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PubMed2006

Regulation of microtubule formation in activated mast cells by complexes of gamma-tubulin with Fyn and Syk kinases.

Aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptors (FcepsilonRIs) on the surface of granulated mast cells initiates a chain of signaling events culminating in the release of allergy mediators. Although microtubules are involved in mast cell degranulation, the molecular mechanism that controls microtubule rearrangement after FcepsilonRI triggering is poorly understood. In this study, we show that the activation of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) induced by FcepsilonRI aggregation or treatment with pervanadate leads to a rapid polymerization of microtubules. This polymerization was not dependent on the presence of Lyn kinase as determined by experiments with BMMCs isolated from Lyn-negative mice. One of the key regulators of microtubule polymerization is gamma-tubulin. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that gamma-tubulin from activated cells formed complexes with Fyn and Syk protein tyrosine kinases and several tyrosine phosphorylated proteins from both wild-type and Lyn(-/-) BMMCs. Pretreatment of the cells with Src-family or Syk-family selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors, PP2 or piceatannol, respectively, inhibited the formation of microtubules and reduced the amount of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in gamma-tubulin complexes, suggesting that Src and Syk family kinases are involved in the initial stages of microtubule formation. This notion was corroborated by pull-down experiments in which gamma-tubulin complex bounds to the recombinant Src homology 2 and Src homology 3 domains of Fyn kinase. We propose that Fyn and Syk kinases are involved in the regulation of binding properties of gamma-tubulin and/or its associated proteins, and thus modulate the microtubule nucleation in activated mast cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Scanning force microscopy of microtubules and polymorphic tubulin assemblies in air and in liquid.

We have investigated microtubules (MTs) and polymorphic assemblies, formed in vitro from isolated microtubule protein, by scanning force microscopy (SFM) in air and in liquid. Immobilization of MTs was achieved by placing a drop of the assembly solution on a polylysine-coated coverslip. After washing with taxol and air drying, the characteristic microtubular fibrous morphology appeared in the SFM. The MTs formed a network similar to that obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A height of approximately 9.5 nm for dried MTs was computed from the surface topography. Glutaraldehyde fixation of the MTs yielded higher structures (approximately 14 nm), which swelled to approximately 20 nm after rehydration, a value close to the MT diameter of approximately 25 nm determined from TEM images of ultrathin sections. The protofilament pattern of the MTs and surface attached MT-associated proteins were not apparent from SFM, although the height along the long axis of the MTs appeared slightly modulated. In addition to MTs, various polymorphic tubulin assemblies including ribbons, hoops and double-walled MTs were visualized by SFM.

Air↗
PubMed2005

Proteomic analysis of neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can differentiate into different types of cells, and serve as a good model system to study human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We showed that mESCs differentiated into two types of neurons with different time courses. To determine the global protein expression changes after neural differentiation, we employed a proteomic strategy to analyze the differences between the proteomes of ES cells (E14) and neurons. Using 2-DE plus LC/MS/MS, we have generated proteome reference maps of E14 cells and derived dopaminergic neurons. Around 23 proteins with an increase or decrease in expression or phosphorylation after differentiation have been identified. We confirmed the downregulation of translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) and upregulation of alpha-tubulin by Western blotting. We also showed that TCTP was further downregulated in derived motor neurons than in dopaminergic neurons, and its expression level was independent of extracellular Ca(2+) concentration during neural differentiation. Potential roles of TCTP in modulating neural differentiation through binding to Ca(2+), tubulin and Na,K-ATPase, as well as the functional significance of regulation of other proteins such as actin-related protein 3 (Arp3) and Ran GTPase are discussed. This study demonstrates that proteomic tools are valuable in studying stem cell differentiation and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Modulation of microtubule dynamics by drugs: a paradigm for the actions of cellular regulators.

Microtubules are intrinsically dynamic polymers. Two kinds of dynamic behaviors, dynamic instability and treadmilling, are important for microtubule function in cells. Both dynamic behaviors appear to be tightly regulated, but the cellular molecules and the mechanisms responsible for the regulation remain largely unexplored. While microtubule dynamics can be modulated transiently by the interaction of regulatory molecules with soluble tubulin, the microtubule itself is likely to be the primary target of cellular molecules that regulate microtubule dynamics. The antimitotic drugs that modulate microtubule dynamics serve as excellent models for such cellular molecules. Our laboratory has been investigating the interactions of small drug molecules and stabilizing microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) with microtubule surfaces and ends. We find that drugs such as colchicine, vinblastine, and taxol, and stabilizing MAPs such as tau, strongly modulate microtubule dynamics at extremely low concentrations under conditions in which the microtubule polymer mass is minimally affected. The powerful modulation of the dynamics is brought about by the binding of only a few drug or MAP molecules to distinct binding sites at the microtubule surface or end. Based upon our understanding of the well-studied drugs and stabilizing MAPs, it is clear that molecules that regulate dynamics such as Kin 1 and stathmin could bind to a large number of distinct tubulin sites on microtubules and employ an array of mechanisms to selectively and powerfully regulate microtubule dynamics and dynamics-dependent cellular functions.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Differential association of tau with subsets of microtubules containing posttranslationally-modified tubulin variants in neuroblastoma cells.

Neuronal cells display different subsets of dynamic microtubules. In axons and extending neurites, this intrinsic dynamics is modulated by the microtubule-associated protein tau. Moreover, posttranslational modifications of tubulin, namely acetylation, tyrosination or glutamylation are directly involved in determining the stability of neuronal microtubules. Studies were carried out to analyze the interaction patterns of tau with subsets of microtubules in N2A neuroblastoma cells, which can differentiate in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP. Double labeling studies showed a differential pattern of tau association with microtubules containing acetylated and tyrosinated tubulin. Furthermore, studies using depolymerizing drugs revealed a selectivity in the association of tau with microtubular polymers and microfilaments, within the organization of the neuronal cytoskeleton. In order to study the association of specific tau isoforms with microtubules containing modified tubulin variants, immunoprecipitation studies were carried out. The coimmunoprecipitation data indicated a selective binding of specific tau isoforms to either modified tubulin variant. To assess the hypothesis on the roles of tau isoforms in the stabilization of microtubules containing modified tubulins, the association of those variants with tau isoforms was analyzed in overlay experiments. A preferential binding of acetylated tubulin from undifferentiated N2A cell extracts, to at least one slow-migrating tau isoform was revealed. However, acetylated tubulin from N2A cells containing long neurites displayed a preferential association with two isoforms of tau. On the other hand, tyrosinated tubulin from N2A extracts bound to the entire set of neuronal tau isoforms. These studies, along with the tau association with microtubules with different stability, indicate that tau segregates into subsets of microtubules in the axonal processes. The studies also suggest that these interactions may respond to a functional versatility of these polymers in differentiating neurons.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1993

Rapid and reversible tubulin tyrosination in human neutrophils stimulated by the chemotactic peptide, fMet-Leu-Phe.

Neutrophil activation by specific stimuli, such as the oligopeptide chemotactic factor fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF), is associated with an increased enzymatic addition of tyrosine to tubulin alpha-subunits, as measured by 14C tyrosine uptake. In studies using immunoblots we have found that this increased tyrosine uptake into tubulin in activated neutrophils reflects an increase in the proportion of cellular tubulin that is tyrosinated rather than simply an increase in the turnover of tyrosinated subunits. However, the increased accumulation of tyrosinated tubulin was also found to follow an initial depletion of tyrosinated tubulin and concomitant increase in detyrosinated tubulin between 0 and 60 sec following stimulation of neutrophils with fMLF. Immunogold electron microscopy studies of intact microtubules recovered from activated neutrophils demonstrated that these rapid changes in the relative content of tubulin isoforms in the cells were not associated with the formation or disappearance of microtubule microdomains composed of only one form of tubulin. Previously, we have shown that under conditions of fMLF-stimulated exocytosis there is an increased binding of neutrophil granules to endogenous microtubules. Since neutrophil activation by fMLF is associated with increased tyrosination of alpha-tubulin subunits, we speculated that rapid changes in the levels of tyrosinated tubulin in the microtubules of activated neutrophils might have a role in the regulation of granule-microtubule interactions. When the binding of purified neutrophil granules to reconstituted rat brain microtubules containing approximately 50% tyrosinated tubulin was measured by electron microscopy and compared with granule binding to microtubules that contained no detectable tyrosinated tubulin, granule-microtubule associations were found to be significantly favored by detyrosinated vs. tyrosinated tubulin. These findings indicate that interactions between cytoplasmic granules and microtubules in activated neutrophils may be modulated by rapid changes in the relative content of detyrosinated and tyrosinated tubulin in the microtubule network of the cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Differences in the effect of Ca2+ on isolated microtubules from cod and cow brain.

Isolated microtubules from cod and cow brains were compared with respect to their response to calcium ions. The effect of Ca2+ on cod microtubules was found to be temperature dependent. In contrast to cow microtubules, cod microtubules assembled at 18 degrees C. At this temperature the assembly was inhibited by Ca2+ concentrations of 2 mM and higher. This was also found for cow microtubules at 37 degrees C. However, at 30 degrees C there was no effect of 2 mM Ca2+ of the amount of assembly or disassembly of cod microtubules consisting of only tubulin or of tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). The morphology was affected though, since some coiled ribbons formed from tubulin and MAPs. The calcium-binding calmodulin did not alter the effect of calcium on cod microtubules markedly. At higher Ca2+ concentrations (> 4 mM), coiled ribbons were formed from cod tubulin and MAPs, but mainly amorphous aggregates and very few coiled ribbons were formed from cod tubulin alone, indicating that the Ca2+ effect is modulated by cod MAPs. The modulatory effect of cod MAPs was however not species specific, since both cod and cow MAPs had the same effect on cod microtubules, in spite of a different protein composition. A MAP-dependent effect of Ca2+ was also found for cow microtubule proteins. The assembly of pure cow tubulin, as well as that of cow tubulin and MAPs, was inhibited by 2 mM Ca2+. In the presence of 10 and 20 mM Ca2+, pure cow tubulin formed amorphous aggregates, rings, and even paracrystals, while the assembly of cow tubulin and MAPs was inhibited. Our results suggest therefore that the effect of Ca2+ can be moderated by MAPs, but depends on intrinsic properties of the different tubulins.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Involvement of acetylated tubulin in the regulation of Na+,K+ -ATPase activity in cultured astrocytes.

The results presented support the view that the modulation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in living cells involves the association/dissociation of acetylated tubulin with the enzyme. We found that the stimulation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity by L-glutamate correlates with decreased acetylated tubulin quantity associated with the enzyme. The effect of L-glutamate was abolished by the glutamate transporter inhibitor DL-threo-beta-hydroxyaspartate but was not affected by either specific agonists or antagonists. The effect of L-glutamate seems to be mediated by Na(+) entry resulting from glutamate transport, since the Na(+) ionophore monensin produced stimulation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity with concomitant decrease of acetylated tubulin quantity associated with the enzyme.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1999

Ethanol-induced barrier dysfunction and its prevention by growth factors in human intestinal monolayers: evidence for oxidative and cytoskeletal mechanisms.

Exposure of intestinal mucosa to ethanol (EtOH) disrupts barrier function and growth factors [epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)] are protective, but the mechanisms remain obscure. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether the molecular mechanism of EtOH-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction involves oxidative stress and disassembly of microtubules and whether the mechanism of protection by EGF or TGF-alpha involves prevention of these alterations. To this end, human colonic (Caco-2) monolayers were exposed to 0 to 15% EtOH with or without pretreatment with EGF or TGF-alpha (10 ng/ml) or with oxidative or cytoskeletal modulators. Effects on cell viability, barrier function, tubulin (microtubules), and oxidative stress were then determined. Cells were also processed for immunoblots of polymerized tubulin (S2; index of stability) and the monomeric tubulin (S1; index of disruption). EtOH dose-dependently decreased the stable S2 polymerized tubulin and concomitantly increased measures of oxidative stress, including oxidation and nitration of tubulin, fluorescence of dichlorofluorescein, and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity. EtOH also dose-dependently disrupted barrier function and extensively damaged microtubules, and these effects were prevented by pretreatment with antioxidant scavengers: L-cysteine, superoxide dismutase, and L-N(6)-1-iminoethyl-lysine (an inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). In monolayers exposed to EtOH, pretreatment with EGF or TGF-alpha prevented the oxidation and nitration of tubulin, increases in the levels of the unstable S1 tubulin, disruption of microtubules, and barrier dysfunction. A microtubule stabilizer (paclitaxel,Taxol) mimicked, in part, the effects of EGF and TGF-alpha, whereas a microtubule disruptive drug (colchicine) prevented the protective effects of these growth factors. We concluded that mucosal barrier dysfunction induced by EtOH involves oxidative stress, which causes the disassembly of the microtubule cytoskeleton. Protection by EGF and TGF-alpha involves the prevention of these EtOH-induced alterations in microtubules.

Antioxidants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suppression of vincristine-mediated cytotoxic activity by mitoxantrone in human cell lines.

In the present study, we used different cell lines to determine the anticellular effect of a combination of mitoxantrone (MXT) and vincristine (VCR). In all the cell lines tested, most cells (approximately 90%) in cultures with VCR (0.01-1 microM) alone died in the 3 days following exposure, while those with VCR and MXT (0.1-1 microM) invariably survived much longer (6-9 days). Based on the MTT and the 3H-thymidine uptake assays, it was shown that the antagonistic effect of MXT was optimal at 0.1-1 microM and when applied simultaneously. Our results showed that neither modulation of drug accumulation nor inhibition of tubulin assembly could account for the antagonistic effect of MXT. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effects of VCR and/or MXT had no correlation with c-myc gene expression and DNA fragmentation was not observed. Flow cytometry revealed that while most cells (> 90%) exposed to VCR alone for 16-24 h were arrested at the G2/M phase, a fraction of cells were able to escape mitotic arrest when MXT was also present. These results suggest that the use of MXT in conjugation with VCR for the treatment of cancers should be applied with caution.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2000

Anti-tumour activity of a panel of taxanes toward a cellular model of human cervical cancer.

Using a model of human cervical cancer (ME-180 cells), the anti-tumour activity of paclitaxel was compared to that of docetaxel and IDN5109, a newly developed taxane. The growth inhibition effect of taxanes was assessed after 3 days of exposure. DNA analysis, the taxane-dependent modulation of the expression of the alpha and beta subunits of tubulin and DNA fragmentation were assessed by flow cytometry. The presence of apoptosis was confirmed by morphological analysis using a laser scan cytometer. For the evaluation of "in vivo" anti-tumour activity, taxanes were administered to nude mice intravenously once daily, according to a q3/4d x 4 schedule. Docetaxel, IDN5109 and paclitaxel obtained "in vitro" IC(50) values of 0.86, 1.4 and 2.4 nM, respectively. DNA analysis demonstrated a transient block at the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle only after 12 h of culture in the presence of taxanes and an increase of nuclear fragmentation suggestive for apoptosis after additional 12 and 60 h of exposure. Morphological analysis confirmed the presence of apoptosis. Taxanes induced a down-modulation of the alpha subunit of tubulin in the G(0/1) phase of the cell cycle, and an overexpression of the beta subunit in the G(2)/M phase. A strong anti-tumour activity was obtained "in vivo" for nude mice xenografted using ME-180 cells (T/C=0% for all drugs). These data indicate that the three taxanes are strongly active both "in vitro" and "in vivo" toward ME-180 cells. Clinical studies are now needed to ascertain if the higher anti-tumour activity observed "in vitro" using docetaxel and IDN5109 yields a better clinical response in advanced cervical carcinoma with respect to paclitaxel.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Sodium current modulation by a tubulin/GTP coupled process in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes.

Microtubule disassembly by colchicine increases spontaneous beating of neonatal cardiac myocytes by an unknown mechanism. Here, we measure drug effects on spontaneous calcium transients and whole cell ionic currents to define the route between microtubule depolymerization and the increase in the rate of contraction. Colchicine treatment disassembles microtubules resulting in free tubulin dimers, thereby increasing the spontaneous beating frequency and changing both the rates of rise and decay of calcium transients. In addition, colchicine treatment produces an increase of the sodium current (I(Na)) while I(Ca) is not modified. The colchicine-enhanced I(Na) was blocked by the addition of 10 microM TTX. In addition, the colchicine-induced increase of I(Na) was prevented when GTP was omitted from the patch pipette. Vinblastine also depolymerizes microtubules but re-aggregates tubulin into paracrystalline structures. Free tubulin dimers are not increased with vinblastine treatment. We found no modification in calcium transients or I(Na) in the presence of vinblastine. Action potential durations measured at 50 % and 90 % repolarization were shorter, and the dV/dt was larger, in colchicine-treated cells compared to untreated cells. The resting membrane potential and overshoot of the action potentials were comparable in both kinds of cells. Our data suggest that release of free tubulin dimers may activate G proteins, which in turn modulate the sodium channel. An increase in whole cell I(Na) changes the spontaneous firing rate and this may be the underlying cause of the increase in the frequency of contraction in neonatal cardiac myocytes. We suggest a new role for dimeric tubulin in regulating membrane excitability.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Tubulins in the primate retina: evidence that xanthophylls may be endogenous ligands for the paclitaxel-binding site.

The xanthophylls-lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin (L&Z)-are found in the central region of the primate retina, which is called the macula lutea (yellow spot). How they are anchored there and what their function is has been debated for over 50 years. Here, we present evidence that they may be bound to the paclitaxel (Taxol) binding site of the beta-tubulin subunit of microtubules and that a major function may be to modulate the dynamic instability of microtubules in the macula. Also, we compare nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of tubulins that are in human brain with those we have isolated from human-retina and monkey-macula cDNA libraries. In so doing, we suggest that in primates, class I beta-tubulin consists of at least two subtypes (beta(Ia) and beta(Ib)). Alignment analysis of the sequences of the genes for beta(Ia) and beta(Ib) indicates that the corresponding mRNAs may have other functions in addition to that of coding for proteins. Furthermore, we show that there are at least five different types of beta-tubulin in the macula lutea of rhesus monkey.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2001

Tubulin and microtubule are potential targets for brain hexokinase binding.

The metabolite-modulated association of a fraction of hexokinase to mitochondria in brain is well documented, however, the involvement of other non-mitochondrial components in the binding of the hexokinase is controversial. Now we present evidence that the hexokinase binds both tubulin and microtubules in brain in vitro systems. The interaction of tubulin with purified bovine brain hexokinase was characterized by displacement enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using specific anti-brain hexokinase serum (IC(50)=4.0+/-1.4 microM). This value virtually was not affected by specific ligands such as ATP or glucose 6-phosphate. Microtubule-bound hexokinase obtained in reconstituted systems using microtubule and purified hexokinase or brain extract was visualized by transmission and immunoelectron microscopy on the surface of tubules. The association of purified bovine brain hexokinase with either tubulin or microtubules caused about 30% increase in the activity of the enzyme. This activation was also observed in brain, but not in muscle cell-free extract. The possible physiological relevance of the multiple heteroassociation of brain hexokinase is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2001

Detection of disulfide bonds in bovine brain tubulin and their role in protein folding and microtubule assembly in vitro: a novel disulfide detection approach.

Cysteine residues in tubulin are actively involved in regulating ligand interactions and microtubule formation both in vivo and in vitro. These cysteine residues are sensitive reporters in determining the conformation of tubulin. Although some of the cysteines are critical in modulating drug binding and microtubule assembly, it is not clear how many of these normally exist as disulfides. The controversy regarding the disulfide bonds led us to develop a disulfide detection assay to reexamine the presence of the disulfide linkages in purified alphabeta tubulin and explore their possible biological functions in vitro. The accessible cysteine residues in alphabeta tubulin were alkylated with an excess of iodoacetamide to prevent artifactual generation of disulfide linkages in tubulin. After removal of excess iodoacetamide, tubulin was unfolded in 8 M urea. Half of the unfolded tubulin was treated with dithiothreitol to reduce any disulfide bonds present. The aliquots were then treated with iodo[(14)C]acetamide and the incorporation of radioactivity was measured. We also used the same approach to detect the disulfide linkages in the tubulin in a whole-cell extract. We found in both cases that the samples which were not treated with dithiothreitol had little or no incorporation of iodo[(14)C]acetamide, while the others that were treated with dithiothreitol had significant amounts of (14)C incorporation into tubulin. Moreover, the reduction of the disulfide linkages in tubulin resulted in inhibition of microtubule assembly (29-54%) and markedly affected refolding of the tubulin from both an intermediate and a completely unfolded state. All these data therefore suggest that tubulin has intrachain disulfide bonds in the alpha- and beta-subunits and that these disulfides assist in correct refolding of tubulin from the intermediate unfolded state or help to recover the hydrophobic domains from the completely unfolded state. These disulfides also regulate microtubule assembly and the stability of tubulin in vitro. Our results suggest that tubulin disulfides may play a role in tubulin folding and that thiol-disulfide exchange in tubulin could be a key regulator in microtubule assembly and dynamics of tubulin in vivo.

Ammonium Sulfate↗
PubMed1994

A novel cochaperonin that modulates the ATPase activity of cytoplasmic chaperonin.

The folding of alpha- and beta-tubulin requires three proteins: the heteromeric TCP-1-containing cytoplasmic chaperonin and two additional protein cofactors (A and B). We show that these cofactors participate in the folding process and do not merely trigger release, since in the presence of Mg-ATP alone, alpha- and beta-tubulin target proteins are discharged from cytoplasmic chaperonin in a nonnative form. Like the prokaryotic cochaperonin GroES, which interacts with the prototypical Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL and regulates its ATPase activity, cofactor A modulates the ATPase activity of its cognate chaperonin. However, the sequence of cofactor A derived from a cloned cDNA defines a 13-kD polypeptide with no significant homology to other known proteins. Moreover, while GroES functions as a heptameric ring, cofactor A behaves as a dimer. Thus, cofactor A is a novel cochaperonin that is structurally unrelated to GroES.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1999

The neurotransmitter noradrenaline drives noggin-expressing ectoderm cells to activate N-tubulin and become neurons.

Neurotransmitters regulate neuronal function in the nervous system and modulation of their synthesis, release, and binding by immature neurons and their targets is a major part of nervous system development. We propose that the neurotransmitter noradrenaline regulates neuronal fate during neurulation, before neurons have differentiated. The ability of noradrenaline to induce a neural fate was tested in naive ectoderm caps cut from late blastula stage Xenopus embryos. Noradrenaline (10(-6) M) did not switch on otx-2 or NCAM and did not induce the formation of cement glands. We conclude that noradrenaline cannot induce a neural fate. By contrast, 10(-8) M noradrenaline activated N-tubulin in ectoderm caps expressing the neural inducing molecule noggin by the time intact siblings had become mid-neurulae. Methoxamine, a specific alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist, also activated N-tubulin in noggin-expressing caps. The alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker prazosin inhibited both noradrenaline- and methoxamine-induced activation of N-tubulin. The neurotransmitters dopamine and 5-HT did not activate expression of N-tubulin. XA-1, Otx-2, X-Delta, and Xotch transcripts were not sensitive to noradrenaline. HoxB9, which indicates posteriorization, was not activated by noradrenaline. When intact siblings were at stage 27, many cells in noggin-expressing, noradrenaline-treated caps were stained by the neuron-specific mcAb3A10. We propose that noradrenaline is an important endogenous modulator of neuronal fate, driving noggin-expressing cells to become neurons by binding to alpha-adrenergic receptors and activating a cascade that culminates in the expression of the neuronal markers N-tubulin and 3A10.

Animals↗