Biomaterial Database

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP causes intermediate filament accumulation and actin reorganization in astrocytes. 1984

J E Goldman, and F C Chiu

We have examined the effects of dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) on the organization and expression of filamentous proteins in astroglia. The drug produced several effects on astrocytes grown in primary cultures. Cultures ceased to grow, and cells changed shape to a contracted form, displaying thin cytoplasmic processes. Cellular levels of the intermediate filament (IF) proteins, vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and actin, insoluble in Triton X-100, were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis. The cellular content of both of the IF proteins increased concurrently, approximately doubling during a 2-week course of treatment. The content of actin associated with the Triton residue decreased, however, a biochemical alteration which correlated with a loss of stress fibers in treated cells. Treatment with sodium butyrate did not change either cell shape or cytoskeletal protein content. Filament protein expression in astrocytes can, therefore, be modulated via cAMP-dependent mechanisms. The effects do not, however, appear specific for the GFAP-type of intermediate filament.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007381	Intermediate Filament Proteins	Filaments 7-11 nm in diameter found in the cytoplasm of all cells. Many specific proteins belong to this group, e.g., desmin, vimentin, prekeratin, decamin, skeletin, neurofilin, neurofilament protein, and glial fibrillary acid protein.	Fibroblast Intermediate Filament Proteins,Filament Proteins, Intermediate,Proteins, Intermediate Filament
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003994	Bucladesine	A cyclic nucleotide derivative that mimics the action of endogenous CYCLIC AMP and is capable of permeating the cell membrane. It has vasodilator properties and is used as a cardiac stimulant. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Dibutyryl Adenosine-3',5'-Monophosphate,Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP,(But)(2) cAMP,Bucladesine, Barium (1:1) Salt,Bucladesine, Disodium Salt,Bucladesine, Monosodium Salt,Bucladesine, Sodium Salt,DBcAMP,Dibutyryl Adenosine 3,5 Monophosphate,N',O'-Dibutyryl-cAMP,N(6),0(2')-Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP,AMP, Dibutyryl Cyclic,Adenosine-3',5'-Monophosphate, Dibutyryl,Cyclic AMP, Dibutyryl,Dibutyryl Adenosine 3',5' Monophosphate,Disodium Salt Bucladesine,Monosodium Salt Bucladesine,N',O' Dibutyryl cAMP,Sodium Salt Bucladesine
D005904	Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein	An intermediate filament protein found only in glial cells or cells of glial origin. MW 51,000.	Glial Intermediate Filament Protein,Astroprotein,GFA-Protein,Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein,GFA Protein
D000199	Actins	Filamentous proteins that are the main constituent of the thin filaments of muscle fibers. The filaments (known also as filamentous or F-actin) can be dissociated into their globular subunits; each subunit is composed of a single polypeptide 375 amino acids long. This is known as globular or G-actin. In conjunction with MYOSINS, actin is responsible for the contraction and relaxation of muscle.	F-Actin,G-Actin,Actin,Isoactin,N-Actin,alpha-Actin,alpha-Isoactin,beta-Actin,gamma-Actin,F Actin,G Actin,N Actin,alpha Actin,alpha Isoactin,beta Actin,gamma Actin
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
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals
D001253	Astrocytes	A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury.	Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D014746	Vimentin	An intermediate filament protein found in most differentiating cells, in cells grown in tissue culture, and in certain fully differentiated cells. Its insolubility suggests that it serves a structural function in the cytoplasm. MW 52,000.