title: Protein kinase Cβ is a modulator of the dopamine D2 autoreceptor-activated trafficking of the dopamine transporter.
abstract: The strength and duration of extracellular dopamine concentrations are regulated by the presynaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2 autoreceptors (D2autoRs). There is a functional interaction between these two proteins. Activation of D2autoRs increases DAT trafficking to the surface whereas disruption of this interaction compromises activities of both proteins and alters dopaminergic transmission. Previously we reported that DAT expression and activity are subject to modulation by protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ). Here, we further demonstrate that PKCβ is integral for the interaction between DAT and D2autoR. Inhibition or absence of PKCβ abolished the communication between DAT and D2autoR. In mouse striatal synaptosomes and transfected N2A cells, the D2autoR-stimulated membrane insertion of DAT was abolished by PKCβ inhibition. Moreover, D2autoR-stimulated DAT trafficking is mediated by a PKCβ-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling cascade where PKCβ is upstream of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. The increased surface DAT expression upon D2autoR activation resulted from enhanced DAT recycling as opposed to reduced internalization. Further, PKCβ promoted accelerated DAT recycling. Our study demonstrates that PKCβ critically regulates D2autoR-activated DAT trafficking and dopaminergic signaling. PKCβ is a potential drug target for correcting abnormal extracellular dopamine levels in diseases such as drug addiction and schizophrenia.
authors: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Chen
authors: Conor P
authors: CP
authors: Daining
authors: Haiguo
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Rheaclare
authors: R
authors: Fraser
authors: Stephanie L
authors: SL
authors: Stokes
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Leitges
authors: Margaret E
authors: ME
authors: Gnegy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017660:Autoreceptors; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta