SCA44- and SCAR13-associated GRM1 mutations affect metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 function through distinct mechanisms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1) is a promising therapeutic target for neurodegenerative CNS disorders including spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). Clinical reports have identified naturally-occurring mGlu1 mutations in rare SCA subtypes and linked symptoms to mGlu1 mutations. However, how mutations alter mGlu1 function remains unknown, as does amenability of receptor function to pharmacological rescue. Here, we explored SCA-associated mutation effects on mGlu1 cell surface expression, canonical signal transduction and allosteric ligand pharmacology.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Orthosteric agonists, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) were assessed at two functional endpoints (iCa2+ mobilisation and inositol 1-phosphate [IP1] accumulation) in FlpIn Trex HEK293A cell lines expressing five mutant mGlu1 subtypes. Key pharmacological parameters including ligand potency, affinity and cooperativity were derived using operational models of agonism and allostery.

KEY RESULTS

mGlu1 mutants exhibited differential impacts on mGlu1 expression, with a C-terminus truncation significantly reducing surface expression. Mutations differentially influenced orthosteric ligand affinity, efficacy and functional cooperativity between allosteric and orthosteric ligands. Loss-of-function mutations L454F and N885del reduced orthosteric affinity and efficacy, respectively. A gain-of-function Y792C mutant mGlu1 displayed enhanced constitutive activity in IP1 assays, which manifested as reduced orthosteric agonist activity. The mGlu1 PAMs restored glutamate potency in iCa2+ mobilisation for loss-of-function mutations and mGlu1 NAMs displayed enhanced inverse agonist activity at Y792C relative to wild-type mGlu1.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Collectively, these data highlight distinct mechanisms by which mGlu1 mutations affect receptor function and show allosteric modulators may present a therapeutic strategy to restore aberrant mGlu1 function in rare SCA subtypes.

GPR124 regulates microtubule assembly, mitotic progression, and glioblastoma cell proliferation

GPR124 is involved in embryonic development and remains expressed by select organs. The importance of GPR124 during development suggests that its aberrant expression might participate in tumor growth. Here we show that both increases and decreases in GPR124 expression in glioblastoma cells reduce cell proliferation by differentially altering the duration mitotic progression. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we discovered that GPR124 interacts with ch-TOG, a known regulator of both microtubule (MT)-plus-end assembly and mitotic progression. Accordingly, changes in GPR124 expression and ch-TOG similarly affect MT assembly measured by real-time microscopy in cells. Our study describes a novel molecular interaction involving GPR124 and ch-TOG at the plasma membrane that controls glioblastoma cell proliferation by modifying MT assembly rates and controlling the progression of distinct phases of mitosis.

Role of microtubules in late-associative plasticity of hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in mice

The microtubule network represents a key scaffolding structure that forms part of the neuronal cytoskeleton and contributes to biomolecule exchange within neurons. However, researchers have not determined whether an intact microtubule network is required for late associative plasticity. Therefore, the late associative plasticity of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials from two synaptic inputs was analyzed. Synaptic potentiation was induced through alternating tetanization of hippocampal Schaffer-collateral CA1 synaptic populations in acute slices prepared from young-adult C57BL/6 mice. Vincristine was applied to depolymerize microtubules. Vincristine did not alter the phosphorylation levels of plasticity-related pre- or postsynaptic proteins but reduced the level of a protein marker of the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC-53/p58). Vincristine did not alter the magnitude or maintenance of the synaptic potentiation evoked by repeated tetanization (3 × 100 stimuli at 100 Hz) of one synaptic population. However, this synaptic potentiation was sensitive to the coapplication of a protein synthesis inhibitor, such as rapamycin, anisomycin or cycloheximide, indicating that protein synthesis has become essential in depolymerized microtubules during the first hour of the synaptic potentiation. The application of vincristine up to a 70 stimuli, 100 Hz tetanization of a second synaptic input prevented the transformation of short-term potentiation into long-term potentiation (LTP), further indicating that intact microtubules are required for the late associative properties of synaptic plasticity. Therefore, activity-dependent synaptic plasticity does not rely on microtubules within the first two hours after tetanization; however, the associative interaction of independent synaptic inputs relies on their proper function. In addition, either new protein synthesis or microtubule-based processes are sufficient to stabilize LTP within the first 3 h after tetanization, and a deficit in synaptic plasticity is only observable when both processes are blocked.

Bundles of Brain Microtubules Generate Electrical Oscillations

Microtubules (MTs) are long cylindrical structures of the cytoskeleton that control cell division, intracellular transport, and the shape of cells. MTs also form bundles, which are particularly prominent in neurons, where they help define axons and dendrites. MTs are bio-electrochemical transistors that form nonlinear electrical transmission lines. However, the electrical properties of most MT structures remain largely unknown. Here we show that bundles of brain MTs spontaneously generate electrical oscillations and bursts of electrical activity similar to action potentials. Under intracellular-like conditions, voltage-clamped MT bundles displayed electrical oscillations with a prominent fundamental frequency at 39 Hz that progressed through various periodic regimes. The electrical oscillations represented, in average, a 258% change in the ionic conductance of the MT structures. Interestingly, voltage-clamped membrane-permeabilized neurites of cultured mouse hippocampal neurons were also capable of both, generating electrical oscillations, and conducting the electrical signals along the length of the structure. Our findings indicate that electrical oscillations are an intrinsic property of brain MT bundles, which may have important implications in the control of various neuronal functions, including the gating and regulation of cytoskeleton-regulated excitable ion channels and electrical activity that may aid and extend to higher brain functions such as memory and consciousness.

TRPV1-tubulin complex: involvement of membrane tubulin in the regulation of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Existence of microtubule cytoskeleton at the membrane and submembranous regions, referred as 'membrane tubulin' has remained controversial for a long time. Since we reported physical and functional interaction of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Sub Type 1 (TRPV1) with microtubules and linked the importance of TRPV1-tubulin complex in the context of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a few more reports have characterized this interaction in in vitro and in in vivo condition. However, the cross-talk between TRPs with microtubule cytoskeleton, and the complex feedback regulations are not well understood. Sequence analysis suggests that other than TRPV1, few TRPs can potentially interact with microtubules. The microtubule interaction with TRPs has evolutionary origin and has a functional significance. Biochemical evidence, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer analysis along with correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence anisotropy measurements have confirmed that TRPV1 interacts with microtubules in live cell and this interaction has regulatory roles. Apart from the transport of TRPs and maintaining the cellular structure, microtubules regulate signaling and functionality of TRPs at the single channel level. Thus, TRPV1-tubulin interaction sets a stage where concept and parameters of 'membrane tubulin' can be tested in more details. In this review, I critically analyze the advancements made in biochemical, pharmacological, behavioral as well as cell-biological observations and summarize the limitations that need to be overcome in the future.

Adenosine receptor containing oligomers: their role in the control of dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission in the brain

While the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oligomerization has been questioned during the last fifteen years, the existence of a multi-receptor complex involving direct receptor-receptor interactions, called receptor oligomers, begins to be widely accepted. Eventually, it has been postulated that oligomers constitute a distinct functional form of the GPCRs with essential receptorial features. Also, it has been proven, under certain circumstances, that the GPCR oligomerization phenomenon is crucial for the receptor biosynthesis, maturation, trafficking, plasma membrane diffusion, and pharmacology and signalling. Adenosine receptors are GPCRs that mediate the physiological functions of adenosine and indeed these receptors do also oligomerize. Accordingly, adenosine receptor oligomers may improve the molecular mechanism by which extracellular adenosine signals are transferred to the G proteins in the process of receptor transduction. Importantly, these adenosine receptor-containing oligomers may allow not only the control of the adenosinergic function but also the fine-tuning modulation of other neurotransmitter systems (i.e. dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmission). Overall, we underscore here recent significant developments based on adenosine receptor oligomerization that are essential for acquiring a better understanding of neurotransmission in the central nervous system under normal and pathological conditions.

Plasma membrane tubulin

The association of tubulin with the plasma membrane comprises multiple levels of penetration into the bilayer: from integral membrane protein, to attachment via palmitoylation, to surface binding, and to microtubules attached by linker proteins to proteins in the membrane. Here we discuss the soundness and weaknesses of the chemical and biochemical evidence marshaled to support these associations, as well as the mechanisms by which tubulin or microtubules may regulate functions at the plasma membrane.

Proteomic analysis reveals novel binding partners of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1

Regulated trafficking of neurotransmitter receptors is critical to normal neurodevelopment and neuronal signaling. Group I mGluRs (mGluR1/5 and their splice variants) are G protein-coupled receptors enriched at excitatory synapses, where they serve to modulate glutamatergic transmission. The mGluR1 splice variants mGluR1a and mGluR1b are broadly expressed in the central nervous system and differ in their signaling and trafficking properties. Several proteins have been identified that selectively interact with mGluR1a and participate in receptor trafficking but no proteins interacting with mGluR1b have thus far been reported. We have used a proteomic strategy to isolate and identify proteins that co-purify with mGluR1b in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, an established model system for trafficking studies. Here, we report the identification of 10 novel candidate mGluR1b-interacting proteins. Several of the identified proteins are structural components of the cell cytoskeleton, while others serve as cytoskeleton-associated adaptors and motors or endoplasmic reticulum-associated chaperones. Findings from this work will help unravel the complex cellular mechanisms underlying mGluR trafficking under physiological and pathological conditions.

Metabotropic glutamate 1 receptor: current concepts and perspectives

Almost 25 years after the first report that glutamate can activate receptors coupled to heterotrimeric G-proteins, tremendous progress has been made in the field of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Now, eight members of this family of glutamate receptors, encoded by eight different genes that share distinctive structural features have been identified. The first cloned receptor, the metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor mGlu1 has probably been the most extensively studied mGlu receptor, and in many respects it represents a prototypical subtype for this family of receptors. Its biochemical, anatomical, physiological, and pharmacological characteristics have been intensely investigated. Together with subtype 5, mGlu1 receptors constitute a subgroup of receptors that couple to phospholipase C and mobilize Ca(2+) from intracellular stores. Several alternatively spliced variants of mGlu1 receptors, which differ primarily in the length of their C-terminal domain and anatomical localization, have been reported. Use of a number of genetic approaches and the recent development of selective antagonists have provided a means for clarifying the role played by this receptor in a number of neuronal systems. In this article we discuss recent advancements in the pharmacology and concepts about the intracellular transduction and pathophysiological role of mGlu1 receptors and review earlier data in view of these novel findings. The impact that this new and better understanding of the specific role of these receptors may have on novel treatment strategies for a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders is considered.

Dual neurotoxic and neuroprotective role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 in conditions of trophic deprivation - possible role as a dependence receptor

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors have been often implicated in various models of neuronal toxicity, however, the role played by the individual receptors and their putative mechanisms of action contributing to neurotoxicity or neuroprotection remain unclear. Here, using primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells and mouse cortical neurons, we show that conditions of trophic deprivation increased mGlu1 expression which correlated with the developing cell death. The inhibition of mGlu1 expression by specific siRNA attenuated toxicity, while adenovirus-mediated overexpression of mGlu1 resulted in increased cell death, indicating a causal relationship between the level of receptor expression and neuronal survival. In pharmacological experiments selective mGlu1 antagonists failed to protect from mGlu1-induced cell death, instead, neuronal survival was promoted by glutamate acting at mGlu1 receptors. Such properties are characteristics of a novel heterogeneous family of dependence receptors which control neuronal apoptosis. Our findings indicate that increased expression of mGlu1 in neurons creates a state of cellular dependence on the presence of its endogenous agonist glutamate. We propose a new role and a new mechanism for mGlu1 action. This receptor may play a crucial role in determining the fate of individual neurons during the development of the nervous system.

A generic approach for the purification of signaling complexes that specifically interact with the carboxyl-terminal domain of G protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of membrane receptors and are major drug targets. Recent progress has shown that GPCRs are part of large protein complexes that regulate their activity. We present here a generic approach for identification of these complexes that is based on the use of receptor subdomains and that overcomes the limitations of currently used genetics and proteomics approaches. Our approach consists of a carefully balanced combination of chemically synthesized His6-tagged baits, immobilized metal affinity chromatography, one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis separation and mass spectrometric identification. The carboxyl-terminal tails (C-tails) of the human MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors, two class A GPCRs, were used as models to purify protein complexes from mouse brain lysates. We identified 32 proteins that interacted with the C-tail of MT1, 14 proteins that interacted with the C-tail of MT2, and eight proteins that interacted with both C-tails. Several randomly selected proteins were validated by Western blotting, and the functional relevance of our data was further confirmed by showing the interaction between the full-length MT1 and the regulator of G protein signaling Z1 in transfected HEK 293 cells and native tissue. Taken together, we have established an integrated and generic purification strategy for the identification of high quality and functionally relevant GPCR-associated protein complexes that significantly widens the repertoire of available techniques.

Identification and characterisation of novel tubulin-binding motifs located within the C-terminus of TRPV1

Previously, we reported that TRPV1, the vanilloid receptor, interacts with soluble alphabeta-tubulin dimers as well as microtubules via its C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. The interacting region of TRPV1, however, has not been defined. We found that the TRPV1 C-terminus preferably interacts with beta-tubulin and less with alpha-tubulin. Using a systematic deletion approach and biotinylated-peptides we identified two tubulin-binding sites present in TRPV1. These two sequence stretches are highly conserved in all known mammalian TRPV1 orthologues and partially conserved in some of the TRPV1 homologues. As these sequence stretches are not similar to any known tubulin-binding sequences, we conclude that TRPV1 interacts with tubulin and microtubule through two novel tubulin-binding motifs.

The trick of the tail: protein-protein interactions of metabotropic glutamate receptors

It was initially believed that G-protein-coupled receptors, such as metabotropic glutamate receptors, could simply be described as individual proteins that are associated with intracellular signal cascades via G-proteins. This view is no longer tenable. Today we know that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) can dimerize and bind to a variety of proteins in addition to trimeric G-proteins. These newly identified protein interactions led to the discovery of new regulatory mechanisms that are independent of and sometimes synergistic with the classical G-protein-coupled second messenger pathways. Notably, several of these mechanisms connect mGluR-mediated signaling to other receptor classes, thereby creating a network of different receptor types and associated signal cascades. The intracellular C-termini of mGluRs play a key role in the regulation of these networks, and various new protein interactions of these domains were described recently. Because mGluRs are involved in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes, some of the proteins interacting with this receptor class have potential as valuable pharmaceutical targets. This review will give a comprehensive overview of proteins interacting with mGluR C-termini, highlight new evolving regulatory mechanisms for glutamatergic signal transduction and discuss possibilities for future drug development.

Glutamate and GABA receptors and transporters in the basal ganglia: what does their subsynaptic localization reveal about their function?

GABA and glutamate, the main transmitters in the basal ganglia, exert their effects through ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. The dynamic activation of these receptors in response to released neurotransmitter depends, among other factors, on their precise localization in relation to corresponding synapses. The use of high resolution quantitative electron microscope immunocytochemical techniques has provided in-depth description of the subcellular and subsynaptic localization of these receptors in the CNS. In this article, we review recent findings on the ultrastructural localization of GABA and glutamate receptors and transporters in monkey and rat basal ganglia, at synaptic, extrasynaptic and presynaptic sites. The anatomical evidence supports numerous potential locations for receptor-neurotransmitter interactions, and raises important questions regarding mechanisms of activation and function of synaptic versus extrasynaptic receptors in the basal ganglia.

Accessory proteins for G proteins: partners in signaling

Accessory proteins involved in signal processing through heterotrimeric G proteins are generally defined as proteins distinct from G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), G protein, or classical effectors that regulate the strength/efficiency/specificity of signal transfer upon receptor activation or position these entities in the right microenvironment, contributing to the formation of a functional signal transduction complex. A flurry of recent studies have implicated an additional class of accessory proteins for this system that provide signal input to heterotrimeric G proteins in the absence of a cell surface receptor, serve as alternative binding partners for G protein subunits, provide unexpected modes of G protein regulation, and have introduced additional functional roles for G proteins. This group of accessory proteins includes the recently discovered Activators of G protein Signaling (AGS) proteins identified in a functional screen for receptor-independent activators of G protein signaling as well as several proteins identified in protein interaction screens and genetic screens in model organisms. These accessory proteins may influence GDP dissociation and nucleotide exchange at the G(alpha) subunit, alter subunit interactions within heterotrimeric G(alphabetagamma) independent of nucleotide exchange, or form complexes with G(alpha) or G(betagamma) independent of the typical G(alphabetagamma) heterotrimer. AGS and related accessory proteins reveal unexpected diversity in G protein subunits as signal transducers within the cell.

Regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling, desensitization and endocytosis

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) comprise a unique family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) that can be classified into 3 groups based on G protein coupling specificity and sequence similarity. Group I mGluRs (mGluR1 and mGluR5) are coupled to the heterotrimeric G protein Galpha(q/11) and trigger the release of calcium from intracellular stores. In the present review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in the desensitization and endocytosis of group I mGluRs. Group I mGluRs desensitize in response to both second-messenger-dependent protein kinases and G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK). However, GRK2-mediated mGluR1 desensitization appears to be both phosphorylation- and beta-arrestin-independent. In addition to GRK-mediated uncoupling of mGluRs from heterotrimeric G proteins, the huntingtin-interacting protein, optineurin, also contributes to mGluR1 and mGluR5 desensitization. The G protein-uncoupling activity of optineurin appears to be facilitated by the presence of polyglutamine-expanded mutant huntingtin but not wild-type huntingtin. Group I mGluRs also undergo both agonist-dependent and -independent endocytosis in both heterologous cell expression systems and primary neuronal cultures. The present review overviews the current understanding of the contribution of second messenger-dependent protein kinases, beta-arrestins and a novel Ral/phospholipase D2 (PLD2)-mediated endocytic pathway to the regulation of Group I mGluR endocytosis. Overall, the regulation of Group I mGluR desensitization and endocytosis appears to be mediated by the same molecular intermediates as have been described for more typical GPCR such as the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor. However, there appears to be subtle, but important, differences in the mechanisms by which these intermediates are employed to regulate Group I mGluR desensitization and endocytosis.

Rapid disassembly of dynamic microtubules upon activation of the capsaicin receptor TRPV1

The transmission of pain signalling involves the cytoskeleton, but mechanistically this is poorly understood. We recently demonstrated that the capsaicin receptor TRPV1, a non-selective cation channel expressed by nociceptors that is capable of detecting multiple pain-producing stimuli, directly interacts with the tubulin cytoskeleton. We hypothesized that the tubulin cytoskeleton is a downstream effector of TRPV1 activation. Here we show that activation of TRPV1 results in the rapid disassembly of microtubules, but not of the actin or neurofilament cytoskeletons. TRPV1 activation mainly affects dynamic microtubules that contain tyrosinated tubulins, whereas stable microtubules are apparently unaffected. The C-terminal fragment of TRPV1 exerts a stabilizing effect on microtubules when over-expressed in F11 cells. These findings suggest that TRPV1 activation may contribute to cytoskeleton remodelling and so influence nociception.

Identification of synaptic plasma membrane proteins co-precipitated with fibrillar β-amyloid peptide

The beta-amyloid peptide that is overproduced in Alzheimer's disease rapidly forms fibrils, which are able to interact with various molecular partners. This study aimed to identify abundant synaptosomal proteins binding to the fibrillar beta-amyloid (fAbeta) 1-42. Triton X-100-soluble proteins were extracted from the rat synaptic plasma membrane fraction. Interacting proteins were isolated by co-precipitation with fAbeta, or with fibrillar crystallin as a negative control. Protein identification was accomplished (1) by separating the tryptically digested peptides of the protein pellet by one-dimensional reversed-phase HPLC and analysing them using an ion-trap mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization; and (2) by subjecting the precipitated proteins to gel electrophoretic fractionation, in-gel tryptic digestion and to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass measurements and post-source decay analysis. Six different synaptosomal proteins co-precipitated with fAbeta were identified by both methods: vacuolar proton-pump ATP synthase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, synapsins I and II, beta-tubulin and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase. Most of these proteins have already been associated with Alzheimer's disease, and the biological and pathophysiological significance of their interaction with fAbeta is discussed.

A novel scaffold protein, TANC, possibly a rat homolog of Drosophila rolling pebbles (rols), forms a multiprotein complex with various postsynaptic density proteins

We cloned from the rat brain a novel gene, tanc (GenBank Accession No. AB098072), which encoded a protein containing three tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs), ten ankyrin repeats and a coiled-coil region, and is possibly a rat homolog of Drosophila rolling pebbles (rols). The tanc gene was expressed widely in the adult rat brain. Subcellular distribution, immunohistochemical study of the brain and immunocytochemical studies of cultured neuronal cells indicated the postsynaptic localization of TANC protein of 200 kDa. Pull-down experiments showed that TANC protein bound PSD-95, SAP97, and Homer via its C-terminal PDZ-binding motif, -ESNV, and fodrin via both its ankyrin repeats and the TPRs together with the coiled-coil domain. TANC also bound the alpha subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. An immunoprecipitation study showed TANC association with various postsynaptic proteins, including guanylate kinase-associated protein (GKAP), alpha-internexin, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptor 2B and AMPA-type glutamate receptor (GluR1) subunits. These results suggest that TANC protein may work as a postsynaptic scaffold component by forming a multiprotein complex with various postsynaptic density proteins.

Identification and characterization of a Ca2+ -sensitive interaction of the vanilloid receptor TRPV1 with tubulin

The vanilloid receptor TRPV1 plays a well-established functional role in the detection of a range of chemical and thermal noxious stimuli, such as those associated with tissue inflammation and the resulting pain. TRPV1 activation results in membrane depolarization, but may also trigger intracellular Ca2+ -signalling events. In a proteomic screen for proteins associated with the C-terminal sequence of TRPV1, we identified beta-tubulin as a specific TRPV1-interacting protein. We demonstrate that the TRPV1 C-terminal tail is capable of binding tubulin dimers, as well as of binding polymerized microtubules. The interaction is Ca2+ -sensitive, and affects microtubule properties, such as microtubule sensitivity towards low temperatures and nocodazole. Our data thus provide compelling evidence for the interaction of TRPV1 with the cytoskeleton. The Ca2+ -sensitivity of this interaction suggests that the microtubule cytoskeleton at the cell membrane may be a downstream effector of TRPV1 activation.

Cytoskeletal protein 4.1G is a binding partner of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 alpha

Recent evidence suggests that cytoskeletal proteins play important roles in the clustering and anchoring of glutamate receptors to the cell surface membrane. To examine further this issue, we tested for direct interactions between the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1alpha (mGlu1alpha) and 4.1G, which is a member of the erythrocyte membrane, cytoskeletal protein 4.1 family. First, co-localization of 4.1G and mGlu1alpha was observed in cultured hippocampal neurons. Second, in transiently transfected HEK 293 cells and in whole rat brain tissue, direct interactions between mGlu1alpha and 4.1G were observed. Third, we were able to identify the C-terminal tail of mGlu1alpha as an essential region for mGlu1alpha-4.1G interactions. Fourth, 4.1 G influences mGlu1alpha-mediated cAMP accumulation. Finally, we found that 4.1G increases the ligand-binding ability of mGlu1alpha and alters its cellular distribution. These observations identify 4.1G as a novel binding partner of mGlu1alpha that can regulate the action of mGlu1alpha.

Identification and functional roles of metabotropic glutamate receptor-interacting proteins

In the mammalian brain, a majority of excitatory synapses use glutamate as a neurotransmitter. Glutamate activates ligand-gated channels (ionotropic receptors) and G protein-coupled (metabotropic) receptors. During the past decade, a number of intracellular proteins have been described to interact with these receptors. These proteins not only scaffold the glutamate receptors at the pre- and post-synaptic membranes, but also regulate their subcellular targeting and intracellular signaling. Thus, identification of these proteins has been essential for further understanding the functions of glutamate receptors. Here we will focus on those proteins that interact with the subgroup of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, and review the methods used for their identification, as well as their functional roles in neurons.

Mutual regulation between metabotropic glutamate type 1alpha receptor and caveolin proteins: from traffick to constitutive activity

In this paper, a molecular and functional interaction between metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha (mGlu1alpha receptor) and caveolin-1 or caveolin-2beta is described. An overlapping pattern of staining for mGlu1alpha receptor with caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 by confocal laser microscopy in transiently transfected HEK-293 cells is observed. The presence of mGlu1alpha receptor in caveolin-enriched membrane fractions was demonstrated by flotation gradient analysis in the absence of detergents and the interaction between mGlu1alpha receptor with caveolin-1 and with caveolin-2beta was demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. In HEK-293 cells, caveolin-2beta accumulates surrounding lipid droplets when single expressed but coexpression with mGlu1alpha receptor changed dramatically the subcellular localization of caveolin-2beta, directing it from lipid droplets to the cell surface. At the membrane level, the interaction between caveolin-1 and mGlu1alpha receptor could abrogate the constitutive activity exhibited by mGlu1alpha receptor. Overall, these results show that mGlu1alpha receptor interacts with caveolins and that this interaction is physiologically relevant for receptor function. Interestingly, we provide evidence that caveolin-1 is not just acting as a scaffolding protein for the mGlu1alpha receptor but that also regulates mGlu1alpha receptor constitutive activity.

Active surface transport of metabotropic glutamate receptors through binding to microtubules and actin flow

Receptors for neurotransmitters are concentrated and stabilized at given sites such as synapses through interactions with scaffolding proteins and cytoskeletal elements. The transport of receptors first involves directed vesicular trafficking of intracellularly stored receptors followed by their targeting to the plasma membrane. Once expressed at the cell surface, receptors are thought to reach their final location by random Brownian diffusion in the plasma membrane plane. Here, we investigate whether the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 can also be transported actively on the cell surface. We used single particle tracking to follow mGluR5 movement in real time at the surface of neuronal growth cones or fibroblast lamellipodia, both of which bear a particularly active cytoskeleton. We found that after a certain lag time mGluR5 undergoes directed rearward transport, which depends on actin flow. On actin depolymerization, directed movement was suppressed, but receptors still bound to a rigid structure. By contrast, receptor transport and immobilization was fully suppressed by microtubule depolymerization but favored by microtubule stabilization. Furthermore, mGluR5 could be immunoprecipitated with tubulin from rat brains, confirming the ability of mGluR5 to bind to microtubules. We propose that mGluR5 can be transported on the cell surface through actin-mediated retrograde transport of microtubules. This process may play a role in receptor targeting and organization during synapse formation or during glutamate-mediated growth cone chemotaxis.

Evolution, structure, and activation mechanism of family 3/C G-protein-coupled receptors

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest gene families in the animal genome. These receptors can be classified into several groups based on the sequence similarity of their common heptahelical domain. The family 3 (or C) GPCRs are receptors for the main neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, for Ca(2+), for sweet and amino acid taste compounds, and for some pheromone molecules, as well as for odorants in fish. Although none of these family 3 receptors have been found in plants, members have been identified in ancient organisms, such as slime molds (Dictyostelium) and sponges. Like any other GPCRs, family 3 receptors possess a transmembrane heptahelical domain responsible for G-protein activation. However, most of these identified receptors also possess a large extracellular domain that is responsible for ligand recognition, is structurally similar to bacterial periplasmic proteins involved in the transport of small molecules, and is called a Venus Flytrap module. The recent resolution of the structure of this binding domain in one of these receptors, the metabotropic glutamate 1 receptor, together with the recent demonstration that these receptors are dimers, revealed a unique mechanism of activation for these GPCRs. Such data open new possibilities in the development of drugs aimed at modulating these receptors, and raise a number of interesting questions on the activation mechanism of the other GPCRs.

Identification of a tubulin binding motif on the P2X2 receptor

To isolate proteins interacting with P2X receptors, GST fusion proteins containing the intracellular C terminal tail of P2X(2), P2X(5), or P2X(7) were used as bait to screen detergent extracts of rat brain synaptosomes. By SDS-PAGE combined with mass spectrometry, two interacting proteins were identified: betaIII tubulin and myelin basic protein. While myelin basic protein bound to all three P2X subunits, betaIII tubulin interacted exclusively with the P2X(2) subunit. The tubulin binding domain could be confined to a proline-rich segment (amino acids 371-412) of the P2X(2) subunit. Our results suggest a role for microtubules in the cellular localisation of the P2X(2) receptor.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors: electrical and chemical signaling properties

Over the last two decades, glutamate has been established as the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. Glutamate released from synapses activates ion channel-forming receptors at postsynaptic cells and consequently mediates fast postsynaptic potentials. These receptors are termed ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs). The subsequent discovery of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) revealed that glutamate can also mediate slow synaptic potentials, modulate ion channels, and directly couple to GTP binding proteins. In contrast to the iGluRs, the mGluRs possess seven transmembrane domains and a large intracellular C-terminus that involves interactions with a variety of other intracellular signaling systems. Eight functionally distinct mGluR subtypes are known to be localized to specific neuron types at presynaptic and/or postsynaptic membranes. Their physiological functions involve the generation of slow excitatory and inhibitory synaptic potentials, modulation of synaptic transmission, synaptic integration, and plasticity. The classical role of glutamate as a fast excitatory synaptic transmitter was largely extended by mGluRs acting as a neuromodulator and even as an activator of inhibitory mechanisms at certain synapses.

The gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor B, but not the metabotropic glutamate receptor type-1, associates with lipid rafts in the rat cerebellum

Recent evidence suggests that specialized microdomains, called lipid rafts, exist within plasma membranes. These domains are enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids and are resistant to non-ionic detergent-extraction at 4 degrees C. They contain specific populations of membrane proteins, and can change their size and composition in response to cellular signals, resulting in activation of signalling cascades. Here, we demonstrate that both the metabotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor B (GABA(B) receptor) and the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 from rat cerebellum are insoluble in the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100. However, only the GABA(B) receptor associates with raft fractions isolated from rat brain by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Moreover, increasing the stringency of isolation by decreasing the protein : detergent ratio caused an enrichment of the GABA(B) receptor in raft fractions. In contrast, depletion of cholesterol from cerebellar membranes by either saponin or methyl-beta-cyclodextrin treatment, which solubilize known raft markers, also increased the solubility of the GABA(B) receptor. These properties are all consistent with an association of the GABA(B) receptor with lipid raft microdomains.

Bidirectional regulation of neurite elaboration by alternatively spliced metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) isoforms

Alternative splicing in the mGluR5 gene generates two different receptor isoforms, of which expression is developmentally regulated. However, little is known about the functional significance of mGluR5 splice variants. We have examined the functional coupling, subcellular targeting, and effect on neuronal differentiation of epitope-tagged mGluR5 isoforms by expression in neuroblastoma NG108-15 cells. We found that both mGluR5 splice variants give rise to comparable [Ca2+]i transients and have similar pharmacological profile. Tagged receptors were shown by immunofluorescence to be inserted in the plasma membrane. In undifferentiated cells the subcellular localization of the two mGluR5 isoforms was partially segregated, whereas in differentiated cells the labeling largely redistributed to the newly formed neurites. Interestingly, we demonstrate that mGluR5 splice variants dramatically influence the formation and maturation of neurites; mGluR5a hinders the acquisition of mature neuronal traits and mGluR5b fosters the elaboration and extension of neurites. These effects are partly inhibited by MPEP.

Metabotropic glutamate 1alpha and adenosine A1 receptors assemble into functionally interacting complexes

Recently, evidence has emerged that seven transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors may be present as homo- and heteromers in the plasma membrane. Here we describe a new molecular and functional interaction between two functionally unrelated types of G protein-coupled receptors, namely the metabotropic glutamate type 1alpha (mGlu(1alpha) receptor) and the adenosine A1 receptors in cerebellum, primary cortical neurons, and heterologous transfected cells. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed a close and subtype-specific interaction between mGlu(1alpha) and A1 receptors in both rat cerebellar synaptosomes and co-transfected HEK-293 cells. By using transiently transfected HEK-293 cells a synergy between mGlu(1alpha) and A1 receptors in receptor-evoked [Ca(2+)](i) signaling has been shown. In primary cultures of cortical neurons we observed a high degree of co-localization of the two receptors, and excitotoxicity experiments in these cultures also indicate that mGlu(1alpha) and A1 receptors are functionally related. Our results provide a molecular basis for adenosine/glutamate receptors cross-talk and open new perspectives for the development of novel agents to treat neuropsychiatric disorders in which abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission is involved.

Immunocytochemical localization of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 alpha and tubulin in rat brain

The distribution of mGlu1 alpha receptor and tubulin was immunocytochemically examined in the rat cerebellar cortex and primary rat cortical neurons at both immunofluorescence and electron microscopic level. In cryosections from rat cerebellar cortex mGlu1 alpha receptor immunoreactivity was expressed in cell bodies and dendrites of Purkinje and basket cells of the cerebellar molecular layer. Tubulin immunoreactivity was concentrated in the dendritic tree of the cerebellar molecular layer, as well as in the granule cell layer. In primary rat cortical neurons, both proteins colocalized throughout the proximal and distal dendrites of these cells. At the electron microscopic level, the receptor was present in dendritic shafts and dendritic spines of Purkinje cells at perisynaptic sites of asymmetrical synapses. Immunoreactivity corresponding to tubulin was associated with the plasma membrane of dendritic shafts of Purkinje cells, as well as throughout its cytoplasm as part of the cytoskeletal components. Interestingly, double labeling for both proteins reveals an association of tubulin with mGlu1 alpha receptor at the plasma membrane level of dendritic shafts of Purkinje cells. This suggests that tubulin interacts with mGlu1 alpha receptor and may be involved in the anchoring of the receptor to the plasma membrane.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha and tubulin assemble into dynamic interacting complexes

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu receptors) are coupled to G-protein second messenger pathways and modulate glutamate neurotransmission in the brain, where they are targeted to specific synaptic locations. Very recently, we identified tubulin as an interacting partner of the mGlu(1alpha) receptor in rat brain. Using BHK-570 cells permanently expressing the receptor we have shown that this interaction occurs predominantly with soluble tubulin, following its translocation to the plasma membrane. In addition, treatment of the cells with the agonist quisqualic acid induce tubulin depolymerization and its translocation to the plasma membrane. Immunofluorescence detection of both the receptor and tubulin in agonist-treated cells reveals a disruption of the microtubule network and an increased clustering of the receptor. Collectively these data demonstrate that the mGlu(1alpha) receptor interacts with soluble tubulin and that this association can take place at the plasma membrane.

The heat shock cognate protein hsc73 assembles with A(1) adenosine receptors to form functional modules in the cell membrane

A(1) adenosine receptors (A(1)Rs) are G protein-coupled heptaspanning receptors that interact at the outer face of the plasma membrane with cell surface ecto-adenosine deaminase (ecto-ADA). By affinity chromatography the heat shock cognate protein hsc73 was identified as a cytosolic component able to interact with the third intracellular loop of the receptor. As demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance, purified A(1)Rs interact specifically with hsc73 with a dissociation constant in the nanomolar range (0.5 +/- 0.1 nM). The interaction between hsc73 and A(1)R led to a marked reduction in the binding of the ligands and prevented activation of G proteins, as deduced from (35)S-labeled guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding assays. Interestingly this effect was stronger than that exerted by guanine nucleotide analogs, which uncouple receptors from G proteins, and was completely prevented by ADA. As assessed by immunoprecipitation a high percentage of A(1)Rs in cell lysates are coupled to hsc73. A relatively high level of colocalization between A(1)R and hsc73 was detected in DDT(1)MF-2 cells by means of confocal microscopy, and no similar results were obtained for other G protein-coupled receptors. Colocalization between hsc73 and A(1)R was detected in specific regions of rat cerebellum and in the body of cortical neurons but not in dendrites or synapses. Remarkably, agonist-induced receptor internalization leads to the endocytosis of A(1)Rs by two qualitatively different vesicle types, one in which A(1)R and hsc73 colocalize and another in which hsc73 is absent. These results open the interesting possibility that signaling via G protein-coupled receptors may be regulated by heat shock proteins.

Molecular characterisation of two structurally distinct groups of human homers, generated by extensive alternative splicing

Homer proteins bind specifically to the C termini of the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1alpha/a and mGluR5, play a role in their targeting and modulate their synaptic properties. We have discovered that extensive alternative splicing generates a family of 17 Homer proteins. These fall into two distinct groups of 12 "long" Homers, which all have a coiled-coil domain at their C termini, and five "short" Homers, which lack such a domain. All Homers contain the N-terminal sequence responsible for their binding to mGluR1alpha/a receptors and can be co-localised with the recombinantly expressed mGluR1alpha/a protein in HEK-293 cells. The existence of the long and the short variants of each of the Homer-1, Homer-2 and Homer-3 proteins reflects the fundamental principles of Homer functions.

Homer-1c/Vesl-1L modulates the cell surface targeting of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha: evidence for an anchoring function

Homer-1c/Vesl-1L is a 48-kDa protein that forms part of a family of conserved Homer-related proteins that interact with the C-termini of the metabotropic glutamate receptors mGluR1alpha and mGluR5. In order to examine the function of Homer-1c, HEK-293 cells have been transfected with mGluR1alpha, Homer-1c, and both proteins together. When cells were transfected with both proteins, biotinylation of cell surface molecules revealed a significant increase in the amount of receptor and Homer-1c associated with the cell surface compared with cells transfected with mGluR1alpha alone. This finding was paralleled by a concomitant increase in the production of inositol after treatment of the doubly transfected cells with agonist. Cell surface immunostaining of mGluR1alpha showed that Homer-1c can induce clustering of the receptor in the plasma membrane of HEK-293 cells and suggested that the surface receptor was associated with Homer-1c in the plasma membrane. The presence of Homer-1c reduced the rate of loss from the cell surface of mGluR1alpha from 5 to 1%/min and increased the extent of dendritic trafficking of the receptor in rat primary cultured neurons. Our results suggest that Homer-1c increases the cell surface expression of the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha by increasing its retention in the plasma membrane.

Inhibition of microtubule formation by metabotropic glutamate receptors

Activation of glutamate receptors is known to alter the biophysical state of the cytoskeleton of neurons in the developing brain. In this study, we examined the ability of G protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) to inhibit the formation of processes induced by the expression of the microtubule-associated protein MAP2c. The infection of insect MG-1 cells with a recombinant baculovirus (BV) encoding MAP2c induced the formation of fine filamentous processes. The binding of MAPs to tubulin promotes tubulin polymerization and the formation of microtubules. Co-infection with BVs for the phosphoinositide (PI)-linked mGluR1a or mGluR1b receptor subtypes inhibited the formation of processes induced by MAP2c, whereas co-infection with BVs encoding the mGluR4a or mGluR4b subtypes that couple to adenylyl cyclase did not inhibit the formation of processes. The biochemical pathways responsible for producing the inhibitory effect of mGluR1 were investigated. Inhibitors of protein kinase C, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase, and protein tyrosine kinases did not block the inhibitory effect of mGluR1a. The calcium chelator BAPTA and the calcium depletor thapsigargin also did not affect the ability of mGluR1a to inhibit process formation. In contrast, inhibitors of phospholipase C reversed the effect of mGluR1 on process formation, suggesting that one or more metabolites in the PI pathway were responsible for the inhibitory effect. These findings indicate that PIs generated by activation of mGluRs inhibit the binding of MAPs to tubulin and reduce tubulin polymerization and microtubule stability.

Clustering of the group III metabotropic glutamate receptor 4a at parallel fiber synaptic terminals in the rat cerebellar molecular layer

We report in this study with a pre-embedding immunogold method, the clustering of the group III metabotropic glutamate receptor 4a (mGluR4a) along the presynaptic membrane of parallel fiber synaptic terminals in the cerebellar molecular layer. The mGluR4a clusters were homogeneously distributed and interspaced by about 60 nm. These results suggest a particular arrangement of mGluR4a which might help to a rapid and effective activation of this receptor by glutamate.

Characterization of the dimerization of metabotropic glutamate receptors using an N-terminal truncation of mGluR1alpha

The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1alpha in membranes isolated both from rat brain and from cell lines transfected with cDNA coding for the receptor migrates as a disulphide-bonded dimer on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels. Dimerization of mGluR1alpha takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum because it is not prevented by exposing transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells to the drug brefeldin A, a drug that prevents egress of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum. Dimerization was also not dependent on protein glycosylation as it was not prevented by treatment of the cells with tunicamycin. Using a mammalian expression vector containing the N-terminal domain of mGluR1alpha, truncated just before the first transmembrane domain (NT-mGluR1alpha), we show that the N-terminal domain is secreted as a soluble disulphide-bonded dimeric protein. In addition, the truncated N-terminal domain can form heterodimers with mGluR1alpha when both proteins are cotransfected into HEK 293 cells. However, mGluR1alpha and its splice variant mGluR1beta did not form heterodimers in doubly transfected HEK 293 cells. These results show that although the N-terminal domain of mGluR1alpha is sufficient for dimer formation, other domains in the molecule must regulate the process.

Cell surface expression of the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha is regulated by the C-terminal tail

The cell surface expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor type I splice variants has been studied using cell surface biotinylation. Co-expression of the last 86 residues of the C-terminal tail of mGluR1alpha (F2-protein) with mGluR1alpha caused a significant reduction of the amount of the cell surface receptor when compared to that in cells transfected with mGlur1alpha alone, and this was accompanied by a reduction in the production of inositol following agonist stimulation of the cells. In contrast, cell surface expression of mGluR1beta was unaltered by co-expression with the F2-protein. These results suggest that the C-terminal tail of mGluR1alpha regulates cell surface expression of the receptor.