Dynamic control of CaMKII translocation and localization in hippocampal neurons by NMDA receptor stimulation

Science. 1999 Apr 2;284(5411):162-6. doi: 10.1126/science.284.5411.162.

Abstract

Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is thought to increase synaptic strength by phosphorylating postsynaptic density (PSD) ion channels and signaling proteins. It is shown that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor stimulation reversibly translocates green fluorescent protein-tagged CaMKII from an F-actin-bound to a PSD-bound state. The translocation time was controlled by the ratio of expressed beta-CaMKII to alpha-CaMKII isoforms. Although F-actin dissociation into the cytosol required autophosphorylation of or calcium-calmodulin binding to beta-CaMKII, PSD translocation required binding of calcium-calmodulin to either the alpha- or beta-CaMKII subunits. Autophosphorylation of CaMKII indirectly prolongs its PSD localization by increasing the calmodulin-binding affinity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Dendrites / enzymology*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Glutamic Acid / pharmacology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / enzymology*
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis
  • Neurons / enzymology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Rats
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Synapses / enzymology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Actins
  • Isoenzymes
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • postsynaptic density proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Calcium