Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 5, 1233-1238, Copyright © 1985 by Society for Neuroscience
Regulation of synthesis of the neurosecretory egg-laying hormone of Aplysia: antagonistic roles of calcium and cyclic adenosine 3':5'- monophosphate
CL Bruehl and RW Berry
The potential role of cyclic nucleotides and calcium as regulators of
neuropeptide biosynthesis was examined in the bag cell neurons of Aplysia,
which produce and secrete a peptide egg-laying hormone (ELH). Elevated
external potassium, which stimulates ELH biosynthesis, increased bag cell
cAMP levels when assayed in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor.
Dopamine and serotonin, which increase bag cell cAMP levels, both
stimulated ELH synthesis, as did the phosphodiesterase inhibitor
isobutylmethylxanthine, the specific adenylate cyclase activator forskolin,
and the phosphodiesterase- resistant cAMP analogue 8-benzylthio-cAMP. The
stimulatory effect on peptide biosynthesis appears to be specific for cAMP,
as bag cell cGMP levels were not altered significantly by high potassium or
forskolin, and 8-bromo-cGMP did not stimulate ELH synthesis. In contrast to
cAMP, intracellular calcium inhibits ELH production: biosynthesis of the
peptide was elevated in a 0 Ca2+/EGTA medium and reduced in the presence of
the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Synthesis was also elevated in the presence of
the calmodulin inhibitor calmidazolium. Treatment of intact bag cells with
0 Ca2+/EGTA or A23187 did not alter cAMP levels significantly, suggesting
that calcium exerts its effect on peptide synthesis independently of cAMP.
The antagonistic effects of cAMP and calcium on ELH synthesis parallel
their effects on bag cell excitability, suggesting that, in these cells,
neuropeptide synthesis and secretion are co-regulated by the same
intracellular messengers.