Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation modulates PSD-95 binding to NMDA receptors

Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Nov;24(10):2694-704. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05140.x.

Abstract

At the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory synapses, NMDA-type receptors are bound to scaffolding and signalling proteins that regulate the strength of synaptic transmission. The cytosolic tails of the NR2A and NR2B subunits of NMDA receptor bind to calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and to members of the MAGUK family such as PSD-95. In particular, although NR2A and NR2B subunits are highly homologous, the sites of their interaction with CaMKII as well as the regulation of this binding differ. We identified PSD-95 phosphorylation as a molecular mechanism responsible for the dynamic regulation of the interaction of both PSD-95 and CaMKII with the NR2A subunit. CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of PSD-95 occurs both in vitro, in GST-PSD-95 fusion proteins phosphorylated by purified active CaMKII, and in vivo, in transfected COS-7 as well as in cultured hippocampal neurons. We identified Ser73 as major phosphorylation site within the PDZ1 domain of PSD-95, as confirmed by point mutagenesis experiments and by using a phospho-specific antibody. PSD-95 Ser73 phosphorylation causes NR2A dissociation from PSD-95, while it does not interfere with NR2B binding to PSD-95. These results identify CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of the PDZ1 domain of PSD-95 as a mechanism regulating the signalling transduction pathway downstream NMDA receptor.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Drug Interactions
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / pharmacology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutagenesis / physiology
  • N-Methylaspartate / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology*
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Transfection / methods

Substances

  • Benzylamines
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Dlg4 protein, rat
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NR2A NMDA receptor
  • NR2B NMDA receptor
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Sulfonamides
  • KN 93
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Serine
  • N-Methylaspartate
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases