Action of cyclic nucleotide analogues in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Cyclic nucleotide analogues have been tested for their ability to cause the morphological conversion of Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture, as well as for effects on cyclic AMP-related enzymes. The ability of the analogues to inhibit the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity and to activate the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in cell extracts has been measured. Cell cultures were incubated with the analogues and the effects on morphology, intracellular level of cyclic AMP, and in vivo protein kinase activation were determined. All analogues which induced the morphological conversion also caused in vivo activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Only N6,O2'-dibutyryl and N6-monobutyryl cyclic AMP caused on increase in intracellular cyclic AMP, presumabley through inhibition of the intracellular cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. The increase in cyclic AMP appears to cause the protein kinase activation. However, analogues such a 8-bromo and 8-benzylthio cyclic AMP do not cause any change in intracellular cyclic AMP level and appear to activate the intracellular cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase directly.