title: Intracellular distribution of adenylate cyclase in human cardiocytes determined by electron microscopic cytochemistry.
abstract: Subcellular localization of adenylate cyclase (AC) in human cardiocytes was studied by electron microscopic cytochemistry using ventricular biopsies from various diseased hearts. In addition to the weak enzyme activity on the sarcolemma, the intense reaction products of AC were demonstrated within distinctive morphologic components of sarcoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope, and other internal membranes such as parallel lamellar structures and interlaced tubular structures in the perinuclear regions and stacked membranous structures beneath sarcolemma in cardiocytes. The distribution and intensity of cytochemical activity within different organelles was variable among biopsy cases. The reaction products of AC cytochemistry within the sarcoplasmic reticulum could be related to signal transduction targeting Ca2+ handling by the organella. Cytochemical activity within the nuclear envelope and perinuclear internal membranes possibly reflects AC participation in a signal function to regulate nuclear activity, such as gene expression. Cytochemical distribution of the enzyme in membranous structures beneath the sarcolemma is most likely related to hormone receptors and the linked activity of AC. The subcellular distribution of AC on various internal membrane structures in cardiocytes may reflect compartmentalization of the enzyme at individual intracellular sites to regulate a preferential specific signal function among multiple potential signal transductions by a cascade of AC, cyclic AMP, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Alternatively, subcellular localization of the reaction products may reflect local enzyme synthesis or represent sites of enzyme transport, e.g., to terminal localization beneath the sarcolemma.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Cardiovascular Center and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0129, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000201:enzymology; D015388:Organelles / Q000201:enzymology; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases