Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Washburn, K. B.
Right arrow Articles by Talamo, B. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Washburn, K. B.
Right arrow Articles by Talamo, B. R.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Chem. Senses 27: 635-642, 2002
© Oxford University Press 2002

Comparison of Mechanical Agitation and Calcium Shock Methods for Preparation of a Membrane Fraction Enriched in Olfactory Cilia

Katrina B. Washburn, Timothy J. Turner and Barbara R. Talamo

Departments of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA

Correspondence to be sent to: Barbara R. Talamo, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston MA, USA. e-mail: barbara.talamo{at}tufts.edu


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
Calcium plays an important regulatory role in olfactory signal transduction. Many investigations into the regulation of the olfactory signaling pathway have been performed using fractions enriched in ciliary membranes from olfactory sensory neurons. The traditional method of preparing ciliary fractions uses high calcium concentrations, thought to dislodge cilia from the dendritic knobs of the olfactory neurons in the nasal epithelium. However, calcium, an important second messenger in the odorant signaling cascade, modulates the activity of many enzymatic reactions in this cascade. Pre-exposure of cilia to high calcium concentrations may modify these signaling events. Therefore, we sought to develop a method of isolating cilia-enriched membranes that avoids exposing the cilia to high calcium concentrations. Our method of isolation, referred to as the mechanical agitation method, involves mechanical disruption and sonication of the olfactory epithelium to dislodge the cilia. To evaluate this method of cilia preparation, basal adenylyl cyclase activity, as well as forskolin- and odorant-activated adenylyl cyclase, were analyzed. Specific activity of adenylyl cyclase and protein yield were compared for the mechanical agitation and the high calcium preparations. Immunoblots were analyzed for the presence of transduction components enriched in olfactory cilia: adenylyl cyclase type III (ACIII), heterotrimeric G-protein subunit G{alpha}olf and the 1 C2 isoform of phosphodiesterase (PDE 1 C2). Based on these analyses, the ciliary fraction prepared by the mechanical agitation method appears to be very similar to that prepared by the high calcium method, with a higher yield.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
Signal cascade in olfactory sensory neurons

Our current understanding of olfactory signal pathways hypothesizes that odorants traverse the mucus layer of the nasal epithelium and then bind to G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptors on the cilia of the olfactory neurons. Activated receptors then stimulate the G{alpha}olf subunit of a heterotrimeric G-protein complex and thus activate adenylyl cyclase III (ACIII), and formation of the second messenger molecule, cAMP. cAMP stimulates the opening of a cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel on the plasma membrane, admitting both Na+ and Ca2+ and depolarizing the cell. Elevated intracellular Ca2+ then induces the opening of calcium-activated chloride channels, further contributing to cell depolarization and generation of an action potential (Zufall and Leinders-Zufall, 2000Go).

Desensitization of the signaling mechanism is thought to involve the second messengers cAMP and calcium. cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), as well as G-protein-coupled receptor kinase type 3 (GRK3) have been reported to contribute to the desensitization of the receptor through phosphorylation (Boekhoff et al., 1997Go). Calcium also has been implicated in desensitization via actions of CaMKII and calcium—calmodulin binding to the cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel. Electrophysiological recordings suggest that the rise in internal calcium levels leads to a decrease in the amplitude and duration of the odor-induced response (Kurahashi, 1989Go; Kurahashi et al., 1990Go). Additionally, injections of EGTA into chemosensory neurons decrease the internal calcium levels, extending the duration of the odor-stimulated response (Kurahashi and Shibuya, 1990Go).

Biochemical analyses of the odor-stimulated response in enriched ciliary membrane preparations have focused on modulation of the activity of the adenylyl cyclase (AC) enzyme. Published reports with contradictory interpretations indicate that regulation is complex. Several investigations using cilia preparations presented data showing that increases in calcium concentration reduce the activity of adenylyl cyclase, in agreement with physiological desensitization studies (Shirley et al., 1986Go; Sklar et al., 1986Go; Boekhoff et al., 1996Go). However, data from another study (Jaworsky et al., 1995Go) suggested that the effects of calcium on adenylyl cyclase activity might be more dynamic than previously shown. This study indicated that intermediate calcium levels increase adenylyl cyclase activity, whereas high calcium levels decrease adenylyl cyclase activity. On the other hand, calcium—calmodulin has been reported both to enhance the activity of adenylyl cyclase (Anholt and Rivers, 1990Go; Choi et al., 1992Go) and to decrease the activity of adenylyl cyclase through calcium—calmodulin-activated CamKII (Wei et al., 1998Go). It is possible that differing concentrations of calcium selectively affect various components of signaling associated with ciliary membranes and thereby modulate transduction in a complex manner.

All of the biochemical analyses discussed above were carried out with ciliary membrane fractions isolated by the calcium shock method, where treatment with a high calcium concentration under hypotonic buffer conditions is thought to free cilia from the olfactory neurons. In addition to the effects noted above, this treatment potentially could affect calcium-sensitive machinery such as calcium-activated proteases, calcium-mediated protein associations, and kinase and/or phosphatase activity. To obviate potential alterations by calcium of the basal state of the signaling system in ciliary membranes, we have developed a preparation that does not involve exposure to high calcium concentrations as a tool for further examining the role of calcium in the modulation of the signal cascade.


    Materials and methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
Initially, we planned to develop methods for isolation of sealed ciliary vesicles from olfactory sensory neurons. In the course of these studies, we observed that preparations enriched with ciliary membranes could be prepared using isotonic rather than hypotonic buffer conditions and that high calcium was not necessary. Previous calcium shock preparations enriched in ciliary membranes were prepared using hypotonic buffer with high calcium concentrations (Pace et al., 1985Go; Sklar et al., 1986Go). We, however, used isotonic buffer in this preparation.

Isolation of a membrane fraction enriched in olfactory cilia from primary olfactory sensory neurons by the mechanical agitation method

Five CF-1 female mice, ranging from 3 to 10 weeks of age, were killed by cervical dislocation followed by decapitation. The buffer for the membrane preparations utilized HEPES instead of NaHCO3 for buffering. The nasal epithelia were surgically removed and placed in 10 ml of solution A [145 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1.6 mM K2HPO4, 2.0 mM MgSO4, 20 mM HEPES, 7.5 mM D-glucose, 6 µg/ml chymostatin, 1 µg/ml leupeptin, 1 µg/ml pepstatin, 0.1 mg/ml Pefabloc (Boehringer Mannheim), 1 µg/ml aprotinin, pH 7.4] on ice. EDTA (final concentration 1 mM) was added to the pooled epithelia (solution B) and the solution was rocked for 20 min at 4°C (setting number 4, intermediate speed on a 55S single platform rocker; Reliable Scientific). All subsequent steps were carried out at 4°C. The suspension was then centrifuged for 10 min at 1500 g and the supernatant (S1) was transferred to a separate tube. The remaining pellet was resuspended in 6 ml of solution B and sonicated at low power for 10 s using a microprobe (Micro Ultrasonic Cell Disrupter; Kontes). Tissue was allowed to settle to the bottom of the tube and the supernatant (S2a) was transferred to a new tube. The pellet was resuspended in 6 ml of solution B and sonicated again at low power for 30 s. After tissue settled to the bottom of the tube, the supernatant (S2b) was removed to a new tube. The final settled tissue (`deciliated epithelium') was resuspended in 3 ml of solution B and homogenized twice using a Brinkman Homogenizer (Polytron) for 5 s separated by a period of 1 min on ice to ensure that the solution remained cool. This homogenized solution and supernatants S2a and S2b were each centrifuged for 10 min at 1500 g to remove debris. Each of the supernatants from the homogenized tissue (S3) and supernatants S1, S2a and S2b was centrifuged at 43 140 g for 25 min at 4°C to collect membranes. Pellets were then resuspended in 200 (P1, P2A and P2B) or 400 µl (pellet P3) of solution B with 5% glycerol using a Teflon pestle, apportioned into small volumes and stored at -70°C. Protein was measured using the Lowry method (Lowry et al., 1951Go), with bovine serum albumin as standard. In six experiments, the protein yield per mouse averaged 77 ± 17 µg for the P1 fraction, 164 ± 35 µg for fraction P2A, 133 ± 17 µg for the P2B fraction and 351 ± 107 µg for the P3 fraction.

Isolation of a membrane fraction enriched in olfactory cilia from primary olfactory sensory neurons by the calcium shock method

Ciliary membranes were isolated using minor modifications of the high calcium method previously described (Pace et al., 1985Go; Sklar et al., 1986Go). Cilia were dislodged from the epithelium by gentle agitation in a high calcium buffer and the remaining tissue was further disrupted by homogenization and centrifuged to generate a membrane pellet. Ten CF-1 female mice, ranging from 3 to 10 weeks of age, were killed by cervical dislocation followed by decapitation. The nasal epithelium from each was surgically excised and pooled with the others in 9 ml of solution C (120 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1.6 mM K2HPO4, 1.2 mM MgSO4, 25 mM NaHCO3, 7.5 mM D-glucose, adjusted to pH 7.4). All steps were carried out at 4°C. The pooled tissue was allowed to settle to the bottom of the tube and the supernatant was discarded. The tissue was resuspended in 5 ml of solution C containing 10 mM CaCl2 (solution D). Solution D was prepared by slowly adding CaCl2 to a final concentration of 10 mM while gassing with 5% CO2/95% air at 22°C to prevent Ca2PO4 from precipitating out of solution. Tissue was rocked for 20 min at 4°C (as in the mechanical agitation method) and then centrifuged at 7700 g for 5 min. This supernatant was reserved in a new tube for subsequent pooling with membranes dislodged in a second rocking step. The pellet was resuspended in 4 ml of solution D and rocked for a second time for 20 min. Supernatant from this step, collected by centrifugation at 7700 g for 5 min, was added to the supernatant from the first calcium shock incubation. The combined supernatant was referred to as S2. The remaining pellet was resuspended in 3 ml of solution C, homogenized twice (as in the mechanical agitation method) for 5 s with an intervening 1 min cooling period on ice to prevent tissue from increasing in temperature. Centrifugation for 5 min at 7700 g yielded supernatant (S3). Both S2 and S3 supernatants were centrifuged for 15 min at higher speed (27 000 g) to generate pellets P2 and P3. The supernatants were discarded. P2 and P3 were resuspended in 200 and 400 µl, respectively, of TEM buffer (10 mM Tris—HCl, 3 mM MgCl2, 2 mM EDTA, pH 8.0) with 5% glycerol, homogenized with a Teflon pestle, apportioned into small volumes and stored at -70°C. Protein was determined by the Lowry method (Lowry et al., 1951Go), with bovine serum albumin as standard. In four experiments, the protein yield per mouse averaged 38 ± 14 µg for the P2 fraction and 261 ± 22 µg for the P3 fraction.

Immunoblot analysis

For immunoblotting, membrane proteins were separated on 8% SDS—polyacrylamide gels and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. Non-specific binding sites were blocked with 5% dry non-fat milk (Carnation) in TBST (10 mM Tris—HCl, pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl and 0.4% Tween 20) for 1 h at room temperature. The blots were incubated with primary antibody for 1 h at room temperature or overnight at 4°C. Blots were washed three times with TBST and then incubated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibody for 1 h at room temperature. The secondary antibodies used were HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit antibody (1:1000; Santa Cruz), HRP-conjugated anti-mouse antibody (1:2000; Santa Cruz) and HRP-conjugated antibiotin antibody (1:2000; New England Biolabs). Blots were washed twice with TBST and once with TBS (10 mM Tris—HCl, pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl). The NEN chemiluminescence system was used to monitor bound antibodies. Biotinylated mol. wt markers (New England BioLabs) were used for calibration.

Adenylyl cyclase assay

Adenylyl cyclase activity was assayed according to a modified version of the method described previously (Salomon, 1979Go). The reaction tube (total volume 50 µl/tube) contained: reaction buffer (20 µl), membranes (10 µl, 5 µg protein), stimulant (10 µl) and dilution buffer (10 µl). The final reaction mix contained 20 mM HEPES, 5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM ATP-Na2, 10 µM GTP-Na2, 5 mM phosphocreatine, 85 U/ml creatine phosphokinase, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 1 µCi {alpha}-[32P]ATP (30 Ci/mmol), pH 7.4, with or without a stimulant (odor mixture or forskolin) and 50 µM cAMP to inhibit breakdown of [32P]cAMP by phosphodiesterase. In some experiments, 0.5 mM isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, was added to confirm that [32P]cAMP breakdown was completely blocked. Addition of IBMX yielded the same results as excess cold cAMP, thereby indicating that cold cAMP is sufficient to block breakdown. Stimulants were odorant mixture (citralva, eugenol and D-carvone; final concentration of 0.1 mM each) or forskolin (final concentration of 5 µM), with a final ethanol concentration of 0.09 or 0.5%, respectively. Corresponding controls contained the same amount of ethanol. Reactions were incubated for 15 min at 37°C in a shaking water bath and terminated on ice by the addition of 10 µl of ice-cold `stop' solution (5 mg/ml cAMP, 0.5 N HCl, [3H]cAMP tracer, 1 x 105 d.p.m./sample to calculate recovery). cAMP was separated from the reaction mix on SpinZyme acidic alumina columns (Pierce Chemicals) according to manufacturer's instructions. Radioactivity of the eluates was determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The time course was linear for 15 min under these conditions at protein concentrations ranging between 1 and 5 µg.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed by two way, repeated-measure ANOVA. The within-subject factor was stimulus condition and the between-subject factor was preparation. Significance levels were set at P <= 0.05.

Materials

Two-week-old female CF-1 mice were purchased from Charles River Laboratories. {alpha}-[32P]ATP and 2,8-[3H]cAMP were from Du Pont—New England Nuclear. Forskolin was purchased from Calbiochem. The odorant mix was composed of three different chemicals: D-carvone, eugenol (both from Fluka Chemicals) and citralva (International Flavors and Fragrances Inc.). The protease inhibitors chymostatin and Pefabloc were purchased from Boehringer-Mannheim. Aprotinin, leupeptin and pepstatin all were purchased from Sigma Chemicals. Affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies to adenylyl cyclase III and to G{alpha}olf were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology. Rabbit polyclonal antibody to PDE1C2 was a generous gift from Dr Joseph Beavo, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. All other reagents were purchased from Sigma and were ultrapure.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
Two membrane preparations enriched in cilia from olfactory receptor neurons were evaluated: a newly developed `mechanical agitation' method and the traditional calcium shock method. Preliminary experiments evaluated effects of sonication strength and time on the specific activity of adenylyl cyclase and the yield. The optimal conditions are reported here. Both methods of cilia preparation are outlined in Figure 1. In the mechanical agitation method, nasal epithelial tissue is rocked gently in HEPES/saline buffer with EDTA, followed by a centrifugation step. The resulting pellet fraction is further disrupted by two sonication steps and fractions are collected by differential centrifugation. In the calcium shock method, the nasal epithelium is gently rocked in a high calcium buffer followed by differential centrifugation to collect fractions. Fractions from these two preparations were biochemically characterized by comparing average protein yields, basal adenylyl cyclase activity, forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, odorant-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity and by detection of ciliary marker proteins using immunoblot analysis.




View larger version (72K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1 Purification schemes for isolating olfactory cilia from nasal epithelium. (A) Mechanical agitation scheme. All steps were carried out at 4°C. To remove debris, fractions were centrifuged at low speed (1500 g) for 10 min. To collect `cilia', membrane fractions were centrifuged at high speed (43 140 g) for 25 min. All fractions were resuspended in HEPES/saline—EDTA buffer containing protease inhibitors (see Materials and methods). All final membrane pellets (*) were frozen at -70°C with 5% glycerol added. (B)Purification schemes for isolating olfactory cilia from nasal epithelium. Calcium shock scheme. All tissue pellets were resuspended in buffer D solution containing 10 mM CaCl2, on ice unless otherwise indicated. To collect tissue fragments, fractions were centrifuged at low speed (7700 g) for 5 min. To collect `cilia' and membranes, fractions were centrifuged at high speed (27 000 g) for 15 min. All fractions were resuspended in HEPES/saline—EDTA buffer containing protease inhibitors (see Materials and methods). All final membrane pellets (*) were resuspended into TEM buffer/5% glycerol with a Teflon pestle and stored at -70°C.

 

Ciliary membrane enrichment in each fraction from both preparations was estimated by assay of odorant-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity (an activity marker for ciliary membranes; Figure 2). Basal, forskolin-stimulated and odorant-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was observed in every fraction. Specific activity for odor-stimulated and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was similar in the initial fraction of each preparation. Subsequent fractions had lower specific activity. There is no dramatic difference in fold-stimulation by odorant or forskolin across fractions, suggesting that components for stimulation are present in every fraction and that inhibitors are not concentrated in any particular fraction.




View larger version (37K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2 Adenylyl cyclase assay of isolated membranes from mechanical agitation. (A) Cyclase assay was carried out in the presence of 50 µM cAMP under basal conditions (black bars), with 5.0 µM forskolin (gray bars), or with an odorant mixture containing 100 µM each of citralva, eugenol and D-carvone (white bars). P1 = rocking step. P2A = first sonication. P2B = second sonication. P3 = homogenized (Polytron) deciliated epithelium. The specific activity of adenylyl cyclase is shown as nmol/mg protein/min. The average fold-stimulation compared to basal is reported above each column. The values are averages of six separate experiments ± SEM. Each data point was determined in duplicate. (B) Adenylyl cyclase assay of membranes isolated by calcium shock. Cilia membranes were assayed as in (A). P2 = membranes isolated by calcium shock. P3 = membranes isolated from residual epithelium by homogenization (Polytron, post-calcium). Data are represented as in (A). The values are averages of four separate experiments ± SEM.

 

In Table 1, basal activity has been subtracted from stimulated activity to show net specific activity. For mechanical agitation, the results show that P1 specific activity was approximately twice that of P2A for the odor-stimulated fraction, indicating that P1 was more enriched for ciliary membranes. For calcium shock, the specific activity of the odor-stimulated and forskolin-stimulated fraction P2 was comparable to that for mechanical agitation. Although the average value of P2 appeared somewhat higher than the comparable fraction, P1, from the mechanical agitation method, ANOVA showed no significant difference between P1 of the mechanical agitation preparation and P2 of the calcium shock preparation.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1 Distribution of adenylyl cyclase specific activity in isolated fractions
 

The distribution of total cyclase activity from the mechanical agitation and the calcium shock procedure is outlined in Table 2. One-third of the total activity was recovered in the P1 fraction of the mechanical agitation procedure and the P2 fraction of the calcium shock procedure. Another 40% of the total activity was recovered in fraction P2A of the mechanical agitation procedure. However, the specific activity of the P2A fraction was only half that of the P1 fraction, thereby indicating that P2A was not as enriched for cilia as P1. Distribution of total activity across fractions indicated no evidence for separation of odor-stimulated and forskolin-stimulated components (Table 2). There did not appear to be any fraction in which odorant receptor-activated cyclase was enriched over another compartment containing cyclase uncoupled to receptor. The yield of odorant- and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by the mechanical agitation method was significantly higher than the yield by the calcium shock method (ANOVA).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2 Distribution of adenylyl cyclase activity in isolated fractions
 

Molecular components of both preparations were characterized by immunoblot analysis of marker proteins of cilia. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analysis from previous reports showed that ACIII, G{alpha}olf and PDE1C2 are highly enriched in cilia structures (Yan et al., 1995Go; Belluscio et al., 1998Go; Schandar et al., 1998Go; Wei et al., 1998Go; Wong et al., 2000Go). Immunoblot characterization of the mechanical agitation and the calcium shock fractions (Figure 3) shows that ACIII, G{alpha}olf and PDE1C2 were enriched in the first fraction of membranes from both procedures. The levels of these proteins diminished in subsequent fractions. This result is consistent with the enzymatic analysis and indicates that the P1 fraction from mechanical agitation and the P2 fraction isolated by calcium shock were most enriched in ciliary membranes.



View larger version (52K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3 Immunoblot analysis of isolated membranes from the mechanical agitation and the calcium shock preparations using antibodies against ACIII, G{alpha}olf and PDE1C2. Membrane fractions isolated from olfactory tissue by mechanical agitation or calcium shock were probed with antibodies to determine the enrichment of ciliary markers in a particular fraction of the preparation. (A) Fractions (1.5 µg of protein per lane) were probed with rabbit polyclonal antibodies to ACIII (1:200) from Santa Cruz. (B) Fractions (20 µg of protein per lane) were probed with rabbit polyclonal antibodies to G{alpha}olf (1:200) from Santa Cruz. (C) Fractions (10 µg of protein per lane) were probed with rabbit polyclonal antibodies to PDE1C2 (1:10 000) from Dr Joseph Beavo. Fractions from the mechanical agitation procedure are labeled as follows. P1 = membranes from rocking. P2A = membranes from first sonication. P2B = membranes from second sonication. P3 = membranes from the homogenized deciliated epithelium. Fractions from the calcium shock procedure are labeled as follows. P2 = membranes from calcium shock. P3 = membranes from homogenized post-calcium treated epithelium. M. = mol. wt markers.

 


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
Mechanical agitation is an effective way of preparing enriched fractions of olfactory cilia without exposing the tissue to high concentrations of calcium. This new method of isolating membrane fractions enriched in cilia was compared to the calcium shock method, using isotonic buffer conditions for each preparation. We showed that membranes enriched with olfactory cilia can be isolated under isotonic conditions (a more physiological environment) without the use of high calcium concentrations. Maintaining a physiological environment may prevent perturbations of biochemical enzymes and pathways induced by hypotonic and high calcium buffer conditions.

The most active fractions from both preparations were equivalent in enrichment, as shown by several criteria: specific activity, fold stimulation and enrichment for specific ciliary marker proteins. In our hands, the mechanical agitation method produced a slightly better yield of odorant- and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity than the calcium shock method (Table 2).

The specific activity of adenylyl cyclase in fractions enriched in ciliary membranes varies according to animal species and across laboratories. These results are difficult to compare across studies because different odorants and concentrations were employed. The relevant studies also assayed cAMP production on a minute time scale and separated products by column chromatography. In our laboratory, fractions enriched for ciliary membranes that are isolated from mouse olfactory epithelial tissue by the mechanical agitation and the calcium shock preparations show similar basal (10 µM GTP; 2.81 ± 0.22 and 2.26 ± 0.15, nmol/mg/min, respectively) and forskolin-stimulated (18.73 ± 0.91 and 20.21 ± 2.71, nmol/mg/min, respectively) specific activity responses. For both preparations, odorant-stimulated activity exhibited a 1.7- to 2.3-fold increase over basal conditions. In agreement with these values, a study that used membranes from cilia dislodged by calcium shock from both male Sprague—Dawley rats and frogs (Rana catesbeiana) reported comparable values. For both frog and rat, the basal plus GTP activity ranged from 2 to 4 nmol/mg/min and 4 µM forskolin-stimulated activity ranged from 18 to 24 nmol/mg/min. At maximum stimulation, the odorant (100 µM) activity was ~1.5- to 1.6-fold above basal plus GTP specific activity (Sklar et al., 1986Go). Other publications from Lancet's laboratory using ciliary membrane preparations isolated by calcium shock from frog (Rana ridibunda) or rat (BN/Mai from Weizmann Institute Animal Breeding Center) report a higher basal and stimulated adenylyl cyclase specific activity. In frog, basal plus GTP activity is ~25 nmol/mg/min (Chen et al., 1986Go) and maximal odorant stimulated activity at ~50 nmol/mg/min (Pace et al., 1985Go; Chen et al., 1986Go). In a separate study from this laboratory, even higher levels of basal and odorant-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity have been reported (Pace and Lancet, 1986Go).

Calcium has been thought to be essential for dislodging cilia from olfactory neurons in epithelial tissue, but it remains unclear how exposure of olfactory epithelial tissue to high calcium concentrations affects the signaling process. Reasons to be concerned are that signal transduction is sensitive to dynamic changes in calcium. Calcium concentrations affect calcium-sensitive machinery, such as calcium-activated proteases, calcium-mediated protein association and kinase and/or phosphatase activity. Changes in calcium concentrations may alter covalent modifications, signal complex associations and/or location of signal components in cilia of olfactory neurons that potentially could alter the state of the isolated cilia. Therefore, calcium might be expected to alter the basal or regulatory state of isolated cilia because it affects so many signaling proteins in the cell.

In the majority of olfactory neurons, odor-stimulated olfactory receptors activate signal cascades that ultimately result in the increase of internal calcium concentrations. Elevated cytosolic calcium levels lead to calcium—calmodulin inhibition of the cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel and also to activation of CaMKII. CaMKII phosphorylates and reduces the activity of adenylyl cyclase, suggesting an involvement with signal termination (Wei et al., 1998Go). CaMKII activity also results in the phosphorylation of ERK I/II, leading to the stimulation of Cre-mediated gene transcription (Watt and Storm, 2001Go).

PDE1C2 also is calcium—calmodulin activated and breaks down the second messenger molecule cAMP to 5'-AMP, contributing to the termination of the signal event (Borisy et al., 1992Go; Yan et al., 1995Go). Thus, high calcium concentrations are intimately involved in the dynamics of cAMP signal transduction in olfactory cilia.

An additional reason for being concerned about the effect of high calcium on cilia is that some isoforms of G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are modulated by calcium. GRKs phosphorylate seven transmembrane receptors resulting in the down regulation of receptor activity. GRK3 has been localized to the cilia of rat olfactory neurons and appears to play a role in desensitization of olfactory receptors (Schleicher et al., 1993Go). Calcium—calmodulin complexes inhibit GRK3, thereby potentially modulating odor receptor activity (Chuang et al., 1996Go).

Protein kinase C (PKC) also has been implicated in odorant-mediated signaling and desensitization (Boekhoff and Breer, 1992Go; Boekhoff et al., 1992Go; Schleicher et al., 1993Go). In rat olfactory neurons, the {gamma}, {delta} and {lambda} isoforms of PKC have been localized to the sensory cilia by immuno-histochemistry (Muller et al., 1998Go). The {gamma} isoform of PKC, a member of the `classic' group, depends upon calcium for its regulation (Muller et al., 1998Go). In frog olfactory epithelium, activators of PKC (PDBu and the diterpene mezerein) potentiated forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, whereas inhibitors of PKC (Goe 6983, staurosporine and polymyxin) had no effect (Frings, 1993Go). Alterations of calcium concentrations also may alter PKC distribution (Almholt et al., 1999Go) or perturb odorant-signaling.

Neural proteinases (calpains) are calcium-dependent cysteine proteases that should be considered in evaluating ciliary isolation protocols. Immunostaining of calpain I in rat brain showed high levels of expression in primary olfactory axons (Siman et al., 1985Go). Calpains activate or alter the regulation of certain enzymes, such as protein kinases and phosphatases, by limited proteolysis and thus could potentially modify the state of proteins involved in odorant signaling (Molinari and Carafoli, 1997Go), although no such effects have been reported as yet.


    Summary
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
We have developed an alternative method of isolating membranes enriched with ciliary markers that does not depend upon high calcium. Since calcium participates in multiple regulatory steps in olfactory neuron signaling, the possible effects of high calcium treatment warrant careful consideration. The data from these experiments indicate that high calcium is not essential for releasing cilia from olfactory neurons in the epithelial tissue. One apparent advantage of the mechanical agitation procedure is that the yield of functional membranes is somewhat higher than that of the calcium shock method, with comparable specific activity of adenylyl cyclase. Future studies will evaluate whether differing methods of isolation alter the dynamics of signaling and regulation.


    Acknowledgments
 
This work was supported in part by a grant from DARPA (DAAK60-97-K-9502).


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Summary
 References
 
Almholt, K., Arkhammar, P.O., Thastrup, O. and Tullin, S. (1999) Simultaneous visualization of the translocation of protein kinase Calpha-green fluorescent protein hybrids and intracellular calcium concentrations. Biochem. J.,337 , 211-218.

Anholt, R.R.H. and Rivers, A.M. (1990) Olfactory transduction: cross-talk between second-messenger systems.Biochemistry , 29,4049 -4054.[Medline]

Belluscio, L., Gold, G.H., Nemes, A. and Axel, R. (1998) Mice deficient in G(olf) are anosmic.Neuron , 20,69 -81.[Web of Science][Medline]

Boekhoff, I. and Breer, H. (1992) Termination of second messenger signaling in olfaction. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 89,471 -474.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Boekhoff, I., Schleicher, S., Strotmann, J. and Breer, H. (1992) Odor-induced phosphorylation of olfactory cilia proteins. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA,89 , 11983-11987.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Boekhoff, I., Kroner, C. and Breer, H. (1996) Calcium controls second-messenger signalling in olfactory cilia. Cell. Signal., 8,167 -171.[Web of Science][Medline]

Boekhoff, I., Touhara, K., Danner, S., Inglese, J., Lohse, M.J., Breer, H. and Lefkowitz, R.J. (1997) Phosducin, potential role in modulation of olfactory signaling. J. Biol. Chem., 272,4606 -4612.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Borisy, F.F., Ronnett, G.V., Cunningham, A.M., Juilfs, D., Beavo, J. and Snyder, S.H. (1992) Calcium/calmodulin-activated phosphodiesterase expressed in olfactory receptor neurons. J. Neurosci., 12,915 -923.[Abstract]

Chen, Z., Pace, U., Heldman, J., Shapira, A. and Lancet, D. (1986) Isolated frog olfactory cilia: a preparation of dendritic membranes from chemosensory neurons. J. Neurosci., 6,2146 -2154.[Abstract]

Choi, E.J., Xia, Z. and Storm, D.R. (1992) Stimulation of the type III olfactory adenylyl cyclase by calcium and calmodulin. Biochemistry,31 , 6492-6498.[Medline]

Chuang, T.T., Paolucci, L. and De Blasi, A. (1996) Inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor kinase subtypes by Ca2+/calmodulin. J. Biol. Chem.,271 , 28691-28696.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Frings, S. (1993) Protein kinase C sensitizes olfactory adenylate cyclase. J. Gen. Physiol.,101 , 183-205.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Jaworsky, D.E., Matsuzaki, O., Borisy, F.F. and Ronnett, G.V. (1995) Calcium modulates the rapid kinetics of the odorant-induced cyclic AMP signal in rat olfactory cilia. J. Neurosci., 15,310 -318.[Abstract]

Kurahashi, T. (1989) Activation by odorants of cation-selective conductance in the olfactory receptor cell isolated from the newt. J. Physiol., 419,177 -192.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Kurahashi, T. and Shibuya, T. (1990) Ca(2+)-dependent adaptive properties in the solitary olfactory receptor cell of the newt. Brain Res., 515,261 -268.[Web of Science][Medline]

Kurahashi, T., Kaneko, A. and Shibuya, T. (1990) Ionic mechanisms of the olfactory transduction studied on isolated receptor cells of the newt. Neurosci. Res. Suppl., 12,S85 -S96.[Medline]

Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J., Farr, A.L. and Randall, R.J. (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem., 193,265 -275.[Free Full Text]

Molinari, M. and Carafoli, E. (1997) Calpain: a cytosolic proteinase active at the membranes. J. Membr. Biol., 156,1 -8.[Web of Science][Medline]

Muller, F., Bonigk, W., Sesti, F. and Frings, S. (1998) Phosphorylation of mammalian olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels increases ligand sensitivity. J. Neurosci., 18,164 -173.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Pace, U. and Lancet, D. (1986) Olfactory GTP-binding protein: signal-transducing polypeptide of vertebrate chemosensory neurons. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 83,4947 -4951.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Pace, U., Hanski, E., Salomon, Y. and Lancet, D. (1985) Odorant-sensitive adenylate cyclase may mediate olfactory reception. Nature, 316,255 -258.[Medline]

Salomon, Y. (1979) Adenylate cyclase assay. Adv. Cyclic. Nucleotide Res.,10 , 35-55.[Medline]

Schandar, M., Laugwitz, K.L., Boekhoff, I., Kroner, C., Gudermann, T., Schultz, G. and Breer, H. (1998) Odorants selectively activate distinct G protein subtypes in olfactory cilia. J. Biol. Chem., 273,16669 -16677.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Schleicher, S., Boekhoff, I., Arriza, J., Lefkowitz, R.J. and Breer, H. (1993) A beta-adrenergic receptor kinase-like enzyme is involved in olfactory signal termination.Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA , 90,1420 -1424.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Shirley, S.G., Robinson, C.J., Dickinson, K., Aujla, R. and Dodd, G.H. (1986) Olfactory adenylate cyclase of the rat. Stimulation by odorants and inhibition by Ca2+.Biochem. J. , 240,605 -607.[Web of Science][Medline]

Siman, R., Gall, C., Perlmutter, L.S., Christian, C., Baudry, M. and Lynch, G. (1985) Distribution of calpain I, an enzyme associated with degenerative activity, in rat brain.Brain Res. , 347,399 -403.[Web of Science][Medline]

Sklar, P.B., Anholt, R.R. and Snyder, S.H. (1986) The odorant-sensitive adenylate cyclase of olfactory receptor cells. Differential stimulation by distinct classes of odorants.J. Biol. Chem. , 261,15538 -15543.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Watt, W.C. and Storm, D.R. (2001) Odorants stimulate the Erk/MAP kinase pathway and activate CRE-mediated transcription in olfactory sensory neurons. J. Biol. Chem., 276,2047 -2052.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Wei, J., Zhao, A.Z., Chan, G.C., Baker, L.P., Impey, S., Beavo, J.A. and Storm, D.R. (1998) Phosphorylation and inhibition of olfactory adenylyl cyclase by CaM kinase II in neurons: a mechanism for attenuation of olfactory signals. Neuron,21 , 495-504.[Web of Science][Medline]

Wong, S.T., Trinh, K., Hacker, B., Chan, G.C., Lowe, G., Gaggar, A., Xia, Z., Gold, G.H. and Storm, D.R. (2000) Disruption of the type III adenylyl cyclase gene leads to peripheral and behavioral anosmia in transgenic mice. Neuron,27 , 487-497.[Web of Science][Medline]

Yan, C., Zhao, A.Z., Bentley, J.K., Loughney, K., Ferguson, K. and Beavo, J.A. (1995) Molecular cloning and characterization of a calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase enriched in olfactory sensory neurons. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA,92 , 9677-9681.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Zufall, F. and Leinders-Zufall, T. (2000) The cellular and molecular basis of odor adaptation. Chem. Senses, 25,473 -481.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Accepted June 6, 2002


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Hum Mol GenetHome page
W.S. Layman, D.P. McEwen, L.A. Beyer, S.R. Lalani, S.D. Fernbach, E. Oh, A. Swaroop, C.C. Hegg, Y. Raphael, J.R. Martens, et al.
Defects in neural stem cell proliferation and olfaction in Chd7 deficient mice indicate a mechanism for hyposmia in human CHARGE syndrome
Hum. Mol. Genet., June 1, 2009; 18(11): 1909 - 1923.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
S. Michalakis, J. Reisert, H. Geiger, C. Wetzel, X. Zong, J. Bradley, M. Spehr, S. Huttl, A. Gerstner, A. Pfeifer, et al.
Loss of CNGB1 Protein Leads to Olfactory Dysfunction and Subciliary Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Channel Trapping
J. Biol. Chem., November 17, 2006; 281(46): 35156 - 35166.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Washburn, K. B.
Right arrow Articles by Talamo, B. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Washburn, K. B.
Right arrow Articles by Talamo, B. R.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?