Open AccessAcetylcholine receptor-inducing factor from chicken brain increases the level of mRNA encoding the receptor alpha subunit.
Author(s) -
David A. Harris,
Douglas L. Falls,
Rebecca M. Dill-Devor,
Gerald Fischbach
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.85.6.1983
Subject(s) - interleukin 10 receptor, alpha subunit , interleukin 5 receptor alpha subunit , g alpha subunit , acetylcholine receptor , protein subunit , biology , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , gamma aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha 1 , messenger rna , alpha (finance) , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
A 42-kDa glycoprotein isolated from chicken brain, referred to as acetylcholine receptor-inducing activity (ARIA), that stimulates the rate of incorporation of acetylcholine receptors into the surface of chicken myotubes may play a role in the nerve-induced accumulation of receptors at developing neuromuscular synapses. Using nuclease-protection assays, we have found that ARIA causes a 2- to 16-fold increase in the level of mRNA encoding the alpha subunit of the receptor, with little or no change in the levels of gamma- and delta-subunit messengers. ARIA also increases the amount of a putative nuclear precursor of alpha-subunit mRNA, consistent with an activation of gene transcription. These results suggest that the concentration of alpha subunit may limit the rate of biosynthesis of the acetylcholine receptors in chicken myotubes. They also indicate that neuronal factors can regulate the expression of receptor subunit genes in a selective manner. Tetrodotoxin, 8-bromo-cAMP, and forskolin also increase the amount of alpha-subunit mRNA, with little change in the amount of gamma- and delta-subunit mRNAs. Unlike, ARIA, however, these agents have little effect on the concentration of the alpha-subunit nuclear precursor.