The activity of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase from rat liver plasma membranes is modulated by the fluidity of its lipid environment.

1. The local anaesthetic benzyl alcohol progressively activated glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity up to a maximum at 50 mM-benzyl alcohol. Further increases in benzyl alcohol concentration inhibited the activity. The fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was similarly affected except for an inhibition of activity occurring at low benzyl alcohol concentrations (approx. 10 mM. 2. The fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of a solubilized enzyme preparation was unaffected by any of the benzyl alcohol concentrations tested. 3. Increases in 3-phenylpropan-1-ol and 5-phenylpentan-1-ol concentrations progressively activated both the fluoride- and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities up to a maximum, above which further increases in alcohol concentration inhibited the activities. 4. The 'break' points in Arrhenius plots of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in native plasma membranes, and in plasma membranes fused with synthetic dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine so as to constitute 60% of the total lipid pool, were decreased by approx. 6 degrees C by addition of 40 mM-benzyl alcohol. This was accompanied by a fall in the associated activation energies. 6. Arrhenius plots of fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the presence and absence of 40 mM-benzyl alcohol were linear, although addition of benzyl alcohol caused a dramatic decrease in the associated activation energy of the reaction. 7. 5'-Nucleotidase activity was stimulated by benzyl alcohol, and the 'break' point in the Arrhenius plot of its activity was decreased by about 6 degrees C by addition of 40 mM-benzyl alcohol to the assay. 8. It is suggested that benzyl alcohol effects a fluidization of the bilayer, which is clearly demonstrated by its ability to lower the temperature of a lipid phase separation occurring at 28 degrees C in the outer half of the bilayer to around 22 degrees C. The increase in bilayer fluidity relieves a physical constraint on the membrane-bound adenylate cyclase, activating the enzyme. 9. The various inhibition phenomena are discussed in detail, together with the suggestion that the interaction between the uncoupled catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase and the lipids of the bilayer is altered on its physical coupling to the glucagon receptor.