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H Betz

Publications and source records attributed to H Betz.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Modulation by zinc ions of native rat and recombinant human inhibitory glycine receptors.

1. The effect of the divalent cation Zn2+ on inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) currents was investigated in rat embryonic spinal cord neurons and Xenopus oocytes expressing recombinant GlyRs. 2. In cultured spinal neurons, Zn2+ potentiated glycine-induced whole-cell currents about 3-fold when applied extracellularly at concentrations of 0.5-10 microM. In contrast, higher concentrations (> 100 microM) of Zn2+ decreased the glycine response. 3. A similar biphasic modulation of glycine-induced currents by Zn2+ was also found with recombinant homo- and hetero-oligomeric GlyRs generated in Xenopus oocytes. Dose-response analysis showed that both the potentiating and inhibitory effects of Zn2+ result from changes in apparent agonist affinity. 4. Analysis of chimeric constructs of the GlyR alpha 1- and beta-subunits revealed that the positive and negative modulatory effects of Zn2+ are mediated by different regions of the alpha 1-subunit. 5. Our data indicate the existence of distinct high- and low-affinity Zn2+ binding sites on the ligand-binding alpha-subunits of the GlyR. These sites may be implicated in the regulation of synaptic efficacy within glycinergic pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

SNAP-mediated protein-protein interactions essential for neurotransmitter release.

The constitutive fusion of transport vesicles with intracellular membranes requires soluble proteins called SNAPs. Certain presynaptic proteins implicated in synaptic vesicle exocytosis also bind SNAPs, suggesting that SNAPs participate in the calcium-regulated membrane fusion events mediating neurotransmitter release. Here we show that injection of recombinant SNAPs into the giant synapse of squid enhances transmitter release. Conversely, injection of peptides designed to mimic the sites at which SNAP interacts with its binding partners inhibits transmitter release downstream of synaptic vesicle docking. A SNAP-dependent protein complex must therefore mediate transmitter release, showing that transmitter release shares a common molecular mechanism with constitutive membrane fusion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Targeting of glycine receptor subunits to gephyrin-rich domains in transfected human embryonic kidney cells.

In adult spinal neurons inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyR) are localized at postsynaptic membrane specializations underlying glycinergic nerve terminals. The peripheral membrane protein gephyrin has been shown to be essential for the formation of postsynaptic GlyR clusters. Here, we coexpressed GlyR polypeptides and gephyrin in 293 cells and observed rerouting of hetero-oligomeric GlyR and its beta, but not of alpha subunits to intracellular gephyrin aggregates. A GlyR chimeric alpha 1/beta protein was also accumulated at these gephyrin aggregates, indicating that colocalization with gephyrin depends on cytoplasmic domains of the beta subunit. gamma-Aminobutyric acid type-A receptor (GABAAR) subunits were not targeted to intracellular gephyrin aggregates with the exception of the GABAAR beta 3 subunit, which partially colocalized with gephyrin. These data show that gephyrin alters the subcellular localization of the GlyR beta and, to some extent, GABAAR beta 3 subunits. Thus, gephyrin-binding subunits might target hetero-oligomeric ion channels to a gephyrin matrix underlying the differentiating postsynaptic membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of a gephyrin binding motif on the glycine receptor beta subunit.

The tubulin-binding protein gephyrin copurifies with the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) and is essential for its postsynaptic localization. Here we have analyzed the interaction between the GlyR and recombinant gephyrin and identified a gephyrin binding site in the cytoplasmic loop between the third and fourth transmembrane segments of the beta subunit. GlyR alpha subunits and GABAA receptor proteins failed to bind recombinant gephyrin. However, insertion of an 18 residue segment of the GlyR beta subunit into the GABAA receptor beta 1 subunit conferred gephyrin binding both in an overlay assay and in transfected mammalian cells. These results indicate that beta subunit expression is essential for the formation of a postsynaptic GlyR matrix.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Murine semaphorin D/collapsin is a member of a diverse gene family and creates domains inhibitory for axonal extension.

Members of the collapsin/semaphorin gene family have been proposed to act as growth cone guidance signals in vertebrates and invertebrates. To identify candidate molecules involved in axonal pathfinding during mouse embryogenesis, we isolated cDNAs encoding five new members of the semaphorin family (Sem A-Sem E). The murine semaphorin genes are differentially expressed in mesoderm and neuroectoderm before and during the time when axons select their pathways in the embryo. In explant cultures, recombinant Sem D/collapsin converts a matrix permissive for axonal growth into one that is inhibitory for neurites of peripheral ganglia. Our data demonstrate that semaphorins are a diverse family of molecules that may provide local signals to specify territories nonaccessible for growing axons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The inhibitory glycine receptor: architecture, synaptic localization and molecular pathology of a postsynaptic ion-channel complex.

Significant progress has been made towards the identification of functional domains of the inhibitory glycine receptor. Several residues crucial for ligand binding, ion-channel properties and stoichiometric subunit assembly have been identified. A major recent advance has been the finding that the biogenesis of postsynaptic glycine receptor clusters requires the tubulin-binding protein, gephyrin. Another area of exciting research has focused on mutations of glycine receptor alpha and beta subunit genes, which have been found to be causal for different hereditary motor disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Modulation of a recombinant glycine transporter (GLYT1b) by activation of protein kinase C.

Treatment of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293 cells) expressing the mouse glycine transporter 1 (GLYT1b) with the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased specific [3H]glycine uptake. This down-regulation resulted from a reduction of the maximal transport rate and was blocked by the PKC inhibitors 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) and staurosporine. The inhibitory effect of PMA treatment was also observed after removing all five predicted phosphorylation sites for PKC in GLYT1b by site-directed mutagenesis. These data indicate that glycine transport by GLYT1b is modulated by PKC activation; however, this regulation may involve indirect phosphorylation mechanisms.

Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral↗
PubMed1995

Pharmacology of the inhibitory glycine receptor: agonist and antagonist actions of amino acids and piperidine carboxylic acid compounds.

To define structure-activity relations for ligands binding to the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR), the agonistic and antagonistic properties of alpha- and beta-amino acids were analyzed at the recombinant human alpha 1 GlyR expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The agonistic activity of alpha-amino acids exhibited a marked stereoselectivity and was highly susceptible to substitutions at the C alpha-atom. In contrast, alpha-amino acid antagonism was not enantiomer dependent and was influenced little by C alpha-atom substitutions. The beta-amino acids taurine, beta-aminobutyric acid (beta-ABA), and beta-aminoisobutyric acid (beta-AIBA) are partial agonists at the GlyR. Low concentrations of these compounds competitively inhibited glycine responses, whereas higher concentrations elicited a significant membrane current. Nipecotic acid, which contains a trans-beta-amino acid configuration, behaved as purely competitive GlyR antagonist. Our data are consistent with the existence of a common binding site for all amino acid agonists and antagonists, at which the functional consequences of binding depend on the particular conformation a given ligand adopts within the binding pocket. In the case of beta-amino acids, the trans conformation appears to mediate antagonistic receptor binding, and the cis conformation appears to mediate agonistic receptor binding. This led us to propose that the partial agonist activity of a given beta-amino acid is determined by the relative mole fractions of the respective cis/trans conformers.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1995

Neurexins are differentially expressed in the embryonic nervous system of mice.

Expression of the major isoforms of three neurexin genes was analyzed in the developing embryonic nervous system of mice by Northern blot and in situ hybridization. Transcripts of all three genes were detected as early as embryonic day 10 (E10) and increased with maturation of the nervous system. RNAs of the major neurexin isoforms (alpha and beta) were found throughout the central nervous system exclusively in postmitotic neurons and at least 1 d before synapses are formed. In contrast, in the PNS the alpha- and beta-isoforms displayed differential expression patterns. Neurexin III mRNA showed a more restricted regional expression than neurexin I and II transcripts. These expression profiles are consistent with the hypothesis that the neurexins have a function in early neuronal differentiation and axogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The postsynaptic localization of the glycine receptor-associated protein gephyrin is regulated by the cytoskeleton.

The mechanisms underlying the postsynaptic localization of neurotransmitter receptors are poorly understood. Recently, the peripheral membrane protein gephyrin has been shown to be essential for the formation of inhibitory glycine receptor clusters in cultured rat spinal cord neurons. In vitro gephyrin binds with high affinity to polymerized tubulin. Here, the interaction of gephyrin with different components of the cytoskeleton was investigated in primary cultures of rat spinal neurons. After treatment with alkaloids affecting the cytoskeleton, the morphology of post-synaptic gephyrin clusters was analyzed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. Depolymerization of microtubules by demecolcine reduced both the percentage of cells with postsynaptic gephyrin clusters and the number of clusters/cell. The size of the remaining gephyrin clusters was increased whereas their gephyrin density was significantly lower than under control conditions. Depolymerization of microfilaments by cytochalasin D in contrast generated smaller clusters of increased gephyrin density. Demecolcine also dispersed postsynaptic glycine receptor clusters as revealed by immunostaining with a specific monoclonal antibody. These findings support the view that in vivo gephyrin anchors receptor polypeptides to the cytoskeleton by a complex interaction with microtubules and microfilaments.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1995

Gene structure and glial expression of the glycine transporter GlyT1 in embryonic and adult rodents.

Na+/Cl(-)-dependent glycine transporters are crucial for the termination of neurotransmission at glycinergic synapses. Two different glycine transporter genes, GlyT1 and GlyT2, have been described. Several isoforms differing in their 5' ends originate from the GlyT1 gene. We have determined the genomic structure of the murine GlyT1 gene to elucidate the genetic basis underlying the different isoforms. Analysis of cDNA 5'-ends revealed that the GlyT1a and 1b/1c mRNAs are transcribed from two different promoters. During murine embryonic development GlyT1 mRNAs were detectable by RNase protection assays as early as embryonic day E9 and reached maximal levels between E13 and E15. In situ hybridization revealed GlyT1 expression in the developing spinal cord mainly in the ventral part of the ventricular zone at E12. At later stages (E15) transcripts were also found in the lateral half of the basal and intermediate gray matter. In contrast, the second glycine transporter gene GlyT2 displayed a completely different expression pattern. At E11 it is expressed in the mantle zone, and at later stages throughout the ventral horns. In the adult rat brain and spinal cord, GlyT1 hybridization signals were found exclusively in glial cells. Our data indicate that GlyT1 is an early marker of neural development and encodes glia-specific transporter proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Purification of the synaptic vesicle-binding protein physophilin. Identification as 39-kDa subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase.

Physophilin is a 36-kDa polypeptide originally identified in synaptic plasma membrane fractions, which binds to synaptic vesicles and has been implicated in vesicle docking and/or exocytosis during neurotransmitter release. Here we report on the purification, amino acid sequence analysis, and subcellular localization of physophilin. Physophilin was enriched from detergent extracts of crude synaptic plasma membranes by a combination of cation exchange and lentil-lectin chromatography. Sequence analysis of peptides generated after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that physophilin is identical to the 39-kDa subunit (Ac39) of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. This was confirmed further by Western blot analysis with an Ac39-specific antiserum and by vesicle binding assays with recombinant Ac39 protein. Subcellular fractionation showed that Ac39 is enriched in synaptic vesicles, with lesser amounts being present in synaptic plasma membrane fractions. These results argue against a docking role of physophilin/Ac39 in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Fusion complex formation protects synaptobrevin against proteolysis by tetanus toxin light chain.

The clostridial neurotoxin, tetanus toxin, is a Zn(2+)-dependent protease which inhibits neurotransmitter exocytosis by selective cleavage of the synaptic vesicle protein, synaptobrevin. Synaptobrevin is thought to serve as a receptor for two neuronal plasma membrane proteins, syntaxin and SNAP-25, which in the presence of non-hydrolyzable ATP analogs form a 20 S fusion complex with the soluble fusion proteins NSF and alpha-SNAP. Here we show that synaptobrevin, when in this 20 S complex, or its 7 S precursor, is protected against proteolysis by the enzymatically active tetanus toxin light chain. Our data define distinct pools of synaptobrevin, which provide markers of different steps of vesicle/plasma membrane interaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Decreased agonist affinity and chloride conductance of mutant glycine receptors associated with human hereditary hyperekplexia.

Hereditary hyperekplexia is a dominant neurological disorder associated with point mutations at the channel-forming segment M2 of the glycine receptor alpha 1 subunit. Voltage-clamp recordings from the heterologously expressed mutants (alpha 1R271L or alpha 1R271Q) revealed 146- to 183-fold decreased potencies of glycine to activate the chloride channel, and significantly reduced maximal whole-cell currents as compared with wild-type receptors. In contrast, the ability of the competitive antagonist strychnine to block glycine-induced currents was similar in all cases. Radioligand binding assays showed a 90- to 1365-fold reduction in the ability of glycine to displace [3H]strychnine from its binding site on the mutant receptors. Paralleling the reductions in whole-cell current, the elementary main-state conductances of the mutants (alpha 1R271L, 64 pS; alpha 1R271Q, 14 pS) were lower than that of the wild-type receptor (86 pS). The decreased agonist affinities and chloride conductances of the mutants are likely to cause neural hyperexcitability of affected patients by impairing glycinergic inhibition. In addition, our data reveal that structural modifications of the ion-channel region can affect agonist binding to the glycine receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cyanotriphenylborate: subtype-specific blocker of glycine receptor chloride channels.

The inhibitory glycine receptor is a ligand-gated ion-channel protein existing in different homo- and heterooligomeric isoforms. Here we show that the chloride channel of the recombinant alpha 1-subunit homooligomeric glycine receptor is efficiently blocked by cyanotriphenylborate (CTB) with a concentration effecting 50% inhibition (IC50) of 1.3 microM in the presence of 50 microM glycine. The antagonistic effect of CTB is noncompetitive, use dependent, and more pronounced at positive membrane potentials, suggesting open-channel block. In contrast to alpha 1-subunit receptors, alpha 2-subunit homooligomers are resistant to CTB (IC50 >> 20 microM). By exchanging the channel-lining transmembrane segment M2 of the alpha 1 polypeptide by that of the alpha 2 polypeptide, we could transfer this resistance to alpha 1 channels, indicating that a single glycine residue at position 254 of the alpha 1 subunit is critical for CTB sensitivity. The blocker did not affect the cation-selective channel of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Thus, CTB may prove useful as a tool to probe the subunit structure of native glycine receptors in mammalian neurons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) is preferentially expressed in the nervous system.

NSF and SNAPs (soluble NSF attachment proteins), originally identified as cytosolic components of intracellular vesicular transport mechanisms, have recently been implicated in Ca(2+)-triggered neurotransmitter release from synaptic terminals. Here, we have investigated the temporal and spatial expression pattern of the rodent NSF and SNAP genes. A single transcript of 4.5 kb is highly expressed in rat brain, whereas only minor amounts of NSF mRNA are found in liver, kidney, heart, lung and skeletal muscle. In situ hybridisation revealed NSF transcripts as early as embryonic day 10 preferentially in the nervous system of mouse embryos. In the adult brain NSF is widely expressed with particularly high levels in the hippocampus. An identical expression profile was observed for alpha/beta-SNAP. Our data are consistent with a central function of NSF and SNAPs in neurotransmission.

Animals↗