Role of protein kinase C in the signal pathways that link Na+/K+-ATPase to ERK1/2.

We have shown before that Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase acts as a signal transducer, through protein-protein interactions, in addition to being an ion pump. Interaction of ouabain with the enzyme of the intact cells causes activation of Src, transactivation of EGFR, and activation of the Ras/ERK1/2 cascade. To determine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in this pathway, neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were exposed to ouabain and assayed for translocation/activation of PKC from cytosolic to particulate fractions. Ouabain caused rapid and sustained stimulation of this translocation, evidenced by the assay of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent PKC activities and by the immunoblot analysis of the alpha, delta, and epsilon isoforms of PKC. Dose-dependent stimulation of PKC translocation by ouabain (1-100 microm) was accompanied by no more than 50% inhibition of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and doubling of [Ca(2+)](i), changes that do not affect myocyte viability and are known to be associated with positive inotropic, but not toxic, effects of ouabain in rat cardiac ventricles. Ouabain-induced activation of ERK1/2 was blocked by PKC inhibitors calphostin C and chelerythrine. An inhibitor of phosphoinositide turnover in myocytes also antagonized ouabain-induced PKC translocation and ERK1/2 activation. These and previous findings indicate that ouabain-induced activation of PKC and Ras, each linked to Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase through Src/EGFR, are both required for the activation of ERK1/2. Ouabain-induced PKC translocation and ERK1/2 activation were dependent on the presence of Ca(2+) in the medium, suggesting that the signal-transducing and ion-pumping functions of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase cooperate in activation of these protein kinases and the resulting regulation of contractility and growth of the cardiac myocyte.

Downregulation of cardiac myocyte Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase by adenovirus-mediated expression of an alpha-subunit fragment.

Cultured rat cardiac myocytes and A7r5 cells were transfected with an adenoviral vector used earlier for in vivo expression of functional alpha(2)-isoform of the catalytic subunit of rat Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Expressions of truncated forms of alpha(2), but little or no intact alpha(2), were detected, suggesting the rapid degradation of alpha(2) in these cultured cells. In neonatal myocytes normally containing the alpha(1)- and the alpha(3)-isoforms, expression of the alpha(2)-fragment led to 1) a significant decrease in the level of endogenous alpha(1)-protein and a modest decrease in alpha(3)-protein, 2) decreases in mRNAs of alpha(1) and alpha(3), 3) decrease in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase function measured as ouabain-sensitive Rb(+) uptake, 4) increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration similar to that induced by ouabain, and 5) eventual loss of cell viability. These findings indicate that the alpha(2)-fragment downregulates endogenous Na(+)-K(+)- ATPase most likely by dominant negative interference either with folding and/or assembly of the predominant housekeeping alpha(1)-isoform or with signal transducing function of the enzyme. Demonstration of rise in intracellular Ca(2+) resulting from alpha(1)-downregulation 1) does not support the previously suggested special roles of less abundant alpha(2)- and alpha(3)-isoforms in the regulation of cardiac Ca(2+), 2) lends indirect support to proposals that observed decrease in total Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase of the failing heart may be a mechanism to compensate for impaired cardiac contractility, and 3) suggests the potential therapeutic utility of dominant negative inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

Regulation of Na/K-ATPase beta1-subunit gene expression by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase by ouabain causes hypertrophic growth and regulates several early and late response genes, including that of Na/K-ATPase alpha3 subunit, in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. The aim of this work was to determine whether ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli affect Na/K-ATPase beta1 subunit gene expression. When myocytes were exposed to non-toxic concentrations of ouabain, ouabain increased beta1 subunit mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Like the alpha3 gene, beta1 mRNA was also regulated by several other well-known hypertrophic stimuli including phenylephrine, a phorbol ester, endothelin-1, and insulin-like growth factor, suggesting involvement of growth signals in regulation of beta1 expression. Ouabain failed to increase beta1 subunit mRNA in the presence of actinomycin D. Using a luciferase reporter gene that is directed by the 5'-flanking region of the beta1 subunit gene, transient transfection assay showed that ouabain augmented the expression of luciferase. These data support the proposition that ouabain regulates the beta1 subunit through a transcriptional mechanism. The effect of ouabain on beta1 subunit induction, like that on alpha3 repression, was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and on calmodulin. Inhibitions of PKC, Ras, and MEK, however, had different quantitive effects on ouabain-induced regulations of beta1 and alpha3 subunits. The findings show that partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase activates multiple signaling pathways that regulate growth-related genes, including those of two subunit isoforms of Na/K-ATPase, in a gene-specific manner.

Antagonist-induced reversal of functional and structural measures of hippocampal benzodiazepine tolerance.

One week oral flurazepam (FZP) administration in rats results in anticonvulsant tolerance in vivo, tolerance measured in vitro in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, and regulation of hippocampal gamma-aminobutyric acid(A)-receptor subunit protein expression. A single injection (4 or 20 mg/kg i.p) of the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil (FLM) was given 1 day after FZP treatment, and tolerance and subunit protein expression were evaluated 1 day later. In vivo tolerance was measured by a reduced ability of the alpha(1)-subunit-selective agonist zolpidem to suppress pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. This tolerance was reversed by 20 but not 4 mg/kg FLM. In in vitro hippocampal slices, there was tolerance to the effect of zolpidem to prolong the decay of pyramidal cell miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents, which was reversed by FLM (4 mg/kg) pretreatment. A reduction in miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current amplitude ( approximately 50%) was also restored by FLM injection. [(3)H]Zolpidem binding measured 0, 2, and 7 days after FZP treatment was significantly decreased in the hippocampus and cortex at 0 days but not thereafter. Changes in alpha(1)- and beta(3)-subunit protein expression were examined via quantitative immunohistochemical techniques. alpha(1)-Subunit protein levels were down-regulated in the CA1 stratum oriens and beta subunit levels were up-regulated in the stratum oriens and stratum radiatum of the CA3 region. Chronic FZP effects on alpha(1)- and beta(3)-subunit protein levels were also reversed by prior FLM injection. FLM's effect on both functional and structural correlates of benzodiazepine tolerance suggests that each of these measures plays an interdependent role in mediating benzodiazepine tolerance.

Intracellular reactive oxygen species mediate the linkage of Na+/K+-ATPase to hypertrophy and its marker genes in cardiac myocytes.

We showed before that in cardiac myocytes partial inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase by nontoxic concentrations of ouabain causes hypertrophy and transcriptional regulations of growth-related marker genes through multiple Ca2+-dependent signal pathways many of which involve Ras and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases. The aim of this work was to explore the roles of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these ouabain-initiated pathways. Ouabain caused a rapid generation of ROS within the myocytes that was prevented by preexposure of cells to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or vitamin E. These antioxidants also blocked or attenuated the following actions of ouabain: inductions of the genes of skeletal alpha-actin and atrial natriuretic factor, repression of the gene of the alpha3-subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, activation of Ras-dependent protein synthesis, and activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB. Induction of c-fos and activation of AP-1 by ouabain were not sensitive to NAC. Ouabain-induced inhibition of active Rb+ uptake through Na+/K+-ATPase and the resulting rise in intracellular Ca2+ were also not prevented by NAC. A phorbol ester that also causes myocyte hypertrophy did not increase ROS generation, and its effects on marker genes and protein synthesis were not affected by NAC. We conclude the following: (a) ROS are essential second messengers within some but not all signal pathways that are activated by the effect of ouabain on Na+/K+-ATPase; (b) the ROS-dependent pathways are involved in ouabain-induced hypertrophy; (c) increased ROS generation is not a common response of the myocyte to all hypertrophic stimuli; and (d) it may be possible to dissociate the positive inotropic effect of ouabain from its growth-related effects by alteration of the redox state of the cardiac myocyte.

Multiple signal transduction pathways link Na+/K+-ATPase to growth-related genes in cardiac myocytes. The roles of Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinases.

We showed before that in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes partial inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase by nontoxic concentrations of ouabain causes hypertrophic growth and transcriptional regulations of genes that are markers of cardiac hypertrophy. In view of the suggested roles of Ras and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as key mediators of cardiac hypertrophy, the aim of this work was to explore their roles in ouabain-initiated signal pathways regulating four growth-related genes of these myocytes, i.e. those for c-Fos, skeletal alpha-actin, atrial natriuretic factor, and the alpha3-subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase. Ouabain caused rapid activations of Ras and p42/44 MAPKs; the latter was sustained longer than 90 min. Using high efficiency adenoviral-mediated expression of a dominant-negative Ras mutant, and a specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase (MEK), activation of Ras-Raf-MEK-p42/44 MAPK cascade by ouabain was shown. The effects of the mutant Ras, an inhibitor of Ras farnesylation, and the MEK inhibitor on ouabain-induced changes in mRNAs of the four genes indicated that (a) skeletal alpha-actin induction was dependent on Ras but not on p42/44 MAPKs, (b) alpha3 repression was dependent on the Ras-p42/44 MAPK cascade, and (c) induction of c-fos or atrial natriuretic factor gene occurred partly through the Ras-p42/44 MAPK cascade, and partly through pathways independent of Ras and p42/44 MAPKs. All ouabain effects required extracellular Ca2+, and were attenuated by a Ca2+/calmodulin antagonist or a protein kinase C inhibitor. The findings show that (a) signal pathways linked to sarcolemmal Na+/K+-ATPase share early segments involving Ca2+ and protein kinase C, but diverge into multiple branches only some of which involve Ras, or p42/44 MAPKs, or both; and (b) there are significant differences between this network and the related gene regulatory pathways activated by other hypertrophic stimuli, including those whose responses involve increases in intracellular free Ca2+ through different mechanisms.

Differential regulation of Na/K-ATPase alpha-subunit isoform gene expressions in cardiac myocytes by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli.

We showed before that partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase by non-toxic concentrations of ouabain caused hypertrophic growth of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, and induced several early- and late-response genes that are markers of cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine if the genes of the alpha-subunit isoforms of Na/K-ATPase were among those regulated by ouabain; and if so, to begin the characterization of the pathways regulating these genes. When neonatal myocytes, expressing alpha1- and alpha3-isoform messages, were exposed to 5-100 micro M ouabain, alpha1 mRNA was not affected, but alpha3 mRNA was decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Ouabain-induced down-regulation of alpha3 mRNA was accompanied by a decrease in alpha3-protein content in these myocytes. There was a significant correlation between ouabain effects on alpha3-repression and skeletal alpha-actin induction; also, ouabain's transcriptional effects on both genes were antagonised by retinoic acid. These findings suggested the association of alpha3 repression with ouabain-induced hypertrophy. Phenylephrine and a phorbol ester, two hypertrophic stimuli that do not inhibit Na/K-ATPase, also down-regulated alpha3 mRNA without affecting alpha1 mRNA, suggesting that alpha3-repression is a common feature of the hypertrophic phenotype in these myocytes. Ouabain-induced repression of alpha3 required the influx of extracellular Ca2+, and was antagonized by inhibitors of protein kinase C, Ca2+-calmodulin kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase but not by inhibition of protein kinase A. These data, and prior findings on the mechanisms of hypertrophic effects of phenylephrine and phorbol esters, suggest that transcriptional repression of alpha3 by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli involves a common step regulated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase.

[Participation of phosphopeptides in oxidative amino acid exchange in brain tissue]. / Ob uchastii fosfopeptidov v okislitel'nom obmene aminokislot v mozgovom tkani.

Specific proteins and phosphopeptides of nervous tissue soluble in acidified organic solvents have been shown to have an active participation in the metabolism of ammonia. Nitrogen phosphopeptides (amides) bound to phosphate residues which are non stable in acids. It was shown that acid-labil nitrogen (amide group) of phosphopeptides, bound to phosphate risidue, participates in the metabolism of ammonia formed during the oxidative deamination of amino acids. The data obtained indicate that 3'--5'-AMP dependent proteinkinase participates in the phosphorilation of phosphopeptides.

[Participation of the genetic apparatus in memory and learning phenomena]. / Ob uchastii geneticheskogo apparata v iavleniiakh pamiati i obucheniia

The first series of experiments showed that inhibition of the proteins synthesis followed by memory disorders, was reflected in decrease of the synaptosomal proteins fraction which was identified as the cholinoreceptor protein. Another series of experiments: training of rats to use unpreferred paw, showed the system acetylcholine-acetylcholinesterase to be directly connected with memory phenomena, and the synthesis of this enzyme to be induced by genetic apparatus. The third series of experiments showed that feeding of rats with small doses of aminoacids for a long time leads to regular shifts in distribution of both the aminoacids and the monoamines. The aminoacids increasing the brain activity were found to activate the production of cycle-adenyl acid. Those aminoacids which inhibit the brain activity, decrease the production of cyclic-AMP. Tranquilizers which decrease the level of monoamines and inhibit the brain activity, also decrease the production of cyclic-AMP. Antidepressants inhibiting MAO and increasing the level of monoamines in the brain, activate the production of cyclic-AMP. As the monoamines act via cyclic-AMP and the latter participates in suppression of DNA, the mechanism of involvement of the genetic apparatus in regulation of memory phenomena and learning, becomes more apparent.