P2X7, NMDA and BDNF receptors converge on GSK3 phosphorylation and cooperate to promote survival in cerebellar granule neurons

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) is a key player in the regulation of neuronal survival. Herein, we report evidence of an interaction between P2X7 receptors with NMDA and BDNF receptors at the level of GSK3 signalling and neuroprotection. The activation of these receptors in granule neurons led to a sustained pattern of GSK3 phosphorylation that was mainly PKC-dependent. BDNF was the most potent at inducing GSK3 phosphorylation, which was also dependent on PI3K. The P2X7 agonist, BzATP, exhibited additive effects with both NMDA and BDNF to rescue granule neurons from cell death induced by PI3K inhibition. This survival effect was mediated by the PKC-dependent GSK3 pathway. In addition, ERK1/2 proteins were also involved in BDNF protective effect. These results show the function of ATP in amplifying neuroprotective actions of glutamate and neurotrophins, and support the role of GSK3 as an important convergence point for these survival promoting factors in granule neurons.     

Biphasic regulation of transport through plant cell membranes by kinetin and its possible relation to directed transport between source and sink

Summary The significance of a biphasic dose-response curve of kinetin for the source-sink relation is shown. Such a regulator can create simultaneously both source and sink.I am indebted to Mrs. Dr.R. Grill for help with the translation of this paper.     

Experiments on the mechanism of the inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport by La3+ and ruthenium red

Summary The effects of La³⁺ and ruthenium red on the energy-linked uptake of Ca²⁺ mediated by a synthetic neutral Ca²⁺ ionophore have been investigated in rat liver mitochondria. The results indicate that unspecific surface charge effects do not play a major role in the mechanism of inhibition of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ transport by La³⁺ and ruthenium red.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Prof. W. Simon, ETH Zurich, for having provided samples of the synthetic neutral Ca²⁺ ligand, and to M. Mattenberger for the valuable technical assistence. The work was supported by a grant of the Swiss Nationalfonds (grant No. 3.1720.75).     

Possible involvement of protein kinase C in the stimulation of amino acid transport by phorbol ester,platelet-derived growth factor and A23187 in Swiss 3T3 cells

Summary Stimulation of amino acid transport induced by phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate, platelet-derived growth factor or A23187 was not observed in cells lacking protein kinase C. On the other hand, stimulation of transport by epidermal growth factor or insulin was not affected. These results suggested that the stimulation of amino acid transport is mediated by at least two separate pathways.This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan.     

Possible involvement of protein kinase C in the stimulation of amino acid transport by phorbol ester, platelet-derived growth factor and A23187 in Swiss 3T3 cells

Stimulation of amino acid transport induced by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, platelet-derived growth factor or A23187 was not observed in cells lacking protein kinase C. On the other hand, stimulation of transport by epidermal growth factor or insulin was not affected. These results suggested that the stimulation of amino acid transport is mediated by at least two separate pathways.     

Potentiation of ocular response to adrenaline by 3,3-dimethyl-1-[3-methylaminopropyl]-1-phenylphthalan (Lu 3-010) and a thiophthalan analogue (Lu 5-003): Blockers of catecholamine uptake

Résumé Concernant la durée de l'effet du traitement, le composé Lu 3-010 en combinaison avec l'adrenaline est semblable à la protriptyline, et il est plus actif que Lu 5-003 en ce qui concerne la potentiation de la reaction oculaire provoquée par l'adrenaline. Administrés séparement, les composés Lu 3-010 et Lu 5-003 ont des effets semblables, tandis que la protriptyline est le composé le plus actif. L'accroissement de l'efficacité de ces composés résulte probablement de leur abilité à bloquer le mécanisme de l'incorporation de la catecholamine.

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The author acknowledges the technical assistance of Mrs.S. Schaal, Mrs.C. Wood, MissB. Kawchak and Mrs.B. Sumner. The Lu compounds were gifts from H. Lundbeck and Co. Ltd.     

Dimerization leads to changes in APP (amyloid precursor protein) trafficking mediated by LRP1 and SorLA

Proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by α-, β- and γ-secretases is a determining factor in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Imbalances in the activity of all three enzymes can result in alterations towards pathogenic Aβ production. Proteolysis of APP is strongly linked to its subcellular localization as the secretases involved are distributed in different cellular compartments. APP has been shown to dimerize in cis-orientation, affecting Aβ production. This might be explained by different substrate properties defined by the APP oligomerization state or alternatively by altered APP monomer/dimer localization. We investigated the latter hypothesis using two different APP dimerization systems in HeLa cells. Dimerization caused a decreased localization of APP to the Golgi and at the plasma membrane, whereas the levels in the ER and in endosomes were increased. Furthermore, we observed via live cell imaging and biochemical analyses that APP dimerization affects its interaction with LRP1 and SorLA, suggesting that APP dimerization modulates its interplay with sorting molecules and in turn its localization and processing. Thus, pharmacological approaches targeting APP oligomerization properties might open novel strategies for treatment of AD.     

Metabolism of metopirone and 3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-oxo-2 naphthyl)-pyridine in relation to DMBA induced adrenal necrosis

Résumé Nous avons réduit le Su-4885 et le Su-9055 pour étudier l'action de ces substances contre la destruction des adrénales par le DMBA. Les effets inhibiteurs ne peuvent pas Être expliqués par les changements que le foie produit sur le métabolisme du DMBA.     

Neuronal accumulation and metabolism of3H-1-norepinephrine in rat portal vein: Evidence in relation to possible uneven alpha receptor distribution

Summary The rate of accumulation and metabolism of³H-1-norepinephrine in the neuronal plexus of rat portal vein produces a small transmitter concentration gradient across the longitudinal smooth muscle layer which cannot account for the prejunctional supersensitivity observed and suggests localization of the alpha-adrenergic receptors adjacent to the nerve plexus.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by USPHS grant HE 8359 (JAB) and USPHS grant MH 23839 (AKC).     

Effect of metopirone and 3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-oxo-2-naphthyl)-pyridine on the metabolism of corticosteroids and DMBA in relation to adrenal necrosis

Résumé Nous avons protegé des rats contre l'action destructive du DMBA sur les adrénales avec des doses de Su-4885 ou de Su-9055 qui n'avaient pas d'effet sur le métabolisme du progestérone et du déoxycorticostérone. Un mécanisme expliquant l'action de ces substances inhibitrices est suggèré.

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We thank Dr.C. W. Murphy, Ciba Co. Dorval, for a generous gift of metopirone and Su-9055. This work was supported by the Medical Research Council and the National Cancer Institute of Canada.     

Modulation of C2 and C3 gene expression of human peripheral blood monocytes by interleukin 1β, interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α and lipopolysaccharide

The effect of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of the C2 and C3 genes in human adherent monocytes was studied. Stimulation of monocytes with IFN-γ increased both C2 and C3 mRNA. IL-1β also increased C2 mRNA level, whereas C3 gene expression was not enhanced. TNFα failed to increase either C2 or C3 mRNA. LPS increased C2 mRNA, but suppressed C3 gene expression. These results suggest that C2 and C3 production by monocytes is regulated by IL-1β and IFN-β in the local tissues.     

Modulation of C2 and C3 gene expression of human peripheral blood monocytes by interleukin 1 beta, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha and lipopolysaccharide.

The effect of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of the C2 and C3 genes in human adherent monocytes was studied. Stimulation of monocytes with IFN-gamma increased both C2 and C3 mRNA. IL-1 beta also increased C2 mRNA level, whereas C3 gene expression was not enhanced. TNF alpha failed to increase either C2 or C3 mRNA. LPS increased C2 mRNA, but suppressed C3 gene expression. These results suggest that C2 and C3 production by monocytes is regulated by IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma in the local tissues.     

The ratio between the fast and slow forms of bovine cytochrome c oxidase is changed by cholate or nucleotides bound to the cholate-binding site close to the cytochrome a3/CuB binuclear centre

We determined the fraction of 'slow' and 'fast' conformations of bovine cytochrome c oxidase, following the kinetics of cyanide binding to the oxidized enzyme. We investigated whether treatment of heart mitochondrial particles with different commercially available types of cholate (standard and ultrapure) can affect the fraction of cytochrome c oxidase in the two states. Compared to standard cholate, the use of ultra-pure cholate for solubilization of heart mitochondrial particles significantly increased the fraction of the fast enzyme. Complete homogeneity (approximately 100% fast) was observed when cytochrome c oxidase was solubilized with ultra-pure cholate from heart mitochondrial particles pre-equilibrated with AMP; equilibration with ADP yielded a much smaller fraction of fast enzyme (approximately 35%). These observations are discussed on the basis of the structural relationships between the known cholate-binding site and the binuclear cytochrome a3-CuB site: variation in the occupancy of this binding site with cholate or nucleotides may modify reactivity of the oxidized binuclear centre towards cyanide.