title: cAMP cascade leads to Ras activation in cortical neurons.
abstract: Monoaminergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are highly expressed in the CNS at the cerebrocortical level, where they support a variety of behavioural responses. To elucidate possible intracellular signalling pathways coupled to these receptors, we have studied their ability to activate extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in cultured cortical neurons. An increase in ERK activity was observed after stimulation of neurons with dopamine or serotonin, and with agonists selective for various GPCRs. In addition, ERK activation was also observed following treatment with phorbol dibutyrate (PdBu) and forskolin, activators of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA), respectively. Concomitant with ERK activation, all the monoaminergic agonists tested also increased the level of active Ras (Ras-GTP). Surprisingly, Ras activation was also observed after activation of cAMP pathway, and this effect was at least in part mediated by PKA. Ras activation by cAMP was unique for neurons, since in PC12 cells forskolin caused activation of ERK but did not increase Ras-GTP level. These results highlight the relevance of Ras as a target for multiple signalling cascades leading to activation of the ERK pathway in neurons.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9-20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tininini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barassi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Racagni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sturani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zippel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005333:Fetus; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D005576:Colforsin; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins