Molecular determinants of NMDA receptor internalization

KW Roche, S Standley, J McCallum, C Dune Ly… - Nature …, 2001 - nature.com
KW Roche, S Standley, J McCallum, C Dune Ly, MD Ehlers, RJ Wenthold
Nature neuroscience, 2001nature.com
Although synaptic AMPA receptors have been shown to rapidly internalize, synaptic NMDA
receptors are reported to be static. It is not certain whether NMDA receptor stability at
synaptic sites is an inherent property of the receptor, or is due to stabilization by scaffolding
proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that NMDA receptors are internalized in both
heterologous cells and neurons, and we define an internalization motif, YEKL, on the distal
C-terminus of NR2B. In addition, we show that the synaptic protein PSD-95 inhibits NR2B …
Abstract
Although synaptic AMPA receptors have been shown to rapidly internalize, synaptic NMDA receptors are reported to be static. It is not certain whether NMDA receptor stability at synaptic sites is an inherent property of the receptor, or is due to stabilization by scaffolding proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that NMDA receptors are internalized in both heterologous cells and neurons, and we define an internalization motif, YEKL, on the distal C-terminus of NR2B. In addition, we show that the synaptic protein PSD-95 inhibits NR2B-mediated internalization, and that deletion of the PDZ-binding domain of NR2B increases internalization in neurons. This suggests an involvement for PSD-95 in NMDA receptor regulation and an explanation for NMDA receptor stability at synaptic sites.
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