Puromycin induces apoptosis of developing chick sympathetic neurons in a similar manner to NGF-deprivation.
Survival of sympathetic neurons of chick embryo depends on nerve growth factor (NGF), and removal of NGF from culture medium caused apoptosis. We found that puromycin, an analogue of aminoacyl-tRNA, also induced apoptosis in a manner quite similar to that caused by NGF-deprivation. First, transcriptional inhibitors such as actinomycin D and alpha-amanitin effectively prevented both apoptoses, suggesting a requirement of gene expression. Second, the apoptoses were effectively prevented by translational inhibitors acting on peptidyltransfer reaction, such as anisomycin and blasticidin S. On the other hand, emetine, an inhibitor of translocation of peptidyl-tRNA, was not effective. Finally, NGF-deprivation and puromycin-addition affected the same three phosphorylated proteins to undergo dephosphorylation or to be eliminated. Besides, these changes were suppressed by anisomycin and blasticidin, but not by emetine. Based on these findings, we discuss the mechanism to induce apoptosis of chick sympathetic neurons.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Osaka University, Japan.
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Sugita
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Morita
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Yonesaki
D000818:Animals; D000841:Anisomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003470:Culture Media; D004640:Emetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011691:Puromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D003470:Culture Media; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009705:Nucleosides; D011691:Puromycin; D000841:Anisomycin; C004500:blasticidin S; D004640:Emetine