RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Expression of Native α3β4* Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors: Binding and Functional Studies Investigating Turnover of Surface and Intracellular Receptor Populations
JF Molecular Pharmacology
JO Mol Pharmacol
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 2040
OP 2048
DO 10.1124/mol.104.009282
VO 67
IS 6
A1 R. Benjamin Free
A1 Susan B. McKay
A1 Paul D. Gottlieb
A1 R. Thomas Boyd
A1 Dennis B. McKay
YR 2005
UL http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/67/6/2040.abstract
AB Several pathological conditions involve alterations in expression of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Although some studies have addressed processes involved with muscle nAChR expression, knowledge of the regulation of neuronal nAChRs is particularly sparse. The following studies were designed to investigate cellular mechanisms involved with expression of neuronal α3β4* nAChRs. Catecholamine secretion assays and receptor binding studies coupled with receptor alkylation were used to study the nAChR regulation and turnover. Alkylation of adrenal nAChRs results in a rapid and complete loss of receptor-mediated neurosecretion and surface [3H]epibatidine binding sites. After alkylation, both neurosecretory function and nAChR binding slowly (24–48 h) return to prealkylation levels. When cells are treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor puromycin, after alkylation, receptor-mediated neurosecretion does not recover. Long-term treatment (24–48-h) with puromycin, in the absence of alkylation, results in a slow, time-dependent shift to the right, followed by a downward shift, in the nicotine concentration-response curve, documenting a disappearance of surface nAChRs. Puromycin treatment alone also results in a loss to both surface and intracellular [3H]epibatidine binding sites. nAChR β4 subunit levels are significantly decreased after treatment with puromycin. These data support a constitutive turnover of adrenal α3β4* nAChRs, requiring continual de novo synthesis of new receptor protein.