Expression of adenylate cyclase, catecholamine receptor, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in synchronized culture of Chang's liver cells (S phase-membrane receptors-NaF stimulation).

In Chang's liver cells synchronized by exposure to thymidine, both cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-independent protein kinase activities increased throughout the cell cycle in a manner that corresponded approximately to the overall increase in cellular protein. Thus, the catalytic and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-binding regulatory subunits of protein kinase appear to be temporally coexpressed. Adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by catecholamine, as well as basal activity, decreased markedly after release of cells from thymidine blockade during the S phase of the cell cycle; this was followed by recovery and overall net increase to fully expressed activity by the peak of mitosis. After initial decrease early in the S phase, cyclase activity assayed in the presence of fluoride ion began to rise before the rise in basal and catecholamine-stimulated activities, indicating that regulation of membrane receptors for catecholamines and for basal activity may be at least in part separate from that for catalytic activity of adenylate cyclase. The differential expression of membrane receptors for adenylate cyclase during the Chang's liver cell cycle affords a possible mechanism for control of response to hormones during the cell cycle.