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Nerve growth factor-induced differentiation of PC12 cells employs the PMA-insensitive protein kinase C-zeta isoform.

To elucidate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced differentiation, PMA downregulation of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells was undertaken. Prolonged treatment (2 d) of PC12 cells with PMA (1 microM) resulted in depleting the cells of alpha, beta, delta, and epsilon-PKC isoforms, but had no effect on the expression of the atypical PKC isoform zeta. PC12 cells, which expressed only PKC zeta, were evaluated for their responses to NGF. Removal of the PMA-sensitive PKC isoforms enhanced the ability of NGF to promote neurite extension. Both the percentage cells with neurites and length of neurites were increased in the PMA-treated cells, whereas no effect was observed on the number of neurites per cell or branching of individual neurites. In addition, PMA downregulation resulted in an increase in the incorporation of 3H-thymidine without any significant effect on the expression of c-fos. Addition of NGF to PC12 cells depleted of the PMA-sensitive PKC isoforms resulted in the activation of PKC zeta (Wooten et al., 1994). To test whether the transient activation of PKC zeta is a necessary component of the neuritogenetic pathway, antisense oligonucleotide strategy was utilized to remove this particular PKC isoform. The addition of a 20-bp antisense oligonucleotide directed against the 5' coding sequence of PKC zeta attenuated NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells lacking PMA-sensitive PKC isoforms. Sense oligonucleotide directed at the same site was without effect on NGF responses. These data indicate that PKC zeta comprises a portion of the NGF pathway and underscores the importance of this isoform in neuronal differentiation. Moreover, these findings demonstrate that the PMA-insensitive pathway, which was previously characterized as PKC-independent, and the neurite induction pathway are synonymous and mediated by PKC zeta.

Animals↗

Protein kinase C isoforms beta 1 and beta 2 inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor.

Downregulation of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRK) activity yields to impaired insulin signalling and contributes to the pathogenesis of cellular insulin resistance. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by different agents is associated with an inhibition of IRK activity in various cell types. There is evidence that this effect on IRK activity might be mediated through phosphorylation of specific serine residues of the insulin receptor beta-subunit. Neither the domains of the IRK where inhibiting serine phosphorylation occurs nor the PKC isoform responsible for IRK inhibition have been identified. PKC consists of a family of at least 12 isoforms. The aim of the present study was to determine which PKC isoform might be capable of IRK inhibition. The human insulin receptor and the PKC isoforms alpha, beta 1, beta 2, gamma, delta, epsilon, eta, theta and zeta were overexpressed in human embryo kidney fibroblasts (HEK 293 cells) in order to answer this question. PKCs were activated by preincubation with the phorbolester (TPA) (10(-7) mol/l) following insulin stimulation of the cells. When the IRK was coexpressed with the PKC isoforms beta 1 and beta 2, a 50 +/- 15.7 and 45 +/- 10.1% inhibition of tyrosine autophosphorylation of IRK was observed while coexpression with the other isoforms did not significantly modify IRK autophosphorylation. The data suggest that the PKC isoforms beta 1 and beta 2 might be candidates for insulin receptor inhibition.

Cell Line↗

Expression and cellular distribution pattern of plasma membrane calcium pump isoforms in rat pancreatic islets.

This work is aimed at identifying the presence and cellular distribution pattern of plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) isoforms in normal rat pancreatic islet. Microsomal fractions of isolated islets and exocrine tissue were analyzed to detect different PMCA isoforms. The cellular distribution pattern of these PMCAs in the islets was also studied in fixed pancreas sections incubated with antibodies against PMCAs and insulin. Antibody 5F10, which reacts with all PMCA variants, showed multiple bands in the blots in the 127-134 kDa region, indicating the presence of several isoforms. Microsomes also reacted positively with specific antibodies for individual PMCA isoforms, generating a band of the expected size. Antibody 5F10 immunocytochemically labeled the plasma cell membrane of both b- and non-b-cells, but predominantly the former. All islet cells were also labeled with antibodies against isoforms 1 and 4, while the antibody reacting with isoform 3 labeled exclusively b-cells. A few b- and non-b-cells were positively labeled with the antibody reacting with PMCA b variant. Negative results were obtained with the antibody against isoform 2. Further studies, together with previous reports on the modulatory effect of insulin secretagogues and blockers upon PMCA activity, may provide evidence of the importance of this particular PMCA expression for islet function under normal and pathological conditions.

Animals↗

A novel isoform of ATPase c subunit from pearl millet that is differentially regulated in response to salinity and calcium.

Vacuolar ATPases help in maintaining the pH of the vacuoles and thereby play a crucial role in the functioning of vacuolar sodium-proton antiporter. Though the various subunits that make V(1) and V(0) sector have been reported in plants their regulation is not understood completely. We have cloned three different isoforms of vacuolar ATPase subunit c (VHA-c) from Pennisetum glaucum with homologies among themselves varying from 38% to approximately 73% at the nucleic acid level. Using real-time PCR approach we have shown that the three isoforms are regulated in a tissue-specific manner under salinity stress. While isoform III is constitutively expressed in roots and shoots and does not respond to stress, isoform I is upregulated under stress. Isoform II is expressed mainly in roots; however, under salinity stress its expression is downregulated in roots and upregulated in shoots. Tissue specific expression under salinity stress of isoform II was also seen after exogenous application of calcium. This study for the first time shows the presence of three isoforms of PgVHA-c and their differential regulation during plant development, and also under abiotic stress.

Abscisic Acid↗

Expression and functional implications of troponin T isoforms in soleus muscle fibers of rat after unloading.

The expression pattern of troponin T (TnT) isoforms was studied in rat soleus muscle fibers in control and after hindlimb unloading (HU) conditions. To determine the functional consequence of TnT expression, the fibers were also examined for their calcium activation characteristics. With regard to TnT expression, four populations of fibers were distinguished in control muscle. Slow fibers expressing only slow isoforms of TnT (TnT1s, 2s, 3s ) were predominant (54%). Hybrid slow fibers (16%) differed from slow fibers by the additional expression of two TnTf isoforms. Hybrid fast fibers (22%) expressed slow and fast isoforms of TnT while fast fibers (8%) expressed only fast TnT isoforms. The expression of the other regulatory protein isoforms was checked for each population. The contractile experiments revealed steeper slopes of the tension/pCa relationship from hybrid slow fibers expressing fast TnT in a completely slow molecular environment. The expression of TnTs in hybrid fast fibers did not modulate the intrinsic co-operativity. After HU, the fast population was increased and reached 55%. The slow population decreased to 41% and a very small amount of hybrid slow fibers remained (4%). These data demonstrated the implication of TnT isoforms in the calcium activation properties and, more particularly, in the modulation of co-operativity within the myofibrillar lattice. Regulation of TnT expression appeared as a very fast and complete process compared to moderate changes of TnC and TnI.

Animals↗

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in barley roots: kinetic properties and localisation of the isoforms.

Two different isoforms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Glc6PDH; EC 1.1.1.49) have been partially purified from barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Alfeo) roots. The procedure included an ammonium sulfate step, Q-Sepharose and Reactive Blue agarose chromatography, and led to 60-fold and 150-fold purification for the two enzymes, respectively. The Glc6PDH 1 isoform accounts for 17% of total activity of the enzyme in roots, and is very sensitive to the effects of NADP+/NADPH ratio and dithiothreitol; the Glc6PDH 2 isoform is less affected by reducing power and represents 83% of the total activity. The isoforms showed distinct pH optima, isoelectric points, Km for glucose-6-phosphate and a different electrophoretic mobility. The kinetic properties for the two enzymes were affected by ATP and metabolites. Both enzymes are inhibited to different extents by ATP when magnesium is omitted from the assay mixture, whereas the addition of ATP-Mg2+ had no effect on Glc6PDH activities. The Glc6PDH isoforms are usually present in the plastids and cytosol of plant cells. To verify the intracellular locations of the enzymes purified from barley roots, Glc6PDH was purified from isolated barley root plastids; this isoform showed kinetic parameters coincident with those found for Glc6PDH 1, suggesting a plastid location; the enzyme purified from the soluble fraction had kinetic parameters resembling those of Glc6PDH 2, confirming that this isoform is present in the cytosol of barley roots.

Blotting, Western↗

Detection and localization of pectin methylesterase isoforms in pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum L.

Pectin methylesterases (PMEs) were detected in tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum) pollen tubes grown in vitro. Seven PME isoforms exhibiting a wide isoelectric-point (pI) range (5.3-9.1) were found in crude extracts of pollen tubes. These isoforms were mainly retrieved in supernatants after low- and high-speed separation of the crude extract. Two isoforms, with pIs 5.5 and 7.3 and molecular weight about 158 kDa, were detected by immunoblotting with anti-flax PME antiserum. Localization of pectins and PME isoforms in pollen tubes was investigated by immunogold labelling with JIM5 monoclonal antibodies and anti-flax PME antiserum, respectively. In germinated pollen grains, two PME isoforms were mainly detected in the exine, Golgi apparatus and secretory vesicles. In pollen tubes the same two PME isoforms were distributed along the outer face of the plasma membrane in the vicinity of the inner layer of the cell wall, in the Golgi and around secretory vesicles. In pollen grains, PME isoforms were, in some cases, mixed with acidic pectins in proximity to the outer surface of the plasma membrane. In pollen tubes the presence of PMEs inside secretory vesicles carrying esterified pectins supports the hypothesis that, during pollen tube growth, PMEs could be transferred by secretory vesicles in a precursor form and be activated at the tip where exocytosis takes place.

Blotting, Western↗

Evolution of the Drosophila broad locus: the Manduca sexta broad Z4 isoform has biological activity in Drosophila.

The Drosophila melanogaster broad locus is essential for normal metamorphic development. Broad encodes three genetically distinct functions (rbp, br, and 2Bc) and a family of four zinc-finger DNA-binding proteins (Z1-Z4). The Z1, Z2, and Z3 protein isoforms are primarily associated with the rbp, br, and 2Bc genetic functions respectively. The Z4 protein isoform also provides some rbp genetic function, however an essential function for the Z4 isoform in metamorphosis has not been identified. To determine the degree of conservation of Z4 function between the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta and Drosophila we generated transgenic Drosophila expressing the Manduca broad Z4 isoform and used this transgene to rescue rbp mutant lethality during Drosophila metamorphosis. We find that the Manduca Z4 protein has significant biological activity in Drosophila with respect to rescue of rbp-associated lethality. There was also some overlap in effects on cuticle gene expression between the Manduca Z4 and Drosophila Z1 isoforms that was not shared with the Drosophila Z4 isoform. Our findings show that Z4 function has been conserved over the 260-million-year period since the divergence of Diptera and Lepidoptera, and are consistent with the hypothesis that the Drosophila Z4 and Manduca Z4 isoforms have essential roles in metamorphosis.

Animals↗

TGF-beta isoforms in alcoholic liver disease.

The increased deposition of extracellular matrix proteins in the liver is a key factor in the morbidity and mortality of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). This increased fibrosis may be due to a superabundance of profibrogenic factors such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The original peptide is now called TGF-beta 1, and two other isoforms have been recognized in humans (TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3). It was the aim of the present study to determine the expression of the TGF-beta isoforms in different stages of ALD. Thirty patients with ALD had percutaneous liver biopsies performed for diagnostic purposes. They were grouped by clinical findings and by liver histology into four groups: I, steatosis; II, fibrosis; III, hepatitis; and IV, cirrhosis. An unused portion of each biopsy sample was used to evaluate the gene expression of TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2, and TGF-beta 3 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of all isoforms from patients was significantly greater than their expression in controls. No significant correlation was determined between TGF-beta isoform expression and liver function test results. When the different isoforms were grouped by histology, increased expression with more severe disease was found; however, differences existed among the isoforms. In ALD, all TGF-beta isoforms were increased and their expression was significantly greater in patients with more active and advanced disease. RT-PCR is an effective method for evaluating gene expression in clinical samples which often provide a limited amount of tissue.

Adult↗

Biochemical, pharmacological and structural characterization of two PLA2 isoforms Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 from Crotalus durissus ruruima snake venom.

Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 isoforms of PLA2, a D49 protein, were purified from Crotalus durissus ruruima venom after one chromatographic step, reverse phase HPLC on micro-Bondapack C-18. The molecular mass by SDS-PAGE of Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 isoforms of PLA2 was 14333.49 Da and 14296.42 Da, respectively and confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The amino acid composition showed that both isoforms Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 have a high content of Lys, Tyr, Gly, Arg, and 14 half-Cys residues, typical of a basic PLA2. The isoforms Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 had a sequence of amino acids of 122 amino acid residues, being Cdr-12: SLLQFNKMIK FETRKNAIPF YAFYGCYCGW GGQGRPKDAT DRCCIVHDCC YGKLAKCNTK WDFYRYSLRS GYFQCGKGTW CEQQICECDR VAAECLRRSL STYRYGYMIY PDSRCREPSE TC and pI value 8.37 and Cdr-13: SLVQFEKMIK EETGKNAVPF YAFYGCYCGW GGRGRPKDAT DRCCIVHDCC YEKLVKCNTK WDFYRYSLRS GYFQCGKGTW CEQQICECDR VAAECLRRSL STYRYGKMIY PDSRCREPSE TC with a pI value of 8.13 This sequence shows high identity values when compared to other D49 PLA2s isolated from venoms of crotalics snakes. Skeletal muscle preparations from the young chicken have been previously used in order to study the effects of toxins on neuromuscular transmission, providing an important opportunity to study the differentiated behavior of a toxin before more than one model, because it shows differences in its sensibilities. In mice, the PLA2 isoforms Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 induced myonecrosis and edema, upon intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, respectively. In vitro, Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 isoforms of PLA2, caused a potent blockade of neuromuscular transmission in young chicken biventer cervicis preparation and produced cytotoxicity in murine C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes and lack cytolytic activity upon myoblasts in vitro. Thus, the combined structural and functional information obtained identify Cdr-12 and Cdr-13 isoforms as members of the PLA2 family, which presents the typical bioactivities described for such proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isoforms of chicken triosephosphate isomerase are due to specific oxidation of cysteine126.

The electrophoretic isoforms of mammalian triosephosphate isomerase (TPI; EC 5.3.1.1) are due to deamidation at two Asn-Gly sites (Asn15 and Asn71). Deamidation of these two asparagines in the subunit-subunit interface of the isologous dimer appears to destabilize the dimer and initiate degradation of the protein. Chicken TPI contains a lysine substitution for Asn71, thus precluding this deamidation site. Nevertheless, the chicken enzyme exhibits three electrophoretic isoforms. This multiplicity is not the result of deamidation of the remaining Asn15 site, but due to a specific site which is highly susceptible to oxidation. The three isoforms of chicken TPI can be reduced to a single form in the presence of high concentrations of reducing agents (e.g., greater than 15 mM dithiothreitol or greater than 50 mM 2-mercaptoethanol) and are also generated when oxidizing agents, such as oxidized glutathione, are present. The oxidized isoforms exhibit lowered catalytic activity and are more susceptible to denaturation and proteolytic degradation than the native enzyme. Structural analysis of the isoforms by chemical cleavage at the cysteine peptide bonds with 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid and subsequently at the methionines with CNBr followed by peptide sequencing reveals that Cys126 is the site of the modification. Since the oxidized isoforms of chicken TPI accumulate in vivo during aging analogous to the deamidated isoforms from mammals, it appears that TPI is the first example of a protein which has evolved two specific types of weak links which may initiate turnover of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phosphorylation, calpain proteolysis and tubulin binding of recombinant human tau isoforms.

In this study, the phosphorylation, calpain hydrolysis and tubulin binding of three recombinant human tau isoforms were examined. The three isoforms used in these studies were tau with three (T3) or four (T4) tandemly repeated tubulin binding domains located in the carboxy-terminal half of the molecule; and tau with four-tandem repeats and a 58-amino acid insert in the amino terminus (T4L). Both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) readily phosphorylated the three human tau isoforms, although cAMP-PK phosphorylated them to a significantly greater extent than CaMKII. Phosphorylation of T3, T4 and T4L by cAMP-PK or CaMKII resulted in the slowed migration of the protein bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and a shift of the isoelectric variants to more acidic positions on two-dimensional non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis gels compared with controls. However, the phosphorylation-induced changes in the electrophoretic migration of the tau isoforms were unique for each kinase. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps and sequential phosphorylation experiments indicate that cAMP-PK phosphorylates sites in the human tau isoforms that are phosphorylated by CaMKII, as well as unique sites that are not phosphorylated by CaMKII. T3, T4 and T4L were hydrolyzed similarly by calpain; however, the calpain proteolysis of the recombinant tau isoforms was significantly faster than the proteolysis of human or bovine tau. Phosphorylation of the isoforms by either cAMP-PK or CaMKII did not alter the rate or extent of calpain proteolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

Characterization of human creatine kinase BB and MB isoforms by means of isoelectric focusing.

Isoforms of creatine kinase (creatine-N-phosphotransferase, CK, EC 2.7.3.2), BB and MB, were isolated from healthy human brain tissue and cardiac muscle, respectively, and were characterized by means of isoelectric focusing (IEF). CK-BB isoforms in Tris-HCl buffer were focused at pI 4.5 (a tissue form) and those in fresh sera from healthy adults were focused at pI 5.0, 5.1 and 5.2 (plasma forms). The IEF patterns of CK-BB isoforms were not altered following treatment with carboxypeptidase B and incubation in fresh serum at 37 degrees C; thus, it was found that there was no lysine at the C-terminal of the CK-B subunit and CK-BB isoforms were not results of the removal of lysine. Three CK-BB isoforms in fresh sera were identified to be oxidized, intermediate and reduced forms from the anodal side, respectively, by treatment with hydrogen peroxide and 2-mercaptoethanol. The oxidized form of CK-BB seemed to have higher affinity to IgG than the other two plasma forms of CK-BB. On the other hand, CK-MB isoforms in Tris-HCl buffer were focused at pI 5.4 (a tissue form) with a minor band at pI 5.2 and those in sera were focused at pI 5.0, 5.1, 5.2 (plasma forms) and 5.4. Four CK-MB isoforms were identified to be reduced, intermediate and oxidized forms without lysine from the anodal side, respectively, and the cathodal band was a tissue form with lysine.

Brain Chemistry↗

Immunochemical analysis of protein isoforms in thick myofilaments of regenerating skeletal muscle.

The expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and C-protein isoforms has been examined immunocytochemically in regenerating skeletal muscles of adult chickens. Two, five, and eight days after focal freeze injury to the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscles, cryostat sections of injured and control tissues were reacted with a series of monoclonal antibodies previously shown to specifically bind MHC or C-protein isoforms in adult or embryonic muscles. We observed that during the course of regeneration in each of these muscles there was a reproducible sequence of antigenic changes consistent with differential isoform expression for these two proteins. These isoform switches appear to be tissue specific; i.e., the isoforms of MHC and C-protein which are expressed during the regeneration of a "slow" muscle (ALD) differ from those which are synthesized in a regenerating "fast" muscle (PLD). Evidence has been obtained for the transient expression of a "fast-type" MHC and C-protein during ALD regeneration. Furthermore, during early stages of PLD regeneration this muscle contains MHCs which antigenically resemble those found in the pectoralis muscle at embryonic and early posthatch stages of development. Both regenerating muscles express an isoform of C-protein which appears immunochemically identical to that normally expressed in embryonic and adult cardiac muscle. These results support the concept that isoform transitions in regenerating skeletal muscles qualitatively resemble those found in developing muscles but differences may exist in temporal and tissue-specific patterns of gene expression.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Expression of Ca2(+)-ATPase isoforms in denervated, regenerating, and dystrophic chicken skeletal muscle.

The expression of fast and slow isoforms of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase was studied in denervated, regenerating, and dystrophic fast and slow avian skeletal muscles. We found that both fast and slow Ca2(+)-ATPase isoforms were expressed in most myofibers following denervation of adult fast-twitch muscle, but only the slow Ca2(+)-ATPase isoform was found in slow-tonic muscle which had been denervated. Regenerating myotubes in normally innervated and previously denervated adult fast-twitch or slow-tonic muscle expressed both Ca2(+)-ATPase isoforms. Expression of the slow Ca2(+)-ATPase isoform was found to persist in dystrophic fast-twitch muscle, long after it had disappeared from normal fast-twitch muscle. However, the fast Ca2(+)-ATPase isoform disappeared from slow-tonic muscle similarly in normal and dystrophic birds. These results demonstrate that the appearance of myosin heavy chain isoforms characteristic of developing muscle is correlated with similar changes in the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPases.

Animals↗

Distinct myogenic programs of embryonic and fetal mouse muscle cells: expression of the perinatal myosin heavy chain isoform in vitro.

Early embryonic and late fetal mouse myogenic cells showed distinct patterns of perinatal myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression upon differentiation in vitro. In cultures of somite or limb muscle cells isolated from Day 9 to Day 12 embryos, differentiated cells that expressed perinatal MHC were rare and perinatal MHC was not detectable by immunoblotting. In cultures of limb muscle cells isolated from Day 13 to Day 18 fetuses, in contrast, the perinatal MHC isoform was easily detected and was expressed in a substantial percentage of myocytes and myotubes. Analyses of clonally derived muscle colonies and cytosine arabinoside-treated fetal muscle cell cultures suggested that different fetal muscle cell nuclei initiated perinatal MHC expression at different times. In both embryonic and fetal cell cultures, the embryonic MHC isoform was expressed by all differentiated cells examined. A small number of myotubes in fetal muscle cell cultures showed a mosaic distribution of MHC isoform accumulation in which the perinatal MHC isoform accumulated in a restricted region of the myotube near particular nuclei, whereas the embryonic MHC isoform accumulated throughout the myotube. Thus, the myogenic program of fetal, but not embryonic, mouse myogenic cells includes expression of the perinatal MHC isoform upon differentiation in culture.

Animals↗

Na+, K(+)-ATPase of the photoreceptor: selective expression of alpha 3 and beta 2 isoforms.

In photoreceptors, Na+, K(+)-ATPase maintains the ion gradients which power the dark current that sustains the response to light. The enzyme is composed of at least two polypeptides: alpha (the catalytic subunit) and beta. Three different isoforms of the alpha subunit and two isoforms of the beta subunit have been identified in rat. In some tissues, the isoenzymes have been shown to be differentially expressed during development or in response to varying physiological conditions. RNAs prepared from isolated photoreceptors and from whole retina were analyzed on blots that were hybridized with cDNA probes for the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1 and beta 2 isoforms. The predominant alpha and beta subunit mRNAs present in the photoreceptor preparation were those encoding the alpha 3 and beta 2 isoforms, accounting for 85% of the total alpha signal and 79% of the total beta signal, respectively. Proportions of each mRNA were similar in retina, but very different from those observed in two control tissues, brain and kidney. To confirm that the alpha-subunit mRNA species detected were translated, membranes prepared from isolated photoreceptors and whole retina were examined by immunoblotting. The antibodies detected a pattern of alpha isoform distribution in these tissues and in kidney and brain controls that agreed remarkably well with the pattern of mRNA expression in the same tissues. Moreover, the alpha 3 isoform was detectable in the inner segment plasma membrane of the photoreceptor by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. These results indicate that alpha 3, and beta 2 are the predominant isoforms of Na+, K(+)-ATPase expressed in photoreceptors and retina.

Animals↗

Distribution of isoforms of the microtubule-associated protein tau in grey and white matter areas of human brain: a two-dimensional gelelectrophoretic analysis.

The microtubule-associated protein tau in human brain consists of six molecular isoforms derived from a single gene by alternative mRNA-splicing and further modified by posttranslational processing. In the present study, the distribution of tau isoforms in grey and white matter of human temporal cortex was investigated by two-dimensional gelelectrophoresis. More than 80 isoforms were detected. The pattern of isoforms obtained after treatment with alkaline phosphatase was still more complex than those of recombinant tau, indicating that posttranslational modifications other than phosphorylation contribute to the molecular heterogeneity of tau. The tau isoform D according to Goedert containing four tubulin-binding regions shown to promote tubulin polymerisation most efficiently was present in higher amounts in white as compared to grey matter. The pattern of isoform distribution was not significantly altered in Alzheimer's disease. It is concluded that molecular isoforms that differ in their tubulin-binding characteristics are differentially distributed in subcellular neuronal compartments and/or neuronal types.

Alzheimer Disease↗