title: Beta-adrenergic regulation of beta-actin mRNA abundance in mouse parotid glands by a post-transcriptional mechanism.
abstract: In the first 24 h after a single injection of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline to mice, the level of beta-actin mRNA in the parotid glands increased significantly above that observed in untreated mice. The increase was transient, reaching 11 times the normal level 18 h after treatment and declining thereafter. Repeated daily doses of isoprenaline did not result in any further increase in beta-actin mRNA. Nuclear transcription experiments showed that there was no increase in the transcription rate of the beta-actin gene 8 h after an injection of isoprenaline, although beta-actin mRNA levels were increasing at this time. Immunoblotting revealed an increase in beta-actin protein in parotid gland samples after isoprenaline treatment, although the increase was not to the same extent as the mRNA, perhaps indicating that degradation of beta-actin had also increased. Using immunocytochemistry it was found that beta-actin was located mainly in the apical cortex of the normal acinar cell. There was a significant decrease in cortical beta-actin 24 h after isoprenaline treatment, suggesting that the beta-actin was under the process of redistribution. From these data we propose that isoprenaline caused an increase in beta-actin synthesis by a posttranscriptional mechanism and a redistribution of beta-actin in preparation for the well-known subsequent change in morphology and function of the parotid glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007545:Isoproterenol