N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors mediate the phosphorylation and desensitization of muscarinic receptors in cerebellar granule neurons

J Biol Chem. 2009 Jun 19;284(25):17147-17156. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M901031200. Epub 2009 Mar 30.

Abstract

Changes in synaptic strength mediated by ionotropic glutamate N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) receptors is generally considered to be the molecular mechanism underlying memory and learning. NMDA receptors themselves are subject to regulation through signaling pathways that are activated by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). In this study we investigate the ability of NMDA receptors to regulate the signaling of GPCRs by focusing on the G(q/11)-coupled M(3)-muscarinic receptor expressed endogenously in mouse cerebellar granule neurons. We show that NMDA receptor activation results in the phosphorylation and desensitization of M(3)-muscarinic receptors through a mechanism dependent on NMDA-mediated calcium influx and the activity of calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Our study reveals a complex pattern of regulation where GPCRs (M(3)-muscarinic) and NMDA receptors can feedback on each other in a process that is likely to influence the threshold value of signaling networks involved in synaptic plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • N-Methylaspartate / pharmacology
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositols / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / deficiency
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / genetics
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Phosphatidylinositols
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • N-Methylaspartate
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2