Cell lines expressing an acetylcholine release mechanism; correction of a release-deficient cell by mediatophore transfection

✍ Scribed by J. Falk-Vairant; F.M. Meunier; B. Lesbats; P. Corrèges; L. Eder-Colli; N. Salem; M. Synguelakis; Y. Dunant; M. Israël

• Book ID: 102652209
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 679 KB
• Volume: 45
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19960801)45:3<195::aid-jnr1>3.0.co;2-8

✦ Synopsis

Several neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines express a Ca2+-dependent mechanism of transmitter release that can be demonstrated after loading the cells with acetylcholine during culture. In contrast, a particular cell line, the neuroblastoma N18TG-2, was found to be deficient for release. We transfected N18TG-2 cells with a plasmid encoding Torpedo mediatophore, a protein able to translocate acetylcholine in response to calcium. The N18TG-2 cells expressed the Torpedo protein which reached their plasma membrane. At the same time, these cells acquired a Ca2 * -dependent quantal release mechanism similar to the one naturally expressed by other cell lines. Hence, the presence of mediatophore in the plasma membrane seems essential for quantal release.