二氢杨梅素通过下调JNK信号拮抗高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡

本文探讨二氢杨梅素(dihydromyricetin,DHM)是否通过下调JNK信号拮抗高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡.使用四甲基偶氮唑盐法(MTT)检测PC12细胞活力;流式细胞仪检测PC12细胞早、晚期凋亡及死亡细胞率;Hoechst 33258染色观察凋亡细胞核变化;蛋白质印迹法(Western blotting)检测PC12细胞凋亡相关蛋白(Bax、Bcl-2、cleaved-Caspase-3)和p-JNK蛋白的表达.结果发现,不同浓度的葡萄糖(4.5、9.0、13.5、18.0 g/L)分别处理PC12细胞24、48、72、96 h后,发现浓度为13.5 g/L的高糖处理PC12细胞72 h可明显改变细胞形态、降低细胞活力、增加细胞凋亡率,同时促凋亡蛋白(Bax、Caspase-3)表达增加、抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达降低,提示:长时间高糖处理可诱导PC12细胞凋亡.DHM(15μmol/L)预处理能明显改善高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡,降低高糖诱导的PC12细胞中JNK和p-JNK蛋白的表达;进一步用JNK激动剂(茴香霉素)处理能取消DHM对高糖诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用.综上,得出结论:DHM通过下调JNK信号拮抗高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡.     

风疹病毒(RV)包膜糖蛋白E1特异基因片段的原核表达

目的:表达风疹病毒(RV)E1特异肽段的重组融合蛋白.方法:经过双酶切鉴定和测序鉴定的阳,陛重组质粒载体pGEX-2T/E1-N,转化到感受态大肠杆菌BL21后,用异丙基-β-D硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导其表达,并对诱导条件进行优化.用谷胱甘肽琼脂糖珠纯化重组融合蛋白,SDS-PAGE鉴定.结果:用IPTG可以诱导E1特异肽段的重组融合蛋白表达,37℃诱导时,最佳诱导剂浓度为1 mmol/L,最佳诱导时间为4h.诱导温度从37℃降至16℃时,重组融合蛋白以可溶性形式表达,用谷胱甘肽琼脂糖珠纯化获得了纯化的重组融合蛋白.结论:利用原核表达系统可以获得纯化的风疹病毒E1特异肽段的重组融合蛋白.     

骨桥蛋白RGD黏附序列多拷贝短肽的表达、纯化及生物学活性测定

目的:用大肠杆菌表达骨桥蛋白RGD黏附序列6拷贝短肽,经分离纯化后检测其生物学活性.方法:运用基因重组技术,将骨桥蛋白RGD黏附序列的核酸片段首尾相连,与携带GST编码序列的原核表达载体连接构建融合蛋白表达质粒pGEX-3X-RGD.将重组质粒转化宿主菌后,对诱导融合蛋白表达的条件进行优化.表达产物GST-RGD经谷胱甘肽-亲和层析纯化后,分别检测其对骨桥蛋白诱导的血管平滑肌细胞黏附和迁移的影响.结果:所构建的含有6个拷贝短肽的GST-RGD融合蛋白可在大肠杆菌中以包含体的形式进行表达.用十二烷基肌氨酸钠变性溶解包含体及透析复性后,经亲和层析可得到高纯度的GST-RGD(6)融合蛋白.GST-RGD(6)融合蛋白能特异性的抑制骨桥蛋白诱导的血管平滑肌细胞的黏附和迁移.结论:骨桥蛋白RGD黏附序列6拷贝短肽可在大肠杆菌中高效表达,纯化的GST-RGD融合蛋白具有抑制血管平滑肌细胞黏附和迁移的活性.     

胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(△N39)-R9神经营养活性和透过血脑屏障的研究

为了研究胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)在中枢神经系统疾病中的治疗应用,运用基因突变、蛋白质融合表达和蛋白质纯化技术获得分子质量较小的GDNF(△N39)活性片段.将HIV-1 Tat蛋白转导区(protein transduction domain,PTD)的9个碱性氨基酸49RKKRRQRRR57模拟物9个精氨酸(R9)与GDNF(△N39)活性片段融合表达,获得纯度达95%以上的GDNF(△N39)-R9融合蛋白.将GDNF、GDNF(△N39)、GDNF(△N39)-R9分别加入原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和转染GDNF受体GFRαl和Ret的PC12细胞中,观察它们的神经营养活性和毒性.运用脑微血管内皮细胞株B-Endo 3,观察GDNF(△N39)-R9蛋白穿越血管内皮细胞膜的功能;运用脑血管内皮细胞和Matrigel铺板模拟血脑屏障,Transwell法检测Tat-GDNF(△N39)蛋白穿越脑血管内皮细胞和外周胶质膜的能力.结果显示:GDNF(△N39)-R9蛋白具有类似GDNF的神经营养活性,促进原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和稳定表达GFRα1和Ret受体的PC12-GFRα1-Ret细胞株的存活,没有显示毒性,并且能很好地穿过脑微血管内皮细胞层和模拟的血脑屏障.     

二苯乙烯苷通过抑制NF-κB的激活减轻MPP+诱导 的PC12细胞凋亡

目的:探讨2,3,5,4’-四羟基二苯乙烯-2-o-β-D-葡萄糖苷(2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystibene-2-o-β-D-glucoside,TSG)对1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子(1-methy-4-phenylpyridinium,MPP+)诱导PC12细胞凋亡的影响及其可能机制。方法:四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)比色试验检测PC12细胞活性;Hoechst33258染色法测定细胞凋亡;Westernblotting检测NF-κB(P65)和IκBα蛋白的表达。结果:MPP+(300μmol/L)作用于PC12细胞24h后,与正常对照组比较,细胞存活率降低(53.3±3.4%)(P<0.01);细胞染色质固缩,细胞核呈致密浓染。TSG(1,5,10μmol/L)预处理24h后,细胞存活率增加(60.8±1.9%),(70.1±1.8%)(P<0.01),(81.2±1.9%)(P<0.01);细胞核凝聚明显减少,且具有量一效关系。另外,MPP+可使PC12细胞核中NF-κB(P65)蛋白表达升高,细胞浆中IκBα蛋白表达降低;与MPP+处理组细胞相比,TSG预处理后,PC12细胞核中高表达的NF-κB(P65)蛋白水平明显降低,细胞浆中低表达的IκBα蛋白水平升高。结论:TSG对MPP+诱导的PC12细胞凋亡具有浓度依赖性的抑制作用,其作用机制可能与抑制NF-κB的激活有关。     

胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(ΔN39)-R9神经营养活性和透过血脑屏障的研究

为了研究胶质细胞源性神经营养因子 (GDNF) 在中枢神经系统疾病中的治疗应用,运用基因突变、蛋白质融合表达和蛋白质纯化技术获得分子质量较小的GDNF(ΔN39)活性片段. 将HIV-1 Tat 蛋白转导区 (protein transduction domain,PTD) 的9个碱性氨基酸⁴⁹RKKRRQRRR⁵⁷模拟物9个精氨酸(R9)与GDNF(ΔN39)活性片段融合表达,获得纯度达95%以上的GDNF(ΔN39)-R9融合蛋白. 将GDNF、GDNF(ΔN39)、GDNF(ΔN39)-R9分别加入原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和转染GDNF受体GFRα1和Ret的PC12细胞中,观察它们的神经营养活性和毒性. 运用脑微血管内皮细胞株B-Endo 3,观察GDNF(ΔN39)-R9蛋白穿越血管内皮细胞膜的功能;运用脑血管内皮细胞和Matrigel铺板模拟血脑屏障,Transwell法检测Tat-GDNF(ΔN39)蛋白穿越脑血管内皮细胞和外周胶质膜的能力. 结果显示：GDNF(ΔN39)-R9蛋白具有类似GDNF的神经营养活性,促进原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和稳定表达GFRα1和Ret受体的PC12-GFRα1-Ret细胞株的存活,没有显示毒性,并且能很好地穿过脑微血管内皮细胞层和模拟的血脑屏障.     

鸡贫血病毒凋亡素基因的可溶性融合表达及抗肿瘤活性分析

为获得高效可溶表达的鸡贫血病毒凋亡素基因(CAV-Apoptin),根据大肠杆菌密码子偏爱性优化CAV-Apoptin基因序列,将其连接到含msyB伴侣基因的pBCX载体上,转化至大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)进行诱导表达,经SDS-PAGE鉴定后应用镍柱亲和层析纯化蛋白质,采用显微镜观察、CCK-8实验与DNA ladders测定其抗肿瘤细胞的活性。结果显示,成功构建大肠杆菌表达载体pBCX-CAV-Apoptin,在37℃正常培养条件下的大肠杆菌中得到大量可溶性表达产物,融合蛋白质分子量大小约为42 kDa,50 ml菌液即可获得1.5 mg左右的纯化重组蛋白,CCK-8实验结果显示纯化后的重组蛋白作用36 h后可对套氏淋巴瘤JEKO-1、REC-1细胞生长产生超过60%的抑制率;显微镜观察与DNA ladder实验证明重组蛋白可诱导JEKO-1、REC-1细胞的凋亡,对HUVEC没有诱导凋亡的作用。免疫印迹分析表明重组凋亡素对JEKO-1细胞诱导了Caspase-3的激活,而对Caspase-8的表达没有影响。研究表明融合蛋白msyB-CAV-Apoptin可达到高效可溶表达,且表达产物具有特异抗肿瘤活性。     

肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)cDNA的克隆、表达和活性测定

肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体 (TRAIL)能选择性诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡 .为利用基因工程技术获得重组TRAIL蛋白可溶性片段 (sTRAIL) ,设计 1对引物 .利用PCR技术特异性扩增出sTRAIL的cDNA ,克隆于质粒pGEM 3Zf( )的EcoRⅠ和PstⅠ位点 .经测序证明序列正确后克隆于表达质粒pBV2 2 0的EcoRⅠ和PstⅠ位点 ,转化大肠杆菌DH5α .转化菌株经温度诱导 ,SDS PAGE检测和Western印迹鉴定 ,获得重组sTRAIL的高水平非融合表达菌株 .表达量占菌体总蛋白的 2 0 % .对其表达产物进行了初步纯化 ,SDS PAGE结果显示纯度可达 90 %以上 .用L92 9细胞测定其生物学活性表明 ,重组蛋白在体外能明显诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡     

高糖通过诱导自噬障碍促进心肌细胞H9c2凋亡

目的探讨自噬对高糖（HG）诱导的心肌细胞H9c2凋亡的影响。 方法MTT法检测H9c2细胞活力;hoechst33258染色法检测凋亡细胞;Western Blot检测H9c2细胞促凋亡蛋白Bax和自噬相关蛋白（Beclin-1和P62）的表达。各组的OD值和蛋白条带灰度值均采用析因设计的方差分析,各组间差异用单因素ANOVA分析。 结果HG能诱导H9c2细胞活力降低：12、24、48 mmol/L的HG细胞活力分别为Control组（100%）的[（79.5±2.23）%]（t = 3.143,P = 0.043）、[（54.6±3.08）%]（t = 12.425,P = 0.000）和[（37.2±2.59）%]（t = 13.761,P = 0.000）;与Control组（100%）比较,甘露醇等渗对照组的细胞活力值为[（101.0±1.27）%]（t = 0.012,P = 0.094）。HG诱导H9c2细胞hoechst33258阳性细胞增加,且能诱导促凋亡蛋白Bax表达增加：与Control组比较,12、24、48 mmol/L的HG处理组凋亡蛋白Bax/β-actin灰度值分别为（1.29±0.25,t = 2.32,P = 0.045）、（1.42±0.23,t = 10.247,P = 0.000）和（1.81±0.29,t = 16.324,P = 0.000）。HG诱导自噬障碍：与Control组比较,自噬相关蛋白Beclin-1/β-actin灰度值分别为（0.82±0.16,t = 4.243,P = 0.032）、（0.78±0.19,t = 11.341,P = 0.000）和（0.62±0.11,t = 13.455,P = 0.000）,P62蛋白/β-actin蛋白灰度值分别为（1.29±0.25,t = 4.442,P = 0.014）、（1.42±0.23,t = 13.341,P = 0.000）和（1.81±0.29,t = 15.851,P = 0.000）。自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素可逆转HG诱导的hoechst33258阳性细胞增加,且逆转HG诱导的Bax表达升高：与control组比较,HG组、HG和雷帕霉素共处理组、雷帕霉素组的Bax/β-actin灰度值分别为（1.51±0.31,t = 14.342,P = 0.000）、（1.42±0.23,t = 9.621,P = 0.004）和（1.81±0.12,t = 0.172,P = 0.124）。 结论HG可促进心肌细胞H9c2凋亡,且能诱导自噬障碍,自噬诱导剂的运用逆转了HG对H9c2细胞的凋亡作用,表明自噬障碍是HG诱导H9c2细胞凋亡的重要机制。     

BDNF RNA干扰在多巴胺能PC12细胞凋亡中的作用研究

目的：探讨脑源性神经营养因子（brain derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF）在PC12细胞凋亡中的作用。方法：设计并合成针对BDNF mRNA序列的小片段干扰RNA（siRNA）,利用lipofectamine 2000将siRNA转染入PC12细胞中或给与6-OHDA损伤,给与/不给予BDNF蛋白保护,采用定量PCR和免疫荧光法检测BDNF mRNA和蛋白表达水平;采用上清液乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）释放量测定和流式细胞仪法检测siRNA对细胞凋亡的影响。结果：转染siRNA的细胞的BDNF mRNA的表达量比正常组细胞减少73%,而转染作为对照的scrambled siRNA的细胞的BDNF mRNA的表达没有明显变化。BDNF RNA干扰与6-OHDA神经毒性一样可诱导PC12细胞的LDH释放和细胞凋亡。给予BDNF蛋白保护后细胞毒性减轻。结论：BDNF基因下调可以导致PC12细胞的凋亡,BDNF蛋白对PC12细胞有保护作用,为进一步进行动物体内研究奠定了基础。     

Identification of a Homophilic Binding Site in Immunoglobulin-Like Domain 2 of the Cell Adhesion Molecule L1

Abstract: The cell adhesion molecule L1 plays an important role in neural development, and mutations in human L1 have been implicated in X-linked hydrocephalus and related neurological diseases. We have previously demonstrated that recombinant proteins containing the second immunoglobulin-like domain (Ig2) of L1 contain both homophilic binding and neuritogenic activities. In this report, the involvement of L1 Ig2 in cell-cell adhesion and neuritogenesis was further evaluated in cell transfection studies. Transfectants expressing intact L1 were capable of undergoing L1-dependent self-aggregation and promoting neurite outgrowth from neural retinal cells. However, both activities were abolished in transfectants expressing L1Δ2, a mutant L1 with Ig2 deleted. In competition experiments, the wild-type Ig2 fusion protein inhibited L1-dependent cell aggregation, whereas an Ig2 fusion protein containing the hydrocephalus mutation R184Q did not. Oligopeptides flanking Arg¹⁸⁴ were therefore synthesized and assayed for their effects on L1-mediated cell-cell binding and neuritogenesis. The peptide L1-A, spanning the residues His¹⁷⁸ and Gly¹⁹¹, inhibited both L1- and Ig2 fusion protein-mediated homophilic binding. When neural retinal cells were cultured on substrate-coated Ig2 fusion protein, peptide L1-A also abolished L1-dependent neurite outgrowth. Substitutions of several charged residues and hydrophobic residues with alanine in peptide analogues led to the loss of inhibitory effects, suggesting that multiple amino acids might be involved in L1-L1 binding. Taken together, these results identify an L1 homophilic binding site within the sequence HIKQDERVTMGQNG of Ig2 and demonstrate the requirement of L1 homophilic binding in the promotion of neurite outgrowth.     

TAT-Mediated Protein Transduction of Nogo Extracellular Peptide 1-40 and its Biological Activity

Aim Nogo extracellular peptide 1-40 (NEP1-40), a Nogo-66 antagonistic peptide, is one of the potential candidates for therapeutic intervention after central nervous system injury. This study is focused on the generation of TAT-NEP1-40 fusion protein and its transducible effects and biological activity. Methods TAT-NEP1-40 fusion protein was expressed in vitro. Transducible effects of TAT-NEP1-40 were analyzed by using immunofluorescence staining or Western blot in vitro and in vivo. The biological activity of TAT-NEP1-40 was assessed by its effects against oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced PC12 cell damages. Results Our results showed that the TAT-NEP1-40 fusion protein was successfully expressed, purified, and refolded. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the delivery of TAT-NEP1-40 protein into PC12 cells and rat brains. OGD caused cell apoptosis or death, decreased cell viability, increased lactate dehydrogenase release in medium and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, all of which were prevented by the TAT-NEP1-40 fusion proteins when added exogenously to culture medium. In addition, TAT-NEP1-40 promoted neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells exposed to OGD. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the TAT-NEP1-40 can be successfully generated and efficiently transduced into PC12 cells and rat brains. The TAT-NEP1-40 can protect PC12 cells against OGD and promote neurite outgrowth. This finding suggests that the transducible TAT-NEP1-40 fusion protein offers a possibility of the development of novel therapy for cerebral injuries via delivery of the biologically active TAT-NEP1-40 fusion protein into injured sites. Qiang Wang and Xingchun Gou contributed equally to this article.     

PC12 cells utilize the homophilic binding site of L1 for cell-cell adhesion but L1-alphavbeta3 interaction for neurite outgrowth

Treatment of PC12 cells with nerve growth factor induces their differentiation into sympathetic neuron-like cells and the concomitant expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule L1, a member of the Ig superfamily. To investigate the mechanism of L1-stimulated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, substrate-immobilized fusion proteins containing different extracellular domains of L1 were assayed for their neuritogenic activity. Surprisingly, domain Ig2 of L1, which was previously found to contain both homophilic binding and neuritogenic activities, failed to promote neurite outgrowth. In contrast, L1-Ig6 stimulated neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. Despite this, homotypic binding of PC12 cells was significantly inhibited by antibodies against L1-Ig2, indicating that L1-L1 binding contributed to the intercellular adhesiveness of PC12 cells, but L1-stimulated neurite outgrowth depends on heterophilic interactions. Thus, PC12 cells provide a valuable model for the study of these two distinct functions of L1. Mutagenesis of L1-Ig6 highlighted the importance of the Arg-Gly-Asp motif in this domain for neuritogenesis. Inhibition studies using cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide and anti-integrin antibodies suggested the involvement of alphavbeta3 integrin. Furthermore, neurite outgrowth stimulated by L1-Ig6 was inhibited by lavendustin A and the MEK inhibitor PD98059, suggesting a signaling pathway that involves tyrosine kinase activation and the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.     

TAT-aFGF融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达及其生物活性测定

构建表达Tat与人酸性成纤维细胞生长因子（acidic fibroblast growth factor, aFGF）融合蛋白的重组质粒pET3c–Tat-aFGF14-154和pET3c-Tat-aFGF27-154,并转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中。37℃,l mmol/L的IPTG诱导4 hrs后,获得分子量约为18 kDa的融合蛋白,表达量分别占菌体总蛋白的42%和24%。利用阳离子交换（CM-Sepharose FF）、肝素亲和层析（Heparin-Sepharose CL-6B）以及分子筛（Sephadex G-25）联用的方法可获得纯度大于95%的目的蛋白,得率分别为93和78 mg/L。Tat-aFGF14-154及其对照蛋白aFGF14-154对Balb/c 3T3细胞有明显促细胞增殖的作用,最佳作用浓度分别为1280 ng/ml和160 ng/ml。而Tat-aFGF27-154 及其对照蛋白aFGF27-154则几乎没有促细胞增殖活性。免疫荧光分析结果表明,Tat-aFGF14-154及Tat-aFGF27-154均能穿过PC12、Balbc/3T3、HaCaT和海马神经元细胞的细胞膜,并主要定位于细胞浆中。此外,四种重组蛋白均能降低Aβ25-35对大鼠海马神经元细胞的毒性,在剂量为1000 ng/ml时,Tat-aFGF14-154、Tat-aFGF27-154、aFGF14-154及aFGF27-154细胞存活率分别为90.66%、81.87%、85.71%和78.02%,而Aβ25-35模型组的存活率仅为56.87%。     

Overproduction of biologically-active human nerve growth factor in Escherichia coli.

A gene coding for human nerve growth factor (hNGF) was constructed for expression under control of the trp promoter in E. coli. The plasmid pTRSNGF contained a synthetic hNGF gene fused, in frame, to the region encoding the beta-lactamase signal peptide. The plasmid pTRLNGF contained the same coding sequence as hNGF attached downstream from the N-terminal fragment of the trp L gene. E. coli cells harboring pTRSNGF produced an amount of hNGF constituting 4% of the total cellular protein, and removed the beta-lactamase signal peptide. The mature protein hNGF was biologically active in the PC12h bioassay for neurite outgrowth. This biological activity was comparable to that of authentic mouse NGF. E. coli cells harboring pTRLNGF produced an amount of fusion protein hNGF constituting 25% of the total cellular protein. Although the fusion protein hNGF formed inclusion bodies in cells, dissolved fusion protein hNGF was active in neurite outgrowth from PC12h cells.     

Neurotrophic effect of Semaphorin 4D in PC12 cells

Semaphorins provide crucial attractive and repulsive cues involved in axon guidance during neural development. Out of them, Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is enriched in the nervous and immune tissues, and acts as proliferative and survival factors of peripheral lymphocytes in the immune system, but is poorly understood in the nervous system. By using PC12 cells which are well known to differentiate into neural cells in response to nerve growth factor (NGF), we found that soluble forms of Sema4D had neurotrophic effects which were inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to Sema4D. Sema4D strikingly potentiated neurite outgrowth in the presence of 50 ng/ml NGF and increased sensitivity to NGF. Cells responded to very low concentrations of NGF in the presence of 1 nM Sema4D. Activation of following signal proteins, protein kinase C (PKC), L-type of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase mediated neurotrophic neurite-outgrowth action of Sema4D. These findings suggest a new function of Sema4D as a neurotrophic signal in PC12 cells.     

GTPase-deficient G alpha 16 and G alpha q induce PC12 cell differentiation and persistent activation of cJun NH2-terminal kinases.

Persistent stimulation of specific protein kinase pathways has been proposed as a key feature of receptor tyrosine kinases and intracellular oncoproteins that signal neuronal differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Among the protein serine/threonine kinases identified to date, the p42/44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases have been highlighted for their potential role in signalling PC12 cell differentiation. We report here that retrovirus-mediated expression of GTPase-deficient, constitutively active forms of the heterotrimeric Gq family members, G alpha qQ209L and G alpha 16Q212L, in PC12 cells induces neuronal differentiation as indicated by neurite outgrowth and the increased expression of voltage-dependent sodium channels. Differentiation was not observed after cellular expression of GTPase-deficient forms of alpha i2 or alpha 0, indicating selectivity for the Gq family of G proteins. As predicted, overexpression of alpha qQ209L and alpha 16Q212L constitutively elevated basal phospholipase C activity approximately 10-fold in PC12 cells. Significantly, little or no p42/44 MAP kinase activity was detected in PC12 cells differentiated with alpha 16Q212L or alpha qQ209L, although these proteins were strongly activated following expression of constitutively active cRaf-1. Rather, a persistent threefold activation of the cJun NH2-terminal kinases (JNKs) was observed in PC12 cells expressing alpha qQ209L and alpha 16Q212L. This level of JNK activation was similar to that achieved with nerve growth factor, a strong inducer of PC12 cell differentiation. Supportive of a role for JNK activation in PC12 cell differentiation, retrovirus-mediated overexpression of cJun, a JNK target, in PC12 cells induced neurite outgrowth. The results define a p42/44 MAP kinase-independent mechanism for differentiation of PC12 cells and suggest that persistent activation of the JNK members of the proline-directed protein kinase family by GTPase-deficient G alpha q and G alpha 16 subunits is sufficient to induce differentiation of PC12 cells.     

Laminin-1 and the RKRLQVQLSIRT Laminin-1 α1 Globular Domain Peptide Stimulate Matrix Metalloproteinase Secretion by PC12 Cells

Here we have investigated the ability of laminin-1 and specific laminin-1-derived synthetic peptides to stimulate neuronal cell matrix metalloproteinase secretion. Zymographic analysis of conditioned media from laminin-1-treated PC12 and NG108-15 cells revealed a 72-kDa matrix metalloproteinase which was not secreted by untreated cells. Laminin-1 α1 chain-derived synthetic peptides, AASIKVAVSADR (LAM-L) and RKRLQVQLSIRT (AG-73), also stimulated PC12 cell secretion of a 72-kDa matrix metalloproteinase. We further investigated the structural requirements of AG-73 for cell attachment, neurite outgrowth, and matrix metalloproteinase secretion using a series of AG-73 analogs that had single amino acids substituted with alanine. At the substrate levels tested, the AG-73 peptide promoted the adhesion of 67% of the PC12 cells and neurite outgrowth in 71% of the PC12 cells. Substitutions in any one of the amino acids within the central LQVQ sequence resulted in a large reduction in cell attachment whereas substitution in the carboxyl terminal proximal amino acids L, S, and R had little effect on attachment. Alanine substitution of any of the amino terminal proximal LQV amino acids and the carboxyl terminal L, I, and R residues resulted in a 65–91% reduction in neurite outgrowth. These data demonstrate that the sequence requirements for cell attachment and neurite outgrowth were not necessarily coupled but that the sequence requirements for neurite outgrowth and matrix metalloproteinase secretion were identical. We conclude that laminin-1 is able to stimulate neuronal cells to secrete a matrix metalloproteinase. Further, this study identifies the LQVXLXIR laminin-1 α1 globular domain peptide to be capable of stimulating both neurite outgrowth and matrix metalloproteinase secretion.     

Identification of active sequences in the L4a domain of laminin α5 promoting neurite elongation

Laminin α5 is an extracellular matrix protein containing multiple domains implicated in various biological processes, such as embryogenesis and renal function. In this study, we used recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides to identify amino acid residues within the short arm region of α5 that were critical for neurite outgrowth activity. The short arm of α5 contains three globular domains (LN, L4a, and L4b) and three rodlike elements (LEa, LEb, and LEc). Recombinant proteins comprised of the α5 short arm fused with a Fc tag produced in 293 cells were assayed for PC12 (pheochromocytoma) cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth activities. Although it did not have cell attachment activity, neurite outgrowth was promoted by the recombinant protein. To narrow the region involved in neurite outgrowth activity, two truncated recombinant proteins were produced in 293 cells. A recombinant protein lacking L4a and LEb lost activity. Furthermore, we synthesized 78 partially overlapping peptides representing most of the amino acid sequences of L4a and LEb. Of the peptides, A5-76 [mouse laminin α5 928-939 (TSPDLFRLVFRY) in L4a] exhibited neurite outgrowth activity. Mutagenesis studies showed that Phe(933) and Arg(934) were involved in neurite outgrowth activity. Moreover, inhibition assays using anti-integrin monoclonal antibodies showed that neurite outgrowth on the α5 short arm was partially mediated by integrin α1β1. However, the antibodies to integrin α1 and β1 did not inhibit neurite elongation on the A5-76 peptide. These results suggest that in addition to cellular interactions with the active site in the L4a domain, the binding of integrin α1β1 seems to modulate neurite elongation on the short arm of α5.