title: Activity-dependent modulation of limbic dopamine D3 receptors by CaMKII.
abstract: Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is central to synaptic transmission. Here we show that synaptic CaMKIIalpha binds to the N-terminal region of the third intracellular loop of the limbic dopamine D3 receptor (D3R). This binding is Ca(2+) sensitive and is sustained by autophosphorylation of CaMKII, providing an unrecognized route for the Ca(2+)-mediated regulation of D3Rs. The interaction of CaMKIIalpha with D3Rs transforms D3Rs into a biochemical substrate of the kinase and promotes the kinase to phosphorylate D3Rs at a selective serine site (S229). In accumbal neurons in vivo, CaMKIIalpha is recruited to D3Rs by rising Ca(2+) to increase the CaMKIIalpha-mediated phosphorylation of D3Rs, thereby transiently inhibiting D3R efficacy. Notably, the D3R inhibition is critical for integrating dopamine signaling to control behavioral sensitivity to the psychostimulant cocaine. Our data identify CaMKIIalpha as a recruitable regulator of dopamine receptor function. By binding and phosphorylating limbic D3Rs, CaMKIIalpha modulates dopamine signaling and psychomotor function in an activity-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Science, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
authors.forename: Xian-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Guo-Chi
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Papasian
authors.forename: Eugene E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Fibuch
authors.forename: Hong-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Hui-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: John Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000201:enzymology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; C517671:Camk2a protein, mouse; D004298:Dopamine