Neuronal AKAP150 coordinates PKA and Epac-mediated PKB/Akt phosphorylation

Cell Signal. 2008 Oct;20(10):1715-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2008.05.001. Epub 2008 May 16.

Abstract

In diverse neuronal processes ranging from neuronal survival to synaptic plasticity cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling is tightly connected with the protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt pathway but the precise nature of this connection remains unknown. In the current study we investigated the effect of two mainstream pathways initiated by cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac1 and Epac2) on PKB/Akt phosphorylation in primary cortical neurons and HT-4 cells. We demonstrate that PKA activation leads to a reduction of PKB/Akt phosphorylation, whereas activation of Epac has the opposite effect. This effect of Epac on PKB/Akt phosphorylation was mediated by Rap activation. The increase in PKB/Akt phosphorylation after Epac activation could be blocked by pretreatment with Epac2 siRNA and to a somewhat smaller extent by Epac1 siRNA. PKA, PKB/Akt and Epac were all shown to establish complexes with neuronal A-kinase anchoring protein150 (AKAP150). Interestingly, activation of Epac increased phosphorylation of PKB/Akt complexed to AKAP150. From experiments using PKA-binding deficient AKAP150 and peptides disrupting PKA anchoring to AKAPs, we conclude that AKAP150 acts as a key regulator in the two cAMP pathways to control PKB/Akt phosphorylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing / drug effects
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / enzymology*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*

Substances

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins
  • Akap5 protein, mouse
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Epac protein, mouse
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Rapgef4 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases