A Ca-dependent early step in the release of catecholamines from adrenal chromaffin cells

The GTPase Rab3a negatively controls calcium-dependent exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells

There is accumulating evidence that small GTPases of the rab family regulate intracellular vesicle traffic along biosynthetic and endocytotic pathways in eukaryotic cells. It has been suggested that Rab3a, which is associated with synaptic vesicles in neurons and with secretory granules in adrenal chromaffin cells, might regulate exocytosis. We report here that overexpression in PC12 cells of Rab3a mutant proteins defective in either GTP hydrolysis or in guanine nucleotide binding inhibited exocytosis, as measured by a double indirect immunofluorescence assay. Moreover, injection of the purified mutant proteins into bovine adrenal chromaffin cells also inhibited exocytosis, as monitored by membrane capacitance measurements. Finally, the electrophysiological approach showed that bovine chromaffin cells which were intracellularly injected with antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the rab3a messenger exhibited an increasing potential to respond to repetitive stimulations. In contrast, control cells showed a phenomenon of desensitization. These results provide clear evidence that Rab3a is involved in regulated exocytosis and suggest that Rab3a is a regulatory factor that prevents exocytosis from occurring unless secretion is triggered. Furthermore, it is proposed that Rab3a is involved in adaptive processes such as response habituation.

The effect on synaptic physiology of synaptotagmin mutations in Drosophila

Synaptotagmin is a synaptic vesicle protein implicated in neurotransmitter release. Molecular characterization of four mutant alleles of this protein in Drosophila melanogaster has permitted an investigation of synaptotagmin's role in synaptic physiology and of some of the structural requirements for its function. Reduced levels of synaptotagmin resulted in a substantial alteration in synaptic function in the eye and at larval neuromuscular junctions. Decreased neurotransmitter release caused smaller evoked synaptic potentials. However, the frequency, but not the size, of spontaneous quantal events was simultaneously increased. These abnormalities do not appear to be secondary to a detectable morphological change in the arborization of the synapse. The increased frequency of spontaneous events was insufficient to deplete significantly the vesicle supply and thereby account for reduced transmission. These data are discussed in the context of models in which synaptotagmin's function includes a role in vesicle docking.

PMA and calcium ionophore induce myosin and F-actin rearrangement during histamine secretion from RBL-2H3 cells

Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells undergo morphological and cytoskeletal changes during antigen-induced secretion of allergic mediators. The exact role these changes play in the process of secretion is unclear. Using confocal microscopy we now show that PMA+A23187 causes extensive F-actin rearrangements during secretion of [3H] 5-HT. We also describe for the first time the association of myosin with F-actin during this secretory process. In unstimulated cells, myosin and F-actin are concentrated at the plasma membrane with no evidence of stress fibres. Upon addition of PMA or A23187, both F-actin and myosin are rearranged into membrane ruffles and discrete aggregations (foci), followed by the formation of parallel stress fibres located on the ventral membrane. This is in contrast to reports in other cell types in which PMA has been described as causing the disruption of F-actin stress fibres. The time course of secretion coincides with the formation of the foci and ruffles whilst the stress fibres form after the majority of secretion has occurred. These changes are accompanied by a 40% decrease in cell height and a two-fold increase in cell spreading and they occur in the absence of extracellular calcium but are inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor, Bisindolylmaleimide, which also inhibits secretion. The formation of myosin-decorated stress fibres, foci, and ruffles is not sufficient to cause secretion, as PMA alone induces these changes without any secretion. The relevance of actin and myosin rearrangements for the regulation of secretion is discussed.