Alternative splicing of the dopamine D2 receptor directs specificity of coupling to G-proteins.

International audienceTwo isoforms of the dopamine D2 receptor have been characterized, D2L (long) and D2S (short), generated by alternative splicing from the same gene. They differ by an in-frame insert of 29 amino acids specific to D2L within the putative third intracytoplasmic loop of the receptor. We have previously demonstrated (Montmayeur, J.-P., Guiramand, J., and Borelli, E. (1993) Mol. Endocrinol. 7, 161-170) that D2S and D2L, although presenting very similar pharmacological profiles, couple differently to the alpha-subunit of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins). In particular, D2L, but not D2S, requires the presence of the alpha-subunit of the inhibitory G-protein (G alpha i2) to elicit greater inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity. The insert present in D2L must therefore confer the specificity of interaction with G alpha i2. Thus, we introduced substitution mutations within the D2L insert. These mutant receptors were expressed in JEG3 cells, a G alpha i2-deficient cell line, scoring for those presenting an increased inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by dopamine. Our analysis identified two mutants, S259/262A and D249V, with these properties. These results clearly show that the insert present in D2L plays a critical role in the selectivity for the G-proteins interacting with the receptor

The putative molecular mechanism(s) responsible for the enhanced inositol phosphate synthesis by excitatory amino acids: an overview.

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Preferential coupling between dopamine D2 receptors and G-proteins.

International audienceThe D2 dopamine receptor, an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase, belongs to the family of seven transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptors. This receptor is encoded by two mRNAs produced from the same gene by alternative splicing, here referred to as D2L and D2S. The resultant proteins are identical except for an insertion of 29 amino acids in the putative third intracytoplasmic domain. This domain has been shown to be important for the coupling of this family of receptors to G-proteins. We have previously shown that there is differential inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase activity when these two receptors are produced in JEG3 cells; D2S is more efficient than D2L. To understand the molecular basis of such differential activity, we analyzed the G-proteins expressed in these cells. Here we show that G alpha i2 is absent in this cell line. Moreover, it is possible to restore the same inhibitory activity obtained by D2S when an expression vector encoding this alpha-subunit is cotransfected with D2L. In addition, transfections of the two receptors in a recipient cell line containing the three G alpha i subtypes confirm that the two receptors behave similarly. We conclude that the 29-amino acid insertion present in D2L allows it to interact specifically with G alpha i2. These data suggest that in vivo the function of activated D2 receptors is exerted by specific interactions with Gi-protein subtypes

DNQX-induced toxicity in cultured rat hippocampal neurons: an apparent AMPA receptor-independent effect?

International audienceTo evaluate the involvement of AMPA receptor activation in neuronal cell death and survival, rat hippocampal neurons in culture were treated with AMPA receptor antagonists. A 46 h treatment with 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), added 2 h after cell plating, induces a dose-dependent neurotoxicity. Similar effects are also observed in more mature hippocampal neurons (treatment at 14 days in vitro). DNQX toxic effect is neuron-specific since cultured hippocampal glial cells are unaffected. Attempts to characterise the site of action of DNQX suggest that ionotropic glutamate receptors would not be implicated. Indeed, (i) other AMPA receptor antagonists are either ineffective or only moderately efficient in mimicking DNQX effects; (ii) AMPA alone or in the presence of cyclothiazide, as well as, other AMPA receptor agonists, do not reverse DNQX action; (iii) DNQX neurotoxicity is not likely to involve blockade of NMDA receptor glycine site, since this effect is neither mimicked by 7-chlorokynurenate nor reversed by D-serine. Thus, DNQX toxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons is apparently mediated through an ionotropic glutamate receptor-independent way

Developmental changes in the chemosensitivity of rat brain synaptoneurosomes to excitatory amino acids, estimated by inositol phosphate formation.

International audienceThe evolution of excitatory amino acids-(EAA) stimulated inositol phosphates (IPs) turnover during postnatal development was investigated in synaptoneurosomes prepared from rat forebrains. The two main EAA agonists which induce the IPs synthesis were quisqualate (QA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The QA and NMDA stimulations of IPs formation present a particular developmental pattern, characterized by an active phase during rat synaptogenesis. The QA-evoked IPs accumulation peaked in synaptoneurosomes prepared from 8-day-old rat forebrains while that evoked by NMDA peaked in synaptoneurosomes from 12-day-old rats. These two developmental patterns are specific of the EAA agonists since the other various neuroactive substances tested (carbachol (Carb), noradrenaline, and high concentrations of potassium) induced an IPs accumulation, which increases during development and reaches a maximum in synaptoneurosomes of adult animals. Aging leads to a decrease in the capability of EAAs and muscarinic agonists to stimulate IPs formation in synaptoneurosomes, whereas the stimulation of IPs turnover by noradrenaline remains constant. Taken together, these results suggest that EAAs play a key role during brain development by sequentially activating two receptor subtypes, a new QA receptor, and a NMDA receptor, linked to the phosphoinositide metabolism. They may also indicate that these EAA-induced IPs responses are related to neuronal plastic events, the amplitude of which decreases with aging

A specific transduction mechanism for the glutamate action on phosphoinositide metabolism via the quisqualate metabotropic receptor in rat brain synaptoneurosomes: II. Calcium dependency, cadmium inhibition.

International audienceIn this article, we demonstrate that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration may represent a specific common step(s) in the mechanism(s) of action of glutamate (Glu) and depolarizing agents on formation of inositol phosphates (IPs) in 8-day-old rat forebrain synaptoneurosomes. In fact, A23187, a Ca2+ ionophore, induces a dose-dependent accumulation of IPs, which is not additive with that evoked by Glu and K+ but is slightly synergistic with that induced by carbachol. In addition, Glu and K+ augment the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in synaptoneurosome preparations as measured by the fura-2 assay. The absence of external Ca2+ decreases basal and Glu-, and K(+)-stimulated formation of IPs. Cd2+ (100 microM) fully inhibits both Glu- and K(+)-evoked formation of IPs without affecting the carbachol-elicited response of IPs. Zn2+ inhibits Glu- and K(+)-stimulated accumulation of IPs (IC50 approximately 0.4 mM) but with a lower affinity than Cd2+ (IC50 approximately 0.035 mM). The organic Ca2+ channel blockers verapamil (10 microM), nifedipine (10 microM), omega-conotoxin (2 microM), and amiloride (10 microM) as well as the inorganic blockers Co2+ (100 microM) and La3+ (100 microM) block neither Glu- nor K(+)-evoked formation of IPs, a result suggesting that the opening of the L-, T-, N-, or P-type Ca2+ channels does not participate in these responses. All these data suggest that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration resulting from an influx of Ca2+, sensitive to Cd2+ but not to other classical Ca2+ antagonists, may play a key role in the transduction mechanism activated by Glu or depolarizing agents

Action non anti-radicalaire de la vitamine E sur les neurones d'hippocampe de rat (de l'induction d'une résistance au stress oxydant à la modulation de la transmission synaptique)

Les espèces radicalaires oxygénées (ROS) produites par la respiration mitochondriale sont des facteurs oxydants nécessaires à de nombreux mécanismes cellulaires, mais leur accumulation appelée stress oxydant (SO) se traduit par des effets délétères provoquant à terme la mort cellulaire. Le cerveau étant particulièrement sensible aux ROS, nous nous sommes intéressés aux mécanismes de défense contre le SO dans l'hippocampe, structure cérébrale impliquée dans la mémorisation. Nous avons étudié l'action de constituants de la vitamine E, les alpha-tocophérols. Ces anti-oxydants montrent des actions cellulaires et génomiques particulières, indépendantes de leur propriété anti-radicalaire. Nous avons d'abord montré qu'une application transitoire à faible concentration d'alpha-tocophéryl-phosphate, une forme naturelle de la vitamine E induit une neuroprotection durable contre le SO via une action génomique impliquant la modulation de l'activité des canaux TRPV1. Ensuite, nous avons montré que des applications directes d'alpha-tocophérol et d'alpha-tocophéryl-phosphate modulent de manière opposée la transmission synaptique dans l'hippocampe. Ces neuromodulations impliquent des récepteurs métabotropes pré-synaptiques des cannabinnoïdes CB1, ainsi que les canaux TRPV1, nommés aussi "récepteurs ionotropes des cannabinoïdes". Cette étude montre que la transmission synaptique dans l'hippocampe est vraisemblablement régulée par l'intégration de réponses induites par des lipides exogènes dont les alpha-tocophérols, mais aussi par des lipides endogènes comme les endocannabinoïdes, l'activité de leurs récepteurs étant modifiée par les tocophérolsAll aerobic organisms produce radical oxygen species (ROS) trough mitochondrial respiration. These ROS are oxidative factors required for several cellular mechanisms. However, an excessive accumulation of ROS results in a serie of deleterious events, known as oxidative stress, which lead to cell death. Brain is particularly sensitive to ROS. Thus, we have investigated here the mechanisms involved in deleterious effects of oxidative stress in the hippocampus which is the structure involved in memory formation. We have examined the effects of the main compounds of vitamin E, i.e. alpha-tocopherols. These antioxidants exhibit cellular and genomic effects independently of their anti-radical properties. Firstly, we demonstrated that a transient application with low concentration of alpha-tocopheryl-phosphate, a natural form of vitamin E, induces a long lasting neuroprotection against oxidative stress via a genomic action and the modulation of TRPV1 channels activity. Secondly, we observed that alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl-phosphate acutely modulate, in opposite ways, synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. These modulations involve both presynaptic metabotropic cannabinnoids receptors CB1 and TRPV1 channels, also recently named "ionotropic cannabinnoids receptors". This study demonstrates that synaptic transmission in the hippocampus is regulated by the integration of several lipidic compounds, both exogenous one including tocopherols, and endogenous one such as endocannabinoids, since the activity of their receptors are modified by tocopherolsMONTPELLIER-BU Sciences (341722106) / SudocSudocFranceF

Effect of thiol reagents on phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat brain synaptoneurosomes.

International audienceSome divalent ions, such as Cd2+ and Zn2+, are able to stimulate phosphoinositide (PI) breakdown and to inhibit receptor-mediated PI metabolism. These ions are also known to react with the free -SH groups of proteins. This prompted us to investigate the effects of more potent sulphydryl reagents, Hg2+ and p-chloromercuric benzosulphonic acid (PCMBS), on the inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation triggered by the neuroactive substances: glutamate, carbachol and K+, using synaptoneurosomes from 8-day-old rat forebrains. Hg2+ and PCMBS, depending on their concentration, had two distinct effects on IP accumulation: at low doses, Hg2+ (from 1 to 10 microM) and PCMBS (0.1 mM) by themselves stimulated PI breakdown, inhibited glutamate-elicited IP accumulation and had additive effects with respect to carbachol-induced IP stimulation. At higher doses, Hg2+ (from 0.01 to 1 mM) inhibited both basal and neuroactive substance-stimulated IP accumulation. PCMBS (1 mM), provoked only an inhibition of the agonist-stimulated IP formation. Monitoring membrane potential and intracellular Ca2+ with the fluorescent dyes diSC2(5) and fura2, respectively, indicated that these mercurials could strongly depolarize the synaptoneurosomal membrane and produce a Ca2+ influx dependent on extracellular Ca2+. The stimulatory effects of low concentrations of mercurials on PI turnover could be linked to the depolarization they provoke and the subsequent Ca2+ rise, which in turn is known to stimulate some phospholipase C enzymes. The inhibitory effects observed at high concentrations might be due to a loss of activity of proteins involved in PI breakdown, as all receptor-mediated IP accumulations were inhibited

Potentiation of glutamatergic agonist-induced inositol phosphate formation by basic fibroblast growth factor is related to developmental features in hippocampal cultures: neuronal survival and glial cell proliferation.

International audienceWe investigated the modulation by growth factors of phospholipase C (PLC)-linked glutamate receptors during in vitro development of hippocampal cultures. In defined medium, glial cells represent between 3 and 14% of total cell number. When we added basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) 2 h after plating, we found: (i) a neuroprotection from naturally occurring death for up to 5 days; (ii) a proliferation of glial cells from day 3; and (iii) a potentiation of quisqualate (QA)-induced inositol phosphate (IP) formation from 1 to 10 days in vitro (DIV) and 1S, 3R-amino-cyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD) response from 3 to 10 DIV. The antimitotic cytosine-beta,D-arabinofuranoside (AraC) blocked glial cell proliferation induced by bFGF, but not neuroprotection. Under these conditions, the early potentiation of the QA response (1-3 DIV) was not changed, while the ACPD and late QA response potentiations were prevented (5-10 DIV). Epidermal growth factor was not neuroprotective but it induced both glial cell proliferation and late QA or ACPD potentiation. Surprisingly, the early bFGF-potentiated QA-induced IP response was blocked by 6, 7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), suggesting the participation of ionotropic (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)/kainate (KA) receptors. The delayed bFGF-potentiated ACPD-induced IP response is inhibited by (S)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), indicating possible activation of glial metabotropic receptors. These results suggest that, in hippocampal cultures, bFGF modulates AMPA and metabotropic glutamate receptors linked to the IP cascade, possibly in relation to the regulation of neuronal survival and glial cell proliferation, respectively

Dithiotreitol specifically inhibits metabotropic responses of glutamate and depolarizing agents in rat brain synaptoneurosomes.

International audienceDithiotreitol (DTT), a sulfhydryl reducing agent inhibits in a dose-dependent manner the inositol phosphates (IPs) accumulation responses evoked by glutamate and potassium without affecting that of carbachol in rat forebrain synaptoneurosomes. Furthermore, DTT neither provokes a depolarization of the membrane, nor increases the internal calcium concentration. Depolarization and internal calcium rise are known to stimulate IPs production. Moreover, DTT does not modify the depolarizing effect and the calcium rise elicited by glutamate and potassium. In addition, the antioxidant compounds 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide (AET) and ascorbic acid have no effect on the basal and stimulated IPs accumulation. Thus, it is concluded that: (1) two distinct transduction pathways exist, one stimulated by glutamate and depolarizing agents and the other one by cholinergic agonists; (2) DTT produces its inhibition by reducing disulfide bridges likely at the level of proteins of the phosphoinositide transduction mechanism