Removal of FKBP12 enhances mTOR-Raptor interactions, LTP, memory, and perseverative/repetitive behavior.
FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) binds the immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and rapamycin and regulates several signaling pathways, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. We determined whether the brain-specific disruption of the FKBP12 gene in mice altered mTOR signaling, synaptic plasticity, and memory. Biochemically, the FKBP12-deficient mice displayed increases in basal mTOR phosphorylation, mTOR-Raptor interactions, and p70 S6 kinase (S6K) phosphorylation. Electrophysiological experiments revealed that FKBP12 deficiency was associated with an enhancement in long-lasting hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). The LTP enhancement was resistant to rapamycin, but not anisomycin, suggesting that altered translation control is involved in the enhanced synaptic plasticity. Behaviorally, FKBP12 conditional knockout (cKO) mice displayed enhanced contextual fear memory and autistic/obsessive-compulsive-like perseveration in several assays including the water maze, Y-maze reversal task, and the novel object recognition test. Our results indicate that FKBP12 plays a critical role in the regulation of mTOR-Raptor interactions, LTP, memory, and perseverative behaviors.
Hoeffer
Charles A
CA
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Tang
Wei
W
Wong
Helen
H
Santillan
Arturo
A
Patterson
Richard J
RJ
Martinez
Luis A
LA
Tejada-Simon
Maria V
MV
Paylor
Richard
R
Hamilton
Susan L
SL
Klann
Eric
E
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000235:genetics; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020304:Raptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D022061:Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A / Q000172:deficiency*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546843:mTOR protein, mouse; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D022061:Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A