In the present study we investigated the modulation of hypothalamic NMDA receptor-mediated currents by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus oocytes injected with rat hypothalamic mRNA. Application of forskolin, which activates PKA by means of cyclic AMP stimulation, caused a transient increase of NMDA-induced currents, whereas the ...

The alpha-toxin-permeabilized betaTC3 cell has been utilized as an experimental model for the identification of protein phosphatases responsible for the dephosphorylation and deactivation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in situ. In this model, the elevation of Ca2+ from 0.05 to 10 microM induced the near-total conversion of CaM kinase II into a Ca2+/calmodulin-ind...

Presynaptic transporter proteins regulate the clearance of extracellular biogenic amines after release and are important targets for multiple psychoactive agents, including amphetamines, cocaine, and antidepressant drugs. Recent studies reveal that dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) transporters (DAT, NET, and SERT, respectively) are rapidly regulated by direct or receptor...

Calyculin A (Caly A) is cell permeable toxin widely used in cell biology research as an inhibitor of type 1 and type 2A protein Ser/Thr phosphatases of the PPP family. Here we tested effects of low concentrations of Caly A on proliferation of human cancer and non-cancer cell lines. We found that long-term 0.3 nM Caly A prevented G1 to S phase cell cycle progression in human Hs-68 fibroblasts an...

In identified B6 neurons of Aplysia buccal ganglia under voltage-clamp, application of quisqualic acid (QA) induces a unique slow K(+)-current response independent of G-protein. The response was augmented by raising the temperature in a similar fashion to the Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH(2)-induced K(+)-current response mediated by Gi/o. The QA-induced K(+)-current response markedly increased during the ...

A novel immunoassay was developed for specific detection of cyanobacterial cyclic peptide hepatotoxins which inhibit protein phosphatases. Immunoassay methods currently used for microcystin and nodularin detection and analysis do not provide information on the toxicity of microcystin and/or nodularin variants. Furthermore, protein phosphatase inhibition-based assays for these toxins are not spe...