Abstract
Cellular content of cAMP generated by activation of adenylylcyclase (AC; EC 4.6.1.1) is a key determinant of functional responsiveness in the heart and other tissues. We have tested two hypotheses regarding the relationship between AC content and beta-adrenergic receptor (betaAR)-mediated signal transduction in cardiac myocytes. First, that AC content limits adrenergic signal transduction, and, second, that increased AC, independent of (betaAR) number and G-protein content, yields a proportional increase in betaAR-mediated transmembrane signaling. We used recombinant adenovirus to increase AC isoform VI (ACVI) expression in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Cells that overexpressed ACVI responded to agonist stimulation with marked increases in cAMP production in proportion to protein expressed. In parallel experiments performed on cells transfected with lacZ (control) or ACVI, [3H]forskolin binding, used to assess AC protein expression, was amplified 6-fold, while betaAR-stimulated cAMP production from these cells was increased 7-fold. No changes in betaAR number, or in the heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins, Galphas or Galphai2, were observed. Previous studies indicate that increased cardiac expression of betaAR or Galphas does not yield proportional increases in transmembrane adrenergic signaling. In contrast, the current data demonstrate that increased ACVI expression provides a proportional increase in beta-adrenergic signal transduction. Our results show that the amount of AC sets a limit on transmembrane beta-adrenergic signaling. We speculate that similar functional responses are possible in other cell types in which AC plays an important physiological role.