scholarly journals Phosphorylation of theN-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive Factor Is Associated with Depolarization-dependent Neurotransmitter Release from Synaptosomes

2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (15) ◽  
pp. 12174-12181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena A. Matveeva ◽  
Sidney W. Whiteheart ◽  
Thomas C. Vanaman ◽  
John T. Slevin
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Phorbol Esters ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Subunit Interface ◽  
Calmodulin Kinase ◽  
Sensitive Factor ◽  
Molecular Modeling Studies

Critical to SNARE protein function in neurotransmission are the accessory proteins, solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP), and NSF, that play a role in activation of the SNAREs for membrane fusion. In this report, we demonstrate the depolarization-induced, calcium-dependent phosphorylation of NSF in rat synaptosomes. Phosphorylation of NSF is coincident with neurotransmitter release and requires an influx of external calcium. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the radiolabeled NSF indicates a role for a serine/threonine-specific kinase. Synaptosomal phosphorylation of NSF is stimulated by phorbol esters and is inhibited by staurosporine, chelerythrine, bisindolylmaleimide I, calphostin C, and Ro31-8220 but not the calmodulin kinase II inhibitor, Kn-93, suggesting a role for protein kinase C (PKC). Indeed, NSF is phosphorylated by PKCin vitroat Ser-237 of the catalytic D1 domain. Mutation of this residue to glutamic acid or to alanine eliminatesin vitrophosphorylation. Molecular modeling studies suggest that Ser-237 is adjacent to an inter-subunit interface at a position where its phosphorylation could affect NSF activity. Consistently, mutation of Ser-237 to Glu, to mimic phosphorylation, results in a hexameric form of NSF that does not bind to SNAP-SNARE complexes, whereas the S237A mutant does form complex. These data suggest a negative regulatory role for PKC phosphorylation of NSF.

Mediation by Intracellular Calcium-Dependent Signals of Hypoxic Hyperpolarization in Rat Hippocampal CA1 Neurons In Vitro

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 386-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Yamamoto ◽  
E. Tanaka ◽  
H. Higashi
Keyword(s):  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Ca1 Neurons ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Calmodulin Inhibitor ◽  
Hippocampal Ca1 Neurons ◽  
Calmodulin Kinase ◽  
Hippocampal Ca1 ◽  
Intracellular Ca

Yamamoto, S., E. Tanaka and H. Higashi. Mediation by intracellular calcium-dependent signals of hypoxic hyperpolarization in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons in vitro. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 386–392, 1997. In response to oxygen deprivation, CA1 pyramidal neurons show a hyperpolarization (hypoxic hyperpolarization), which is associated with a reduction in neuronal input resistance. The role of extra- and intracellular Ca2+ ions in hypoxic hyperpolarization was investigated. The hypoxic hyperpolarization was significantly depressed by tolbutamide (100 μM); moreover, the response was reversed in its polarity in medium containing tolbutamide (100 μM), low Ca2+ (0.25 mM), and Co2+ (2 mM), suggesting that the hypoxic hyperpolarization is mediated by activation of both ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels and Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. The hypoxic depolarization in medium containing tolbutamide, low Ca2+, and Co2+ is probably due to inhibition of the electrogenic Na+-K+ pump and concomitant accumulation of interstitial K+. Hypoxic hyperpolarizations were depressed in either low Ca2+ (0.25 or 1.25 mM) or high Ca2+ (5 or 7.5 mM) medium (control: 2.5 mM), indicating that there is an optimal extracellular Ca2+ concentration required to producethe hypoxic hyperpolarization. Bis-( o-aminophenoxy)- N,N,N′,N′tetraacetic acid (BAPTA)-AM (50–100 μM), procaine (300 μM), or ryanodine (10 μM) significantly depressed the hypoxic hyperpolarization, suggesting that Ca2+ released from intracellular Ca2+ stores may have an important role in the generation of hypoxic hyperpolarization. The high-affinity calmodulin inhibitor N-(6-amino-hexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonomide hydrochloride (W-7) (5 μM) completely blocked, whereas the low-affinity calmodulin inhibitor N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonomide hydrochloride (W-5) (50 μM) did not affect, the hypoxic hyperpolarization. The calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine (50 μM) also suppressed the hypoxic hyperpolarization. In addition, calcium/calmodulin kinase II inhibitor 1-[N,O-bis(1,5-isoquinol-inesulfonyl)- N-methyl-l-tyrosyl]-4-phenyl-piperazine (KN-62) (10 μM) markedly depressed the amplitude and net outward current of the hypoxic hyperpolarization without affecting the reversal potential. In contrast, neither the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexa-hydro-1,4-diazepin hydrochloride (ML-7) (10 μM) nor the protein kinase A inhibitorN-[2-(p-bromocinnamyl-amino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide(H-89) (1 μM) significantly altered the hypoxic hyperpolarization. These results suggest that calmodulin kinase II, which is activated by calmodulin, may contribute to the generation of the hypoxic hyperpolarization. In conclusion, the present study indicates that, in the majority of hippocampal CA1 neurons, the hypoxic hyperpolarization is due to activation of both KATP channels and Ca2+-dependent K+ channels.

scholarly journals Copine A Interacts with Actin Filaments and Plays a Role in Chemotaxis and Adhesion

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Buccilli ◽  
April N. Ilacqua ◽  
Mingxi Han ◽  
Andrew A. Banas ◽  
Elise M. Wight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Developmental Defects ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms ◽  
Von Willebrand

Copines make up a family of calcium-dependent, phospholipid-binding proteins found in numerous eukaryotic organisms. Copine proteins consist of two C2 domains at the N-terminus followed by an A domain similar to the von Willebrand A domain found in integrins. We are studying copine protein function in the model organism, Dictyostelium discoideum, which has six copine genes, cpnA-cpnF. Previous research showed that cells lacking the cpnA gene exhibited a cytokinesis defect, a contractile vacuole defect, and developmental defects. To provide insight into the role of CpnA in these cellular processes, we used column chromatography and immunoprecipitation to isolate proteins that bind to CpnA. These proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. One of the proteins identified was actin. Purified CpnA was shown to bind to actin filaments in a calcium-dependent manner in vitro. cpnA− cells exhibited defects in three actin-based processes: chemotaxis, cell polarity, and adhesion. These results suggest that CpnA plays a role in chemotaxis and adhesion and may do so by interacting with actin filaments.

The effect of phorbol esters on steroidogenesis in vitro by bovine luteal cells

1985 ◽  
Vol 110 (1_Suppla) ◽  
pp. S92-S93 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. BRUNSWIG ◽  
L. T. BUDNIK
Keyword(s):  
Phorbol Esters ◽  
Luteal Cells

p-Trifluoroacetophenone Oxime Ester Derivatives: Synthesis, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Evaluation and Molecular Modeling Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
İrem Bozbey ◽  
Suat Sari ◽  
Emine Şalva ◽  
Didem Kart ◽  
Arzu Karakurt
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Modeling ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cell ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Cytotoxic Agents ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma Cell ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma ◽  
Modeling Studies ◽  
Broth Microdilution Method ◽  
Molecular Modeling Studies

Background: Azole antifungals are among the first-line drugs clinically used for the treatment of systemic candidiasis, a deadly type of fungal infection that threatens mostly immunecompromised and hospitalized patients. Some azole derivatives were also reported to have antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. Objective: In this study, 1-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanone (3), its oxime (4), and a series of its novel oxime ester derivatives (5a-v) were synthesized and tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against certain ATCC standard strains of Candida sp. fungi and bacteria. The compounds were also tested for their cytotoxic effects against mouse fibroblast and human neuroblastoma cell lines. Molecular modeling studies were performed to provide insights into their possible mechanisms for antifungal and antibacterial actions. Methods: The compounds were synthesized by the reaction of various oximes with acyl chlorides. Antimicrobial activity of the compounds was determined according to the broth microdilution method. For the determination of cytotoxic effect, we used MTS assay. Molecular docking and QM/MM studies were performed to predict the binding mechanisms of the active compounds in the catalytic site of C. albicans CYP51 (CACYP51) and S. aureus flavohemoglobin (SAFH), the latter of which was created via homology modeling. Results: 5d, 5l, and 5t showed moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans, while 3, 5c, and 5r showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Most of the compounds showed approximately 40-50% inhibition against the human neuroblastoma cells at 100 µM. In this line, 3 was the most potent with an IC50 value of 82.18 μM followed by 5a, 5o, and 5t. 3 and 5a were highly selective to the neuroblastoma cells. Molecular modelling results supported the hypothesis that our compounds were inhibitors of CAYP51 and SAFH. Conclusion: This study supports that oxime ester derivatives may be used for the development of new antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents.

scholarly journals Calpain activity in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is associated with platelet microparticles

Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 2246-2251 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Kelton ◽  
TE Warkentin ◽  
CP Hayward ◽  
WG Murphy ◽  
JC Moore
Keyword(s):  
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Membrane Association ◽  
Membrane Glycoproteins ◽  
Calpain Activity ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Active Protease ◽  
Triton X ◽  
Platelet Microparticles

Abstract Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by thrombocytopenia and disseminated platelet thrombi throughout the microvasculature. Studies by our group have demonstrated calcium- dependent proteolytic activity (calpain) that is no longer detectable in the serum of patients with acute TTP after their recovery. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the protease activity of TTP was detectable in plasma and, therefore, not an in vitro phenomenon secondary to the formation of serum. Additionally, we looked for evidence of membrane association of the active protease in the patients' samples, which would explain the persistence of its activity in the presence of plasma inhibitors. Acute TTP samples, both serum and plasma, were collected from 10 patients with TTP. Calpain was measured using bioassays for enzyme activity and also by detection of the protein using immunoblotting with an anticalpain monoclonal antibody (MoAb). In all instances, calpain could be detected both functionally and antigenically in the acute TTP sera and plasma. No calpain activity could be detected in any of the controls, although antigenic calpain was detectable in one sample from a patient who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. To investigate whether the calpain was associated with microparticles in the plasma, the TTP plasma samples were ultrafiltered and ultracentrifuged. Activity was not lost by passage across a 0.2-micron filter but was detectable only in the pellet following ultracentrifugation. Membrane association of the calpain in the microparticles also was demonstrated using solubilization with Triton X-100. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the calpain activity could be removed by MoAbs against platelet membrane glycoproteins (IX and IIb/IIa) but not by a MoAb against red blood cell membrane glycophorin. These studies indicate that active calpain is associated with platelet microparticles in plasma from patients with TTP.

scholarly journals Important Role for Phylogenetically Invariant PP2Acα Active Site and C-Terminal Residues Revealed by Mutational Analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R H Evans ◽  
Brian A Hemmings
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Catalytic Function

Abstract PP2A is a central regulator of eukaryotic signal transduction. The human catalytic subunit PP2Acα functionally replaces the endogenous yeast enzyme, Pph22p, indicating a conservation of function in vivo. Therefore, yeast cells were employed to explore the role of invariant PP2Ac residues. The PP2Acα Y127N substitution abolished essential PP2Ac function in vivo and impaired catalysis severely in vitro, consistent with the prediction from structural studies that Tyr-127 mediates substrate binding and its side chain interacts with the key active site residues His-118 and Asp-88. The V159E substitution similarly impaired PP2Acα catalysis profoundly and may cause global disruption of the active site. Two conditional mutations in the yeast Pph22p protein, F232S and P240H, were found to cause temperature-sensitive impairment of PP2Ac catalytic function in vitro. Thus, the mitotic and cell lysis defects conferred by these mutations result from a loss of PP2Ac enzyme activity. Substitution of the PP2Acα C-terminal Tyr-307 residue by phenylalanine impaired protein function, whereas the Y307D and T304D substitutions abolished essential function in vivo. Nevertheless, Y307D did not reduce PP2Acα catalytic activity significantly in vitro, consistent with an important role for the C terminus in mediating essential protein-protein interactions. Our results identify key residues important for PP2Ac function and characterize new reagents for the study of PP2A in vivo.

Elucidating the anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing potential of selenocystine against respiratory tract infections causing bacteria: in vitro and in silico studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharti Patel ◽  
Subrata Mishra ◽  
Indira K. Priyadarsini ◽  
Sirisha L. Vavilala
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Docking Studies ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumonia ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
In Silico Studies ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Bacteria are increasingly relying on biofilms to develop resistance to antibiotics thereby resulting in their failure in treating many infections. In spite of continuous research on many synthetic and natural compounds, ideal anti-biofilm molecule is still not found thereby warranting search for new class of molecules. The current study focuses on exploring anti-biofilm potential of selenocystine against respiratory tract infection (RTI)-causing bacteria. Anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm assays demonstrated that selenocystine inhibits the growth of bacteria in their planktonic state, and formation of biofilms while eradicating preformed-biofilm effectively. Selenocystine at a MIC50 as low as 42 and 28 μg/mL effectively inhibited the growth of Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial effect is further reconfirmed by agar cup diffusion assay and growth-kill assay. Selenocystine showed 30–60% inhibition of biofilm formation in K. pneumonia, and 44–70% in P. aeruginosa respectively. It also distorted the preformed-biofilms by degrading the eDNA component of the Extracellular Polymeric Substance matrix. Molecular docking studies of selenocystine with quorum sensing specific proteins clearly showed that through the carboxylic acid moiety it interacts and inhibits the protein function, thereby confirming its anti-biofilm potential. With further validation selenocystine can be explored as a potential candidate for the treatment of RTIs.

scholarly journals A CACNA1A variant associated with trigeminal neuralgia alters the gating of Cav2.1 channels

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eder Gambeta ◽  
Maria A. Gandini ◽  
Ivana A. Souza ◽  
Laurent Ferron ◽  
Gerald W. Zamponi
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Missense Mutation ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Trigeminal System ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Dependent Inactivation

AbstractA novel missense mutation in the CACNA1A gene that encodes the pore forming α1 subunit of the CaV2.1 voltage-gated calcium channel was identified in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia. This mutation leads to a substitution of proline 2455 by histidine (P2455H) in the distal C-terminus region of the channel. Due to the well characterized role of this channel in neurotransmitter release, our aim was to characterize the biophysical properties of the P2455H variant in heterologously expressed CaV2.1 channels. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings of wild type and mutant CaV2.1 channels expressed in tsA-201 cells reveal that the mutation mediates a depolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of activation and inactivation. Moreover, the P2455H mutant strongly reduced calcium-dependent inactivation of the channel that is consistent with an overall gain of function. Hence, the P2455H CaV2.1 missense mutation alters the gating properties of the channel, suggesting that associated changes in CaV2.1-dependent synaptic communication in the trigeminal system may contribute to the development of trigeminal neuralgia.

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