Nerve growth factor acts through cAMP-dependent protein kinase to increase the number of sodium channels in PC12 cells

Neuron. 1990 Mar;4(3):355-66. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(90)90048-k.

Abstract

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC) play a role in nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated differentiation. In PC12 cells, NGF causes neurite outgrowth and increases the number of voltage-gated Na+ channels. Neurite outgrowth involves in part activation of PKC. How NGF regulates Na+ channel number is unknown. Using patch-clamp techniques, we find that agents activating PKC, including phorbol esters and a ras oncogene product (p21) that induces neurites, caused little increase in channel number. In contrast, agents increasing intracellular cAMP were as effective as NGF. A specific protein inhibitor of the PKA catalytic subunit blocked increases by NGF or cAMP. Thus, NGF increases Na+ channel number in PC12 cells in part by activating PKA but apparently not PKC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / pharmacology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms
  • Animals
  • Bucladesine / pharmacology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Cyclic CMP / analogs & derivatives
  • Cyclic CMP / pharmacology
  • Dibutyryl Cyclic GMP / pharmacology
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / pharmacology
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Genes, ras
  • Kinetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / pharmacology*
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Sodium Channels / drug effects
  • Sodium Channels / physiology*
  • Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Sodium Channels
  • Colforsin
  • Dibutyryl Cyclic GMP
  • Cyclic CMP
  • Tetrodotoxin
  • Bucladesine
  • dibutyryl cyclic-3',5'-cytidine monophosphate
  • Protein Kinases
  • 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide