title: Selective adrenergic/cyclic AMP-dependent switch-off of proteasomal proteolysis alone switches on neural signal transduction: an example from the pineal gland.
abstract: The molecular processes underlying neural transmission are central issues in neurobiology. Here we describe a novel mechanism through which noradrenaline (NA) activates its target cells, using the mammalian pineal organ as a model. In this neuroendocrine transducer, NA stimulates arylalkylamine N:-acetyltransferase (AANAT; EC 2.3.1. 87), the key enzyme regulating the nocturnal melatonin production. In rodents, AANAT protein accumulates as a result of enhanced transcription, but in primates and ungulates, the AANAT mRNA level fluctuates only marginally, indicating that other mechanisms regulate AANAT protein and activity. These were investigated in cultured bovine pinealocytes. AANAT mRNA was readily detectable in unstimulated pinealocytes, and levels did not change following NA treatment. In contrast, NA increased AANAT protein levels in parallel with AANAT activity, apparently through a cyclic AMP-mediated mechanism. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the changes in AANAT protein levels occurred in virtually all pinealocytes. Inhibition of AANAT degradation by proteasomal proteolysis alone was found to switch-on enzyme activity by increasing AANAT protein levels five- to 10-fold. Accordingly, under unstimulated conditions AANAT protein is continually synthesized and immediately destroyed by proteasomal proteolysis. NA appears to act via cyclic AMP to protect AANAT from proteolytic destruction, resulting in accumulation of the protein. These findings show that tightly regulated control of proteasomal proteolysis of a specific protein alone can play a pivotal role in neural regulation.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie, Institut für Anatomie II, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schomerus
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Korf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laedtke
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011691:Puromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C067713:lactacystin; D005576:Colforsin; D011691:Puromycin; D003994:Bucladesine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D000111:Acetylcysteine; D009638:Norepinephrine