A cAMP-regulated chloride channel in lymphocytes that is affected in cystic fibrosis

A defect in regulation of a chloride channel appears to be the molecular basis for cystic fibrosis (CF), a common lethal genetic disease. It is shown here that a chloride channel with kinetic and regulatory properties similar to those described for secretory epithelial cells is present in both T and B lymphocyte cell lines. The regulation of the channels by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase in transformed B cells from CF patients is defective. Thus, lymphocytes may be an accessible source of CF tissue for study of this defect, for cloning of the chloride channel complex, and for diagnosis of the disease.     

Inhibition of postsynaptic PKC or CaMKII blocks induction but not expression of LTP

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission is a widely studied cellular example of synaptic plasticity. However, the identity, localization, and interplay among the biochemical signals underlying LTP remain unclear. Intracellular microelectrodes have been used to record synaptic potentials and deliver protein kinase inhibitors to postsynaptic CA1 pyramidal cells. Induction of LTP is blocked by intracellular delivery of H-7, a general protein kinase inhibitor, or PKC(19-31), a selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, or CaMKII(273-302), a selective inhibitor of the multifunctional Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII). After its establishment, LTP appears unresponsive to postsynaptic H-7, although it remains sensitive to externally applied H-7. Thus both postsynaptic PKC and CaMKII are required for the induction of LTP and a presynaptic protein kinase appears to be necessary for the expression of LTP.