Research article summary (published 13 Sep 2004):

Nitric oxide synthase activity is required for postsynaptic differentiation of the embryonic neuromuscular junction.

Full Abstract

Agrin, a synapse-organizing protein externalized by motor axons at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), initiates a signaling cascade in muscle cells leading to aggregation of postsynaptic proteins, including acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). We examined whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity is required for agrin-induced aggregation of postsynaptic AChRs at the embryonic NMJ in vivo and in cultured muscle cells. Inhibition of NOS reduced AChR aggregation at embryonic Xenopus NMJs by 50-90%, whereas overexpression of NOS increased AChR aggregate area 2- to 3-fold at these synapses. NOS inhibitors completely blocked agrin-induced AChR aggregation in cultured embryonic muscle cells. Application of NO donors to muscle cells induced AChR clustering in the absence of agrin. Our results indicate that NOS activity is necessary for postsynaptic differentiation of embryonic NMJs and that NOS is a likely participant in the agrin-MuSK signaling pathway of skeletal muscle cells.

Author information

Author/s: Schwarte, Russell C (RC); Godfrey, Earl W (EW);

Affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA.

Grants: MH57545 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Developmental biology (Dev Biol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-Sep; vol 273 (issue 2) : pp 276-84

Dates: Created 2004/08/25; Completed 2004/10/06; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 15328012, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Agrin - metabolism Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Cells, Cultured Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic Neuromuscular Junction - embryology; enzymology Nitric Oxide Donors - pharmacology

Nitric Oxide Donors - pharmacology Nitric Oxide Synthase - antagonists & inhibitors; genetics; metabolism Receptor Aggregation - drug effects Receptors, Cholinergic - metabolism Recombinant Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; genetics; metabolism Signal Transduction Synapses - enzymology Xenopus laevis - embryology; metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Agrin (0) ; Nitric Oxide Donors (0) ; Receptors, Cholinergic (0) ; Recombinant Proteins (0) ; Nitric Oxide Synthase (EC 1.14.13.39)

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