Calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor, promotes neurite elongation in differentiating PC12 cells.
Calpain activity of nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells shows a transient diminution in the early phase of differentiation. Calpain activity can be further decreased by a cell-permeable calpain inhibitor, calpeptin, which enhances the effect of NGF by stimulating neurite elongation. The number of neurites sprouted by one cell is not increased by calpeptin. A possible role of calpain inhibition during PC12 cells' early differentiation is discussed.
Pintér
M
M
Institute of Enzymology, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest.
Aszódi
A
A
Friedrich
P
P
Ginzburg
I
I
D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats
D004151:Dipeptides; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C071482:calpeptin; D002154:Calpain