Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 phosphorylates the N-terminal domain of the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 in neurons

PSD-95 (postsynaptic density 95) is a postsynaptic scaffolding protein that links NMDA receptors to the cytoskeleton and signaling molecules. The N-terminal domain of PSD-95 is involved in the synaptic targeting and clustering of PSD-95 and in the clustering of NMDA receptors at synapses. The N-terminal domain of PSD-95 contains three consensus phosphorylation sites for cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5), a proline-directed serine-threonine kinase essential for brain development and implicated in synaptic plasticity, dopamine signaling, cocaine addiction, and neurodegenerative disorders. We report that PSD-95 is phosphorylated in the N-terminal domain by cdk5 in vitro and in vivo, and that this phosphorylation is not detectable in brain lysates of cdk5-/- mice. N-terminal phosphorylated PSD-95 is found in PSD fractions together with cdk5 and its activator, p35, suggesting a role for phosphorylated PSD-95 at synapses. In heterologous cells, coexpression of active cdk5 reduces the ability of PSD-95 to multimerize and to cluster neuronal ion channels, two functions attributed to the N-terminal domain of PSD-95. Consistent with these observations, the lack of cdk5 activity in cultured neurons results in larger clusters of PSD-95. In cdk5-/- cortical neurons, more prominent PSD-95 immunostained clusters are observed than in wild-type neurons. In hippocampal neurons, the expression of DNcdk5 (inactive form of cdk5) or of the triple alanine mutant (T19A, S25A, S35A) full-length PSD-95 results in increased PSD-95 cluster size. These results identify cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of the N-terminal domain of PSD-95 as a novel mechanism for regulating the clustering of PSD-95. Moreover, these observations support the possibility that cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of PSD-95 dynamically regulates the clustering of PSD-95/NMDA receptors at synapses, thus providing a possible mechanism for rapid changes in density and/or number of receptor at synapses

Cdk5 regulates the phosphorylation of tyrosine 1472 NR2B and the surface expression of NMDA receptors

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are a major class of ionotropic glutamate receptors that can undergo activity-dependent changes in surface expression. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a mechanism by which the surface expression of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors is regulated. The C terminus of the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B contains the internalization motif YEKL, which is the binding site for the clathrin adaptor AP-2. The tyrosine (Y1472) within the YEKL motif is phosphorylated by the Src family of kinases and this phosphorylation inhibits the binding of AP-2 and promotes surface expression of NMDA receptors. Cdk5 is a serine/threonine kinase that has been implicated in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of Cdk5 results in increased phosphorylation of Y1472 NR2B at synapses and decreased binding of NR2B to beta2-adaptin, a subunit of AP-2, thus blocking the activity-dependent endocytosis of NMDA receptors. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of Cdk5 increases the binding of Src to postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), and that expression of PSD-95 facilitates the phosphorylation of Y1472 NR2B by Src. Together, these results suggest a model in which inhibition of Cdk5 increases the binding of Src to PSD-95 and the phosphorylation of Y1472 NR2B by Src, which results in decreased binding of NR2B to AP-2, and NR2B/NMDAR endocytosis. This study provides a novel molecular mechanism for the regulation of the surface expression of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors and gives insight into the Cdk5-dependent regulation of synaptic plasticity

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulates PSD-95 ubiquitination in neurons

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and its activator p35 have been implicated in drug addiction, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer\u27s, learning and memory, and synapse maturation and plasticity. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Cdk5 regulates synaptic plasticity are still unclear. PSD-95 is a major postsynaptic scaffolding protein of glutamatergic synapses that regulates synaptic strength and plasticity. PSD-95 is ubiquitinated by the ubiquitin E3 ligase Mdm2, and rapid and transient PSD-95 ubiquitination has been implicated in NMDA receptor-induced AMPA receptor endocytosis. Here we demonstrate that genetic or pharmacological reduction of Cdk5 activity increases the interaction of Mdm2 with PSD-95 and enhances PSD-95 ubiquitination without affecting PSD-95 protein levels in vivo in mice, suggesting a nonproteolytic function of ubiquitinated PSD-95 at synapses. We show that PSD-95 ubiquitination correlates with increased interaction with beta-adaptin, a subunit of the clathrin adaptor protein complex AP-2. This interaction is increased by genetic reduction of Cdk5 activity or NMDA receptor stimulation and is dependent on Mdm2. Together these results support a function for Cdk5 in regulating PSD-95 ubiquitination and its interaction with AP-2 and suggest a mechanism by which PSD-95 may regulate NMDA receptor-induced AMPA receptor endocytosis

The cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activators p35 and p39 interact with the alpha-subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and alpha-actinin-1 in a calcium-dependent manner

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a critical regulator of neuronal migration in the developing CNS, and recent studies have revealed a role for Cdk5 in synaptogenesis and regulation of synaptic transmission. Deregulation of Cdk5 has been linked to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer\u27s disease. Activation of Cdk5 requires its association with a regulatory subunit, and two Cdk5 activators, p35 and p39, have been identified. To gain further insight into the functions of Cdk5, we identified proteins that interact with p39 in a yeast two-hybrid screen. In this study we report that alpha-actinin-1 and the alpha-subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKIIalpha), two proteins localized at the postsynaptic density, interact with Cdk5 via their association with p35 and p39. CaMKIIalpha and alpha-actinin-1 bind to distinct regions of p35 and p39 and also can interact with each other. The association of CaMKIIalpha and alpha-actinin-1 to the Cdk5 activators, as well as to each other, is stimulated by calcium. Further, the activation of glutamate receptors increases the association of p35 and p39 with CaMKIIalpha, and the inhibition of CaMKII activation diminishes this effect. The glutamate-mediated increase in association of p35 and CaMKIIalpha is mediated in large part by NMDA receptors, suggesting that cross talk between the Cdk5 and CaMKII signal transduction pathways may be a component of the complex molecular mechanisms contributing to synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning

Soluble beta-amyloid1-40 induces NMDA-dependent degradation of postsynaptic density-95 at glutamatergic synapses

Amyloid-beta (Abeta) has been implicated in memory loss and disruption of synaptic plasticity observed in early-stage Alzheimer\u27s disease. Recently, it has been shown that soluble Abeta oligomers target synapses in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, suggesting a direct role of Abeta in the regulation of synaptic structure and function. Postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) is a postsynaptic scaffolding protein that plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity and the stabilization of AMPA (AMPARs) and NMDA (NMDARs) receptors at synapses. Here, we show that exposure of cultured cortical neurons to soluble oligomers of Abeta(1-40) reduces PSD-95 protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner and that the Abeta1(1-40)-dependent decrease in PSD-95 requires NMDAR activity. We also show that the decrease in PSD-95 requires cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activity and involves the proteasome pathway. Immunostaining analysis of cortical cultured neurons revealed that Abeta treatment induces concomitant decreases in PSD-95 at synapses and in the surface expression of the AMPAR glutamate receptor subunit 2. Together, these data suggest a novel pathway by which Abeta triggers synaptic dysfunction, namely, by altering the molecular composition of glutamatergic synapses

Calcitonin-Induced Effects on Amniotic Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background/Aims: Mesenchymal stem cells from human amniotic fluid (huAFMSCs) can differentiate into multiple lineages and are not tumorigenic after transplantation, making them good candidates for therapeutic purposes. The aim was to determine the effects of calcitonin on these huAFMSCs during osteogenic differentiation, in terms of the physiological role of calcitonin in bone homeostasis. Methods: For huAFMSCs cultured under different conditions, we assayed: expression of the calcitonin receptor, using immunolabelling techniques; proliferation and osteogenesis, using colorimetric and enzymatic assays; intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP levels, using videomicroscopy and spectrophotometry. Results: The calcitonin receptor was expressed in proliferating and osteo-differentiated huAFMSCs. Calcitonin triggered intracellular Ca2+ increases and cAMP production. Its presence in cell medium also induced dose-dependent inhibitory effects on proliferation and increased osteogenic differentiation of huAFMSCs, as also indicated by enhancement of specific markers and alkaline phosphatase activity. Conclusions: These data show that huAFMSCs represent a potential osteogenic model to study in-vitro cell responses to calcitonin (and other members of the calcitonin family). This leads the way to the opening of new lines of research that will add new insight both in cell therapies and in the pharmacological use of these molecules

Calcitonin-Induced Effects on Amniotic Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background/Aims: Mesenchymal stem cells from human amniotic fluid (huAFMSCs) can differentiate into multiple lineages and are not tumorigenic after transplantation, making them good candidates for therapeutic purposes. The aim was to determine the effects of calcitonin on these huAFMSCs during osteogenic differentiation, in terms of the physiological role of calcitonin in bone homeostasis. Methods: For huAFMSCs cultured under different conditions, we assayed: expression of the calcitonin receptor, using immunolabelling techniques; proliferation and osteogenesis, using colorimetric and enzymatic assays; intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP levels, using videomicroscopy and spectrophotometry. Results: The calcitonin receptor was expressed in proliferating and osteo-differentiated huAFMSCs. Calcitonin triggered intracellular Ca2+ increases and cAMP production. Its presence in cell medium also induced dose-dependent inhibitory effects on proliferation and increased osteogenic differentiation of huAFMSCs, as also indicated by enhancement of specific markers and alkaline phosphatase activity. Conclusions: These data show that huAFMSCs represent a potential osteogenic model to study in-vitro cell responses to calcitonin (and other members of the calcitonin family). This leads the way to the opening of new lines of research that will add new insight both in cell therapies and in the pharmacological use of these molecules

Engineering auxetic cylinders and intestine to improve longitudinal intestinal lengthening and tailoring procedure

Auxetic materials can be exploited for coupling different types of tissues. Herein, we designed a material where the microorganism metabolic activity yields the formation of buckled/collapsed bubbles within gelling silicone cylinders thus providing auxetic properties. The finite element model of such hollow auxetic cylinders demonstrated the tubular structure to promote worm-like peristalsis. In this scenario, the described hybrid auxetic structures may be applied to the longitudinal intestinal lengthening and tailoring procedure to promote enteral autonomy in short bowel syndrome. The presented material and analytical design synergistic approach offer a pioneering step for the clinical translation of hybrid auxetic materials

Indici per la valutazione della qualit? ecologica dei laghi

Methods are presented to evaluate the biological quality of Italian lakes based on phytoplankton, macrophytes, fishes, benthic fauna and hydromorphology