title: GM2 promotes ciliary neurotrophic factor-dependent rescue of immortalized motor neuron-like cell (NSC-34).
abstract: We have examined whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) can alter serum-free cell survival of immortalized motor neuron-like cells, which were established by fusing mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 with mouse motor neurons. One of the cell lines, NSC-34 exhibited cell survival in the presence of CNTF. NSC-34 preserves the most characteristics of motor neurons, such as the formation of neuromuscular junctions on co-cultured myotube. GM2 ganglioside is characteristic of motor neurons, and expressed highly in NSC-34. When NSC-34 was cultured with exogenous GM2 ganglioside and CNTF, GM2 facilitated the cell survival effect of CNTF. In the addition, beta 1,4 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GM2 synthase) activity was enhanced up to 3.9-fold by culture in the presence of CNTF. GM2 might be a functional modulator of CNTF in motor neurons. It might be presented to cell surface by its enzyme activation, and become a signal of early stage, when CNTF rescues motor neurons.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Research Institute, Seikagaku Corporation, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usuki
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cashman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyatake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005678:G(M2) Ganglioside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000097763:Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase