Gαq-coupled receptor signaling enhances adenylate cyclase type 6 activation

Calcium signaling robustly inhibits AC6 activity in membrane preparations and in intact cells via capacitative calcium entry (CCE). However, the release of intracellular calcium has not been demonstrated to robustly alter AC6 signaling and activation of Gαq-coupled receptors in tissues that express AC6 enhances cyclic AMP accumulation. To specifically examine the ability of Gαq-coupled receptors to modulate AC6 signaling in intact cells, we used stably transfected HEK-AC6 cells. We demonstrate that AC6 activation is potentiated by activation of endogenous muscarinic receptors expressed in HEK293 cells. Muscarinic receptor activation failed to potentiate the activation of the closely related AC5 isoform. Expression of recombinant Gαq-coupled muscarinic or serotonin receptors, or constitutively active Gαq, also potentiated drug-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in HEK-AC6 cells. Muscarinic receptor-mediated potentiation of AC6 activation was not due to activation of PKC or modulation of Gαi/o-mediated inhibition of AC6. We demonstrate that calcium chelation or inhibition of calmodulin attenuates the effect of carbachol on AC6 activation. These data support the hypothesis that Gαq-coupled receptor-mediated calcium signaling potentiates AC6 activation in intact cells.