title: Subcellular dynamics of type II PKA in neurons.
abstract: Protein kinase A (PKA) plays multiple roles in neurons. The localization and specificity of PKA are largely controlled by A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). However, the dynamics of PKA in neurons and the roles of specific AKAPs are poorly understood. We imaged the distribution of type II PKA in hippocampal and cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in vitro and in vivo. PKA was concentrated in dendritic shafts compared to the soma, axons, and dendritic spines. This spatial distribution was imposed by the microtubule-binding protein MAP2, indicating that MAP2 is the dominant AKAP in neurons. Following cAMP elevation, catalytic subunits dissociated from the MAP2-tethered regulatory subunits and rapidly became enriched in nearby spines. The spatial gradient of type II PKA between dendritic shafts and spines was critical for the regulation of synaptic strength and long-term potentiation. Therefore, the localization and activity-dependent translocation of type II PKA are important determinants of PKA function.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA. zhongh@janelia.hhmi.org
authors.forename: Haining
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Gek-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sia
authors.forename: Takashi R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Noah W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Tianyi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Zaza
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khuchua
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Huganir
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svoboda
mesh_terms: D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000201:enzymology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins; C489787:MAP2 protein, rat; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases