Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH; EC 1.2.1.12) has a number
of diverse functions apart from glycolytic function. We explored the possib
le involvement of GAPDH in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced death
of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons (MDNs) in culture, MPP+ (10 and 20 m
uM, 24 h) exposure selectively decreased the survival of tyrosine hydroxyla
se positive (TH+) MDNs, which manifested apoptotic features including shrin
kage of the fell body, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. Tw
o types of GAPDH antisense oligonucleotides almost completely rescued MDNs
from MPP+ toxicity. GAPDH was strongly expressed in apoptotic TH+ neurons,
and MPP+ exposure significantly increased the percentage of TH+ neurons in
which GAPDH is over-expressed. Confocal microscopic analysis demonstrated t
he nuclear accumulation of GAPDH in neurons undergoing MPP+-induced apoptos
is. These results suggest that MPP+ causes apoptosis of MDNs, concomitant w
ith the overexpression and nuclear accumulation of GAPDH. NeuroReport 12:20
49-2052 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.