title: BDNF acutely increases tyrosine phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor subunit 2B in cortical and hippocampal postsynaptic densities.
abstract: While neurotrophins are critical for neuronal survival and differentiation, recent work suggests that they acutely regulate synaptic transmission as well. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances excitatory postsynaptic currents in cultured dissociated hippocampal neurons within 2-3 min through postsynaptic, phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms. Moreover, BDNF modulates hippocampal long-term potentiation, in which postsynaptic NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors (NRs) play a key role. We now report that BDNF acutely increases tyrosine phosphorylation of the specific NMDA receptor subunit NR2B, which has recently been shown to play a role in long-term potentiation. Incubation of BDNF with cortical or hippocampal postsynaptic densities for 5 min increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2B subunits in a dose-dependent manner. A maximal increase to 165% of control phosphorylation occurred at a BDNF concentration of 2 ng/ml. The BDNF action appeared to be specific, since nerve growth factor, another member of the neurotrophin gene family, had no effect on NR2B phosphorylation. Further, BDNF action was selective, since it did not alter tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A subunits. Our results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptor may contribute to neurotrophin modulation of postsynaptic responsiveness and long-term potentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, USA.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Mount
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Suen
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015388:Organelles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases