title: Rat pineal arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase: cyclic AMP inducibility of its gene depends on prior entrained photoperiod.
abstract: The nocturnal biosynthesis of melatonin in the rat pineal depends on strongly enhanced expression of the enzyme N-acetyltransferase [arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT); EC 2.3.1.87]. AA-NAT transcription is stimulated during darkness by adrenergic inputs to the pineal from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Nocturnal activation of the AA-NAT promotor following stimulation of pinealocyte adrenoceptors involves cAMP-dependent stimulation of protein kinase A (PKA). The nocturnal rise in AA-NAT depends on the lighting conditions. As compared with light/dark (LD) 12:12, the delay between dark onset and the nocturnal rise in AA-NAT is shortened under long photoperiods and prolonged under short photoperiods. Here, we report that the rapidity of nocturnal AA-NAT induction depends on cAMP inducibility of the gene. Accordingly, cAMP produces a strong AA-NAT response in pineals obtained from rats housed under long photoperiods and a weak AA-NAT response under short photoperiods. Changes in AA-NAT inducibility are fully developed not earlier than after seven cycles. This observation suggests that long-term changes in the photoperiod are necessary to achieve full adjustment of cAMP inducibility of the gene. A direct relationship was found between cAMP-dependent AA-NAT inducibility and the pineal protein kinase A (PKA) activity. As compared to LD 12:12, PKA activity was increased under LD 20:4 and attenuated under LD 4:20. On the basis of the present findings, we suggest that the photoperiod determines the effectiveness of nocturnal AA-NAT induction by long-term modulation of the intrapineal pathway that transmits the cAMP signal to the AA-NAT gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Saarstrasse 19-21, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathes
authors.forename: Isabell
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwerdtle
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pogorzelski
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holthues
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vollrath
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spessert
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D003624:Darkness; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017440:Photoperiod; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D008550:Melatonin; D009638:Norepinephrine