Cyclic AMP regulation of Gs protein. Thyrotropin and forskolin increase the quantity of stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in cultured thyroid follicles.

This study was carried out to clarify the way in which thyrotropin (TSH) and forskolin regulate the adenylylcyclase complex in thyroid follicle cells. We examined the effects of chronic treatment of pig thyroid follicles with TSH or forskolin on the state of G proteins by (a) assaying adenylylcyclase activity, (b) analyzing the ADP-ribosylation of stimulatory G protein (Gs) by cholera toxin, and (c) quantifying the Gs subunits by Western blotting with antipeptide antibodies. Chronic exposure (18 h) of thyroid follicles to a low concentration of TSH (0.01-0.1 milliunit/ml) enhanced the subsequent response of adenylylcyclase to TSH. Higher concentration of TSH (1 milliunit/ml) induced a homologous desensitization of this response. In cells pretreated with forskolin, the TSH-stimulated adenylylcyclase activity was higher than in control cells. The forskolin-or guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido) triphosphate (Gpp(NH)p)-stimulated adenylylcyclase activity was always significantly increased after chronic treatment of cells with TSH or forskolin. Treatment of cultured thyroid follicle membranes with [32P]NAD and cholera toxin resulted in labeling of the Gs alpha (45-52-kDa) component. Culturing follicles with TSH (0.001-1 milliunit/ml) or forskolin (0.01-10 microM) greatly affected the cholera toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of the Gs alpha subunit. Gs alpha labeling increased progressively to level off at 1 milliunit/ml TSH or 1 microM forskolin (150-200%). Gs alpha immunoreactivity was increased in parallel (200-300%). The immunoreactivity of G beta subunits in cells cultured with TSH or forskolin was also increased compared with control cells. Cycloheximide abolished the effects of TSH and forskolin on the follicles, suggesting that new protein synthesis is required. These results indicate that Gs protein subunits are up-regulated by TSH and forskolin and suggest that their synthesis in thyroid cells is mediated, at least in part, by a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism.