title: Regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors by metabotropic glutamate receptor 7.
abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are potential novel targets for brain disorders associated with the dysfunction of prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region critical for cognitive and emotional processes. Because N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) dysregulation has been strongly associated with the pathophysiology of mental illnesses, we examined the possibility that mGluRs might be involved in modulating PFC functions by targeting postsynaptic NMDARs. We found that application of prototypical group III mGluR agonists significantly reduced NMDAR-mediated synaptic and ionic currents in PFC pyramidal neurons, which was mediated by mGluR7 localized at postsynaptic neurons and involved the β-arrestin/ERK signaling pathway. The mGluR7 modulation of NMDAR currents was prevented by agents perturbing actin dynamics and by the inhibitor of cofilin, a major actin-depolymerizing factor. Consistently, biochemical and immunocytochemical results demonstrated that mGluR7 activation increased cofilin activity and F-actin depolymerization via an ERK-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, mGluR7 reduced the association of NMDARs with the scaffolding protein PSD-95 and the surface level of NMDARs in an actin-dependent manner. These data suggest that mGluR7, by affecting the cofilin/actin signaling, regulates NMDAR trafficking and function. Because ablation of mGluR7 leads to a variety of behavioral symptoms related to PFC dysfunction, such as impaired working memory and reduced anxiety and depression, our results provide a potential mechanism for understanding the role of mGluR7 in mental health and disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14214.
authors.forename: Zhenglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14214.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14214.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14214. Electronic address: zhenyan@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D051528:Guanylate Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501447:Dlg4 protein, mouse; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C102719:metabotropic glutamate receptor 7; D051528:Guanylate Kinases