Biology of Cellular Transducing Signals

Intercellular communication in multicellular organisms enables cells to respond to environmental changes. Intercellular signal transduction transmitters include hormones, peptide growth factors, neurotransmitters as well as some lipid-soluble mediators. Once signalling molecules are bound to their cell surface receptors, one or more intracellular signals are generated which alter the Qehavior of the target cell. The IXth International Washington Spring Symposium at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. was organized to assess the current status of the field of signal transduction processes and regulatory mechanisms. The symposium was held on May 8-'.2, 1989 and was attended by more than 1000 scientists from 30 countries. Most of the papers presented at the plenary sessions have been collected in this volume. The first section of this book details the action and regulation of receptors such as ,B-pdr.'nergic receptors and receptors for EGF, insulin, leukotrienes, phosphoinositides and prostaglandins. Section two focuses on the family of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G proteins). These G proteins are known to mediate the coupling of receptor-mediated signals to several intracellular effector systems. Papers are presented describing the intracellular localization of G proteins, the utilization of G protein antibodies, the interaction of G proteins with tubulin and the involvement of G proteins in the regulation of ion channels, adenylate cy~lase and in the activation of neutrophils and T cells. In the third section, several papers describe the second messenger role of phosphoinositides as well as the regulation of phosphoinositide production.

I — Receptors.- 1. Real—Time Analysis of Macromolecular Assembly During Cell Activation.- 2. Identification of Residues Essential for the Active Conformation of the ?-Adrenergic Receptor by Site—Directed Mutagenesis.- 3. Mechanisms for Diversification of Responses of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes to Leukotrienes.- 4. The Role of Covalent and Non—covalent Mechanisms in Insulin Receptor Action.- 5. EGF Triggers A Similar Signalling Cascade in Different Cell Types Overexpressing the EGF Receptor.- 6. Second Messenger Receptors in the Phosphoinositide Cycle.- 7. Mechanisms of Receptor Regulation for the Phosphoinositide Signalling System.- 8. Computer Simulation of Prostaglandin—Regulated Cyclic AMP Metabolism in Platelets: Activation and Desensitization of Adenylate Cyclase Appear to be Mediated Through Separate Prostaglandin Receptors Coupled to Gs and Gi.- II — G Proteins.- 9. The Family of G Proteins.- 10. Roles of G Protein Subunits in Coupling of Receptors to Ionic Channels and Other Effector Systems.- 11. Receptor—Mediated Alterations of Calcium Channel Function in the Regulation of Neurosecretion.- 12. Antibodies as Probes of G—Protein Structure and Function.- 13. Transducin: A Model of Biological Coupling Enzymes.- 14. Co—Localization by Immunofluorescence of the ? subunit(s) of Gi with Cytoplasmic Structures.- 15. “Cross-Talk” and the Regulation of Hepatocyte Adenylate Cyclase Activity: Desensitization, Gi and Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase Regulation.- 16. Activation of Human Neutrophils by Granulocyte—Macrophage Colony—Stimulating Factor: Role of Guanine—Nucleotide Binding Proteins.- 17. Cytoskeletal Participation in the Signal Transduction Process: Tubulin G Protein Interactions in the Regulation of Adenylate Cyclase.- 18. Initiation and Modulation of Signal Output from the T cell Antigen Receptor.- 19. Selective Phosphorylation of a G Protein within Permeabilized and Intact Platelets Caused by Activators of Protein Kinase C.- 20. G Proteins and Toxin-Catalyzed ADP-Ribosylation.- 21. Novel Endogenous ADP—Ribosylations of Proteins in Transformed Cells: Effects of Cellular Transformation and Differentiation.- III — Inositol Phosphates.- 22. Inositol 1,4,5—Trisphosphate and Inositol 1,3,4,5—Tetrakisphosphate: Two Second Messengers in a Duet of Calcium Regulation.- 23. The Role of Endogenously Stimulated Protein Kinase C in Regulating Inositol Polyphosphate Accumulation in Human Platelets.- 24. Leukotriene D4 Increases the Metabolism of an Inositol Tetrakisphosphate-Containing Phospholipid in U937 Cells.- IV — Kinases.- 25. Immunocytochemical Localization of Protein Kinase C.- 26. A Protein Kinase C Pseudosubstrate Peptide Blocks G—Protein and Mitogenic Lectin Induced Phosphorylation of the CD3 Antigen in Human T—Lymphocytes.- 27. Growth Factor—Stimulated Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Phospholipase C.- V — Phospholipases.- 28. Eicosanoid Formation and Regulation of Phospholipase A2.- 29. Inhibition of Phospholipase A2 Activation in P388D1 Macrophage—like Cells.- 30. The Role of GTP—Binding Proteins in the Regulation of Phospholipase A2 and C in Bovine Retinal Rod Outer Segments.- 31. Stimulus—Coupled Activation of Phospholipase D.- VI — Calcium.- 32. The Orchestration of Stimulatory Signals for Secretion in Rat Basophilic Leukemia (RBL-2H3) Cells.- 33. Synchronized Ca2+ Transients induced by Glucagon in Fura2 Loaded Hepatocytes.- 34. Calcium Mobilization Mechanisms in Bovine Chromaffin Cells by Vasoactive Peptides: Angiotensin, Bradykinin and Endothelin.- 35. Influence of GDP(B)S on Agonist—Induced Calcium Mobilization and Platelet Function.- VII — Eicosanoids.- 36. Regulation of the Production of Lipoxygenase Products and the Role of Eicosanoids in Signal Transduction.- 37. Eicosanoid Synthesis in Resident Macrophages: Role of Protein Kinase C.- 38. Modulation of the S—K+ Channel of Aplysia Sensory Neurons by Lipoxygenase Metabolites of Arachidonic Acid and cAMP.- 39. Inhibition of Leukotriene D4 Mediated Release of Prostacyclin Using Antisense DNA.- VIII -- Glycosylated Phosphoinositides.- 40. Second Messengers of Insulin Action.- 41. Control by TSH of the Production by Thyroid Cells of an Inositol Phosphateglycan, Putative Mediator of the cAMP—Independent Effects in the Gland.