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Results for “Receptor Aggregation”

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PubMed2006

Palmitoylation of CD95 facilitates formation of SDS-stable receptor aggregates that initiate apoptosis signaling.

Apoptosis signaling through CD95 (Fas/APO-1) involves aggregation and clustering of the receptor followed by its actin-dependent internalization. Internalization is required for efficient formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) with maximal recruitment of FADD, caspase-8/10 and c-FLIP occurring when the receptor has reached an endosomal compartment. The first detectable event during CD95 signaling is the formation of SDS-stable aggregates likely reflecting intense oligomerization of the receptor. We now demonstrate that these SDS-stable forms of CD95 correspond to very high molecular weight DISC complexes (hiDISC) and are the sites of caspase-8 activation. hiDISCs are found both inside and outside of detergent-resistant membranes. The formation of SDS-stable CD95 aggregates involves palmitoylation of the membrane proximal cysteine 199 in CD95. Cysteine 199 mutants no longer form SDS-stable aggregates, and inhibition of palmitoylation reduces internalization of CD95 and activation of caspase-8. Our data demonstrate that SDS-stable forms of CD95 are the sites of apoptosis initiation and represent an important early step in apoptosis signaling through CD95 before activation of caspases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Laminin and alpha-dystroglycan mediate acetylcholine receptor aggregation via a MuSK-independent pathway.

Specific isoforms of laminin (LN) are concentrated at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) where they may participate in synaptic organization or function. In myotubes from C2 cells, LN is concentrated within the majority of spontaneous acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates. Neural agrin substantially increases this colocalization, suggesting that agrin can recruit LN into AChR aggregates. Addition of LN to C2 myotubes induces a more than twofold increase in the number of AChR aggregates. These aggregates have a larger size and are more dense than are those induced by agrin, suggesting that LN is involved in the growth and/or stabilization of AChR aggregates. Consistent with this hypothesis, an antiserum to LN reduces the size of individual AChR aggregates but increases their number. In C2 myotubes, extracellular matrix receptors containing the integrin beta1 subunit are poorly colocalized with AChR aggregates, suggesting that integrins may not be involved in LN-induced aggregation. In contrast, almost all AChR aggregates are associated with dystroglycan immunoreactivity, and monoclonal antibody (mAb) IIH6 against alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG), a LN and agrin receptor, causes a concentration-dependent inhibition of LN-induced aggregation. Moreover, S27 cells, which lack a functional alpha-DG, and two C2-derived cell lines expressing antisense DG mRNA fail to aggregate AChRs in response to LN. Finally, LN-induced AChR aggregation does not involve the phosphorylation of the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase receptor (MuSK) or the AChR beta subunit. We hypothesize that the interaction of LN with alpha-DG contributes to the growth and/or stabilization of AChR microaggregates into macroaggregates at the developing NMJ via a MuSK-independent mechanism.

Agrin↗

PubMed1998

Combining thrombolysis with the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor lamifiban: results of the Platelet Aggregation Receptor Antagonist Dose Investigation and Reperfusion Gain in Myocardial Infarction (PARADIGM) trial.

OBJECTIVES: The trial was designed to assess the safety, pharmacodynamics and effects on reperfusion of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor lamifiban when given with thrombolysis to patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Studies of fibrinolytic agents in acute myocardial infarction have demonstrated a direct relationship between early complete reperfusion and survival. Blockade of the platelet GP IIb/IIIa receptor complex inhibits platelet aggregation and may speed reperfusion when given in conjunction with thrombolysis to patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Patients with ST segment elevation presenting within 12 h of symptom onset who were treated with either tissue-plasminogen activator or streptokinase were enrolled in this three-part Phase II dose exploration study. In Part A, all patients received the GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor lamifiban in an open-label, dose escalation scheme. Parts B and C were a randomized, double-blind comparison of a bolus plus 24-h infusion of lamifiban versus placebo with patients randomized in a 2:1 ratio. The goal was to identify a dose(s) of lamifiban that provided >85% adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation inhibition. A composite of angiographic, continuous electrocardiographic and clinical markers of reperfusion was the primary efficacy end point, and bleeding was the primary safety end point. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation was inhibited by lamifiban in a dose-dependent manner with the highest doses exceeding 85% ADP-induced platelet aggregation inhibition. There was more bleeding associated with lamifiban (transfusions in 16.1% lamifiban-treated vs. 10.3% placebo-treated patients). Lamifiban induced more rapid reperfusion as measured by all continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Lamifiban given with thrombolytic therapy appears to be associated with more rapid and complete reperfusion than placebo. As expected in this small sample, there were no obvious clinical benefits to lamifiban over placebo. Reconciliation of ECG monitoring with clinical outcomes will require a larger, adequately powered clinical trial.

Acetates↗

PubMed1993

Insights into the function of a sperm-surface progesterone receptor: evidence of ligand-induced receptor aggregation and the implication of proteolysis.

Human spermatozoa have recently been introduced as a model for the study of rapid, nongenomic effects of steroids on the cell. Indirect evidence suggests the presence of a novel type of progesterone receptor on the cell surface; some cellular responses mediated by the receptor have been shown to be sensitive to protease inhibitors, but the molecular identity and the mode of function of this receptor are not known. Recent biochemical evidence showed that Ca2+ influx and a Ca(2+)-dependent exocytotic event (the acrosome reaction) can be induced in human sperm by antibody-mediated aggregation of the cell-surface progesterone receptor. These data suggested that progesterone receptor aggregation, occurring after ligand binding, may represent an early reaction in the signal transduction pathway. In this study we used cytological methods to examine ligand-induced changes in the distribution of the progesterone receptor in the sperm plasma membrane. We also examined the effects of trypsin and of trypsin inhibitors on the function of the receptor. Under the conditions of this study, neither trypsin nor trypsin inhibitors affected sperm viability, motility, or the acrosome reaction. However, the trypsin treatment completely abolished the ligand-binding activity of the sperm progesterone receptor. On the other hand, trypsin inhibitors did not influence the ligand binding despite their inhibitory effect on the ligand-induced exocytosis. The treatment with trypsin inhibitors was thus used to prevent the exocytotic reaction and so to preserve the plasma membrane for the study of ligand-induced receptor migration. The distribution of ligand-receptor complexes in the sperm acrosomal region remained homogeneous during incubation at 4 degrees C, but warming to 37 degrees C entailed a rapid formation of patches, followed by migration of the complexes towards the sperm equatorial region and ending by a virtually complete disappearance of the complexes from the anterior acrosomal region. It is concluded that aggregation is an early response of the sperm-surface progesterone receptor to ligand binding, that trypsin inhibitors block the function of the receptor downstream of the aggregation, and that some mechanism must exist in the plasma membrane to protect the ligand-binding site from digestion while permitting the protease action in the signal transduction mechanism.

Acrosome↗

PubMed1988

Regulation of agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor aggregation by Ca++ and phorbol ester.

Agrin, a protein extracted from the electric organ of Torpedo californica, induces the formation of specializations on cultured chick myotubes that resemble the postsynaptic apparatus at the neuromuscular junction. The aim of the studies reported here was to characterize the effects of agrin on the distribution of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and cholinesterase as a step toward determining agrin's mechanism of action. When agrin was added to the medium bathing chick myotubes small (less than 4 micron 2) aggregates of AChRs began to appear within 2 h and increased rapidly in number until 4 h. Over the next 12-20 h the number of aggregates per myotube decreased as the mean size of each aggregate increased to approximately 15 micron 2. The accumulation of AChRs into agrin-induced aggregates occurred primarily by lateral migration of AChRs already in the myotube plasma membrane at the time agrin was added to the cultures. Aggregates of AChRs and cholinesterase remained as long as agrin was present in the medium; if agrin was removed the number of aggregates declined slowly. The formation and maintenance of agrin-induced AChR aggregates required Ca++, Co++ and Mn++ inhibited agrin-induced AChR aggregation and increased the rate of aggregate dispersal. Mg++ and Sr++ could not substitute for Ca++. Agrin-induced receptor aggregation also was inhibited by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, and by inhibitors of energy metabolism. The similarities between agrin's effects on cultured myotubes and events that occur during formation of neuromuscular junctions support the hypothesis that axon terminals release molecules similar to agrin that induce the differentiation of the postsynaptic apparatus.

Agrin↗

PubMed1992

T cell receptor aggregation, but not dimerization, induces increased cytosolic calcium concentrations and reveals a lack of stable association between CD4 and the T cell receptor.

Exposure of T94, a CD4+ V beta 8-expressing murine Th cell clone, or immediately ex vivo CD4+ T cells to deaggregated, bivalent antibodies specific for either the TCR or CD3 failed to induce an increase in [Ca2+]i, or activation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis unless cross-linked with a secondary anti-Ig antibody. In contrast, we show that a combination of two mAb directed against different components of the TCR/CD3 complex (145.2C11, anti-CD3 epsilon and F23.1, anti-V beta 8) successfully induce second messenger formation, that is, without any requirement for a secondary antibody. This requirement for either a secondary antibody or two independent bivalent antibodies to activate second messenger production in T cells suggested that the signal transduction apparatus may be activated by multiple TCR/CD3 complexes being brought together on the T cell surface. This was supported by the observation that conditions inducing increased T cell [Ca2+]i through the TCR/CD3 complex also resulted in aggregation of the TCR/CD3 complex on the T cell surface. Conversely, binding of anti-TCR/CD3 antibodies to the T cell under conditions that did not induce increased [Ca2+]i also failed to induce surface TCR/CD3 redistribution. Cross-linking of the CD4 accessory molecule on T94 also resulted in increased [Ca2+]i, with kinetics similar to those observed after TCR/CD3 oligomerization. CD4 is involved in the recognition of invariant regions of MHC class II during Ag presentation and has been proposed to be associated with TCR/CD3 in the absence of Ag. Aggregation of TCR/CD3 and subsequent second messenger formation was achieved by combinations of mAb to distinct determinants within the complex due to the stable association of these determinants within the T cell membrane. We therefore assessed the functional association of CD4 with the TCR/CD3 complex by examining whether a combination of mAb directed against CD4 and CD3 or TCR induced second messenger formation. We found that anti-CD4 in combination with F23.1 or with 145.2C11 failed to induce increases in [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, mAb to CD4 failed to inhibit the increase in [Ca2+]i observed with the combination of 145.2C11 and F23.1. We therefore conclude that CD4 is not stably associated with TCR or CD3 in the absence of Ag/MHC class II composites.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

PubMed2000

Fas ligand-induced c-Jun kinase activation in lymphoid cells requires extensive receptor aggregation but is independent of DAXX, and Fas-mediated cell death does not involve DAXX, RIP, or RAIDD.

Jun kinase signaling can be elicited by death receptor activation, but the mechanism and significance of this event are still unclear. It has been reported that cross-linking Abs to Fas trigger c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling via caspase-mediated activation of MEKK1 (JNK kinase kinase), elevation of ceramide levels or by recruitment of death domain associated protein (DAXX) to Fas. The effect of physiological ligand for Fas on JNK signaling was never investigated, although evidence is accumulating that Fas ligand is able to induce cellular responses distinct from those evoked by Ab-mediated cross-linking of Fas. Therefore, we investigated the effect of Fas ligand on JNK signaling. Like its ability to induce cell death, Fas ligand reliably activated JNK only upon extensive aggregation of the receptor. Although this was partially dependent on caspase activation, DAXX was not required. DAXX and other death receptor-associated proteins, which have been reported to bind directly or indirectly to Fas, such as receptor interacting protein (RIP) and RIP-associated ICH-1/CED-3-homologous protein with a death domain (RAIDD), were shown to be dispensable for Fas ligand-induced apoptosis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed1990

Rapid induction of acetylcholine receptor aggregates by a neural factor and extracellular Ca2+.

A soluble fetal brain extract (EBX) induces acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation in cultured rat myotubes within 4 hr at 36 degrees C in a defined medium containing 1.8 mM (normal) extracellular Ca2+ (Olek et al., 1983). The activity of EBX was Ca2+ dependent; reducing extracellular Ca2+ significantly inhibited EBX-induced AChR aggregation and a 15-50% increase in extracellular Ca2+ synergistically enhanced the activity of EBX. Synergism was specific for Ca2+ as increases in other divalent cations (Ba2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Sr2+) had no effect. A large increase (300-500%) in extracellular Ca2+ alone also induced AChR aggregation within 4 hr at 36 degrees C. An equivalent increase in other cations (Ba2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Sr2+) did not promote AChR aggregation. An initial 15-min pulse of increased extracellular Ca2+ alone or with EBX was adequate to induce AChR aggregation. Aggregates induced by EBX, Ca2+ alone, or EBX/Ca2+ were found predominantly on the top surface of the myotube. These treatments did not detectably alter preexisting aggregates present at substrate contact sites on the bottom surface of myotubes. AChR aggregation induced by any treatment was not inhibited by cycloheximide, Ca2+ channel blockers, or protease inhibitors but was blocked by Co2+ and sodium azide.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Development of ultrastructural specializations during the formation of acetylcholine receptor aggregates on cultured myotubes.

The ultrastructure of cultured rat myotubes was examined at stages in the initial assembly of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates in order to elucidate the role of cell-surface specializations in aggregate formation. Within 4-6 hr, embryonic brain extract (EBX) induces the formation of sites of AChR density elevated 5-9 X above that of surrounding regions, and the appearance of these aggregates is preceded by the formation of clouds of punctate microaggregates (Olek et al., 1983). A video image-intensification system was used to monitor this redistribution of fluorescently labeled AChR, and sites of aggregation were mapped on identified myotubes. After processing the cultures for electron microscopy, thin sections were taken through identified aggregate sites at various stages in assembly. Specializations, including a basal lamina, mound-shaped plasma membrane contours with occasional deep infoldings, and a subjacent dense cytoskeletal specialization, which tended to exclude other cytoplasmic organelles, were associated with newly formed aggregates found 4-6 hr after adding EBX to the cultures. Analysis of random thin sections through EBX-treated and untreated myotubes showed that the extent of specializations of the basal lamina and cytoplasm was approximately threefold greater in cells exposed to EBX for 4 hr, suggesting a concurrent, and possibly interdependent, organization of such specializations with AChR aggregate assembly. Examination of sections through clouds of microaggregates, which formed within 90 min, revealed mound-shaped plasma membrane contours and underlying cytoplasm depleted of organelles but relatively little basal lamina and submembrane cytoskeletal density. These results suggest that the initial stage of AChR aggregate assembly involves relatively subtle changes in the structure of the cell cortex and that the evolution of microaggregates to aggregates may require the formation of additional cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix structures.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Protective effects of estrogens on polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor aggregation in mice.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a motor neuronopathy caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Only males are affected as the development of pathology requires high levels of circulating androgens. Androgens promote aggregation of the AR into characteristic intracellular inclusions. As a potential factor contributing to the protection of female carriers, we assessed the effects of estrogens on AR aggregation in transfected neuronal cells using a filter retardation assay. Pre-treatment of mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells expressing an AR with 51 glutamine residues with 10 microM 17beta- or 17alpha-estradiol prevented induction of AR aggregation by testosterone. Western blot analysis showed that the protective effects of estrogens occurred in the absence of a change in AR processing. We conclude that estrogens protect polyglutamine-expanded AR from aggregation through a non-genomic mechanism possibly involving estrogen binding to the AR.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Inhibition of agrin-induced acetylcholine-receptor aggregation by heparin, heparan sulfate, and other polyanions.

Heparin and heparan sulfate have been shown to block nerve-induced acetylcholine-receptor (AChR) aggregation at developing neuromuscular junctions. We found that heparin, heparan sulfate, and a wide variety of other polyanions also inhibited agrin-induced AChR aggregation. The more highly charged the polyanion, the more potent it was as an inhibitor. Inhibition of agrin-induced AChR aggregation was due, at least in part, to the formation of a complex between the polyanion and agrin that was inactive. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that nerve-induced aggregation of AChRs is mediated by the release of agrin, or a closely related protein, from axon terminals and suggest that a polyanion, such as a sulfated proteoglycan, may be involved in the interaction of agrin with its receptor on the myotube surface.

Agrin↗

PubMed1981

Characterization and partial purification of a neuronal factor which increases acetylcholine receptor aggregation on cultured muscle cells.

Medium conditioned by NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells contains a factor which increases the number of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates on cultured myotubes. Protease digestion indicates that the AChR aggregation factor is a protein, and the molecular weight is from 150,000 to 250,000 daltons as estimated by ultrafiltration and gel filtration. Preparative isoelectrofocusing indicates that the aggregation factor has a pI of about 4.7. The factor is found in the soluble cytoplasmic fraction but not in the plasma membrane fraction of NG108-15 cells. Aggregation activity is not detected in the cytoplasm of liver cells or in the cytoplasm of C6BU-1 glioma cells. A possible developmental role for the aggregation factor is suggested by its presence in embryonic rat brain but not in adult rat brain. AChR aggregation factors found in the cytoplasm or conditioned medium of NG108-15 cells or in the cytoplasmic fraction of fetal brain have similar molecular weights and isoelectric points.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2004

Neuregulin inhibits acetylcholine receptor aggregation in myotubes.

The high local concentration of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction results from their aggregation by the agrin/MuSK signaling pathway and their synthetic up-regulation by the neuregulin/ErbB pathway. Here, we show a novel role for the neuregulin/ErbB pathway, the inhibition of AChR aggregation on the muscle surface. Treatment of C2C12 myotubes with the neuregulin epidermal growth factor domain decreased the number of both spontaneous and agrin-induced AChR clusters, in part by increasing the rate of cluster disassembly. Upon cluster disassembly, AChRs were internalized into caveolae (as identified by caveolin-3). Time-lapse microscopy revealed that individual AChR clusters fragmented into puncta, and application of neuregulin accelerated the rate at which AChR clusters decreased in area without affecting the density of AChRs remaining in individual clusters (as measured by the fluorescence intensity/unit area). We propose that this novel action of neuregulin regulates synaptic competition at the developing neuromuscular junction.

Agrin↗

PubMed2000

Thrombin action decreases acetylcholine receptor aggregate number and stability in cultured mouse myotubes.

Neurons develop and make very stable, long-term synaptic connections with other nerve cells and with muscle. Synaptic stability at the neuromuscular junction changes over development in that a proliferation of synaptic input are made to individual myotubes and synapses from all but one neuron are lost during development. In an established co-culture paradigm in which spinal motoneurons synaptically contact myotubes, thrombin and associated protease inhibitors have been shown to affect the loss of functional synaptic contacts [6]. Evidence has not been provided which clearly demonstrate whether protease/protease inhibitors affect either the pre- or postsynaptic terminal, or both. In an effort to determine whether these reagents directly affect postsynaptic receptors on myotubes, myotubes were cultured in the absence of neurons and the spontaneous presence and stability of aggregates of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in control and thrombin-containing media were evaluated. In dishes fixed after treatment and in dishes in which individual aggregates were observed live, thrombin action appeared to increase loss of AChR aggregates over time. Hirudin, a specific inhibitor of the thrombin protease, diminished this loss. Neither reagent affected the overall incorporation or degradation of AChR; therefore, it appears these protease/protease inhibitors affect the state of AChR aggregation.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The inositol 5'-phosphatase SHIP binds to immunoreceptor signaling motifs and responds to high affinity IgE receptor aggregation.

Immunoreceptors such as the high affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI, and T-cell receptor-associated proteins share a common motif, the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). We used the yeast tribrid system to identify downstream effectors of the phosphorylated FcepsilonRI ITAM-containing subunits beta and gamma. One novel cDNA was isolated that encodes a protein that is phosphorylated on tyrosine, contains a Src-homology 2 (SH2) domain, inositolpolyphosphate 5-phosphatase activity, three NXXY motifs, several proline-rich regions, and is called SHIP. Mutation of the conserved tyrosine or leucine residues within the FcepsilonRI beta or gamma ITAMs eliminates SHIP binding and indicates that the SHIP-ITAM interaction is specific. SHIP also binds to ITAMs from the CD3 complex and T cell receptor zeta chain in vitro. SHIP protein possesses both phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 5'-phosphatase and inositol-1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate 5'-phosphatase activity. Phosphorylation of SHIP by a protein-tyrosine kinase, Lck, results in a reduction in enzyme activity. FcepsilonRI activation induces the association of several tyrosine phosphoproteins with SHIP. SHIP is constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated and associated with Shc and Grb2. These data suggest that SHIP may serve as a multifunctional linker protein in receptor activation.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

A 77-kDa protein associates with pp125FAK in mast cells and becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated by high affinity IgE receptor aggregation.

The focal adhesion kinase, pp125FAK, is a novel non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase expressed in different cells including mast cells. Here we report that a 77-kDa protein associates with pp125FAK in the mast cell analog, rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. When pp125FAK immunoprecipitates were subjected to an in vitro kinase assay, there was prominent phosphorylation on tyrosine of pp125FAK and of a 77-kDa protein. By V8 protease digestion mapping and by immunoblotting with two different anti-pp125FAK antibodies, the 77-kDa protein was distinct from pp125FAK. This Fak Associated Protein or FAP was detected in RBL-2H3 cells but not in fibroblasts. The aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon RI, induced the in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation of FAP. However, there was a marked decrease in the in vitro phosphorylation of FAP in the immunoprecipitates from Fc epsilon RI aggregated cells. Both of these Fc epsilon RI-mediated effects were enhanced by cell adhesion. There was strong association of FAP with non-tyrosine-phosphorylated pp125FAK. Thus this interaction does not appear to be mediated by the Src homology 2 domain. Together the data indicate that FAP associates with pp125FAK and suggest that FAP may play a role in Fc epsilon RI signaling.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1988

Evidence that receptor aggregation may play a role in transmembrane signaling through the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor.

alpha IR-3 is a mouse monoclonal antibody that binds to an epitope on the human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor and inhibits [125I]IGF-I binding to this receptor on human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and Hep G2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Unlike the natural ligand (IGF-I), neither intact alpha IR-3 nor its monovalent Fab fragment stimulate aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake in HSF, and both competitively antagonize IGF-I's ability to produce this effect. However, when HSF are incubated with alpha IR-3 or its Fab' fragment, subsequent exposure to anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) produces a potent stimulation of AIB uptake. Anti-Mouse IgG by itself does not effect AIB uptake. alpha IR-3 also antagonizes IGF-I's ability to stimulate glycogen synthesis in Hep G2 cells. As with AIB uptake in HSF, the combination of alpha IR-3 followed by anti-mouse IgG stimulates glycogen synthesis in Hep G2 cells to the same extent as that produced by IGF-I. The triggering of these two biological effects depends on the concentration of both alpha IR-3 and anti-mouse IgG. These results are consistent with the possibility that local aggregation or cross-linking of IGF-I receptors plays an important role in transmembrane signaling by this receptor.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗

PubMed1986

Early stages in the formation and stabilization of acetylcholine receptor aggregates on cultured myotubes: sensitivity to temperature and azide.

We have studied the effects of temperature and sodium azide on the formation and stability of embryonic brain extract (EBX)2-induced acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates on myotubes. Sequential changes in AChR distribution were studied on living myotubes in culture by video-intensified fluorescence microscopy. Aggregate formation was temperature dependent, increasing sharply from 24-36 degrees, maximal at 36-37 degrees, and virtually blocked at 38-40 degrees. Whereas aggregate size increased rapidly with time (up to 4 hr) at 36 degrees, at 18-24 degrees small (less than or equal to 1 micron) "microaggregates" formed and accumulated for up to 10 hr. Aggregates formed within 1.5 hr at the sites of microaggregates (formed after 4 hr at 23 degrees) if the temperature was raised to 36 degrees. However, if EBX was removed, the microaggregates on 50% of myotubes disassembled within 1.5 hr. The formation of microaggregates at 23 degrees and aggregates at 36 degrees was reversibly inhibited by sodium azide. These results show that clusters of microaggregates are the precursors of aggregates, and suggest that microaggregate clouds represent a discrete, labile, ATP-dependent stage in aggregate formation. Aggregates that had formed after 4 hr in the presence of EBX disassembled slowly (within 12-14 hr) following removal of EBX at 36 degrees, and even more slowly at 23-30 degrees. However, a temperature shift to 38 degrees, or the addition of azide, resulted in a rapid but reversible disassembly of aggregates (within 4 hr). Thus, newly formed aggregates appear to be relatively stable structures, while microaggregate clouds are labile, tending to disassemble or evolve into aggregates.

Animals↗