Brain-specific disruption of the eIF2α kinase PERK decreases ATF4 expression and impairs behavioral flexibility.
Translational control depends on phosphorylation of eIF2α by PKR-like ER kinase (PERK). To examine the role of PERK in cognitive function, we selectively disrupted PERK expression in the adult mouse forebrain. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of PERK-deficient mice, eIF2α phosphorylation and ATF4 expression were diminished and were associated with enhanced behavioral perseveration, decreased prepulse inhibition, reduced fear extinction, and impaired behavioral flexibility. Treatment with the glycine transporter inhibitor SSR504734 normalized eIF2α phosphorylation, ATF4 expression, and behavioral flexibility in PERK-deficient mice. Moreover, the expression levels of PERK and ATF4 were reduced in the frontal cortex of human patients with schizophrenia. Together, our findings reveal that PERK plays a critical role in information processing and cognitive function and that modulation of eIF2α phosphorylation and ATF4 expression may represent an effective strategy for treating behavioral inflexibility associated with several neurological disorders such as schizophrenia.
Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Mimi A
MA
Trinh
Hanoch
H
Kaphzan
Ronald C
RC
Wek
Philippe
P
Pierre
Douglas R
DR
Cavener
Eric
E
Klann
D051701:Activating Transcription Factor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001549:Benzamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
D051701:Activating Transcription Factor 4; D001549:Benzamides; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; D010880:Piperidines; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; C507205:2-chloro-N-((S)-phenyl((2S)-piperidin-2-yl)methyl)-3-trifluoromethyl benzamide; C070634:Eif2ak4 protein, mouse