Evidence in intact cells for an involvement of GTP in the activation of adenylate cyclase.

Treatment of cultured normal rat kidney cells with virazole or mycophenolic acid which are inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase decreases by 50 to 70% the ability of prostaglandin E1 or isoproterenol to elevate cAMP levels. Inhibition is maximal by 2 h. The response to cholera toxin is not significantly decreased. Basal cAMP is not affected. Under these conditions, GTP is decreased by 80%, ATP is only 10 to 15% decreased, and UTP and CTP are slightly increased. Normal GTP levels and the responses to prostaglandin E1 and isoproterenol are restored if guanosine, but not inosine, is added with the inhibitor. The response to isoproterenol is recovered within 5 min after removal of mycophenolic acid. Desensitization to prostaglandin E1 or isoproterenol stimulation occurs under conditions where GTP is 80% decreased. These results in intact cells provide direct evidence for a role for GTP in the activation of adenylate cyclase and support previous conclusions from studies with cell homogenates.