José Manuel Martínez-Martos⁽¹⁾, María Jesús Ramírez-Expósito⁽²⁾, María Dolores Mayas-Torres⁽³⁾, María Jesús García-López⁽⁴⁾, Isabel Prieto-Gómez⁽⁵⁾, Garbiñe Arechaga-Maza⁽⁶⁾, Manuel Ramírez-Sánchez^{(7)
(1)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)}Unit of Physiology. University of Jaén - Jaén. Spain
⁽²⁾Unit of Physiology. University of Jaen - Jaén. Spain

	[Cell Biology & Cytology]	[Endocrinology]	[Neuroscience]	[Physiology]

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, evidence has been accumulating that in addition to the well-established second messengers, the existence of additional messenger molecules should be taken into account ⁽¹⁾. Several studies carried out in various cell types suggest that fatty acids act as second messengers and modulators by satisfying the criteria through their capacity to modulate some enzymes as phospholipases, protein kinases, G-proteins, adenylate and guanylate cyclases activities as well as ion channels and other biochemical events involved in stimulus-response couple mechanisms ^(2-5).

In this way, fatty acids can act as second messengers involved in the transduction of external signals because their concentrations are rapidly and transiently altered in response to the binding of a specific agonist to plasma membrane receptors and the substitute for the classical second messengers of the inositide phospholipid and the cyclic AMP signal transduction pathway.

Although a number of studies have addressed the interaction between fatty acids and lipids with CNS peptides, a comprehensive overview has not yet been provided. A major problem confronting a compelling delineation of these issues derives from the fact that fatty acids and lipids exist in large quantities in the body. They are present in every cell in the body and they interact with various components of the cell, mainly the membrane. In contrast, brain peptides are produced in small quantities and they affect and interact with a limited number of cell types.

In general, fatty acids and peptides may interact in one of more of the following ways: synthesis, release, lipid metabolism, enzymes, receptors and post receptor events ⁽⁶⁾.

In this way, aminopeptidases (AP) are generally zinc-metalloenzymes which hydrolyse peptide bonds near the N-terminal end of peptides and polypeptides. The importance of these enzymes is based on their major role in the metabolism of proteins and in the regulation of circulating hormones and biologically active peptides in tissues ⁽⁷⁾. The aim of the present work is to study the behaviour of several AP expressed in whole cell primary astrocyte cultures of the frontal cortex of the rat, after incubation with several concentrations of oleic and linoleic fatty acids and cholesterol in the culture medium. It has been demonstrated that primary cultures of nervous cells are a useful model for analysing cellular functions of defined populations, and therefore represent a valuable tool for studying functional and biochemical aspects of cell physiology ⁽⁸⁾.

Discussion Board

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[ABSTRACT] [INTRODUCTION] [MATERIAL & METHODS] [RESULTS] [FIGURES] [DISCUSSION] [ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS] [BIBLIOGRAPHY] [Discussion Board]

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	[Cell Biology & Cytology]	[Endocrinology]	[Neuroscience]	[Physiology]

José Manuel Martínez-Martos, María Jesús Ramírez-Expósito, María Dolores Mayas-Torres, María Jesús García-López, Isabel Prieto-Gómez, Garbiñe Arechaga-Maza, Manuel Ramírez-Sánchez
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Last update: 16/12/99