Neurotrophins promote multiple actions on neuronal cells including cell survival and differentiation. The best-studied neurotrophin, nerve growth factor (NGF), is a major survival factor in sympathetic and sensory neurons and promotes differentiation in a well-studied model system, PC12 cells. To mediate these actions, NGF binds to the TrkA receptor to trigger intracellular signaling cascades. ...

Little is known about molecular mechanisms for long-lasting neuroadaptation related to the rewarding effects of methamphetamine (MAP). In the present study, we examined the intracellular signaling that is associated with the expression of conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by MAP in rats. Rats were given MAP or saline (control group) for conditioning to the CPP test. MAP-treated and con...

BACKGROUND The volatile anesthetic isoflurane reduces acute and delayed neuron death in vitro models of brain ischemia, an action that the authors hypothesize is related to moderate increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Specifically, the authors propose that during hypoxia, moderate increases in [Ca2+]i in the presence of isoflurane stimulates the Ca2+-dependent phosphoryl...

Thapsigargin is a non-phorbol ester-type tumor promoter that elevates the intracellular Ca2+ (Ca(i)2+) levels by blocking the microsomal Ca2+ ATPase. At present, the consequence of this Ca(i)2+ increase and the nature of the tumorigenicity of thapsigargin still remain to be elucidated. Previously, we demonstrated that thapsigargin activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via Ca(i)2+...

Sprouty was originally identified as an inhibitor of Drosophila FGF receptor signaling during tracheal development. By following the capacity of ectopic Sprouty to abolish the pattern of activated MAP kinase in embryos, we show that Sprouty can inhibit other receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling pathways, namely the Heartless FGF receptor and the EGF receptor. Similarly, in wing imaginal dis...

Thapsigargin is a non-phorbol ester-type tumor promoter that elevates the intracellular Ca2@ (Ca@2') levels by blocking the microsomal Ca2@ ATPase. At present, the consequence of this Ca@2@ increase and the nature of the tumorigenicity of thapsigargin still remain to be elucidated. Previ ously, we demonstrated that thapsigargin activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via Ca@2' but ...

Thapsigargin is a non-phorbol ester-type tumor promoter that elevates the intracellular Ca2@ (Ca@2') levels by blocking the microsomal Ca2@ ATPase. At present, the consequence of this Ca@2@ increase and the nature of the tumorigenicity of thapsigargin still remain to be elucidated. Previ ously, we demonstrated that thapsigargin activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via Ca@2' but ...

The ERK1/2 MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is important for the formation of long-term memories. In this issue, Shimizu et al. (2007) provide new insight into the regulation of this pathway by demonstrating that activation of MAP kinase occurs through the calcium-dependent degradation of SCOP (suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian oscillatory protein) by the protease calpain.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), acting via its cognate receptor, plays an autocrine role in the regulation of growth of intestinal muscle cells. In the present study the signaling pathways mediating the growth effects of IGF-I were characterized in cultured human intestinal smooth muscle cells. Growth induced by a maximally effective concentration of IGF-I (100 nM), measured as [3H]thymid...