Agonist-induced translocation of Gq/11alpha immunoreactivity directly from plasma membrane in MDCK cells

Phospholipase C-β1 Hypofunction in the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is characterized by various abnormal symptoms. Previous studies indicate decreased expression of phospholipase C-β1 (PLC-β1) in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. PLC-β1-null (PLC-β1(-/-)) mice exhibit multiple endophenotypes of schizophrenia. Furthermore, a study of PLC-β1 knockdown in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice has shown a specific behavioral deficit, impaired working memory. These results support the notion that disruption of PLC-β1-linked signaling in the brain is strongly involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this review, we broadly investigate recent studies regarding schizophrenia-related behaviors as well as their various clinical and biological correlates in PLC-β1(-/-) and knockdown mouse models. This will provide a better understanding of the pathological relevance of the altered expression of PLC-β1 in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. Evidence accumulated will shed light on future in-depth studies, possibly in human subjects.

Salmeterol and cytokines modulate inositol-phosphate signalling in human airway smooth muscle cells via regulation at the receptor locus

Background

Airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) is a key feature of asthma and a causal relationship between airway inflammation and AHR has been identified. The aim of the current study was to clarify the effect of proinflammatory cytokines and asthma medication on primary human airway smooth muscle (ASM) inositol phosphate (IPx) signalling and define the regulatory loci involved.

Methods

Primary Human ASM cells were isolated from explants of trachealis muscle from individuals with no history of respiratory disease. The effect of cytokine or asthma medication on histamine or bradykinin induced IPx signalling was assessed by [³H] inositol incorporation. Quantitative Real Time PCR was used to measure mRNA levels of receptors and downstream signalling components. Transcriptional mechanisms were explored using a combination of 5'Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (5'RACE) and promoter-reporter techniques.

Results

Treatment of Human ASM cells with IL-13, IFNγ or salmeterol for 24 hours lead to a modest augmentation of histamine induced IPx responses (144.3 +/- 9.3, 126.4 +/- 7.5 and 117.7 +/- 5.2%, p < 0.05). Similarly, TNFα, IFNγ or salmeterol treatment augmented bradykinin induced IPx responses (127.4 +/- 8.3, 128.0 +/- 8.4 and 111.7 +/- 5.0%, P < 0.05). No treatment significantly influenced sodium fluoride induced IPx responses suggesting regulation occurs at the receptor locus. Analyses of mRNA expression of components of the IPx pathway i.e. H1 Histamine Receptor (HRH1), B2 Bradykinin Receptor (BDKRB2), Gαq/11 and PLC-β1 identified that a significant induction of receptor mRNA (>2 fold) was a feature of these responses explaining the cytokine and spasmogen specificity. The HRH1 and BDKRB2 promoter regions were mapped in ASM and promoter-reporter analyses identified that salmeterol can induce HRH1 (>2 fold) and BDKRB2 (2–5 fold) transcription. The effect of cytokines on HRH1 and BDKRB2 promoter-reporter expression suggested a more complex regulation of mRNA expression involving additional loci to the core promoter.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the spasmogen specific receptor locus may be a key site of regulation determining the magnitude of spasmogen mediated ASM IPx responses during airway inflammation or following asthma medication. These data provide further insight into the molecular basis of AHR and extend our understanding of potentially detrimental effects associated with existing therapies used in the treatment of asthma.

A role for prefrontal calcium-sensitive protein phosphatase and kinase activities in working memory

The prefrontal cortex is involved in the integration and interpretation of information for directing thoughts and planning action. Working memory is defined as the active maintenance of information in mind and is thought to lie at the core of many prefrontal functions. Although dopamine and other neurotransmitters have been implicated, the intracellular events activated by their receptors that influence working memory are poorly understood. We demonstrate that working memory involves transient changes in prefrontal G(q/11)-signaling and in calcium-dependent intracellular protein phosphatase and kinase activity. Interestingly, inhibition of the calcium activated phosphatase calcineurin impaired, while calcium/calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) enhanced, working memory. Our findings suggest that the active maintenance of information required for working memory involves transient changes in the balance of these enzymes' activities.

Homologous and heterologous uncoupling of muscarinic M(3) and alpha(1B) adrenoceptors to Galpha(q/11) in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

1. The present study employed a [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding protocol in conjunction with immunoprecipitation (IP) of the Galpha subunits to investigate the desensitization of G(q/11)-coupled receptors at the level of the G-protein activation. Membranes from SH-SY5Y cells expressing the recombinant human alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor (alpha(1B)-AR) (and endogenously expressing the M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M(3)-AChR)) exhibited G(q/11) activation in a concentration-dependent manner in response to noradrenaline or methacholine. 2. Pre-treatment of intact cells with agonist prior to membrane preparation and use in the [(35)S]-GTPgammaS IP assay demonstrated that both receptors were homologously desensitized by pre-treatment with agonist since the G(q/11) activation in response to a secondary challenge with agonist was markedly reduced. Stimulation of alpha(1B)-AR was effective at heterologously desensitizing the M(3)-AChR. The PKC inhibitor, Ro-31-8220 (10 microM) was ineffective at preventing the agonist-mediated receptor desensitization. 3. [(32)P]P(i)-labelled cells allowed the detection of increases in receptor phosphorylation. Phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu) (1 microM) was effective at producing a Ro-31-8220 (10 microM)-sensitive, detectable increase in alpha(1B)-AR but not M(3)-AChR phosphorylation. Noradrenaline (30 microM) stimulated alpha(1B)-AR phosphorylation, which could be partially inhibited by Ro-31-8220 (10 microM). The phosphorylation of M(3)-AChR was increased by methacholine (100 microM) incubation and this effect appeared to be insensitive to Ro-31-8220 (10 microM). 4. These findings demonstrate that [(35)S]-GTPgammaS-Galpha-subunit IP can be used to estimate receptor desensitization as a decline in receptor-G-protein coupling. Both the alpha(1B)-AR and M(3)-AChR undergo rapid homologous desensitization that is associated with an increase in receptor phosphorylation. The heterologous desensitization of M(3)-AChR produced by alpha(1B)-AR stimulation is not associated with a detectable increase in M(3)-AChR phosphorylation, suggesting that receptor phosphorylation is not necessarily a prerequisite for desensitization.

G(q/11) and G(i/o) activation profiles in CHO cells expressing human muscarinic acetylcholine receptors: dependence on agonist as well as receptor-subtype

1. Profiles of G protein activation have been assessed using a [35S]-GTPgammaS binding/immunoprecipitation strategy in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing either M1, M2, M3 or M4 muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptor subtypes, where expression levels of M1 and M3, or M2 and M4 receptors were approximately equal. 2. Maximal [35S]-GTPgammaS binding to G(q/11)alpha stimulated by M1/M3 receptors, or G(i1-3)alpha stimulated by M2/M4 receptors occurred within approximately 2 min of agonist addition. The increases in G(q/11)alpha-[35S]-GTPgammaS binding after M1 and M3 receptor stimulation differed substantially, with M1 receptors causing a 2-3 fold greater increase in [35S]-GTPgammaS binding and requiring 5 fold lower concentrations of methacholine to stimulate a half-maximal response. 3. Comparison of M2 and M4 receptor-mediated G(i1-3)alpha-[35S]-GTPgammaS binding also revealed differences, with M2 receptors causing a greater increase in G(i1-3)alpha activation and requiring 10 fold lower concentrations of methacholine to stimulate a half-maximal response. 4. Comparison of methacholine- and pilocarpine-mediated effects revealed that the latter partial agonist is more effective in activating G(i3)alpha compared to G(i1/2)alpha for both M2 and M4 receptors. More marked agonist/partial agonist differences were observed with respect to M1/M3-mediated stimulations of G(q/11)alpha- and G(i1-3)alpha-[35S]-GTPgammaS binding. Whereas coupling to these Galpha subclasses decreased proportionately for M1 receptor stimulation by these agonists, pilocarpine possesses a greater intrinsic activity at M3 receptors for G(i)alpha versus G(q/11)alpha activation. 5. These data demonstrate that mACh receptor subtype and the nature of the agonist used govern the repertoire of G proteins activated. They also provide insights into how the diversity of coupling can be pharmacologically exploited, and provide a basis for a better understanding of how multiple receptor subtypes can be differentially regulated.

Nuclear and cytoskeletal translocation and localization of heterotrimeric G-proteins

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) are involved in a diverse array of signalling pathways. They are generally thought to be membrane-bound proteins, which disassociate on receptor activation and binding of GTP. A model to explain this has been proposed, which is often described as 'the G-protein cycle'. The 'G-protein cycle' is discussed in the present paper in relation to evidence that now exists regarding the non- membranous localization of G-proteins. Specifically, the experimental evidence demonstrating association of G-proteins with the cytoskeleton and the nucleus, and the mechanisms by which G-proteins translocate to these sites are reviewed. Furthermore, the possible effector pathways and the physiological function of G-proteins at these sites are discussed.