title: Ethanol alters access to the cell nucleus.
abstract: Ethanol is the most frequently used drug among humans. We tested the hypothesis whether ethanol, at clinically relevant concentrations modifies, signaling across the nuclear envelope (NE). In cell nuclei isolated from Xenopus oocytes, we measured NE electrical resistance and NE macromolecule permeability 1 to 20 h after addition of ethanol (0.05 to 0.2%). Furthermore, with atomic force microscopy, nuclear pores of the NE were imaged after exposure to ethanol. We found that NE permeability decreased within hours of ethanol exposure. In parallel, nuclei swell and nuclear pores form clusters in the NE. Force measurements on individual nuclear pores indicate that pores found in clusters are stiffer than those found randomly distributed in the NE. Application of a transcription blocker (actinomycin D) or RNase treatment of isolated nuclei in vitro after ethanol exposure prevents the permeability changes. In conclusion, ethanol, at commonly used concentrations, changes NE structure by transcriptional processes in the cell nucleus. Within hours, the NE becomes less permeable for diffusible ions and macromolecules. This could explain altered signaling to and communication with the cell nucleus in the pathophysiology of alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carl
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schillers
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oberleithner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol