Kinesin-dependent motility generation as target mechanism of cadmium intoxication. 2014

Konrad J Böhm
Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: kboehm@fli-leibniz.de.

The anterograde vesicle transport within neurons critically depends on microtubules and on the activity of kinesin. The present study demonstrates that cadmium ions inhibit the in vitro assembly of microtubules from tubulin, whereby at high cadmium levels (∼500 μM) unstructured protein aggregates were formed. Cadmium ions also significantly lower both the ATPase and motility activity of neuron-specific kinesin KIF5A in concentration-dependent manner. For the inhibition of KIF5A ATPase activity, an IC50 value of 10.4±1.5 μM was determined. Inhibition could be widely compensated by addition of EGTA, but not by addition of thiols. The inhibitory effect of cadmium on KIF5A was considerably weakened by increasing ATP concentration. As nucleoside triphosphate binding is known to be accompanied by conformational changes within the kinesin motor domain, it might be suggested that these changes protect the motor domain against cadmium. The effects of cadmium ions on the kinesin-microtubule motility generating system are considered to contribute to the development of neuronal disorders caused by cadmium intoxication.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008870 Microtubules Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS. Microtubule
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002105 Cadmium Poisoning Poisoning occurring after exposure to cadmium compounds or fumes. It may cause gastrointestinal syndromes, anemia, or pneumonitis. Itai-Itai,Poisoning, Cadmium,Cadmium Poisonings,Itai Itai,Poisonings, Cadmium
D002465 Cell Movement The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell. Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D002474 Cell-Free System A fractionated cell extract that maintains a biological function. A subcellular fraction isolated by ultracentrifugation or other separation techniques must first be isolated so that a process can be studied free from all of the complex side reactions that occur in a cell. The cell-free system is therefore widely used in cell biology. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p166) Cellfree System,Cell Free System,Cell-Free Systems,Cellfree Systems,System, Cell-Free,System, Cellfree,Systems, Cell-Free,Systems, Cellfree
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000251 Adenosine Triphosphatases A group of enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP. The hydrolysis reaction is usually coupled with another function such as transporting Ca(2+) across a membrane. These enzymes may be dependent on Ca(2+), Mg(2+), anions, H+, or DNA. ATPases,Adenosinetriphosphatase,ATPase,ATPase, DNA-Dependent,Adenosine Triphosphatase,DNA-Dependent ATPase,DNA-Dependent Adenosinetriphosphatases,ATPase, DNA Dependent,Adenosinetriphosphatases, DNA-Dependent,DNA Dependent ATPase,DNA Dependent Adenosinetriphosphatases,Triphosphatase, Adenosine
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001370 Axonal Transport The directed transport of ORGANELLES and molecules along nerve cell AXONS. Transport can be anterograde (from the cell body) or retrograde (toward the cell body). (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3d ed, pG3) Axoplasmic Flow,Axoplasmic Transport,Axoplasmic Streaming,Axonal Transports,Axoplasmic Flows,Axoplasmic Transports,Streaming, Axoplasmic,Transport, Axonal,Transport, Axoplasmic,Transports, Axonal,Transports, Axoplasmic
D013438 Sulfhydryl Compounds Compounds containing the -SH radical. Mercaptan,Mercapto Compounds,Sulfhydryl Compound,Thiol,Thiols,Mercaptans,Compound, Sulfhydryl,Compounds, Mercapto,Compounds, Sulfhydryl

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