Carbachol-mediated Pigment Granule Dispersion in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Requires Ca2+ and Calcineurin

dc.contributor.authorJohnson, Adam S.
dc.contributor.authorGarcia, Dana M.
dc.date.accessioned2016-11-03T19:40:56Z
dc.date.available2016-11-03T19:40:56Z
dc.date.issued2007-12
dc.description.abstractBackground: Inside bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) retinal pigment epithelial cells, pigment granules move in response to extracellular signals. During the process of aggregation, pigment motility is directed toward the cell nucleus; in dispersion, pigment is directed away from the nucleus and into long apical processes. A number of different chemicals have been found to initiate dispersion, and carbachol (an acetylcholine analog) is one example. Previous research indicates that the carbachol-receptor interaction activates a Gq-mediated pathway which is commonly linked to Ca2+ mobilization. The purpose of the present study was to test for involvement of calcium and to probe calcium-dependent mediators to reveal their role in carbachol-mediated dispersion. Results: Carbachol-induced pigment granule dispersion was blocked by the calcium chelator BAPTA. In contrast, the calcium channel antagonist verapamil, and incubation in Ca2+-free medium failed to block carbachol-induced dispersion. The calcineurin inhibitor cypermethrin blocked carbachol-induced dispersion; whereas, two protein kinase C inhibitors (staurosporine and bisindolylmaleimide II) failed to block carbachol-induced dispersion, and the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to elicit dispersion. Conclusion: A rise in intracellular calcium is necessary for carbachol-induced dispersion; however, the Ca2+ requirement is not dependent on extracellular sources, implying that intracellular stores are sufficient to enable pigment granule dispersion to occur. Calcineurin is a likely Ca2+-dependent mediator involved in the signal cascade. Although the pathway leads to the generation of diacylglycerol and calcium (both required for the activation of certain PKC isoforms), our evidence does not support a significant role for PKC.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent8 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationJohnson, A. S., & García, D. M. (2007). Carbachol-mediated pigment granule dispersion in retinal pigment epithelium requires Ca2+ and calcineurin. BMC Cell Biology, 8(53).
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2121-8-53
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/6327
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBioMed Central
dc.rights.holder© 2007 Johnson and Garcia
dc.rights.licenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
dc.sourceBMC Cell Biology, 2007, Vol. 8, No. 53.
dc.subjectbluegill retinal pigment
dc.subjectLepomis macrochirus)
dc.subjectepithelial cells
dc.subjectcarbachol-induced pigment granule dispersion
dc.subjectBiology
dc.titleCarbachol-mediated Pigment Granule Dispersion in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Requires Ca2+ and Calcineurin
dc.typeArticle

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