Muscarinic cholinergic-receptor stimulation of specific GTP hydrolysis related to adenylate cyclase activity in canine cardiac sarcolemma.

One component of muscarinic receptor inhibition of the function of cardiac ventricles is mediated by the inhibition of activated adenylate cyclase activity in sarcolemma. We have shown previously that muscarinic agonists inhibit GTP- but not Gpp(NH)p-activated adenylate cyclase activity, and various studies in other tissues indicate that nonhydrolyzable GTP analogues prevent inactivation of the enzyme. These data have suggested a role for GTP hydrolysis in the mechanism of inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The present study demonstrates that purified canine cardiac sarcolemma displays high-affinity GTPase activity that is reciprocally related to adenylate cyclase activity. The high-affinity GTPase activity was stimulated by muscarinic agonists and blocked by atropine. Furthermore, the one-half maximal effects of oxotremorine for binding to muscarinic receptors, stimulation of high-affinity GTPase activity, and inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity were similar. Muscarinic stimulation of GTPase activity and inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity required functional activity of the pertussis toxin (IAP) substrate(s). Treatment of sarcolemmal membranes with IAP attenuated the ability of oxotremorine to both stimulate high-affinity GTPase activity and inhibit adenylate cyclase activity. These studies indicate that muscarinic receptor stimulation of high-affinity GTPase activity dependent on functional IAP substrate(s) is closely linked to the mechanism of muscarinic inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity.