Copurification of β-Adrenergic Catecholamine Receptors and Hormone-Sensitive Adenylate Cyclase with Uterine Smooth Muscle Plasma Membranes 1

Abstract

Abstract

A putative plasma membrane fraction isolated from rat uterine smooth muscle was substantially enriched in both β-adrenergic catecholamine receptors as detected by radioligand binding methods and adenylate cyclase. Receptors for adrenergic catecholamines as well as series E prostaglandins were functionally coupled to the enzyme in the purified membranes by a GTP-requiring process. Localization of receptors and enzymes to the same subcellular compartment suggest that in myometrium, as in other target tissues, β-adrenergic catecholamines and perhaps series E prostaglandins exert their effects by regulating cAMP production.