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Query: EC:3.1.1.7 (
acetylcholinesterase
)
28,390
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Previous studies on adult rat and mouse skeletal muscles have shown the spatial association of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) I to the dystrophin complex (DC) in the sarcolemma of type II fibers and, in combination with the NMDA receptor-1 (NMDAR-1), an accumulation of the enzyme at the neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) of this fiber type. Using immunohistochemistry, enzyme histochemistry and alpha-bungarotoxin labeling we report here temporal relationships of NOS I, members of the DC, other components of the cortical cytoskeleton in the junctional and non-junctional sarcolemma as well as of molecules involved in NMJ transmission of either type I or II myofibers especially in head and neck muscles during postnatal rat and mouse development. Fiber typing was performed by specific anti-myosin antibodies. Beginning with postnatal day (PD) 1 in both fiber types dystrophin, dystrophin-associated glycoproteins (DAG),
beta-dystroglycan
, alpha-sarcoglycan (adhalin) and spectrin were present in the junctional and extrajunctional sarcolemma, while utrophin,
acetylcholinesterase
, alpha-bungarotoxin labeled acetylcholine receptors were concentrated in the NMJ of both fiber types. NOS I activity and immunoreactivity were only found in the NMJ region of type II fibers, where NMDAR-1 appeared around PD 15. Primarily in the tongue there was no strict correlation between muscle fiber type and NOS I behaviour during early postnatal development, and muscle fibers not reactive for myosin antibodies against both fiber types were negative or positive for NOS I but always positive for the other molecules either in both the junctional and extrajunctional sarcolemma or in the NMJ only; later all muscle fibers of the tongue were of type II and NOS I-positive. Maturation of enzyme activities, immunoreactivities and AChR intensity depended on the respective muscle and can last until PD 50; in the tongue and neck muscles they appeared to increase approximately until PD 20 or 25. In conclusion, in type II fibers of rat and mouse skeletal muscle all molecules with the exception of NMDAR-1 and relevant for NOS I targeting and positioning as well as function inside and outside the NMJ are already present at birth, but their concentrations and/or activities increase postnatally, and the adult situation appears to be reached between the third and seventh week of postnatal life. Therefore, initial interactions between NOS I and the other molecules necessary for the formation of the NOS I-DC in and on the way to the sarcolemma presumably take place before birth.
...
PMID:Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) I during postnatal development in rat and mouse skeletal muscle. 938 14
Formation of the synaptic basal lamina at vertebrate neuromuscular junction involves the accumulation of numerous specialized extracellular matrix molecules including a specific form of
acetylcholinesterase
(
AChE
), the collagenic-tailed form. The mechanisms responsible for its localization at sites of nerve- muscle contact are not well understood. To understand synaptic
AChE
localization, we synthesized a fluorescent conjugate of fasciculin 2, a snake alpha-neurotoxin that tightly binds to the catalytic subunit. Prelabeling
AChE
on the surface of Xenopus muscle cells revealed that preexisting
AChE
molecules could be recruited to form clusters that colocalize with acetylcholine receptors at sites of nerve-muscle contact. Likewise, purified avian
AChE
with collagen-like tail, when transplanted to Xenopus muscle cells before the addition of nerves, also accumulated at sites of nerve-muscle contact. Using exogenous avian
AChE
as a marker, we show that the collagenic-tailed form of the enzyme binds to the heparan-sulfate proteoglycan perlecan, which in turn binds to the
dystroglycan
complex through
alpha-dystroglycan
. Therefore, the
dystroglycan
-perlecan complex serves as a cell surface acceptor for
AChE
, enabling it to be clustered at the synapse by lateral migration within the plane of the membrane. A similar mechanism may underlie the initial formation of all specialized basal lamina interposed between other cell types.
...
PMID:Acetylcholinesterase clustering at the neuromuscular junction involves perlecan and dystroglycan. 1033 Apr 16
We show that serotonin inhibits synaptic transmission at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions, and we describe a signaling pathway that mediates this effect. Release of acetylcholine from motor neurons was assayed by measuring the sensitivity of intact animals to the
acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor aldicarb. By this assay, exogenous serotonin inhibited acetylcholine release, whereas serotonin antagonists stimulated release. The effects of serotonin on synaptic transmission were mediated by GOA-1 (a Galpha0 subunit) and DGK-1 (a diacylglycerol [
DAG
] kinase), both of which act in the ventral cord motor neurons. Mutants lacking goa-1 G(alpha)0 accumulated abnormally high levels of the
DAG
-binding protein UNC-13 at motor neuron nerve terminals, suggesting that serotonin inhibits synaptic transmission by decreasing the abundance of UNC-13 at release sites.
...
PMID:Serotonin inhibition of synaptic transmission: Galpha(0) decreases the abundance of UNC-13 at release sites. 1067 40
The dystrophin-associated protein (DAP) complex spans the sarcolemmal membrane linking the cytoskeleton to the basement membrane surrounding each myofiber. Defects in the DAP complex have been linked previously to a variety of muscular dystrophies. Other evidence points to a role for the DAP complex in formation of nerve-muscle synapses. We show that myotubes differentiated from
dystroglycan
-/- embryonic stem cells are responsive to agrin, but produce acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters which are two to three times larger in area, about half as dense, and significantly less stable than those on dystroglycan+/+ myotubes. AChRs at neuromuscular junctions are similarly affected in
dystroglycan
-deficient chimeric mice and there is a coordinate increase in nerve terminal size at these junctions. In culture and in vivo the absence of
dystroglycan
disrupts the localization to AChR clusters of laminin, perlecan, and
acetylcholinesterase
(
AChE
), but not rapsyn or agrin. Treatment of myotubes in culture with laminin induces AChR clusters on dystroglycan+/+, but not -/- myotubes. These results suggest that
dystroglycan
is essential for the assembly of a synaptic basement membrane, most notably by localizing
AChE
through its binding to perlecan. In addition, they suggest that
dystroglycan
functions in the organization and stabilization of AChR clusters, which appear to be mediated through its binding of laminin.
...
PMID:The dystroglycan complex is necessary for stabilization of acetylcholine receptor clusters at neuromuscular junctions and formation of the synaptic basement membrane. 1115 73
Efficient and accurate synaptic transmission requires proper localization of numerous signaling proteins in the synaptic membrane. At the neuromuscular junction, the nicotinic ACh receptor mediates postsynaptic depolarization, and
acetylcholinesterase
(
AChE
) terminates this process by hydrolyzing ACh. The mechanism by which the nerve directs receptor localization is understood in considerable detail;
AChE
clustering, by contrast, has received much less attention. Now, in a recent paper in Nature Neuroscience, the laboratories of Yoshiko Yamada and Richard Rotundo report that
AChE
clustering at the postsynaptic membrane requires perlecan, which binds both
AChE
and
dystroglycan
.
...
PMID:PerleCan fix your muscle AChEs. 1274 39
The collagen-tailed form of
acetylcholinesterase
(A(12)-AChE) appears to be localized at the neuromuscular junction in association with the transmembrane
dystroglycan
complex through binding of its collagenic tail (ColQ) to the proteoglycan perlecan. The heparan sulfate binding domains (HSBD) of ColQ are thought to be involved in anchoring ColQ to the synaptic basal lamina. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of ColQ is also likely involved, but there has been no direct evidence. Mutations in COLQ cause endplate AChE deficiency in humans. Nine previously reported and three novel mutations are in CTD of ColQ, and most CTD mutations do not abrogate formation of A(12)-AChE in transfected COS cells. Patient endplates, however, are devoid of AChE, suggesting that CTD mutations affect anchoring of ColQ to the synaptic basal lamina. Based on our observations that purified AChE can be transplanted to the heterologous frog neuromuscular junction, we tested insertion competence of nine naturally occurring CTD mutants and two artificial HSBD mutants. Wild-type human A(12)-AChE inserted into the frog neuromuscular junction, whereas six CTD mutants and two HSBD mutants did not. Our studies establish that the CTD mutations indeed compromise anchoring of ColQ and that both HSBD and CTD are essential for anchoring ColQ to the synaptic basal lamina.
...
PMID:C-terminal and heparin-binding domains of collagenic tail subunit are both essential for anchoring acetylcholinesterase at the synapse. 1470 51
At the neuromuscular junction,
acetylcholinesterase
(
AChE
) is mainly present as asymmetric forms in which tetramers of catalytic subunits are associated to a specific collagen, collagen Q (ColQ). The accumulation of the enzyme in the synaptic basal lamina strictly relies on ColQ. This has been shown to be mediated by interaction between ColQ and perlecan, which itself binds
dystroglycan
. Here, using transfected mutants of ColQ in a ColQ-deficient muscle cell line or COS-7 cells, we report that ColQ clusterizes through a more complex mechanism. This process requires two heparin-binding sites contained in the collagen domain as well as the COOH terminus of ColQ. Cross-linking and immunoprecipitation experiments in Torpedo postsynaptic membranes together with transfection experiments with muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) constructs in MuSK-deficient myotubes or COS-7 cells provide the first evidence that ColQ binds MuSK. Together, our data suggest that a ternary complex containing ColQ, perlecan, and MuSK is required for
AChE
clustering and support the notion that MuSK dictates
AChE
synaptic localization at the neuromuscular junction.
...
PMID:MuSK is required for anchoring acetylcholinesterase at the neuromuscular junction. 1515 18
The autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder associated with the enervated (enr) mouse transgene insertion manifests impaired peripheral nerve regeneration due to defects in Schwann cells and resembles the myodystrophy (Large(myd)) phenotype. Here we show that the enr transgene has integrated into Chr 8 approximately 160 kb downstream from the 3' end of the Large gene disrupting its expression as confirmed by the lack of genetic complementation between Large(myd) and enr mice, the very low Large mRNA levels in enr tissues and hypoglycosylation of
alpha-dystroglycan
, a known substrate of LARGE. Mutant nerve conduction and grip strength were impaired whereas sodium channel clustering at the nodes of Ranvier was unaffected. Interestingly, the mutant neuromuscular junctions displayed abnormal acetylcholine receptor clustering with reduced immunostaining for
beta-dystroglycan
, laminin, agrin, MuSK, and to a lesser extent
acetylcholinesterase
and rapsyn. These data implicate LARGE in nerve, muscle, and neuromuscular junction function.
...
PMID:Disruption of the mouse Large gene in the enr and myd mutants results in nerve, muscle, and neuromuscular junction defects. 1579 22
The collagen-tailed form of
acetylcholinesterase
(ColQ-AChE) is the major if not unique form of the enzyme associated with the specialized synaptic basal lamina at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). This enzyme form consists of both catalytic and non-catalytic subunits encoded by separate genes, assembled as three enzymatic tetramers attached to the three-stranded collagen-like tail. We have previously shown that catalytic subunits are assembled in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and that after approximately 90min a subset of these tetramers assemble with collagenic tail subunits in the Golgi apparatus. In muscle, blocking ER to Golgi transport with Brefeldin A prevents the appearance of ColQ-AChE, consistent with assembly of asymmetric forms in the Golgi. Moreover, newly synthesized and assembled ColQ-AChE associates with perlecan intracellularly and can only be co-immunoprecipitated with anti-perlecan antibodies 90min after the first appearance of catalytic subunits. Once assembled, the ColQ-AChE/perlecan complex is externalized where it co-localizes with other components of the NMJ including
dystroglycan
, rapsyn, laminin and MuSK. These clusters tend to form over the nuclei that are expressing the components, suggesting local vectorial transport to the cell surface, and may form a primary scaffold that in turn can capture other molecular constituents of the neuromuscular synapse. While most AChE clusters on quail myotubes are devoid of acetylcholine receptors, treatment of the culture with recombinant agrin results in a rapid translocation of receptors to the AChE clusters in less than 4h. It remains to be determined if MuSK is localized to the clusters. In vivo, AChE transcripts and enzyme are more highly expressed at the NMJs, implying higher rates of AChE translation and assembly in the synaptic regions, and hence more ColQ-AChE for localized export. We have previously shown that binding sites for ColQ-AChE are concentrated at sites of nerve-muscle contact where they colocalize with AChR and perlecan. ColQ-AChE binds directly to perlecan using solid phase microtiter plate assay, the Biacore assay, and co-immunoprecipitations. Moreover, perlecan binds to
dystroglycan
at the NMJ. In perlecan or
dystroglycan
null mice there is no accumulation of AChE at the NMJ, supporting the hypothesis that this heparan sulfate proteoglycan is an essential component of the ColQ-AChE localization mechanism. Together, these studies suggest a model of synaptic development whereby AChE can be targeted to and clustered on the muscle membrane together with
dystroglycan
and perlecan to form scaffolds to which AChR can be clustered through activation of the MuSK receptor. At mature synapses ColQ-AChE is secreted directly into the synaptic cleft where it binds to the heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan as well as potentially other molecules including MuSK, as was recently reported.
...
PMID:Targeting acetylcholinesterase to the neuromuscular synapse. 1628 17
The vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is marked by molecular specializations that include postsynaptic clusters of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and
acetylcholinesterase
(
AChE
). Whereas AChRs are aggregated in the postsynaptic muscle membrane to a density of 10,000/mum(2),
AChE
is concentrated, also to a high density, in the synaptic basement membrane (BM). In recent years considerable progress has been made in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of AChR clustering. It is known that during the early stages of motoneuron-muscle interaction, the nerve-secreted proteoglycan agrin activates the muscle-specific kinase MuSK, which leads to the formation of a postsynaptic cytoskeletal scaffold that immobilizes and concentrates AChRs through a process generally accepted to involve diffusion-mediated trapping of the receptors. We have recently tested this diffusion-trap model at the single molecule level for the first time by using quantum-dot labeling to track individual AChRs during NMJ development. Our results showed that single AChRs exhibit Brownian-type movement, with diffusion coefficients of 10(-11) to 10(-9)cm(2)/s, until they become immobilized at "traps" assembled in response to synaptogenic stimuli. Thus, free diffusion of AChRs is an integral part of their clustering mechanism. What is the mechanism for
AChE
clustering? We previously showed that the A(12) asymmetric form of
AChE
binds to perlecan, a heparan-sulfate proteoglycan which in turn interacts with the transmembrane
dystroglycan
complex. Through this linkage
AChE
becomes bound to the muscle membrane and, like AChRs, may exhibit lateral mobility along the membrane. Consistent with this idea, pre-existent
AChE
at the cell surface becomes clustered together with AChRs following synaptogenic stimulation. Future studies testing diffusion-mediated trapping of
AChE
should provide insights into the synaptic localization of BM-bound molecules at the NMJ.
...
PMID:Transmembrane mechanisms in the assembly of the postsynaptic apparatus at the neuromuscular junction. 1851 12
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