Glutamate Transport - Relative Rates of Net Uptake and Heteroexchange

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Glutamate Transport - Relative Rates of Net Uptake and Heteroexchange Glutamate transport - relative rates of net uptake and heteroexchange by Zhou Yun 周 云 Master thesis Programme for Cell Biology Department of Molecular Biosciences University of Oslo 1 Table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION METABOLISM OF GLUTAMATE GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTERS GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTER STRUCTURE MECHANISM OF GLUTAMATE UPTAKE ANION CONDUCTANCE IN GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTERS TWO DIFFERENT MODES OF SUBSTRATE TRANSLOCATION (EXCHANGE AND NET UPTAKE) WHICH EAAT-SUBTYPE AND WHICH CELLULAR COMPONENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST BRAIN GLUTAMATE UPTAKE MATERIALS AND METHODS MATERIALS ANIMALS GEL FILTRATION PREPARATION OF RECONSITUTION MIXTURE RECONSTITUTION OF GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTERS INTO LIPOSOMES UPTAKE REACTION FOR RADIOACTIVE AMINO ACID FLUORESCENCE MEASUREMENT RESULTS TEST OF RECONSITUTED TRANSPORTERS UNDER CONDITIONS FAVOURING NET UPTAKE OR HETEROCHANGE LEAKAGE OF GLUTAMATE FROM THE LIPOSOMES UNDERESTIMATION OF THE RELATIVE RATE OF NET UPTAKE IMPORTANCE OF ANIONS D-ASPARTATE VERSUS L-GLUTAMATE RATES OF EXCHANGE AND NET UPTAKE AT SHORTER INCUBATION TIMES AND HIGHER EXTERNAL SUBSTRATE CONCENTRATIONS EFFECTS OF PCBS AND ARACHIDONIC ACID ON TRANSPORTER FUNCTION 2 DISCUSSION THE ADVANTAGE OF THE LIPOSOME ASSAY THE INTEGRITY OF THE LIPOSOME WITH RESPECT TO GLUTAMATE TRANSPORT-ASSOCIATED CHARGE TRANSFER AFFECTS NET UPTAKE AND EXCHANGE DIFFERENTLY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE LIPID MEMBRANE FOR TRANSFORTER FUNCTION WHY TERMINALS IN HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES TAKE UP AS MUCH EXTERNAL SUBSTRATE AS GLIA DURING IN VITRO INCUBATION WITH SUBSTRATE IN SPITE OF FEWER TRANSPORTERS CONCLUSION REFERENCES 3 Abstract Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), and is inactivated by cellular uptake, mostly catalyzed by glutamate (excitatory amino acid) transporter subtype number 2 (EAAT2). EAAT2 protein is mostly found in astroglia (>80%), but there is also some in axon terminals (about 10 %). However, glia and nerve terminals in hippocampal slice preparations accumulate D-aspartate (D-Asp; an EAAT2 substrate) with similar rates when incubated in vitro. This implies that there is an unexplained mismatch between the distribution of EAAT2 transporter protein and the distribution of transport activity. The main aim of the present study has been to find out if the disproportionately high rate of uptake into terminals can be explained by differences in the relative rates of net uptake and of heteroexchange. To do this, glutamate transporters were solubilized and reconstituted in artificial cell membranes (liposomes), and the liposomes were tested for their usefulness as a model: Uptake of external substrate required either internal K+ or internal Na+ and glutamate, and liposomes that were preloaded with glutamate were sufficiently tight to keep most of the internal glutamate for the duration of the assay. In agreement with the notion that the uptake is relatively robust to changes in the lipid environment, addition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) had no effect, while arachidonic acid inhibited exchange similar to net uptake. Uptake by K+-loaded liposomes was stimulated by addition of a K+ ionophore (valinomycin), but the combination of permeant anions and valinomycin appeared to cause rapid dissipation of driving forces. When the liposomes were studied in the presence of valinomycin, K+-loaded liposomes performed better than liposomes preloaded with Na+ and glutamate, suggesting that net uptake is faster; at least at non-saturating substrate concentrations (< 5 μM). In conclusion, the findings may imply that D-Asp uptake into terminals in hippocampal slice preparations is due to net uptake, and that direct uptake into terminals is more important than currently recognized. 4 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors Professor Niels Christian Danbolt at The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, UiO, and Professor Olav Sand at The Department of Molecular Biosciences, UiO. I am very grateful to my internal supervisor Professor Olav Sand and student adviser Torill Rørtveit for providing me the opportunity to learn more about neuroscience. As a member in Niels C. Danbolt’s group, I have obtained basic knowledge about neurotransporters and learnt laboratory practices under the enthusiastic teaching by Professor Niels C. Danbolt. More importantly, I have learnt the attitudes as a researcher in science here. It has been both educational and fun to be a member of a research group with so many gifted colleagues. I would also like to thank Nina Julia Grutle for our collaboration, and Silvia Holmseth and Knut P. Lehre for the assistance. I am very grateful to my parents for supporting me being here. Also, I would like to thank my friend Joseph Fredrick for the encouragement. The work included in this thesis has been performed at the Department of Anatomy of the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo. 5 Abbreviations AA: arachidonic acid CNS: central nervous system DHK: dihydrokainic acid DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide DTT: dithiothreitol EAAC1: excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (glutamate transporter) (Kanai and Hediger, 1992) EAAT: excitatory amino acid transporter (glutamate transporter) GABA: gamma-aminobutyric acid GDH: L-glutamic dehydrogenase GLAST: glutamate-aspartate transporter (glutamate transporter) (Storck et al., 1992) GLT1: glutamate transporter 1 (Pines et al., 1992) HEPES: N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N’-2-ethanesulfonic acid KPi: potassium phosphate buffer with pH 7.4 NaPi: sodium phosphate buffer with pH 7.4 PAG: phosphate activated glutaminase PCB: polychlorinated biphenyl PMSF: phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride PMB-TBOA: PMB-threo-beta-benzyloxyasparate (Shimamoto et al., 1998) 6 Introduction In the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter acting on a number of different receptors (both ionotropic and metabotropic). The receptors are widely expressed, and one or more receptor subtype is found on most (if not all) cell surfaces in the CNS. As the receptors can only be activated by glutamate from the extracellular side, it follows that glutamate is inactive from a transmitter point of view as long as it is intracellular. Consequently, maintenance of a low extracellular concentration is essential for normal synaptic transmission and for protecting cells from the excessive activation of glutamate receptors, known as "excitotoxicity" (for review, see Danbolt, 2001; Ryan and Vandenberg, 2005). This, however, is not a trivial matter considering the large amounts of glutamate in brain tissue, in the order of 10 mmol per kg tissue (for review, see Danbolt, 2001). The highest concentrations are found inside nerve terminals (Ottersen et al., 1992), whereas the concentrations in the extracellular fluid are normally around 3-4 μM (for review, see Danbolt, 2001). This means that the concentration gradient of glutamate across the plasma membranes is several thousand fold. Extracellular glutamate can only be removed by cellular uptake catalyzed by the glutamate transporter proteins (for review, see Danbolt, 2001). Metabolism of glutamate The metabolism of glutamine and glutamate in the brain is compartmentalized (Fig. 1). Glutamate is taken up into astrocytes after synaptic release, and is converted to glutamine by means of the astrocyte-specific enzyme glutamine synthetase (for review, see Broman et al., 2000). Glutamine does not have the ability to activate glutamate receptors, and can be safely released to the extracellular fluid via the system N glutamine transporter SN1 (Chaudhry et al., 1999). Extracellular glutamine is taken up by neurons by specific glutamine transporters (e.g. SAT1 and SAT2) and converted to glutamate by means of phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG) or used in other metabolic processes (for review, see McKenna et al., 2000; Danbolt, 2001). 7 Fig. 1. The glutamate-glutamine cycle. Glutamate is released from nerve-endings and also from astroglia (not shown). After release, it is taken up by astroglia (1), by terminals (2) and by dendritic spines (3). The relative importance of 1 - 3 is discussed in the main text. Astroglia converts glutamate to glutamine and releases it (5). Terminals take up glutamine (6), convert it to glutamate and pack it into synaptic vesicles (4). From Danbolt, 2001. Glutamate transporters There are several transporter proteins that are able to translocate glutamate through membranes (for review, see Danbolt, 2001). These include intracellular transporters in mitochondria ("mitochondrial glutamate transporters": aralar1; citrin; GC1 and GC2; genes slc25a12, slc25a13, slc25a22 and slc25a18, respectively) and in synaptic vesicles ("vesicular glutamate transporters": VGLUT1-3; genes slc17a6, slc17a7 and slc17a8). In the plasma membrane, other transporters are found. These include transporters for neutral amino acids (e.g. ASCT2; gene slc1a5) and for dicarboxylates (e.g. NaC3; gene slc13a5), which are able to transport glutamate with low affinity. There is also a glutamate-cystine exchanger (xCT; gene slc7a11). In spite of this, the term "glutamate transporter" (or "high affinity glutamate transporter") is usually used as a synonym for the five "Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters" (EAATs): EAAT1 (GLAST; Storck et al., 1992; gene: slc1a3), EAAT2 (GLT1; Pines et al., 1992; gene: slc1a2), EAAT3 (EAAC1; Kanai and Hediger, 1992; gene: slc1a1), EAAT4 (Fairman et al., 1995; gene: slc1a6), and EAAT5 (Arriza et al., 1997; gene: slc1a7). These transporter
Recommended publications
  • Functional Comparisons of Three Glutamate Transporter Subtypes Cloned from Human Motor Cortex
    The Journal of Neuroscience, September 1994, 14(g): 5559-5569 Functional Comparisons of Three Glutamate Transporter Subtypes Cloned from Human Motor Cortex Jeffrey L. Arriza, Wendy A. Fairman, Jacques I. Wadiche, Geoffrey H. Murdoch, Michael P. Kavanaugh, and Susan G. Amara The Vellum Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201 Reuptake plays an important role in regulating synaptic and peripheral tissues(Christensen, 1990) and in the nervous system extracellular concentrations of glutamate. Three glutamate (Kanner and Schuldiner, 1987; Nicholls and Attwell, 1990). transporters expressed in human motor cortex, termed Transport serves a special function in the brain by mediating EAATl , EAATP, and EAAT3 (for excitatory amino acid trans- the reuptake of glutamate releasedat excitatory synapses.Glu- porter), have been characterized by their molecular cloning tamate can be reaccumulated from the synaptic cleft by the and functional expression. Each EAAT subtype mRNA was presynaptic nerve terminal (Eliasof and Werblin, 1993) or by found in all human brain regions analyzed. The most prom- glial uptake of transmitter diffusing from the cleft (Nicholls and inent regional variation in message content was in cerebel- Attwell, 1990; Schwartz and Tachibana, 1990; Barbour et al., lum where EAATl expression predominated. EAATl and 199 1). The activities of neuronal and glial transporters influence EAAT3 mRNAs were also expressed in various non-nervous the temporal and spatial dynamics of the chemical signal in tissues, whereas expression of EAATS was largely restricted other neurotransmitter systems(Hille, 1992; Bruns et al., 1993; to brain. The kinetic parameters and pharmacological char- Isaacsonet al., 1993), but such effects have not yet been dem- acteristics of transport mediated by each EAAT subtype onstrated at glutamatergic synapses(Hestrin et al., 1990; Sar- were determined in transfected mammalian cells by radio- antis et al., 1993).
    [Show full text]
  • OCD Candidate Gene SLC1A1/EAAT3 Impacts Basal Ganglia-Mediated Activity and Stereotypic Behavior
    OCD candidate gene SLC1A1/EAAT3 impacts basal ganglia-mediated activity and stereotypic behavior Isaac D. Zikea, Muhammad O. Chohanb, Jared M. Kopelmanc,d,e, Emily N. Krasnowb, Daniel Flickerf,g,h,i, Katherine M. Nautiyalj,k, Michael Bubserl, Christoph Kellendonkm,n,o,p, Carrie K. Jonesa,l, Gregg Stanwoodq, Kenji Fransis Tanakar, Holly Mooreb, Susanne E. Ahmaric,d,e,1, and Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeeleb,m,n,1 aDepartment of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232; bNew York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032; cDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260; dCenter for Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260; eCenter for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260; fHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114; gCenter for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114; hDepartment of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; iBroad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142; jDepartment of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032; kDivision of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032; lVanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232; mDepartment of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032; nSackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032; oDepartment of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032; pDivision of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032; qDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL 32304; and rDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan Edited by Susan G.
    [Show full text]
  • Neuronal and Glial Mechanisms Underlying BBB Dysfunction-Induced Epileptogenesis
    Neuronal and Glial Mechanisms Underlying BBB Dysfunction-Induced Epileptogenesis Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of “DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY” by Yaron David Submitted to the Senate of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev November 2011 Beer-Sheva Neuronal and Glial Mechanisms Underlying BBB Dysfunction-Induced Epileptogenesis Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of “DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY” by Yaron David Submitted to the Senate of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Approved by the advisor_________ Approved by the Dean of the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies_______ November 2011 Beer-Sheva This work was carried out under the supervision of Professor Alon Friedman The department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. First and foremost, I would like to thank my mentor, Prof. Alon Friedman, who offered an opportunity to a young student who knew absolutely nothing in the field of neuroscience. Your enthusiasm for the pursuit of knowledge is contagious. I also thank you for being a friend. I would like to thanks all those people I encountered throughout the years: Oren Tomkins who brought me to the lab. Uwe Heinemann who kindly opened the gates of the Institute fur Physiologie, in Berlin for me. Sebastian Ivens, for teaching me electrophysiology and being a good friend. Daniela Kaufer and Luisa P. Flores from UC Berkley, without whom I am sure I wouldn‘t have any molecular studies to present. Ilya Fleidervish, with whom every hour is like a semester of teaching. Maya Ketzef, a good friend which never ceases to help me and others.
    [Show full text]
  • Neurochemical Investigation of Locally Induced Epilepsy And
    Neurochemical Investigation of Locally Induced Epilepsy and Subsequent Oxidative Damage Using Microdialysis Sampling By Amanda Marie Furness B.S., B.A., Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA, 51104 Submitted to the graduate degree program in Chemistry and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Chair: Susan M. Lunte Elias K. Michaelis Michael Johnson Bob Dunn Mario Rivera Date Defended: January, 31, 2017 The dissertation committee for Amanda Marie Furness certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Neurochemical Investigation of Locally Induced Epilepsy and Subsequent Oxidative Damage Using Microdialysis Sampling Chairperson: Susan M. Lunte Date Approved: February, 24, 2017 ii Abstract Amanda Marie Furness, Ph.D. R.N. Adams Institute for Bioanalytical Chemistry Department of Chemistry, January 2017 The University of Kansas The goal of this research was to develop and understand an anesthetized, multiple-seizure rat model for local epilepsy. Local seizures are not as well understood as global seizures due to their specificity and unpredictability. Furthermore, patients are diagnosed with epilepsy after experiencing two or more unprovoked seizures. In this model, two separate seizure episodes were induced by locally administering the epileptic agent 3-mercaptopropionic acid through a microdialysis probe to the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Upon development of the model, attenuation in glutamate release was observed in the second seizure stimulation. To investigate neurochemical and biochemical pathways which may be responsible for the glutamate diminution, the perfusion fluid was spiked with either glucose, lactate, or dihydrokainic acid. Additionally, as it is well known that high levels of extracellular glutamate can result in excitotoxicity, neuronal staining was performed to determine the neuronal viability after the induction of the first seizure.
    [Show full text]
  • Tocris製品30%Offキャンペーン価格表(2021/7/5~2021/8/31)
    TOCRIS製品30%OFFキャンペーン価格表(2021/7/5~2021/8/31) (メーカーコード順) 希望納⼊価格 キャンペーン価格 コードNo.メーカーコード 英名 容量 (円) (円) 537-31171 0101/100 DL-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric Acid [DL-AP4] 100mg 24,000 16,800 - 0102/10 D(-)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric Acid [D-AP4] 10mg 52,000 36,400 - 0102/50 D(-)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric Acid [D-AP4] 50mg 222,000 155,400 - 0103/1 L(+)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric Acid [L-AP4] 1mg 18,000 12,600 531-26804 0103/10 L(+)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric Acid [L-AP4] 10mg 46,000 32,200 533-26803 0103/50 L(+)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric Acid [L-AP4] 50mg 203,000 142,100 - 0104/10 DL-AP7 10mg 30,000 21,000 - 0104/50 DL-AP7 50mg 120,000 84,000 - 0105/10 DL-AP5 10mg 20,000 14,000 530-57943 0105/50 DL-AP5 50mg 81,000 56,700 - 0106/1 D-AP5 1mg 15,000 10,500 531-26843 0106/10 D-AP5 10mg 39,000 27,300 535-26846 0106/100 D-AP5 100mg 235,000 164,500 539-26844 0106/50 D-AP5 50mg 174,000 121,800 - 0107/10 L-AP5 10mg 54,000 37,800 - 0107/50 L-AP5 50mg 235,000 164,500 514-20993 0109/10 (-)-Bicuculline methobromide 10mg 28,000 19,600 518-20991 0109/50 (-)-Bicuculline methobromide 50mg 126,000 88,200 - 0111/1 Dihydrokainic acid 1mg 17,000 11,900 - 0111/10 Dihydrokainic acid 10mg 42,000 29,400 - 0111/50 Dihydrokainic acid 50mg 189,000 132,300 532-28291 0112/50 gamma-D-Glutamylglycine 50mg 38,000 26,600 539-26861 0114/50 N-Methyl-D-aspartic Acid [NMDA] 50mg 24,000 16,800 535-26863 0114/500 N-Methyl-D-aspartic Acid [NMDA] 500mg 100,000 70,000 533-31151 0125/100 DL-AP3 100mg 30,000 21,000 512-21011 0130/50 (+)-Bicuculline 50mg 47,000 32,900 535-57954 0131/10 (-)-Bicuculline
    [Show full text]
  • FROM DIAGNOSIS to THERAPY by Reety Arora Bachelors in Engineerin
    MERKEL CELL POLYOMAVIRUS POSITIVE MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA – FROM DIAGNOSIS TO THERAPY by Reety Arora Bachelors in Engineering, Panjab University, 2007 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Program in Integrative Molecular Biology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Pittsburgh 2012 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE This dissertation was presented by Reety Arora It was defended on May 4, 2012 and approved by Jeffrey L.Brodsky, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biological Sciences James M. Pipas, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Saleem A. Khan, Ph. D., Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Thomas E. Smithgall, Ph. D., Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Dissertation Advisor: Yuan Chang, MD, Professor, Department of Pathology ii Copyright © by Reety Arora 2012 iii MERKEL CELL POLYOMAVIRUS POSITIVE MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA - FROM DIAGNOSIS TO THERAPY Reety Arora University of Pittsburgh, 2012 Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) is one of the newer members of the polyomavirus family, recently discovered as clonally integrated into the genomes of a subset of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). MCV is the first polyomavirus that is widely accepted to cause a human cancer and its identification has resulted in a paradigm shift in the understanding of MCC biology. In the vast majority of the population, MCV is a harmless member of the normal human microbial flora, but can initiate an aggressive cancer if it integrates into the host genome and acquires a precise set of viral mutations that result in replication incompetence (in a susceptible host).
    [Show full text]
  • Calcium Signaling of Glial Cells Along Mammalian Axons
    The Journal of Neuroscience, October 1993, 73(10): 4229-4245 Calcium Signaling of Glial Cells along Mammalian Axons Steve Krieglerl and S. Y. Chiu2 ‘Biophysics Training Program and 2Department of Neurophysiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Glial [Ca2+li signaling was examined in a mammalian white et al., 1990; Barres, 1991) raises the possibility of ligand-me- matter lacking neuronal cell bodies and synapses. Rat optic diated, neuron-glial signaling. Different parts of the neuron can nerves (postnatal days 2 and 7) were stained with calcium signal glia. One is the presynaptic terminal that is encapsulated indicator dyes and confocal images of [Ca2+li were recorded by glial processes.The concentration ofglutamate at the synaptic at -25°C or -37°C. Glial cell bodies showed spiking or sus- cleft can reach - 1 mM during synaptic transmissions,and even tained [Ca2+], response to bath-applied glutamate (SO-500 though the releasingneuronal membrane directly faces another PM). The metabotropic glutamate agonist frans-ACPD elic- neuron rather than glia, someglutamate can leak out and signal ited transient, sometimes spiking, [Ca2+],responses, where- the glial membranesflanking the synapse(Dani et al., 1992). as ionotropic agonists kainate and AMPA elicited a 6,7-dini- Another part of the neuron that might signal glia is the axon. troquinoxaline-2,3-dione-sensitive, mostly sustained [Caz+li In the mammalian CNS, there are intimate contacts between response. Transient and spiking glial [Ca*+& responses also axons and a variety of glia, including the myelinating oligoden- were elicited by adenosine and ATP (0. l-l 00 PM). Repetitive drocytes, and O-2A glial progenitor cells and astrocytes that nerve stimulation (1 O-20 Hz) elicited [Caz+li spiking in 15- send processesto the axonal surface (Miller et al., 1989; Raff, 25% of glial cells in postnatal day 7 nerves, with spiking 1989).
    [Show full text]
  • Neurodegeneration Product Guide | Edition 2
    Neurodegeneration Product Guide | Edition 2 Passion Flower Passiflora caerulea A source of Harmane Contents by Research Area: • Neurodegeneration • Alzheimer’s Disease • Parkinson’s Disease • Huntington’s Disease Tocris Product Guide Series Neurodegeneration Research Contents Page Neurodegeneration 3 Alzheimer’s Disease 5 Parkinson’s Disease 12 Huntington’s Disease 17 List of Acronyms 23 Neurodegeneration Research Products 24 Further Reading 34 Introduction Neurodegenerative diseases are highly prevalent disorders for which the greatest risk factor is increasing age. The pathogenesis of these disorders is yet to be fully understood, and current research efforts are focused on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible, with the hope that drugs that prevent or reverse disease progres- sion will be discovered. Three of the major neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, which are discussed in this product guide. Research into these disorders has so far yielded few drugs that have proven effective in clinical trials, and many current therapies are targeted at attenuating disease symptoms, rather than disease progression. Due to the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, they constitute a significant human, societal and economic burden. The global financial cost far outweighs other disorders such as stroke, musculoskeletal disease, heart disease or cancer. Given the aging population, the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders is predicted to rise; early diagnosis and effec- tive treatment is of paramount importance, and these rely on a greater understanding of the mechanisms that underlie each disorder. Included in this guide are key compounds used in the study of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, as well as illustrative schematics of the molecular mechanisms thought to contribute to each disease.
    [Show full text]
  • Astrocytic Dysfunction in Epileptogenesis: Consequence of Altered Potassium and Glutamate Homeostasis?
    10588 • The Journal of Neuroscience, August 26, 2009 • 29(34):10588–10599 Neurobiology of Disease Astrocytic Dysfunction in Epileptogenesis: Consequence of Altered Potassium and Glutamate Homeostasis? Yaron David,1,2 Luisa P. Cacheaux,3 Sebastian Ivens,5 Ezequiel Lapilover,5 Uwe Heinemann,5 Daniela Kaufer,3,4 and Alon Friedman1,2,5 Departments of 1Physiology and 2Neurosurgery, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel, 3Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and 4Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-3140, and 5Institute of Neurophysiology, Neurocure Research Center, Charite´ Universita¨tsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany Focal epilepsy often develops following traumatic, ischemic, or infectious brain injury. While the electrical activity of the epileptic brain is well characterized, the mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis are poorly understood. We have recently shown that in the rat neocor- tex, long-lasting breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) or direct exposure of the neocortex to serum-derived albumin leads to rapid upregulation of the astrocytic marker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), followed by delayed (within 4–7 d) development of an epileptic focus. We investigated the role of astrocytes in epileptogenesis in the BBB-breakdown and albumin models of epileptogenesis. We found similar, robust changes in astrocytic gene expression in the neocortex within hours following treatment with deoxycholic acid (BBB breakdown) or albumin. These changes predict reduced clearance capacity for both extracellular glutamate and potassium. Elec- trophysiological recordings in vitro confirmed the reduced clearance of activity-dependent accumulation of both potassium and gluta- mate 24 h following exposure to albumin.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 6: the Diverse Roles of L-Glutamic Acid in Brain
    6 THE DIVERSE ROLES OF L-GLUTAMIC ACID IN BRAIN SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION JOSEPH T. COYLE MICHAEL L. LESKI ANDJOHNH.MORRISON L-Glutamic acid (Glu) is accepted as the major excitatory AMPA-KAINATE RECEPTORS neurotransmitter in the nervous system, although other acidic amino acids such as L-aspartic acid and L-homocys- Glutamate receptors mediating fast EPSCs have been distin- teic acid may also participate (1). Nevertheless, ongoing guished from the voltage-dependent NMDA receptors research reveals that the functions of Glu are much more through the effects of conformationally restricted agonists. diverse and complex than simply generating excitatory post- The former glutamate-gated ion channels (iGluRs) have synaptic currents (EPSCs). It plays a major role in brain been segregated into two types: the ␣-amino-3-hydroxy-5- development, affecting neuronal migration, neuronal differ- methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors and entiation, axon genesis, and neuronal survival (2–4). In the KA receptors; however, cloning of the genes that encode mature nervous system, Glu is central to neuroplasticity, in the proteins comprising these iGluRs and the analysis of which there are use-dependent alterations in synaptic effi- their pharmacology and biophysics in various expression cacy as well as changes in synaptic structure. These latter systems indicate that each family of receptors represents actions are intimately implicated in memory and related complex heteromeric proteins consisting of multiple sub- cognitive functions. Finally, persistent or overwhelming ac- units with differential representation resulting in diverse tivation of glutamate-gated ion channels can cause neuronal functional attributes (9). degeneration (5) depending on the circumstances, this oc- The AMPA receptor family consists of four genes that curs by means of necrosis or apoptosis (6).
    [Show full text]
  • Alphabetical Listing of Chemicals
    ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF CHEMICALS Product Description Specific Solvent/ Catalog Number/ A Activity Concentration Package Size (±)- cis, trans -Abscisic acid “cold” Solid ARCD 0555- 250 mg B (5-[1-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl]- ARCD 0555- 500 mg 3 methyl-[2Z,4E]-pentdienoic acid) ARCD 0555- 1 g M.W. 264.3 ARCD 0555- 5 g C CAS # 14375-45-2 ARCD 0555- 30 g Synthetic D (±)- trans, trans Abscisic acid “cold” Solid ARCD 0572- 50 mg (5-[1-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl] ARCD 0572- 250 mg E 3 methyl-[2E,4E]-pentadienoic acid) M.W. 264.3 F CAS # 6755-41-5 Synthetic G Exclusive (+)-Abscisic acid “cold” Solid ARCD 0780- 1 g H M.W. 264.3 ARCD 0780- 10 g Natural, isolated from plant gibberellins I Exclusive Acacetin “cold” Solid ARCD 0752- 10 mg J C16 H12 O5 M.W. 284.26 K CAS # 480-44-4 13 N-Acetoxyphthalimide [1,2- C2] “stable isotope” Ethyl acetate ARCD 1183- 1 mg L M.W. 207.2 in sealed ampoule ARCD 1183- 5 mg Exclusive 1 mg/ml M Acetyl Coenzyme A lithium salt “cold” Solid ARCD 0294- 10 mg (cis,cis,cis,cis -5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraenoyl Coenzyme A lithium salt) ARCD 0294- 25 mg N M.W 809.57 ARCD 0294- 100 mg Shipped in Dry Ice O Acetyl [1- 13 C] Coenzyme A lithium salt “stable isotope” Solid ARCD 1016- 1 mg . C2C21 H38 N7O17 P3S xLi P M.W. 809.57 (free acid) Shipped in Dry Ice Q Exclusive Acetyl [1,2- 13 C] Coenzyme A lithium salt “stable isotope” Solid ARCD 1134- 1 mg .
    [Show full text]
  • This PDF Was Created from the British Library's
    IMAGING SERVICES NORTH Boston Spa, Wetherby West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ www.bl.uk This PDF was created from the British Library’s microfilm copy of the original thesis. As such the images are greyscale and no colour was captured. Due to the scanning process, an area greater than the page area is recorded and extraneous details can be captured. This is the best available copy to Copyright of this thesis rests with its author. ^ ‘ This copy of the thesis has been supplied l on condition that anyone who consults it is « « • * ; utiderstood to recognise that its copyright rests its autlwr and that no quotation from t£e thesis• and no informationrV derived from it y be published without the author’s prior tten consent. J**- Ì i D 72932/?7 ß ■ P ' fZúXs^ Ä 0 { C iT u o f uoNóJn A BIOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION INTO ASPECTS OF THE NEURO ACTIVE AMINO ACID RECEPTOR COMPLEXES IN THE INSECT NERVOUS SYSTEM by Peter Baines, M.A. A thesis submitted to the Council for National Academic Awards in partial fulfilment for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Pesticide Dynamics Section, Department of Chemistry, Pesticides Research and Development, Sir John Cass School of Wellcome Research Laboratories, Science and Technology Ravens Lane, City of London Polytechnic, Berkhamsted, 31, Jewry Street, Herts. London. November, 1986. - i - statement of Advanced Studies Undertaken. Attendance at the course of Neuropharmacology Lectures for postgraduates run by the University of London. Attendance at Neurotox 1985. Attendance at various meetings of the Amino Acid Discussion Group. Publications Baines P., Wilson R.G.
    [Show full text]