title: Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 interacts with and phosphorylates PDZ domain-containing proteins and regulates AMPA receptor transmission.
abstract: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling is important for neuronal synaptic plasticity. We report here that the protein kinase ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK)2, a downstream target of ERK, uses a C-terminal motif to bind several PDZ domain proteins in heterologous systems and in vivo. Different RSK isoforms display distinct specificities in their interactions with PDZ domain proteins. Mutation of the RSK2 PDZ ligand does not inhibit RSK2 activation in intact cells or phosphorylation of peptide substrates by RSK2 in vitro but greatly reduces RSK2 phosphorylation of PDZ domain proteins of the Shank family in heterologous cells. In primary neurons, NMDA receptor (NMDA-R) activation leads to ERK and RSK2 activation and RSK-dependent phosphorylation of transfected Shank3. RSK2-PDZ domain interactions are functionally important for synaptic transmission because neurons expressing kinase-dead RSK2 display a dramatic reduction in frequency of AMPA-type glutamate receptor-mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents, an effect dependent on the PDZ ligand. These results suggest that binding of RSK2 to PDZ domain proteins and phosphorylation of these proteins or their binding partners regulates excitatory synaptic transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Gareth M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Gavin R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rumbaugh
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Harrar
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Huganir
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D038744:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C120531:Shank1 protein, rat; D038744:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa; C069330:ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 90kDa, polypeptide 3; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases