title: Akt1/PKBalpha protects PC12 cells against the parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and reduces the levels of oxygen-free radicals.
abstract: The phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase-Akt/PKB survival pathway protects neurons from apoptosis caused by diverse stress stimuli. However, its protective effect against neurotoxins that produce oxidative stress and neurodegeneration has not been investigated. We analyzed the effect of this pathway on the action of the parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). Overexpression of a membrane-targeted, N-myristylated fusion protein of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and mouse Akt1 attenuated the apoptotic effect of the neurotoxin in PC12 cells. This effect was not due to protection of mitochondrial complex I activity or restoration of energy charge. Following MPP+-treatment, myr-EGFP-Akt1-transfected cells exhibited an unaltered mitochondrial membrane potential and lower ROS levels than control cells. These results provide a new site of action of Akt/PKB at the level of the oxidative detoxifying cell machinery and suggest that this effect may be responsible in part for the resistance of myr-EGFP-Akt1-expressing cells to oxidative stress and MPP+-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols UAM-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
mesh_terms: D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; C494920:Akt1 protein, rat; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium