title: Functional modulation of GABAA receptors by cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation.
abstract: gamma-Aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that mediate inhibitory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. The role of protein phosphorylation in the modulation of GABAA receptor function was examined with cells transiently transfected with GABAA receptor subunits. GABAA receptors consisting of the alpha 1 and beta 1 or the alpha 1, beta 1, and gamma 2 subunits were directly phosphorylated on the beta 1 subunit by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The phosphorylation decreased the amplitude of the GABA response of both receptor types and the extent of rapid desensitization of the GABAA receptor that consisted of the alpha 1 and beta 1 subunits. Site-specific mutagenesis of the serine residue phosphorylated by PKA completely eliminated the PKA phosphorylation and modulation of the GABAA receptor. In primary embryonic rat neuronal cell cultures, a similar regulation of GABAA receptors by PKA was observed. These results demonstrate that the GABAA receptor is directly modulated by protein phosphorylation and suggest that neurotransmitters or neuropeptides that regulate intracellular cAMP levels may modulate the responses of neurons to GABA and consequently have profound effects on synaptic excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Blackstone
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Huganir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005576:Colforsin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011494:Protein Kinases; D015032:Zinc