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D Langosch

Publications and source records attributed to D Langosch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Structure, diversity and synaptic localization of inhibitory glycine receptors.

The inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) mediates postsynaptic inhibition in spinal cord, brain stem and other regions of the vertebrate central nervous system. Biochemical and molecular approaches have identified different developmentally and regionally regulated GlyR isoforms that result from the differential expression of at least four genes coding for different variants of the ligand-binding alpha subunit. Molecular studies have allowed identification of GlyR subunit domains implicated in ligand binding, channel formation and receptor assembly. At the postsynaptic membrane, the GlyR colocalizes with a 93-kDa tubulin-binding peripheral membrane protein, gephyrin. Antisense inhibition of gephyrin expression prevents GlyR accumulation at postsynaptic membrane specialization. Thus, gephyrin is essential for postsynaptic receptor topology.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Importance of Arg-219 for correct biogenesis of alpha 1 homooligomeric glycine receptors.

The inhibitory glycine receptor is characterized by a pentameric arrangement of subunits with four predicted transmembrane segments (M1-M4) each. Here, we have mutagenized arginine residues located at both termini of the alpha 1 subunit segment, M2, which lines the receptor's anion channel. No glycine-gated channel formation could be detected in the plasma membrane of expressing cells for any of the mutants. In addition, mutating the arginine at the cytoplasmic terminus of M2 (R219) generated proteins which were only core-glycosylated, retained within intracellular compartments, and aggregated to high molecular weight complexes. Thus, residue R219, which corresponds to an arginine/lysine conserved in other ligand-gated ion channel polypeptides, is essential for correct biogenesis of the receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Residues within transmembrane segment M2 determine chloride conductance of glycine receptor homo- and hetero-oligomers.

We have expressed glycine receptor (GlyR) alpha and beta subunit cDNAs in HEK-293 cells to study the functional properties of homo- versus hetero-oligomeric GlyR channels. Dose-response curves of whole-cell currents in cells expressing alpha 1 subunits revealed an average Hill coefficient of h = 4.2. Co-expression with the beta subunit markedly increased glycine-gated whole-cell currents, which now exhibited a mean Hill coefficient of only h = 2.5. For alpha 1, alpha 2 and alpha 3 homo-oligomers, the main-state single-channel conductances were 86, 111 and 105 pS, respectively, recorded at symmetrical Cl- concentrations of 145 mM. The mutant alpha 1 G221A gave rise to a main-state of 107 pS. This indicates that the main-state of alpha homo-oligomers depends on residue 221 which is located within transmembrane segment M2. Importantly, the main-state conductances of alpha 1/beta, alpha 2/beta and alpha 3/beta hetero-oligomers were only 44, 54 and 48 pS, respectively. The latter values are similar to those found in spinal neurons, suggesting that native GlyRs are predominantly alpha/beta hetero-oligomers. Co-expression of alpha 1 with mutant beta subunits revealed that residues within and close to segment M2 of the beta subunit determine the conductance differences between homo- and hetero-oligomers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Impact of parental terminal cancer on latency-age children.

The underlying psychological and emotional components of distress were examined in 87 children with a parent in the terminal phase of cancer. Common fears, concerns, misperceptions, and behavioral consequences are analyzed, as are more severe psychological and behavioral reactions. Implications for psychoeducational parent-guidance intervention are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

The 93 kDa protein gephyrin and tubulin associated with the inhibitory glycine receptor are phosphorylated by an endogenous protein kinase.

The 93 kDa protein gephyrin is a tubulin binding peripheral membrane protein that is associated with the inhibitory glycine receptor and has been implicated in its anchoring at central synapses. Here, we demonstrate that gephyrin as well as co-purifying tubulin are phosphorylated by a kinase activity which is endogenous to highly purified glycine receptor preparations. This kinase phosphorylates serine and threonine residues and utilizes ATP, but not GTP, as phosphate donor. Its activity is not affected by various activators and/or inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinases, or protein kinase C. A five-fold stimulation of kinase activity was, however, observed in the presence of poly-lysine. Phosphorylation of gephyrin and/or tubulin might regulate receptor/cytoskeleton interactions at postsynaptic membrane specializations.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The atypical M2 segment of the beta subunit confers picrotoxinin resistance to inhibitory glycine receptor channels.

Purified preparations of the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) contain alpha and beta subunits, which share homologous primary structures and a common transmembrane topology with other members of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. Here, a beta subunit-specific antiserum was shown to precipitate the [3H]strychnine binding sites localized on alpha subunits from membrane extracts of both rat spinal cord and mammalian cells co-transfected with alpha and beta cDNAs. Further, inhibition of alpha homo-oligomeric GlyRs by picrotoxinin, a non-competitive blocker of ion flow, was reduced 50- to 200-fold for alpha/beta hetero-oligomeric receptors generated by cotransfection. Site-directed mutagenesis identified residues within the second predicted transmembrane segment (M2) of the beta subunit as major determinants of picrotoxinin resistance. These data implicate the M2 segment in blocker binding to and lining of the GlyR chloride channel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Primary structure and alternative splice variants of gephyrin, a putative glycine receptor-tubulin linker protein.

A 93 kd polypeptide associated with the mammalian inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) is localized at central synapses and binds with high affinity to polymerized tubulin. This protein, named gephyrin (from the Greek gamma epsilon phi upsilon rho alpha, bridge), is thought to anchor the GlyR to subsynaptic microtubules. Here we report its primary structure deduced from cDNA and show that corresponding transcripts are found in all rat tissues examined. In brain, at least five different gephyrin mRNAs are generated by alternative splicing. Expression of gephyrin cDNAs in 293 kidney cells yields polypeptides reactive with a gephyrin-specific antibody, which coprecipitate with polymerized tubulin. Thus, gephyrin may define a novel type of microtubule-associated protein involved in membrane protein-cytoskeleton interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The 93-kDa glycine receptor-associated protein binds to tubulin.

A peripheral membrane protein with a relative molecular mass of 93,000 Da is associated with cytoplasmic domains of the inhibitory glycine receptor of mammalian spinal cord. Here, evidence is given that this 93-kDa protein binds to polymerized tubulin. First, tubulin cofractionated with the 93-kDa protein upon affinity purification of the glycine receptor. Second, tubulin bound to the isolated 93-kDa protein in an overlay procedure. Third, in assays containing the purified glycine receptor, the 93-kDa protein as well as the glycine receptor alpha and beta subunits coassembled with tubulin and microtubules. The interaction of the 93-kDa protein with tubulin displayed high affinity (KD approximately 2.5 nM) and significant cooperativity (Hill coefficient approximately 2.1) and approached a stoichiometry of approximately 1:4 under saturating conditions. These data suggest that the 93-kDa protein anchors the glycine receptor at postsynaptic sites via binding to subsynaptic tubulin.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ion channel formation by synthetic transmembrane segments of the inhibitory glycine receptor--a model study.

The inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) of rat spinal cord contains an intrinsic transmembrane channel mediating agonist-gated anion flux. Here, synthetic peptides modelled after the predicted transmembrane domains M2 and M4 of its ligand-binding subunit were incorporated into lipid vesicle membranes and black lipid bilayers to analyze their channel forming capabilities. Both types of peptides prohibited the establishment of, or dissipated, preexisting transmembrane potentials in the vesicle system. Incorporation of peptide M2 into the black lipid bilayer elicited randomly gated single channel events with various conductance states and life-times. Peptide M4 increased the conductance of the bilayer without producing single channels. Exchange of the terminal arginine residues of peptide M2 by glutamate resulted in a significant shift towards cation selectivity of the respective channels as compared to peptide M2. In conclusion, the peptide channels observed differed significantly from native GlyR in both conductivity and ion-selectivity indicating that individual synthetic transmembrane segments are not sufficient to mimic a channel protein composed of subunits with multiple transmembrane segments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A preventive intervention program for bereaved children: problems of implementation.

A brief, standardized intervention program to facilitate children's adjustment to the terminal illness and death of a parent posed the following implementation problems: estimation of patient life expectancy; engagement of the family in crisis; adhesion to the parental guidance model; and termination of formal clinical intervention. Resolution of these issues is described, and adaptation of such programs to other high-risk populations is considered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

How to build a glycinergic postsynaptic membrane.

The inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) is a ligand-gated chloride channel protein found at many synapses of the mammalian central nervous system. During development, distinct isoforms of the GlyR are generated by the sequential expression of different alpha subunit variants. The appearance of adult-type GlyRs in spinal cord is accompanied by the accumulation of a 93 x 10(3) Mr receptor-associated peripheral membrane protein. The latter has been localized at the cytoplasmic face of glycinergic postsynaptic membranes and is thought to anchor GlyRs beneath glycinergic nerve terminals. The 93 x 10(3) Mr protein binds with high affinity to polymerized tubulin, suggesting that it functions as a receptor-microtubule linking component. Our data suggest that the interaction of developmentally regulated receptor isoforms with specialized microtubule-associated proteins represents a crucial step in the assembly of postsynaptic receptor matrices.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The inhibitory glycine receptor: a ligand-gated chloride channel of the central nervous system.

The postsynaptic glycine receptor (GlyR) is a major inhibitory chloride channel protein in the central nervous system. The affinity-purified receptor contains polypeptides of 48 kDa, 58 kDa, and 93 kDa. The 48-kDa (alpha) and 58 kDa (beta) subunits span the postsynaptic membrane in a pentameric arrangement to form the anion channel of the receptor. The 93-kDa polypeptide is cytoplasmically localized and may have an anchoring function. Molecular cloning revealed that different structural characteristics are shared by the membrane-spanning subunits of the GlyR and those of other ligand-gated ion channel proteins. Developmental regulation of the GlyR is characterized by alterations in antagonist binding, heterogeneity of alpha subunits, and increased levels of the 93-kDa polypeptide. Glycine receptor function can be reconstituted by expression of cloned alpha subunits in heterologous cell systems. Positive charges found at the presumed mouths of the GlyR channel appear to be important determinants of ion selectivity. These data establish the anion-conducting GlyR as a homolog of other ligand-gated ion channel proteins and suggest that the diversity of these channels originates from divergent evolution of a primordial channel protein early in phylogeny.

Amino Acid Sequence↗