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Query: UNIPROT:P67775 (alpha isoform)
 797 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A combination of either retrograde or anterograde fluorescent tracer and immunofluorescence histochemistry using the monoclonal antibody specific for the alpha isoform of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II alpha) was employed to test whether CaM kinase II alpha is expressed in somata of corticospinal neurons and their axons over their whole course. After the injection of carbocyanine dye DiI into the hindlimb area of the primary motor cortex of the rat, corticospinal axons and their terminal arbors were anterogradely labeled: DiI-labeled corticospinal fibers proceeded caudally in the ipsilateral internal capsule, cerebral peduncle and medullary pyramid, crossed at the pyramidal decussation and descended in the ventralmost area of the contralateral dorsal funiculus of the spinal cord. These DiI-labeled corticospinal axons expressed strong CaM kinase II alpha immunoreactivity along their course. However, their terminal arbors within the gray matter of the lumbar cord were very weakly immunostained. With the injection of Fast Blue into the lumbar enlargement of the rat, somata of corticospinal neurons in layer V of the motor cortex were retrogradely labeled. The subsequent immunofluorescent histochemistry revealed that more than 80% of Fast Blue-labeled corticospinal neurons were immunostained with CaM kinase II alpha antibody. The present immunohistochemical study demonstrated that CaM kinase II alpha is strongly expressed in both somata and axons of a majority of corticospinal neurons, although we could not detect this enzyme in the corticospinal terminals in the spinal target areas.
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PMID:Alpha calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II immunoreactivity in corticospinal neurons: combination of axonal transport method and immunofluorescence. 748 9

To elucidate the functional role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in neuronal cells, we studied the phenotypic effects of overexpression of the CaM kinase II wild-type alpha subunit and a mutant enzyme alpha isoform (Ala-286), in which formation of the Ca(2+)-independent form by autophosphorylation is markedly suppressed by replacement of Thr-286 with Ala, using Neuro2a (Nb2a) and NG108-15 neuroblastoma cell lines. The cDNAs inserted into the EcoRI site of pEF321 expression vector were introduced into Nb2a and NG108-15 cells with pEF321-neo (neo). Stable clones were obtained by G418 selection. The specific activities of CaM kinase II in alpha and Ala-286 transfectants were two to four times higher than those in non-transfectants and in cells transfected with neo alone. Indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific to the CaM kinase II alpha isoform revealed that CaM kinase II was mainly localized in the perikaryal and dendritic cytoplasm of the alpha and Ala-286 transfectants. Immediately after plating, Nb2a and NG108-15 cells transfected with neo, alpha and Ala-286 cDNAs appeared round. Several hours after plating, alpha transfectants showed cell flattening and initiation of neurite outgrowth, and thereafter extended numerous long and branching neurites. Numerous filopodia protruded from flat growth cones, some of which were accompanied by extensive veil formation. Non- and neo transfectants remained round. In Ala-286 transfectants, however, the phenotypic changes were remarkably less than in alpha transfectants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Overexpression of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in Neuro2a and NG108-15 neuroblastoma cell lines promotes neurite outgrowth and growth cone motility. 838 Nov 67

The enzymatic and regulatory properties of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in the postsynaptic density (mPSDp CaM kinase) of the rat forebrain was compared with those of soluble Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II). mPSDp CaM kinase was different from soluble CaM kinase II in terms of substrate specificity, regulatory consequences and sites of autophosphorylation. Both soluble and PSD kinases generated Ca(2+)-independent activity by autophosphorylation and Ca(2+)-independent activity almost reached the maximum during the first minute of autophosphorylation. Ca(2+)-independent activity of mPSDp CaM kinase was more stable than that of the soluble kinase under autophosphorylating conditions. Autophosphorylation of the kinases decreased the mobility of the kinases on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The mobility shift and determination of 32P phosphate incorporation into the kinases demonstrated that there were three species in mPSDp CaM kinase alpha isoform: two active forms with and without the mobility shift (about 22 and 19%, respectively), and an inactive form (about 59%). However, there was only one species in the soluble kinase alpha isoform, which was active. The maximum incorporation of 32P phosphate into mPSDp CaM kinase alpha isoform was less than that of the soluble kinase. Tryptic peptide analysis indicated that the phosphorylation sites of mPSDp CaM kinase alpha isoform differed from those of the soluble kinase.
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PMID:Characterization and autophosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in the postsynaptic density of the rat forebrain. 839 Sep 10

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is generated in pancreatic islets by glucose stimulation, serving as a second messenger for Ca2+ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum for insulin secretion (Takasawa, S., Nata, K., Yonekura, H., and Okamoto, H. (1993) Science 259, 370-373). In the present study, we observed that the addition of calmodulin (CaM) to rat islet microsomes sensitized and activated the cADPR-mediated Ca2+ release. Inhibitors for CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) completely abolished the glucose-induced insulin secretion as well as the cADPR-mediated and CaM-activated Ca2+ mobilization. Western blot analysis revealed that the microsomes contain the alpha isoform of CaM kinase II but do not contain CaM. When the active 30-kDa chymotryptic fragment of CaM kinase II was added to the microsomes, fully activated cADPR-mediated Ca2+ release was observed in the absence of CaM. These results along with available evidence strongly suggest that CaM kinase II is required to phosphorylate and activate the ryanodine-like receptor, a Ca2+ channel for cADPR as an endogenous activator, for the cADPR-mediated Ca2+ release.
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PMID:Requirement of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in cyclic ADP-ribose-mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. 853 Apr 41

Since the alpha and beta isoforms of CaM kinase II are known to be expressed almost exclusively in the brain, we compared the effect of overexpression of the beta isoform of CaM kinase II with that of the alpha isoform. The subcellular distribution of the alpha isoform was different from that of the beta isoform, although the catalytic properties of the alpha and beta isoforms expressed in transfected cells were similar to those of brain CaM kinase II. The alpha isoform was found in the soluble fraction more than in the particulate fraction, whereas most of the beta isoform bound to subcellular structures. In the cell overexpressing alpha and beta isoforms of CaM kinase II, neurite extension was promoted when compared with the morphology of neo transfectants. Neurite outgrowth of cells overexpressing CaM kinase II was further stimulated by the treatment of 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a selective but not absolutely specific inhibitor of protein kinase C. The morphological change was rapid and observed within 1 h followed by H-7 treatment. Morphological changes, such as the number of cells with neurites and length of neurites were greater in the beta cells than in the alpha cells. Chelerythrine, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, also stimulated the neurite outgrowth of these cells. Some substrates of CaM kinase II related to neurite outgrowth were detected in cells overexpressing CaM kinase II stimulated with H-7. These results suggest that CaM kinase H and protein kinase C play an important role in the control of cell change, and that the subcellular distribution of CaM kinase II is important for regulating cellular functions efficiently.
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PMID:Overexpression of alpha and beta isoforms of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in neuroblastoma cells -- H-7 promotes neurite outgrowth. 935 96

Immortalized hybrid cells were generated by the somatic fusion of the cells from the forebrain of embryonic mouse with N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells. Three monoclonal hybrid cell lines, designated NF26, NF81, and NF83 (neuroblastoma forebrain hybrid cells), expressing an alpha isoform of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) were isolated, and their expression was demonstrated by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody specific to the a isoform of the enzyme. The kinase activity of the hybrid cells was 2- to 3-fold higher than that of the parent neuroblastoma line N18TG2 cells. The neuronal origin of these lines was shown by their immunoreactivity to neurofilament protein, a neuron specific marker. Lines NF26, NF81, and NF83 are the first cell lines to express the gene of the alpha isoform of CaM kinase II in the brain.
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PMID:Generation of immortalized murine forebrain cell lines expressing an alpha isoform of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. 955 46

The distribution of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) alpha and beta isoforms in the brainstem of adult rats was investigated using an immunohistochemical method with two monoclonal antibodies which specifically recognize the alpha and beta isoform, respectively. We found that these isoforms were differentially expressed by neurons in the substantia nigra, red nucleus, dorsal cochlear nucleus, pontine nuclei and inferior olivary nucleus. Neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus express the alpha isoform, but not the beta isoform. In contrast, neurons in the substantia nigra, red nucleus and pontine nuclei were immunostained with the beta antibody, but not with the alpha antibody. In the dorsal cochlear nucleus, neurons in layers I and II were alpha-immunopositive, whereas neurons in layers III and IV were beta-immunopositive. Therefore, the distribution of the CaM kinase II alpha-immunopositive neurons is completely different from that of CaM kinase II beta-immunopositive neurons. Next we examined the possible coexistence of CaM kinase II alpha isoform and glutamate or that of CaM kinase II beta isoform and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in the single neuron by double immunofluorescence labelling using a pair of anti-alpha and anti-glutamate antibodies, or a pair of anti-beta and anti-GAD antibodies. The results indicated that neurons expressing anti-alpha immunoreactivity were also immunopositive against anti-glutamate antibody, and neurons expressing beta isoform were also immunopositive against anti-GAD antibody, suggesting that alpha-immunopositive neurons are classified as excitatory-type neurons, and on the contrary, beta-immunopositive neurons are classified as inhibitory-type neurons. In conclusion, the present study confirmed that alpha- and beta-isoforms of CaM kinase II are differentially expressed in the nuclei of the brainstem and have different roles.
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PMID:Regional differences between the immunohistochemical distribution of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha and beta isoforms in the brainstem of the rat. 959 59

We investigated the involvement of Ca(2+)-independent activity of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in stimulation of neurite outgrowth. When neuroblastoma Neruo2a (Nb2a) cells expressing the alpha isoform of CaM kinase II (Nb2a/alpha cells) were stimulated by plating, they changed shape from round to flattened, and began to form neurites within 15 min. Numbers of cells bearing neurites increased from 15 min to about 2 h. Neurite length increased markedly from 30 min to 2 h after stimulation. Ca(2+)-independent activity of CaM kinase II increased immediately after stimulation, peaked at about 30 min, and then gradually decreased. Autophosphorylation of Thr-286 followed the same time course as the increase in Ca(2+)-independent activity. The autophosphorylation and appearance of Ca(2+)-independent activity preceded the formation of neurites. The effect of mutation of the autophosphorylation site in the kinase whose Thr-286 was replaced with Ala (alphaT286A kinase) or Asp (alphaT286D kinase) was examined. alphaT286A kinase was not converted to a Ca(2+)-independent form, and alphaT286D kinase had Ca(2+)-independent activity significantly as an autophosphorylated kinase. Cells expressing alphaT286A kinase did not form neurites, and were indistinguishable from control Nb2a cells. Cells expressing alphaT286D kinase had much longer neurites than Nb2a/alpha cells expressing the wild type kinase, although the initiation of neurite outgrowth was very late. These results indicated that Ca(2+)-independent activity of the kinase autophosphorylated at Thr-286 involves for neurite outgrowth.
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PMID:Ca(2+)-independent activity of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II involved in stimulation of neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells. 1103 55

The 5' flanking region of the alpha isoform of the rat Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (alpha CaM kinase II) gene was isolated in 2.3 kbp of genomic sequence. Functional analysis of alpha CaM kinase II promoter deletion mutants fused to a reporter gene in neuroblastoma, including N18TG2, NG108-15, and CAD cells revealed strong transcriptional activity localized 100-145 bp, and a potent silencer 199-275 bp upstream of the transcription start site. The promoter is inactive in non-neuronal cells including BALB/c 3T3, Chinese hamster ovary, HT1080, and C6 glioma cells. These results indicated that the alpha CaM kinase II gene is transcribed from a tissue-specific promoter which is under intense negative control.
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PMID:Characterization of 5' flanking region of alpha isoform of rat Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II gene and neuronal cell type specific promoter activity. 1142 14

Neuronal Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) plays important roles in the control of nerve functions in response to intracellular Ca(2+) (for reviews [Annu. Rev. Physiol. 57 (1995) 417-445; Trends Neurosci. 17 (1994) 406-412]). Brief Ca(2+) signals activate CaM kinase II, and stimulate an autophosphorylation of Thr-286 which allows the kinase to maintain its activated state even after the Ca(2+) concentration has returned to basal levels [J. Biol. Chem. 264 (1989) 16759-16763; Neuron 3 (1989) 59-70; J. Biochem. 109 (1991) 137-143]. Autophosphorylation of CaM kinase II occurs in situ, but it occurs relatively quickly, within just a few minutes [Endocrinology 134 (1994) 2245-2250; J. Biol. Chem. 268 (1993) 7863-7867; J. Biol. Chem. 265 (1990) 18055-18058]. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of the autophosphorylated/Ca(2+)-independent form of CaM kinase II in neurite outgrowth. When neuroblastoma Neruo2a (Nb2a) cells expressing the alpha isoform of CaM kinase II (Nb2a/alpha cells) were stimulated by plating, they formed neurites. The autophosphorylation of Thr-286 and appearance of Ca(2+)-independent activity preceded the neurite formation. The effect of mutating of the kinase autophosphorylation site replacing Thr-286 with Ala (alpha T286A kinase) or Asp (alpha T286D kinase) was examined. alpha T286A kinase was not converted to a Ca(2+)-independent form, and alpha T286D kinase had Ca(2+)-independent activity significantly as an autophosphorylated kinase. Cells expressing alpha T286D kinase had much longer neurites than Nb2a/alpha cells, whereas cells with alpha T286A kinase did not form neurites. These results indicated that the Ca(2+)-independent form of CaM kinase II autophosphorylated at Thr-286 is involved in neurite outgrowth.
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PMID:Investigation of the Ca(2+)-independent form of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in neurite outgrowth. 1173 91


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