title: Enhancement of translation elongation in neurons by brain-derived neurotrophic factor: implications for mammalian target of rapamycin signaling.
abstract: The effects and signaling mechanisms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on translation elongation were investigated in cortical neurons. BDNF increased the elongation rate approximately twofold, as determined by measuring the ribosomal transit time. BDNF-accelerated elongation was inhibited by rapamycin, implicating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). To explore the mechanisms underlying these effects, we examined the protein phosphorylation cascades that lead to the activation of translation elongation in neurons. BDNF increased eukaryote elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) phosphorylation and decreased eEF2 phosphorylation. Whereas eEF2 phosphorylation levels altered by BDNF were inhibited by rapamycin, eEF1A phosphorylation was not affected by rapamycin or PD98059, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor. BDNF induced phosphorylation of eEF2 kinase (Ser366), as well as decreased its kinase activity. All these events were inhibited by rapamycin. Furthermore, mTOR siRNA, which reduced mTOR levels up to 50%, inhibited the BDNF-induced enhancement in elongation rate and decrease in eEF2 phosphorylation. These results strongly suggest that BDNF enhances translation elongation through the activation of the mTOR-eEF2 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inamura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawa
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D054736:Elongation Factor 2 Kinase; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D013912:Threonine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005419:Flavonoids; C489787:MAP2 protein, rat; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D013912:Threonine; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546845:mTOR protein, rat; C517691:Eef2k protein, rat; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D054736:Elongation Factor 2 Kinase; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D020123:Sirolimus