digitonin and Neuroblastoma

The critical processes of mitochondrial fission and fusion are regulated by members of the dynamin family of GTPases. Imbalances in mitochondrial fission and fusion contribute to neuronal cell death. For example, increased fission mediated by the dynamin-related GTPase, Drp1, or decreased fusion resulting from inactivating mutations in the OPA1 GTPase, causes neuronal apoptosis and/or neurodegeneration. Recent studies indicate that post-translational processing regulates OPA1 function in non-neuronal cells and moreover, aberrant processing of OPA1 is induced during apoptosis. To date, the post-translational processing of OPA1 during neuronal apoptosis has not been examined. Here, we show that cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) or neuroblastoma cells exposed to pro-apoptotic stressors display a novel N-terminal cleavage of OPA1 which is blocked by either pan-caspase or caspase-8 selective inhibitors. OPA1 cleavage occurs concurrently with mitochondrial fragmentation and cytochrome c release in CGNs deprived of depolarizing potassium (5K condition). Although a caspase-8 selective inhibitor prevents both 5K-induced OPA1 cleavage and mitochondrial fragmentation, recombinant caspase-8 fails to cleave OPA1 in vitro. In marked contrast, either caspase-8 or caspase-3 stimulates OPA1 cleavage in digitonin-permeabilized rat brain mitochondria, suggesting that OPA1 is cleaved by an intermembrane space protease which is regulated by active caspases. Finally, the N-terminal truncation of OPA1 induced during neuronal apoptosis removes an essential residue (K301) within the GTPase domain. These data are the first to demonstrate OPA1 cleavage during neuronal apoptosis and they implicate caspases as indirect regulators of OPA1 processing in degenerating neurons.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Brain; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cells, Cultured; Cerebellum; Cytochromes c; Digitonin; GTP Phosphohydrolases; Humans; Mitochondria; Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Staurosporine

Most mitochondria-based methods used to investigate toxins require the use of relatively large amounts of material and hence compromised sensitivity in assay. We adopted procedures from methods initially developed to diagnose mitochondrial encephalomyopathies and unified these into a single assay. Eukaryotic cell membranes are selectively permeabilized with digitonin to render a system in which mitochondrial respiration can be measured rapidly and with considerable sensitivity. Mitochondria remain intact, uninjured, and in their natural environment where mitochondrial respiration can be measured in situ under physiologically relevant conditions. This approach furthermore allows measurement of toxin effects on individual mitochondrial complexes. Numerous compounds at varying concentrations can be screened for mitochondrial toxicity, while the site of mitochondrial inhibition can be determined simultaneously. We used this assay to investigate, in murine neuroblastoma (N-2alpha) cells, the mitochondrial inhibitory properties of the parkinsonian-inducing proneurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and its neurotoxic monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B)-generated metabolite, the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium species (MPP(+)). Within the time frame of each measurement (15 min), MPTP (< or = 1 mM) did not interfere with in situ mitochondrial respiration. As expected, MPP(+) was found to be a potent Complex I inhibitor but surprisingly also found to inhibit Complex IV. Optimized conditions for performing this assay are provided.

Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Respiration; Digitonin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Mice; Mitochondria; Neuroblastoma; Toxicity Tests

We compared the subcellular localization of FLAG-epitope tagged Types 1 and 2 deiodinases (D1 and D2) transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and mouse neuroblastoma (NB2A) cells. D2 is an integral membrane protein based on resistance to extraction at pH 11 with the NH2 terminus in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy using anti-FLAG and anti-GRP78/BiP antibodies showed the FLAG-D1 signal was found in the periphery of the cells and not co-localized with the ER specific marker GRP78/BiP. On the other hand, FLAG-D2 protein was found in the ER co-localized with the GRP78/BiP protein. These differential distribution patterns indicate subcellular sorting of D1 and D2 is determined by intrinsic protein sequence and can explain the ready access of D2-generated T3 to the nucleus.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gene Expression; Humans; Iodide Peroxidase; Isoenzymes; Kidney; Mice; Microscopy, Confocal; Neuroblastoma; Subcellular Fractions; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The question of whether and to what extent the in vivo cytochrome c oxidase (COX) capacity in mammalian cells exceeds that required to support respiration is still unresolved. In the present work, to address this question, a newly developed approach for measuring the rate of COX activity, either as an isolated step or as a respiratory chain-integrated step, has been applied to a variety of human cell types, including several tumor-derived semidifferentiated cell lines, as well as specialized cells removed from the organism. KCN titration assays, carried out on intact uncoupled cells, have clearly shown that the COX capacity is in low excess (16-40%) with respect to that required to support the endogenous respiration rate. Furthermore, measurements of O2 consumption rate supported by 0.4 mM tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine in antimycin-inhibited uncoupled intact cells have given results that are fully consistent with those obtained in the KCN titration experiments. Similarly, KCN titration assays on digitonin-permeabilized cells have revealed a COX capacity that is nearly limiting (7-22% excess) for ADP + glutamate/malate-dependent respiration. The present observations, therefore, substantiate the conclusion that the in vivo control of respiration by COX is much tighter than has been generally assumed on the basis of experiments carried out on isolated mitochondria. This conclusion has important implications for understanding the role of physiological or pathological factors in affecting the COX threshold.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Electron Transport Complex IV; Glutamic Acid; Humans; Kinetics; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Malates; Mitochondria; Multiple Myeloma; Neuroblastoma; Osteosarcoma; Oxygen Consumption; Potassium Cyanide; Tetramethylphenylenediamine; Tumor Cells, Cultured

A non-invasive microspectrofluorimetric technique was used to investigate experimentally induced changes in cell water volume in single N1E-115 murine neuroblastoma cells, using calcein, a derivative of fluorescein, as a marker of the intracellular water compartment. The osmotic behavior of N1E-115 cells exposed to media of various osmolalities was studied. Exposure to hyperosmotic (up to +28%) or hyposmotic (up to -17%) solutions produced reversible decreases and increases in cell water volume, respectively, which agreed with near-osmometric behavior. Increases in [Ca2+]i produced by exposing the cells to the ionophore ionomycin (1 microM) in isosmotic medium, resulted in a gradual decrease in cell water volume. Cells shrank to 40 +/- 7% (n = 7) below their initial water volume at an initial rate of -1.2 +/- 0.2%/min. It is concluded that N1E-115 cells are endowed with Ca2+-sensitive mechanisms for volume control, which can produce cell shrinkage when activated under isosmotic conditions. Because the technique used for measuring cell water volume changes is new, we describe it in detail. It is based on the principle that relative cell water volume in single cells can be measured by introducing an impermeant probe into cells and measuring its changes in concentration. If the intracellular content of the probe is constant, changes in its concentration reflect changes in cell water volume. Calcein was used as the probe because its fluorescence intensity is directly proportional to its concentration and independent of changes in the concentration of native intracellular ions within the physiological range. Because calcein is two to three times more fluorescent that other fluorophores such as 2,7,-bis-[2-carboxyethyl]-5-[and 6]-carboxyfluorescein or Fura-2, and it is used at its peak excitation and emission wavelengths, it has a better signal to noise ratio and baseline stability than the other dyes. Calcein can also be esterified allowing for cell loading and because of the possibility of reducing the intensity of the excitation light, measurements can be performed producing minimal photodynamic damage. The technique allows for measurements of cell water volume changes of < 5% and it can be applied to single cells which can be grown or affixed to a rigid substratum, e.g., a coverslip.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Digitonin; Fluoresceins; Fluorescent Dyes; Indicators and Reagents; Intracellular Membranes; Mice; Models, Neurological; Neuroblastoma; Osmolar Concentration; Osmosis; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Type C Phospholipases; Water

Synthetic peptides corresponding to the effector domain of the small molecular weight GTP-binding protein Rab3A are known to stimulate exocytosis in various secretory cells. In the present study, we report that Rab3A effector domain peptide (33-48) causes accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) in permeabilized pancreatic acinar cells, hepatocytes, 3T3 fibroblasts, and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. A scrambled peptide of Rab3A had no effect showing specificity of the Rab3A peptide response. No effect was observed in intact cells indicating that the target of the peptide is located intracellularly. We conclude that Rab3 effector domain peptide-induced accumulation of 1,4,5-IP3 is a wide-spread phenomenon, suggesting regulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C by Rab3-like proteins.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Bombesin; Carbachol; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; GTP-Binding Proteins; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; Liver; Male; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Neuroblastoma; Pancreas; Peptide Fragments; rab3 GTP-Binding Proteins; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vasopressins

The feasibility of using a permeabilized preparation of human SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma cells for studies of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) sequestration has been evaluated. Exposure of cells permeabilized with digitonin, streptolysin-O, or the alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus to oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M) for 30 min resulted in a 25-30% reduction in the number of cell surface mAChRs, as monitored by the loss of N[3H]methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) binding sites. The corresponding value for intact cells was 40%. For cells permeabilized with 20 microM digitonin, the Oxo-M-mediated reduction in [3H]NMS binding was time (t1/2 approximately 5 min) and concentration (EC50 approximately 10 microM) dependent and was agonist specific (Oxo-M > bethanechol = arecoline = pilocarpine). In contrast, no reduction in total mAChR number, as monitored by the binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, occurred following Oxo-M treatment. The loss of [3H]NMS sites observed in the presence of Oxo-M was unaffected by omission of either ATP or Ca2+, both of which are required for stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, but could be inhibited by the inclusion of guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate). mAChRs sequestered in response to Oxo-M addition were unmasked when the cells were permeabilized in the presence of higher concentrations of digitonin (80 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Binding Sites; Calcium; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane Permeability; Cytosol; Digitonin; Guanine Nucleotides; Humans; Kinetics; N-Methylscopolamine; Neuroblastoma; Oxotremorine; Phosphatidylinositols; Quinuclidinyl Benzilate; Receptors, Muscarinic; Scopolamine Derivatives; Tumor Cells, Cultured

To examine the possibility that NaF enhances phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PIC) activity in neural tissues by a mechanism independent of a guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gp), we have evaluated the contribution of Gp activation to NaF-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Addition of NaF to intact cells resulted in an increase in the release of inositol phosphates (450% of control values; EC50 of approximately 8 mM). Inclusion of U-73122, an aminosteroid inhibitor of guanine nucleotide-regulated PIC activity in these cells, resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of NaF-stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis (IC50 of approximately 3.5 microM). When added to digitonin-permeabilized cells, NaF or guanosine-5'-O-thiotriphosphate (GTP gamma S) resulted in a three- and sevenfold enhancement, respectively, of inositol phosphate release. In the combined presence of optimal concentrations of NaF and GTP gamma S, inositol phosphate release was less than additive, indicative of a common site of action. Inclusion of 2-5 mM concentrations of guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) fully blocked phosphoinositide hydrolysis elicited by GTP gamma S, whereas that induced by NaF was partially inhibited (65%). However, preincubation of the cells with GDP beta S resulted in a greater reduction in the ability of NaF to stimulate inositol phosphate release (87% inhibition). Both GTP gamma S and NaF-stimulated inositol phosphate release were inhibited by inclusion of 10 microM U-73122 (54-71%). The presence of either NaF or GTP gamma S also resulted in a marked lowering of the Ca2+ requirement for activation of PIC in permeabilized cells. These results indicate that in SK-N-SH cells, little evidence exists for direct stimulation of PIC by NaF and that the majority of inositol phosphate release that occurs in the presence of NaF can be attributed to activation of Gp.

Topics: Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Estrenes; GTP-Binding Proteins; Humans; Hydrolysis; Inositol Phosphates; Neuroblastoma; Phosphatidylinositols; Pyrrolidinones; Sodium Fluoride; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The activation of protein kinase C was investigated in digitonin-permeabilized human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by measuring the phosphorylation of the specific protein kinase C substrate myelin basic protein4-14. The phosphorylation was inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitory peptide PKC19-36 and was associated to a translocation of the enzyme to the membrane fractions of the SH-SY5Y cells. 1,2-Dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol had no effect on protein kinase C activity unless the calcium concentration was raised to concentrations found in stimulated cells (above 100 nM). Calcium in the absence of other activators did not stimulate protein kinase C. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was not dependent on calcium for the activation or the translocation of protein kinase C. The induced activation was sustained for 10 min, and thereafter only a small net phosphorylation of the substrate could be detected. Calcium or dioctanoylglycerol, when applied alone, only caused a minor translocation, whereas in combination a marked translocation was observed. Arachidonic acid (10 microM) enhanced protein kinase C activity in the presence of submaximal concentrations of calcium and dioctanoylglycerol. Quinacrine and p-bromophenacyl bromide did not inhibit calcium- and dioctanoylglycerol-induced protein kinase C activity at concentrations which are considered to be sufficient for phospholipase A2 inhibition.

Topics: Acetophenones; Amino Acid Sequence; Arachidonic Acids; Calcium; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane Permeability; Digitonin; Diglycerides; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Myelin Basic Protein; Neuroblastoma; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A2; Phosphorus; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinase C; Quinacrine; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The contribution of polyphosphoinositides to muscarinic receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover has been evaluated for intact and digitonin-permeabilized human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Addition of carbamoylcholine to [3H]inositol-prelabeled intact cells resulted in a rapid (5-10 sec) loss of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate and the concomitant appearance of radiolabeled inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate, and inositol tetrakisphosphate. In the presence of the agonist, production of these inositol polyphosphates remained enhanced for up to 45 min. Inositol mono- and bisphosphates steadily accumulated in response to receptor activation and in the presence of Li+ comprised greater than 95% of agonist-stimulated inositol phosphate formation at incubation times greater than 5 min. The major inositol bisphosphate isomer was the 1,4-species. Of the two inositol monophosphates produced, radioactivity recovered in inositol-4-monophosphate increased continuously, whereas that in the inositol-1-monophosphate/inositol-3-monophosphate fraction was delayed in appearance but thereafter progressively accumulated. Omission of Ca2+ reduced carbamoylcholine-stimulated inositol phosphate release by greater than 50% but did not significantly influence the ratio of inositol monophosphates formed. Upon addition of atropine to agonist-pretreated cells, radioactivity was lost from inositol phosphates in the following order: inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate greater than inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate greater than inositol-1,4-bisphosphate = inositol-4-monophosphate greater than inositol-1-monophosphate/inositol-3-monophosphate. Although carbamoylcholine addition to digitonin-permeabilized cells also resulted in a sustained release of inositol monophosphates, relatively more inositol-4-monophosphate was produced in these preparations. Omission of ATP from permeabilized cell incubations inhibited carbamoylcholine-stimulated 'inositol phosphate formation by greater than 70%. Whole homogenates of SK-N-SH cells metabolized added inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol-1,4-bisphosphate exclusively to inositol-4-monophosphate, whereas inositol-1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate was degraded to inositol-1- or 3-monophosphate. Measurement of inositol trisphosphate 3'-kinase and 5'-phosphatase activities revealed that, following permeabilization, 3'-kinase activity was diminished, whereas that of 5'-phosphatase was enhanced. The results indicate that occupancy of m

Topics: Calcium; Carbachol; Digitonin; Humans; Inositol Phosphates; Kinetics; Neuroblastoma; Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; Phosphatidylinositols; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Phosphotransferases; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); Tumor Cells, Cultured

A specific method for the rapid assay of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR), either detergent-solubilized or in neuroblastoma cells, is described. This method is also applicable to the assay of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The procedure employs a cell harvestor and microtiter plates, and has the advantage of requiring small quantities of radioligand, microgram quantities of detergent-solubilized cholinergic receptor or less cells. The binding parameters such as the equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) of mAChR and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and inhibition constants (Ki) for antagonists determined by the present method are in excellent agreement with values determined by other methods. This assay procedure for mAChR and nAChR should facilitate the rapid screening of cholinergic agonists/antagonists and also the further purification and characterization of mAChR.

Topics: Animals; Atropine; Bungarotoxins; Digitonin; In Vitro Techniques; Microchemistry; N-Methylscopolamine; Neuroblastoma; Polyethylene Glycols; Quinuclidinyl Benzilate; Receptors, Muscarinic; Receptors, Nicotinic; Scopolamine Derivatives; Solubility

Regulation of cholesterol synthesis and, particularly, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was studied in C-6 glial and neuroblastoma cells. Comparison of rates of incorporation of radioactivity from [14C]-acetate or [3H]mevalonate into digitonin-precipitable sterols indicated that HMG-CoA reductase is the major rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis in both cell types. HMG-CoA reductase exhibited marked changes in enzymatic activity according to the lipoprotein content of the medium. However, significant differences were observed between the two cell types in the quantitative and temporal aspects of this regulation. Thus, in C-6 glial cells, when total serum lipoprotein was removed from the medium, reductase activity increased by 7-8-fold between 2 and 6 h later. After 24 h reductase activity in cells grown in lipoprotein-poor serum was 20-fold higher than in cells grown in regular serum. In neuroblastoma cells, under similar conditions, reductase activity did not increase at all until cells were in lipoprotein-poor serum for more then 6 h, and after 24 h, enzyme activity in cells grown in lipoprotein-poor serum was only approx. 3-fold higher than that in cells grown in regular serum. Addition of total serum lipoprotein caused a rapid decline in enzymatic activity in both cell types, with a t1/2 of 2-2.5 h; however, the onset of the decline was immediate in the glial cells but delayed 1-1.5 h in the neuronal cells. The critical regulatory component in the total lipoprotein fraction was shown to be contained in the low density lipoproteins for the reductase of both cell types. Regulation of reductase by free sterols was shown in both the glial and neuronal cells. However, effects were more marked and evolved more rapidly in the glial cells. The data thus provide important insight into the regulation of cholesterol synthesis in two cell types which are considered to be good models of neurons and glia of developing brain. The occurrence of more marked and more rapid regulation in the glial than in the neuronal cells is compatible with the important role glia play in brain lipid synthesis. The demonstration of dramatic regulation of HMG-CoA reductase by desmosterol, a sterol found in high concentration in brain early in development, may indicate a heretofore unrecognized role for this sterol in the regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis during maturation. 7-Ketocholesterol was shown to induce in C-6 glial cells a rate of decli

Topics: Alcohol Oxidoreductases; Cell Line; Cholesterol; Culture Media; Digitonin; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; Kinetics; Lipoproteins; Neuroblastoma; Neuroglia; Sterols