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Epstein-Barr virus gene expression in P3HR1-superinfected Raji cells.

The pattern of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) RNAs expressed in Raji cells superinfected with P3HR1 EBV was examined. RNAs whose expression was of an immediate-early type (resistant to treatment of the cells with anisomycin) were identified. These RNAs, encoding the EBV reading frames BZLF1 and BRLF1, were probably expressed from defective virus within the P3HR1 preparation, and some of them were responsible for the induction of the EBV productive cycle in the Raji cells. The structures of the B95-8 RNAs equivalent to the anisomycin-resistant RNAs were determined. The RNA encoding the BZLF1 reading frame contained two splices which extended and modified the reading frame from that previously described.

Anisomycin↗

Identification of functionally important amino acids of ribosomal protein L3 by saturation mutagenesis.

There is accumulating evidence that many ribosomal proteins are involved in shaping rRNA into their functionally correct conformations through RNA-protein interactions. Moreover, although rRNA seems to play the central role in all aspects of ribosome function, ribosomal proteins may be involved in facilitating communication between different functional regions in ribosome, as well as between the ribosome and cellular factors. In an effort to more fully understand how ribosomal proteins may influence ribosome function, we undertook large-scale mutational analysis of ribosomal protein L3, a core protein of the large subunit that has been implicated in numerous ribosome-associated functions in the past. A total of 98 different rpl3 alleles were genetically characterized with regard to their effects on killer virus maintenance, programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting, resistance/hypersensitivity to the translational inhibitor anisomycin and, in specific cases, the ability to enhance translation of a reporter mRNA lacking the 5' (7)mGppp cap structure and 3' poly(A) tail. Biochemical studies reveal a correlation between an increased affinity for aminoacyl-tRNA and the extent of anisomycin resistance and a decreased peptidyltransferase activity and increased frameshifting efficiency. Immunoblot analyses reveal that the superkiller phenotype is not due to a defect in the ability of ribosomes to recruit the Ski-complex, suggesting that the defect lies in a reduced ability of mutant ribosomes to distinguish between cap(+)/poly(A)(+) and cap(-)/poly(A)(-) mRNAs. The results of these analyses are discussed with regard to how protein-rRNA interactions may affect ribosome function.

Alleles↗

Type II glucocorticoid receptors in the CNS regulate metabolism in ob/ob mice independent of protein synthesis.

A single intracerebroventricular injection of dexamethasone rapidly (within 30 min) decreases brown adipose tissue thermogenesis by 25% as assessed by GDP binding and increases plasma insulin twofold in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice. The present study investigated the type of corticoid receptor(s) that mediate these effects and determined whether protein synthesis was necessary for expression of these glucocorticoid actions in ob/ob mice. Intracerebroventricular injection of aldosterone (a type I-corticoid receptor agonist) was ineffective in altering peripheral metabolism in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice, whereas RU-486 (a type II-corticoid receptor antagonist) abolished the effects of dexamethasone. Thus type II-like corticoid receptors, not type I receptors, mediated the rapid effects of dexamethasone in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice. Anisomycin (0.5 mg) administered subcutaneously almost completely suppressed (-92%) cerebral protein synthesis, but anisomycin did not abolish the rapid effects of dexamethasone in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice. Thus protein synthesis is not a prerequisite for rapid effects of dexamethasone in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

SAPKs regulation of ischemic preconditioning.

The role of stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, in preconditioning (PC) was examined with the use of isolated rat hearts subjected to four cyclic episodes of 5-min ischemia and 10-min reperfusion followed by 30-min ischemia and 2-h reperfusion (I/R). A group of hearts was preperfused with 100 microM curcumin, a c-Jun and JNK1 inhibitor, or 5 microM SB 203580, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. Another group of hearts was preperfused with 20 microM anisomycin, a stimulator for both JNK and p38 MAP kinases. I/R increased the protein levels of JNK1, c-Jun, and p38 MAP kinase. PC also enhanced the induction of these kinases, but subsequent I/R-mediated increase was blocked by PC. Curcumin blocked I/R- and PC-mediated increase in JNK1 and c-Jun protein levels, whereas it had no effects on p38 MAP kinase. SB 203580, on the other hand, was equally effective in reducing the p38 MAP kinase activation but exerted no effects on JNK1 and c-Jun induction. I/R-mediated increased myocardial infarction was reduced by any of the following compounds: anisomycin, curcumin, and SB 203580. The cardioprotective effects of PC were abolished by either curcumin or SB 203580. The results demonstrate that PC is mediated by a signal-transduction pathway involving both JNK1 and p38 MAP kinase. Activation of SAPKs, although transient, is obligatory for PC.

Animals↗

Adaptation of the outer medullary collecting duct to metabolic acidosis in vitro.

Metabolic acidosis in vivo, as well as in vitro (1 h at pH 6.8 followed by 2 h at pH 7.4) stimulates H+-ATPase-dependent H+ secretion in outer medullary collecting ducts from the inner stripe (OMCDi) (S. Tsuruoka and G. J. Schwartz. J. Clin. Invest. 99: 1420-1431, 1997). Another group has shown that the adaptation to metabolic acidosis in vivo is mediated by an apical polarization of H+ pumps without an increase in total H+ pump mRNA or protein (B. Bastani, H. Purcell, P. Hemken, D. Trigg, and S. Gluck. J. Clin. Invest. 88: 126-136, 1991). To further address the mechanism of adaptation, we measured net HCO-3 absorption before and after applying protein/RNA synthesis and signal transduction inhibitors during the 1 h of low pH and a cytoskeletal inhibitor during the entire 3-h incubation. Net HCO-3 transport, measured by microcalorimetry, increased approximately 33% after in vitro acidosis. This increase was prevented by application during the first hour of anisomycin (10 microM) or actinomycin D (4 microM), but not by anisomycin applied during the 2-h incubation at pH 7.4. Similar results were obtained with the cell calcium chelator, 1, 2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM, 20 microM), the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium (30 nM), the endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin (100 nM), and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, staurosporine (100 nM), applied during the 1 h at pH 6.8, but not with BAPTA-AM or thapsigargin used during the 2-h incubation at pH 7. 4. Colchicine (10 microM) applied during the entire 3-h incubation also prevented this adaptive increase in H+ secretion, whereas lumicolchicine (10 microM, the inactive congener) did not. Colchicine also reversibly prevented any adaptive increases in transepithelial positive voltage. Thus the adaptation to acidosis in vitro required RNA and protein synthesis, changes in intracellular calcium and PKC activity, and intact microtubules. Time was required for the adaptation to occur, as the increase in HCO-3 transport was small after <3-h incubation. Protein synthesis and changes in cell calcium were critical during the initial period of low pH but not once the acid stimulus had been removed. Exocytosis of H+ pumps appears to occur continually during the entire 3-h incubation. These data would suggest that the synthesis and regulation of proteins involved in shuttling H+ pumps in cytoplasmic vesicles to the apical membrane via exocytosis are important for the OMCDi to adapt to low pH in vitro and probably to metabolic acidosis in vivo.

Acidosis↗

Protein synthesis-dependent and mRNA synthesis-independent intermediate phase of memory in Hermissenda.

The conditioned stimulus pathway in Hermissenda has been used to examine the time-dependent mechanisms of memory consolidation following one-trial conditioning. Here we report an intermediate phase of memory consolidation following one-trial conditioning that requires protein synthesis, but not mRNA synthesis. In conditioned animals, enhanced excitability normally expressed during an intermediate phase of memory was reversed by the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin, but not by the mRNA synthesis inhibitor 5, 6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribobenzimidazole (DRB). Associated with the intermediate phase of memory is an increase in the phosphorylation of a 24-kDa protein. Anisomycin present during the intermediate phase blocked the increased phosphorylation of the 24-kDa phosphoprotein, but did not block the increased phosphorylation of other proteins associated with conditioning or significantly change their baseline phosphorylation. DRB did not reverse enhanced excitability or decrease protein phosphorylation expressed during the intermediate phase of memory formation, but it did reverse enhanced excitability 3.5 h after conditioning. Phosphorylation of the 24-kDa protein may support enhanced excitability during the intermediate phase, in the transition period between short- and long-term memory.

Analysis of Variance↗

h-sgk serine-threonine protein kinase as transcriptional target of p38/MAP kinase pathway in HepG2 human hepatoma cells.

The human serum and glucocorticoid dependent serine/threonine kinase h-sgk has previously been discovered as cell volume regulated gene. The present study has been performed to elucidate the involvement of p38-kinase in the transcriptional control of h-sgk by osmotic cell shrinkage. The p38-kinase has previously been cloned as the mammalian homologue of HOG1 kinase, which constitutes a part of the osmosensor in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Phosphorylated (active) p38-kinase has been estimated with Western blotting, transcription of hsgk using Northern blotting. Both, increase of extracellular NaCl concentration by 50 mmol/l and addition of 10 micromol/l anisomycin increase phosphorylation of the p38-kinase within 5 to 10 minutes. h-sgk transcription is upregulated by addition of 50 mmol/l NaCl and by anisomycin (10 micromol/l), effects completely inhibited by the specific p38-kinase inhibitor, SB 203580 (10 micromol/l). In conclusion, the stimulation of h-sgk transcription by osmotic cell shrinkage is mediated by p38-kinase.

Anisomycin↗

Inhibition of prefrontal protein synthesis following recall does not disrupt memory for trace fear conditioning.

BACKGROUND: The extent of similarity between consolidation and reconsolidation is not yet fully understood. One of the differences noted is that not every brain region involved in consolidation exhibits reconsolidation. In trace fear conditioning, the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are required for consolidation of long-term memory. We have previously demonstrated that trace fear memory is susceptible to infusion of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin into the hippocampus following recall. In the present study, we examine whether protein synthesis inhibition in the mPFC following recall similarly results in the observation of reconsolidation of trace fear memory. RESULTS: Targeted intra-mPFC infusions of anisomycin or vehicle were performed immediately following recall of trace fear memory at 24 hours, or at 30 days, following training in a one-day or a two-day protocol. The present study demonstrates three key findings: 1) trace fear memory does not undergo protein synthesis dependent reconsolidation in the PFC, regardless of the intensity of the training, and 2) regardless of whether the memory is recent or remote, and 3) intra-mPFC inhibition of protein synthesis immediately following training impaired remote (30 days) memory. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that not all structures that participate in memory storage are involved in reconsolidation. Alternatively, certain types of memory-related information may reconsolidate, while other components of memory may not.

Animals↗

c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma1 and negatively regulates its transcriptional activity.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) transcription factor plays a pivotal role in adipocyte differentiation and metabolic regulation. The transcriptional activity of PPARgamma is positively modulated by ligand binding and negatively regulated by phosphorylation mediated by the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The phosphorylation of mouse PPARgamma1 at Ser82 by ERK causes a decrease in both basal and ligand-dependent transcriptional activity. In this report we examined the ability of other mitogen-activated protein kinase family members to phosphorylate PPARgamma1. We demonstrate that in vitro, PPARgamma1 is efficiently phosphorylated by JNK/SAPK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase or stress-activated protein kinase) but only weakly phosphorylated by p38. In transfected 293T cells, PPARgamma1 is phosphorylated at Ser82 in response to known JNK activators such as UV irradiation and anisomycin treatment. This phosphorylation is not blocked by either the specific MEK inhibitor PD98059 or the p38 inhibitor SB203580, indicating that it is independent of the MEK/ERK and p38 signaling pathways. Finally, in transient transfection reporter assays, activation of JNK by anisomycin or by overexpression of MKK4 (the upstream JNK kinase) decreased ligand-dependent PPARgamma1 transcriptional activity. These results suggest that the activation of the JNK/SAPK pathway by extracellular signals, perhaps by inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, would result in a reduction of PPARgamma transcriptional activity and reduce the effects of PPARgamma ligands.

Animals↗

Hormone-dependent beta-casein mRNA stabilization requires ongoing protein synthesis.

The role of ongoing protein synthesis in mediating the posttranscriptional effects of hormones on casein gene expression in the COMMA D mouse mammary epithelial cell line was investigated using the protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide and anisomycin. When COMMA D cells were pretreated with insulin and PRL for 24 h, the addition of glucocorticoids induced a greater than 20-fold increase in beta-casein mRNA accumulation with an apparent lag of greater than 8 h. Addition of cycloheximide and anisomycin not only prevented this increase, but unexpectedly, resulted in the rapid disappearance of preexisting beta-casein mRNA with a half-life of approximately 2 h. Under the same conditions, the levels of beta-actin and histone H4 mRNAs were increased markedly. In contrast, when cells were pretreated with all three lactogenic hormones for 48 h before the addition of either protein synthesis inhibitors or actinomycin D, the effects of these inhibitors on the levels of beta-casein mRNA were greatly diminished. This differential sensitivity of beta-casein mRNA to protein synthesis inhibitors was observed only in cells pretreated for greater than 24 h with all three hormones. Experiments performed in the absence of inhibitors indicated that beta-casein mRNA has a long half-life even after hormone withdrawal. These results suggest that hormone-dependent stabilization of cytoplasmic beta-casein mRNA requires ongoing protein synthesis. Cells cultured in the presence of all three lactogenic hormones slowly accumulate a labile protein(s), which exerts a selective effect on casein mRNA stability.

Actins↗

Neither ERK nor JNK/SAPK MAP kinase subtypes are essential for histone H3/HMG-14 phosphorylation or c-fos and c-jun induction.

The effects of EGF, TPA, UV radiation, okadaic acid and anisomycin on ERK and JNK/SAPK MAP kinase cascades have been compared with their ability to elicit histone H3/HMG-14 phosphorylation and induce c-fos and c-jun in C3H 10T1/2 cells. EGF and UV radiation activate both ERKs and JNK/SAPKs but to markedly different extents; EGF activates ERKs more strongly than JNK/SAPKs, whereas UV radiation activates JNK/SAPKs much more strongly than ERKs. Anisomycin and okadaic acid activate JNK/SAPKs but not ERKs, and conversely, TPA activates ERKs but not JNK/SAPKs. Nevertheless, all these agents elicit phosphorylation of ribosomal and pre-ribosomal S6, histone H3 and HMG-14, and the induction of c-fos and c-jun, showing that neither cascade is absolutely essential for these responses. We then analysed the relationship between ERKs, JNK/SAPKs and the transcription factors Elk-1 and c-Jun, implicated in controlling c-fos and c-jun, respectively. JNK/SAPKs bind to GST-cJun1-79, and ERKs, particularly ERK-2, to GST-Elk1(307-428); there is no cross-specificity of binding. Further, GST-Elk1(307-428) binds preferentially to active rather than inactive ERK-2. In vitro, JNK/SAPKs phosphorylate both GST-cJun1-79 and GST-Elk1(307-428), whereas ERKs phosphorylate GST-Elk1(307-428) but not GST-cJun1-79. Thus, neither ERKs nor JNK/SAPKs are absolutely essential for nuclear signalling and c-fos and c-jun induction. The data suggest either that activation of a single MAP kinase subtype is sufficient to elicit a complete nuclear response, or that other uncharacterised routes exist.

3T3 Cells↗

Involvement of protein synthesis and degradation in long-term potentiation of Schaffer collateral CA1 synapses.

Expression of synaptic plasticity involves the translation of mRNA into protein and, probably, active protein degradation via the proteasome pathway. Here, we report on the rapid activation of synthesis and degradation of a probe protein with the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral CA1 pathway. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 significantly reduced the field EPSP slope potentiation and LTP maintenance without acutely affecting basal synaptic transmission. To visualize protein dynamics, CA1 pyramidal cells of hippocampal slices were transfected with Semliki Forest virus particles expressing a recombinant RNA. This RNA contained the coding sequence for a degradable green fluorescence protein with a nuclear localization signal (NLS-d1EGFP) followed by a 3'- untranslated region dendritic targeting sequence. NLS-d1EGFP fluorescence remained stable in the low-frequency test stimulation but increased with LTP induction in the cell body and in most dendritic compartments of CA1 neurons. Applying anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor, caused NLS-d1EGFP levels to decline; a proteasome inhibitor MG132 reversed this effect. In the presence of anisomycin, LTP induction accelerated the degradation of NLS-d1EGFP. When both inhibitors were present, NLS-d1EGFP levels remained unaffected by LTP induction. Moreover, LTP-induced acceleration of NLS-d1EGFP synthesis was blocked by rapamycin, which is consistent with the involvement of dendritic mammalian target of rapamycin in LTP-triggered translational activity. Our results clearly demonstrate that LTP induction not only leads to a rapid increase in the rate of protein synthesis but also accelerates protein degradation via the proteasome system.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Distinct roles of hippocampal de novo protein synthesis and actin rearrangement in extinction of contextual fear.

It is believed that de novo protein synthesis is fundamentally linked to synaptic changes in neuronal circuits involved in acquisition and extinction of conditioned responses. Recent studies show that neuronal plasticity may be also altered by cytoskeletal rearrangement independently of protein synthesis. We investigated the role of these processes in the hippocampus during acquisition and extinction of context-dependent conditioned fear in mice. Intrahippocampal injections of the protein synthesis inhibitors anisomycin and puromycin, or of the actin rearrangement inhibitors cytochalasin D and latrunculin A, prevented the acquisition of context-dependent fear. Unexpectedly, anisomycin and puromycin enhanced extinction without erasing the fear memory. In contrast, cytochalasin D and latrunculin A prevented extinction of context-dependent freezing. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that certain hippocampal mechanisms mediating extinction of conditioned contextual fear are inhibited by protein synthesis and involve actin rearrangement. Such mechanisms might predominantly elicit modifications of hippocampal circuits that store the conditioning memory.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Differential regulation of the dual-specificity protein-tyrosine phosphatases CL100, B23, and PAC1 in mesangial cells.

The extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), the best described MAP kinase cascade, is a major signaling system by which cells transduce extracellular cues into intracellular responses. ERK is activated by phosphorylation both on tyrosine and threonine residues. Therefore, a new clas of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) that exhibit dual catalytic activity toward both regulatory sites on ERK is of special interest in the control of intracellular signaling. This study examined the expression and regulation of the dual-specificity PTPases CL100, B23, and PAC1. Findings included differential expression of these phosphatases in diverse cell lines and an expression of all three dual-specificity PTPases in human mesangial cells (HMC), thereby allowing investigation of their regulation in a single cell line. The MEK antagonist PD 098059 and selective extracellular agonists of ERK were used to demonstrate the induction of CL100, PAC1, and B23 in response to activation of the ERK cascade. In contrast, anisomycin, an agonist of the recently described MAP kinases stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and p38 MAP kinase, stimulated CL100 gene expression but had little effect on PAC1 and B23. This effect of anisomycin was partly inhibited in the presence of the p38 MAP kinase antagonist SB 203580. This study suggests a potential mechanism to regulate ERK activity through feedback inhibition by demonstrating the ERK cascade's induction of the dual-specificity PTPases CL100, PAC1, and B23. Moreover, this study suggests an ERK-independent induction of CL100 following stimulation of SAPK and p38 MAP kinase. This mode of induction of a phosphatase capable of inactivating ERK may play an important role in the cellular stress response.

Animals↗

Puromycin induces apoptosis of developing chick sympathetic neurons in a similar manner to NGF-deprivation.

Survival of sympathetic neurons of chick embryo depends on nerve growth factor (NGF), and removal of NGF from culture medium caused apoptosis. We found that puromycin, an analogue of aminoacyl-tRNA, also induced apoptosis in a manner quite similar to that caused by NGF-deprivation. First, transcriptional inhibitors such as actinomycin D and alpha-amanitin effectively prevented both apoptoses, suggesting a requirement of gene expression. Second, the apoptoses were effectively prevented by translational inhibitors acting on peptidyltransfer reaction, such as anisomycin and blasticidin S. On the other hand, emetine, an inhibitor of translocation of peptidyl-tRNA, was not effective. Finally, NGF-deprivation and puromycin-addition affected the same three phosphorylated proteins to undergo dephosphorylation or to be eliminated. Besides, these changes were suppressed by anisomycin and blasticidin, but not by emetine. Based on these findings, we discuss the mechanism to induce apoptosis of chick sympathetic neurons.

Animals↗

Multiple pathways lead to activation of the survival mechanism in quiescent BALB/c-3T3 cells.

The survival of density-arrested quiescent murine BALB/c-3T3 cells in serum-free Dulbecco's medium requires the presence of cell growth factors or second messenger agonists. The protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin blocks the survival-mediating action of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), but has little or no effect on the protective action of platelet-derived growth factor or 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (Br-cAMP). The effects of anisomycin are concentration dependent in the range from 2.5 to 25 microM and show that the survival-enhancing abilities of bFGF and TPA critically require protein synthesis, whereas those of platelet-derived growth factor and Br-cAMP do not. The survival-mediating action of bFGF and TPA can also be blocked with the RNA synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D and 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB), whereas the action of platelet-derived growth factor and Br-cAMP is largely resistant. Results on the time course of action of DRB, a selective inhibitor of the synthesis of mRNA precursor molecules, suggest that the RNA required for the survival-enhancing action of bFGF and TPA is present in cells at the time of serum withdrawal and addition of the survival factor and has a half-life greater than 3 h. The new evidence provides further support for the hypothesis that protection of serum-deprived, density-arrested BALB/c-3T3 fibroblasts against death can be achieved either via pathways that entail the synthesis of protein and RNA (e.g., via diacylglycerol-protein kinase C) or via pathways that do not involve de novo biosynthesis (e.g., via cAMP-protein kinase A).

3T3 Cells↗

Protein expression of TNF-alpha in psoriatic skin is regulated at a posttranscriptional level by MAPK-activated protein kinase 2.

Alterations in specific signal transduction pathways may explain the increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines seen in inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. We reveal increased TNF-alpha protein expression, but similar TNF-alpha mRNA levels, in lesional compared with nonlesional psoriatic skin, demonstrating for the first time that TNF-alpha expression in lesional psoriatic skin is regulated posttranscriptionally. Increased levels of activated MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) together with increased MK2 kinase activity were found in lesional compared with nonlesional psoriatic skin. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that activated MK2 was located in the basal layers of the psoriatic epidermis, whereas no positive staining was seen in nonlesional psoriatic skin. In vitro experiments demonstrated that both anisomycin and IL-1beta caused a significant activation of p38 MAPK and MK2 in cultured normal human keratinocytes. In addition, TNF-alpha protein levels were significantly up-regulated in keratinocytes stimulated with anisomycin or IL-1beta. This increase in TNF-alpha protein expression was completely blocked by the p38 inhibitor, SB202190. Transfection of cultured keratinocytes with MK2-specific small interfering RNA led to a significant decrease in MK2 expression and a subsequent significant reduction in the protein expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8, whereas no change in the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was seen. This is the first time that MK2 expression and activity have been investigated in an inflammatory disease such as psoriasis. The results strongly suggest that increased activation of MK2 is responsible for the elevated and posttranscriptionally regulated TNF-alpha protein expression in psoriatic skin, making MK2 a potential target in the treatment of psoriasis.

Adult↗

Two time periods of hippocampal mRNA synthesis are required for memory consolidation of fear-motivated learning.

Information storage in the brain is a temporally graded process involving different memory types or phases. It has been assumed for over a century that one or more short-term memory (STM) processes are involved in processing new information while long-term memory (LTM) is being formed. It has been repeatedly reported that LTM requires de novo RNA synthesis around the time of training. Here we show that LTM formation of a one-trial inhibitory avoidance training in rats, a hippocampal-dependent form of contextual fear conditioning, depends on two consolidation periods requiring synthesis of new mRNAs. By injecting the RNA polymerase II inhibitors 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole or alpha-amanitin into the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus at various times before and after training, we found that hippocampal gene expression is critical in two time windows: around the time of training and 3-6 hr after training. Interestingly, these two periods of sensitivity to transcriptional inhibitors are similar to those observed using the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin. These findings underscore the parallel dependence of LTM formation of contextual fear on mRNA and protein synthesis in the hippocampus and suggest that the two time periods of anisomycin-induced amnesia depend at least in part on new mRNA synthesis.

Amanitins↗