Determination of Ca2+/Calmodulin-Stimulated Phosphodiesterase Activity in Intact Cells

Ca²⁺ /calmodulin (CaM)-stimulated phosphodiesterases (PDEs) constitute a large family (PDE1 family) of enzymes. All members of the PDE1 family can be stimulated by Ca²⁺ in the presence of CaM in vitro. It has been shown that the Ca²⁺ /CaM-stimulated PDE activity present in the vessel wall or vascular smooth muscle cells can be stimulated in vivo by contracting reagents that increase intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations. We describe in detail a technique used to estimate the extent of PDE1 activation in vivo by measuring in vitro the PDE activity that represents the extent of association between Ca²⁺ -CaM and PDE1 in vivo. The technique involves the extraction and rapid assay of enzyme activity at a low temperature and in the presence of trifluoperazine to minimize the changes in association between Ca²⁺ -CaM and the PDE1 family member during cell lysis and assaying activity. This technique can be used to measure Ca²⁺ /CaM-stimulated PDE activity in cultured cells or tissues.