Water permeability of the chromaffin granule membrane

Conformational preferences and activities of peptides from the catecholamine release-inhibitory (catestatin) region of chromogranin A

Previous modeling (PDB 1cfk) of the catecholamine release-inhibitory "catestatin" region of chromogranin A (CgA) suggested a beta-strand/loop/beta-strand active conformation, displaying an electropositive Arg-rich loop (R(351)AR(353)GYGFR(358)). To explore this possibility, we studied NMR structures of linear and cyclic synthetic catestatin, bovine (bCgA(344-364)) or human (hCgA(352-372)). By 2-D (1)H-NMR, the structure of linear catestatin (hCgA(352-372)) exhibited the NOE pattern of a coiled loop (PDB 1lv4). We then constrained the structure, cyclizing the putative Arg-rich loop connecting the beta-strands: cyclic bCgA(350-362) ([C(0)]F(350)RARGYGFRGPGL(362)[C(+14)]). Favored conformations of cyclic bCgA(350-362) were determined by (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Cyclic bCgA(350-362) conformers (PDB 1n2y) adopted a "twisted-loop" conformation. Alignment between the homology model and the cyclic NMR structure showed that, while portions of the NMR structure's mid-molecule and carboxy-terminus were congruent with the homology model (RMSD, 1.61-1.91 A), the amino-terminal "twisted loop" coiled inward and away from the model (RMSD, 3.36 A). Constrained cyclic bCgA(350-362) did not exert nicotinic cholinergic antagonist activity (IC(50)>10 microM), when compared to full-length linear (IC(50) approximately 0.42-0.56 microM), or cyclic (IC(50) approximately 0.74 microM) catestatin. Thus, loss of activity in the small, constrained peptide did not result from either [Cys]-extension or cyclization, per se. While linear catestatin displays coiled character, a small cyclic derivative lost biological activity, perhaps because its amino-terminal domain deviated sharply from the predicted active conformation. These results refine the relationship between structure and function in catestatin, and suggest goals in future peptidomimetic syntheses, in particular attempts to constrain the correct amino-terminal shape for biological activity.

Nitric oxide modulates a late step of exocytosis

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the late phase of exocytosis have been studied, by amperometry, on Ba(2+)-stimulated chromaffin cells. Acute incubation with NO or NO donors (sodium nitroprusside, spermine-NO, S-nitrosoglutathione) produced a drastic slowdown of the granule emptying. Conversely, cell treatment with N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (a NO synthase inhibitor) or with NO scavengers (methylene blue, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5, 5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide potassium) accelerated the extrusion of catecholamines from chromaffin granules, suggesting the presence of a NO modulatory tone. The incubation with phosphodiesterase inhibitors (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine or zaprinast) or with the cell-permeant cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP, mimicked the effects of NO, suggesting the involvement of the guanylate cyclase cascade. NO effects were not related to changes in intracellular Ba(2+). NO did not modify the duration of feet. Effects were evident even on pre-fusioned granules, observed under hypertonic conditions, suggesting that the fusion pore is not the target for NO, which probably acts by modifying the affinity of catecholamines for the intragranular matrix. NO could modify the synaptic transmitter efficacy through a novel mechanism, which involves the regulation of the emptying of secretory vesicles.

Two different types of lysis of chromaffin granules characterised by freeze-fracture electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy

When bovine chromaffin granules are incubated in hyperosmolar sucrose solutions and subsequently transferred back towards isoosmolarity they undergo lysis ('hyperosmotic relaxation lysis'). This type of lysis was compared with the common effect of hypotonic lysis by means of photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Both methods revealed differences regarding mean sizes and size distributions of granules lysing under either hypotonic or hypertonic conditions. However, the results obtained by these two methods were not consistent. In the case of hypotonic lysis, a nonmonotonic behaviour of the mean diameter as a function of the sucrose concentration was observed by PCS, but not in the micrographs. From EM size determinations we obtained a decrease in the mean diameter and an increase of the width of the distribution due to the appearance of small (50-200 nm) vesicles. Probably these vesicles are intragranular vesicles released during lysis. The maximum in photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) diameter being 140% of the isotonic diameter is shown to be caused by the changing size distribution and geometry of the lysing granules. In the case of hyperosmotic relaxation, micrographs revealed that originally shrunken, nonspherical granules regained their spherical shape and formed small (60 nm) vesicles upon lysis. In contrast, no difference was observed between the sizes of granules prior to and after hyperosmotic relaxation by means of PCS. The paper discusses the validity of intensity-weighted light scattering data of polydisperse particle suspensions with changing size distributions. The mechanism of hyperosmotic relaxation lysis is considered.