Role of RNA and DNA in brain function : a molecular biological approach : Symposium on role of DNA in brain activity : 10th Meeting : Papers

There was once an old Chinese man working on a hill with a boy. On the plain, near the sea, rested the village, the inhabitants eagerly engaged in their daily activities. Suddenly, the old man noticed that a huge wave, far distant in the sea, was approaching the shore endangering all. The only safe place was the hill. So, he began waving his hands and screaming aloud, to no avail. The villagers were too busy with their own work and paid little heed to the old man, who was considered a bit eccentric. But soon flames were on the hill, the wheat fields ablaze. The old man had resorted to this ultimate step to alert his fellow citizens. Now, they all went running towards him, angry about their burning crop, and in the process, avoided the imminent danger. For some mysterious reason, my mind focused on this story prior to the Symposium on the Role of DNA, which took place in Ravello, Italy at the end of May 1985. Having made a call for people to meet and reflect for a few days, the analogy began to take shape. Ravello was indeed a hill, magically overlooking the sea from medieval quarters. True, its countryside is filled with vineyards, not wheat fields, but that is an improvement on the story. However, what was the wave? Perhaps, the growing amount of data on cloned brain genes that threatens to engulf neurobiologists. Front Matter....Pages i-xv A Comparative Study of the Diversity of Gene Expression in Brain....Pages 1-9 Messenger RNA in the Brain....Pages 10-22 Gene Expression in the Mammalian Brain....Pages 23-31 Expression of Brain-Specific Proteins....Pages 32-41 Messenger RNA is Present in the Axoplasm of Squid Giant Axons....Pages 42-56 Molecular Genetics of Tyrosine Hydroxylase....Pages 57-70 Analysis of Synapsin i and G-Substrate Gene Expression by cDNA Cloning and in Situ Hybridization Histochemistry....Pages 71-80 The Expression of Microtubule Proteins During the Development of the Nervous System....Pages 81-89 Regulation of Expression of the Human Proenkephalin Gene in Heterologous Cell Systems....Pages 90-111 The Regulation of Proopiomelanocortin Gene Expression by Estrogen in the Rat Hypothalamus....Pages 112-122 DNA Analysis of Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies....Pages 123-130 Genetic Analysis of the Fragile X-Mental Retardation Syndrome with Polymorphic DNA Markers....Pages 131-141 Brain Messenger RNA in Alzheimer’s Disease....Pages 142-159 The Effect of Trisomy-21 (Down’s Syndrome) on Brain Transcription....Pages 160-173 Neuronal Chromatin during Development....Pages 174-181 Post-Translational Modifications of Chromosomal Proteins in Neuronal and Glial Nuclei from Developing Rat Brain....Pages 182-196 DNA Content in Neurons....Pages 197-210 Enzymology of DNA Replication and Repair in Brain....Pages 211-223 Brain Dnases and their Functional Importance....Pages 224-232 Polyadp-Ribose Polymerase and ADP-Ribosylation Reaction....Pages 233-246 DNA Synthesis and Cell Number Homeostasis in the Brain....Pages 247-255 Brain DNA Changes During Learning....Pages 256-267 Role of DNA in Brain Information Processing....Pages 268-279 RNA and Learning....Pages 280-293 Molecular Genetics of the Nerve Cell Adhesion Molecule N-Cam: Evidence for Multiple, Developmentally Regulated, mRNA Species....Pages 294-295 The Characterization of cDNAs Encoding Brain-Specific and Ubiquitous mRNA by Hybrid-Selected Translation....Pages 296-298 Opioid Peptide Precursors in the Amphibian Xenopus Laevis ....Pages 299-302 Sensitive Hybridization Techniques as Powerful Tools in Molecular Genetics to Identify Brain-Specific Gene Products....Pages 303-307 Molecular Cloning and Nucleotide Sequences of cDNA and Genomic DNA for the Rat Brain S-100 Protein....Pages 308-311 Back Matter....Pages 313-320 This symposium entitled Calcium, Neuronal Function and Transmitter Re­ lease, was in the framework of the regional meeting of the International Union of Physiological Sciences, that took place in Jerusalem between August 26-31, 1984. The symposium dealt with the role of calcium ions in regulation of a large number of important processes in modern neurobiology, from molecular and cellular points of view. In this context, we consider heart and most cells as'honorary neurons'. The meeting was comprised of lectures and quite intense discussions. We hope that the transcription of the discussions which follow the articles will give the reader a feeling of the intense, but pleasant atmosphere that per­ vaded during this symposium. It is our pleasure to thank Mrs. Miriam Silber, the assistant editor of this book, for her hard work in transcribing the discussions, retyping large portions of the book, and getting the approval of the authors. We express our thanks to Dr. Halina Meiri and Dr. Simona Ginsburg for their editorial assis­ tance. The unfailing help of Ms. Rachel Klein and Ms. Shoshana Wineberg is greatly appreciated. xxvii SECTION 1 CALCIUM CHANNELS, TRANSPORTERS & CALCIUM REGULATED CHANNELS EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON SINGLE CHANNEL AND WHOLE CELL Ca CURRENTS A. M. BROWN, D. L. KUNZE, H.D. LUX AND D. L. WILSON INTRODUCTION Calcium tall currents have a large,fast component which Is not detectable when the currents are turned on or acti­ vated from the completely rested state (Brown et aI, 1983). Our understanding of the functioning of the brain has grown rapidly over the last decade or two. So has our recognition of the possible role of brain dysfunction in diseases considered earlier to be of peripheral or somatic origin. This culminates naturally in a focus on the nature of the influence of the brain on other systems such as the autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune systems. And we must come full circle and question the nature of the influence of these systems on the function of the brain. Thus, we gain a picture of a complex regulatory interaction, fine tuned in normal circumstances to provide each system with necessary information about the status of the other systems and the basis to respond appropriately to changes in each other. This volume provides the proceedings of the first of a series of international symposia intended to review the state-of-the-art understanding and frontier exploration of the above described interregulatory phenomena, with some emphasis on the relevance of this information to the etiology and treatment of disease. The purpose of this first symposium was to lay the groundwork for this continuing endeavor. To accomplish such a goal required bringing together diverse multidisciplinary professionals - eg neurobiologists, immunol­ ogists, psychiatrists, cardiologists and students amongst others. Edited By Antonio Giuditta, Barry B. Kaplan, Claire Zomzely-neurath. Based On The Symposium Role Of Dna In Brain Activity Held In Ravello, Italy On May 27-29, 1985, As A Satellite Meeting Of The 10th Meeting Of The International Society For Neurochemistry, Held In Riva Del Garda, Italy On 19-24 May 1985. Includes Bibliographies And Indexes. Edited By Rami Rahamimoff, Sir Bernard Katz. The Symposium Was Held In Jerusalem During The Regional Meeting Of The International Union Of Physiological Sciences. Includes Bibliographies. Proceedings of Symposium on Calcium, Neuronal Function and Transmitter Release, held at International Union of Physiological Sciences, August 28-31, 1984