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J Bockaert

Publications and source records attributed to J Bockaert.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Mutagenesis of the amino-terminal glycine to alanine in Gs alpha subunit alters beta gamma-dependent properties and decreases adenylylcyclase activation.

Proteolytic removal and genetic deletion of the amino-terminal domain of G protein alpha subunit have shown that this region is necessary for interaction with beta gamma subunits. In the alpha subunits which undergo myristoylation, myristoylation of the amino-terminal glycine modulates the affinity of alpha subunit for the beta gamma complex. To determine the role of the same glycine in nonmyristoylated alpha subunits, we substituted it for alanine in Gs alpha and characterized the properties of the mutated chain G2A Gs alpha. The mutant could still bind guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) as revealed by its resistance to trypsin proteolysis and was able to interact with the membrane. However, G2A Gs alpha was a poor substrate for cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation either in the soluble form or when membrane-associated. Addition of beta gamma subunits increased the sedimentation rate of G2A Gs alpha in sucrose gradients. Binding experiments performed on cyc- membranes reconstituted by G2A Gs alpha showed that the GTP-induced shift of isoproterenol affinity for the beta-adrenergic receptors was reduced. On the same membranes, isoproterenol, GTP gamma S and NaF were 2-fold less effective for activating adenylylcyclase when compared to cyc- membranes reconstituted by Gs alpha. This differential stimulation of adenylylcyclase was not due to an affinity change for the effector but to a decrease in the maximal activation. Thus the G2A substitution affected beta gamma-dependent properties on reconstituted membranes such as receptor coupling and cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation and we propose that the decreased activation of adenylylcyclase might result from the same defect. Although not essential for association with beta gamma subunits, the amino-terminal glycine of nonmyristoylated Gs alpha might play a modulatory role in this interaction.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

35 mM K(+)-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake in cerebellar granule cell cultures mainly results from NMDA receptor activation.

In primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells, the Ca2+ influx resulting from K+ depolarization (35 mM) was equal to one-third of that observed with 100 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and was reduced in a major part (90%) by NMDA receptor antagonists. The rank order of potency of these competitive and non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists was very close to their affinity for the NMDA and phencyclidine sites respectively. Granular cell depolarization with 35 mM K+ also induced a large increase in the extracellular glutamate concentration. Repeated washes of the culture wells, addition of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (+2 mM pyruvate), or pretreatment of the cells with tetanus toxin resulted in a parallel reduction of the extracellular glutamate concentration and 45Ca2+ uptake measured after a 35 mM K+ stimulation. Dihydropyridine (BAY K-8644) stimulated the release of glutamate in a nifedipine-sensitive manner in the presence of 15 mM K+. However, nifedipine (1 microM), which decreased by 60% the K(+)-induced 45Ca2+ uptake, did not reduce the 35 mM K(+)-evoked glutamate release. Taken together, these results demonstrated that in cerebellar granule cell cultures, 90% of the 35 mM K(+)-stimulated 45Ca2+ influx resulted from the release of glutamate and the consecutive activation of NMDA receptors. Activation of these glutamate receptors then allows Ca2+ influx to occur through L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channels.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

Nitric oxide, superoxide and peroxynitrite: putative mediators of NMDA-induced cell death in cerebellar granule cells.

In this study, we analysed the implication of superoxide (O2-.) and nitric oxide (NO.) free radicals and their resulting product peroxynitrite (ONOO-) in the neuronal death induced by the activation of the glutamatergic receptor of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype using cultured cerebellar granule cells. The NOl donor SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine N-ethylcarbamide), at concentrations which produced a much higher guanylate cyclase activation (i.e. NO. concentration) than NMDA, was not neurotoxic and did not increase the NMDA-induced neuronal death. The absence of involvement of NO. in NMDA-induced neuronal death was confirmed by the ineffectiveness of L-NG-nitroarginine (L-Narg) as a neuroprotective compound. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments, using 5,5-dimethyl pyrroline 1-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap, indicated that NMDA receptor stimulation led to the generation of O2-. from at least 15-30 min. The generation of O2-. by xanthine (XA)-xanthine oxidase (XO) induced a neuronal death similar to that of NMDA. XA-XO-induced neuronal death was suppressed by addition of either superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus catalase (CAT), or DMPO in the incubation medium. In contrast, NMDA-induced neuronal death was widely blocked by DMPO and other spin trap compounds, but not by SOD +/- CAT. XA-XO-induced neuronal death was not potentiated by SIN-1 indicating that ONOO- is not more toxic than O2-. in our neuronal model.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Non-classical glutamate receptors, blocked by both NMDA and non-NMDA antagonists, stimulate nitric oxide production in neurons.

In striatal neurons in primary culture, kainate and domoate stimulated cGMP production, whereas two other analogs of glutamate which act at non-NMDA receptors, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) and quisqualate were ineffective. However, both agonists stimulated cGMP accumulation on neurons pretreated with concanavalin A, a lectin which is known to prevent desensitization of AMPA receptors. We show here that such a treatment also potentiated the kainate-stimulated cGMP production. Responses induced by all agonists of non-NMDA receptors tested were mediated by nitric oxide (NO) production, since they were inhibited by haemoglobin, an NO scavenger, and two competitive inhibitors of NO-synthase L-NG-monomethylarginine and L-NG-nitro-arginine, the effects of both inhibitors being reversed by an excess of L-arginine. The rank order of potency of the agonists tested (domoate > kainate approximately AMPA approximately quisqualate) suggests that a kainate receptor subtype triggers NO production in striatal neurons. Surprisingly, response evoked by maximally effective concentrations of kainate, quisqualate and AMPA on concanavalin A-treated neurons were partially antagonized by two non-competitive antagonists of NMDA receptors, MK-801 and phencyclidine, and by Mg2+ ions, which block NMDA-operated channels. However, in neurons which had not been treated with concanavalin A, kainate-induced NO production was not inhibited by these antagonists. These results suggest that, in addition to kainate receptor subtype, another glutamate receptor subtype which may be composed of both kainate and NMDA receptor subunits and which is desensitized by kainate, AMPA and quisqualate, is involved in NO production.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗

Nitric oxide synthase activity endogenously modulates NMDA receptors.

We tested the possibility that endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity regulated NMDA receptors in primary cultured striatal neurons. We monitored NMDA-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels with fura-2 ratio imaging, while nitric oxide synthase activity was either increased with L-arginine (the natural substrate of nitric oxide synthase) or inhibited using nitro-L-arginine (a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase). We found that the NMDA receptor effect was slowly but strongly diminished after an L-arginine (1 mM, 15 min) treatment (L-arginine preincubation reduced the 100 microM NMDA-induced maximal effect by 30-50%). The L-arginine blockade of NMDA receptors was long-lasting but could be partially reversed by hemoglobin (100 microM, 10 min), which binds nitric oxide. This was not observed when the neurons were treated with L-arginine together with nitro-L-arginine. Our data strongly suggest that physiological nitric oxide synthase activity could regulate NMDA receptors.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Metabotropic glutamate receptors: an original family of G protein-coupled receptors.

In 1985, we discovered a new glutamate receptor which was coupled to phospholipase C via a G protein and which was later termed metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). In this review, both the diversity of mGluRs and the cellular events they control are discussed, as well as their roles in physiological regulation and brain function.

Animals↗

D2-dopaminergic agonist quinpirole and 8-bromo-cAMP have opposite effects on Go alpha GTP-binding protein mRNA without changing D2 dopamine receptor mRNA levels in striatal neurones in primary culture.

Long-term coordinated regulations (during development or by agonists and second messenger molecules) of the expression of mRNAs encoding D2-dopamine (DA) receptors and D2 receptor-linked Go alpha proteins have been studied by Northern blot analysis in mouse embryonic striatal neurones in primary culture. During the course of the cell culture, the levels of both mRNAs increased, in conjunction with the maturation of the neurones. When the preparation was treated with the D2-DA agonist quinpirole (5-15 hrs, 10(-4) M), which decreases cAMP in these neurones, the levels of Go alpha mRNAs were enhanced whereas that of the D2 mRNA remained unchanged. Conversely, the Go alpha mRNAs, but not the D2 mRNA, decreased when the neurones were exposed to 8-bromo-cAMP (16 hrs, 10(-6) M). It is concluded that, in these experimental conditions where neurones have not yet established their connexions, the longterm regulation of the membrane transmission of D2-DA signal might implicate mainly the Go alpha encoding gene.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Stimulation by glutamate receptors of arachidonic acid release depends on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in neuronal cells.

In primary cultures of striatal neurons, stimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors or associative activation (but not separate activation) of (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) strongly increased arachidonic acid (AA) release via activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Depolarizing agents, such as veratridine, were as potent as NMDA in stimulating AA release. However, increasing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration via voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels did not result in a significant stimulation of PLA2. Substitution of sodium by lithium, a monovalent cation that does not participate in the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity but permeates ionotropic glutamate receptor channels, blocked AA release induced by veratridine or AMPA plus mGluR agonists. It also reduced the NMDA-induced AA release, to a lesser extent. The contribution of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to the activation of PLA2 after veratridine, NMDA receptor, or AMPA receptor plus mGluR stimulation was confirmed by using a selective inhibitor of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

Animals↗

Alternative splicing generates metabotropic glutamate receptors inducing different patterns of calcium release in Xenopus oocytes.

A splice variant of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 1a, named mGluR1c, was isolated. Compared to mGluR1a, the predicted mGluR1c protein is 302 amino acids shorter at its C-terminal end. Despite this difference, mGluR1c activates phospholipase C in Xenopus oocytes with a pharmacological profile identical to that of mGluR1a. However, in contrast to the large fast transient responses induced by mGluR1a, mGluR1c receptors elicit a small more slowly generated long-lasting oscillatory current, suggesting that these two receptors do not generate the same pattern of Ca2+ release in Xenopus oocytes. In situ hybridization data show that mGluR1c mRNA is expressed at a lower level than the other splice variants of mGluR1. Some differences in the regional distribution of these transcripts were observed in the cerebellum, the olfactory bulb, and the striatum.

Alternative Splicing↗

Measurement of gamma-enolase release, a new method for selective quantification of neurotoxicity independently from glial lysis.

We have developed a sensitive enzymatic-immunoassay to quantify the level of gamma-enolase (a specific neuronal enzyme) which is released from cultured cells after exposure to various toxins. We show that this method can estimate selectively neuronal cell death without significantly interfering with glial cell death. Indeed, no gamma-enolase is released when glial cells are killed with free-radical producing agents. Experiments comparing the levels of neuronal cell death induced by NMDA or free-radical producing drugs, performed either by measuring gamma-enolase release or using the classical fluorescein diacetate method, yielded similar results. In addition to selectively follow neuronal death in a mixed population of neurons and glial cells, this method provides a way of determining the cell death kinetics from a single culture dish, since enolase can be measured on small samples taken from the culture medium. Finally, we propose these two methods as being complementary and useful neuronal and other cellular death indexes and also to understand the complex problem of glial influence on neuronal survival or death.

Animals↗

Characterization of a metabotropic glutamate receptor: direct negative coupling to adenylyl cyclase and involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein.

We have characterized a G-protein-coupled glutamate receptor in primary cultures of striatal neurons. Glutamate, quisqualate, or trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate inhibited by 30-40% either forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in intact cells or forskolin plus vasoactive intestinal peptide-activated adenylyl cyclase assayed in neuronal membrane preparations. These inhibitory effects were suppressed after treatment of striatal neurons with Bordetella pertussis toxin, suggesting the involvement of a heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) of the G(i)/G(o) subtype. The pharmacological profile of this glutamate receptor negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase was different from that of the metabotropic Qp glutamate receptor coupled to phospholipase C in striatal neurons and from that of the recently cloned "mGluR2" glutamate receptor, which is negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase when expressed in non-neuronal cells.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

Trans-ACPD inhibits cAMP formation via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

In primary cultured striatal neurons we found that (+-)-trans-1-amino-cyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate (trans-ACPD) could inhibit forskolin-induced cAMP formation in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 156 +/- 38 microM, n = 5, maximal inhibition 37.8 +/- 1.2, n = 37). The trans-ACPD-induced inhibition was totally abolished in neurons preincubated with Bordetella pertussis toxin (1 microgram/ml), demonstrating the involvement of a G-protein. This is the first report in intact neurons of a glutamate metabotropic receptor negatively coupled to cAMP formation.

Animals↗

Insulin releasing effects of mastoparan and amphiphilic substance P receptor antagonists on RINm5F insulinoma cells.

It has been proposed that mastoparan (INLKALAALAKKIL) and other mast cell secretagogues such as substance P (SP) or compound 48/80 act by direct activation of the pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G-proteins in intact cells. Here we have investigated whether or not the antagonists of SP, [D-Trp7,9,10] SP1-11 and [D-Trp7,9,10, N-leu11]SP1-11, can similarly induce exocytosis from RINm5F cells. In intact cells mastoparan and the SP antagonists stimulated insulin release in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 microM. The maximal effect on insulin release, of both mastoparan and the SP antagonists was comparable to that obtained with 100 microM forskolin. Pretreatment of the intact cells, for 18 h with PTX or 6 h with cholera toxin, did not change the responses induced by both mastoparan and the SP antagonists. This absence of PTX effect, despite the fact that the three PTX substrates at 41, 40 and 39 kDa were ADP ribosylated after pretreatment suggests intrinsic differences between mast and RINm5F cells. Thus the SP antagonists behave similarly to mastoparan in its ability to induce insulin release in RINm5F cells. However, the higher concentrations required with RINm5F cells compared to that needed for mast cells suggest differences either in G-proteins composition or in the phospholipid composition of the membranes.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Differential coupling of 5-HT1A receptors occupied by 5-HT or 8-OH-DPAT to adenylyl cyclase.

Human serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-1A receptors have been transfected in NIH-3T3 cells, and their coupling to adenylyl cyclase was analysed depending on 1) the number of receptor expressed, 2) the experimental conditions used, 3) the nature of the agonists. Two monoclonal cell lines were used, expressing low (45 fmol/mg) and high (500 fmol/mg) levels of 5-HT1A receptor. Two methods were tested to study the negative coupling of the transfected 5-HT1A receptors to adenylyl cyclase: 1) measurement of cAMP production in intact cells, 2) measurement of adenylyl cyclase activity in vitro on membrane preparations. Studies on intact cells revealed that an increase in the receptor concentration was followed by 1) an increase in the efficacies of 5-HT, 5-CT (5-carboxamidotryptamine) and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), 2) a 2 to 3-fold increase in the potency of 5-CT and 8-OH-DPAT, but no change in the potency of 5-HT. In membrane preparations, 8-OH-DPAT dose-response curve was shifted leftwards when the receptor concentration became higher whereas the corresponding shift was smaller for 5-HT and absent for 5-CT. Surprisingly, on membrane preparations, 8-OH-DPAT was a partial agonist relative to 5-HT. The relative efficacy of 8-OH-DPAT was lower in the clone expressing the lowest level of receptor. This partial agonist behavior of 8-OH-DPAT could be modulated by the ionic conditions under which the adenylyl cyclase activity was measured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Long-term expression of the c-fos protein during the in vitro differentiation of cerebellar granule cells induced by potassium or NMDA.

Levels of the c-fos protein were assayed in mouse cerebellar granule cells during their in vitro development under different culture conditions. When grown in media favoring both their survival and differentiation, i.e. in the presence of 30 mM K+ or 12.5 mM K+ plus 100 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), the c-fos protein becomes detectable in the nucleus of granule cells on and after 6 days and persists to high levels until the culture begins to decline. The protein c-fos appears therefore after the critical period described for the survival effect of K+ depolarization or NMDA receptor stimulation which corresponds to days 2-5 after plating. The c-fos protein remains however scarcely detectable or undetectable throughout the life-span of cells cultured under conditions providing poor survival and differentiation, i.e. in the presence of low K+ (5 or 12.5 mM) alone or when the effect of NMDA is blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. Interestingly, in cortical and striatal neurons, the survival and differentiation of which being not affected by depolarizing media, no c-fos protein is detected whatever the culture conditions tested at least during the first 18 days in vitro. This suggests that long-term expression of the c-fos gene might be related to some aspect of the late in vitro differentiation process of cerebellar granule cells.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide-induced blockade of NMDA receptors.

We studied the effects of nitric oxide (NO)-producing agents on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation in cultured neurons. 3-Morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) blocked both NMDA-induced currents and the associated increase in intracellular Ca2+. The actions of SIN-1 were reversible and suppressed by hemoglobin. A degraded SIN-1 solution that did not release NO was unable to block NMDA receptors. This showed that the SIN-1 effects were due to NO and not to another breakdown product. Similar results were obtained with 1-nitrosopyrrolidine (an NO-containing drug) and with NO released from NaNO2. Pretreatment with hemoglobin potentiated NMDA-induced effects, demonstrating that endogenous NO modulates NMDA receptors. Since NMDA receptor activation induces NO synthesis, these results suggest a feedback inhibition of NMDA receptors by NO under physiological condition.

Animals↗

Differential G protein-mediated coupling of D2 dopamine receptors to K+ and Ca2+ currents in rat anterior pituitary cells.

In anterior pituitary cells, dopamine, acting on D2 dopamine receptors, concomitantly reduces calcium currents and increases potassium currents. These dopamine effects require the presence of intracellular GTP and are blocked by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin, suggesting that one or more G protein is involved. To identify the G proteins involved in coupling D2 receptors to these currents, we performed patch-clamp recordings in the whole-cell configuration using pipettes containing affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies raised against either Go alpha, Gi3 alpha, or Gi1,2 alpha. Dialysis with Go alpha antiserum significantly reduced the inhibition of calcium currents induced by dopamine, while increase of potassium currents was markedly attenuated only by Gi3 alpha antiserum. We therefore conclude that in pituitary cells, two different G proteins are involved in the signal transduction mechanism that links D2 receptor activation to a specific modulation of the four types of ionic channels studied here.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗