Neuronal signal transduction

Huang EJ, Reichardt LF (2003) Trk receptors roles in neuronal signal transduction. Ann Rev Biochem 72 609-642... 

Roy, D. Belsham, D. D. (2002). Melatonin receptor activation regulates GnRH gene expression and secretion in GT1-7 GnRH neurons. Signal transduction mechanisms. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 251-8. 

Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Denisova NA, Bielinski D, Martin A, McEwen JJ and Bickford PC. 1999. Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation. J Neurosci 19(18) 8114-8121. 

Fivaz, M. and Meyer, T. Specific localization and timing in neuronal signal transduction mediated by protein-lipid interactions. Neuron 40 319-330, 2003. 

Some members of this family have been shown to mediate the dephosphorylation of MAPKs under physiological conditions. Others dephosphorylate Cdc-2 and related CDKs. However, relatively little is known to date about the regional distribution of these dual-functioning phosphatases in the brain and the specific function these enzymes serve in the regulation of neuronal signal transduction. Considerable interest has focused on one particular MAPK phosphatase, which can be induced very rapidly, at the level of gene transcription, in target cells in response to cellular activation [44]. 

The Ca Vcalmoduhn complex is a signal molecule that is involved in many signal transduction pathways. Ca Vcalmoduhn is involved in regulation of proliferation, mitosis, and in neuronal signal transduction. Different calmodulin subtypes are known which regulate different target proteins. 

The best characterized substrate of Ca Vcalmodulin is the Ca /calmodulin-depen-dent protein kinase (CaM kinase). CaM kinase has an important function in neuronal signal transduction. The mechanism of Ca Vcalmodulin activation of CaM kinase is described in more detail in Section 7.4, together with regulation of protein kinases. Another substrate of Ca Vcalmodulin is myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), involved in contraction of smooth musculature. 

Shafer TJ, Mundy WR. 1995. Effects of aluminum on neuronal signal transduction Mechanisms underlying disruption of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Gen Pharmacol 26 889-895. 

Tab. 1.1 Molecular targets of alkaloids in neuronal signal transduction [2,3,19].

Plants not only evolved allelochemicals with broad activities (see Section 1.3.1) but also some that can interfere vdth a particular target [3,6,17-19,25]. Targets that are present in animals but not in plants are nerve cells, neuronal signal transduction, and the endocrinal hormone system. Compounds that interfere with these targets are usually not toxic for the plants producing them. Plants have had to develop special precautions (compartmentation resin ducts, trichomes, laticifers) in order to store the allelochemicals with broad activities that could also harm the producer. 

Joseph, J.A., B. Shukitt-Hale, N.A. Denisova, D. Bielinski, A. Martin, J.J. McEwen, and P.C. Bickford. Reversals of Age-Related Declines in Neuronal Signal Transduction, Cognitive, and Motor Behavioral Deficits with Blueberry, Spinach, or Strawberry Dietary Supplementation. Journal of Neuroscience 19, no. 18 (September 15, 1999) 8114-21. 

Wang Y, Zhao F, Liao Y, Jin Y, Sun G (2013) Effects of arsenite in astrocytes on neuronal signaling transduction. Toxicology 303 43-53... 

Elements and Basic Processes of Neuronal Signal Transduction... 

Neuronal signal transduction is briefly summarized in a simplified version in the following for the reader not being a specialist in neurobiology or neuropharmacology, since a basic knowledge is essential to understand the complex interactions of alkaloids with neuroreceptors, ion channels and signal transduction. Citations in this part of the review have been kept at a minimum and the reader should consult overviews in [17, 38, 42-56] for more details. 

Fig. (5). Highly schematic illustration of importants elements of neuronal signal transduction.

Joseph, J.A., Shukitt-Hale, B., Denisova, N.A., Prior, R.L. et al.. Long-term dietary strawberry, spinach, or vitamin E supplementation retards the onset of age-related neuronal signal-transduction and cognitive behavioral deficits, J. Neurosci., 18, 8047-8055,1998. 

It appeared, furthermore, that synaptosomal plasma membranes (SPMs) could easily be obtained after lysis and ftuther subcellular fractionation of such synaptosomal preparations. Essentially, this procedure permits isolation of synaptosomal plasma membranes with minimal contamination by glial cell elements. Throughout the years, this method has been modified and improved in many labs to permit detailed studies of neuronal signal transduction using isolated synaptosomal plasma membranes in vitro. Recently, synaptosomal plasma membranes have been used to study protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events (6-9), polyphosphomositide metabolism (10), and protein-protein interactions using chemical crosslinkers (9,11) and unmuno-precipitation techniques (6,12). Synaptosomal plasma membranes have also been used as source material for isolation of membrane proteins (13). 

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