Two distinct signaling pathways upregulate NMDA receptor responses via two distinct metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes.
Molecular processes regulating the gain of NMDA receptors modulate diverse physiological and pathological responses in the CNS. Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which neighbor NMDA receptors and which can be coactivated by synaptically released glutamate, couple to several different second messenger pathways, each of which could target NMDA receptors. In CA3 pyramidal cells we show that the activation of mGluR1 potentiates NMDA current via a G-protein-independent mechanism involving Src kinase activation. In contrast, mGluR5-mediated enhancement of NMDA current requires G-protein activation, triggering a signaling cascade including protein kinase C and Src. These results indicate that one neurotransmitter, glutamate, can activate two distinct and independent signaling systems to target the same effector. These two pathways are likely to contribute significantly to the highly differentiated control of NMDA receptor function.
Benquet
Pascal
P
Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Gee
Christine E
CE
Gerber
Urs
U
D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; C578937:Grm5 protein, rat; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013873:Thionucleotides; C104077:metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C023427:guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate); D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins