Tricyclic antidepressants, but not the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine, bind to the S1S2 domain of AMPA receptors

The hypothesis that depression is caused solely by a decrease in synaptic availability of monoaminergic neurotransmitters has been questioned over the past two decades. Based on accumulating data, it seems more plausible that cross-talk exists between neurotransmitters in the CNS, including the glutamatergic system. Glutamate, the major fast excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, is the natural agonist for the ionotropic glutamate receptors, a family of ligand-gated ion channels including NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), AMPA (amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid), and kainate receptors. In this work, we show that five tricyclic antidepressants bind to the S1S2 domain of the GluR2 subunit of the AMPA receptor. A combination of fluorescence quenching, Stern-Volmer analyses, and protease protection assays differentiate the binding of each antidepressant. These analyses provide no evidence for the binding of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, to this domain. The data presented provides further support for a role of the glutamatergic system in antidepressant activity.     

Calcium regulation of guanine nucleotide activation of hepatic adenylate cyclase

Pretreatment of isolated rat liver plasma membranes by washing with NaHCO₃ buffer or by exposure to the chelator ethyleneglycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) with or without the ionophore A23187, produced a decrease in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing) EC 4.6.1.1) to subsequent stimulation by NaF or guanosine 5′-(β-γ-imino)triphosphate (GPP(NH)P). Sensitivity to activation by the nucleotide could be restored by addition of the lyophilized and ashed wash or by addition of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺. The factor extracted from the membranes by these various treatments which was responsible for loss of stimulation was identified as Ca²⁺. Determination of the metal ion content of isolated membranes by atomic absorption spectrometry indicated that Ca²⁺ was the only divalent cation present in sufficient concentration to support persistent activation by either NaF or GPP(NH)P.Pretreatment of liver plasma membranes with trifluoperazine, which inhibits the action of Ca²⁺-dependent regulator protein in other enzyme systems, reduced GPP(NH)P activation of adenylate cyclase and caused marked depletion of membrane Ca²⁺. The effects of low concentrations (less than 100 μM) of the phenothiazine could be reversed totally by Ca²⁺ and partly by regulator protein. At higher concentrations of trifluoperazine, slight restoration of enzyme activation was seen with either agent. The hypothesis is presented that Ca⁺ interacts with the nucleotide (GTP or GDP) regulatory site(s) of the adenylate cyclase. This interaction may be regulator-protein-dependent and may be important in determining the sensitivity of the enzyme to nucleotide activation in vivo.     

Increased uptake sites for serotonin and dopamine with decreased S2 serotonin receptors in microencephalic rat brain

Methylazoxymethanol (MAM)-induced cerebral hypoplasia resulted in a significant increase in densities of both serotonin uptake sites in frontal cortex and dopamine uptake sites in striatum, suggesting serotonergic and dopaminergic axon terminals were compressed in the smaller brain volumes. The density of S2 serotonin receptors in MAM-lesioned frontal cortex was decreased probably due to down-regulation, while densities of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in striatum were identical between MAM-lesioned rats and control rats.     

D2 Dopamine Receptors in Calf Globus Pallidus: Agonist High- and Low-Affinity Sites Not Regulated by Guanine Nucleotide

By use of the radioligand [3H]spiroperidol, D2 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) receptor binding characteristics were studied in calf globus pallidus and compared with those of neostriatum. Antagonist competition curves were monophasic and revealed similar affinities for neostriatum and globus pallidus, suggesting a uniform receptor population with one affinity state for antagonists. In both regions, competition curves with the agonist dopamine were biphasic, distinguishing a high- and low-agonist-affinity state. In neostriatum and globus pallidus, respectively, 45% and 19% of [3H]spiroperidol binding was displaced with high affinity and the remainder with low affinity. In neostriatum, the addition of 0.4 mM GTP resulted in a partial conversion from high- to low-affinity state with a remaining high-affinity component of 15%. In globus pallidus, dopamine binding was not altered by GTP. The capability of GTP to modulate agonist binding to D2 receptors appears to be dependent on their neuroanatomical localization.     

Region-dependent regulation of mesoaccumbens dopamine neurons in vivo by the constitutive activity of central serotonin2C receptors

Central serotonin2C receptors (5-HT(2C)Rs) control the mesoaccumbens dopamine (DA) pathway. This control involves the constitutive activity (CA) of 5-HT(2C)Rs, and is thought to engage regionally distinct populations of 5-HT(2C)Rs, leading to opposite functional effects. Here, using in vivo microdialysis in halothane-anesthetized rats, we investigated the relative contribution of ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens shell (NAc) 5-HT(2C)Rs in the phasic/tonic control of accumbal DA release, to specifically identify the nature (inhibition/excitation) of the control, and the role of the 5-HT(2C)R CA. Intra-VTA injections of the selective 5-HT(2C)R antagonists SB 242084 and/or SB 243213 (0.1-0.5 microg/0.2 microL) prevented the decrease in accumbal DA outflow induced by the 5-HT(2C)R agonist Ro 60-0175 (3 mg/kg, i.p), but did not affect the increase in DA outflow induced by the 5-HT(2C)R inverse agonist SB 206553 (5 mg/kg, i.p). Intra-NAc infusions of SB 242084 (0.1-1 microM) blocked Ro 60-0175- and SB 206553-induced changes of DA outflow. Intra-NAc, but not intra-VTA administration of SB 206553 increased basal DA outflow. These findings demonstrate that both VTA and NAc 5-HT(2C)Rs participate in the inhibitory control exerted by 5-HT(2C)Rs on accumbal DA release, and that the NAc shell may represent a primary action site for the CA of 5-HT(2C)Rs.     

Differential agonist-induced desensitization of P2Y2 nucleotide receptors by ATP and UTP

The equal potency and efficacy of the agonists, ATP and UTP, pharmacologically distinguish the P2Y₂ receptor from other nucleotide receptors. Investigation of the desensitization of the P2Y₂ receptors is complicated by the simultaneous expression of different P2 nucleotide receptor subtypes. The co-expression of multiple P2 receptor subtypes in mammalian cells may have led to contradictory reports on the efficacy of the natural agonists of the P2Y₂ receptor to induce desensitization. We decided to investigate the desensitization of human and murine isoforms of the P2Y₂ receptor, and to rigorously examine their signaling and desensitization properties. For these purposes, we used 1321N1 astrocytoma cells stably transfected with the human or murine P2Y₂ receptor cDNA, as well as human A431 cells that endogenously express the receptor. The mobilization of intracellular calcium by extracellular nucleotides was used as a functional assay for the P2Y₂ receptors. While ATP and UTP activated the murine and human P2Y₂ receptors with similar potencies (EC₅₀ values were 1.5-5.8 M), ATP was ~ 10-fold less potent (IC₅₀ = 9.1-21.2 M) than UTP (IC₅₀ = 0.7-2.9 M) inducing homologous receptor desensitization in the cell systems examined. Individual cell analyses of the rate and dose dependency of agonist-induced desensitization demonstrated that the murine receptor was slightly more resistant to desensitization than its human counterpart. To our knowledge, this is the first individual cell study that has compared the cellular heterogeneity of the desensitized states of recombinant and endogenously expressed receptors. This comparison demonstrated that the recombinant system conserved the cellular regulatory elements needed to attenuate receptor signaling by desensitization.     

Amiloride stimulation of sodium transport in the presence of calcium and a divalent cation chelator

Amiloride in nM to μM concentrations stimulates the short circuit current ($\text{I}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>sc</mtext>}}$) of the toad urinary bladder by as much as 120% when applied in conjunction with apical Ca²⁺ and a divalent cation chelator. A significant decrease in transepithelial resistance ($\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}$) is observed simultaneously. This response is spontaneously reversible and its amplitude is dependent upon apical sodium concentrations. The stimulated $\text{I}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>sc</mtext>}}$ persisted when acetazolamide (1 mM) was introduced, HPO₄^2? substituted for HCO₃^? or SO₄^2? replaced Cl^?. Consequently, the increase in $\text{I}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>sc</mtext>}}$ is not due to the change of Cl^?, H⁺ or HCO₃^? flux. This behavior in a ‘tight’ epithelium may be related to the mechanism controlling apical sodium permeability.     

Serotonin decreases generation of dopaminergic neurons from mesencephalic precursors via serotonin type 7 and type 4 receptors

Inductive signals mediating the differentiation of neural precursors into serotonergic (5-HT) or dopaminergic neurons have not been clarified. We have recently shown that in cell aggregates obtained from rat mesencephalic precursors, reduction of serotonin levels induces a marked increase in generation of dopaminergic neurons. In the present study we treated rat neurospheres with antagonists of the main subtypes of 5-HT receptors, 5-HT transport inhibitors, or 5-HT receptor agonists, and studied the effects on generation of dopaminergic neurons. Cultures treated with Methiothepin (5-HT(1,2,5,6,7) receptor antagonist), the 5-HT(4) receptor antagonist GR113808;67:00-.or the 5-HT(7) receptor antagonist SB 269970 showed a significant increase in generation of dopaminergic cells. Treatment with the 5-HT(1B/1D) antagonist GR 127935, the 5-HT(2) antagonist Ritanserin, the 5-HT transporter inhibitor Fluoxetine, the dopamine and norepinephrine transport inhibitor GBR 12935, or with both inhibitors together, or 5-HT(4) or 5-HT(7) receptor agonists induced significant decreases in generation of dopaminergic cells. Cultures treated with WAY100635 (5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist), the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist Ondasetron, or the 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist SB 258585 did not show any significant changes. Therefore, 5-HT(4) and 5-HT(7) receptors are involved in the observed serotonin-induced decrease in generation of dopaminergic neurons from proliferating neurospheres of mesencephalic precursors. 5-HT(4) and 5-HT(7) receptors were found in astrocytes and serotonergic cells using double immunolabeling and laser confocal microscopy, and the glial receptors appeared to play a major role.     

Association between temperament related traits and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the serotonin and oxytocin systems in Merino sheep

Animal temperament is defined as the consistent behavioral and physiological differences that are seen between individuals in response to the same stressor. Neurotransmitter systems, like serotonin and oxytocin in the central nervous system, underlie variation in behavioral traits in humans and other animals. Variations like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes for tryptophan 5-hydroxylase (TPH2), the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), the serotonin receptor (HTR2A), and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) are associated with behavioral phenotype in humans. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify SNPs in those genes and to test if those variations are associated with the temperament in Merino sheep. Using ewes from the University of Western Australia temperament flock, which has been selected on emotional reactivity for more than 20 generations, eight SNPs (rs107856757, rs107856818, rs107856856 and rs107857156 in TPH2, rs20917091 in SLC6A4, rs17196799 and rs17193181 in HTR2A, and rs17664565 in OXTR) were found to be distributed differently between calm and nervous sheep. These eight SNPs were then genotyped in 260 sheep from a flock that has never been selected on emotional reactivity, followed by the estimation of the behavioral traits of those 260 sheep using an arena test and an isolation box test. We found that several SNPs in TPH2 (rs107856757, rs107856818, rs107856856 and rs107857156) were in strong linkage disequilibrium, and all were associated with behavioral phenotype in the nonselected sheep. Similarly, rs17196799 in HTR2A was also associated with the behavioral phenotype.     

Reversible changes of canavalin solubility controlled by divalent cation concentration in crude sword bean extract

Canavalin is a vicilin-class (7S) storage protein found in sword bean (Canavalia gladiata). Our previous report indicated that canavalin is precipitated by the addition of 20 mM MgCl₂ to crude sword bean extract. Here, we examined the solubility changes induced by the addition of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ at various concentrations. Canavalin tended to be insolubilized at relatively low concentrations of MgCl₂ (< 20 mM) and solubilized at relatively high concentrations (> 20 mM). In addition, canavalin was slightly insolubilized in the presence of NaCl. Overall, the results revealed that solubility changes are reversible and depend on the concentration of divalent cations. Therefore, we suggested a reaction scheme that describes the effects of divalent cations on the solubility of canavalin, which would facilitate the study of its physiological function and the application of canavalin in the food processing industry.     

Rat brain monoamine and serotonin S2 receptor changes during pregnancy

The concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites were determined in 5 brain areas of non-pregnant, 15 and 20 day pregnant and 4 day post-partum rats. Striatal 5-HT content was significantly lower in 15 and 20 day pregnant rats than in estrous controls. A significant decrease in striatal and frontal cortex 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentration was observed in 15 day pregnant rats. Significant increases in hypothalamic and hippocampal NA levels were observed at 4 days post-partum. Frontal cortex serotonin S2 receptorKd was reduced in 4 day post-partum rats. There was no significant change in S2 receptorB _max during pregnancy. Levels of progesterone were negatively correlated with striatal DA, homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-HT, and 5-HIAA levels, hypothalamic DA, hippocampal 5-HT, and frontal cortex 5-HIAA values as well as striatal HVA to DA, and HVA to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) ratios and amygdaloid HVA to DOPAC ratios. The limbic neurotransmitter changes might possibly contribute to mood changes which occur during pregnancy and post-partum.     

Catalytic and regulatory roles of divalent metal cations on the phosphoryl-transfer mechanism of ADP-dependent sugar kinases from hyperthermophilic archaea

In some archaea, glucose degradation proceeds through a modified version of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway where glucose and fructose-6-P phosphorylation is carried out by kinases that use ADP as the phosphoryl donor. Unlike their ATP-dependent counterparts these enzymes have been reported as non-regulated. Based on the three dimensional structure determination of several ADP-dependent kinases they can be classified as members of the ribokinase superfamily. In this work, we have studied the role of divalent metal cations on the catalysis and regulation of ADP-dependent glucokinases and phosphofructokinase from hyperthermophilic archaea by means of initial velocity assays as well as molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that a divalent cation is strictly necessary for the activity of these enzymes and they strongly suggest that the true substrate is the metal-nucleotide complex. Also, these enzymes are promiscuous in relation to their metal usage where the only considerations for metal assisted catalysis seem to be related to the ionic radii and coordination geometry of the cations. Molecular dynamics simulations strongly suggest that this metal is bound to the highly conserved NXXE motif, which constitutes one of the signatures of the ribokinase superfamily. Although free ADP cannot act as a phosphoryl donor it still can bind to these enzymes with a reduced affinity, stressing the importance of the metal in the proper binding of the nucleotide at the active site. Also, data show that the binding of a second metal to these enzymes produces a complex with a reduced catalytic constant. On the basis of these findings and considering evolutionary information for the ribokinase superfamily, we propose that the regulatory metal acts by modulating the energy difference between the protein-substrates complex and the reaction transition state, which could constitute a general mechanism for the metal regulation of the enzymes that belong this superfamily.     

Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Torpedo Electric Organ: Effect of Guanine Nucleotides

Abstract: The effect of guanine nucleotides on the binding properties of presynaptic muscarinic receptors has been studied in a membrane preparation from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata by measuring the competitive displacement of the radiolabelled antagonist, [³H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, by nonradioactive muscarinic ligands. The binding of the antagonists, atropine, scopolamine and pirenzepine was to a single class of sites [slope factors (pseudo Hill coefficients) close to 1] and was unaffected by 0.1 m M GTP. The binding of the N -methylated antagonists, N -methylatropine and N -methyl-scopolamine was more complex (slope factors <1) but also insensitive ( N- methylatropine) to 0.1 m M GTP. Agonist binding was complex and could be resolved into two binding sites with relatively high and low affinities. The proportion of high-affinity sites varied with the nature of the agonist (15–80%). Agonist binding was depressed by 0.1 m M GTP, and the order of sensitivity was oxotremorine-M > carbamoylcholine > muscarine > acetylcholine > arecoline > oxotremorine. The binding of pilocarpine, a partial agonist, was unaffected by GTP. With carbamoylcholine as a test ligand the GTP effect on agonist binding was half-maximal at 12 μM. GDP and guanylylimidodiphosphate produced comparable inhibition of carbamoylcholine binding, but GMP and cyclic GMP were ineffective, as were various adenine nucleotides. Analysis of agonist binding in terms of a two-site model indicates that the predominant effect of guanine nucleotides is to reduce the number of sites of higher affinity.     

Rapid-mix flow cytometry measurements of subsecond regulation of G protein-coupled receptor ternary complex dynamics by guanine nucleotides

We have used rapid-mix flow cytometry to analyze the early subsecond dynamics of the disassembly of ternary complexes of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) immobilized on beads to examine individual steps associated with guanine nucleotide activation. Our earlier studies suggested that the slow dissociation of Galpha and Gbetagamma subunits was unlikely to be an essential component of cell activation. However, these studies did not have adequate time resolution to define precisely the disassembly kinetics. Ternary complexes were assembled using three formyl peptide receptor constructs (wild type, formyl peptide receptor-Galpha(i2) fusion, and formyl peptide receptor-green fluorescent protein fusion) and two isotypes of the alpha subunit (alpha(i2) and alpha(i3)) and betagamma dimer (beta(1)gamma(2) and beta(4)gamma(2)). At saturating nucleotide levels, the disassembly of a significant fraction of ternary complexes occurred on a subsecond time frame for alpha(i2) complexes and tau(1/2)< or =4s for alpha(i3) complexes, time scales that are compatible with cell activation. beta(1)gamma(2) isotype complexes were generally more stable than beta(4)gamma(2)-associated complexes. The comparison of the three constructs, however, proved that the fast step was associated with the separation of receptor and G protein and that the dissociation of the ligand or of the alpha and betagamma subunits was slower. These results are compatible with a cell activation model involving G protein conformational changes rather than disassembly of Galphabetagamma heterotrimer.     

Effects of divalent cations on encapsulation and release in the GroEL-assisted folding

Chaperonin GroEL assists protein folding in the presence of ATP and magnesium. Recent studies have shown that several divalent cations other than magnesium induce conformational changes of GroEL, thereby influencing chaperonin-assisted protein folding, but little is known about the detailed mechanism for such actions. Thus, the effects of divalent cations on protein encapsulation by GroEL/ES complexes were investigated. Of the divalent cations, not only magnesium, but also manganese ions enabled the functional refolding and release of 5,10-methylenetetrahydroforate reductase (METF) by GroEL. Neither ATP hydrolysis nor METF refolding was observed in the presence of zinc ion, whereas only ATP hydrolysis was induced by cobalt and nickel ions. SDS-PAGE and gel filtration analyses revealed that cobalt, nickel and zinc ions permit the formation of stable substrate-GroEL-GroES cis-ternary complexes, but prevent the release of METF from GroEL.     

Cerebellar astrocytes co-express several ADP receptors. Presence of functional P2Y<Subscript>13</Subscript>-like receptors

Astrocytes exhibit a form of excitability based on variations of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in response to various stimuli, including ADP, ATP, UTP and dinucleotides. Here, we investigate the presence of the recently cloned ADP-sensitive receptors, P2Y₁₂ and P2Y₁₃ subtypes, which are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase, in cerebellar astrocytes. We checked the effect of specific agonists, 2-methylthioadenosine diphosphate (2MeSADP) and ADP, on adenylate cyclase stimulation induced by isoproterenol. Both agonists significantly reduced the cAMP accumulation induced by isoproterenol. The inhibitory effect was concentration-dependent with IC₅₀ values of 46 ± 13 and 23 ± 14 nM for 2MeSADP and ADP, respectively. The experiments were carried out in the presence of MRS-2179, a specific antagonist of P2Y₁ receptor, to avoid any contribution of this receptor. Using fura-2 microfluorimetry we also proved that astrocytes responded to 2MeSADP stimulations with calcium responses in the absence and also in the presence of MRS-2179. Both effects, inhibition of adenylate cyclase and intracellular calcium mobilization, were not modified by 2MeSAMP, an antagonist of P2Y₁₂ receptor, suggesting that were mediated by P2Y₁₃-like receptors.¹These authors equally contributed to this work.     

Cholesterol affects divalent cation-induced fusion and isothermal phase transitions of phospholipid membranes

The influence of cholesterol on divalent cation-induced fusion and isothermal phase transitions of large unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylserine (PS) was investigated. Vesicle fusion was monitored by the terbium/dipicolinic acid assay for the intermixing of internal aqueous contents, in the temperature range 10–40°C. The fusogenic activity of the cations decreases in the sequence Ca²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Sr²⁺ Mg²⁺ for cholesterol concentrations in the range 20–40 mol%, and at all temperatures. Increasing the cholesterol concentration decreases the initial rate of fusion in the presence of Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺ at 25°C, reaching about 50% of the rate for pure PS at a mole fraction of 0.4. From 10 to 25°C, Mg²⁺ is ineffective in causing fusion at all cholesterol concentrations. However, at 30°C, Mg²⁺-induced fusion is observed with vesicles containing cholesterol. At 40°C, Mg²⁺ induces slow fusion of pure PS vesicles, which is enhanced by the presence of cholesterol. Increasing the temperature also causes a monotonic increase in the rate of fusion induced by Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Sr²⁺. The enhancement of the effect of cholesterol at high temperatures suggests that changes in hydrogen bonding and interbilayer hydration forces may be involved in the modulation of fusion by cholesterol. The phase behavior of PS/cholesterol membranes in the presence of Na⁺ and divalent cations was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The temperature of the gel-liquid crystalline transition (T_m) in Na⁺ is lowered as the cholesterol content is increased, and the endotherm is broadened. Addition of divalent cations shifts the T_m upward, with a sequence of effectiveness Ba²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Mg²⁺. The T_m of these complexes decreases as the cholesterol content is increased. Although the transition is not detectable for cholesterol concentrations of 40 and 50 mol% in the presence of Na⁺, Sr²⁺ or Mg²⁺, the addition of Ba²⁺ reveals endotherms with T_m progressively lower than that observed at 30 mol%. Although the presence of cholesterol appears to induce an isothermal gel-liquid crystalline transition by decreasing the T_m, this change in membrane fluidity does not enhance the rate of fusion, but rather decreases it. The effect of cholesterol on the fusion of PS/phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) vesicles was investigated by utilizing a resonance energy transfer assay for lipid mixing. The initial rate of fusion of PS/PE and PS/PE/cholesterol vesicles is saturated at high Mg²⁺ concentrations. With Ca²⁺, saturation is not observed for cholesterol-containing vesicles. The highest rate of fusion for both Ca²⁺- and Mg²⁺-induced fusion is observed with vesicles containing 30 mol% cholesterol.     

Effect of divalent cations on the short-term NH 4 + inhibition of nitrogen fixation in Azotobacter chroococcum

Incubation of Azotobacter chroococcum in the presence of micromolar concentrations of MnCl₂, but not MgCl₂, prevented nitrogenase activity from NH ₄ ⁺ inhibition. Mg(II), at a 100-fold concentration with respect to Mn(II), counteracted the protective effect of Mn(II) on nitrogenase activity. When Mn(II) was added to cells that had been given NH₄Cl, stopping of NH ₄ ⁺ uptake and recovery of nitrogenase activity took place, and a raise of NH ₄ ⁺ concentration in medium developed. Furthermore, incubation of A. chroococcum cells with 20 M Mn(II) under air, but not under an argon: oxygen (79%:21%) gas mixture, resulted in NH ₄ ⁺ excretion to the external medium. The Mn(II)-mediated uncoupling of nitrogen fixation from ammonium assimilation leads us to conclude that Mn(II) may act as a physiological inhibitor of glutamine synthetase.Abbreviations Hepes N-2-Hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-ethanesulfonic acid - Mops 3-(N-Morpholino)propanesulfonic acid