Monoclonal antibodies with defined specificities for Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor cross-react with Drosophila neural tissue

Unidirectional Notch signaling depends on continuous cleavage of Delta

Unidirectional signaling from cells expressing Delta (Dl) to cells expressing Notch is a key feature of many developmental processes. We demonstrate that the Drosophila ADAM metalloprotease Kuzbanian-like (Kul) plays a key role in promoting this asymmetry. Kul cleaves Dl efficiently both in cell culture and in flies, and has previously been shown not to be necessary for Notch processing during signaling. In the absence of Kul in the developing wing, the level of Dl in cells that normally receive the signal is elevated, and subsequent alterations in the directionality of Notch signaling lead to prominent phenotypic defects. Proteolytic cleavage of Dl by Kul represents a general mechanism for refining and maintaining the asymmetric distribution of Dl, in cases where transcriptional repression of Dl expression does not suffice to eliminate Dl protein.

Biotinylation of substituted cysteines in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor reveals distinct binding modes for alpha-bungarotoxin and erabutoxin a

Although previous results indicate that alpha-subunit residues Trp(187), Val(188), Phe(189), Tyr(190), and Pro(194) of the mouse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are solvent-accessible and are in a position to contribute to the alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Bgtx) binding site (Spura, A., Russin, T. S., Freedman, N. D., Grant, M., McLaughlin, J. T., and Hawrot, E. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 4912-4921), little is known about the accessibility of other residues within this region. By determining second-order rate constants for the reaction of cysteine mutants at alpha184-alpha197 with the thiol-specific biotin derivative (+)-biotinyl-3-maleimidopropionamidyl-3,6-dioxaoctanediamine , we now show that only very subtle differences in reactivity (approximately 10-fold) are detectable, arguing that the entire region is solvent-exposed. Importantly, biotinylation in the presence of saturating concentrations of the long neurotoxin alpha-Bgtx is significantly retarded for positions alphaW187C, alphaF189C, and reduced wild-type receptors (alphaCys(192) and alphaCys(193)), further emphasizing their major contribution to the alpha-Bgtx binding site. Interestingly, although biotinylation of position alphaV188C is not affected by the presence of alpha-Bgtx, erabutoxin a, which is a member of the short neurotoxin family, inhibits biotinylation at position alphaV188C, but not at alphaW187C or alphaF189C. Taken together, these results indicate that short and long neurotoxins establish interactions with distinct amino acids on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Anatomy of the antigenic structure of a large membrane autoantigen, the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

The neuromuscular junction nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), a pentameric membrane glycoprotein, is the autoantigen involved in the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis (MG). In animals immunized with intact AChR and in human MG, the anti-AChR antibody response is polyclonal. However, a small extracellular region of the AChR alpha-subunit, the main immunogenic region (MIR), seems to be a major target for anti-AChR antibodies. A major loop containing overlapping epitopes for several anti-MIR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) lies within residues alpha 67-76 at the extreme synaptic end of each alpha-subunit: however, anti-MIR mAbs are functionally and structurally quite heterogeneous. Anti-MIR mAbs do not affect channel gating, but are very effective in the passive transfer of MG to animals; in contrast, their Fab or Fv fragments protect the AChR from the pathogenic effects of the intact antibodies. Antibodies against the cytoplasmic region of the AChR can be elicited by immunization with denatured AChR and the precise epitopes of many such mAbs have been identified; however, it is unlikely that such antibodies are present in significant amounts in human MG. Antibodies to other extracellular epitopes on all AChR subunits are present in both experimental and human MG; these include antibodies to the acetylcholine-binding site which affect AChR function in various ways and also induce acute experimental MG. Finally, anti-AChR antibodies cross-reactive with non-AChR antigens exist, suggesting that MG may result from molecular mimicry. Despite extensive studies, many gaps remain in our understanding of the antigenic structure of the AChR; especially in relation to human MG. A thorough understanding of the antigenic structure of the AChR is required for an in-depth understanding, and for possible specific immunotherapy, of MG.

Localization of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-like antigen in the thoracic nervous system of embryonic locusts, Schistocerca gregaria

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent immunoblotting of neuronal membrane proteins derived from thoracic ganglia of adult Locusta and Schistocerca reveal that a polyclonal antiserum raised against the Locusta nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), binds strongly to an identical polypeptide band corresponding to 65 kDa in both locust species. This polyclonal antiserum was used to analyze the distribution of antigenic sites within the developing thoracic central nervous system of Schistocerca embryos. Axonal outgrowths from the earliest differentiated neurons are first labeled between 30% and 35% development. By 40% to 45% development, labeled granules appear in the cytoplasm of neuronal cell bodies. When the developing neuropil is first enclosed at approximately 45% to 50% development, it appears uniformly labeled, but by 55% development, unlabeled areas appear that represent the sites of future tracts and commissures. By 75%, an adult pattern of neuropil immunogenicity is established in which synaptic regions are stained but tracts and commissures are not. This suggests that during the early development of the thoracic nervous system nAChR-like antigenic sites are evenly distributed, but later become concentrated in the developing synaptic areas.

Immunohistochemical localization of a ligand-binding and a structural subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster

The distribution of two subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the developing and the differentiated central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster was studied. With subunit-specific antibodies raised against the ligand-binding alpha-like subunit ALS and the putative non-ligand-binding subunit ARD, we find both ALS-like and ARD-like immunoreactivity widely distributed in most neuropiles of the optic lobes, the protocerebrum, the deutocerebrum and the thoracic ganglion of the adult fly. With a single exception, namely in the lamina of the visual system, the antigens recognized by the two types of antibodies are colocalized. This observation is consistent with previous immunoprecipitation data indicating that the ALS and ARD proteins are integral components of the same hetero-oligomeric receptor that binds the nicotinic antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin with high affinity. During embryonic development ARD-like immunoreactivity is first detectable in approximately 10 hour old embryos. Both subunits are consistently detected in the central nervous system of the late embryo, the three larval stages, and all prepupal and pupal stages. During metamorphosis the optic stalk is transiently immunoreactive with anti-ARD, but not with anti-ALS antiserum. Although in larvae and adults, immunoreactivity with both types of antibodies is most abundant in synaptic regions, in embryos and pupae strong staining of cortical cell body layers is observed, in particular with anti-ARD antisera. As these developmental periods coincide with strong accumulation of ARD transcripts, the cell body staining may reflect newly synthesized and assembled receptors, while the functional ARD- and ALS-containing receptor may be destined for synapses.

Distribution of acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system of adult locusts

A polyclonal antibody raised against nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein from purified locust neuronal membrane was used to analyse the distribution of antigenic sites within the central nervous system of adult Schistocerca gregaria. Light microscopic examination showed that all principal neuropiles in the thoracic ganglia label with the antibody but that the major tracts and commissures do not. Analysis of this pattern of staining in the electron microscope reveals that the receptor is present on specific synaptic and extrajunctional neuronal membranes in the neuropile. Antigenic sites are also evident on the plasma membranes and within the cytoplasm adjacent to Golgi complexes of some neuronal somata, suggesting that these neurones synthesise nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In addition to neuronal labelling, there is evidence that the receptor is also present on the membranes of three types of glial cells. The implications of this pattern of receptor distribution are discussed.

Myasthenia gravis: an autoimmune response against the acetylcholine receptor

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease caused by an antibody-mediated assault on the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction. Binding of antibodies to the AChR leads to loss of functional AChRs and impairs the neuromuscular signal transmission, resulting in muscular weakness. Although a great deal of information on the immunopathological mechanisms involved in AChR destruction exists due to well-characterized animal models, it is not known which etiological factors determine the susceptibility for the disease. This review gives an overview of the literature on the AChR, MG and experimental models for this autoimmune disease.

How complex is the nicotinic receptor system of insects?

In insects, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are confined to the nervous system. It is a long-standing open question whether the insect nicotinic cholinergic receptor system is less complex than that of the vertebrate nervous system. Simplicity can be conceived in two ways. (1) Fewer receptor subtypes may exist. (2) Single receptors may have a more primitive (homo-oligomeric) quaternary structure. Recent approaches to the molecular cloning of insect nAChRs may contribute valuable new information to this issue. Thus, the identification of multiple genes encoding proteins similar to vertebrate nAChR subunits implicates a remarkable heterogeneity for these receptors. The discovery of putatively non-ligand-binding subunits hints to the existence of vertebrate-like hetero-oligomeric nAChRs. However, the simultaneous occurrence of homo-oligomeric receptors must still be considered.

The main immunogenic region (MIR) of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the anti-MIR antibodies

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused by autoantibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of the neuromuscular junction. The anti-AChR antibodies are heterogeneous. However, a small region on the extracellular part of the AChR alpha subunit, called the main immunogenic region (MIR), seems to be the major target of the anti-AChR antibodies, but not of the specific T-cells, in experimental animals and possibly in MG patients. The major loop of the overlapping epitopes for all testable anti-MIR monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was localized within residues 67-76 (WNPADYGGIK for Torpedo and WNPDDYGGVK for human AChR) of the alpha subunit. The N-terminal half of alpha 67-76 is the most critical, Asn68 and Asp71 being indispensable for binding. Yet anti-MIR antibodies are functionally and structurally quite heterogeneous. Anti-MIR MAbs do not affect channel gating, but they are very potent in mediating acceleration of AChR degradation (antigenic modulation) in cell cultures and in transferring experimental MG in animals. Fab fragments of anti-MIR MAbs bound to the AChR prevent the majority of the MG patients' antibodies from binding to and causing loss of the AChR. Whether this inhibition means that most MG antibodies bind on the same small region or is a result of broad steric/allosteric effects is under current investigation.

The main immunogenic region of the acetylcholine receptor. Structure and role in myasthenia gravis

Auto-antibodies to the nicotine acetylcholine receptor (AChR) cause the disease myasthenia gravis (MG). Animals immunized with AChR or receiving anti-AChR antibodies acquire MG symptoms. The majority of the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised in rats against intact AChR bind to a region on the extracellular side of the AChR's alpha-subunit, the main immunogenic region (MIR). The major loop of the overlapping epitopes for several anti-MIR mAbs has been localised between residues 67-76 of the alpha-subunit. Anti-MIR mAbs are very potent in accelerating AChR degradation (antigenic modulation) in muscle cell cultures and transferring experimental MG in animals. Fab fragments of single anti-MIR mAbs when bound to the AChR inhibit two-thirds of the MG patients' antibodies from binding and from inducing antigenic modulation of the AChR. This suggest that the majority of the human MG antibodies are also directed against the MIR. It has however to be verified by direct experiments.

SBD, a novel structural subunit of the Drosophila nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, shares its genomic localization with two alpha-subunits

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) display marked heterogeneity in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Here we describe the structure of a cDNA from Drosophila melanogaster which encodes a novel nAChR beta-type subunit (SBD or beta 2). The deduced amino acid sequence of SBD displays remarkable similarity to the Drosophila alpha-subunits, ALS and SAD, while homology to the Drosophila beta-subunit ARD is less pronounced. The temporal expression of sbd transcripts during Drosophila development is similar to that of other nAChR subunit mRNAs, with high levels being found during late embryonic and late pupal stages. In embryos, sbd and als transcripts are localized in the central nervous system. The sbd gene maps cytogenetically in proximity to the als and sad genes at position 96A of chromosome 3R, suggesting the existence of a nAChR gene cluster in invertebrates.

Structure and developmental expression of the D alpha 2 gene encoding a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein of Drosophila melanogaster

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) represent a heterogeneous group of excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the insect brain. We have characterized the D alpha 2 gene of Drosophila melanogaster, a new member of the nAChR gene family. The protein coding region is interrupted by six introns. The positions of three of these introns are shared with all other nAChR genes. The deduced D alpha 2 protein shows the structural features of ligand-binding nAChR alpha-subunits. Cytogenetically, the D alpha 2 gene maps at position 96A of the 3rd chromosome, close to the ALS gene which also encodes an alpha-like nAChR subunit. D alpha 2 transcripts are predominantly expressed in late embryos and in fly heads.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the alpha-bungarotoxin binding region of the acetylcholine receptor

Murine monoclonal antibodies have been produced against a 32 amino acid synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 173-204 on the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica. All of the monoclonal antibodies were of the IgM subtype and most cross-reacted with the purified native receptor. None of the antibodies were effective in blocking alpha-bungarotoxin binding to the receptor nor, conversely, did alpha-bungarotoxin interfere with antibody binding. However, two monoclonal antibodies, previously shown to bind near the ligand binding site on the native receptor, did compete partially (50%) with the binding of one of the IgM monoclonal antibodies.

Effects of a monoclonal anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody on the avian end-plate

1. The effects of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 370 and 132A on miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs) and end-plate currents (EPCs) in the posterior latissimus dorsi muscle of adult chickens were investigated. 2. After incubation of the electrophysiological preparation with mAb 370 (5-50 micrograms/ml), which blocks both agonist (carbamylcholine) and alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) binding and induces a hyperacute form of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), MEPP and EPC amplitudes were irreversibly reduced. 3. This effect was not associated with any significant change in the time constant describing EPC decay (tau EPC), current reversal potential, or the voltage dependence of tau EPC. The tau EPC at -80 mV was 5.9 +/- 0.6 ms before incubation with mAb 370 (50 micrograms/ml) and 6.0 +/- 0.9 ms afterwards. Current reversal potential was -3.9 +/- 0.4 mV before mAb incubation and -4.8 +/- 1.5 mV afterwards. The change in membrane potential required to produce an e-fold change in tau EPC was 128 +/- 2.3 mV before antibody incubation compared to 125 +/- 6.6 mV after incubation. 4. A second anti-AChR mAb, 132A (50 micrograms/ml), which is capable of inducing the classically described form of EAMG without blocking agonist or alpha-BTX binding, or inducing hyperacute EAMG, produced no significant change in MEPP amplitude, EPC amplitude, tau EPC or EPC reversal potentials. 5. The mAb 370 (50 micrograms/ml) induced a partially reversible decrease of the quantal content of the neurally evoked end-plate potential (EPP). This effect was not observed with mAb 132A, (+)tubocurarine (10(-7)-10(-5) g/ml) or an irrelevant anti-oestrogen receptor mAb. 6. These data suggest that the rapid onset of weakness observed in chicken hatchlings after the injection of mAb 370 (Gomez & Richman, 1983) can be attributed to a combined effect of a block of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced ion channel activity in the postsynaptic membrane and a reduction of the neurally evoked release of acetylcholine from the nerve terminal.

Neuronal acetylcholine receptors in Drosophila: mature and immature transcripts of the ard gene in the developing central nervous system

The ARD protein is a Drosophila homolog of vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) polypeptides. Here, an analysis of transcripts of the corresponding ard gene is presented. In situ hybridization experiments revealed ard gene expression in nervous tissue only. During development, ard transcripts are prevalent in late embryos, pupae, and newly eclosed flies. Both the spatial and the temporal pattern of ard gene expression is consistent with the ARD protein being part of a neuronal AChR that is produced in large amounts during major periods of neuronal differentiation. In situ hybridization with an intron-specific probe indicated codistribution of immature and mature ard RNAs in pupae and adult flies. In addition to the mature 3.2 kb RNA species, two large immature transcripts are found in newly eclosed flies but not in embryos, suggesting a developmentally regulated processing of ard RNA.

On the role of normal acetylcholine metabolism in the formation and maintenance of the Drosophila nervous system

We have examined the requirement for normal acetylcholine metabolism in the formation and maintenance of the larval and adult central nervous system in Drosophila melanogaster. By using mutations at the Ace and Cha loci, which respectively encode the degradative and synthetic enzymes for acetylcholine (ACh), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), we have been able to disrupt acetylcholine metabolism in situ. An ultrastructural analysis of embryonic nervous tissue lacking either enzymatic function has indicated that while neither function is required for the formation of the larval central nervous system, each is required for the subsequent maintenance of its structural integrity and function. Using temperature sensitive mutations at the Cha locus, the normal developmental profile of ChAT activity during the late larval and pupal stages was disrupted. Subsequent examination of the morphology and behavior of the treated animals has indicated that normal acetylcholine metabolism is not required for the initial formation of the adult nervous system, but is required for the subsequent maintenance of its structural integrity and function. The results obtained in these studies are discussed with respect to data presented on the adult distribution of the cholinergic markers' AChE activity and ChAT immunoreactivity. The projections of adult peripheral neurons innervating Ace+ tissue from Ace cuticular clones has been examined to address the nature of the structure of Ace neuropil. Normal projections are apparently achieved and maintained, suggesting that the defects seen in adult Ace mosaics arise as an aberrant intracellular organization of morphologically normal cells.

Molecular studies of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor family

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on neurons are part of a gene family that includes nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on skeletal muscles and neuronal alpha bungarotoxin-binding proteins that in many species, unlike receptors, do not have an acetylcholine-regulated cation channel. This gene superfamily of ligand-gated receptors also includes receptors for glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Rapid progress on neuronal nicotinic receptors has recently been possible using monoclonal antibodies as probes for receptor proteins and cDNAs as probes for receptor genes. These studies are the primary focus of this review, although other aspects of these receptors are also considered. In birds and mammals, there are subtypes of neuronal nicotinic receptors. All of these receptors differ from nicotinic receptors of muscle pharmacologically (none bind alpha bungarotoxin, and some have very high affinity for nicotine), structurally (having only two types of subunits rather than four), and, in some cases, in functional role (some are located presynaptically). However, there are amino acid sequence homologies between the subunits of these receptors that suggest the location of important functional domains. Sequence homologies also suggest that the subunits of the proteins of this family all evolved from a common ancestral protein subunit. The ligand-gated ion channel characteristic of this superfamily is formed from multiple copies of homologous subunits. Conserved domains responsible for strong stereospecific association of the subunits are probably a fundamental organizing principle of the superfamily. Whereas the structure of muscle-type nicotinic receptors appears to have been established by the time of elasmobranchs and has evolved quite conservatively since then, the evolution of neuronal-type nicotinic receptors appears to be in more rapid flux. Certainly, the studies of these receptors are in rapid flux, with the availability of monoclonal antibody probes for localizing, purifying, and characterizing the proteins, and cDNA probes for determining sequences, localizing mRNAs, expressing functional receptors, and studying genetic regulation. The role of nicotinic receptors in neuromuscular transmission is well understood, but the role of nicotinic receptors in brain function is not. The current deluge of data using antibodies and cDNAs is beginning to come together nicely to describe the structure of these receptors. Soon, these techniques may combine with others to better reveal the functional roles of neuronal nicotinic receptors.

Immunohistochemical localization of a neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in mammalian brain

A monoclonal antibody generated against purified acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo electric organ was used to immunohistochemically localize a neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Regions of the rat brain stained with this antibody paralleled those areas of the brain exhibiting [3H]nicotine binding sites and corresponded to areas in which mRNAs encoding for alpha subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are present. Thus, the anteroventral thalamus, cortex, hippocampus, medial habenula, interpeduncular nucleus, and substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area exhibited significant immunoreactivity. Neurons of the medial habenula and substantia nigra were densely stained, and processes were prominently delineated. Furthermore, in the projection areas of the medial habenula (interpeduncular nucleus and median raphe) axons were strongly immunoreactive and were distributed to distinct subdivisions of the target sites. The present data suggest that there are several discrete neuronal systems in which nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have functional importance. These immunohistochemical studies delineate at the single-cell level the localization within the mammalian central nervous system of certain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.