title: Identification of the sites for CaMK-II-dependent phosphorylation of GABA(A) receptors.
abstract: Phosphorylation can affect both the function and trafficking of GABA(A) receptors with significant consequences for neuronal excitability. Serine/threonine kinases can phosphorylate the intracellular loops between M3-4 of GABA(A) receptor beta and gamma subunits thereby modulating receptor function in heterologous expression systems and in neurons (1, 2). Specifically, CaMK-II has been demonstrated to phosphorylate the M3-4 loop of GABA(A) receptor subunits expressed as GST fusion proteins (3, 4). It also increases the amplitude of GABA(A) receptor-mediated currents in a number of neuronal cell types (5-7). To identify which substrate sites CaMK-II might phosphorylate and the consequent functional effects, we expressed recombinant GABA(A) receptors in NG108-15 cells, which have previously been shown to support CaMK-II modulation of GABA(A) receptors containing the beta3 subunit (8). We now demonstrate that CaMK-II mediates its effects on alpha1beta3 receptors via phosphorylation of Ser(383) within the M3-4 domain of the beta subunit. Ablation of beta3 subunit phosphorylation sites for CaMK-II revealed that for alphabetagamma receptors, CaMK-II has a residual effect on GABA currents that is not mediated by previously identified sites of CaMK-II phosphorylation. This residual effect is abolished by mutation of tyrosine phosphorylation sites, Tyr(365) and Tyr(367), on the gamma2S subunit, and by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. These results suggested that CaMK-II is capable of directly phosphorylating GABA(A) receptors and activating endogenous tyrosine kinases to phosphorylate the gamma2 subunit in NG108-15 cells. These findings were confirmed in a neuronal environment by expressing recombinant GABA(A) receptors in cerebellar granule neurons.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors: Catriona M
authors: CM
authors: Houston
authors: Henry H C
authors: HH
authors: Lee
authors: Alastair M
authors: AM
authors: Hosie
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Moss
authors: Trevor G
authors: TG
authors: Smart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C546240:GABRA1 protein, human; C546273:GABRB3 protein, human; C546279:GABRG2 protein, human; C546241:Gabra1 protein, mouse; C546270:Gabrb3 protein, mouse; C546280:Gabrg2 protein, mouse; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014443:Tyrosine; D012694:Serine; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases