Restoration of membrane excitability of squid giant axons by reagents activating tyrosine-tubulin ligase

J Membr Biol. 1979 Oct 5;50(1):15-22. doi: 10.1007/BF01868785.

Abstract

Using squid giant axon, an experimental survey was performed on restoration of the membrane excitability which had been partially suppressed. Among reagents examined, a combination of 400 mM KF, 50 micrometers tyrosine, 1 mM ATP, 1 mM Mg ions and 2 micrometers cAMP was found to induce the restoration of the excitability to a large extent. Further addition of a small amount of either porcine brain microtubule proteins or the squid axoplasm was found to support complete restoration. The experiments suggest that tubulin-tyrosine ligase contained in the porcine brain microtubule protein fraction or the squid axoplasm maintains the coupling between cytoskeletal structures and the plasma membrane.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Axons / physiology*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology
  • Decapodiformes
  • Ligases / metabolism*
  • Magnesium / pharmacology
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Nucleotides / pharmacology
  • Tubulin / pharmacology*
  • Tyrosine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Nucleotides
  • Tubulin
  • Tyrosine
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Ligases
  • Magnesium