Altered activity of the inhibitory guanyl nucleotide-binding component (Ni) induced by pertussis toxin. Uncoupling of Ni from receptor with continued coupling of Ni to the catalytic unit.

The D-2 dopamine receptor mediates inhibition of adenylate cyclase in rat intermediate lobe; this receptor is linked to cyclase by the inhibitory guanyl nucleotide-binding protein (Ni). The functioning of components in the inhibitory system was compared in control and pertussis toxin-treated tissues. (-)-N-n-Propylnorapomorphine ((-)-NPA), a dopamine agonist, and 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), a nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase in control tissue. Pertussis toxin abolished dopamine receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase but did not alter Gpp(NH)p-induced inhibition of cyclase. In control tissue, GTP blocked Gpp(NH)p inhibition of cyclase in the absence, but not in the presence of (-)-NPA. Following pertussis toxin treatment, GTP blocked the inhibitory effect of Gpp(NH)p either in the absence or in the presence of (-)-NPA. Pertussis toxin did not alter the number of dopamine receptors or the affinity of the receptor for [3H]spiroperidol, a dopamine antagonist. However, pertussis toxin decreased the potency of (-)-NPA in the binding assay and abolished the ability of GTP to affect agonist binding. Furthermore, pertussis toxin abolished the dopamine receptor-mediated inhibition of immunoreactive alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release, and induced the ADP-ribosylation of the Mr = 41,000 subunit of Ni.