title: Growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) facilitates peptide hormone secretion in mouse anterior pituitary AtT-20 cells.
abstract: The neuronal growth-associated protein (GAP)-43 (neuromodulin, B-50, F1), which is concentrated in the growth cones of elongating axons during neuronal development and in nerve terminals in restricted regions of the adult nervous system, has been implicated in the release of neurotransmitter. To study the role of GAP-43 in evoked secretion, we transfected mouse anterior pituitary AtT-20 cells with the rat GAP-43 cDNA and derived stably transfected cell lines. Depolarization-mediated beta-endorphin secretion was greatly enhanced in the GAP-43-expressing AtT-20 cells without a significant change in Ca2+ influx; in contrast, expression of GAP-43 did not alter corticotropin-releasing factor-evoked hormone secretion. The transfected cells also displayed a flattened morphology and extended processes when plated on laminin-coated substrates. These results suggest that AtT-20 cells are a useful model system for further investigations on the precise biological function(s) of GAP-43.
authors.affiliation: R. S. DOW Neurological Sciences Institute, Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97209, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gamby
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Waage
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baizer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium