Acetylcholine-induced Currents Research Articles

A New Peptide from the Venom of the Madagascar Cat-Eyed Snake Madagascarophis colubrinus Blocks Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

—In screening the venoms of various snake species, we found that the venom of the Madagascar cat-eyed snake Madagascarophis colubrinus competes with α-bungarotoxin for binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica. Using liquid chromatography, a peptide that inhibits the binding of α‑bungartoxin to this receptor was isolated from the venom and named macoluxin. The amino acid sequence of this 23-amino acid peptide was determined by automatic Edman degradation. Comparison with amino acid sequences of known proteins showed that the macoluxin sequence is homologous to the α-helical region of the sequence of snake venom metalloproteinases. The peptide was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis, and the study of its biological activity showed that it inhibits the binding of α-bungarotoxin to the Torpedo receptor with an IC50 of 47 μM. Macoluxin also reversibly inhibited acetylcholine-induced currents in the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This is the first data on the presence of a peptide that can inhibit the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the venom of rear-fanged snakes.

A New Peptide from the Venom of the Madagascar Cat-Eyed Snake <i>Madagascarophis colubrinus</i> Blocks Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

In screening the venoms of various snake species, we found that the venom of the Madagascar cat-eyed snake Madagascarophis colubrinus competes with α-bungarotoxin for binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica. Using liquid chromatography, a peptide, called macoluxin and inhibiting the binding of the toxin to the receptor, was isolated from the venom. The amino acid sequence of this 23-amino acid peptide was determined by automatic Edman degradation. Comparison with amino acid sequences of known proteins showed that the macoluxin sequence is homologous to the α-helical region of the sequence of snake venom metalloproteinases. The peptide was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis, and the study of its biological activity showed that it inhibits the binding of α-bungarotoxin to the Torpedo receptor with an IC50 of 47 μM. Macoluxin also reversibly inhibited acetylcholine-induced currents in the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This is the first data on the presence in the venom of rear fanged snakes of a peptide that can inhibit the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Cholinergic depolarization recruits a persistent Ca2+ current in Aplysia bag cell neurons.

Many behaviors and types of information storage are mediated by lengthy changes in neuronal activity. In bag cell neurons of the hermaphroditic sea snail Aplysia californica, a transient cholinergic synaptic input triggers an ∼30-min afterdischarge. This causes these neuroendocrine cells to release egg laying hormone and elicit reproductive behavior. When acetylcholine is pressure-ejected onto a current-clamped bag cell neuron, the evoked depolarization is far longer than the current evoked by acetylcholine under voltage clamp, suggesting recruitment of another conductance. Our earlier studies found bag cell neurons to display a voltage-dependent persistent Ca2+ current. Hence, we hypothesized that this current is activated by the acetylcholine-induced depolarization and sought a selective Ca2+ current blocker. Rapid Ca2+ current evoked by 200-ms depolarizing steps in voltage-clamped cultured bag cell neurons demonstrated a concentration-dependent sensitivity to Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+, and verapamil but not Cd2+ or ω-conotoxin GIVa. Leak subtraction of Ca2+ current evoked by 10-s depolarizing steps using the IC100 (concentration required to eliminate maximal current) of Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+, or verapamil revealed persistent Ca2+ current, demonstrating persistent current block. Only Co2+ and Zn2+ did not suppress the acetylcholine-induced current, although Zn2+ appeared to impact additional channels. When Co2+ was applied during an acetylcholine-induced depolarization, the amplitude was reduced; furthermore, protein kinase C activation, previously established to enhance the persistent Ca2+ current, extended the depolarization. Therefore, the persistent Ca2+ current sustains the acetylcholine-induced depolarization and may translate brief cholinergic input into afterdischarge initiation. This could be a general mechanism of triggering long-term change in activity with a short-lived input.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ionotropic acetylcholine receptors mediate brief synaptic communication, including in bag cell neurons of the sea snail Aplysia. However, this study demonstrates that cholinergic depolarization can open a voltage-gated persistent Ca2+ current, which extends the bag cell neuron response to acetylcholine. Bursting in these neuroendocrine cells results in hormone release and egg laying. Thus, this emphasizes the role of ionotropic signaling in reaching a depolarized level to engage Ca2+ influx and perpetuating the activity necessary for behavior.

Regulation of epithelial sodium channel activity by SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 proteins

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019, encodes several proteins whose roles are poorly understood. We tested their ability either to directly form plasma membrane ion channels or to change functions of two mammalian plasma membrane ion channels, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In mRNA-injected Xenopus oocytes, none of nine SARS-CoV-2 proteins or two SARS-CoV-1 proteins produced conductances, nor did co-injection of several combinations. Immunoblots for ORF8, spike (S), and envelope (E) proteins revealed that the proteins are expressed at appropriate molecular weights. In experiments on coexpression with ENaC, three tested SARS proteins (SARS-CoV-1 E, SARS-CoV-2 E, and SARS-CoV-2 S) markedly decrease ENaC currents. SARS-CoV-1 S protein decreases ENaC currents modestly. Coexpressing the E proteins but not the S proteins with α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors significantly reduces acetylcholine-induced currents. ENaC inhibition does not occur if the SARS-CoV protein mRNAs are injected 24 h after the ENaC mRNAs, suggesting that SARS-CoV proteins affect early step(s) in functional expression of channel proteins. Consistent with the hypothesis that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein-induced ENaC inhibition involves competition for available protease, mutating the furin cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 S protein partially relieves inhibition of ENaC currents. Extending previous suggestions that SARS proteins affect ENaC currents via protein kinase C (PKC) activation, PKC activation via phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate decreases ENaC and α3β4 activity. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate application reduced membrane capacitance ∼5%, presumably via increased endocytosis, but this decrease is much smaller than the SARS proteins’ effects on conductances. Also, incubating oocytes in Gö-6976, a PKCα and PKCβ inhibitor, did not alter E or S protein-induced channel inhibition. We conclude that SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 proteins alter the function of human plasma membrane channels, via incompletely understood mechanisms. These interactions may play a role in the coronavirus 2019 pathophysiology.

Action of Carvacrol on Parascaris sp. and Antagonistic Effect on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.

Parascaris sp. is the only ascarid parasitic nematode in equids and one of the most threatening infectious organisms in horses. Only a limited number of compounds are available for treatment of horse helminthiasis, and Parascaris sp. worms have developed resistance to the three major anthelmintic families. In order to overcome the appearance of resistance, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. The active ingredients of herbal essential oils are potentially effective antiparasitic drugs. Carvacrol is one of the principal chemicals of essential oil from Origanum, Thymus, Coridothymus, Thymbra, Satureja and Lippia herbs. However, the antiparasitic mode of action of carvacrol is poorly understood. Here, the objective of the work was to characterize the activity of carvacrol on Parascaris sp. nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) function both in vivo with the use of worm neuromuscular flap preparations and in vitro with two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology on nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We developed a neuromuscular contraction assay for Parascaris body flaps and obtained acetylcholine concentration-dependent contraction responses. Strikingly, we observed that 300 µM carvacrol fully and irreversibly abolished Parascaris sp. muscle contractions elicited by acetylcholine. Similarly, carvacrol antagonized acetylcholine-induced currents from both the nicotine-sensitive AChR and the morantel-sensitive AChR subtypes. Thus, we show for the first time that body muscle flap preparation is a tractable approach to investigating the pharmacology of Parascaris sp. neuromuscular system. Our results suggest an intriguing mode of action for carvacrol, being a potent antagonist of muscle nAChRs of Parascaris sp. worms, which may account for its antiparasitic potency.

Di- and heptavalent nicotinic analogues to interfere with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

In the field of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), recognized as important therapeutic targets, much effort has been dedicated to the development of nicotinic analogues to agonize or antagonize distinct homo- and heteropentamers nAChR subtypes, selectively. In this work we developed di- and heptavalent nicotinic derivatives based on ethylene glycol (EG) and cyclodextrin cores, respectively. The compounds showed a concentration dependent inhibition of acetylcholine-induced currents on α7 nAChR expressed by Xenopus oocytes. Interesting features were observed with the divalent nicotinic derivatives, acting as antagonists with varied inhibitory concentrations (IC50) in function of the spacer arm length. The best divalent compounds showed a 16-fold lowered IC50 compared to the monovalent reference (12 vs 195 µM). Docking investigations provide guidelines to rationalize these experimental findings.

Tyrosine Phosphorylation Determines Afterdischarge Initiation by Regulating an Ionotropic Cholinergic Receptor

Changes to neuronal activity often involve a rapid and precise transition from low to high excitability. In the marine snail, Aplysia, the bag cell neurons control reproduction by undergoing an afterdischarge, which begins with synaptic input releasing acetylcholine to open an ionotropic cholinergic receptor. Gating of this receptor causes depolarization and a shift from silence to continuous action potential firing, leading to the neuroendocrine secretion of egg-laying hormone and ovulation. At the onset of the afterdischarge, there is a rise in intracellular Ca2+, followed by both protein kinase C (PKC) activation and tyrosine dephosphorylation. To determine whether these signals influence the acetylcholine ionotropic receptor, we examined the bag cell neuron cholinergic response both in culture and isolated clusters using whole-cell and/or sharp-electrode electrophysiology. The acetylcholine-induced current was not altered by increasing intracellular Ca2+ via voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, clamping intracellular Ca2+ with exogenous Ca2+ buffers, or activating PKC with phorbol esters. However, lowering phosphotyrosine levels by inhibiting tyrosine kinases both reduced the cholinergic current and prevented acetylcholine from triggering action potentials or afterdischarge-like bursts. In other systems, acetylcholine receptors are often modulated by multiple signals, but bag cell neurons appear to be more restrictive in this regard. Prior work finds that, as the afterdischarge proceeds, tyrosine dephosphorylation leads to biophysical alterations that promote persistent firing. Because this firing is subsequent to the cholinergic input, inhibiting the acetylcholine receptor may represent a means of properly orchestrating synaptically induced changes in excitability.

Pancreatic and snake venom presynaptically active phospholipases A2 inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes found throughout the animal kingdom. They hydrolyze phospholipids in the sn-2 position producing lysophospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids, agents that can damage membranes. PLA2s from snake venoms have numerous toxic effects, not all of which can be explained by phospholipid hydrolysis, and each enzyme has a specific effect. We have earlier demonstrated the capability of several snake venom PLA2s with different enzymatic, cytotoxic, anticoagulant and antiproliferative properties, to decrease acetylcholine-induced currents in Lymnaea stagnalis neurons, and to compete with α-bungarotoxin for binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and acetylcholine binding protein. Since nAChRs are implicated in postsynaptic and presynaptic activities, in this work we probe those PLA2s known to have strong presynaptic effects, namely β-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus and crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus. We also wished to explore whether mammalian PLA2s interact with nAChRs, and have examined non-toxic PLA2 from porcine pancreas. It was found that porcine pancreatic PLA2 and presynaptic β-bungarotoxin blocked currents mediated by nAChRs in Lymnaea neurons with IC50s of 2.5 and 4.8 μM, respectively. Crotoxin competed with radioactive α-bungarotoxin for binding to Torpedo and human α7 nAChRs and to the acetylcholine binding protein. Pancreatic PLA2 interacted similarly with these targets; moreover, it inhibited radioactive α-bungarotoxin binding to the water-soluble extracellular domain of human α9 nAChR, and blocked acetylcholine induced currents in human α9α10 nAChRs heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. These and our earlier results show that all snake PLA2s, including presynaptically active crotoxin and β-bungarotoxin, as well as mammalian pancreatic PLA2, interact with nAChRs. The data obtained suggest that this interaction may be a general property of all PLA2s, which should be proved by further experiments.

B-973, a novel piperazine positive allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

The alpha7 (α7) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a therapeutic target for cognitive disorders. Here we describe 3-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-N-(1-(6-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)pyrazin-2-yl)ethyl)propanamide (B-973), a novel piperazine-containing molecule that acts as a positive allosteric modulator of the α7 receptor. We characterize the action of B-973 on the α7 receptor using electrophysiology and radioligand binding. At 0.1mM acetylcholine, 1μM B-973 potentiated peak acetylcholine-induced currents 6-fold relative to maximal acetylcholine (3mM) and slowed channel desensitization, resulting in a 6900-fold increase in charge transfer. The EC50 of B-973 was approximately 0.3μM at acetylcholine concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 3mM. At a concentration of 1μM, B-973 shifted the acetylcholine EC50 of peak currents from 0.30mM in control to 0.007mM. B-973 slowed channel deactivation upon acetylcholine removal (τ=50s) and increased the affinity of the α7 agonist [3H]A-585539. In the absence of exogenously added acetylcholine, application of B-973 at concentrations >1μM induced large methyllycaconitine-sensitive currents, suggesting B-973 can function as an Ago-PAM at high concentrations. B-973 will be a useful probe for investigating the biological consequences of increasing α7 receptor activity through allosteric modulation.

Peptides from puff adder Bitis arietans venom, novel inhibitors of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Phospholipase A2 (named bitanarin) possessing capability to block nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) was isolated earlier (Vulfius et al., 2011) from puff adder Bitis arietans venom. Further studies indicated that low molecular weight fractions of puff adder venom inhibit nAChRs as well. In this paper, we report on isolation from this venom and characterization of three novel peptides called baptides 1, 2 and 3 that reversibly block nAChRs. To isolate the peptides, the venom of B. arietans was fractionated by gel-filtration and reversed phase chromatography. The amino acid sequences of peptides were established by de novo sequencing using MALDI mass spectrometry. Baptide 1 comprised 7, baptides 2 and 3–10 amino acid residues, the latter being acetylated at the N-terminus. This is the first indication for the presence of such post-translational modification in snake venom proteins. None of the peptides contain cysteine residues. For biological activity studies the peptides were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. Baptide 3 and 2 blocked acetylcholine-elicited currents in isolated Lymnaea stagnalis neurons with IC50 of about 50 μM and 250 μM, respectively. In addition baptide 2 blocked acetylcholine-induced currents in muscle nAChR heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes with IC50 of about 3 μM. The peptides did not compete with radioactive α-bungarotoxin for binding to Torpedo and α7 nAChRs at concentration up to 200 μM that suggests non-competitive mode of inhibition. Calcium imaging studies on α7 and muscle nAChRs heterologously expressed in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells showed that on α7 receptor baptide 2 inhibited acetylcholine-induced increasing intracellular calcium concentration with IC50 of 20.6 ± 3.93 μM. On both α7 and muscle nAChRs the suppression of maximal response to acetylcholine by about 50% was observed at baptide 2 concentration of 25 μM, the value being close to IC50 on α7 nAChR. These data are in accord with non-competitive inhibition as follows from α-bungarotoxin binding experiments. The described peptides are the shortest peptides without disulfide bridges isolated from animal venom and capable to inhibit nAChR by non-competitive way.

Recovery of acetylcholine-induced currents after paired-pulse stimulation in snail neurons: Analysis using a mathematical model

The experimental relationship between the paired-pulse ratio of acetylcholine-induced inward currents in the command neurons of Helix lucorum and the interval between application of a neurotransmitter was analyzed using the method of paired-pulse stimulation. A mathematical model that takes the membrane and intracellular localization of receptors, their lateral diffusion, and endocytosis and exocytosis depending on the intracellular processes into account was used to study this dependence. Our results have shown that membrane receptor endocytosis is the main process that determines the type of this relationship. The effects of exocytosis and lateral diffusion of membrane receptors on this relationship were studied. The parameters of an existing mathematical model were further clarified.

Pharmacological profile of zacopride and new quaternarized fluorobenzamide analogues on mammalian α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

From quaternarization of quinuclidine enantiomers of 2-fluoro benzamide LMA10203 in dichloromethane, the corresponding N-chloromethyl derivatives LMA10227 and LMA10228 were obtained. Here, we compared the agonist action of known zacopride and its 2-fluoro benzamide analogues, LMA10203, LMA10227 and LMA10228 against mammalian homomeric α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We found that LMA10203 was a partial agonist of α7 receptor with a pEC50 value of 4.25 ± 0.06 μM whereas LMA10227 and LMA10228 were poorly active on α7 homomeric nicotinic receptor. LMA10227 and LMA10228 were identified as antagonists of acetylcholine-induced currents with IC50 values of 28.4 μM and 39.3 μM whereas LMA10203 and zacopride possessed IC50 values of 8.07 μM and 7.04 μM, respectively. Moreover, despite their IC50 values, LMA10227 was the most potent inhibitor of nicotine-induced current amplitudes (65.7 ± 2.1% inhibition). LMA10203 and LMA10228 had the same inhibitory effects (26.5 ± 7.5% and 33.2 ± 4.1%, respectively), whereas zacopride had no significant inhibitory effect (4.37 ± 4%) on nicotine-induced responses. Our results revealed different pharmacological properties between the four compounds on acetylcholine and nicotine currents. The mode of action of benzamide compounds may need to be reinterpreted with respect to the potential role of α7 receptor.

Interaction of 7-Methoxytacrine-Adamantylamine Cholinesterase Inhibitors with Nicotinic and Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist memantine are among the few FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease. In effort to develop multi-target (AChE-NMDA)-directed ligands for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, a series 7-Methoxytacrine-Adamantylamine thiourea heterodimers have been synthesized and evaluated for their effects as AChEI (Spilovska et. al. 2013, Molecules 18, 2397-2418). In this report, we extend their pharmacological characterization by examining their effects on neuronal and muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR). We also compare their pharmacology to 7-Methoxytacrine-Adamantylamine urea heterodimers. 7-Methoxytacrine-Adamantylamine thiourea derivatives containing 2-8 carbon linkers inhibited AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with high potency (IC50, 0.5-6 μM), whereas 7-Methoxytacrine-Adamantylamine urea derivatives inhibited AChE with higher potency than BChE. None of the tested compound potentiated M1 mAChR or nAChRs responses. They have minimal effects on acetylcholine-induced currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing neuronal α4β2 nAChR and inhibited M1 mAChR at higher concentrations (IC50s >10 μM). At concentration that inhibit AChE, both thiourea and urea derivatives inhibited acetylcholine-induced currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing muscle-type AChRs. Our preliminary results also suggest that the length of the carbon linker affect 7-Methoxytacrine-Adamantylamine urea interactions with AChRs, and further modifications of their structure are expected to yield compounds with more favorable pharmacological profiles.

Retraction: Nedeljkovic M, Kartelija G, Radenovic L. Modification of the acetylcholine-induced current of the snail Helix pomatia L. by fast temperature changes. Arch. Biol. Sci. 2005;57(3):181-7, DOI: 10.2298/ABS0503181N

This is a notice of retraction of the article: Modification of the acetylcholine-induced current of the snail Helix pomatia L. by fast temperature changes, published in the Archives of Biological Sciences in 2005, Vol. 57, Issue 3. The Editor-in-Chief has been informed that this paper plagiarizes an earlier paper: Nedeljkovic M, Kartelija G, Radenovic L, Todorovic N. The effect of cooling on the acetylcholine-induced current of identified Helix pomatia Br Neuron. J Comp Physiol A. 2005;191(5):445-60. This claim is correct and the entire paper, except the abstract, is a verbatim copy of the earlier one. After confirmation of this fact, the Editor-in-Chief of the Archives of Biological Sciences has decided to retract the paper immediately. We apologize to the readers of the journal that it took so many years to notice this error and to retract the paper. We request readers of the journal to directly get in touch with the editorial office and the editors of the journal for similar cases in the future, so that they can be handled promptly. <br><br><font color="red"><b> Link to the retracted article <u><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/ABS0503181N">10.2298/ABS0503181N</a></b></u>

The Duplicated α7 Subunits Assemble and Form Functional Nicotinic Receptors with the Full-length α7

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene (CHRNA7) is linked to schizophrenia. A partial duplication of CHRNA7 (CHRFAM7A) is found in humans on 15q13-14. Exon 6 of CHRFAM7A harbors a 2-bp deletion polymorphism, CHRFAM7AΔ2bp, which is also associated with schizophrenia. To understand the effects of the duplicated subunits on α7 receptors, we fused α7, dupα7, and dupΔα7 subunits with various fluorescent proteins. The duplicated subunits co-localized with full-length α7 subunits in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro2a) as well as rat hippocampal neurons. We investigated the interaction between the duplicated subunits and full-length α7 by measuring Förster resonance energy transfer using donor recovery after photobleaching and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. The results revealed that the duplicated proteins co-assemble with α7. In electrophysiological studies, Leu at the 9'-position in the M2 membrane-spanning segment was replaced with Cys in dupα7 or dupΔα7, and constructs were co-transfected with full-length α7 in Neuro2a cells. Exposure to ethylammonium methanethiosulfonate inhibited acetylcholine-induced currents, showing that the assembled functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) included the duplicated subunit. Incorporation of dupα7 and dupΔα7 subunits modestly changes the sensitivity of receptors to choline and varenicline. Thus, the duplicated proteins are assembled and transported to the cell membrane together with full-length α7 subunits and alter the function of the nAChRs. The characterization of dupα7 and dupΔα7 as well as their influence on α7 nAChRs may help explain the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and may suggest therapeutic strategies.

A potentially novel nicotinic receptor in Aplysia neuroendocrine cells.

Nicotinic receptors form a diverse group of ligand-gated ionotropic receptors with roles in both synaptic transmission and the control of excitability. In the bag cell neurons of Aplysia, acetylcholine activates an ionotropic receptor, which passes inward current to produce a long-lasting afterdischarge and hormone release, leading to reproduction. While testing the agonist profile of the cholinergic response, we observed a second current that appeared to be gated only by nicotine and not acetylcholine. The peak nicotine-evoked current was markedly smaller in magnitude than the acetylcholine-induced current, cooperative (Hill value of 2.7), had an EC50 near 500 μM, readily recovered from desensitization, showed Ca(2+) permeability, and was blocked by mecamylamine, dihydro-β-erythroidine, or strychnine, but not by α-conotoxin ImI, methyllycaconitine, or hexamethonium. Aplysia transcriptome analysis followed by PCR yielded 20 full-length potential nicotinic receptor subunits. Sixteen of these were predicted to be cation selective, and real-time PCR suggested that 15 of the 16 subunits were expressed to varying degrees in the bag cell neurons. The acetylcholine-induced current, but not the nicotine current, was reduced by double-strand RNA treatment targeted to both subunits ApAChR-C and -E. Conversely, the nicotine-evoked current, but not the acetylcholine current, was lessened by targeting both subunits ApAChR-H and -P. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting that a nicotinic receptor is not gated by acetylcholine. Separate receptors may serve as a means to differentially trigger plasticity or safeguard propagation by assuring that only acetylcholine, the endogenous agonist, initiates large enough responses to trigger reproduction.

Effects of insulin on norepinephrine- and acetylcholine-induced membrane currents of pinealocytes from healthy Wistar and type 2 diabetic GK rats

The neurohormone melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland under the stimulation of norepinephrine (NE). Its synthesis is inhibited by acetylcholine (ACh) and by insulin. Type 2 diabetic Goto Kakizaki (GK) rats have higher insulin and lower melatonin plasma levels than healthy Wistar rats. We investigate membrane potentials and currents of isolated pinealocytes in both rat strains and the influence of NE, ACh and insulin by using the perforated patch whole cell clamp technique. Pinealocyte membranes displayed a high resting Na(+) conductance. Stimulation with NE further increased this Na(+) conductance, which led to a slight depolarization in unclamped cells. The amplitude of the NE-evoked current was similar in both rat strains but the current fraction carried by Na(+) was stronger in GK rats. Stimulation with ACh induced a transient inward current and depolarization. These effects were much more pronounced in the pinealocytes of GK rats. The NE-induced current, the ACh-induced current and the membrane depolarization were reduced by pre-administration of insulin in Wistar pinealocytes. Our results provide the first electrophysiological evidence for the modulation, by insulin, of the effects of NE and ACh in pinealocytes of normal rats. The pinealocytes of type 2 diabetic rats were not responsive to insulin. This might explain the reported correlation between the decreased insulin receptor mRNA transcript levels in GK rat pinealocytes and the lack of effect of insulin on ion channels in their cell membranes.

The Role of Actin Microfilaments in Depression of Acetylcholine-Induced Currents in Common Snail Neurons in a Cellular Analog of Habituation

Toxins impairing the functions of cytoskeletal actin filaments – cytochalasin B (which inhibits actin polymerization and degrades microfilaments) and phalloidin (which prevents depolymerization of microfilaments, stabilizing F-actin) – weakened depression of the acetylcholine-induced influx current in defensive behavior command neurons in the common snail in conditions of rhythmic local applications of acetylcholine to the cell body (a cellular analog of habituation). These results, along with mathematical modeling, provide grounds for suggesting that depression of the cholinosensitivity of the extrasynaptic zones of command neuron membranes in the cellular analog of habituations is associated with the involvement of actin microfilaments in a reduction in the number of membrane cholinoreceptors.

Role of Myosins in Depression of Sensitivity ofHelixNeurons to Acetylcholine in a Cellular Analog of Habituation

We investigated the involvement of cytoskeleton motor proteins, myosins, in the molecular mechanism of sensitivity depression to acetylcholine in Helix command neurons of defensive behavior in a cellular analog of habituation. There were analyzed the effects of several drugs disturbing myosin function: ML-7 and MLCK-IP-18--blockers of myosin light chain kinase, blebbistatin--an inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II, Y-27632--inhibitor of kinases ROCK-I and ROCK-II (activate mainly non-muscle myosin II) on the depression of acetylcholine-induced inward current. It was found that ML-7 and MLCK-IP- 18 weakened current depression; blebbistatin and Y-27632 did not change the depression. The results of experimental inhibitory analysis and mathematical modeling of the effects of inhibitors on the number of membrane-bound cholinergic receptors allow to suggest the involvement ofmyosins (excluding non-muscle myosin II) in the transports of acetylcholine receptors (endo- and exocytosis) that are responsible for sensitivity changes in neuron somatic membrane to acetylcholine in a cellular analog of habituation.

Azemiopsin from Azemiops feae Viper Venom, a Novel Polypeptide Ligand of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

Azemiopsin, a novel polypeptide, was isolated from the Azemiops feae viper venom by combination of gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. Its amino acid sequence (DNWWPKPPHQGPRPPRPRPKP) was determined by means of Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. It consists of 21 residues and, unlike similar venom isolates, does not contain cysteine residues. According to circular dichroism measurements, this peptide adopts a β-structure. Peptide synthesis was used to verify the determined sequence and to prepare peptide in sufficient amounts to study its biological activity. Azemiopsin efficiently competed with α-bungarotoxin for binding to Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) (IC(50) 0.18 ± 0.03 μm) and with lower efficiency to human α7 nAChR (IC(50) 22 ± 2 μm). It dose-dependently blocked acetylcholine-induced currents in Xenopus oocytes heterologously expressing human muscle-type nAChR and was more potent against the adult form (α1β1εδ) than the fetal form (α1β1γδ), EC(50) being 0.44 ± 0.1 μm and 1.56 ± 0.37 μm, respectively. The peptide had no effect on GABA(A) (α1β3γ2 or α2β3γ2) receptors at a concentration up to 100 μm or on 5-HT(3) receptors at a concentration up to 10 μm. Ala scanning showed that amino acid residues at positions 3-6, 8-11, and 13-14 are essential for binding to Torpedo nAChR. In biological activity azemiopsin resembles waglerin, a disulfide-containing peptide from the Tropidechis wagleri venom, shares with it a homologous C-terminal hexapeptide, but is the first natural toxin that blocks nAChRs and does not possess disulfide bridges.