In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic and biochemical evidence indicates that the product of the CDC25 gene activates the RAS/adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A pathway by acting as a guanine nucleotide protein. Here we report the isolation of a mouse brain cDNA homologous to CDC25. The mouse cDNA, called CDC25Mm, complements specifically point mutations and deletion/disruptions of the CDC25 gene. In addition, it restores the cAMP levels and CDC25‐dependent glucose‐induced cAMP signalling in a yeast strain bearing a disruption of the CDC25 gene. The CDC25Mm‐encoded protein is 34% identical with the catalytic carboxy terminal part of the CDC25 protein and shares significant homology with other proteins belonging to the same family. The protein encoded by CDC25Mm, prepared as a glutathione S‐transferase fusion in Escherichia coli cells, activates adenylyl cyclase in yeast membranes in a RAS2‐dependent manner. Northern blot analysis of mouse brain poly(A)+ RNA reveals two major transcripts of approximately 1700 and 5200 nucleotides. Transcripts were found also in mouse heart and at a lower level in liver and spleen.

Although it is well-established that G protein-coupled receptor signaling systems can network with those of tyrosine kinase receptors by several mechanisms, the point(s) of convergence of the two pathways remains largely undelineated, particularly for opioids. Here we demonstrate that opioid agonists modulate the activity of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in African green monkey kidney COS-7 cells transiently cotransfected with mu-, delta-, or kappa-opioid receptors and ERK1- or ERK2-containing plasmids. Recombinant proteins in transfected cells were characterized by binding assay or immunoblotting. On treatment with corresponding mu- ([D-Ala2,Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin)-, delta- ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin)-, or kappa- (U69593)-selective opioid agonists, a dose-dependent, rapid stimulation of ERK1 and ERK2 activity was observed. This activation was inhibited by specific antagonists, suggesting the involvement of opioid receptors. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin abolished ERK1 and ERK2 activation by agonists. Cotransfection of cells with dominant negative mutant N17-Ras or with a betagamma scavenger, CD8- beta-adrenergic receptor kinase-C, suppressed opioid stimulation of ERK1 and ERK2. When epidermal growth factor was used to activate ERK1, chronic (>2-h) opioid agonist treatment resulted in attenuation of the stimulation by the growth factor. This inhibition was blocked by the corresponding antagonists and CD8- beta-adrenergic receptor kinase-C cotransfection. These results suggest a mechanism involving Ras and betagamma subunits of Gi/o proteins in opioid agonist activation of ERK1 and ERK2, as well as opioid modulation of epidermal growth factor-induced ERK activity.

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In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the product of the CDC25 gene is an essential Ras activator that appears to function by stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange on Ras. Using the ability of a mouse cDNA expression library to complement yeast cells lacking functional CDC25, Martegani et al. have identified a 1.7 kb partial cDNA from a gene, designated CDC25Mm, with homology to CDC25. We have now screened a mouse brain cDNA library to identify full‐length clones of CDC25Mm. This cloning has led to the isolation of six distinct full‐length cDNAs, each of which appear to be derived from the CDC25Mm gene, since their 3′ 2 kb appear to be identical and to encode the same 661 C‐terminal amino acids. Three cDNAs are predicted to encode protein products of 666 or 667 amino acids. The other three cDNAs encode products that are 836, 1120 and 1260 amino acids, respectively. A 241 amino acid region near the N‐terminus of the two largest products was found to have homology to a domain shared by Bcr, Vav, Dbl and CDC24. Polyclonal antibodies raised to a peptide encoded by all the cDNAs have identified at least two protein products in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Their apparent molecular weights are 75 and 95 kDa, which correspond closely to those predicted to be encoded, respectively, by the two shorter classes of cDNAs. In NIH3T3, the 95 kDa form is much more abundant than the 75 kDa form, while PC‐12 pheochromocytoma cells contain relatively high levels of the 75 kDa form. We conclude that CDC25Mm is a complex gene whose protein products are regulated in a tissue‐specific manner.