Tunicamycin inhibits the initiation of DNA synthesis stimulated by prostaglandin F2 alpha in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells

Tunicamycin preserves intercellular junctions, cytoarchitecture, and cell-substratum interactions in ATP-depleted epithelial cells

Pretreatment with the nucleoside antibiotic tunicamycin was found to protect cultured renal epithelial cells in the face of ATP-depletion, in large part by preserving junctional and cellular architecture. Tunicamycin pretreatment of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells not only preserved E-cadherin staining at the plasma membrane, but also inhibited ATP-depletion-mediated E-cadherin degradation. Electron microscopic analysis, together with the preservation of the staining patterns of the tight junction marker ZO-1, the apical/microvillar marker gp135, and basolateral marker Na/K-ATPase suggested that tunicamycin preserved the junctional complex and the polarized epithelial cell phenotype. Tunicamycin pretreatment also prevented reductions in the filamentous actin content of the cells, as well as preserving Golgi architecture. Moreover, a quantitative measure of cell adhesion demonstrated that tunicamycin pretreatment resulted in a fivefold increase in attachment of cells to the substratum (77% versus 16%). Thus, pretreatment with tunicamycin protects polarized epithelial cells from ischemic injury through the preservation of epithelial cell architecture, intercellular junctions, and cell-substratum interactions in the setting of intracellular ATP-depletion.

Riluzole promotes survival of rat motoneurons in vitro by stimulating trophic activity produced by spinal astrocyte monolayers

In the present study we have assessed whether riluzole stimulates the production of trophic activities for motoneurons by spinal astrocyte cultures. Astrocyte monolayers prepared from new-born rats were exposed to vehicle or riluzole (1-10 microM) for 30-36 h, then washed and further incubated without riluzole for 24 h in L15 medium to obtain the astrocyte conditioned media (ACM). Motoneuron-enriched cultures were used to test the ability of the ACM to support motoneuron viability. Astrocyte monolayers exposed to 1 microM riluzole did not show changes in morphology or in DNA or protein synthesis. However, the conditioned medium obtained from astrocyte monolayers after this treatment increased motoneuron survival compared to that from vehicle-treated cultures. A similar effect was found when astrocytes were exposed to a higher riluzole concentration (10 microM) but with greater dilutions of the conditioned medium. This trophic activity was abolished by boiling or after treatment with trypsin. These findings strongly suggest the existence of a new trophic mechanism, through which riluzole may exert motoneuron protection.

Mevalonate dependency of the early cell cycle mitogenic response to epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin F2 alpha in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells

Lovastatin (LOV), a hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase competitive inhibitor, blocks epidermal growth factor (EGF)- or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha)-induced mitogenesis in confluent resting Swiss 3T3 cells. This inhibition occurs even in the presence of insulin, which potentiates the action of these mitogens in such cells. LOV exerts its effect in a 2-80 microM concentration range, with both mitogens attaining 50% inhibition at 7.5 microM. LOV exerted its effect within 0-8 h following mitogenic induction. Mevanolactone (10-80 microM) in the presence of LOV could reverse LOV inhibition within a similar time period. LOV-induced blockage of PGF2 alpha response is reflected in a decrease in the rate of cell entry into S phase. Neither cholesterol, ubiquinone, nor dolichols of various lengths could revert LOV blockage. In EGF- or PGF2 alpha-stimulated cells, LOV did not inhibit [3H]leucine or [3H]mannose incorporation into proteins, while tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N' glycosylation, prevented this last phenomenon. Thus, it appears that LOV exerts its action neither by inhibiting unspecific protein synthesis nor by impairing the N' glycosylation process. These findings strongly suggest that either EGF or PGF2 alpha stimulations generate early cell cycle signals which induce mevalonate formation, N' glycoprotein synthesis, and proliferation. The causal relationship of these events to various mechanisms controlling the onset of DNA synthesis is also discussed.

Images of purified Shaker potassium channels

BACKGROUND

Voltage-gated K+ channels play an important role in the control of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. Their low abundance and extraordinary heterogeneity have rendered their purification from natural sources difficult. We have previously cloned a voltage-gated K(+)-channel gene, Shaker, from Drosophila. The Shaker K(+)-channel polypeptide resembles one of the four internal repeats of a Na(+)- or Ca(2+)-channel alpha subunit, suggesting that this example of a K+ channel contains four identical or homologous subunits. Similar K(+)-channel polypeptides have been characterized from mammals, other vertebrate and invertebrate species, and from plants. Electrophysiological studies of K+ channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes suggest that they are indeed tetramers, and heteromultimeric K+ channels have been found in the mammalian brain. Until now, however, no K+ channel, nor any other member of the superfamily of voltage-gated ion channels, has been characterized by electron microscopy or other structural analysis.

RESULTS

We have purified Shaker K+ channels, expressed in insect Sf9 cells, to apparent homogeneity, and imaged them using the electron microscope. The physical dimensions of these molecules, as well as their biochemical characteristics, are consistent with a tetrameric subunit composition. Moreover, the Shaker channel revealed by negative staining has the appearance of a four-fold symmetric tetramer, with a large, central vestibule that presumably constitutes part of the pathway for ions.

CONCLUSION

These first clear images of a voltage-gated ion channel reveal a marked four-fold symmetry. The integrity of the purified tetrameric complex indicates that the purification scheme used in this study may be further developed for future structural analysis of voltage-gated K+ channels.