Cytoglobin is a recently identified member of the mammalian globin family that is expressed in neuronal cells in the central and peripheral nervous system where its physiological role remains to be determined. In the current study, we demonstrate that a cytoglobin-green fluoresecent protein (GFP) fusion protein when expressed in the human neuronal cell line TE671 has a nuclear localization in a subpopulation of transfected cells (approximately 15%). Furthermore, the cytoglobin-GFP fusion protein but not GFP alone significantly reduced the induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species as assessed by oxidation of the redox-sensitive probe dichlorofluorescein following treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations of the pro-oxidant Ro19-8022. In addition, expression of cytoglobin-GFP also afforded cytoprotection from Ro19-8022-induced oxidative DNA damage as assessed by the Fpg-modified comet assay. In conclusion, the current study provides evidence supportive of a role for cytoglobin in cytoprotection of neuronal cells from oxidative-related damage, for example, during ischaemic reperfusion injury following hypoxia.

A recently developed ␣-conotoxin, ␣-conotoxin Arenatus IB-[V11L,V16D] (␣-CtxArIB[V11L,V16D]), is a potent and selective competitive antagonist at rat recombinant ␣7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), making it an attractive probe for this receptor subtype. ␣7 nAChRs are potential therapeutic targets that are widely expressed in both neuronal and nonneuronal tissues, where they are implicated in a variety of functions. In this study, we evaluate this toxin at rat and human native nAChRs.

Neuropilin tolloid-like 1 (Neto1), is a CUB domain-containing transmembrane protein that was recently identified as a novel component of the NMDA receptor complex. Here, we have investigated the possible association of Neto1 with the amyloid precursor protein (APP)695/GluN1/GluN2A and APP695/ GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptor trafficking complexes that we have previously identified. Neto1HA was shown to co-immu- Neuropilin tolloid-like 1 (Neto1) and Neuropilin tolloid-like 2 (Neto2) are complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1 (CUB) domain-containing transmembrane proteins that were recently identified as novel components of glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptor complexes. Neto1 and Neto2 have both been described as auxiliary subunits of kainate receptors since they were shown to alter the trafficking, channel kinetics and pharmacology of this glutamate receptor subtype in a subunitdependent manner ( Abbreviations used: AMPA, 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid; APP, amyloid precursor protein; CUB, complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1; ELISA, enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay; GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2B, NMDA receptor NR1 subunit, NR2A subunit, NR2B subunit; Neto1, neuropilin tolloid-like 1; NMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartate; PSD-95, post-synaptic density 95; SAP102, synapse associated protein 102. 554

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