title: Distinct Subunit Domains Govern Synaptic Stability and Specificity of the Kainate Receptor.
abstract: Synaptic communication between neurons requires the precise localization of neurotransmitter receptors to the correct synapse type. Kainate-type glutamate receptors restrict synaptic localization that is determined by the afferent presynaptic connection. The mechanisms that govern this input-specific synaptic localization remain unclear. Here, we examine how subunit composition and specific subunit domains contribute to synaptic localization of kainate receptors. The cytoplasmic domain of the GluK2 low-affinity subunit stabilizes kainate receptors at synapses. In contrast, the extracellular domain of the GluK4/5 high-affinity subunit synergistically controls the synaptic specificity of kainate receptors through interaction with C1q-like proteins. Thus, the input-specific synaptic localization of the native kainate receptor complex involves two mechanisms that underlie specificity and stabilization of the receptor at synapses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; CNNR Program, Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Straub
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; CNNR Program, Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noam
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
authors.forename: Miwako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; CNNR Program, Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Herman B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; CNNR Program, Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Electronic address: susumu.tomita@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D000072417:Protein Domains; D055550:Protein Stability; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors