title: Activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins in membranes of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and bovine transducin by ethanol.
abstract: Effects of ethanol on signal transduction in neuronal membranes are supposed to occur by the interaction with heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins). Several substances affect signal transduction by activation of G-proteins directly independent of receptors. We show that similar to those substances, ethanol stimulates high-affinity guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-hydrolysis in SH-SY5Y membranes at concentrations of 50 mM and higher in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. Compared with ethanol at a concentration of 170 mM, other alcohols were without or with respect to methanol with a slight effect on high-affinity GTP-hydrolysis in SH-SY5Y membranes. Ethanol also stimulates the GTPase of the purified G-protein transducin. The findings suggest that ethanol affects signal transduction in neuronal membranes by direct activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins.
authors.affiliation: Institut fur Neuropsychopharmakologie, Universätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Klinker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lichtenberg-Kraag
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Damm
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rommelspacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D015293:Transducin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D000431:Ethanol; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D015293:Transducin