Neuronal differentiation of NG108-15 cells has impact on nitric oxide- and membrane (natriuretic peptide receptor-A) cyclic GMP-generating proteins.

Cyclic GMP (cGMP), produced in response to either nitric oxide (NO) or certain peptides, controls important neuronal functions. NG108-15 cells were used to characterize the expression of NO- and cGMP-generating proteins and to identify potential alterations associated with neuronal differentiation (neurite outgrowth). We find that these cells contain exclusively neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) isoforms as well as both NO- (soluble guanylyl cyclase, sGC) and natriuretic peptide- (natriuretic peptide receptor-A, NPR-A) responsive cGMP-producing enzymes. The sGC beta(1) subunit (unlike protein phosphatase 2A subunits) is highly membrane-associated. Membrane concentrations of NPR-A and nNOS, but not sGC beta(1) protein are up-regulated with neuronal differentiation. Intriguingly, the rate of hormone-induced cGMP production by NPR-A is significantly diminished in differentiated cells. These findings support roles for NPR-A, the common receptor of atrial (ANP) and B-type (BNP) natriuretic peptide in mature neurons and provide evidence for pronounced changes in neuronal submembrane cGMP signalling during neuronal differentiation.