Role of internalization of M2muscarinic receptor via clathrin-coated vesicles in desensitization of the muscarinic K+current in heart

In the heart, ACh activates the ACh-activated K+current ( IK,ACh) via the M2muscarinic receptor. The relationship between desensitization of IK,AChand internalization of the M2receptor has been studied in rat atrial cells. On application of the stable muscarinic agonist carbachol for 2 h, IK,AChdeclined by ∼62% with time constants of 1.5 and 26.9 min, whereas ∼83% of the M2receptor was internalized from the cell membrane with time constants of 2.9 and 51.6 min. Transfection of the cells with β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (G protein-receptor kinase 2) and β-arrestin 2 significantly increased IK,AChdesensitization and M2receptor internalization during a 3-min application of agonist. Internalized M2receptor in cells exposed to carbachol for 2 h was colocalized with clathrin and not caveolin. It is concluded that a G protein-receptor kinase 2- and β-arrestin 2-dependent internalization of the M2receptor into clathrin-coated vesicles could play a major role in IK,AChdesensitization.

Dropwise condensation: experiments and simulations of nucleation and growth of water drops in a cooling system

Dropwise condensation of water vapor from a naturally cooling, hot water reservoir onto a hydrophobic polymer film and a silanized glass slide was studied by direct observation and simulations. The observed drop growth kinetics suggests that smallest drops grow principally by the diffusion of water adsorbed on the substrate to the drop perimeter, while drops larger than about 50 microm in diameter grow principally by direct deposition from the vapor onto the drop surface. Drop coalescence plays a critical role in determining the drop-size distribution and stimulates the nucleation of new, small drops on the substrates. Simulations of drop growth incorporating these growth mechanisms provide a good description of the observed drop-size distribution. Because of the large role played by coalescence, details of individual drop growth make little difference to the final drop-size distribution. The rate of condensation per unit substrate area is especially high for the smallest drops and may help account for the high heat transfer rates associated with dropwise condensation relative to filmwise condensation in heat exchange applications.

Influence of molecular weight on nanoscale modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) due to simultaneous mechanical and chemical stimulation

We report observations of poly(methyl methacrylate) films modified by the synergistic effect of solvent exposure and mechanical stress applied by the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). We show that these modifications are sensitive to polymer molecular weight as well as solvent strength and the force applied by the tip. Small-area scanning often produces localized patches of raised material as well as depressed areas. The volume change associated with the depressed areas generally increases with increasing solvent strength, increasing applied normal force, and decreasing polymer molecular weight. In contrast, the volume change associated with the raised patches is greatest for 25-145K Mw films in 60 and 100% ethanol solutions. In each case, the normal force applied by the AFM tip must exceed a threshold to significantly modify the surface; this threshold is associated with an increase in lateral force applied by the AFM tip during small-area scanning. We attribute the raised patches to mechanically enhanced swelling due to diffusion of solvent into near-surface material. Permanent net volume loss, when observed, is attributed to localized polymer dissolution.

Effect of cytoskeleton disruptors on L-type Ca channel distribution in rat ventricular myocytes

The cytoskeleton plays an important role in many aspects of cardiac cell function, including protein trafficking. However, the role of the cytoskeleton in determining Ca channel location in cardiac myocytes is unknown. In the present study we therefore investigated the effect of the cytoskeletal disruptors cytochalasin D, latrunculin, nocadazole and colchicine on the distribution of Ca channels in rat ventricular myocytes during culture for up to 96 h. During culture in the absence of these agents, cell edges became rounded, t-tubule density decreased, and the normal transverse distribution of the alpha1 (pore-forming) subunit of the L-type Ca channel became more punctate and peri-nuclear; these changes were associated with loss of synchronous Ca release in response to electrical stimulation. Disruption of tubulin using nocadazole or colchicine or sequestration of monomeric actin by latrunculin had no effect on these changes. In contrast, cytochalasin D inhibited these changes: cell shape, t-tubule density, transverse Ca channel staining and synchronous Ca release were maintained during culture. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide had similar effects to cytochalasin. These data suggest that cytochalasin stabilizes actin in adult ventricular myocytes in culture, thus stabilizing cell structure and function, and that actin is important in trafficking L-type Ca channels from the peri-nuclear region to the t-tubules, where they are normally located and provide the trigger for Ca release.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates residues in the C-terminal domain of the cardiac L-type calcium channel alpha1 subunit

The molecular basis of the regulation of cardiac L-type calcium channel activity by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cA-PK) remains unclear. Direct cA-PK-dependent phosphorylation of the bovine ventricular alpha1 subunit in vitro has been demonstrated in microsomal membranes, detergent extracts and partially purified (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 receptor preparations. Two 32P-labeled phosphopeptides, derived from cyanogen bromide cleavage, of 4.7 and 9.5 kDa were immunoprecipitated specifically by site-directed antibodies against the rabbit cardiac alpha1 subunit amino acid sequences 1602-1616 and 1681-1694, respectively, consistent with phosphorylation at the cA-PK consensus sites at Ser(1627) and Ser(1700). No phosphopeptide products consistent with phosphorylation at three other C-terminal cA-PK consensus phosphorylation sites (Ser(1575), Ser(1848) and Ser(1928)) were identified using similar procedures suggesting that these sites are poor substrates for this kinase. Ser(1627) and Ser(1700) may represent sites of cA-PK phosphorylation involved in the physiological regulation of cardiac L-type calcium channel function.

Development of pathways of insulin secretion in the rabbit

Insulin release was studied in vitro using pieces of pancreas from rabbits of between 24 days gestational age and 6 weeks postnatal age. When allowance was made for the fraction of pancreas which was endocrine, 16-5mM-glucose caused increasing stimulation of insulin release as development advanced and 3-3 mM-glucose caused a similar rate of secretion at all ages. Secretion was not significantly influenced by insulin destruction in the incubation medium. Glucagon (5 mug/ml) did not stimulate insulin secretion from 24-day foetal pancreas but did so postnatally. Theophylline (1 mmol/1) stimulated insulin release at all ages and was equipotent on 24-day foetal pancreas in 3-3 or 16-5 mM-glucose. The stimulation of insulin release from 24-day foetal pancreas by 1 mM-theophylline occurred in the absence of extracellular glucose, pyruvate, fumarate and glutamate and in the presence of mannoheptulose and 2-deoxyglucose (each 3 mg/ml). Adrenaline (1 mumol/1) and diazoxide (250 mug/ml) abolished or attenuated the stimulation of insulin release by glucose, leucine plus arginine or theophylline from 24-day foetal, 1 day and 6 weeks postnatal pancreas. The stimulation of insulin release from 6-week-old pancreas by 1mM-barium was blocked by adrenaline and diazoxide but the effect became less with increasing immaturity. The experimental results illustrate some of the ways in which insulin secretion by the rabbit beta cell changes as a function of development and draw attention to the importance of glucose and cyclic adenosine monophosphate in this process.