title: Effects of tunicamycin on the expression of beta-adrenergic receptors in human astrocytoma cells during growth and recovery from agonist-induced down-regulation.
abstract: Tunicamycin, which inhibits formation of asparagine-linked glycoproteins, caused a concentration-dependent blockade of beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) accumulation in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells during growth in culture. A concentration of tunicamycin (0.1 microgram/ml) that inhibited receptor accumulation and [3H]mannose or [3H]glucosamine incorporation into glycoproteins by 90% had only a small effect (10%) on [3H]leucine incorporation into protein, and reduced the rate of cell growth. Incubation in drug-free medium subsequent to treatment of 1321N1 cells with tunicamycin for 48 hr resulted in recovery of beta-AR to control levels within an additional 48 hr. Exposure of cultures to isoproterenol (0.1 microM, 12 hr) caused an 80-90% loss of beta-AR in both pre- and postconfluent cultures; beta-AR recovered to control levels upon removal of isoproterenol. Although both tunicamycin and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide blocked beta-AR accumulation during growth of 1321N1 cells, neither agent inhibited the appearance of beta-AR during recovery from the down-regulated state in preconfluent cultures. However, cycloheximide, but not tunicamycin, blocked recovery of beta-AR after isoproterenol-induced loss of receptors in postconfluent cultures. In a previous report (Mol. Pharmacol. 26:424-429, 1984), we provided direct evidence that recovery of beta-AR from down-regulation in postconfluent cultures requires de novo synthesis of receptor protein. Thus, the results with tunicamycin are consistent with the idea that recovery of beta-AR in postconfluent cultures requires the synthesis of new beta-AR molecules, but as aglycoproteins that exhibit radioligand-binding characteristics similar to those of native glycoprotein beta-AR.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kramarcy
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000032:analysis*; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014415:Tunicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D014415:Tunicamycin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D007545:Isoproterenol; D005944:Glucosamine