Embryonic fissure and photoreceptor differentiation in the eye of adult Garra rufa Heckel 1843 (Cyprinidae, Teleostei).

The retina of the adult teleost Garra rufa retains a curved, open embryonic fissure indicating an asymmetrical postembryonic retinal growth. Undifferentiated, oval photoreceptors are observed on both sides of the middle of the fissure with their larger diameter running parallel to the fissure to which they may attach by desmosomes. They detach from the fissure, rotate to become perpendicular to it and begin an active process of differentiation as they slide along the temporal side of the outer half of the fissure. This process is divided into stages for simplicity. The photoreceptors develop stumpy inner segments extending into a ventricular space that appears between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors. Calycal processes arise from the inner segments and the distal centriole of each photoreceptor forms a connecting cilium. The proximal centriole is retained for some time after the outer segment develops. The formation of rod spherules and cone pedicles takes place almost concomitantly with the outer segments. Double cones appear first as single cones before pairing. One or more of the principal cone mitochondria accumulate electron-dense material and merge to form the ellipsosome. The retinal pigment epithelium undergoes a parallel differentiation. The developmental events described in the present work conform those recorded in embryonic teleostean retinas.

Purification of a new dimeric protein from Cliona vastifica sponge, which specifically blocks a non-L-type calcium channel in mouse duodenal myocytes.

Marine sponges are synthesizing a wide variety of peptidic and organic molecules with biological activities. Multiple-step purification of Cliona vastifica extract led to a new dimeric peptide (mapacalcine; M(r) = 19,064) that is composed of two homologous chains, each containing nine cysteins. This protein has been found to selectively block a new calcium conductance characterized in mouse duodenal myocytes with an IC50 value of approximately 0.2 microM. The mapacalcine-sensitive current was a non-L-type calcium current activated from a holding potential of -80 mV that persisted during stimulation of the cell at high frequencies (0.1-0.2 Hz) within 5-10 min. Time constants of inactivation were similar for both L-type and non-L-type calcium currents. The non-L-type calcium current of duodenal myocytes was not blocked by the pharmacological agents specific for N-, L-, P-, or Q-type calcium channels. Mapacalcine was unable to block T-type calcium current in portal vein myocytes as well as voltage-dependent potassium currents and calcium-activated chloride currents in duodenal and portal vein cells. Mapacalcine did not affect caffeine-induced calcium responses, indicating that it did not interfere with intracellular calcium stores. Competition experiments on mouse intestinal membranes showed that mapacalcine did not interact with dihydropyridines receptors. These data suggest that mapacalcine may be a specific inhibitor of a new type of calcium current, first identified in duodenal myocytes.

Identification and properties of very high affinity brain membrane-binding sites for a neurotoxic phospholipase from the taipan venom.

Four new monochain phospholipases were purified from the Oxyuranus scutellatus (taipan) venom. Three of them were highly toxic when injected into mice brain. One of these neurotoxic phospholipases, OS2, was iodinated and used in binding experiments to demonstrate the presence of two families of specific binding sites in rat brain synaptic membranes. The affinities were exceptionally high, Kd1 = 1.5 +/- 0.5 pM and Kd2 = 45 +/- 10 pM, and the maximal binding capacities were Bmax 1 = 1 +/- 0.4 and Bmax 2 = 3 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg of protein. Both binding sites were sensitive to proteolysis and demonstrated to be located on proteins of Mr 85,000-88,000 and 36,000-51,000 by cross-linking and photoaffinity labeling techniques. The binding of 125I-OS2 to synaptic membranes was dependent on Ca2+ ions and enhanced by Zn2+ ions which inhibit phospholipase activity. Competition experiments have shown that, except for beta-bungarotoxin, a number of known toxic snake or bee phospholipases have very high affinities for the newly identified binding sites. A good correlation (r = 0.80) was observed between toxicity and affinity but not between phospholipase activity and affinity.

A novel high affinity class of Ca2+ channel blockers.

Benzolactams (HOE 166 and analogs) form a new class of molecules acting on the 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels. The main binding properties of HOE 166 and analogs to rabbit skeletal muscle membranes are as follows. (i) The compounds have a specific binding site to which they associate with a high affinity (0.25 nM for HOE 166). (ii) Unlabeled HOE 166 and analogs completely inhibit 1,4-dihydropyridine binding [(+)-[3H]PN 200-110] in a competitive way. (iii) Affinity values measured for HOE 166 inhibition of (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 (K0.5 = 0.25 nM and K1 = 0.55 nM) and of [3H]HOE 166 binding (K0.5 = 0.5 nM) are in good agreement. They also fit with results from direct binding experiments with tritiated HOE 166 (Kd = 0.27 nM) and from kinetic experiments (Kd = 0.39 nM). (iv) HOE 166 completely inhibits the specific binding of other classes of Ca2+ channel antagonists such as phenylalkylamines [(-)[3H] desmethoxyverapamil], benzothiazepines (d-cis-[3H]diltiazem), diphenylbutylpiperidines ([3H]fluspirilene), and [3H]bepridil. In all these cases the binding inhibition is of a noncompetitive nature. (v) The maximum binding capacity for [3H]HOE 166 binding to transverse tubule membranes, 65 pmol/mg of protein, is the same as that found for other classes of Ca2+ channel antagonists. 45Ca2+ uptake experiments performed with the rat aortic cell line A7r5 and the insulin-secreting cell line RINm5F demonstrate that HOE 166 and analogs fully inhibit the 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive 45Ca2+ influx elicited by depolarization. There is a good correlation between inhibitory potencies of compounds in the HOE 166 series measured on (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding to A7r5 membranes and on the activity of Ca2+ channels followed by 45Ca2+ fluxes with the same cells. Structure-function relationships of HOE 166 and analogs for Ca2+ channel blockade in A7r5 and RINm5F cells were also in good correlation. Finally, voltage-clamp experiments confirmed that voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels are completely blocked by 100 nM HOE 166 even at a membrane potential held at -80 mV.

Identification and affinity labeling of very high affinity binding sites for the phenylalkylamine series of Ca+ channel blockers in the Drosophila nervous system.

The interaction of putative Ca2+ channels of Drosophila head membranes with molecules of the phenylalkylamine series was studied from binding experiments using (-)-[3H]D888 and (+/-)-[3H]verapamil. These ligands recognize a single class (Kd = 0.1-0.4 nM; Bmax = 1600-1800 fmol/mg of protein) of very high affinity binding sites. The most potent molecule in the phenylalkylamine series was (-)-verapamil with a Kd value as exceptionally low as 4.7 pM. Molecules in the benzothiazepine and diphenylbutylpiperidine series of Ca2+ channel blockers as well as bepridil inhibited (-)-[3H]D888 binding in a competitive way with Kd values between 12 and 190 nM, suggesting a close correlation, as in the mammalian system, between these receptor sites and those recognizing phenylalkylamines. A tritiated (arylazido)phenylalkylamine with high affinity for the Drosophila head membranes, phenylalkylamine receptor Kd = 0.24 nM), was used in photoaffinity experiments. A protein of Mr 135,000 +/- 5,000 was specifically labeled after ultraviolet irradiation.

Receptors for diphenylbutylpiperidine neuroleptics in brain, cardiac, and smooth muscle membranes. Relationship with receptors for 1,4-dihydropyridines and phenylalkylamines and with Ca2+ channel blockade.

Neuroleptic molecules of the diphenylbutylpiperidine series (DPBP), such as fluspirilene, penfluridol, pimozide and clopimozide, antagonize binding of (-)[3H]desmethoxyverapamil ((-)[3H]D888) and (+)[3H]PN 200-110 to rabbit brain, heart and smooth muscle membranes. The diphenylbutylpiperidine binding site in all these tissues is distinct but is allosterically related to the 1,4-dihydropyridine binding site and to the phenylalkylamine binding site. High and low affinity binding sites for (-)D888 were identified. (-)[3H]D888 binding at both types of sites was inhibited following the saturation of a single type of diphenylbutylpiperidine binding site. Half-maximal inhibition (K0.5) of brain, heart and smooth muscle membranes binding by different diphenylbutylpiperidines was in the range of 10-100 nM. These K0.5 values were one to two orders of magnitude higher than those found for the high affinity diphenylbutylpiperidine receptor in skeletal muscle membranes. The K0.5 values found in binding experiments in smooth muscle were similar to the (IC50) values for half-maximal inhibition by diphenylbutylpiperidine of voltage-dependent 45Ca2+ influx through the slow Ca2+ channel.

Regulation of calcium channels in aortic muscle cells by protein kinase C activators (diacylglycerol and phorbol esters) and by peptides (vasopressin and bombesin) that stimulate phosphoinositide breakdown.

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels of the aortic cell line A7r5 were studied using 45Ca2+ flux experiments. Ca2+ channels which have been studied belong to the L-type and are very sensitive to inhibitors and activators in the 1,4-dihydropyridine series as well as to (-)desmethoxyverapamil and d-cis-diltiazem. L-type Ca2+ channels in these smooth muscle cells are not affected by cyclic 8-bromo-AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. However, the activity of these channels is strongly depressed after treatment with diacylglycerols (1-oleyl 2-acetylglycerol and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol). Phorbol esters, which like diacylglycerols are well-known activators of protein kinase C (the Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent enzyme), inhibit 70% of Ca2+ channel activity (K0.5 = 25 nM for phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and K0.5 = 200 nM for phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate). Phorbol esters that are inactive on kinase C are without effect on Ca2+ channel activity. [Arg8]Vasopressin and bombesin, two peptides that are well known for their action on polyphosphoinositide metabolism, inhibit Ca2+ channel activity to the same extent as active phorbol esters (65-70%). Oxytocin has the same type of effect presumably by acting at the V1-receptor. Both effects of [Arg8]vasopressin and oxytocin are suppressed by [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-diethylpropionic acid)4-valine]arginine vasopressin, a specific vasopressin antagonist at the V1-receptor.

A polypeptide toxin from the coral Goniopora. Purification and action on Ca2+ channels.

A polypeptide toxin has been isolated from Goniopora coral with an Mr of 19 000. Goniopora toxin has the following properties: it induces contraction of guinea pig ileum and this contraction is prevented by Ca2+-channel blockers; it stimulates 45Ca2+ influx in cardiac cells in culture and this stimulation is abolished by Ca2+-channel blockers; it prevents binding of (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 to the Ca2+-channel protein of skeletal muscle T-tubule membranes. All these results taken together suggest that Goniopora toxin is a Ca2+-channel activator.