QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (32) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Criado, M. Articles by Ballesta, J. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Criado, M. Articles by Ballesta, J. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Volume 17, Number 17, Issue of September 1, 1997 pp. 6554-6564
Copyright ©1997 Society for Neuroscience

Differential Expression of -Bungarotoxin-Sensitive Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors in Adrenergic Chromaffin Cells: A Role for Transcription Factor Egr-1

Received Feb. 18, 1997; revised June 6, 1997; accepted June 13, 1997.

Manuel Criado^{1, 4}, Eduardo Domínguez del Toro^{1, 4}, Carmen Carrasco-Serrano^{1, 4}, Frazer I. Smillie^{1, 4}, José M. Juíz^{2, 4}, Salvador Viniegra^{1, 4}, and Juan J. Ballesta^{3, 4}

Departments of ¹ Neurochemistry, ² Histology, and ³ Pharmacology, and ⁴ Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, 03550 San Juan, Alicante, Spain

Adrenomedullary chromaffin cells express at least two subtypes of acetylcholine nicotinic receptors, which differ in their sensitivity to the snake toxin -bungarotoxin. One subtype is involved in the activation step of the catecholamine secretion process and is not blocked by the toxin. The other is -bungarotoxin-sensitive, and its functional role has not yet been defined. The 7 subunit is a component of this subtype. Autoradiography of bovine adrenal gland slices with -bungarotoxin indicates that these receptors are restricted to medullary areas adjacent to the adrenal cortex and colocalize with the enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT), which confers the adrenergic phenotype to chromaffin cells. Transcripts corresponding to the 7 subunit also are localized exclusively to adrenergic cells. To identify possible transcriptional regulatory elements of the 7 subunit gene involved in the restricted expression of nicotinic receptors, we isolated and characterized its 5 flanking region, revealing putative binding sites for the immediate early gene transcription factor Egr-1, which is known to activate PNMT expression. In reporter gene transfection experiments, Egr-1 increased 7 promoter activity by up to sevenfold. Activation was abolished when the most promoter-proximal of the Egr-1 sites was mutated, whereas modification of a close upstream site produced a partial decrease of the Egr-1 response. Because Egr-1 was found to be expressed exclusively in adrenergic cells, we suggest that this transcription factor may be part of a common mechanism involved in the induction of the adrenergic phenotype and the differential expression of -bungarotoxin-sensitive nicotinic receptors in the adrenal gland.

Key words: ACh receptors; -bungarotoxin; adrenergic; chromaffin cell; 7 subunit; Egr-1

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Mexal, P. M. Jenkins, M. A. Lautner, E. Iacob, E. L. Crouch, and J. A. Stitzel {alpha}7 Nicotinic Receptor Gene Promoter Polymorphisms in Inbred Mice Affect Expression in a Cell Type-specific Fashion J. Biol. Chem., May 4, 2007; 282(18): 13220 - 13227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. R. Reynolds and J. R. Hoidal Temporal-Spatial Expression and Transcriptional Regulation of {alpha}7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor by Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 and Early Growth Response Factor-1 during Murine Lung Development J. Biol. Chem., September 16, 2005; 280(37): 32548 - 32554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Malkani, K. J. Wallace, M. P. Donley, and J. B. Rosen An egr-1 (zif268) Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Infused Into the Amygdala Disrupts Fear Conditioning Learn. Mem., September 1, 2004; 11(5): 617 - 624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. Rosen The Neurobiology of Conditioned and Unconditioned Fear: A Neurobehavioral System Analysis of the Amygdala Behav Cogn Neurosci Rev, March 1, 2004; 3(1): 23 - 41. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. O. Martin, M.-N. Mathieu, and N. C. Guerineau Evidence for Long-Lasting Cholinergic Control of Gap Junctional Communication between Adrenal Chromaffin Cells J. Neurosci., May 1, 2003; 23(9): 3669 - 3678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Valor, A. Campos-Caro, C. Carrasco-Serrano, J. A. Ortiz, J. J. Ballesta, and M. Criado Transcription Factors NF-Y and Sp1 Are Important Determinants of the Promoter Activity of the Bovine and Human Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor beta 4 Subunit Genes J. Biol. Chem., March 8, 2002; 277(11): 8866 - 8876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. G. Mukhin, D. Gündisch, A. G. Horti, A. O. Koren, G. Tamagnan, A. S. Kimes, J. Chambers, D. B. Vaupel, S. L. King, M. R. Picciotto, et al. 5-Iodo-A-85380, an alpha 4beta 2 Subtype-Selective Ligand for Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Mol. Pharmacol., March 1, 2000; 57(3): 642 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Campos-Caro, C. Carrasco-Serrano, L. M. Valor, S. Viniegra, J. J. Ballesta, and M. Criado Multiple Functional Sp1 Domains in the Minimal Promoter Region of the Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor alpha 5 Subunit Gene J. Biol. Chem., February 19, 1999; 274(8): 4693 - 4701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Lopez, C. Montiel, C. J. Herrero, E. Garcia-Palomero, I. Mayorgas, J. M. Hernandez-Guijo, M. Villarroya, R. Olivares, L. Gandia, J. M. McIntosh, et al. Unmasking the functions of the chromaffin cell alpha 7 nicotinic receptor by using short pulses of acetylcholine and selective blockers PNAS, November 24, 1998; 95(24): 14184 - 14189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Carrasco-Serrano, A. Campos-Caro, S. Viniegra, J. J. Ballesta, and M. Criado GC- and E-box Motifs as Regulatory Elements in the Proximal Promoter Region of the Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor alpha 7 Subunit Gene J. Biol. Chem., August 7, 1998; 273(32): 20021 - 20028. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q. Du, I. N. Melnikova, and P. D. Gardner Differential Effects of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K on Sp1- and Sp3-mediated Transcriptional Activation of a Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Promoter J. Biol. Chem., July 31, 1998; 273(31): 19877 - 19883. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Loughnan, T. Bond, A. Atkins, J. Cuevas, D. J. Adams, N. M. Broxton, B. G. Livett, J. G. Down, A. Jones, P. F. Alewood, et al. alpha -Conotoxin EpI, a Novel Sulfated Peptide from Conus episcopatus That Selectively Targets Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors J. Biol. Chem., June 19, 1998; 273(25): 15667 - 15674. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Nagavarapu, S. Danthi, and R. T. Boyd Characterization of a Rat Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor alpha 7 Promoter J. Biol. Chem., May 11, 2001; 276(20): 16749 - 16757. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help