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T F Martin

Publications and source records attributed to T F Martin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Differential regulation of exocytosis by calcium and CAPS in semi-intact synaptosomes.

Using a novel approach to measure exocytosis in vitro from semi-intact synaptosomes, we establish that the Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate requires cytosolic factors for mobilization from the reserve pool. The cytosolic activity for glutamate release was not satisfied by CAPS, a soluble component required for norepinephrine (NE) release. Moreover, the CAPS-independent glutamate release from synaptic vesicles (SVs) was 200-fold less sensitive to Ca2+ than that required for dense core vesicles (DCVs). The differential regulation of exocytosis by CAPS, Ca2+, and potential novel cytosolic factor(s) suggests that the docking and fusion machinery controlling DCVs has diverged from that regulating glutamate-containing SVs.

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Docking and fusion in neurosecretion.

A central issue in neurobiology concerns the mechanisms of membrane fusion that are essential for the rapid regulated delivery of neurotransmitters into the synapse. While many gene products are required for neurosecretion, recent research has focused on defining the core exocytotic machinery that is responsible for the docking of synaptic vesicles (SVs) and their fusion with the plasma membrane. N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), soluble NSF attachment protein (SNAP) and SNAP receptor (SNARE) proteins are essential for fusion but may not be critical for SV docking. Current evidence suggests that NSF functions during an ATP-dependent step after docking but before fusion. NSF may function to liberate SNARE proteins from complexes so that the proteins on apposed membranes align in a parallel fashion to bring SVs into close contact with the plasma membrane for fusion.

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Phosphoinositide lipids as signaling molecules: common themes for signal transduction, cytoskeletal regulation, and membrane trafficking.

Signaling roles for phosphoinositides that involve their regulated hydrolysis to generate second messengers have been well characterized. Recent work has revealed additional signaling roles for phosphoinositides that do not involve their hydrolysis. PtdIns 3-P, PtdIns 3,4,5-P3, and PtdIns 4,5-P2 function as site-specific signals on membranes that recruit and/or activate proteins for the assembly of spatially localized functional complexes. A large number of phosphoinositide-binding proteins have been identified as the potential effectors for phosphoinositide signals. Common themes of localized signal generation and the spatially localized recruitment of effector proteins appear to underlie mechanisms employed in signal transduction, cytoskeletal, and membrane trafficking events.

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Novel Ca2+-binding protein (CAPS) related to UNC-31 required for Ca2+-activated exocytosis.

Exocytotic secretion in neuroendocrine cells is activated by cytoplasmic Ca2+ increases. Late post-docking events in dense core vesicle exocytosis in permeable PC12 cells require cytosolic factors for sequential ATP-dependent priming and Ca2+-dependent triggering steps. The cytosolic proteins phosphatidylinositol transfer protein and phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate 5-kinase, as well as membrane-bound N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, are required for the ATP-dependent priming step. Following priming, the Ca2+-dependent triggering of vesicle fusion requires an additional cytosolic factor, CAPS, which was purified as a 145-kDa protein. To clarify late Ca2+-dependent events in vesicle fusion, the sequence of rat CAPS cDNA was determined and found to encode a novel protein that is the vertebrate homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-31 protein shown genetically to be required for neurosecretion. Recombinant CAPS substituted for cytosol in the Ca2+ triggering step in permeable PC12 cells and exhibited moderate affinity (Kd = 270 microM) Ca2+ binding (2 mol Ca2+/mol CAPS dimer), consistent with a role at a Ca2+-regulated step in exocytosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Docked secretory vesicles undergo Ca2+-activated exocytosis in a cell-free system.

The Ca2+-activated fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane responsible for regulated neurotransmitter and hormone secretion has previously been studied in permeable neuroendocrine cells, where requirements for ATP and cytosolic proteins were identified. As reported here, Ca2+-activated fusion mechanisms are also preserved following cell homogenization. The release of norepinephrine (NE) and other vesicle constituents from a PC12 cell membrane fraction was activated by micromolar Ca2+ (EC50 approximately 3 microM) and exhibited a dependence upon MgATP and cytosol. Ca2+-dependent NE release was inhibited by botulinum neurotoxins and by CAPS (Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion) antibody implying that syntaxin, synaptobrevin, SNAP-25 (synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa), and CAPS are required for regulated exocytosis in this system. The exocytosis-competent membrane fraction consisted of rapidly sedimenting dense core vesicles associated with plasma membrane fragments. Free vesicles did not release NE either in the absence or presence of plasma membranes, indicating that only docked vesicles were competent for exocytosis under the reconstitution conditions used. A cell-free system for Ca2+-activated fusion will facilitate studies on the roles of essential proteins such as syntaxin, synaptobrevin, SNAP-25, and CAPS that act at post-docking steps in the regulated exocytotic pathway.

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Phosphoinositides as spatial regulators of membrane traffic.

Inositol phospholipids are a focus of renewed interest with the discovery of their unanticipated pivotal roles in membrane trafficking events. Reversible phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol generates spatially localized signals on membranes that recruit or activate proteins essential for cell membrane budding, fission and fusion. Recent advances have taken place in the characterization of lipid kinases and phosphoinositide-regulated effector proteins, and in the elucidation of phospholipase D mediated mechanisms involving ADP ribosylation factor and Rho family proteins. The roles played by phosphoinositides in aspects of secretory granule formation, fusion and endocytosis indicate the importance of phosphorylated lipids for neurotransmitter release.

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N-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor acts at a prefusion ATP-dependent step in Ca2+-activated exocytosis.

An ATP-dependent activity of NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) that rearranges soluble NSF attachment protein (SNAP) receptor (SNARE) protein complexes was proposed to be the driving force for membrane fusion. The Ca2+-activated fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane in permeable PC12 cells requires ATP; however, the ATP requirement is for a priming step that precedes the Ca2+-triggered fusion reaction. While phosphoinositide phosphorylation is a key reaction required for priming, additional ATP-dependent reactions are also necessary. Here we report that the NSF-catalyzed rearrangement of SNARE protein complexes occurs during ATP-dependent priming. NSF with alpha-SNAP (soluble NSF attachment protein) were required for ATP-dependent priming but not Ca2+-triggered fusion, indicating that NSF acts at an ATP-dependent prefusion step rather than at fusion itself. NSF-catalyzed activation of SNARE proteins may reorganize membranes to generate a vesicle-plasma membrane prefusion intermediate that is poised for conversion to full fusion by Ca2+-dependent mechanisms.

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SNAP-25 is required for a late postdocking step in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis.

The Ca2+-activated fusion of large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) with the plasma membrane is reconstituted in mechanically permeabilized PC12 cells by provision of millimolar MgATP and cytosolic proteins. Ca2+-activated LDCV exocytosis was inhibited completely by the type E but not the type A botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) even though both BoNTs were equally effective in proteolytically cleaving the synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). The greater inhibition of exocytosis by BoNT E correlated with a greater destabilization of detergent-extracted complexes consisting of SNAP-25, synaptobrevin, and syntaxin. LDCVs in permeable PC12 cells can be poised at a late postdocking, prefusion state by MgATP-dependent priming processes catalyzed by N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor and priming in exocytosis proteins. BoNT E completely blocked Ca2+-activated LDCV exocytosis in ATP-primed cells, whereas BoNT A was only slightly inhibitory, implying that the C-terminal region of SNAP-25 (Ile181-Gln197) between the cleavage sites for BoNT E and BoNT A is essential for late postdocking steps. A required role for SNAP-25 at this stage was also indicated by inhibition of Ca2+-activated LDCV fusion in ATP-primed cells by a C-terminal peptide antibody. We conclude that plasma membrane SNAP-25, particularly residues 181-197, is required for Ca2+-regulated membrane fusion at a step beyond LDCV docking and ATP utilization.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

ATP-dependent inositide phosphorylation required for Ca(2+)-activated secretion.

Regulated fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane in secretory cells requires ATP, Ca2+ and cytosolic as well as membrane proteins. ATP-dependent steps in Ca(2+)-activated secretion from PC12 cells require three cytosolic PEP proteins (priming in exocytosis proteins, PEP1-3), the identity of which will provide insights into the required ATP-using reactions. PEP3 was recently identified as phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PtdInsTP), and here we report that PEP1 consists of the type I phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PtdInsP5K). The roles of PEP3/PtdInsTP and PEP1/PtdInsP5K in sequential phosphoinositide recruitment and phosphorylation explains their synergistic activity in ATP-dependent priming. Moreover, inhibition of Ca(2+)-activated secretion by PtdIns(4,5)P2-specific antibodies and phospholipase C implies that 5-phosphorylated inositides play a novel, necessary role in the regulated secretory pathway. The results indicate that lipid kinase-mediated phosphorylation is an important basis for ATP use in the exocytotic pathway.

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The molecular machinery for fast and slow neurosecretion.

Recent studies indicate that the molecular machinery for synaptic vesicle docking and fusion consists of a triad of botulinum/tetanus neurotoxin substrates (synaptobrevin, syntaxin, SNAP-25) that are homologues of proteins required for constitutive secretion. Proposed low-affinity Ca2+ sensors that regulate exocytosis remain to be identified, although recent studies on synaptotagmin suggest that it, along with other proteins, could play this role. Regulated peptide secretion from dense-core granules has been found to utilize a similar machinery for docking/fusion, and recent studies indicate that this pathway involves a pre-docking step that is regulated by a higher affinity Ca2+ sensor.

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Nerve growth factor induces sensitivity to botulinum neurotoxin type A in norepinephrine-secreting PC12 cells.

Inhibition of Ca(2+)-activated norepinephrine secretion by the botulinum neurotoxin (NT) serotypes A and E was examined in permeabilized PC12 cells. The dichain type E NT reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT) completely inhibited secretion whereas the dichain type A NT reduced with DTT exhibited incomplete inhibitory activity. In contrast, Ca(2+)-activated secretion in PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) was completely inhibited by reduced type A NT. The NGF-treated PC12 cells retained a sensitivity to the type E NT similar to that of untreated PC12 cells. These results indicate that the intracellular mechanisms of inhibition of the types E and A NTs are distinct. NGF appears to either induce the expression of a component selectively required for type A NT sensitivity, or otherwise modifies the secretory apparatus to acquire type A NT sensitivity.

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Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein required for ATP-dependent priming of Ca(2+)-activated secretion.

Elucidation of the reactions responsible for the calcium-regulated fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane in secretory cells would be facilitated by the identification of participant proteins having known biochemical activities. The successful characterization of cytosolic and vesicle proteins that may function in calcium-regulated secretion has not yet revealed the molecular events underlying this process. Regulated secretion consists of sequential priming and triggering steps which depend on ATP and Ca2+, respectively, and require distinct cytosolic proteins. Characterization of priming-specific factors (PEP proteins) should enable the ATP-requiring reactions to be identified. Here we show that one of the mammalian priming factors (PEP3) is identical to phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP). The physiological role of PITP was previously unknown. We also find that SEC14p, the yeast phosphatidylinositol transfer protein which is essential for constitutive secretion, can substitute for PEP3/PITP in priming. Our results indicate that a role for phospholipid transfer proteins is conserved in the constitutive and regulated secretory pathways.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Calcium-dependent release of norepinephrine from permeabilized PC12 cells is inhibited by approximately 48 and approximately 112 kDa fragments of botulinum neurotoxin type E.

Permeabilized PC12 cells exhibit a Ca(2+)-stimulated norepinephrine secretory pathway which is sensitive to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B and E [Lomneth R., Martin T.F.J. and DasGupta B. R. (1991) J. Neurochem. 57: 1413-1421]. Two novel amino terminal fragments of the 150 kDa neurotoxin serotype E (approximately 112 and 48 kDa), produced by digestion with pepsin, were tested in permeabilized PC12 cells. The intracellular inhibitory activity of the approximately 112 kDa amino terminal fragment, like that of the 150 kDa neurotoxin, was progressively enhanced after trypsinization and dithiothreitol reduction. The approximately 50 kDa C-terminal half of the heavy chain therefore does not contribute to the enhancement of inhibitory activity. The approximately 48 kDa amino terminal light chain-like fragment completely inhibited release of norepinephrine, with an IC50 = 500 pM (more potent than the light chain isolated after digestion with trypsin) not requiring reduction with dithiothreitol. These results clarify the molecular basis of activation of neurotoxin by trypsin and dithiothreitol.

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A key role for a 145-kDa cytosolic protein in the stimulation of Ca(2+)-dependent secretion by protein kinase C.

Cytoplasmic Ca2+ is a major regulator of exocytosis in secretory cells; however, the Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms that trigger secretion have not been elucidated. Protein kinase C (PKC) has been proposed to be an important Ca(2+)-dependent component of this regulation; however, the effects of this enzyme on the exocytotic apparatus have not been identified. We developed a PKC-deficient, semi-intact PC12 cell system in which direct stimulatory effects of purified PKC on Ca(2+)-dependent norepinephrine secretion were studied. The reconstitution of optimal Ca(2+)-activated norepinephrine secretion by semi-intact PC12 cells required the addition of MgATP and cytosolic proteins. PKC-deficient cytosol exhibited reduced reconstituting activity that was fully restored by the addition of purified PKC. The restoration of Ca(2+)-dependent norepinephrine secretion by PKC required the presence of other proteins in the cytosol, in particular, a high molecular weight protein. The high molecular weight protein was identified as p145, a recently characterized 145-kDa brain protein. The addition of PKC enhanced phosphorylation of p145 under conditions of fully reconstituted Ca(2+)-activated norepinephrine secretion. The results indicate that 1) PKC is neither necessary nor sufficient for Ca(2+)-activated secretion, whereas other cytosolic proteins are required; and 2) the stimulation of Ca(2+)-activated secretion by PKC is dependent upon cytosolic proteins such as p145 and may be largely mediated through the phosphorylation of p145.

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