Hippocampal neurons express a calcineurin-activated adenylyl cyclase

J Neurosci. 2005 Oct 26;25(43):9913-8. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2376-05.2005.

Abstract

Ca2+-stimulated adenylyl cyclases are important for several forms of neuroplasticity because they couple activity-dependent Ca2+ increases to cAMP in neurons. For example, the calmodulin-stimulated adenylyl cyclases, AC1 and AC8, are required for hippocampus-dependent memory and long-lasting long-term potentiation. To identify other mechanisms for Ca2+ stimulation of adenylyl cyclases, cultured hippocampal neurons from transgenic mice lacking both AC1 and AC8 [double knock-out (DKO) mice] were analyzed for Ca2+ stimulation of intracellular cAMP. Surprisingly, neurons from DKO mice showed significant Ca2+-stimulated cAMP accumulation that was blocked by inhibitors of calcineurin [PP2B (protein phosphatase 2B)], a Ca2+-activated protein phosphatase. Analysis of cultured neurons from calcineurin(-/-) mice confirmed that hippocampal neurons exhibit a calcineurin-dependent cAMP increase, which may contribute to some forms of neuroplasticity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenylyl Cyclases / classification
  • Adenylyl Cyclases / deficiency
  • Adenylyl Cyclases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Calcineurin / metabolism*
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Interactions
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / physiology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Potassium Chloride / pharmacology

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Calcineurin
  • Adenylyl Cyclases
  • Calcium