Activation of fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase by phospholipase A2 in the caudate nucleus of the rat brain.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) increases adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in the rat caudate nucleus in a dose-dependent manner. After maximal stimulation by fluoride, PLA2 treatment further increases AC activity 2.4 fold. Adenylate cyclase activity is maximal after 45% hydrolysis of the phospholipids. Of the products of PLA2 treatment only lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) produces such an increase in AC activity. In contrast to PLA2 treatment, LPC solubilizes the enzyme, decreases the Km value for ATP, and requires much larger amounts of LPC than that produced by lipase treatment. After maximal stimulation with fluoride and PLA2, removal of most of the LPC does not reduce the activity of adenylate cyclase. These findings suggest that removal of membrane lipid rather than generation of LPC is responsible for the activation of brain adenylate cyclase by phospholipase A2.