Biomedical subjects

Lakshmi A Devi

Publications and source records attributed to Lakshmi A Devi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

The emerging functions of endocannabinoid signaling during CNS development.

In the postnatal brain, endocannabinoids acting as retrograde messengers regulate the function of many synapses. By contrast, the understanding of endocannabinoid functions that regulate fundamental developmental processes such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival during patterning of the CNS is just beginning to unfold. Increasing the knowledge of basic developmental and signaling principles that are controlled by endocannabinoids will provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms that establish functional neuronal circuits in the brain. Moreover, determining the molecular basis of permanent modifications to cellular structure and intercellular communication imposed by cannabis smoking during pregnancy will provide novel therapeutic targets for alleviating pathogenic changes in affected offspring. Here, we summarize recent findings regarding the ontogeny of the endocannabinoid system in neurons that sculpt the temporal and spatial diversity of cellular functions during CNS development.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Conformation state-sensitive antibodies to G-protein-coupled receptors.

A growing body of evidence indicates that G-protein-coupled receptors undergo complex conformational changes upon agonist activation. It is likely that the extracellular region, including the N terminus, undergoes activation-dependent conformational changes. We examined this by generating antibodies to regions within the N terminus of micro-opioid receptors. We find that antibodies to the midportion of the N-terminal tail exhibit enhanced recognition of activated receptors, whereas those to the distal regions do not. The enhanced recognition is abolished upon treatment with agents that block G-protein coupling or deglycosylate the receptor. This suggests that the N-terminal region of mu receptors undergoes conformational changes following receptor activation that can be selectively detected by these region-specific antibodies. We used these antibodies to characterize micro receptor type-specific ligands and find that the antibodies accurately differentiate ligands with varying efficacies. Next, we examined if these antibodies can be used to investigate the extent and duration of activation of endogenous receptors. We find that peripheral morphine administration leads to a time-dependent increase in antibody binding in the striatum and prefrontal cortex with a peak at about 30 min, indicating that these antibodies can be used to probe the spatio-temporal dynamics of native mu receptors. Finally, we show that this strategy of targeting the N-terminal region to generate receptor conformation-specific antisera can be applied to other G(alpha)(i)-coupled (delta-opioid, CB1 cannabinoid, alpha(2A)-adrenergic) as well as G(alpha)(s)-(beta(2)-adrenergic) and G(alpha)(q)-coupled (AT1 angiotensin) receptors. Taken together, these studies describe antisera as tools that allow, for the first time, studies probing differential conformation states of G-protein-coupled receptors, which could be used to identify molecules of therapeutic interest.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

PubMed2006

Morphine administration alters the profile of hippocampal postsynaptic density-associated proteins: a proteomics study focusing on endocytic proteins.

Numerous studies have shown that drugs of abuse induce changes in protein expression in the brain that are thought to play a role in synaptic plasticity. Drug-induced plasticity can be mediated by changes at the synapse and more specifically at the postsynaptic density (PSD), which receives and transduces synaptic information. To date, the majority of studies examining synaptic protein profiles have focused on identifying the synaptic proteome. Only a handful of studies have examined the changes in synaptic profile by drug administration. We applied a quantitative proteomics analysis technique with the cleavable ICAT reagent to quantitate relative changes in protein levels of the hippocampal PSD in response to morphine administration. We identified a total of 102 proteins in the mouse hippocampal PSD. The majority of these were signaling, trafficking, and cytoskeletal proteins involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Among the proteins whose levels were found to be altered by morphine administration, clathrin levels were increased to the largest extent. Immunoblotting and electron microscopy studies showed that this increase was localized to the PSD. Morphine treatment was also found to lead to a local increase in two other components of the endocytic machinery, dynamin and AP-2, suggesting a critical involvement of the endocytic machinery in the modulatory effects of morphine. Because alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors are thought to undergo clathrin-mediated endocytosis, we examined the effect of morphine administration on the association of the AMPA receptor subunit, GluR1, with clathrin. We found a substantial decrease in the levels of GluR1 associated with clathrin. Taken together, these results suggest that, by causing a redistribution of endocytic proteins at the synapse, morphine modulates synaptic plasticity at hippocampal glutamatergic synapses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

mu opioid and CB1 cannabinoid receptor interactions: reciprocal inhibition of receptor signaling and neuritogenesis.

Several studies have described functional interactions between opioid and cannabinoid receptors; the underlying mechanism(s) have not been well explored. One possible mechanism is direct receptor-receptor interactions, as has been demonstrated for a number of G-protein-coupled receptors. In order to investigate interactions between opioid and cannabinoid receptors, we epitope tagged mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors with Renilla luciferase and CB1 cannabinoid or CCR5 chemokine receptors with yellow fluorescent protein and examined the extent of substrate hydrolysis induced bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) signal. We find that coexpression of opioid receptors with cannabinoid receptors, but not with chemokine receptors, leads to a significant increase in the level of BRET signal, suggesting that the opioid-cannabinoid interactions are receptor specific. In order to examine the implications of these interactions to signaling, we used GTPgammaS binding and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation assays and examined the effect of receptor activation on signaling. We find that the mu receptor-mediated signaling is attenuated by the CB1 receptor agonist; this effect is reciprocal and is seen in heterologous cells and endogenous tissue expressing both receptors. In order to explore the physiological consequences of this interaction, we examined the effect of receptor activation on the extent of Src and STAT3 phosphorylation and neuritogenesis in Neuro-2A cells. We find that the simultaneous activation of mu opioid and CB1 cannabinoid receptors leads to a significant attenuation of the response seen upon activation of individual receptors, implicating a role for receptor-receptor interactions in modulating neuritogenesis.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2006

Simultaneous activation of the delta opioid receptor (deltaOR)/sensory neuron-specific receptor-4 (SNSR-4) hetero-oligomer by the mixed bivalent agonist bovine adrenal medulla peptide 22 activates SNSR-4 but inhibits deltaOR signaling.

Hetero-oligomerization among G protein-coupled receptors has been proposed to contribute to signal integration. Because sensory neuron-specific receptors (SNSRs) and the opioid receptors (OR) share a common ligand, the bovine adrenal medulla peptide (BAM) 22, and have opposite effects on pain modulation, we investigated the possible consequences of deltaOR/SNSR-4 hetero-oligomerization on the signaling properties of both receptor subtypes. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer revealed that the human deltaOR has similar propensity to homo-oligomerize and to form hetero-oligomers with human SNSR-4 when coexpressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. The hetero-oligomerization leads to a receptor form displaying unique functional properties. Individual activation of either deltaOR or SNSR-4 in cells coexpressing the two receptors led to the modulation of their respective signaling pathways; inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and activation of phospholipase C, respectively. In contrast, the deltaOR/SNSR-4 bivalent agonist BAM22, which could activate each receptor expressed individually, fully activated the SNSR-4-dependent phospholipase C but did not promote deltaOR-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in deltaOR/SNSR-4-coexpressing cells. Likewise, concomitant activation of the deltaOR/SNSR-4 hetero-oligomer by selective deltaOR and SNSR-4 agonists promoted SNSR-4 but not deltaOR signaling, revealing an agonist-dependent dominant-negative effect of SNSR-4 on deltaOR signaling. Furthermore, the deltaOR selective antagonist naltrexone trans-inhibited the SNSR-4-promoted phospholipase C activation mediated by BAM22 but not by the SNSR-4-selective agonists, suggesting a bivalent binding mode of BAM22 to the deltaOR/SNSR-4 hetero-oligomer. The observation that BAM22 inhibited the Leu-enkephalin-promoted cAMP inhibition in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons supports the potential physiological implication of such regulatory mechanism.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

PubMed2006

Quantification of VGF- and pro-SAAS-derived peptides in endocrine tissues and the brain, and their regulation by diet and cold stress.

Two novel granin-like polypeptides, VGF and pro-SAAS, which are stored in and released from secretory vesicles and are expressed widely in nervous, endocrine, and neuroendocrine tissues, play roles in the regulation of body weight, feeding, and energy expenditure. Both VGF and pro-SAAS are cleaved into peptide fragments, several of which are biologically active. We utilized a highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) to immunoreactive, pro-SAAS-derived PEN peptides, developed another against immunoreactive, VGF-derived AQEE30 peptides, and quantified these peptides in various mouse tissues and brain regions. Immunoreactive AQEE30 was most abundant in the pituitary, while brain levels were highest in hypothalamus, striatum, and frontal cortex. Immunoreactive PEN levels were highest in the pancreas and spinal cord, and in brain, PEN was most abundant in striatum, hippocampus, pons and medulla, and cortex. Since both peptides were expressed in hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls feeding and energy expenditure, double label immunofluorescence studies were employed. These demonstrated that 42% of hypothalamic arcuate neurons coexpress VGF and SAAS peptides, and that the intracellular distributions of these peptides in arcuate neurons differed. By RIA, cold stress increased immunoreactive AQEE30 and PEN peptide levels in female but not male hypothalamus, while a high fat diet increased AQEE30 and PEN peptide levels in female but not male hippocampus. VGF and SAAS-derived peptides are therefore widely expressed in endocrine, neuroendocrine, and neural tissues, can be accurately quantified by RIA, and are differentially regulated in the brain by diet and cold stress.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Neuroproteomics of the synapse and drug addiction.

Proteomic analyses of brain tissues are becoming an integral component of neuroscientific research. In particular, the essential role of the synapse in neurotransmission and plasticity has brought about extensive efforts to identify its protein constituents. Recent studies have used a combination of subcellular fractionation and proteomic techniques to identify proteins associated with different components of the synapse. Thus, a coherent map of the synapse proteome is rapidly emerging, and a timely review of these data is warranted. In the first part of this review, neuroproteomic techniques that have been used to analyze the synapse proteome are described. We then summarize the results from several recent proteomic analyses of mammalian synapses and discuss the similarities and differences in their profiling of synaptic proteins. Important advances in this field of research include the use of proteomics to analyze synaptic function and drug effects on synaptic proteins. This article presents an overview of proteomic analyses of the phosphorylation states of synaptic proteins and recent applications of neuroproteomic techniques to the study of drug addiction. Finally, we discuss the challenges in comparing proteomic studies of drug addiction and the future directions of this field in furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic function and drug addiction.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Targeting opioid receptor heterodimers: strategies for screening and drug development.

G-protein-coupled receptors are a major target for the development of new marketable drugs. A growing number of studies have shown that these receptors could bind to their ligands, signal, and be internalized as dimers. Most of the evidence comes from in vitro studies, but recent studies using animal models support an important role for dimerization in vivo and in human pathologies. It is therefore becoming highly relevant to include dimerization in screening campaigns: the increased complexity reached by the ability to target 2 receptors should lead to the identification of more specific hits that could be developed into drugs with fewer side effects. In this review, we have summarized results from a series of studies characterizing the properties of G-protein-coupled receptor dimers using both in vitro and in vivo systems. Since opioid receptors exist as dimers and heterodimerization modulates their pharmacology, we have used them as a model system to develop strategies for the identification of compounds that will specifically bind and activate opioid receptor heterodimers: such compounds could represent the next generation of pain relievers with decreased side effects, including reduced drug abuse liability.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Peptidomics of Cpefat/fat mouse hypothalamus and striatum: effect of chronic morphine administration.

Chronic morphine administration is known to affect several neuropeptide systems, and this could contribute to the behavioral effects of opiates. To quantitate global changes in neuropeptide levels upon chronic morphine administration, we took advantage of a method that allows selective isolation of neuropeptides from brains of mice lacking carboxypeptidase E (Cpefat/fat mice), a critical enzyme in the generation of many neuroendocrine peptides. We used a differential labeling procedure with stable isotopic tags and mass spectrometry to quantitate the relative changes in a number of hypothalamic and striatal peptides in Cpefat/fat mice chronically treated with morphine. A total of 27 distinct peptides were detected in hypothalamus and striatum. Of these, 27 were identified by mass spectrometry-based sequencing, 1 was tentatively identified by the mass and charge, and 9 were not identified. The identified peptides included fragments of proenkephalin, prothyrotropin-releasing hormone, secretogranin II, chromogranin Aand B, protachykinin B, provasopressin, promelanin concentrating hormone, and pro-SAAS. Upon morphine administration, although the levels of most of the peptides were unaltered (within a factor of 1.3 to 0.7 compared with saline control), the levels of a small number of peptides did show consistent changes (increased or decreased by 1.3-fold or more) in hypothalamus and/or striatum. Taken together, these results provide interesting insights into endogenous neuropeptide systems that are modulated by morphine and suggest further experiments to link candidate peptides with long-term effects of morphine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

A role for transmembrane domains V and VI in ligand binding and maturation of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor.

Several studies have proposed that angiotensin II (Ang II) binds to its receptor AT1 through interactions with residues in helices V and VI, suggesting that the distance between these helices is crucial for ligand binding. Based on a 3D model of AT1 in which the C-terminus of Ang II is docked, we identified the hydrophobic residues of TM V and VI pointing towards the external face of the helices, which may play a role in the structure of the binding pocket and in the structural integrity of the receptor. We performed a systematic mutagenesis study of these residues and examined the binding, localization, maturation, and dimerization of the mutated receptors. We found that mutations of hydrophobic residues to alanine in helix V do not alter binding, whereas mutations to glutamate lead to loss of binding without a loss in cell surface expression, suggesting that the external face of helix V may not directly participate in binding, but may rather contribute to the structure of the binding pocket. In contrast, mutations of hydrophobic residues to glutamate in helix VI lead to a loss in cell surface expression, suggesting that the external surface of helix VI plays a structural role and ensures correct folding of the receptor.

Alanine↗

PubMed2006

The use of receptor-specific antibodies to study G-protein-coupled receptors.

The identification of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) cDNAs has facilitated a number of studies characterizing the biochemical properties of the receptor protein. Most of these studies have used antibodies directed against the epitope-tagged receptor expressed in heterologous cells, because of the lack of sensitive and selective antibodies capable of recognizing endogenous receptors in their native state. In order to facilitate studies with endogenous receptors, efforts have been made to generate receptor-type selective, sensitive antibodies that are able to recognize endogenous receptors. In this review, we discuss the strategies as well as the details of the techniques used for the generation of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies with a focus on family A GPCRs.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Serotonin receptor activation leads to neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival.

Serotonin 5-HT1 receptors are implicated in anxiety and depression. These receptors belong to the family A of G-protein-coupled receptors and couple to inhibitory G-proteins. Recent studies show that chronic activation of 5-HT1A receptors leads to proliferation of hippocampal neurons suggesting that neurogenesis contributes to the effects of antidepressants. However, the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved are not understood. We used Neuro 2A cells transfected with 5-HT1A receptors and SK-N-SH cells endogenously expressing the receptor to examine the effect of receptor activation on neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. We find that receptor activation leads to increased neurite outgrowth that can be blocked by the receptor selective antagonist and by treatment with pertussis toxin or lactacystin implicating inhibitory G-proteins and proteasomal degradation in this process. Interestingly, the small G-protein Rap and the transcription factor STAT-3 are also involved since reducing the levels of Rap1 (using small interfering RNA) or STAT-3 (using dominant negative STAT3) significantly blocks 5-HT1A-receptor-mediated neurite outgrowth. The observed increase in the phosphorylation of Src and STAT-3, at sites leading to their activation, further supports a crucial role for these proteins in neurite outgrowth. We also find that prolonged activation of endogenous 5-HT1A receptors leads to increased cell survival even under starving conditions; this is completely blocked by co-treatment with the antagonist. Taken together, these findings indicate that activation of the 5-HT1A receptor leads to a number of neurotropic events by activating a series of signal transduction molecules leading to long-term changes required for neurogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The G alpha(o/i)-coupled cannabinoid receptor-mediated neurite outgrowth involves Rap regulation of Src and Stat3.

The study of the signaling pathways regulating neurite outgrowth in culture is important because of their potential role in neuronal differentiation in vivo. We have previously shown that the G alpha(o/i)-coupled CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) activates Rap1 to induce neurite outgrowth. G alpha(o/i) also activates the Src-Stat3 pathway. Here, we studied the relationship between the G alpha(o/i)-Rap1 and Src-Stat3 pathways and the role of these signaling pathways in CB1R-mediated neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2A cells. The CB1 agonist HU-210 induced pertussis toxin-sensitive Src and Stat3 phosphorylation. Dominant negative (DN) mutants of Src and Stat3 blocked CB1R-induced neurite outgrowth. Constitutively active Rap 1B and Ral-activated Src and CB1R-induced Src phosphorylation was inhibited by Rap1-DN and Ral-DN, indicating that both Rap1 and Ral mediate downstream signaling from G alpha(o/i) for Src activation. Rap1-activated Ral and Ral-DN blocked Rap-induced Src phosphorylation. G alpha(o)-induced Stat3 activation was blocked by Ral-DN, whereas v-Src-induced Stat3 activation was not inhibited by Ral-DN, indicating that the CB1R, through G alpha(o), mediates the sequential activation of Rap1 to Ral to Src to Stat3 in Neuro-2A cells. Downstream of Src, the CB1R also activated Rac1 and JNK, which enhanced CBR1-mediated Stat3 activation. Rac-DN blocked CB1R-induced activation of JNK. Pharmacological inhibition of JNK blocked Src and CB1R activation of Stat3, indicating that Rac and JNK are also involved in CB1R-mediated neurite outgrowth. Overall, this study demonstrated that G alpha(o/i)-coupled CB1R triggers neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2A through the activation of a signaling network containing two pathways that bifurcate at Src and converge at Stat3.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Neuropeptide processing profile in mice lacking prohormone convertase-1.

Prohormone convertase 1 (PC1; also known as PC3) is believed to be responsible for the processing of many neuropeptide precursors. To look at the role PC1 plays in neuropeptide processing in brain and pituitary, we used radioimmunoassays (RIA) as well as quantitative peptidomic methods and examined changes in the levels of multiple neuropeptide products in PC1 knockout (KO) mice. The processing of proenkephalin was impaired in PC1 KO mouse brains with a decrease in the level of Met-Enkephalin immunoreactivity (ir-Met-Enk) and an accumulation of higher molecular weight processing intermediates containing ir-Met-Enk. Processing of the neuropeptide precursor VGF was also affected in PC1 KO mouse brains with a decrease in the level of an endogenous 3 kDa C-terminal peptide. In contrast, the processing of proSAAS into PEN was not altered in PC1 KO mouse brains. Quantitative mass spectrometry was used to analyze a number of peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC), provasopressin, prooxytocin, chromogranin A, chromogranin B, and secretogranin II. Among them, the levels of oxytocin and peptides derived from chromogranin A and B dramatically decreased in the PC1 KO mouse pituitaries, while the levels of peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin and provasopressin did not show substantial changes. In conclusion, these results support the notion that PC1 plays a key role in the processing of multiple neuroendocrine peptide precursors and also reveal the presence of a redundant system in the processing of a number of physiologically important bioactive peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Teaching resources. Cell signaling systems: a course for graduate students.

This course uses the primary literature to develop a systems-level understanding of the information flow through the various cell signaling pathways and networks. Current areas of research activities in the experimental and theoretical understanding of cell signaling research are highlighted. This Teaching Resource describes a sample syllabus and organization for this course. Each lecture is 2 hours. After each set of lectures, there is a 2-hour discussion period during which students present an in-depth analysis of a primary literature article, selected in consultation with the lecturer.

Curriculum↗

PubMed2005

Cannabinoid receptor-induced neurite outgrowth is mediated by Rap1 activation through G(alpha)o/i-triggered proteasomal degradation of Rap1GAPII.

The G(alpha)o/i-coupled CB1 cannabionoid receptor induces neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2A cells. The mechanisms of signaling through G(alpha)o/i to induce neurite outgrowth were studied. The expression of G(alpha)o/i reduces the stability of its direct interactor protein, Rap1GAPII, by targeting it for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. This results in the activation of Rap1. G(alpha)o/i-induced activation of endogenous Rap1 in Neuro-2A cells is blocked by the proteasomal inhibitor lactacystin. G(alpha)o/i stimulates neurite outgrowth that is blocked by the expression of dominant negative Rap1. Expression of Rap1GAPII also blocks the G(alpha)o/i-induced neurite outgrowth and treatment with proteasomal inhibitors potentiates this inhibition. The endogenous G(alpha)o/i-coupled cannabinoid (CB1) receptor in Neuro-2A cells stimulates the degradation of Rap1GAPII; activation of Rap1 and treatment with pertussis toxin or lactacystin blocks these effects. The CB1 receptor-stimulated neurite outgrowth is blocked by treatment with pertussis toxin, small interfering RNA for Rap, lactacystin, and expression of Rap1GAPII. Thus, the G(alpha)o/i-coupled cannabinoid receptor, by regulating the proteasomal degradation of Rap1GAPII, activates Rap1 to induce neurite outgrowth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Mechanisms of action of antidepressants: from neurotransmitter systems to signaling pathways.

Antidepressants are commonly used in the treatment of anxiety and depression, medical conditions that affect approximately 17-20% of the population. The clinical effects of antidepressants take several weeks to manifest, suggesting that these drugs induce adaptive changes in brain structures affected by anxiety and depression. In order to develop shorter-acting and more effective drugs for the treatment of anxiety and depression, it is important to understand how antidepressants bring about their beneficial effects. Recent reports suggest that antidepressants can induce neurogenesis in the adult brain, although the mechanisms involved are not clearly understood. In this review, we describe the different neurotransmitter systems that are affected by anxiety and depression and how they are modulated by antidepressant treatment with a focus on signaling molecules and pathways that are activated during neurotransmitter receptor induced neurogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Embryonic gene expression and pro-protein processing of proSAAS during rodent development.

In vitro assays have demonstrated that peptides derived from the recently-identified proSAAS precursor inhibit prohormone convertase 1 (PC1) suggesting that this novel peptide may function as an endogenous inhibitor of PC1. To further understand the role of proSAAS in vivo, we have investigated the expression of proSAAS mRNA and processing of proSAAS during pre- and early postnatal rodent development. In situ hybridization showed that, by embryonic day 12.5 (e12.5) in the rat, proSAAS mRNA was present in essentially all differentiating neurons in the mantle layer of the myelencephalon, metencephalon, diencephalon, spinal cord and several sympathetic ganglia. During later stages of prenatal development, widespread proSAAS expression continues in post-mitotic neurons of both the CNS and PNS and begins in endocrine cells of the anterior and intermediate pituitary. Although proSAAS expression overlaps with PC1 in several regions, its overall expression pattern is significantly more extensive, suggesting that proSAAS may be multifunctional during development. Processed forms of proSAAS are present by at least mid-gestation with marked accumulation of two C-terminal forms, comprising the PC1 inhibitory fragment of proSAAS.

Animals↗