Characterization of [3H]Vesamicol binding in rat brain preparations

The binding of (1)-[³H]vesamicol was characterized in several subcellular fractions and brain regions of the rat. Binding to a lysed P₂ fraction from the rat cerebral cortex reached equilibrium within 4 min at 37°C and was reversible (dissociation half-time 4.9 min). At least two binding affinities were found in P₂ fractions from the cerebral cortex (K_d:21 nM and 980 nM), striatum (K_d:28 nM and 690 nM), and cerebellum (K_d:22 nM and 833 nM). High affinity B_max values were highest in striatum (1.17 pmol/mg protein), followed by cerebellum (0.67 pmol/mg protein), and cerebral cortex (0.38 pmol/mg protein). Low affinity B_max values were highest in cerebellum (5.2 pmol/mg protein), with similar values for cerebral cortex (3.7 pmol/mg protein) and striatum (3.8 pmol/mg protein). High affinity but not low affinity binding in each brain region was stereospecific. Another inhibitor of vesicular ACh-transport also displaced 1-vesamicol binding potently (IC₅₀:17 nM) and efficaciously (over 90%). Both high affinity and low affinity B_max values for [³H]vesamicol-binding were highest in a partially purified synaptic vesicle fraction, followed by puriffied synaptosomes, crude membranes and P₂ fractions. Specific binding was not observed in a mitochondria-enriched fraction. Crude membrane preparations of primary, neuron-enriched whole brain cultures also exhibited high (64 nM) and low affinity (1062 nM) [³H]vesamicol binding. Isoosmotic replaement of 0.18 M KCl in the binding-buffer with NaCl had no effect on binding. These results suggest that at least some high affinity [³H]vesamicol binding in rat brain preparations may be associated with synaptic vesicles, some of which may not be cholinergic in origin.     

Glutamate receptor subunit expression in primary neuronal and secondary glial cultures

We report on the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in primary neuronal cultures from rat cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum and of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor subtypes in these neuronal cultures as well as in cortical astroglial cultures. We found that the NMDA receptor (NR) subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B were expressed in all three cultures. Each of the three cultures showed also expression of the four AMPA receptor subunits. Although RT-PCR detected mRNA of all kainate (KA) subunits in the three cultures, western blot showed only expression of Glu6 and KA2 receptor subunits. The expression analysis of mGlu receptors indicated the presence of all mGlu receptor subtype mRNAs in the three neuronal cultures, except for mGlu2 receptor mRNA, which was not detected in the cortical and cerebellar culture. mGlu1a/alpha, -2/3 and -5 receptor proteins were present in all three cultures, whereas mGlu4a and mGlu8a receptor proteins were not detected. Astroglial cultures were grown in either serum-containing or chemically defined medium. Only mGlu5 receptor protein was found in astroglial cultures grown in serum-containing medium. When astrocytes were cultured in chemically defined medium, mGlu3, -5 and -8 receptor mRNAs were detected, but at the protein level, still only mGlu5 receptor was found.     

Fusogenic properties of reconstituted hybrid vesicles containing Sendai and influenza envelope glycoproteins: fluorescence dequenching and fluorescence microscopy studies

Co-reconstitution of influenza and Sendai virus phospholipids and glycoproteins resulted in the formation of membrane vesicles containing the envelope glycoproteins from both viruses within the same membrane. Reconstituted influenza-Sendai hybrids (RISH) were able to lyse human erythrocytes and fuse with their membranes or with living cultured cells at pH 5.0 as well as at pH 7.4, thus exhibiting the fusogenic properties of both viruses. This was also inferred from experiments showing that the fusogenic activity of RISH was inhibited by anti-influenza as well as by anti-Sendai virus antibodies. Fusion of FISH and of reconstituted influenza (RIVE) or reconstituted Sendai virus envelopes (RSVE) with recipient membranes was determined by the use of fluorescently labeled envelopes and fluorescence dequenching methods. Observations with the fluorescence microscope were used to study localization of fused reconstituted envelopes within living cells. Incubation of RISH and RSVE with living cells at pH 7.4 resulted in the appearance of fluorescence rings around the cell plasma membranes and of intracellular distinct fluorescent spots indicating fusion with cell plasma membranes and with membranes of endocytic vesicles, respectively. The fluorescence microscopy observations clearly showed that RIVE failed to fuse, at pH 7.4, with cultured cell plasma membranes, but fused with membranes of endocytic vesicles.     

Nicotine-induced phosphorylation of ERK in mouse primary cortical neurons: evidence for involvement of glutamatergic signaling and CaMKII

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is activated in vivo in a number of brain areas by nicotine and other drugs of abuse. Here we show that nicotine stimulation of cultured mouse cortical neurons leads to a robust induction of ERK phosphorylation that is dependent on nicotine concentration and duration of exposure. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity is necessary for nicotine-induced ERK phosphorylation and neither cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C appear to be involved. Activity of glutamate receptors, L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and voltage-gated sodium channels are also required for nicotine-induced ERK phosphorylation. Nicotine-induced ERK phosphorylation was inhibited by high concentrations of mecamylamine, however it was not blocked by other broad nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) inhibitors (including hexamethonium and chlorisondamine) or nAChR subtype selective inhibitors (such as methyllycaconitine, alpha-bungarotoxin, dihydro-beta-erythroidine, and alpha-conotoxin Au1B). In accord with these pharmacological results, nicotine-induced ERK phosphorylation was normal in primary cultures made from beta2 or alpha7 nAChR subunit knockout mice. The alpha3/beta4 nAChR agonist cytisine did not induce ERK phosphorylation suggesting that alpha3/beta4 nAChRs were not involved in this process. Taken together, these data define a necessary role for glutamatergic signaling and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in nicotine-induced ERK phosphorylation in cortical neurons and do not provide evidence for the involvement of classical nAChRs.     

Effect of N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine on the Membrane Fusion Between Sendai Virus and Liposome

We have compared the properties of two N-acyl derivatives of dilauryl phosphatidylethanolamine on lipid polymorphism, vesicle leakage and Sendai virus fusion. The derivatives contained either an N-lauroyl group (NLPE) or an N-acetyl group (NAcPE). Only the NAcPE markedly affected the bilayer to hexagonal transition temperature of dielaidoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, shifting it to higher values. In contrast the NLPE slightly lowered this phase transition temperature. The two lipids also have opposite effects on leakage from small unilamellar vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine. The NLPE inhibits leakage, while the NAcPE promotes it. This vesicle stabilizing effect of NLPE against leakage is not manifested in alterations of rates or extents of Sendai virus fusion to liposomes of egg phosphatidylethanolamine plus 2% ganglioside G_D1a. The NLPE has no effect, while the NAcPE reduces the observed fusion, at least in part as a consequence of a reduction in the final extent of fusion. These results demonstrate that the bilayer stabilizing effects of NLPE do not result in a lower rate of viral fusion. Furthermore, these bilayer stabilizing effects against leakage are not solely a function of the lipid headgroup but also require a structure with three long acyl chains. The reduced leakage is not related to a loss in monolayer curvature strain.     

Difference in capacities for virion-to-virion fusion of young and aged HVJ (Sendai virus): A model of membrane fusion

Summary Young and aged HVJ virions differ structurally and morphologically due to changes that occur during aging in vitro or in ovo. Young virions soon after their budding off are rodshaped, rigid and relatively uniform in size, whereas virions that have aged in vitro after their formation are round, nonrigid and variable in size. These changes during aging seem to be due to the variation of M protein, a skeletal protein that is associated with both the envelope membrane proteins and nucleocapsid strands in the virions. The capacities for virion-to-virion fusion of young and aged virions were compared to clarify the relation between the membrane fusion and membrane-associating skeletal proteins. On treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG), aged virions readily fused, forming large virion vesicles, but young virions were resistant to fusion. Further, aged virions fused even on incubation at 37°C without the fusogen. Thus the capacity for virion-to-virion fusion evidently increases during aging of virions. This result suggests that skeletal proteins associating with the biological membrane are important for preventing membrane fusion, and that virion-to-virion fusion is a good model system for use in studies on the mechanism of membrane fusion.     

Neuroprotective properties of cannabinoids against oxidative stress: role of the cannabinoid receptor CB1

Neuroprotective effects have been described for many cannabinoids in several neurotoxicity models. However, the exact mechanisms have not been clearly understood yet. In the present study, antioxidant neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids and the involvement of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) were analysed in detail employing cell-free biochemical assays and cultured cells. As it was reported for oestrogens that the phenolic group is a lead structure for antioxidant neuroprotective effects, eight compounds were classified into three groups. Group A: phenolic compounds that do not bind to CB1. Group B: non-phenolic compounds that bind to CB1. Group C: phenolic compounds that bind to CB1. In the biochemical assays employed, a requirement of the phenolic lead structure for antioxidant activity was shown. The effects paralleled the protective potential of group A and C compounds against oxidative neuronal cell death using the mouse hippocampal HT22 cell line and rat primary cerebellar cell cultures. To elucidate the role of CB1 in neuroprotection, we established stably transfected HT22 cells containing CB1 and compared the protective potential of cannabinoids with that observed in the control transfected HT22 cell line. Furthermore, oxidative stress experiments were performed in cultured cerebellar granule cells, which were derived either from CB1 knock-out mice or from control wild-type littermates. The results strongly suggest that CB1 is not involved in the cellular antioxidant neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids.     

Fusion and infection of influenza and Sendai viruses as modulated by dextran sulfate: a comparative study

We have directly compared the effect of two types of dextran sulfate with distinct molecular weights (500 kDa and 5 kDa) on the fusion activity and infectivity of both Sendai and influenza viruses, two lipid-enveloped viruses that differ in their routes of entry into target cells. To correlate membrane merging and infectivity MDCK cells were used as targets for the viruses in both approaches. In either case pronounced inhibition of virus–cell interactions by dextran sulfate was only observed at low pH, even though Sendai virus fuses maximally at pH 7.4. Although membrane merging could not be fully abolished, the inhibitory effect was always greater when the higher molecular weight dextran sulfate was used. The presence of this residual fusion activity, that could not be reduced even with high concentrations of agent, suggests that a limited number of binding sites for dextran sulfate may exist on the viral envelopes. The compounds also inhibited fusion of bound virions, and all results could be reproduced using erythrocyte ghosts as target membranes in the fusion assay, instead of MDCK cells. In agreement with these observations only the infectivity of influenza virus (which requires a low pH-dependent step to enter target cells) was affected by dextran sulfate, again the higher molecular weight compound showing a more pronounced inhibitory effect.     

Fusion of Sendai virus with vesicles of oligomerizable lipids: a microcalorimetric analysis of membrane fusion

Sendai virus fuses efficiently with small and large unilamellar vesicles of the lipid 1,2-di-n-hexadecyloxypropyl-4- (beta-nitrostyryl) phosphate (DHPBNS) at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, as shown by lipid mixing assays and electron microscopy. However, fusion is strongly inhibited by oligomerization of the head groups of DHPBNS in the bilayer vesicles. The enthalpy associated with fusion of Sendai virus with DHPBNS vesicles was measured by isothermal titration microcalorimetry, comparing titrations of Sendai virus into (i) solutions of DHPBNS vesicles (which fuse with the virus) and (ii) oligomerized DHPBNS vesicles (which do not fuse with the virus), respectively. The observed heat effect of fusion of Sendai virus with DHPBNS vesicles is strongly dependent on the buffer medium, reflecting a partial charge neutralization of the Sendai F and HN proteins upon insertion into the negatively-charged vesicle membrane. No buffer effect was observed for the titration of Sendai virus into oligomerized DHPBNS vesicles, indicating that inhibition of fusion is a result of inhibition of insertion of the fusion protein into the target membrane. Fusion of Sendai virus with DHPBNS vesicles is endothermic and entropy-driven. The positive enthalpy term is dominated by heat effects resulting from merging of the protein-rich viral envelope with the lipid vesicle bilayers rather than by the fusion of the viral with the vesicle bilayers per se.     

仙台病毒核衣壳蛋白基因的克隆与原核表达

目的利用原核表达系统表达仙台病毒(Sendai Virus,SV)核衣壳蛋白。方法根据GenBank上发表的仙台病毒(Sendai Virus,SV)核衣壳蛋白基因序列,设计并合成一对引物,通过RT-PCR扩增出核衣壳蛋白全长cDNA序列,将其克隆至原核表达载体pET-30a,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)PlysS,于37℃1mmol/LIPTG条件下诱导表达,大肠杆菌裂解物经SDS-PAGE分析,在相对分子质量约60×103处出现一新蛋白带,与预期目的蛋白分子量相符。结果Western blot检测表明,表达产物能与兔抗SV阳性血清发生特异性反应,出现单一反应带,表明其具有免疫原性。结论为建立以重组NP蛋白为诊断抗原检测SV奠定基础。     

Effect of novel porphyrazine photosensitizers on normal and tumor brain cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved procedure for targeting tumor cells. Though several different photosensitizers have been developed, there is still much demand for novel photosensitizers with improved properties. In this study we aim to characterize the accumulation, localization and dark cytotoxicity of the novel photosensitizers developed in‐house derivatives of porphyrazines ( pz I‐IV) in primary murine neuronal cells, as well as to identify the concentrations at which pz still effectively induces death in glioma cells yet is nontoxic to nontransformed cells. The study shows that incubation of primary neuronal and glioma cells with pz I‐IV leads to their accumulation in both types of cells, but their rates of internalization, subcellular localization and dark toxicity differ significantly. Pz II was the most promising photosensitizer. It efficiently killed glioma cells while remaining nontoxic to primary neuronal cells. This opens up the possibility of evaluating pz II for experimental PDT for glioma.      

仙台病毒F基因的克隆及原核表达

目的利用原核表达系统表达仙台病毒(Sendai Virus)F蛋白主要抗原片段FP(S),并对表达产物进行免疫学初步研究。方法根据GenBank公布的仙台病毒F蛋白(gi:9627219)的基因序列设计特异性引物,通过RT-PCR扩增出F基因的主要抗原片段FP(S),插入pMD-18-T载体中,鉴定正确后克隆入pQE31原核表达载体中,将鉴定正确的pQE31-FP(S)转化大肠埃希菌M15,IPTG诱导表达,对大肠埃希菌裂解物进行SDS-PAGE和Western-blot验证。结果大肠埃希菌表达的FP(S)相对分子质量约26×103,与预期相符;能与SeV阳性血清发生特异性反应,出现单一条带。结论原核表达的FP(S)蛋白有良好的抗原性,为检测仙台病毒抗体的ELISA检测方法的研究奠定了基础。     

Studies on antiviral glycosides. II. Mode of action for virucidal effects on Sendai virus

Treatment of Sendai virus with $\text{p-(sec-}\text{butyl)-phenyl-6-chloro-6-deoxy-β-}\text{d}\text{-glucopyranoside}$, followed by freezing and thawing resulted in a loss of hemolytic and cell fusion activities as well as infectivity without affecting hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities. The anti-hemolytic activity of this compound was reversed by the addition of phosphatidyl choline to the virus samples. $\text{p-}\text{Azidophenyl-6-chloro-6-deoxy-β-}\text{d}\text{-[}{}^3\text{H]glucopyranoside}$ was successfully used for photoaffinity labeling of a specific virion site, and we confirmed the affected site of the glucoside to be the lipid components in the viral envelopes.     

Developmental changes of neuron-specific enolase mRNA in primary cultures of rat neurons

1. The level of mRNAs for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and nonneuronal enolase (NNE) was studied in developing rat brain and in pure neuronal cultures of corresponding ages treated or not treated with triiodothyronine (T3). 2. In brain cortices both messages are already detectable at the earliest age (embryonal day 16; E16). During development the mRNA for NNE remains at a steady level, with a transient decline at postnatal day 5 (P5). 3. On the other hand, NSE mRNA follows a biphasic curve: the signal increases threefold from E-16 to P0 and threefold from P5 to P18, with a plateau between P0 and P5. 4. In neuronal cultures the NNE message is present at a constant level until day 10 and declines sharply thereafter, while in T3-treated cultures it reaches a minimum beforehand. 5. The NSE mRNA, on the other hand, increases continuously throughout the whole culture life span, and a slightly higher level is observed in T3-treated cells during the first ten days.     

Characterization of nuclear gangliosides in rat brain: concentration, composition, and developmental changes

Nuclear gangliosides were characterized using two distinct fractions of large (N1) and small (N2) nuclear populations from rat brain. The ganglioside concentration of N1 nuclei from adult rat brain was 0.92 microg sialic acid/mg protein, which was about 3.8 times higher than that of N2 nuclei. N1 and N2 nuclear gangliosides showed similar compositional profiles; they contained major gangliosides of GM1, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b, with GM3 in lesser amounts. c-Series gangliosides such as GT3, GQ1c, and GP1c were also detected in both nuclear preparations. Nuclear localization of gangliosides was confirmed by immunofluorescence with anti-GM1 antibody, cholera toxin B subunit, and c-series ganglioside-specific monoclonal antibody A2B5. Developmental changes of nuclear gangliosides were examined using rats of different ages ranging from embryonic day 14 (E14) to postnatal 7 weeks. The concentration of N1 nuclear gangliosides changed only slightly during development and did not correlate with that of whole-brain gangliosides. The developmental pattern of ganglioside composition of N1 nuclei was also distinguished from that of microsomal membranes; the ganglioside changes in N1 nuclei included reduced expression of di- and polysialogangliosides at E16 and higher proportions of GM3 at early and late stages of the period. These findings suggest that gangliosides in nuclear membranes are developmentally regulated in a distinct manner in brain cells.     

Redistribution of intramembrane particles of human erythrocytes induced by HVJ (Sendai virus): A prerequisite for the virus-induced cell fusion

Aggregation of intramembrane particles of human erythrocytes was found to be induced by HVJ (Sendai virus) under conditions which lead to cell fusion. Degree of polyerythrocyte formation was compared under a variety of conditions with extent of cluster formation observed with the same preparations. Both structural changes of the membranes, ie, fusion and clustering of the particles, behaved very similarly under widely different virus-to-cell ratios and over the time course of cell fusion. Furthermore, by inclusion of high concentrations of antispectrin antibodies within the ghosts, inhibition of clustering of intramembrane particles and hindrance of virus-induced cell fusion were found to occur simultaneously. Antibodies by themselves did not induce aggregation of particles under isotonic conditions, whereas particle clustering could be induced under hypotonic conditions at antibody concentrations causing partial cross-linking of spectrin molecules. In conclusion, clustering of intramembrane particles seems to be required for virus-induced fusion of human erythrocytes.     

仙台病毒血凝素神经氨酸酶在哺乳动物细胞中的转录和翻译

仙台病毒的血凝素神经氨酸酶 (HN)在COS 7细胞中得到了表达。将具有表达功能的质粒转入非洲绿猴肾细胞LLCMK2 中 ,在抗生素筛选压力下连续传代 ,获得了具有抗生素抗药性的细胞系 ,表明HN基因已整合到该细胞的染色体中。尽管核酸酶S1实验结果表明 ,这些抗药性细胞内有大量HNmRNA的转录 ,但非直接免疫荧光和放射性免疫沉淀的结果却显示 ,细胞表面和细胞内部的HN蛋白的表达量很低。而仙台病毒持续感染的LLCMK2 细胞中却有大量的HN蛋白存在。这种转录与翻译不一致的现象 ,表明某些病毒因子对HN基因mRNA转录本的加工或翻译可能有正调控作用。同时也说明 ,在外源基因的表达过程中 ,没有可测定的表达蛋白也不一定就是没有该基因的转录。     

Detection of the presenilin 1 COOH-terminal fragment in the extracellular compartment: a release enhanced by apoptosis

Mutations in gene encoding presenilin 1 (PS1) are responsible for the majority of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) cases. We studied PS1 localization in HEK293 cells and in primary neurons obtained from rat cortex and hippocampus. We first demonstrated that PS1-CTF, but neither PS1-FL nor PS1-NTF, is released into the medium as a soluble and membrane-associated form. After induction of apoptosis with staurosporine (Sts), we observed a dramatic increase in the level of PS1-CTF in the medium, both in HEK293 and in primary neurons. Immunocytochemical analysis suggested that the release of PS1-CTF might occur via membrane shedding. Abeta(1-42) treatment reduced PS1-CTF extracellular levels. This decrease was strongly associated to an impaired secretion of sAPP fragments, thus suggesting a role of PS1-CTF in the control of trafficking and generation of APP fragments.     

A new method for reconstitution of highly fusogenic sendai virus envelopes

A new way for reconstituting highly fusogenic Sendai virus envelopes is described. As opposed to previously described methods, in the present one the detergent (Triton X-100) is removed by direct addition of SM-2 Bio-beads to the detergent solubilized mixture of the viral phospholipids and glycoproteins, thus avoiding the long dialysis step. The vesicles obtained in the present work resemble, in their composition, size and features, envelopes of intact Sendai virus particles. The present method allows the enclosure of low and high molecular weight material within the reconstituted viral envelopes.