Presence of phospholipase C in coated vesicles from bovine brain. Dual regulatory effects of GTP-analogs

Metabotropic glutamate receptor/phospholipase C system in female rat heart

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. This amino acid mediates learning and memory processes acting through ionotropic and metabotropic receptor binding. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G protein-coupled receptors that stimulate phospholipase C (PLC) or inhibit adenylyl cyclase (AC). MGluRs have been widely described in CNS. However, little is known about these receptors in peripheral system. The present work describes the mGluR/PLC pathway in membranes from pregnant and non-pregnant rat heart by radioligand binding, Western-blot assays and PLC activity determination. Furthermore, mRNA coding mGluR1, mGluR5, alphaGq/11 and PLCbeta1 was identified by RT-PCR. Binding assays indicated total mGlu receptor numbers of 4.7+/-0.2 pmol/mg protein and 4.2+/-1.0 pmol/mg protein in non-pregnant and pregnant rats respectively, and their corresponding KD values were 545.3+/-85.6 nM and 1062.8+/-393.6 nM. Western blots revealed bands corresponding to mGluR1 and mGluR5 receptors, confirming that these receptors are expressed in heart. The beta1 isoform of PLC, which mediates group I mGluRs (mGluR I) response, was also expressed in rat heart. Moreover, PLC activity was modulated by calcium in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, specific agonists for mGluRs increased the PLC activity and the increase was prevented by specific mGluR antagonists. These results demonstrate the presence of group I mGlu receptors and their functional coupling to the PLC stimulation in female rat heart, suggesting a possible role of mGluR/PLC pathway in this tissue.

Effect of chronic gestational treatment with caffeine or theophylline on Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in maternal and fetal brain

Pregnant rats were treated throughout the gestational period with either caffeine or theophylline, and its effect on the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluRs) signal transduction pathway was studied in both maternal and fetal brain. In maternal brain, radioligand binding assays showed that chronic treatment with methylxanthines caused a significant decrease in the total number of mGluRs. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in receptor affinity. Immunodetection showed that mGluR1a and phospholipase C beta1 (PLCbeta1) were significantly decreased in response to chronic methylxanthine treatment, whereas alphaG(q/11) was not affected. A loss was also detected of PLC stimulation mediated by (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), a selective Group I mGluR agonist, suggesting desensitization of the mGluR/PLC pathway. In fetal brain, a loss in total mGluRs was observed in fetuses from mothers treated with caffeine or theophylline, without variation in receptor affinity. A decrease in mGluR1a, alphaG(q/11) and PLCbeta1 levels was also observed in response to treatment. However, changes detected in this immature tissue were not associated with variations in PLC activity. These results suggest that chronic caffeine or theophylline treatment down-regulates several mGluR/PLC transduction pathway components in both maternal and fetal brain, causing a loss of receptor responsiveness only in maternal brain.

Adenosine A1 receptor agonist treatment up-regulates rat brain metabotropic glutamate receptors

Chronic R-N(6)-phenylisopropiladenosine (R-PIA) subcutaneous injection for 6 days significantly increased total glutamate receptor number (180% of control) in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPM), without affecting receptor affinity. A higher increase in metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor number (258% of control) was also detected, indicating that mGlu is the main type of glutamate receptor affected by this treatment. On the other hand, the observed increase in basal and calcium- and Gpp(NH)p-stimulated phospholipase C (PLC) activity after treatment was associated with a significant increase in PLC beta(1) isoform, detected in SPM by immunoblotting assays. Moreover, an increase in PLC activity stimulation with trans-ACPD, in the absence and in the presence of Gpp(NH)p, was detected after R-PIA treatment. These results show that mGlu receptors and its effector system, PLC activity, are up-regulated by chronic exposure to an adenosine A(1) receptor agonist and suggest the existence of a cross-talk mechanism between both signal transduction pathways in rat brain.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor analogues inhibit p[NH]ppG-stimulated phospholipase C activity in bovine brain coated vesicles: involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein

Guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG)-stimulated phospholipase C (PLC) activity in bovine brain coated vesicles is inhibited by glutamate agonists. In the present study we show that quisqualic acid (QA), (+/-)-trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (trans-ACPD), glutamic acid and ibotenic acid inhibited p[NH]ppG-stimulated PLC by 44, 41, 36 and 25% respectively. Carbachol also produced an inhibition of p[NH]ppG-stimulated PLC by 45%. The inhibition caused by trans-ACPD and QA was dose-dependent. DL-2-Amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid and (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine, specific antagonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), abolished these inhibitory effects. trans-ACPD inhibition of p[NH]ppG-stimulated PLC was also observed in the presence of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. When carbachol and QA or trans-ACPD were combined, additive inhibitory effects were observed. Preincubation of bovine brain coated vesicles with pertussis toxin abolished the inhibitory effects of mGluR analogues and carbachol on p[NH]ppG-stimulated PLC activity. The presence of Gs alpha and pertussis toxin substrates, Gi alpha and Go alpha subunits as well as PLC beta 1 in bovine brain coated vesicles has been confirmed by immunoblot. These results support the coupling of mGluRs to a PLC in an inhibitory manner through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein in bovine brain coated vesicles.

Characterization of metabotropic glutamate receptors coupled to a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein in bovine brain coated vesicles

Glutamate metabotropic receptors (mGluRs) in bovine brain coated vesicles have been characterized by pharmacological and kinetic binding experiments. Saturation experiments revealed a single binding site with a Kd = 607.9 +/- 78.5 nM and a Bmax = 6.45 +/- 0.88 pmol/mg protein. The specific binding of L-[3H]glutamate to mGluRs is regulated by guanine nucleotides. Guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP; 100 microM) shifts the agonist competition curves to the right, increasing the IC50 values. Pertussis toxin treatment produces a pharmacological binding profile for quisqualate similar to that obtained in the presence of 100 microM GTP. These results indicate the presence of metabotropic glutamate receptors in coated vesicles and its coupling to a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein.