calyculin-a and calmidazolium

Excitotoxic cell death (ECD) is characteristic of mammalian brain following min of anoxia, but is not observed in the western painted turtle following days to months without oxygen. A key event in ECD is a massive increase in intracellular Ca(2+) by over-stimulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). The turtle's anoxia tolerance may involve the prevention of ECD by attenuating NMDAR-induced Ca(2+) influx. The goal of this study was to determine if protein phosphatases (PPs) and intracellular calcium mediate reductions in turtle cortical neuron whole-cell NMDAR currents during anoxia, thereby preventing ECD. Whole-cell NMDAR currents did not change during 80 min of normoxia, but decreased 56% during 40 min of anoxia. Okadaic acid and calyculin A, inhibitors of serine/threonine PP1 and PP2A, potentiated NMDAR currents during normoxia and prevented anoxia-mediated attenuation of NMDAR currents. Decreases in NMDAR activity during anoxia were also abolished by inclusion of the Ca(2+) chelator -- BAPTA and the calmodulin inhibitor -- calmidazolium. However, cypermethrin, an inhibitor of the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent PP2B (calcineurin), abolished the anoxic decrease in NMDAR activity at 20, but not 40 min suggesting that this phosphatase might play an early role in attenuating NMDAR activity during anoxia. Our results show that PPs, Ca(2+) and calmodulin play an important role in decreasing NMDAR activity during anoxia in the turtle cortex. We offer a novel mechanism describing this attenuation in which PP1 and 2A dephosphorylate the NMDAR (NR1 subunit) followed by calmodulin binding, a subsequent dissociation of alpha-actinin-2 from the NR1 subunit, and a decrease in NMDAR activity.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Calmodulin; Cerebral Cortex; Egtazic Acid; Female; Hypoxia; Imidazoles; Marine Toxins; Okadaic Acid; Oxazoles; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Protein Phosphatase 1; Pyrethrins; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Turtles

In cerebellar Purkinje neurons, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission undergoes a long-lasting "rebound potentiation" after the activation of excitatory climbing fiber inputs. Rebound potentiation is triggered by the climbing-fiber-induced transient elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration and is expressed as a long-lasting increase of postsynaptic GABAA receptor sensitivity. Herein we show that inhibitors of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII) signal transduction pathway effectively block the induction of rebound potentiation. These inhibitors have no effect on the once established rebound potentiation, on voltage-gated Ca2+ channel currents, or on the basal inhibitory transmission itself. Furthermore, a protein phosphatase inhibitor and the intracellularly applied CaM-KII markedly enhanced GABA-mediated currents in Purkinje neurons. Our results demonstrate that CaM-KII activation and the following phosphorylation are key steps for rebound potentiation.

Topics: 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; Animals; Calcium; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; Cerebellum; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Marine Toxins; Membrane Potentials; Nerve Fibers; Oxazoles; Purkinje Cells; Rats; Receptors, GABA-A; Signal Transduction; Staurosporine

We have demonstrated that the alpha 2,3 sialyltransferase (alpha 2,3 ST) from C6 cultured glioma cells was inhibited in vivo by W-7 and related Ca2+/Calmodulin (Ca/CaM) antagonists while protein kinase C effectors had no effect. Dephosphorylation of alpha 2,3 ST by the wide specificity alkaline phosphatase led to inactivation indicating that the enzyme is phosphorylated. The serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid and Calyculin A led also to an inhibition of alpha 2,3 ST activity. In addition, Ca/CaM antagonists and phosphatase inhibitors led both to an inhibition of a alpha 2,3 sialoglycoprotein from C6 glioma cells as demonstrated with lectin affinity blotting. A concerted regulatory mechanism with phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of alpha 2,3 ST is then postulated.

Topics: Animals; beta-Galactoside alpha-2,3-Sialyltransferase; Calmodulin; Carbohydrate Sequence; Ethers, Cyclic; Glioma; Glycosylation; Homeostasis; Imidazoles; Kinetics; Marine Toxins; Molecular Sequence Data; Okadaic Acid; Oxazoles; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Sialyltransferases; Sulfonamides; Tumor Cells, Cultured