title: PKC-dependent stimulation of EAAT3 glutamate transporter does not require the integrity of actin cytoskeleton.
abstract: The activity and the membrane expression of EAAT3 glutamate transporter are stimulated upon PKC activation by phorbol esters in C6 rat glioma cells. To investigate the role of cytoskeleton in these effects, we have employed actin-perturbing toxins and found that the perturbation of actin cytoskeleton inhibits basal but not phorbol-stimulated EAAT3 activity and membrane trafficking. In the absence of phorbols, latrunculin A, a toxin that disassembles actin cytoskeleton, produced a rapid inhibition of EAAT3 activity, due to a decrease in transport V(max). The inhibitory effect was fully reversible and was not detected for other sodium dependent transport systems for amino acids. However, latrunculin did not prevent the increase in transport caused by phorbol esters and, moreover, cells pre-treated with phorbols were resistant to the inhibitory effect of the toxin on EAAT3 activity. Biotinylation experiments indicated that the inhibitory effect of latrunculin was attributable to a decreased expression of the carrier on the membrane, while the toxin did not suppress the PKC-dependent increase in EAAT3 membrane abundance. Latrunculin A effects on EAAT3 were shared by cytochalasin D, a toxin that disorganizes actin filaments with a distinct mechanism of action. On the contrary, a small, but significant, increase of EAAT3 activity was observed upon incubation with jasplakinolide, a drug that stabilizes actin microfilaments. Also jasplakinolide, however, did not hinder phorbol-dependent stimulation of aspartate transport. Colchicine, a toxin that disrupts microtubules, also lowered EAAT3 activity without preventing transport stimulation by phorbols, while microtubule stabilization by paclitaxel led to an increase in aspartate transport. It is concluded that, in C6 cells, the PKC-mediated stimulatory effects on EAAT3 are cytoskeleton-independent, while in the absence of phorbols, the transporter is partially inhibited by the disorganization of either actin microfilaments or microtubules. These results suggest that EAAT3 trafficking in C6 cells involves different pools of transporters.
authors.affiliation: Unit of General and Clinical Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Bianca Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rotoli
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dall'Asta
authors.forename: Gian C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gazzola
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Ovidio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bussolati
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003572:Cytochalasins / Q000494:pharmacology; D047630:Depsipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D050580:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D053778:Thiazolidines
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D003572:Cytochalasins; D047630:Depsipeptides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D050580:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3; D010703:Phorbol Esters; C493398:Slc1a1 protein, rat; D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; C057531:jasplakinolide; C031218:cytochalasin A; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D011493:Protein Kinase C; C037067:latrunculin A