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Ribosomal protein L3: influence on ribosome structure and function.

Early studies demonstrated roles for ribosomal protein L3 in peptidyltransferase center formation and the ability of cells to propagate viruses. More recent studies have linked these two processes via the effects of mutants and drugs on programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting. Here, we show that mutant forms of L3 result in ribosomes having increased affinities for both aminoacyl- and peptidyl-tRNAs. These defects potentiate the effects of sparsomycin, which promotes increased aminoalcyl-tRNA binding at the P-site, while antagonizing the effects anisomycin, a drug that promotes decreased peptidyl-tRNA binding at the A-site. The changes in ribosome affinities for tRNAs also correlate with decreased peptidyltransferase activities of mutant ribosomes, and with decreased rates of cell growth and protein synthesis. In vivo dimethylsulfate (DMS) protection studies reveal that small changes in L3 primary sequence also have significant effects on rRNA structure as far away as 100 A, supporting an allosteric model of ribosome function.

Allosteric Site↗

Lipoteichoic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced adhesion molecule expression and IL-8 release in human lung microvascular endothelial cells.

Cell adhesion molecule expression (CAM) and IL-8 release in lung microvascular endothelium facilitate neutrophil accumulation in the lung. This study investigated the effects of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a cell wall component of Gram-positive bacteria, alone and with LPS or TNF-alpha, on CAM expression and IL-8 release in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC). The concentration-dependent effects of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) LTA (0.3-30 microg/ml) on ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression and IL-8 release were bell shaped. Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) LTA had no effect on CAM expression, but caused a concentration-dependent increase in IL-8 release. S. aureus and S. pyogenes LTA (30 microg/ml) abolished LPS-induced CAM expression, and S. aureus LTA reduced LPS-induced IL-8 release. In contrast, the effects of S. aureus LTA with TNF-alpha on CAM expression and IL-8 release were additive. Inhibitory effects of LTA were not due to decreased HLMVEC viability, as assessed by ethidium homodimer-1 uptake. Changes in neutrophil adhesion to HLMVEC paralleled changes in CAM expression. Using RT-PCR to assess mRNA levels, S. aureus LTA (3 microg/ml) caused a protein synthesis-dependent reduction (75%) in LPS-induced IL-8 mRNA and decreased the IL-8 mRNA half-life from >6 h with LPS to approximately 2 h. These results suggest that mechanisms exist to prevent excessive endothelial cell activation in the presence of high concentrations of bacterial products. However, inhibition of HLMVEC CAM expression and IL-8 release ultimately may contribute to decreased neutrophil accumulation, persistence of bacteria in the lung, and increased severity of infection.

Cell Adhesion Molecules↗

The human vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide receptor 1 (VPAC1) promoter: characterization and role in receptor expression during enterocytic differentiation of the colon cancer cell line Caco-2Cl.20.

The basic organization of the human vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide receptor (VPAC) 1 promoter was investigated after cloning the 5'-flanking region (1.4 kb) of the VPAC1 gene from a human genomic library. Subsequent functional analysis of various deletions of the 5'-flanking sequence, subcloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene, was carried out in HT-29 cells. The minimal promoter region identified encompasses the -205/+76 sequence and contains a crucial CCAAT box (-182/-178) and a GC-rich sequence. Moreover a region (-1348/-933) containing a silencer element was identified. We previously showed that the expression of the VPAC1 receptor binding site is strictly dependent upon the enterocytic differentiation of human colon cancer Caco-2 cells [Laburthe, Rousset, Rouyer-Fessard, Couvineau, Chantret, Chevalier and Zweibaum (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10180-10184]. In the present study we show that VPAC1 mRNA increases dramatically when Caco-2Cl.20 cells differentiate, as measured by RNase protection assays and reverse transcriptase-PCR. A single transcript species of 3 kb is detected in differentiated cells by Northern-blot analysis. Accumulation of VPAC1 receptor mRNA is due to a 5-fold increase of transcription rate (run-on assay) without a change in mRNA half-life (9 h). Stable transfections of various constructs in Caco-2Cl.20 cells and subsequent analysis of reporter gene expression, during the enterocytic differentiation process over 25 days of culture, further indicated that the -254/+76 5'-flanking sequence is endowed with the regulatory element(s) necessary for transcriptional regulation of VPAC1 during differentiation. Altogether, these observations provide the first characterization of the basic organization of the human VPAC1 gene promoter and unravel the crucial role of a short promoter sequence in the strict transcriptional control of VPAC1 expression during differentiation of human colon cancer Caco-2 cells.

Base Sequence↗

Differential adrenergic regulation of the gene expression of the beta-adrenoceptor subtypes beta1, beta2 and beta3 in brown adipocytes.

In brown adipocytes, fundamental cellular processes (cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis) are regulated by adrenergic stimulation, notably through beta-adrenergic receptors. The presence of all three beta-receptor subtypes has been demonstrated in brown adipose tissue. Due to the significance of the action of these receptors and indications that the subtypes govern different processes, the adrenergic regulation of the expression of the beta(1)-(,) beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenoceptor genes was examined in murine brown-fat primary cell cultures. Moderate levels of beta(1)-receptor mRNA, absence of beta(2)-receptor mRNA and high levels of beta(3)-receptor mRNA were observed in mature brown adipocytes (day 6 in culture). Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) addition led to diametrically opposite effects on beta(1)- (markedly enhanced expression) and beta(3)-gene expression (full cessation of expression, as previously shown). beta(2)-Gene expression was induced by noradrenaline, but only transiently (<1 h). The apparent affinities (EC(50)) of noradrenaline were clearly different (7 nM for the beta(1)-gene and</=1 nM for the beta(3)-gene), as were the mediation pathways (solely via beta(3)-receptors and cAMP for the beta(1)-gene and via beta(3)-receptors and cAMP, as well as via alpha(1)-receptors and protein kinase C, for the beta(3)-gene). The half-lives of the corresponding mRNA species were very short but different (17 min for beta(1)-mRNA and 27 min for beta(3)-mRNA), and these degradation rates were not affected by noradrenaline, implying that the mRNA levels were controlled by transcription. Inhibition of protein synthesis also led to diametrically opposite effects on beta(1)- and beta(3)-gene expression, but - notably - these effects were congruent with the noradrenaline effects, implying that a common factor regulating beta(1)-gene expression negatively and beta(3)-gene expression positively could be envisaged. In conclusion, very divergent effects of adrenergic stimulation on the expression of the different beta-receptor genes were found within one cell type, and no unifying concept of adrenergic control of beta-receptor gene expression can be formulated, either concerning different cell types, or concerning the different beta-receptor subtype genes.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Expression of the hTERT gene is regulated at the level of transcriptional initiation and repressed by Mad1.

Telomerase, an enzymatic activity responsible for the replication of chromosome end structures, is strongly upregulated in most human cancers. In contrast, most differentiated tissues are telomerase negative. The rate-limiting step for telomerase activity seems to be the expression of the catalytic subunit of the enzyme, encoded by the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. The precise mechanism of how hTERT is regulated has not been elucidated yet. We show here that the down-regulation of hTERT mRNA during 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced differentiation of human U937 cells is a consequence of a fast decrease in the rate of transcription rather than changes in its half-life. The only transcription factor that has so far been implicated in the regulation of hTERT expression is the c-Myc oncoprotein. Our analysis shows that another member of the myc/marx/mad network, mad1, encoding a transcriptional repressor that is significantly increased by 12-O-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatment, represses hTERT promoter-driven reporter gene activity in transient transfection assays. This effect is dependent on the NH2 terminal domain of Madl, which mediates the association with the transcriptional corepressor mSin3. Our findings suggest the involvement of an additional transcription factor in the regulation of hTERT expression and may provide a model for how hTERT activity is controlled during the differentiation process in human somatic tissues.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcriptio↗

Interleukin 8 expression regulates tumorigenicity and metastasis in human bladder cancer.

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is mitogenic and chemotactic for endothelial cells. Within a neoplasm, IL-8 is secreted by inflammatory and neoplastic cells. The highly tumorigenic and highly metastatic human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell line 253J B-V overexpresses IL-8 relative to the nontumorigenic and nometastatic 253J-P cell line. To determine whether IL-8 expression regulates tumorigenicity and metastasis in human TCC, 253J B-V cells were transfected with the full-sequence antisense (AS) cDNA for IL-8, whereas 253J-P cells were transfected with the full-length IL-8 cDNA, and control cells for each were transfected with the neomycin resistance (Neo) gene. In vitro, sense-transfected 253J-P cells overexpressed IL-8-specific mRNA and protein, whereas both of these were markedly reduced in AS-IL-8-transfected 253J B-V cells relative to controls. Moreover, sense-transfected cells showed up-regulation in matrix metalloproteinase type 9 mRNA, collagenase activity, and increased invasiveness through Matrigel-coated filters, whereas these measures were lower in AS-transfected cells relative to controls. After implantation into the bladders of athymic nude mice, the sense-transfected 253J-P cells acquired increased tumorigenicity and metastasis, whereas the AS-transfected cells significantly inhibited tumorigenicity and metastases in the 253J B-V cell lines. This effect was accompanied by reduced IL-8 expression and microvessel density. These studies demonstrate that IL-8 expression enhances angiogenic activity through the induction of matrix metalloproteinase type 9 and subsequently regulates the tumorigenesis and production of spontaneous metastases of human TCC.

Animals↗

Experiences with genetic screening for established and new agents.

In England the introduction of PCR for HCV RNA in minipools has been a nationally coordinated project. The current programme is designed to ensure that all frozen components will have been tested for HCV RNA on pools of 96 samples before their release. To meet EEC requirements, the original planning was aimed at the PCR testing of minipools of 480 samples before making final pools of plasma for fractionation. However, with the sourcing of plasma for fractionation from the USA as a precaution against possible risk from new variant CJD, the project was modified to allow release of HCV PCR tested components.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome↗

An evolutionarily conserved RNA stem-loop functions as a sensor that directs feedback regulation of RNase E gene expression.

RNase E is a key regulatory enzyme that controls the principal pathway for mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. The cellular concentration of this endonuclease is governed by a feedback mechanism in which RNase E tightly regulates its own synthesis. Autoregulation is mediated in cis by the 361-nucleotide 5' untranslated region (UTR) of rne (RNase E) mRNA. Here we report the determination of the secondary structure of the rne 5' UTR by phylogenetic comparison and chemical alkylation, together with dissection studies to identify the 5' UTR element that mediates autoregulation. Our findings reveal that the structure and function of the rne 5' UTRs are evolutionarily well conserved despite extensive sequence divergence. Within the rne 5' UTRs are multiple RNA secondary structure elements, two of which function in cis to mediate feedback regulation of rne gene expression. The more potent of these two elements is a stem-loop structure containing an internal loop whose sequence is the most highly conserved of any region of the rne 5' UTR. Our data show that this stem-loop functions as a sensor of cellular RNase E activity that directs autoregulation by modulating the degradation rate of rne mRNA in response to changes in RNase E activity.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Effects of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide on urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Previous investigations have demonstrated that a synthetic retinoid, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR), inhibits the invasion of prostate adenocarcinoma in vitro. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a prerequisite for tumor invasion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 4-HPR on uPA and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in prostate cancer. Human prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines, TSU-PR1 and PC3, were grown in serum-free media containing 4-HPR. Cellular mRNA and protein were subsequently extracted. Northern blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chromogenic functional analysis were performed on the samples. Administration of 10(-6) M 4-HPR for 3 days resulted in an increase in uPA mRNA expression (TSU-PR1: 391%, PC3: 356%), and a simultaneous increase in PAI-1 mRNA expression (TSU-PR1: 217%, PC3: 235%) was observed. ELISA concomitantly demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in uPA protein in the conditioned media (TSU-PR1: 134%, PC3: 139%) and cell lysates (TSU-PR1: 284%, PC3: 255%). Both cell lines demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in PAI-1 protein in the conditioned media (TSU-PR1: 152%, PC3: 167%) and cell lysates (TSU-PR1: 170%, PC3: 222%). Concentrations below 10(-6) M failed to alter the protein production of either uPA or PAI-1. The functional uPA assay demonstrated a reduction of the proteolytic activity of uPA (TSU-PR1: 13%, PC3: 7%) in cell lysates of 10(-6) M 4-HPR (p < 0.05), while there was minimal uPA activity in the conditioned media. 4-HPR stimulates a paradoxical increase in uPA and PAI-1, but the anti-invasive effects of 4-HPR are consistent with the increase in both uPA and PAI-1, resulting in an overall reduction of functional uPA activities.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Evidence for transcriptional self-regulation of variable surface antigens in Paramecium tetraurelia.

Variable surface antigens are commonly found on free-living and parasitic protozoa, yet the regulation of antigen expression and switching is not fully understood in any system. A cell line of Paramecium tetraurelia stock 51 can express at least 11 different antigens yet only one type is found on the surface at any one time. Previous studies have shown that mutually exclusive expression of Paramecium surface antigens can be overcome if two antigen genes contain the same 5' coding region. In this article we utilize a gene chimera containing portions of A51 and B51 to analyze the effect of a frameshift mutation on transcription and steady-state mRNA levels. We show that a frameshift mutation near the 3' end prevents expression of the protein on the cell surface and reduces the rate of transcription of the corresponding gene. The difference in transcription is not the result of differences in plasmid copy number. We propose that expression of the antigen on the cell surface is part of a self-regulatory pathway that influences transcription of the corresponding gene. A model incorporating the previous and current data is presented.

Animals↗

Glucocorticoids differentially inhibit expression of the RET proto-oncogene.

The RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase activated by the binding of factors from the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family to receptor-alpha components such as GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFR alpha-1). Mutations within the sequence of the RET proto-oncogene are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), an inherited tumor syndrome characterized by the development of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and other neuroendocrine tumors. Despite Northern analysis showing that RET is expressed in the majority of MTCs, the factors regulating this expression are poorly understood. To address this issue we examined RET expression in response to glucocorticoids in the TT cell line, derived from a metastatic MTC. The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone was found to reduce RET expression at both mRNA and protein levels. This effect was dose responsive and maximal at 24 h. The reduction in RET mRNA was shown to be specific to glucocorticoids and was also seen in a primary MTC culture. Nuclear run-on studies revealed the reduction in steady-state RNA to be due to a decrease in RET mRNA transcription and the effect was shown to be independent of new protein synthesis or RNA stability. Dexamethasone was also found to exert an inhibitory effect upon cell growth, suggesting a potential use for glucocorticoids in the treatment of medullary carcinoma and MEN 2.

Carcinoma, Medullary↗

The aberrant fusion proteins PML-RAR alpha and PLZF-RAR alpha contribute to the overexpression of cyclin A1 in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Cyclin A1 is a newly discovered cyclin that is overexpressed in certain myeloid leukemias. Previously, the authors found that the frequency of cyclin A1 overexpression is especially high in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In this study, the authors investigated the mechanism of cyclin A1 overexpression in APL cells and showed that the APL-associated aberrant fusion proteins (PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha [PML-RAR alpha] or PLZF-RAR alpha) caused the increased levels of cyclin A1 in these cells. The ectopic expression of either PML-RAR alpha or PLZF-RAR alpha in U937 cells, a non-APL myeloid cell line, led to a dramatic increase of cyclin A1 messenger RNA and protein. This elevation of cyclin A1 was reversed by treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in cells expressing PML-RAR alpha but not PLZF-RAR alpha. ATRA also greatly reduced the high levels of cyclin A1 in the APL cell lines NB4 and UF-1. No effect of ATRA on cyclin A1 levels was found in the ATRA-resistant NB4-R2 cells. Further studies using ligands selective for various retinoic acid receptors suggested that cyclin A1 expression is negatively regulated by activated RAR alpha. Reporter assays showed that PML-RAR alpha led to activation of the cyclin A1 promoter. Addition of ATRA inhibited PML-RAR alpha-induced cyclin A1 promoter activity. Taken together, our data suggest that PML-RAR alpha and PLZF-RAR alpha cause the high-level expression of cyclin A1 seen in acute promyelocytic leukemia. (Blood. 2000;96:3894-3899)

Cell Division↗

Evidence for the presence of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase in human platelets: implications for its involvement in the regulatory network of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism.

The 12-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets and other cells is bifurcated into a reduction route yielding 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) and an isomerization route forming hepoxilins. Here we show for the first time the presence of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) protein and its activity in platelets. The ratio of the activity of PHGPx to that of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1) was consistently found to be approx. 1:60 in platelets and UT7 megakaryoblasts. Moreover, short-lived PHGPx mRNA was detected in megakaryocytes but not in platelets. Carboxymethylation of selenium-containing glutathione peroxidases by iodoacetate, which results in the inactivation of PHGPx and GPx-1 without inhibition of 12-lipoxygenase, markedly altered the pattern of arachidonic acid metabolism in human platelets. Whereas the formation of 12-HETE was inhibited by 80%, a concomitant accumulation of 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HpETE) by two orders of magnitude as well as the formation of hepoxilins A(3) and B(3) were observed. The formation of hepoxilins also occurred when 12-HpETE was added to untreated platelets. In selenium-deficient UT7 cells, which were devoid of GPx-1 but not of PHGPx, the reduction of 12-HPETE was retained, albeit with a lower rate than in control cells containing GPx-1. We therefore believe that both GPx-1 and PHGPx are involved in the regulatory network of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway in platelets and other mammalian cells. Moreover, the diminution of hydroperoxide tone in platelets incubated with arachidonic acid leads primarily to the formation of 12-HETE, whereas the increase in hydroperoxide tone (a situation found under oxidative stress or selenium deficiency or on incubation with 12-HPETE) partly diverts the 12-lipoxygenase pathway from the reduction route to the isomerization route, thus resulting in the formation of hepoxilins.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Plasma levels of syndecan-4 (ryudocan) are elevated in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Syndecan-4 (ryudocan) is a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, which plays an important role in a variety of biological functions including regulation of blood coagulation. cell adhesion, and cell growth. In this study, we measured plasma levels of syndecan-4 in patients with acute myocardial infarction using an enzyme-immunoassay, and found that they were extremely high, with a peak of average (10.5 +/- 5.6 ng/ml, 2 weeks after onset), as compared with those in normal subjects (0.078 +/- 0.030 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). We also observed a distinct expression of syndecan-4 in the repair region of the damaged cardiac tissues with infarction, but not in intact region, by immunohistochemical analysis. To clarify the mechanism of syndecan-4 induction, we investigated the hypoxia effect on its expression, and found that hypoxia treatment up-regulated the gene expression of syndecan-4 in various types of cells. Taken together, it is suggested that syndecan-4 is induced by hypoxia stimuli in ischemic heart tissues, and may function as a tissue-repair molecule via biological mediators such as heparin-binding growth factors.

Adult↗

Synonymous codon usage in bacteria.

In most bacteria, synonymous codons are not used with equal frequencies. Different factors have been proposed to contribute to codon usage preference, including translational selection, GC composition, strand-specific mutational bias, amino acid conservation, protein hydropathy, transcriptional selection and even RNA stability. The review discusses these factors and their contribution to bias in synonymous codon usage in bacterial genomes.

Bacteria↗

[Synthesis of chimeric anti-MDR1 ribozymes (tRNA-Rzs) and their biological activities in cell-free system].

OBJECTIVE: Development of multidrug resistance(MDR) is the major obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapy. One strategy to block the P-glycoprotein(P-gp)-mediated MDR is to use a ribozyme (Rz) target against MDR1 mRNA. METHODS: Three kinds of anti-MDR1 chimeric hammerhead ribozymes, the first-one cleaving codon 196 of MDR1 mRNA (196MDR1-Rz), the second one, a stem-II base modified (U9-->G9, U13-->A13, G14-->A14, A18-->C18) Rz against codon 196 (196MDR1-sRz) and the third one, the stem-II base modified Rz directed against the -6(-)-4 GUC sequence of the translation initiation site of the MDR1 mRNA (iMDR1-sRz), were synthesized based on the cloned retroviral constructs: N2A + tRNAi(met)-196MDR1-Rz, N2A + tRNAi(met)-196MDR1-sRz, N2A + tRNAi(met)-iMDR1-sRz. RESULTS: In a cell-free system, the chimeric tRNA-sRz molecules were more stable and had more efficient catalytic activities than the corresponding naked Rz molecules. The stem-II base modified Rz molecules were also more stable and efficient in catalytic activities than the unmodified ones. In control, the disabled tRNA-mut-iMDR1-sRz had no cleavage activity. CONCLUSION: Base modification in the Rz's stem-II of ribozyme structure and the development of chimeric tRNA-ribozyme molecules are able to enhance the cleavage efficacy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Attenuation by fibrates of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 expression in human arterial smooth muscle cells.

Human atherosclerotic lesions exhibit increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) that has been implicated in atherogenesis. Although vascular smooth muscle cells are a predominant source of PAI-1 expression potentially favorable modulation of PAI-1 expression by fibrates has not yet been characterized in these cells. Human aortic smooth muscle cells were exposed to selected growth factors. PAI-1 expression was stimulated most powerfully by TGF-beta (EC50 = 0.2 ng/ml, up to 12-fold increase). Gemfibrozil inhibited basal PAI-1 expression by 23% (p = ns) and TGF-beta-induced PAI-1 expression by 52% (p = 0.017) whereas t-PA and total protein synthesis was not affected. Changes in PAI-1 protein accumulation reflected PAI-1 gene expression attributable to modulation of half-life of PAI-1 mRNA by gemfibrozil. Inhibition by other fibrates was less. Gemfibrozil specifically attenuates TGF-beta-induced PAI-1 expression in human arterial smooth muscle cells. Thus, fibrates are promising agents for normalizing increased PAI-1 expression in arterial walls in patients in whom PAI-1 expression is increased.

Aorta↗

Synapse formation in the absence of cell bodies requires protein synthesis.

Protein synthesis at distal synaptic sites is thought to play a critical role in long-term synaptic plasticity at preexisting connections. We tested whether protein synthesis in distal neuritic processes contributes to the formation of new synaptic connections by Aplysia neurons regenerating in cell culture after removing their cell bodies. Removal of either the sensory neuron (SN) or motor cell L7 cell body did not affect the formation of synaptic connections during the next 48--72 hr period. Increases in synaptic efficacy after removal of the SN cell body was accompanied by neurite growth and an increase in the number of SN varicosities contacting L7. The increases in synaptic efficacy and the number of SN varicosities were blocked by anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor. The initial formation of synaptic connections was not affected by the absence of the L7 cell body. In the absence of cell bodies from both presynaptic and postsynaptic cells, synaptic efficacy increased for 48 hr and was blocked reversibly by anisomycin. These results support the idea that distal neuritic processes contain stable mRNAs and the macromolecular machinery for protein synthesis that are required for the formation of new synaptic connections.

Animals↗