular action of antidiuretic hormone was studied in bovine renal medulla. The highest activity of vasopressin-stimulated adenylate cyclase was found in plasma membranes. The basal activity increased two times above homogenate while vasopressin-stimulated and NaF-stimulated activities both increased five times. Adenylate cyclase activity was present also in other particulate fractions, but it was not significantly stimulated by vasopressin. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was predominantly located in the cytosol when assayed with 0.5 mM cyclic AMP or with 5 muM cyclic AMP. However, with the latter concentration of cyclic AMP more activity remained associated with the particulate fractions and was more inhibited by theophylline. The highest cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase activity occurred in the cytosol. Protein kinase activity present in other subcellular fractions was not markedly stimulated by cyclic AMP. Protein phosphatase activity was highest in cytosol when assayed using 32P-histones, 32P-plasma membrane proteins, and 32P- cytoslic proteins. The activity was unaffected by 10-6M to 10-4M cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. The activity was completely inhibited by 10mM ZnSO4 and 10mM CuSO4; 10mM NaF inhibited the activity by approximately 14%. The enzymes related to the cellular action of vasopressin are predominatly localized in the cytosol except for the vasopressin- sensitive adenylate cyclase which is plasma membrane bound. To mediate the effect of antidiuretic hormone and act on the luminal plasma membrane these soluble enzymes and their substrates should be compartmentalized, possibly by a system of cytoplasmic microtubules.