In pancreatic acinar cells Ca(2+)-dependent secretagogues promote the fusion of zymogen granules (ZG) with the apical plasma membrane (PM) and exocytosis of digestive enzymes. In addition to exocytotic fusion complexes between SNARE proteins in the ZG membrane (ZGM) and the apical PM, enzyme secretion elicited by Ca(2+)-dependent secretagogues requires cytosolic Cl and K+ and is inhibited by blockers of Cl- and K+-channels. We have identified a Cl-conductance activated by ATP, and a K+-conductance (with properties similar to ATP-sensitive K+-channels), regulated by the granule matrix protein Zg-16p in the ZGM. Both conductances are inversely regulated by a 65-kD mdr1 gene product. We have also identified a novel Ca(2+)-activated anion conductance in ZGM, the Ca(2+)-sensitivity of which increases 50-fold when Cl is replaced by 1. This conductance is blocked by micromolar H2-DIDS or DTT, reminiscent of a family of epithelial Ca(2+)-activated Cl -channels (CaCC). Expression of a CaCC in exocrine pancreas has been confirmed by RT-PCR analysis, and by immunoblotting and immunogold labeling of ZG membranes. These data suggest that ion channels in the ZGM are essential elements in pancreatic exocytosis.
Animal ; Chloride Channels/metabolism* ; Chloride Channels/genetics ; Exocytosis/physiology* ; Gene Expression/physiology ; P-Glycoprotein/metabolism ; P-Glycoprotein/genetics ; Pancreas/secretion* ; Pancreas/cytology ; Potassium Channels/metabolism* ; Potassium Channels/genetics ; Secretory Vesicles/secretion ; Secretory Vesicles/metabolism* ; Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Botulinum toxin A (BTXA) has been used in several clinical trials to treat excessive glandular secretion; however, the precise mechanism of its action on the secretory function of salivary gland has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of BTXA on secretion of submandibular gland in rabbits and to identify its mechanism of action on the secretory function of salivary gland. At 12 weeks after injection with 5 units of BTXA, we found a significant decrease in the saliva flow from submandibular glands, while the salivary amylase concentration increased. Morphological analysis revealed reduction in the size of acinar cells with intracellular accumulation of secretory granules that coalesced to form a large ovoid structure. Expression of M3-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3 receptor) and aquaporin-5 (AQP5) mRNA decreased after BTXA treatment, and distribution of AQP5 in the apical membrane was reduced at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after BTXA injection. Furthermore, BTXA injection was found to induce apoptosis of acini. These results indicate that BTXA decreases the fluid secretion of submandibular glands and increases the concentration of amylase in saliva. Decreased expression of M3 receptor and AQP5, inhibition of AQP5 translocation, and cell apoptosis might involve in BTXA-reduced fluid secretion of submandibular glands.
Amylases ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Aquaporin 5 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; pharmacology ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neuromuscular Agents ; pharmacology ; Organ Size ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Saliva ; drug effects ; secretion ; Salivary Proteins and Peptides ; drug effects ; Salivation ; drug effects ; Secretory Rate ; drug effects ; Secretory Vesicles ; drug effects ; Submandibular Gland ; drug effects ; pathology ; secretion ; Time Factors

Chimeric genes coding for prepro region of yeast alpha-factor and anglerfish SRIF were expressed in rat GH3 cells to determine whether yeast signals could regulate hormone processing in mammalian cells. We report that nascent hybrid polypeptides were efficiently targeted to ER, where cleavage of signal peptides and core glycosylation occurred, and were localized mainly in Golgi. These data indicate that prepro region of yeast alpha-factor functions in sorting molecules to secretory pathway in mammalian cells. A hybrid construct with a mutated signal peptide underwent similar ER translocation, whereas such a mutation resulted in defective translocation in yeast (Cheong et al., 1997). This difference may be due to the differences in ER translocation between yeast and mammalian cells, i.e., posttranslational versus cotranslational translocation. Processing and secretion of metabolically labeled hybrid propeptides to mature SRIF peptides were assessed by HPLC. When pulse-labeled cells were chased for up to 2 h, intracellular propeptides disappeared with a half-life of approximately 25 min, showing that -68% of initially synthesized propeptides were secreted constitutively. About 22% of SRIF-related products were proteolytically processed to mature SRIF, of which 38.7% were stored intracellularly with a half-life of - 2 h. In addition, immunocytochemical localization showed that a small proportion of SRIF molecules accumulated in secretory vesicles. All these results suggest that yeast prepropeptide could direct hybrid precursors to translocate into ER lumen and transit through secretory pathway to the distal elements of Golgi compartment, but could process and target it less efficiently to downstream in rat endocrine cells.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior/*cytology ; Protein Precursors/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; Protein Transport ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Retroviridae/genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Secretory Vesicles/metabolism ; Somatostatin/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism/secretion

Chimeric genes coding for prepro region of yeast alpha-factor and anglerfish SRIF were expressed in rat GH3 cells to determine whether yeast signals could regulate hormone processing in mammalian cells. We report that nascent hybrid polypeptides were efficiently targeted to ER, where cleavage of signal peptides and core glycosylation occurred, and were localized mainly in Golgi. These data indicate that prepro region of yeast alpha-factor functions in sorting molecules to secretory pathway in mammalian cells. A hybrid construct with a mutated signal peptide underwent similar ER translocation, whereas such a mutation resulted in defective translocation in yeast (Cheong et al., 1997). This difference may be due to the differences in ER translocation between yeast and mammalian cells, i.e., posttranslational versus cotranslational translocation. Processing and secretion of metabolically labeled hybrid propeptides to mature SRIF peptides were assessed by HPLC. When pulse-labeled cells were chased for up to 2 h, intracellular propeptides disappeared with a half-life of approximately 25 min, showing that -68% of initially synthesized propeptides were secreted constitutively. About 22% of SRIF-related products were proteolytically processed to mature SRIF, of which 38.7% were stored intracellularly with a half-life of - 2 h. In addition, immunocytochemical localization showed that a small proportion of SRIF molecules accumulated in secretory vesicles. All these results suggest that yeast prepropeptide could direct hybrid precursors to translocate into ER lumen and transit through secretory pathway to the distal elements of Golgi compartment, but could process and target it less efficiently to downstream in rat endocrine cells.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior/*cytology ; Protein Precursors/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; Protein Transport ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Retroviridae/genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Secretory Vesicles/metabolism ; Somatostatin/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism/secretion