title: The cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activators p35 and p39 interact with the alpha-subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and alpha-actinin-1 in a calcium-dependent manner.
abstract: Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a critical regulator of neuronal migration in the developing CNS, and recent studies have revealed a role for Cdk5 in synaptogenesis and regulation of synaptic transmission. Deregulation of Cdk5 has been linked to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Activation of Cdk5 requires its association with a regulatory subunit, and two Cdk5 activators, p35 and p39, have been identified. To gain further insight into the functions of Cdk5, we identified proteins that interact with p39 in a yeast two-hybrid screen. In this study we report that alpha-actinin-1 and the alpha-subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKIIalpha), two proteins localized at the postsynaptic density, interact with Cdk5 via their association with p35 and p39. CaMKIIalpha and alpha-actinin-1 bind to distinct regions of p35 and p39 and also can interact with each other. The association of CaMKIIalpha and alpha-actinin-1 to the Cdk5 activators, as well as to each other, is stimulated by calcium. Further, the activation of glutamate receptors increases the association of p35 and p39 with CaMKIIalpha, and the inhibition of CaMKII activation diminishes this effect. The glutamate-mediated increase in association of p35 and CaMKIIalpha is mediated in large part by NMDA receptors, suggesting that cross talk between the Cdk5 and CaMKII signal transduction pathways may be a component of the complex molecular mechanisms contributing to synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhavan
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Lianna R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Li-Huei
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: C108298:Cdk5 activator p39; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C089495:neuronal Cdk5 activator (p25-p35); D000185:Actinin; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; C495906:Cdk5 protein, mouse; C495907:Cdk5 protein, rat; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D002118:Calcium