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Related Concept Videos

Sympathetic Signaling01:31

Sympathetic Signaling

Sympathetic signaling, a vital part of the autonomic nervous system, plays a crucial role in mobilizing the body's resources in response to stress or emergencies. It involves the transmission of nerve impulses from sympathetic preganglionic fibers to postganglionic fibers. This results in the release of specific neurotransmitters and activation of adrenergic receptors.
Sympathetic preganglionic fibers release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) onto the ganglionic neurons in the...
Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission01:27

Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (except those supplying the sweat glands) releasing noradrenaline or norepinephrine are called noradrenergic or adrenergic neurons. Noradrenaline, dopamine, adrenaline, or epinephrine are collectively called "catecholamines" as they contain a catechol moiety and an amine side chain. The five stages of neurotransmitter release involve their synthesis, storage, release, reuptake and metabolism.
Synthesis: Catecholamine synthesis requires tyrosine, which is taken...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity01:09

GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity

Some GPCRs transmit signals through adenylyl cyclase (AC), a transmembrane enzyme. AC helps synthesize second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). AC catalyzes cyclization reaction and converts ATP to cAMP by releasing a pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate is further hydrolyzed to phosphate by the enzyme pyrophosphatase, which drives cAMP synthesis to completion. However, cAMP is rapidly degraded to 5′ AMP by the enzymes phosphodiesterase (PDE), preventing overstimulation of cells.
Two...
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
Adrenergic Receptors (Adrenoceptors): Classification01:27

Adrenergic Receptors (Adrenoceptors): Classification

Adrenergic receptors, or adrenoceptors, respond to the autonomic neurotransmitter noradrenaline and other endogenous catecholamine agonists. They are classified into two main families, α and β, based on their pharmacological response and are further subdivided depending on their location, elicited response, and affinity to specific agonists or antagonists.
α-Adrenoceptors
α-Adrenoceptors are classified into two main subtypes: α1 and α2. The α1 adrenoceptors, which are found on postsynaptic...
Adrenergic Receptors: β Subtype01:26

Adrenergic Receptors: β Subtype

β-adrenoceptors have varied sensitivities towards adrenaline, noradrenaline, and isoprenaline. The order of agonist potency is as follows:
Isoprenaline > Adrenaline > Noradrenaline
Neurotransmitter binding to these receptors causes activation of adenylyl cyclase resulting in increased concentrations of cAMP and modulation of calcium ion channels within the cell. They are further classified into β1, β2, and β3 subtypes.
β1-adrenoceptors: β1-adrenoceptors have equal affinities for...

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Protocol for Culturing Sympathetic Neurons from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia (SCG)
11:49

Protocol for Culturing Sympathetic Neurons from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia (SCG)

Published on: January 30, 2009

Nerve growth factor regulates adrenergic expression.

T C Tai1, David C Wong-Faull, Robert Claycomb

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill St., MRC 116, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.

Molecular Pharmacology
|August 24, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Nerve growth factor (NGF) regulates adrenergic expression in PC-12 cells by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase MAPK pathway and influencing Egr-1 binding sites. This study also highlights post-transcriptional regulation by neurotrophins.

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Published on: November 21, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a crucial role in neuronal development and function.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of NGF in regulating gene expression is vital for neurobiology.
  • The phenylethanolamine N-methyl-transferase (PNMT) gene is a key marker for adrenergic differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which NGF regulates PNMT gene expression in PC-12 cells.
  • To identify the specific signaling pathways and DNA elements involved in NGF-mediated PNMT induction.
  • To investigate the role of post-transcriptional regulation in NGF's effect on adrenergic phenotype.

Main Methods:

  • PC-12 cells were transfected with a rat PNMT promoter-luciferase reporter construct.
  • Reporter gene assays were used to measure PNMT promoter activity.
  • Inhibition of signaling pathways (MAPK, PKA, PKC, PI3K) was employed.
  • Deletion constructs and site-directed mutagenesis identified key promoter regions and transcription factors (Egr-1, Sp1).
  • Western blot and gel mobility shift assays assessed protein levels and DNA binding.
  • mRNA and protein levels were quantified to evaluate post-transcriptional effects.

Main Results:

  • NGF dose- and time-dependently increased PNMT promoter activity.
  • The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) MAPK pathway significantly mediated NGF's effect.
  • NGF-responsive elements were localized to the proximal -392 bp of the PNMT promoter, involving Egr-1 and Sp1 binding sites.
  • NGF increased nuclear Egr-1 levels and its DNA binding activity.
  • Mutation of Egr-1 or Sp1 sites attenuated NGF-induced activation.
  • NGF and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating protein (PACAP) cooperatively stimulated PNMT promoter activity.
  • NGF and PACAP also modulated PNMT mRNA and protein levels, indicating post-transcriptional regulation.

Conclusions:

  • NGF regulates adrenergic expression via the ERK MAPK pathway and interaction with Egr-1 and Sp1 binding sites in the PNMT promoter.
  • Both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms contribute to NGF's regulation of the adrenergic phenotype.
  • The findings provide insights into the complex molecular control of neuronal differentiation by neurotrophins.