A molecular technique for detecting the liberation of intracellular zinc in cultured neurons
A molecular technique for detecting the liberation of intracellular zinc in cultured neurons
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DOI:
10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.02.018
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发表时间:
2004-08-30
影响因子:
3
通讯作者:
Aizenman, E
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Hara, H;Aizenman, E
We have previously reported that oxidative stimuli liberate Zn2+ from metalloproteins, a phenomenon that can trigger neuronal cell death. Excessive intracellular Zn2+ in many cell types triggers the expression of genes that encode metal binding proteins, such as metallothionein, via the activation and nuclear translocation of metal response element (MRE)-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1). Cd2+ strongly induces nuclear translocation of MTF-1 in non-neuronal cells, but it does so by displacing Zn2+ from its metal binding sites within the cell and increasing the intracellular concentration of this ion. Here, we describe the use of MRE-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene as a sensitive molecular assay for detecting increases in intracellular zinc concentrations. MRE transactivation was induced in primary cortical neurons upon brief exposure to Zn2+ or Cd2+. Enhanced MRE transactivation was observed upon co-exposure of neurons to Cd2+ together with NMDA, as this metal can permeate through the receptor channel. Luciferase expression was observed regardless of whether or not neurons had been co-transfected with an MTF-1-containing plasmid, suggesting the presence of an endogenous MTF-1-like protein. Indeed, RT-PCR revealed that MTF-1 I mRNA is present in neurons. In contrast, MTF-1 deficient dko7 cells were only observed to have MIZE transactivation when co-transfected with MTF-1. Our results indicate that Cd2+ can effectively induce transactivation of MRE in neurons by liberating Zn2+ from its intracellular binding sites. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.