TY - GEN A1 - Blenau, Wolfgang A1 - Grohmann, Lore A1 - Erber, Joachim A1 - Ebert, Paul R. A1 - Strünker, Timo A1 - Baumann, Arnd T1 - Molecular and functional characterization of an octopamine receptor from honeybee (Apis mellifera) brain N2 - Biogenic amines and their receptors regulate and modulate many physiological and behavioural processes in animals. In vertebrates, octopamine is only found in trace amounts and its function as a true neurotransmitter is unclear. In protostomes, however, octopamine can act as neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and neurohormone. In the honeybee, octopamine acts as a neuromodulator and is involved in learning and memory formation. The identification of potential octopamine receptors is decisive for an understanding of the cellular pathways involved in mediating the effects of octopamine. Here we report the cloning and functional characterization of the first octopamine receptor from the honeybee, Apis mellifera . The gene was isolated from a brain-specific cDNA library. It encodes a protein most closely related to octopamine receptors from Drosophila melanogaster and Lymnea stagnalis . Signalling properties of the cloned receptor were studied in transiently transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Nanomolar to micromolar concentrations of octopamine induced oscillatory increases in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In contrast to octopamine, tyramine only elicited Ca2+ responses at micromolar concentrations. The gene is abundantly expressed in many somata of the honeybee brain, suggesting that this octopamine receptor is involved in the processing of sensory inputs, antennal motor outputs and higher-order brain functions. KW - Biogenic amine KW - Ca2+ KW - cyclic AMP KW - G protein-coupled receptor KW - insect Y1 - 2003 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-44293 ER - TY - THES A1 - Schmidt, Ruth Maria T1 - Signalkaskaden und Steuermechanismen in den Speicheldrüsen von Dipteren T1 - Signalling pathways and control mechanisms in the salivary glands of Diptera N2 - Flüssigkeitssekretion und Proteinsekretion werden in Speicheldrüsen von Insekten über Hormone und Neurotransmitter gesteuert. Diese entfalten ihre physiologische Wirkung in den sekretorischen Drüsenzellen hauptsächlich über den zyklischen Adenosinmonophosphat (cAMP)-Signalweg und den Inositoltrisphosphat (IP3) / Ca2+-Signalweg. Die Mechanismen möglicher Wechselwirkungen zwischen diesen Signalwegen und ihre physiologischen Auswirkungen sind unzureichend bekannt. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Arbeit stand die Frage, ob und wie sich der Ca2+-Signalweg und der cAMP-Signalweg in der Speicheldrüse der Diptere Calliphora vicina beeinflussen. Substanzen wie 5-Fluoro-α-Methyltryptamin und Histamin wurden in früheren Arbei-ten als Agonisten genutzt, um in den Speicheldrüsen von C. vicina selektiv den cAMP-Signalweg (getrennt vom IP3/Ca2+-Signalweg) zu aktivieren. Es zeigte sich in transepithelialen Potentialmessungen und mikrofluorometrischen Ca2+-Untersuchungen, dass beide Substanzen sowohl den cAMP-Weg als auch den Ca2+-Signalweg aktivierten. Die physiologischen Ursachen der Histamin-induzierten Ca2+-Erhöhung wurden genauer untersucht. Zusammengefasst zeigten diese Untersuchungen, dass Histamin wie 5-HT den cAMP-Weg und die Phosphoinositidkaskade aktivierte. Im Gegensatz zu den 5-HT-induzierten Ca2+-Oszillationen, welche durch interzelluläre Ca2+-Wellen synchronisiert werden, verursachte Histamin bei niedrigen Konzentrationen lokale Ca2+-Oszillationen in einzelnen Zellen (keine Wellen). Bei höheren Histamin-Konzentrationen war eine anhaltende Ca2+-Erhöhung oder ein synchrones Ca2+-beating in der gesamten Drüse zu beobachten. Des Weiteren wurde die Frage untersucht, ob eine Erhöhung der intrazellulären cAMP-Konzentration den IP3 Ca2+-Signalweg in den Epithelzellen der Speicheldrüse beeinflussen kann. Es zeigte sich, dass cAMP den durch schwellennahe 5-HT-Konzentrationen induzierten Ca2+-Anstieg verstärkte. Diese Verstärkung wurde durch eine PKA-vermittelte Sensitivierung des IP3-Rezeptor/Ca2+-Kanals für IP3 verursacht. Immunzytochemische Untersuchungen deuten dar-auf hin, dass die Proteinkinase A eng mit dem IP3-Rezeptor/Ca2+-Kanal assoziiert ist. Diese Messungen zeigen erstmals, dass auch bei Invertebraten der Botenstoff cAMP, PKA-vermittelt, den IP3-Rezeptor/Ca2+-Kanal des ER für IP3 sensitiviert. N2 - Fluid- and protein-secretion in the salivary glands of insects are controlled by hormones or neurotransmitters. These agonists activate two signalling cascades: the cAMP-pathway and the IP>sub>3/Ca-pathway. The functional crosstalk between these two signalling pathways is poorly understood. Functional crosstalk between cAMP-pathway and IP3/Ca2+-pathway was investigated in the salivary glands of the blowfly, Calliphora vicina. Histamine and 5-alpha-methyltryptamine were used in an attempt to activate the cAMP-pathway selectively, as suggested previously. By using transepithelial potential-measurements and microfluorometric Ca2+-imaging it was demonstrated that both substances activate the cAMP- and the IP3/Ca2+-pathway. The physiological effects of histamine were investigated in detail. These experiments show that histamine causes an intracellular Ca2+-elevation that, in some preparations exhibits oscillations with concentration-dependent frequencies. In contrast to 5-HT induced intracellular Ca2+-oscillations and propagating intercellular Ca2+-waves histamine produces local Ca2+-oscillations in single cells or synchronous Ca2+-beating in the whole gland. In addition the effects of increasing cAMP on the IP3/Ca2+-pathway in the salivary glands of the blowfly were studied. It could be demonstrated that cAMP augments the 5-HT-induced Ca2+-increase in glands stimulated with low doses of 5-HT. This potentiation is the result of a PKA-mediated sensitisation of the IP3-receptor/Ca2+-channel for IP3. Results of immunocytochemical analyses show that the PKA is spatially associated with the ER. These results show for the first time that in invertebrates as well as in vertebrates the second messenger cAMP sensitises the IP3-receptor/Ca2+-channel for IP3 by the action of a PKA. KW - Speichel KW - Speicheldrüse KW - Insekten KW - Calcium-Imaging KW - transepitheliales Potential KW - Signalkakaden KW - IP3 KW - cAMP KW - PKA KW - IP3-Rezeptor KW - salivary gland KW - blowfly KW - signalling pathways KW - IP3 KW - cyclic AMP KW - IP3-receptor Y1 - 2006 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7714 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schlenstedt, Jana A1 - Balfanz, Sabine A1 - Baumann, Arnd A1 - Blenau, Wolfgang T1 - Am5-HT7 : molecular and pharmacological characterization of the first serotonin receptor of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) N2 - The biogenic amine serotonin (5-HT) plays a key role in the regulation and modulation of many physiological and behavioural processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates. These functions are mediated through the binding of serotonin to its receptors, of which 13 subtypes have been characterized in vertebrates. We have isolated a cDNA from the honeybee Apis mellifera (Am5-ht7) sharing high similarity to members of the 5-HT7 receptor family. Expression of the Am5-HT7 receptor in HEK293 cells results in an increase in basal cAMP levels, suggesting that Am5-HT7 is expressed as a constitutively active receptor. Serotonin application to Am5-ht7-transfected cells elevates cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 1.1-1.8 nM). The Am5-HT7 receptor is also activated by 5-carboxamidotryptamine, whereas methiothepin acts as an inverse agonist. Receptor expression has been investigated by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and western blotting experiments. Receptor mRNA is expressed in the perikarya of various brain neuropils, including intrinsic mushroom body neurons, and in peripheral organs. This study marks the first comprehensive characterization of a serotonin receptor in the honeybee and should facilitate further analysis of the role(s) of the receptor in mediating the various central and peripheral effects of 5-HT. KW - Behaviour KW - biogenic amine KW - cellular signalling KW - constitutive activity KW - cyclic AMP Y1 - 2006 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-44423 ER -