Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) catalyze the conversion of ATP into the second messenger cAMP. Membranous AC1 (AC1) is involved in processes of memory and learning and in muscle pain. The AC toxin edema factor (EF) of Bacillus anthracis is involved in the development of anthrax. Both ACs are stimulated by the eukaryotic Ca2+-sensor calmodulin (CaM). The CaM-AC interaction could constitute a potential target to enhance or impair the AC activity of AC1 and EF to intervene in above (patho)physiological mechanisms. Thus, we analyzed the impact of 39 compounds including typical CaM-inhibitors, an anticonvulsant, an anticholinergic, antidepressants, antipsychotics and Ca2+-antagonists on CaM-stimulated catalytic activity of AC1 and EF. Compounds were tested at 10 μM, i.e., a concentration that can be reached therapeutically for certain antidepressants and antipsychotics. Calmidazolium chloride decreased CaM-stimulated AC1 activity moderately by about 30%. In contrast, CaM-stimulated EF activity was abrogated by calmidazolium chloride and additionally decreased by chlorpromazine, felodipine, penfluridol and trifluoperazine by about 20–40%. The activity of both ACs was decreased by calmidazolium chloride in the presence and absence of CaM. Thus, CaM-stimulated AC1 activity is more insensitive to inhibition by small molecules than CaM-stimulated EF activity. Inhibition of AC1 and EF by calmidazolium chloride is largely mediated via a CaM-independent allosteric mechanism.

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The adenylyl cyclase (AC) toxin CyaA from Bordetella pertussis constitutes an important virulence factor for the pathogenesis of whooping cough. CyaA is activated by calmodulin (CaM) and compromises host defense by excessive cAMP production. Hence, pharmacological modulation of the CyaA/CaM interaction could constitute a promising approach to treat whooping cough, provided that interactions of endogenous effector proteins with CaM are not affected. As a first step toward this ambitious goal we examined the interactions of CyaA with wild-type CaM and four CaM mutants in which most methionine residues were replaced by leucine residues and studied the effects of the CaM antagonists calmidazolium, trifluoperazine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7). CyaA/CaM interaction was monitored by CaM-dependent fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between tryptophan residues in CyaA and 2′-(N-methylanthraniloyl)-3′-deoxy-adenosine 5′-triphosphate and catalytic activity. Comparison of the concentration/response curves of CaM and CaM mutants for FRET and catalysis revealed differences, suggesting a two-step activation mechanism of CyaA by CaM. Even in the absence of CaM, calmidazolium inhibited catalysis, and it did so according to a biphasic function. Trifluoperazine and W-7 did not inhibit FRET or catalysis. In contrast to CyaA, some CaM mutants were more efficacious than CaM at activating membranous AC isoform 1. The slope of CyaA activation by CaM was much steeper than of AC1 activation. Collectively, the two-step activation mechanism of CyaA by CaM offers opportunities for pharmacological intervention. The failure of classic CaM inhibitors to interfere with CyaA/CaM interactions and the different interactions of CaM mutants with CyaA and AC1 point to unique CyaA/CaM interactions.

Bacillus anthracis adenylyl cyclase toxin edema factor (EF) is one component of the anthrax toxin and is essential for establishing anthrax disease. EF activation by the eukaryotic Ca2+-sensor calmodulin (CaM) leads to massive cAMP production resulting in edema. cAMP also inhibits the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase, thus reducing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) used for host defense in activated neutrophils and thereby facilitating bacterial growth. Methionine (Met) residues in CaM, important for interactions between CaM and its binding partners, can be oxidized by ROS. We investigated the impact of site-specific oxidation of Met in CaM on EF activation using thirteen CaM-mutants (CaM-mut) with Met to leucine (Leu) substitutions. EF activation shows high resistance to oxidative modifications in CaM. An intact structure in the C-terminal region of oxidized CaM is sufficient for major EF activation despite altered secondary structure in the N-terminal region associated with Met oxidation. The secondary structures of CaM-mut were determined and described in previous studies from our group. Thus, excess cAMP production and the associated impairment of host defence may be afforded even under oxidative conditions in activated neutrophils.