TY - JOUR A1 - Breitinger, Ulrike A1 - Bahnassawy, Lamiaa M. A1 - Janzen, Dieter A1 - Römer, Vera A1 - Becker, Cord-Michael A1 - Villmann, Carmen A1 - Breitinger, Hans-Georg T1 - PKA and PKC modulators affect ion channel function and internalization of recombinant alpha1 and alpha1-beta glycine receptors JF - Frontiers in Molecular Neurosience N2 - Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are important mediators of fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. Their function is controlled by multiple cellular mechanisms, including intracellular regulatory processes. Modulation of GlyR function by protein kinases has been reported for many cell types, involving different techniques, and often yielding contradictory results. Here, we studied the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) on glycine induced currents in HEK293 cells expressing human homomeric \(\alpha\)1 and heteromeric \(\alpha\)1-\(\beta\) GlyRs using whole-cell patch clamp techniques as well as internalization assays. In whole-cell patch-clamp measurements, modulators were applied in the intracellular buffer at concentrations between 0.1 \(\mu\)M and 0.5 \(\mu\)M. EC50 of glycine increased upon application of the protein kinase activators Forskolin and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) but decreased in the presence of the PKC inhibitor Staurosporine aglycon and the PKA inhibitor H-89. Desensitization of recombinant \(\alpha\)1 receptors was significantly increased in the presence of Forskolin. Staurosporine aglycon, on the other hand decreased desensitization of heteromeric \(\alpha\)1-\(\beta\) GlyRs. The time course of receptor activation was determined for homomeric \(\alpha\)1 receptors and revealed two simultaneous effects: cells showed a decrease of EC50 after 3-6 min of establishing whole-cell configuration. This effect was independent of protein kinase modulators. All modulators of PKA and PKC, however, produced an additional shift of EC50, which overlay and eventually exceeded the cells intrinsic variation of EC50. The effect of kinase activators was abolished if the corresponding inhibitors were co-applied, consistent with PKA and PKC directly mediating the modulation of GlyR function. Direct effects of PKA-and PKC-modulators on receptor expression on transfected HEK cells were monitored within 15 min of drug application, showing a significant increase of receptor internalization with PKA and PKC activators, while the corresponding inhibitors had no significant effect on receptor surface expression or internalization. Our results confirm the observation that phosphorylation via PKA and PKC has a direct effect on the GlyR ion channel complex and plays an important role in the fine-tuning of glycinergic signaling. KW - glycine receptor KW - PKA KW - PKC KW - activators/inhibitors of phosphorylation KW - whole-cell currents KW - modulation kinetics KW - receptor internalization Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-220401 VL - 11 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schaefer, Natascha A1 - Roemer, Vera A1 - Janzen, Dieter A1 - Villmann, Carmen T1 - Impaired Glycine Receptor Trafficking in Neurological Diseases JF - Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience N2 - Ionotropic glycine receptors (GlyRs) enable fast synaptic neurotransmission in the adult spinal cord and brainstem. The inhibitory GlyR is a transmembrane glycinegated chloride channel. The immature GlyR protein undergoes various processing steps, e.g., folding, assembly, and maturation while traveling from the endoplasmic reticulum to and through the Golgi apparatus, where post-translational modifications, e.g., glycosylation occur. The mature receptors are forward transported via microtubules to the cellular surface and inserted into neuronal membranes followed by synaptic clustering. The normal life cycle of a receptor protein includes further processes like internalization, recycling, and degradation. Defects in GlyR life cycle, e.g., impaired protein maturation and degradation have been demonstrated to underlie pathological mechanisms of various neurological diseases. The neurological disorder startle disease is caused by glycinergic dysfunction mainly due to missense mutations in genes encoding GlyR subunits (GLRA1 and GLRB). In vitro studies have shown that most recessive forms of startle disease are associated with impaired receptor biogenesis. Another neurological disease with a phenotype similar to startle disease is a special form of stiff-person syndrome (SPS), which is most probably due to the development of GlyR autoantibodies. Binding of GlyR autoantibodies leads to enhanced receptor internalization. Here we focus on the normal life cycle of GlyRs concentrating on assembly and maturation, receptor trafficking, post-synaptic integration and clustering, and GlyR internalization/recycling/degradation. Furthermore, this review highlights findings on impairment of these processes under disease conditions such as disturbed neuronal ER-Golgi trafficking as the major pathomechanism for recessive forms of human startle disease. In SPS, enhanced receptor internalization upon autoantibody binding to the GlyR has been shown to underlie the human pathology. In addition, we discuss how the existing mouse models of startle disease increased our current knowledge of GlyR trafficking routes and function. This review further illuminates receptor trafficking of GlyR variants originally identified in startle disease patients and explains changes in the life cycle of GlyRs in patients with SPS with respect to structural and functional consequences at the receptor level. KW - glycine receptor KW - startle disease KW - autoimmune antibodies KW - protein maturation KW - trafficking pathways Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227531 VL - 11 IS - 291 ER - TY - THES A1 - Janzen, Dieter T1 - Functional analysis of ion channels and neuronal networks in 2D and 3D \(in\) \(vitro\) cell culture models T1 - Funktionelle Analyse von Ionenkanälen und neuronalen Netzwerken in 2D und 3D \(in\) \(vitro\) Zellkulturmodellen N2 - In the central nervous system, excitatory and inhibitory signal transduction processes are mediated by presynaptic release of neurotransmitters, which bind to postsynaptic receptors. Glycine receptors (GlyRs) and GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are ligand-gated ion channels that enable synaptic inhibition. One part of the present thesis elucidated the role of the GlyRα1 β8 β9 loop in receptor expression, localization, and function by means of amino acid substitutions at residue Q177. This residue is underlying a startle disease phenotype in the spontaneous mouse model shaky and affected homozygous animals are dying 4-6 weeks after birth. The residue is located in the β8 β9 loop and thus part of the signal transduction unit essential for proper ion channel function. Moreover, residue Q177 is involved in a hydrogen network important for ligand binding. We observed no difference in ion channel trafficking to the cellular membrane for GlyRα1Q177 variants. However, electrophysiological measurements demonstrated reduced glycine, taurine, and β alanine potency in comparison to the wildtype protein. Modeling revealed that some GlyRα1Q177 variants disrupt the hydrogen network around residue Q177. The largest alterations were observed for the Q177R variant, which displayed similar effects as the Q177K mutation present in shaky mice. Exchange with structurally related amino acids to the original glutamine preserved the hydrogen bond network. Our results underlined the importance of the GlyR β8 β9 loop for proper ion channel gating. GlyRs as well as GABAARs can be modulated by numerous allosteric substances. Recently, we focused on monoterpenes from plant extracts and showed positive allosteric modulation of GABAARs. Here, we focused on the effect of 11 sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids (SQTs) on GABAARs. SQTs are compounds naturally occurring in plants. We tested SQTs of the volatile fractions of hop and chamomile, including their secondary metabolites generated during digestion. Using the patch-clamp technique on transfected cells and neurons, we were able to observe significant GABAAR modulation by some of the compounds analyzed. Furthermore, a possible binding mechanism of SQTs to the neurosteroid binding site of the GABAAR was revealed by modeling and docking studies. We successfully demonstrated GABAAR modulation by SQTs and their secondary metabolites. The second part of the thesis investigated three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell culture models which are becoming more and more important in different part of natural sciences. The third dimension allows developing of complex models closer to the natural environment of cells, but also requires materials with mechanical and biological properties comparable to the native tissue of the encapsulated cells. This is especially challenging for 3D in vitro cultures of primary neurons and astrocytes as the brain is one of the softest tissues found in the body. Ultra-soft matrices that mimic the neuronal in vivo environment are difficult to handle. We have overcome these challenges using fiber scaffolds created by melt electrowriting to reinforce ultra-soft matrigel. Hence, the scaffolds enabled proper handling of the whole composites and thus structural and functional characterizations requiring movement of the composites to different experimental setups. Using these scaffold-matrigel composites, we successfully established methods necessary for the characterization of neuronal network formation. Before starting with neurons, a mouse fibroblast cell line was seeded in scaffold-matrigel composites and transfected with the GlyR. 3D cultured cells displayed high viability, could be immunocytochemically stained, and electrophysiologically analyzed. In a follow-up study, primary mouse cortical neurons in fiber-reinforced matrigel were grown for up to 21 days in vitro. Neurons displayed high viability, and quantification of neurite lengths and synapse density revealed a fully formed neuronal network already after 7 days in 3D culture. Calcium imaging and patch clamp experiments demonstrated spontaneous network activity, functional voltage-gated sodium channels as well as action potential firing. By combining ultra-soft hydrogels with fiber scaffolds, we successfully created a cell culture model suitable for future work in the context of cell-cell interactions between primary cells of the brain and tumor cells, which will help to elucidate the molecular pathology of aggressive brain tumors and possibly other disease mechanisms. N2 - Im zentralen Nervensystem wird die exzitatorische und inhibitorische Signaltransduktion durch die präsynaptische Ausschüttung von Neurotransmittern, die an postsynaptische Rezeptoren binden, gesteuert. Glycinrezeptoren (GlyRs) und GABAA-Rezeptoren (GABAARs) sind ligandengesteuerte Ionenkanäle, die die synaptische Inhibition ermöglichen. Ein Teil der vorliegenden Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Einfluss des GlyRα1 β8 β9-Loops auf Expression, Lokalisation und Funktion des Rezeptors. Dazu wurde ein Aminosäureaustausch an Position Q177 durchgeführt, welche dem Startle-Krankheit-Phänotyp des spontanen Mausmodells shaky zugrunde liegt. Betroffene homozygote Tiere versterben 4-6 Wochen nach Geburt. Die Position befindet sich im β8 β9-Loop und ist damit Teil einer Signaltransduktionseinheit, die essenziell für die korrekte Rezeptorfunktion ist. Zudem ist Position Q177 teil eines Wasserstoffbrückennetzwerks, welches für die Ligandenbindung erforderlich ist. Wir konnten keinen Einfluss der GlyRα1Q177-Varianten auf den Transport des Rezeptors zur Zellmembran feststellen. Allerdings zeigten elektrophysiologische Messungen eine verringerte Wirksamkeit von Glycin, Taurin und β Alanin verglichen mit dem Wildtyp-Protein. Mithilfe von Proteinmodellierung konnte gezeigt werden, dass manche der GlyRα1Q177-Varianten das Wasserstoffbrückennetzwerk im Umfeld von Position Q177 stören. Die größten Effekte wurden bei der Q177R-Variante beobachtet, die sich ähnlich zur Q177K-Mutation der shaky-Maus verhielt. Der Austausch zu einer Aminosäure, die strukturell ähnlich zum ursprünglichen Glutamin ist, störte das Wasserstoffbrückennetzwerk hingegen nicht. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, wie wichtig der GlyR β8 β9-Loop für die Aufrechterhaltung der Rezeptorfunktion ist. Sowohl GlyRs als auch GABAARs können durch verschiedenste allosterische Substanzen moduliert werden. Zuletzt zeigten wir positive allosterische Modulation von GABAARs durch Monoteperne aus Pflanzenextrakten. Hier haben wir uns auf den Effekt von 11 Sesquiterpenen und Sesquiterpenoiden (SQTs) auf GABAARs fokussiert. SQTs sind natürlich in Pflanzen vorkommende Stoffe. Wir testeten SQTs aus dem flüchtigen Anteil von Hopfen und Kamille, sowie deren sekundäre Metaboliten, die während der Verdauung entstehen. Mithilfe der Patch-Clamp-Methode konnten wir in transfizierten Zellenlinien und neuronalen Primärzellen signifikante Modulation von GABAARs durch einige der SQTs beobachten. Außerdem wurde mithilfe von Docking-Simulationen eine mögliche Bindung von SQTs in der Neurosteroid-Bindungstasche gezeigt. Zusammengefasst haben wir erfolgreich die Modulation von GABAARs durch SQTs und deren sekundäre Metaboliten demonstriert. Der zweite Teil der vorliegenden Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dreidimensionalen (3D) in vitro Zellkulturmodellen, die zunehmend an Bedeutung gewinnen. Die dritte Dimension erlaubt die Entwicklungen von komplexen Modellen, die sich der natürlichen Umgebung von Zellen annähern. Dafür werden Materialien benötigt, deren mechanische und biologische Eigenschaften denen des ursprünglichen Gewebes der eingeschlossenen Zellen ähneln. Dies ist insbesondere eine Herausforderung bei 3D in vitro Kulturen von primären Neuronen und Astrozyten, da das Gehirn eines der weichsten Gewebe des Körpers ist. Ultraweiche Matrizen, welche die neuronale Umgebung nachahmen, sind schwer zu handhaben. Wir haben dieses Problem gelöst, indem wir ultraweiches Matrigel mit Fasergerüsten verstärkten, die mithilfe von Melt Electrowriting gedruckt wurden. Somit können diese Matrigel-Faser-Komposite für strukturelle und funktionelle Experimente benutzt werden, die häufige Bewegung und Transport der Proben voraussetzen. Mit diesen Matrigel-Faser-Kompositen haben wir Methoden etabliert, die für die Charakterisierung von neuronalen Netzwerken erforderlich sind. Anstelle von Neuronen haben wir dafür eine Mausfibroblasten-Zelllinie benutzt und mit dem GlyR transfiziert. Zellen in den Matrigel-Faser-Komposite zeigten eine hohe Viabilität, konnten immunocytochemisch angefärbt werden, und mithilfe von elektrophysiologischen Methoden gemessen werden. Darauf aufbauend haben wir primäre kortikale Mausneurone in faserverstärktem Matrigel für bis zu 21 Tage wachsen lassen. Die Neurone zeigten eine hohe Viabilität und durch Quantifikation von Neuritenlänge und Synapsendichte konnte ein vollständig ausgeformtes Netzwerk nach 7 Tagen in 3D-Kultur demonstriert werden. Mithilfe von Calcium-Imaging und Patch-Clamp-Experimenten wurden spontane Netzwerkaktivität, funktionelle spannungsgesteuerte Natriumkanäle, sowie Aktionspotentiale nachgewiesen. Somit konnten wir durch Kombination von einem ultraweichen Hydrogel mit Fasergerüsten erfolgreich ein Zellkulturmodell entwickeln, das zukünftig für die Erforschung von Zell-Zell-Interaktionen zwischen primären Gehirnzellen und Tumorzellen benutzt werden kann. Damit kann die molekulare Pathologie von aggressiven Hirntumoren und möglicherweise anderen Krankheitsmechanismen weiter aufgeklärt werden. KW - Zellkultur KW - Ionenkanal KW - Aminobuttersäure KW - Glycin KW - Rezeptor KW - 3D cell culture KW - neuronal network KW - ion channel KW - glycine receptor KW - GABA receptor KW - 3D-Zellkultur KW - Nervennetz KW - Glycinrezeptor KW - GABA-Rezeptor Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-251700 ER -