Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent stabilization of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) for protein kinase-A (PKA) subunits in rat Sertoli cells: rapid degradation of mRNAs for PKA subunits is dependent on ongoing RNA and protein synthesis.

cAMP treatment of primary cultures of Sertoli cells is associated with a transient stimulatory effect on mRNA levels for various protein kinase-A (PKA) subunits. We have previously shown that the induction of mRNA for regulatory subunit II beta (RII beta) is due at least partly to transcriptional activation. In the present study we investigate possible regulatory effects of (Bu)2cAMP on the degradation of mRNAs for various PKA subunits in rat Sertoli cells. We demonstrate subunit specific differences in the decay of mRNAs for the various PKA subunits. When (Bu)2cAMP was removed from Sertoli cell cultures after 6 h of stimulation, there was a rapid decay of mRNAs for both RII beta and RI alpha (half-lives, approximately 3 h). In contrast, mRNA levels for RII alpha continued to increase. Removal of (Bu)2cAMP after a longer period of treatment revealed a similar decay of mRNAs for all of the PKA subunits, with half-lives of approximately 3 h. Incubation of Sertoli cells for 12 h with (Bu)2cAMP, followed by continued incubation in the absence and presence of (Bu)2cAMP as well as in the presence of actinomycin-D (an inhibitor of RNA synthesis), revealed (Bu)2cAMP mediated stabilization of mRNA for the RII beta subunit. Interestingly, actinomycin-D as such stabilized mRNAs for all PKA subunits. Similar treatment with cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) revealed distinct differences between the RI alpha and C alpha subunits vs. the RII subunits; cycloheximide reduced the decay of both RII beta and RII alpha mRNAs, whereas steady state levels of mRNAs for RI alpha and C alpha actually increased after cycloheximide treatment of previously (Bu)2cAMP-stimulated cultures. Cycloheximide treatment also increased basal levels of mRNAs for RI alpha and C alpha, whereas basal levels of RII beta and RII alpha mRNAs were not influenced. These studies indicate that the degradation of mRNAs for the various PKA subunits is subject to different regulation by (Bu)2cAMP, and that ongoing RNA and protein synthesis is required for rapid degradation of all PKA subunits.