Calcineurin primes immature gonadotropin-releasing hormone-secreting neuroendocrine cells for migration.
During development, many neurons display calcium-dependent migration, but the role of this messenger in regulating gene expression leading to this event has not yet been elucidated. Among the decoders of calcium signals is calcineurin, a Ca(2+)/calmodulin serine/threonine phosphatase that has been involved in both short-term and long-term cellular changes. By using immortalized GnRH-secreting neurons, we now show that, in vitro, Ca(2+)-dependent gene expression, proceeding via calcineurin and the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells, is a key player controlling the chemomigratory potential of developing GnRH-secreting neurons. Furthermore, our data highlight the switch nature of this phosphatase, whose activation or inactivation guides cells to proceed from one genetic program to the next.
Zaninetti
R
R
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari, Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche and Drug and Food Biotechnology Center, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro, 28100 Novara, Italy.
Tacchi
S
S
Erriquez
J
J
Distasi
C
C
Maggi
R
R
Cariboni
A
A
Condorelli
F
F
Canonico
P L
PL
Genazzani
A A
AA
D001692:Biological Transport; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000502:physiology*; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002460:Cell Line; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology
D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D019703:Calcineurin; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus