Plasma-treated carbon-fiber microelectrodes for improved purine detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

Here, we developed N2 and O2 plasma-treated carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFME) for improved purine detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). Plasma treatment affects the topology and functionality of carbon which impacts the electrode-analyte interaction. CFME's are less sensitive to purines compared to catecholamines. Knowledge of how the electrode surface drives purine-electrode interaction would provide insight into methods to improve purine detection. Here, plasma-treated CFME's with N2 and O2 plasma was used to investigate the extent to which the surface functionality and topology affects purine detection and to improve purine sensing with FSCV. On average, O2 plasma increased the oxidative current for adenosine and ATP by 6.0 ± 1.2-fold and 6.4 ± 1.6-fold, and guanosine and GTP by 2.8 ± 0.47-fold and 5.8 ± 1.4-fold, respectively (n = 9). The O2 plasma increased the surface roughness and oxygen functionality. N2 plasma increased the oxidative current for adenosine and ATP by 1.5 ± 0.15-fold and 1.9 ± 0.23-fold, and guanosine and GTP by 1.4 ± 0.20-fold and 1.5 ± 0.20-fold, respectively (n = 11). N2 plasma increased the nitrogen functionality with minimal increases in roughness. Both plasma treatments impacted purines more than dopamine. Langmuir isotherms revealed that both plasma gases impact the theoretical surface coverage and adsorption strength of purines at the electrode. Overall, we show that purine detection is improved at surfaces with increased surface roughness, and oxygen and amine functionality. Plasma-treated CFMEs could be used in the future to study the analyte-electrode interaction of other neurochemicals.

Cargo-sorting signals promote polymerization of adaptor protein-1 in an Arf-1.GTP-independent manner.

Adaptor protein-1 (AP-1) is recruited onto the trans-Golgi network via binding to Arf-1.GTP, cargo-sorting signals and phosphoinositides, where it orchestrates the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicular carriers that transport cargo molecules to endosomes. Here we show that cytosolic AP-1 polymerizes when recruited onto enriched Golgi membranes and liposomes containing covalently attached cargo-sorting signal peptides. Incubation of cytosolic or purified AP-1 with soluble sorting signal peptides also resulted in AP-1 polymerization, showing that Arf-1.GTP and membranes are not required for this process. We propose that cargo-induced polymerization of AP-1 contributes to stabilization of the coat complex in the formation of clathrin-coated buds.

Tubulin oligomers and microtubule oscillations. Antagonistic role of microtubule stabilizers and destabilizers.

Several types of non-equilibrium phenomena have been observed in microtubule polymerization, including dynamic instability, assembly overshoot and oscillations. They can be interpreted in terms of interactions between tubulin subunits (= alpha, beta heterodimers), microtubules, and a third state, oligomers, which represent intermediates between microtubule disassembly and the regeneration of assembly-competent subunits by GTP. Here we examine the role of oligomers by varying conditions that stabilize or destabilize microtubules and/or oligomers. By varying their ratio one can drive tubulin assembly either into steady-state microtubules or oligomers. These regimens of assembly conditions are separated by a region where microtubules oscillate. The oscillations can be simulated by computer modelling, based on a reaction scheme involving the three states of tubulin and nucleotide exchange on tubulin subunits, but not on microtubules or oligomers.

Adenine and guanine nucleotide content of Triton-extracted cytoskeletal fractions of nonmuscle cells.

Determination of the adenine and guanine nucleotides in Triton X-100-extracted cytoskeletal fractions was utilized to estimate the actin and tubulin content of the assembled cytoskeletons in nonmuscle cells. Results with stable cell lines (i.e., rat pheochromocytoma PC12 and neuroblastoma NB41A3) and with primary cultures (i.e., human foreskin fibroblasts and chick embryonic dorsal root ganglion neurons) exhibited levels of cytoskeletal fraction ADP and GDP consistent with their assembly-induced nucleoside-5'-triphosphatase activities only previously analyzed in vitro. Likewise, estimates of actin and tubulin content fall in the range of values obtained by other experimental approaches. In contrast, analysis of whole cell nucleotides showed high [ATP]/[ADP] and [GTP]/[GDP] ratios, suggesting there is little, if any, contamination of the cytoskeletal nucleotide pool by other cellular nucleotides.

Structure-function relationships of elongation factor Tu. Isolation and activity of the guanine-nucleotide-binding domain.

The guanine-nucleotide-binding domain (G domain) of elongation factor Tu(EF-Tu) consisting of 203 amino acid residues, corresponding to the N-terminal half of the molecule, has been recently engineered by deleting part of the tufA gene and partially characterized [Parmeggiani, A., Swart, G. W. M., Mortensen, K. K., Jensen, M., Clark, B. F. C., Dente, L. and Cortese, R. (1987) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 84, 3141-3145]. In an extension of this project we describe here the purification steps leading to the isolation of highly purified G domain in preparative amounts and a number of functional properties. The G domain is a relatively stable protein, though less stable than EF-Tu towards thermal denaturation (t50% = 41.3 degrees C vs. 46 degrees C, respectively). Unlike EF-Tu, its affinity for GDP and GTP, as well as the association and dissociation rates of the relative complexes are similar, as determined under a number of different experimental conditions. Like EF-Tu, the GTPase of the G domain is strongly enhanced by increasing concentrations of Li+, K+, Na+ or NH+4, up to the molar range. The effects of the specific cations shows similarities and diversities when compared to the effects on EF-Tu. K+ and Na+ are the most active followed by NH+4 and Li+ whilst Cs+ is inactive. In the presence of divalent cations, optimum stimulation occurs in the range 3-5 mM, Mg2+ being more effective than Mn2+ and Ca2+. Monovalent and divalent cations are both necessary components for expressing the intrinsic GTPase activity of the G domain. The pH curve of the G domain GTPase displays an optimum at pH 7-8, similar to that of EF-Tu. The 70-S ribosome is the only EF-Tu ligand affecting the G domain in the same manner as that observed with the intact molecule, although the extent of the stimulatory effect is lower. The rate of dissociation of the G domain complexes with GTP and GDP as well as the GTPase activity are also influenced by EF-Ts and kirromycin, but the effects evoked are small and in most cases different from those exerted on EF-Tu. The inability of the G domain to sustain poly(Phe) synthesis is in agreement with the apparent lack of formation of a ternary complex between the G domain.GTP complex and aa-tRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor juxtamembrane C-terminal peptide confers activation to specific G proteins in brain.

Under reducing conditions of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the CB(1) receptor exists in its monomeric form as well as in an SDS-resistant high molecular weight form that appears to be devoid of G proteins. The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor was immunoprecipitated from 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonate-solubilized rat brain membranes using an antibody against the CB(1) receptor N terminus. The CB(1) receptor was coimmunoprecipitated with its associated G proteins, specifically those of the Galpha(i/o) family, but not Galpha(s), Galpha(q), or Galpha(z). The CB(1) receptor-Galpha(i/o) complex existed in the absence of exogenous agonists, and the cannabinoid receptor agonist desacetyllevonantradol failed to alter the stoichiometry of the receptor-Galpha(i/o) interaction. Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate could disrupt the interaction. A peptide derived from the CB(1) receptor juxtamembrane C-terminal domain, peptide CB(1)401-417, autonomously activates G(i/o) proteins. Peptide CB(1)401-417 competitively disrupted the CB(1) receptor association with Galpha(o) and Galpha(i3) but not Galpha(i1) or Galpha(i2). This G protein specificity was also observed in detergent extracts from membranes of the frontal cortex, striatum, and cerebellum. Alternative peptides, including peptides from the CB(1) receptor third intracellular loop and the G protein activating peptide mastoparan-7, failed to promote uncoupling from Galpha(o). A CB(2) receptor juxtamembrane C-terminal peptide failed to disrupt the CB(1) receptor-Galpha(o) complex. These studies illustrate that the CB(1) receptor can exist as an SDS-resistant multimer. In 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonate detergent, the CB(1) receptor exists in a complex with G proteins of the G(i/o) family in the absence of exogenous agonists. Furthermore, this study provides the first description of domain specificity for interaction with a selective set of G proteins.