scholarly journals Regulation of Acetylcholine Quantal Release by Coupled Thrombin/BDNF Signaling in Mouse Motor Synapses

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gaydukov ◽  
Polina Bogacheva ◽  
Ekaterina Tarasova ◽  
Anastasia Molchanova ◽  
Anna Miteva ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of thrombin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on spontaneous miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs) and multiquantal evoked endplate potentials (EPPs) in mouse neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of m. diaphragma and m. EDL. Intracellular microelectrode recordings of MEPPs and EPPs were used to evaluate the changes in acetylcholine (ACh) release in mature and newly-formed mouse NMJs. Thrombin (1 nM) increased the amplitude of MEPPs and EPPs by 25–30% in mature and newly-formed NMJs. This effect was due to an enhanced loading of synaptic vesicles with ACh and increase of ACh quantal size, since it was fully prevented by blocking of vesicular ACh transporter. It was also prevented by tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptors inhibitor ANA12. Exogenous BDNF (1 nM) mimicked thrombin effect and increased the amplitude of MEPPs and EPPs by 25–30%. It required involvement of protein kinase A (PKA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK1/2)-mediated pathway, but not phospholipase C (PLC). Blocking A2A adenosine receptors by ZM241385 abolished the effect of BDNF, whereas additional stimulation of A2A receptors by CGS21680 increased MEPP amplitudes, which was prevented by MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. At mature NMJs, BDNF enhanced MEPPs frequency by 30–40%. This effect was selectively prevented by inhibition of PLC, but not PKA or MEK1/2. It is suggested that interrelated effects of thrombin/BDNF in mature and newly-formed NMJs are realized via enhancement of vesicular ACh transport and quantal size increase. BDNF-induced potentiation of synaptic transmission involves the functional coupling between A2A receptor-dependent active PKA and neurotrophin-triggered MAPK pathway, as well as PLC-dependent increase in frequency of MEPPs.

Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 1275-1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
K N Huang ◽  
L S Symington

Abstract The PKC1 gene product, protein kinase C, regulates a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, which is implicated in cell wall metabolism. Previously, we identified the pkc1-4 allele in a screen for mutants with increased rates of recombination, indicating that PKC1 may also regulate DNA metabolism. The pkc1-4 allele also conferred a temperature-sensitive (ts) growth defect. Extragenic suppressors were isolated that suppress both the ts and hyperrecombination phenotypes conferred by the pkc1-4 mutation. Eight of these suppressors for into two complementation groups, designated KCS1 and KCS2. KCS1 was cloned and found to encode a novel protein with homology to the basic leucine zipper family of transcription factors. KCS2 is allelic with PTC1, a previously identified type 2C serine/threonine protein phosphatase. Although mutation of either KCS1 or PTC1 causes little apparent phenotype, the kcs1 delta ptc1 delta double mutant fails to grow at 30 degrees. Furthermore, the ptc1 deletion mutation is synthetically lethal in combination with a mutation in MPK1, which encodes a MAPK homologue proposed to act in the PKC1 pathway. Because PTC1 was initially isolated as a component of the Hog1p MAPK pathway, it appears that these two MAPK cascades share a common regulatory feature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackson Peterson ◽  
Siqi Li ◽  
Erin Kaltenbrun ◽  
Ozgun Erdogan ◽  
Christopher M. Counter

AbstractThe ability to translate three nucleotide sequences, or codons, into amino acids to form proteins is conserved across all organisms. All but two amino acids have multiple codons, and the frequency that such synonymous codons occur in genomes ranges from rare to common. Transcripts enriched in rare codons are typically associated with poor translation, but in certain settings can be robustly expressed, suggestive of codon-dependent regulation. Given this, we screened a gain-of-function library for human genes that increase the expression of a GFPrare reporter encoded by rare codons. This screen identified multiple components of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway enhancing GFPrare expression. This effect was reversed with inhibitors of this pathway and confirmed to be both codon-dependent and occur with ectopic transcripts naturally coded with rare codons. Finally, this effect was associated, at least in part, with enhanced translation. We thus identify a potential regulatory module that takes advantage of the redundancy in the genetic code to modulate protein expression.


2004 ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Nanzer ◽  
S Khalaf ◽  
AM Mozid ◽  
RC Fowkes ◽  
MV Patel ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES: Ghrelin is a brain-gut peptide with GH-releasing and appetite-inducing activities and a widespread tissue distribution. Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), and both ghrelin and the GHS-R1a are expressed in the pituitary. There are conflicting data regarding the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. A positive effect on proliferation and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been found in hepatoma, adipose, cardiomyocyte and prostate cell lines. However, ghrelin has also been shown to have anti-proliferative effects on breast, lung and thyroid cell lines. We therefore examined the effect of ghrelin on the rat pituitary cell line GH3. METHODS: RT-PCR was used for the detection of GHS-R1a and pre-proghrelin mRNA expression in GH3 cells. The effect of ghrelin on cell proliferation was studied using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation; cell counting and the activation of the MAPK pathway were studied using immunoblotting and inhibitors of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2), protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine phosphatase pathways. RESULTS: GHS-R1a and ghrelin mRNA expression were detected in GH3 cells. Ghrelin, at 10(-10) to 10(-6) M concentrations, significantly increased [(3)H]thymidine incorporation (at 10(-9) M, 183+/-13% (means+/-s.e.m.) compared with untreated controls), while 12-phorbol 13-myristate acetate (PMA) at 10(-7) M (used as a positive control) caused a 212+/-14% increase. A reproducible stimulatory effect of desoctanoyl ghrelin was also observed on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation (135+/-5%; P<0.01 at 10(-9) M compared with control), as well as on the cell count (control 6.8 x 10(4)+/-8.7 x 10(3) cells/ml vs desoctanoyl ghrelin (10(-9) M) 1.04 x 10(5)+/-7.5 x 10(3) cells/ml; P<0.01). Ghrelin caused a significant increase in phosphorylated ERK 1/2 in immunoblotting, while desoctanoyl ghrelin showed a smaller but also significant stimulatory effect. The positive effect of ghrelin and desoctanoyl ghrelin on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation was abolished by the MAPK kinase inhibitor U0126, the PKC inhibitor GF109203X and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin 23, suggesting that the ghrelin-induced cell proliferation of GH3 cells is mediated both via a PKC-MAPK-dependent pathway and via a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway. This could also be clearly demonstrated by Western blot analysis, where a transient increase in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation by ghrelin was attenuated by all three inhibitors. CONCLUSION: We have shown a novel role for ghrelin in stimulating the proliferation of a somatotroph pituitary tumour cell line, suggesting that ERK activation is involved in mediating the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. Desoctanoyl ghrelin showed a similar effect. As ghrelin has been shown to be expressed in both normal and adenomatous pituitary tissue, locally produced ghrelin may play a role in pituitary tumorigenesis via an autocrine/paracrine pathway.


2004 ◽  
Vol 381 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson A. ANDRADE ◽  
Patrícia N. G. SILVA ◽  
Anna C. T. C. PEREIRA ◽  
Lirlândia P. de SOUSA ◽  
Paulo C. P. FERREIRA ◽  
...  

Early events play a decisive role in virus multiplication. We have shown previously that activation of MAPK/ERK1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2) and protein kinase A are pivotal for vaccinia virus (VV) multiplication [de Magalhães, Andrade, Silva, Sousa, Ropert, Ferreira, Kroon, Gazzinelli and Bonjardim (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 38353–38360]. In the present study, we show that VV infection provoked a sustained activation of both ERK1/2 and RSK2 (ribosomal S6 kinase 2). Our results also provide evidence that this pattern of kinase activation depends on virus multiplication and ongoing protein synthesis and is maintained independently of virus DNA synthesis. It is noteworthy that the VGF (VV growth factor), although involved, is not essential for prolonged ERK1/2 activation. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the VV-stimulated ERK1/2 activation also seems to require actin dynamics, microtubule polymerization and tyrosine kinase phosphorylation. The VV-stimulated pathway MEK/ERK1/2/RSK2 (where MEK stands for MAPK/ERK kinase) leads to phosphorylation of the ternary complex factor Elk-1 and expression of the early growth response (egr-1) gene, which kinetically paralleled the kinase activation. The recruitment of this pathway is biologically relevant, since its disruption caused a profound effect on viral thymidine kinase gene expression, viral DNA replication and VV multiplication. This pattern of sustained kinase activation after VV infection is unique. In addition, by connecting upstream signals generated at the cytoskeleton and by tyrosine kinase, the MEK/ERK1/2/RSK2 cascade seems to play a decisive role not only at early stages of the infection, i.e. post-penetration, but is also crucial to define the fate of virus progeny.


2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (1) ◽  
pp. E103-E110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoban Xin ◽  
Lijun Zhou ◽  
Caleb M. Reyes ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
Lily Q. Dong

The adaptor protein APPL1 mediates the stimulatory effect of adiponectin on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that, in C2C12 cells, overexpression or suppression of APPL1 enhanced or suppressed, respectively, adiponectin-stimulated p38 MAPK upstream kinase cascade, consisting of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3). In vitro affinity binding and coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that TAK1 and MKK3 bind to different regions of APPL1, suggesting that APPL1 functions as a scaffolding protein to facilitate adiponectin-stimulated p38 MAPK activation. Interestingly, suppressing APPL1 had no effect on TNFα-stimulated p38 MAPK phosphorylation in C2C12 myotubes, indicating that the stimulatory effect of APPL1 on p38 MAPK activation is selective. Taken together, our study demonstrated that the TAK1-MKK3 cascade mediates adiponectin signaling and uncovers a scaffolding role of APPL1 in regulating the TAK1-MKK3-p38 MAPK pathway, specifically in response to adiponectin stimulation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 6931-6945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Morten Seternes ◽  
Bjarne Johansen ◽  
Beate Hegge ◽  
Mona Johannessen ◽  
Stephen M. Keyse ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is an important mediator of cellular responses to environmental stress. Targets of p38 include transcription factors, components of the translational machinery, and downstream serine/threonine kinases, including MAPK-activated protein kinase 5 (MK5). Here we have used enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion proteins to analyze the subcellular localization of MK5. Although this protein is predominantly nuclear in unstimulated cells, MK5 shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we have shown that the C-terminal domain of MK5 contains both a functional nuclear localization signal (NLS) and a leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES), indicating that the subcellular distribution of this kinase reflects the relative activities of these two signals. In support of this, we have shown that stress-induced activation of the p38 MAPK stimulates the chromosomal region maintenance 1 protein-dependent nuclear export of MK5. This is regulated by both binding of p38 MAPK to MK5, which masks the functional NLS, and stress-induced phosphorylation of MK5 by p38 MAPK, which either activates or unmasks the NES. These properties may define the ability of MK5 to differentially phosphorylate both nuclear and cytoplasmic targets or alternatively reflect a mechanism whereby signals initiated by activation of MK5 in the nucleus may be transmitted to the cytoplasm.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhanu Kanth Manne ◽  
Patrick Münzer ◽  
Rachit Badolia ◽  
Andrew S. Weyrich ◽  
Satya P Kunapuli ◽  
...  

Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is known to regulate PAR4 induced platelet activation and thrombus formation through GSK3β. However, whether PDK1 signaling also involves the ADP receptor and, if so, downstream functional consequences are unknown. We employed both pharmacologic (e.g. the selective PDK1 inhibitor, BX795) and genetic (platelet specific deletion of PDK1) approaches to dissect the role of PDK1 in ADP-induced platelet activation and protein synthesis. Inhibition of PDK1 with BX795 reduced 2MeSADP-induced platelet aggregation by abolishing thromboxane generation. Similar results were observed in PDK1 -/- mice (Fig A). Inhibition of PDK1 protected mice from collagen and epinephrine-induced pulmonary embolism (Fig B). PDK1 was also necessary for the phosphorylation of MEK1/2, Erk1/2 and cPLA2, indicating that PDK1 regulates an upstream kinase in MAPK pathway. We next identified that this upstream kinase is Raf1 (necessary for the phosphorylation of MEK1/2), as pharmacologic inhibition and genetic ablation of PDK1 was sufficient to prevent Raf1 phosphorylation (Fig C). Pharmacologic inhibition and genetic ablation of PDK1 blocked MAPK- and mTORC1-dependent protein synthesis in platelets through a mechanism requiring the phosphorylation of eIF4E and S6K. Concordantly, PDK1 is necessary for signal-dependent synthesis of the protein bcl3, which is under mTORC1-dependent control (Fig C). Taken together, our findings show for the first time that PDK1, a master kinase in the PI3K pathway, directly governs thromboxane generation, thrombosis, and protein synthesis in platelets through regulating MAPK and mTORC1 pathways.


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