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Biomedical subjects

F Valtorta

Publications and source records attributed to F Valtorta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Cytoplasmic topography of focal contacts.

To investigate the structure of focal contacts, the cytoplasmic faces of fibroblast membranes were examined in solution by scanning force and immunofluorescence microscopy. Focal contacts were identified in scanning force topographs by correlation with fluorescence images. Finer details were resolved in topographs of the focal contacts than in fluorescence micrographs. Increased separation of ventral plasma membranes from the substrate correlated with the duration of cell culture. The cytoplasmic projections of the focal contacts also increased with the cell culture period. These changes accompanied lateral spreading of fibroblasts during a period of several hours after seeding cells in culture medium.

Actins↗
PubMed1996

Epidermal growth factor-mediated inhibition of neurotransmitter glutamate release from rat forebrain synaptosomes.

We investigated the possibility that receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in modulating neurotransmitter release from isolated nerve terminals. We examined the effects of epidermal growth factor on the release of neurotransmitter glutamate evoked from rat forebrain synaptosomes by KCI and 4-aminopyridine. We detected a significant inhibition of the Ca2+-dependent component of release. This effect appears to be mediated by a reduction in the depolarization-evoked increase in cytosolic free calcium levels, in the absence of significant effects on the plasma membrane potential. On depolarization, a Ca2+-dependent increase was observed in the phosphotyrosine content of bands at molecular masses of approximately 107 and approximately 40 kDa. The addition of epidermal growth factor before depolarization induced a significant phosphorylation of the growth factor receptor in the absence of detectable changes in the phosphotyrosine pattern of total synaptosomal proteins, suggesting that phosphorylation of a minor protein is responsible for the epidermal growth factor-mediated inhibition of glutamate release.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1995

Focal adhesion kinase in rat central nervous system.

Focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK, FAK) is a 125 kDa non-receptor tyrosine kinase enriched in focal adhesions of various cell types, where it is thought to transduce signals triggered by contact with the extracellular matrix. We have studied the expression and localization of FAK in rat CNS. Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed the presence of FAK in all regions of the adult brain and demonstrated its enrichment in specific neuronal populations of the cerebral and cerebellar cortex, as well as in the hippocampus. During development, FAK protein levels were highest around birth in cerebral cortex and caudate putamen and decreased in the adult. In situ hybridization revealed enrichment of FAK mRNA in the ventricular germinative and external layers during the last period of embryonic growth. In primary cultures FAK immunoreactivity was localized in focal adhesions in astrocytes, whereas in developing neurons the highest levels were found in growth cones and perikarya. In the growth cone, FAK immunoreactivity colocalized with actin filaments. In mature neurons FAK appeared to be distributed in the whole cytoplasm, with no enrichment in any cellular compartment. Our results demonstrate the presence of high levels of FAK in rat CNS, maximal during development but persistent in the adult. Its enrichment in growth cones suggests that it may play a role in neurite outgrowth, as well as in plasticity in the adult.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Accelerated structural maturation induced by synapsin I at developing neuromuscular synapses of Xenopus laevis.

The role of synapsin I, a synaptic vesicle-associated phosphoprotein, in the maturation of nerve-muscle synapses was investigated in nerve-muscle co-cultures prepared from Xenopus embryos loaded with the protein by the early blastomere injection method. The stage of maturation of the synapses was analysed by electron microscopy as well as by whole-cell patch-clamp recording. The acceleration in the functional maturation of neuromuscular synapses induced by synapsin I was accompanied by a profound rearrangement in the ultrastructure of the nerve terminal. Nerve terminals formed by synapsin I-loaded neurons were characterized by a higher number of small synaptic vesicles organized in clusters and predominantly localized close to the nerve terminal plasma membrane, a smaller number of large dense-core vesicles and no significant change in the number of coated vesicles. Precocious development of active zone-like structures as well as deposition of basal lamina into the synaptic cleft were also observed at these synapses. These results support a role for synapsin I in the architectural changes which occur during synaptogenesis and lead to the maturation of quantal neurotransmitter release mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Neuroexocytosis.

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Animals↗
PubMed1995

Phosphorylation of VAMP/synaptobrevin in synaptic vesicles by endogenous protein kinases.

VAMP/synaptobrevin (SYB), an integral membrane protein of small synaptic vesicles, is specifically cleaved by tetanus neurotoxin and botulinum neurotoxins B, D, F, and G is thought to play an important role in the docking and/or fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. Potential phosphorylation sites for various kinases are present in SYB sequence. We have studied whether SYB is a substrate for protein kinases that are present in nerve terminals and known to modulate neurotransmitter release. SYB can be phosphorylated within the same vesicle by endogenous Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) associated with synaptic vesicles. This phosphorylation reaction occurs rapidly and involves serine and threonine residues in the cytoplasmic region of SYB. Similarly to CaMKII, a casein kinase II (CasKII) activity copurifying with synaptic vesicles is able to phosphorylate SYB selectively on serine residues of the cytoplasmic region. This phosphorylation reaction is markedly stimulated by sphingosine, a sphingolipid known to activate CasKII and to inhibit CaMKII and protein kinase C. The results show that SYB is a potential substrate for protein kinases involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release and open the possibility that phosphorylation of SYB plays a role in modulating the molecular interactions between synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Dephosphorylated synapsin I anchors synaptic vesicles to actin cytoskeleton: an analysis by videomicroscopy.

Synapsin I is a synaptic vesicle-associated protein which inhibits neurotransmitter release, an effect which is abolished upon its phosphorylation by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II). Based on indirect evidence, it was suggested that this effect on neurotransmitter release may be achieved by the reversible anchoring of synaptic vesicles to the actin cytoskeleton of the nerve terminal. Using video-enhanced microscopy, we have now obtained experimental evidence in support of this model: the presence of dephosphorylated synapsin I is necessary for synaptic vesicles to bind actin; synapsin I is able to promote actin polymerization and bundling of actin filaments in the presence of synaptic vesicles; the ability to cross-link synaptic vesicles and actin is specific for synapsin I and is not shared by other basic proteins; the cross-linking between synaptic vesicles and actin is specific for the membrane of synaptic vesicles and does not reflect either a non-specific binding of membranes to the highly surface active synapsin I molecule or trapping of vesicles within the thick bundles of actin filaments; the formation of the ternary complex is virtually abolished when synapsin I is phosphorylated by CaM kinase II. The data indicate that synapsin I markedly affects synaptic vesicle traffic and cytoskeleton assembly in the nerve terminal and provide a molecular basis for the ability of synapsin I to regulate the availability of synaptic vesicles for exocytosis and thereby the efficiency of neurotransmitter release.

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Overexpression of synaptophysin enhances neurotransmitter secretion at Xenopus neuromuscular synapses.

Previous studies have suggested the importance of synaptophysin (p38), a major integral membrane protein of the synaptic vesicle, in transmitter secretion, but few have directly addressed its functional role at intact synapses. In the present study, injection of synthetic mRNA for synaptophysin into one of the early blastomeres of a Xenopus embryo resulted in elevated synaptophysin expression in 1 and 2 d embryos and in cultured spinal neurons derived from the injected blastomere, as shown by immunocytochemistry. At neuromuscular synapses made by neurons overexpressing synaptophysin [p38(+)] in 1 d cell cultures, the spontaneous synaptic currents (SSCs) showed a markedly higher frequency, as compared to control synapses. This increase in frequency was not accompanied by a change in the mean amplitude or the amplitude distribution of the SSCs, suggesting that synaptophysin is not involved in determining the size of transmitter quanta. The impulse-evoked synaptic currents (ESCs) of synapses made by p38(+) neurons showed increased amplitude as well as reduced fluctuation and delay of onset of ESCs. Under high-frequency tetanic stimulation at 5 Hz, the rate of tetanus-induced depression was faster for p38(+) neurons. Taken together, these results suggest a role for synaptophysin in the late steps of transmitter secretion, affecting the probability of vesicular exocytosis and/or the number of synaptic vesicles initially docked at the active zone.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The presynaptic compartment: signals and targets.

Synaptic terminals are key elements in the functional and structural organization of the nervous system. Release of neurotransmitters, i.e. the activity specifically localized at the terminals, not only sustains the transfer of information among adjacent cells, but also contributes significantly to directing the non-random distribution of macromolecules in the plasmalemma of postsynaptic neurons, with major consequences in their general architecture (assembly of postsynaptic densities, dendritic spines, etc.). In order for these specific functions to be carried out, synaptic terminals need to be specialized in a variety of aspects with respect to the rest of the neuron. This minireview is specifically focused on two such aspects, the generation of transduction signals and their mechanism of action on intraterminal targets. In either aspect nerve terminals are by no means fully homogeneous, yet they certainly share a number of common features. These include the predominant role of Ca2+, collaborating however with other second messengers (cAMP, IP3, diacylglycerol) in the control of processes such as transmitter release and its modulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Alpha-latrotoxin channels in neuroblastoma cells.

The changes in ionic permeability induced by the application of alpha-latrotoxin to NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma cells were examined using the nystatin perforated-patch technique for whole-cell recording. Complex single channel activity appeared in the plasmalemmas after delays that ranged from 1-20 min in Krebs' solution. The conductance of a channel fluctuated among at least three broad, approximately equispaced bands, the maximum conductance being about 300 pS, and the reversal potential approximately 0 mV. The channels were permeable to Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+, poorly permeable to glucosamineH+ and Cl-, and were blocked by La3+. The channels stayed fully open in Ca(2+)-free solutions with 4 mM Mg2+, in solutions with no divalent cations and in solutions with 2 mM Ca2+ and 96 mM Mg2+. They opened infrequently if both internal and external Cl- were replaced by glutamate-. If alpha-latrotoxin opened similar channels in nerve terminals, the flux of ions through them could account for the massive release of neurotransmitter induced by the toxin.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Neurotransmitter release: fusion or 'kiss-and-run'?

The clear synaptic vesicles of neurons release their contents at the presynaptic membrane and are then quickly retrieved. However, it is unclear whether a complete cycle of exocytosis and endocytosis is always involved or whether neurotransmitter can be released by a transient interaction. Recent findings in chromaffin and mast cells suggest that exocytosis is preceded by the formation of a pore that has similar conductance properties to ion channels. The content of the secretory organelle partially escapes at this early step, but the pore can close before the vesicle fuses fully. This article looks at the evidence that quantal release of neurotransmitter from clear synaptic vesicles may occur by a similar 'kiss-and-run' mechanism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Rapid binding of synapsin I to F- and G-actin. A study using fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Synapsin I is a nerve terminal phosphoprotein which interacts with synaptic vesicles and actin in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. By using fluorescence resonance energy transfer between purified components labeled with fluorescent probes, we now show that the binding of synapsin I to actin is a rapid phenomenon. Binding of synapsin I to actin can also be demonstrated when synaptic vesicles are present in the medium and appears to be modulated by ionic strength and synapsin I phosphorylation.

Actins↗
PubMed1993

Covalent modification of synapsin I by a tetanus toxin-activated transglutaminase.

The synapsins are neuronal phosphoproteins that bind to small synaptic vesicles and to actin filaments and are believed to play a regulatory role in neurotransmitter release. Here we show that synapsin I is covalently modified with remarkable affinity and selectivity by the enzyme transglutaminase. Transglutaminase catalyzes the formation of covalent bonds between protein glutamine residues and primary amines and has been found recently to be potently activated by tetanus toxin, a dichain clostridial protein that selectively blocks neurotransmitter secretion. We also report the presence of two species of immunoreactive transglutaminases in nerve endings, one cytosolic and one located on synaptic vesicles; they are potently activated by tetanus toxin and, when activated, covalently modify synaptic vesicle-bound synapsin I. These results suggest a role for transglutaminase in the control of neurotransmitter secretion and provide evidence for synapsin I being a molecular target of tetanus toxin.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Synaptic vesicle phosphoproteins and regulation of synaptic function.

Complex brain functions, such as learning and memory, are believed to involve changes in the efficiency of communication between nerve cells. Therefore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptic transmission, the process of intercellular communication, is an essential step toward understanding nervous system function. Several proteins associated with synaptic vesicles, the organelles that store neurotransmitters, are targets for protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. One of these phosphoproteins, synapsin I, by means of changes in its state of phosphorylation, appears to control the fraction of synaptic vesicles available for release and thereby to regulate the efficiency of neurotransmitter release. This article describes current understanding of the mechanism by which synapsin I modulates communication between nerve cells and reviews the properties and putative functions of other phosphoproteins associated with synaptic vesicles.

Animals↗