Abstract
Membranes of rat caudate nucleus contain a dopamine-dependent adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] and a Ca++ binding protein that activates phosphodiesterase (3':5'-cyclic-AMP 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17). This activator can be released from the membranes by a phosphorylation with a 3':5' cAMP-dependent protein kinase (ATP-protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37). Under the conditions of membrane phosphorylation and activator release, dopamine fails to activate striatal adenylate cyclase. The basal activity of this enzyme is not decreased by the release of the protein activator but the activation by NaF is reduced. Adenylate cyclase is not phosphorylated when the dopamine activation is blocked after the release of the activator, but other membrane proteins are phosphorylated. It is postulated that the endogenous protein stored in striatal membranes can regulate the intracellular concentration of cAMP by an activation of adenylate cyclase while stored in striatal membrane, and by an activation of phosphodiesterase when released into the cytosol after membrane phosphorylation.