title: Alternative N-terminal domains of PSD-95 and SAP97 govern activity-dependent regulation of synaptic AMPA receptor function.
abstract: PSD-95 and SAP97 are scaffolding proteins that have been implicated in regulating AMPA receptor incorporation and function at synapses. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches, however, have generated conflicting results. To minimize adaptations during development and potential dominant-negative effects of overexpression, we have combined silencing of endogenous PSD-95 in mature neurons with heterologous expression of specific SAP97 or PSD-95 isoforms. We find that both PSD-95 and SAP97 contain alternative N termini expressing either double cysteines that normally are palmitoylated (alpha-isoforms) or an L27 domain (beta-isoforms). Whereas alpha-isoforms of PSD-95 and SAP97 influence AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic strength independent of activity, the effects of beta-isoforms are regulated by activity in a CaMKII-dependent manner. Importantly, the synaptic effects of the beta-isoforms are masked by the endogenous alpha-isoform of PSD-95. These results demonstrate that the different N termini of the predominant endogenous forms of PSD-95 (alpha-isoform) and SAP97 (beta-isoform) govern their role in regulating synaptic function.
authors.affiliation: Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Oliver M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Schlüter
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Malenka
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501119:Dlg1 protein, rat; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D003545:Cysteine