Calcium-dependent proliferation of NG108-15 neuroblastoma cells

While there is increasing evidence that Ca2+ plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation, the precise mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated so far. In order to gain insight into how Ca2+ controls cell division, the rate of proliferation, cell volume, viability and attachment to the culture support were measured in NG108-15 neuroblastoma cells in the presence of various extracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]o). Culture medium [Ca2+]o was decreased from 1.8 mmol/l to various values down to 1 micromol/l with EGTA. The rate of cell proliferation was almost independent of [Ca2+]o between 1.8 mmol/l and 45 micromol/l. It was decreased by about 50% at 12 umol/l Ca2+ and was almost zero in the presence of 1 micromol/l Ca2+. As we hawe shown previously (Rouzaire-Dubois and Dubois 1998) long-term hypertonicity increased the cell volume and decreased the rate of proliferation. The effects of hypertonicity and decrease in [Ca2+]o on cell proliferation were synergistic and can be described by cell size-dependent and independent mechanisms, respectively. Relative to control conditions (1.8 mmol/l Ca2+), decreases in [Ca2+]o to 12 and 1 micromol/l decreased the cell viability to 76 and 52% and the cell adhesion to dishes to 16 and 3%, respectively. Altogether, these results indicate that the effects of alteration in [Ca2+]o and cell size on neuroblastoma cell proliferation are independent and act on different signalling pathways controlling cell division.     

Synanceia quinque,a new species of stonefish (Synanceiidae) from Borneo and Flores

A new species of stonefish, Synanceia quinque (Synanceiidae) is described on the basis of two specimens (61.5–84.4 mm standard length) collected off Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia and Flores, Indonesia. The new species is characterized by 12 pectoral-fin rays, and is most similar to Synanceia alula Eschmeyer and Rama-Rao 1973 (11 pectoral-fin rays in the latter vs. 14 or more in other congeners). Other characters distinguishing S. quinque from S. alula include numbers of pelvic-fin rays [I, 5 in the former vs. I, 3 or 4 (usually I, 4) in the latter], gill rakers (0 + 4 or 5 vs. 0 or 1 + 7), and five preopercular spines/skin flaps (upper three spines relatively well developed, lower two rudimentary) (vs. four preopercle spines, fifth spine or skin flap absent). An updated key to species of Synanceia is provided.

     

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of stonustoxin, a protein lethal factor isolated from the stonefish (Synanceja horrida) venom

Crystals of stonustoxin have been obtained and diffract to 3.4 A resolution. Stonustoxin is a protein lethal factor isolated from the venom of the stonefish, Synanceja horrida. The crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P422, with unit cell constants a = b = 109.0 A, c = 245.7 A. A native stonustoxin molecule has two subunits, designated alpha and beta, respectively, and there is one stonustoxin molecule per asymmetric unit.     

GTP analogues cause release of the alpha subunit of the GTP binding protein, GO, from the plasma membrane of NG108-15 cells

Incubation of membranes of neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid, NG108-15 cells with GDP beta S followed by immunoblotting of resolved membrane and supernatant fractions with specific anti-peptide antisera showed essentially all of the alpha subunit of Go to be associated with the membrane. Similar experiments with poorly hydrolyzed analogues of GTP caused release of a significant fraction (some 50% within 60 minutes) of Go alpha into the supernatant. This was not mimicked by analogues of ATP. Antisera directed against peptides corresponding to the extreme N and C-termini of GO alpha demonstrated that the released polypeptide was not proteolytically clipped. These experiments show that the alpha subunit of GO need not be invariably bound to the plasma membrane and that guanine nucleotide activation can release the alpha subunit of GO from its site of membrane attachment.     

Different modes of growth cone collapse in NG 108-15 cells

In the fundamental process of neuronal path-finding, a growth cone at the tip of every neurite detects and follows multiple guidance cues regulating outgrowth and initiating directional changes. While the main focus of research lies on the cytoskeletal dynamics underlying growth cone advancement, we investigated collapse and retraction mechanisms in NG108-15 growth cones transiently transfected with mCherry-LifeAct and pCS2+/EMTB-3XGFP for filamentous actin and microtubules, respectively. Using fluorescence time lapse microscopy we could identify two distinct modes of growth cone collapse leading either to neurite retraction or to a controlled halt of neurite extension. In the latter case, lateral movement and folding of actin bundles (filopodia) confine microtubule extension and limit microtubule-based expansion processes without the necessity of a constantly engaged actin turnover machinery. We term this previously unreported second type fold collapse and suggest that it marks an intermediate-term mode of growth regulation closing the gap between full retraction and small scale fluctuations.     

Evidence for a GTP-dependent increase in membrane permeability for calcium in NG108-15 microsomes

The effect of GTP on Ca2+ uptake and release was studied in a microsomal fraction isolated from neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells. GTP did not alter the ATP-dependent initial uptake of Ca2+ but markedly enhanced the efflux of Ca2+ from microsomes. GTP-dependent Ca2+ release requires the presence of millimolar concentration of Mg2+. The effect of GTP was not mimicked by other nucleotides and was competitively blocked by the thiophosphate analogue of GTP, GTP gamma S but not by the non-hydrolyzable nucleotide GMP-PNP. Addition of an inhibiting concentration of GTP gamma S after completion of GTP-induced calcium release did not result in a re-uptake of Ca2+, showing the irreversibility of the releasing effect of GTP. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis of Ca2+-dependent GTP-induced opening of a channel responsible for vectorial transport of Ca2+ ions from one intracellular compartment to another. A model is proposed suggesting that the GTP-binding protein is a GTP-specific diacylglycerol kinase.     

Neurosteroids alter glutamate-induced changes in neurite morphology of NG108-15 cells

Activation of the NMDA receptor leads to increased intracellular Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) which induces outgrowth of and morphologic changes in the neurites of the NG108-15 cell line. This effect can be blocked by antagonists for this glutamate receptor subtype (e.g. ifenprodil or AP5). We have previously shown that nanomolar concentrations of various neurosteroids modulate ifenprodil binding to the NMDA receptor. To investigate whether this interaction affects the functioning of the receptor, we studied the effect of 24 and 48 h of pregnenolone sulphate (PS) or pregnanolone sulphate (3alpha5betaS) on glutamate-stimulated NG108-15 cells. Unexpectedly, the neurosteroids themselves had an inhibitory effect on glutamate-induced changes in neurite patterns. This effect was comparable to that of ifenprodil or AP5. Moreover, the effect of combined treatment with 3alpha5betaS and ifenprodil on neurite morphology indicated a functional interaction between the substances. Interestingly, PS induced cell detachment over time, an effect that was further enhanced by ifenprodil. Cell detachment was also seen after 48 h of treatment with 3alpha5betaS; however, the effect was blocked by ifenprodil and weaker than that of PS. The interaction with the NR2B-selective antagonist ifenprodil indicates that this NMDA receptor subunit may be involved in neurosteroid-induced NG108-15 cell detachment.     

Prostaglandin El induces an inward current in voltage-clamped NG108-15 cells

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on the membrane current of whole-cell voltage-clamped NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells. Perforated patch was used. The membrane current at -70 mV (leakage current) and the current-voltage curve produced by ramp pulses from -70 to 0 mV were recorded; from the I-V curve, the conductance of the leakage current and its reversal potential were determined. Bath application of PGE1 (22 nM-3 microM) produced an inward current accompanied by a reversible conductance increase. The PGE1 effect varied greatly from cell to cell. In a group of 11 differentiated cells, the inward current induced by 0.2 microM PGE1 was on average 171.1 +/- 49.8 pA, the conductance increased 2.66 +/- 0.50-fold and the reversal potential shifted by + 13.2 +/- 4.0 mV. The average values observed with 22 nM and 3 microM PGE1 were similar. The cell-permeable cAMP analog CPT-cAMP (0.5 mM) acted like PGE1. In 9 out of 16 cells, the PGE1 effect did not disappear and was not even noticeably reduced when the NaCl in the bath was replaced by N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG). The PGE1 effect was also seen in Ca2(+)-free NMDG bath but vanished when NMDG was replaced by glucose. It is concluded that PGE1, probably acting via intracellular cAMP, opens non-selective cation channels with large pore diameters which allow the passage of big organic cations.     

Flavonoids from the leaves of Diospyros kaki reduce hydrogen peroxide-induced injury of NG108-15 cells

Flavonoids from the leaves of Diospyros kaki L (FLDK-P70) are main therapeutic components of NaoXingQing, which is a novel and patented Traditional Chinese Medicine drug used for the treatment of syndrome of apoplexy for years in China. The present study investigated the effects of FLDK-P70 on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis-like damage of NG108-15 cells. Pretreatment of cells with FLDK-P70 alleviated H2O2-induced cell injury and apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 expression and improving redox imbalance as indicated by the alleviation of the decline in the intracellular endogenous antioxidants: glutathione and glutathione peroxidase as well as catalase, with the decrease of the leak of lactate dehydrogenase and the reduction of the accumulation of malondialdehyde. These results indicate that FLDK-P70 may be potentially used in the prevention and treatment of ischemia/reperfusion injury and other neurodegenerative disease. Upregulating bcl-2 and improving cellular redox state by FLDK-P70 may play critical roles in attenuating oxidative injury.     

Xestospongin B, a competitive inhibitor of IP3-mediated Ca2+ signalling in cultured rat myotubes, isolated myonuclei, and neuroblastoma (NG108-15) cells

Xestospongin B, a macrocyclic bis-1-oxaquinolizidine alkaloid extracted from the marine sponge Xestospongia exigua, was highly purified and tested for its ability to block inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3))-induced Ca(2+) release. In a concentration-dependent manner xestospongin B displaced [(3)H]IP(3) from both rat cerebellar membranes and rat skeletal myotube homogenates with an EC(50) of 44.6 +/- 1.1 microM and 27.4 +/- 1.1 microM, respectively. Xestospongin B, depending on the dose, suppressed bradykinin-induced Ca(2+) signals in neuroblastoma (NG108-15) cells, and also selectively blocked the slow intracellular Ca(2+) signal induced by membrane depolarization with high external K(+) (47 mM) in rat skeletal myotubes. This slow Ca(2+) signal is unrelated to muscle contraction, and involves IP(3) receptors. In highly purified isolated nuclei from rat skeletal myotubes, Xestospongin B reduced, or suppressed IP(3)-induced Ca(2+) oscillations with an EC(50) = 18.9 +/- 1.35 microM. In rat myotubes exposed to a Ca(2+)-free medium, Xestospongin B neither depleted sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores, nor modified thapsigargin action and did not affect capacitative Ca(2+) entry after thapsigargin-induced depletion of Ca(2+) stores. Ca(2+)-ATPase activity measured in skeletal myotube homogenates remained unaffected by Xestospongin B. It is concluded that xestospongin B is an effective cell-permeant, competitive inhibitor of IP(3) receptors in cultured rat myotubes, isolated myonuclei, and neuroblastoma (NG108-15) cells.     

Specific reduction of delta-opioid receptor binding in transfected NG108-15 cells.

We have recently identified and sequenced the cDNA for an opioid-binding protein with homologies to cell adhesion molecules (OBCAM) (Schofield, P. R., McFarlard, K. C., Hayflick, J. S., Wilcox, J. N., Cho, T. M., Roy, S., Lee, N. M., Loh, H. H., and Seeburg, P. H. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 489-495). Several lines of evidence using antibodies suggest that OBCAM may play a functional role in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma cells, a useful model system that contains a homogeneous population of delta-opioid receptors. A logical extension of this research is to further test this hypothesis. As part of this study, NG108-15 cells were stably transfected with either sense or antisense sequences of a portion of pROM, the rat cDNA for OBCAM. [3H] Diprenorphine binding was greatly reduced in antisense-transfected cells relative to non-transfected cells. Binding to alpha 2-adrenergic, muscarinic, and insulin receptors was unaffected. These results further support the notion that OBCAM or its analogue is part (or a subunit) of an opioid receptor. Furthermore, our observation of an apparently specific reduction in opioid binding in these transfected cells suggests that they may provide a novel genetic approach for studying regulation of the opioid receptor in this defined cell line.     

Activation of phospholipase D by sphingoid bases in NG108-15 neural-derived cells

Recent studies suggest that signal-dependent formation of phosphatidic acid by phospholipase D-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is a novel trans-membrane signaling pathway in mammalian cells. We here demonstrate that sphingosine, as well as some other long chain bases, activates phospholipase D in neural-derived NG108-15 cells. Sphingosine potently stimulated phosphatidic acid and, in the presence of ethanol, phosphatidylethanol formation. (Phosphatidylethanol is a nonphysiological phospholipid which is characteristically produced by phospholipase D in the presence of ethanol.) Elevated phosphatidic acid levels were accompanied by increased phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol production and a decrease in diacylglycerol levels. Sphingosine stimulated phospholipase D activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. A long aliphatic chain and a free 2-amino group were important structural requirements for the activation of phospholipase D by sphingosine-related molecules. We propose that phospholipase D may constitute an important cellular target for sphingosine action under both physiological and pathological circumstances.     

Enkephalin dimers: Regulation of cyclic AMP levels in NG108-15 cells

Intracellular cyclic AMP levels were determined for dimeric and monomeric enkephalins interacting with PGE₁-stimulated NG108-15 cells. The dimeric pentapeptide enkephalin (DPE₂), [D-Ala², Leu⁵ -NH-CH₂]₂, displaying very high affinity (K = 4.2 ± 0.3 nM^?1) for the δ-opiate receptor, inhibited cyclic AMP production by 70%. Its IC₅₀-value was between 0.1 and 0.2 nM, similar to that of the potent δ-agonist [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵] enkephalin (DADLE) with K = 1.0 ± 0.1 nM^?1. [D-Ala², Leu⁵] enkephalin amide (DALEA), which is the monomer of DPE₂, showed an IC₅₀ = 4 nM. The dimeric tetrapeptide enkephalin (DTE₁₂), [D-Ala², des-Leu⁵-NH-(CH₂)₆]₂ and its monomer [D-Ala², desLeu⁵] enkephalin amide (DAPEA) showed IC₅₀ = 2 and 20 nM, respectively. These results indicate that the DPE₂ and DTE₁₂ enkephalin dimers are potent δ-agonists.     

Stimulation of choline release from NG108-15 cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate.

The effects of the potent tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) metabolism were investigated in the neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cell line NG108-15. TPA (100 nM) stimulated by 150-200% the release into the medium of 3H radioactivity from cells that had been pre-labelled with [3H]choline. H.p.l.c. analysis of the medium revealed that TPA stimulated the release of only free [3H]choline (212 +/- 11% of control), without affecting such other labelled metabolites as [3H]phosphocholine and [3H]glycerophosphocholine. This effect was concentration-dependent, with a half-maximal effect obtained at 27.5 +/- 6.8 nM, and was observable as early as 5-10 min after exposure to TPA. The TPA-induced release of [3H]choline into the medium was accompanied by a small and variable decrease in cellular [3H]PtdCho (to 93 +/- 4% of control). However, the radioactivity associated with water-soluble cellular choline metabolites (mainly [3H]phosphocholine and [3H]glycerophosphocholine) remained unchanged. TPA also stimulated the release of [3H]choline derived from [3H]PtdCho that had been produced via the methylation pathway from [3H]methionine. These data suggest that phosphatidylcholine may serve as the source of free choline released from the cells in response to TPA. The possible enzymic mechanisms underlying this response are discussed.     

Effect of low external calcium on the ERG current of NG108-15 cells

K(+) currents through ERG (ether-à-go-go related gene) channels were recorded in whole-cell voltage clamped NG108-15 neuroblastomaxglioma hybrid cells. The channels were fully activated by low holding potential (V(H)=-20 mV) and long depolarizing prepulses. Hyperpolarizing pulses elicited inward currents which deactivated after reaching a peak. Lowering [Ca(2+)](o) from 5 to 1. 5 or 0.5 mM decreased tau(-1), the rate constant of deactivation. The effect can be explained by a shift of the tau(-1)(V) curve to more negative potentials caused by an increase in surface charge density. Plotting tau(-1) against [Ca(2+)](o) for different potentials yielded straight lines; their slope was independent of potential at -140 to -120 mV and decreased at more positive potentials. The time to peak curve and the maximum of the steady-state inward current were also shifted to more negative potentials. In addition, peak ERG inward current increased. Raising [Ca(2+)](o) from 5 to 10 mM accelerated deactivation and decreased the peak current. 5 mM Ba(2+) affected tau(-1) similarly and inhibited peak current more strongly whereas 5 mM Mg(2+) was less potent. As found by Faravelli et al. (J. Physiol. 496 (1996) 13), bath solutions devoid of divalent cations (0 Ca(2+), 0 Mg(2+), 0.1 or 1.1 mM EGTA) abolished deactivation almost completely. The phenomenon was seen with bath containing either 40 or 6.5 mM K(+). Its occurrence was favored by raising the temperature to 34 degrees C. It suggests a particular requirement of channel closing for Ca(2+).