title: Characterization of the activation of glutaminase induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate and potassium in cerebellar granule cells.
abstract: Chronic stimulation of cerebellar granule cells with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or KCI induces a specific activation of the enzymes directly involved in glutamate neurotransmitter synthesis. Phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG) activity is enhanced in cultured granule neurons incubated with 150 microM NMDA or 25 mM KCI. Other enzymes are not affected by this treatment like lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), which is also a mitochondrial enzyme but not directly involved in neurotransmitter synthesis. This effect is dependent on protein synthesis and is induced after 12 hr of NMDA or KCI stimulation. Kinetics of PAG activity showed that Km values were unaffected, in contrast to Vmax values that were increased approximately 70% and 215% over control by NMDA and KCI treatment, respectively. For GLDH, we found two isoforms that were affected differentially by the experimental conditions. Western blot analysis clearly evidenced an increase of approximately 120-180% in the amount of PAG in NMDA- and KCI-treated cells, whereas GLDH was not significantly modified. These results demonstrate that the NMDA- and KCI-induced activation of PAG are not due to the modification of the preexisting enzyme, but to an increase in the synthesis of this enzyme. This suggests that NMDA receptor stimulation during critical periods of the cerebellar granule cell development leads to the activation of gene expression involved in the process of cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Physiology, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alavez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Kobeh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005972:Glutaminase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D005972:Glutaminase; D011188:Potassium