PSD-95 uncouples dopamine–glutamate interaction in the D1/PSD-95/NMDA receptor complex

J Zhang, TX Xu, PJ Hallett, M Watanabe… - Journal of …, 2009 - Soc Neuroscience
J Zhang, TX Xu, PJ Hallett, M Watanabe, SGN Grant, O Isacson, WD Yao
Journal of Neuroscience, 2009Soc Neuroscience
Classical dopaminergic signaling paradigms and emerging studies on direct physical
interactions between the D1 dopamine (DA) receptor and the NMDA glutamate receptor
predict a reciprocally facilitating, positive feedback loop. This loop, if not controlled, may
cause concomitant overactivation of both D1 and NMDA receptors, triggering neurotoxicity.
Endogenous protective mechanisms must exist. Here, we report that PSD-95, a prototypical
structural and signaling scaffold in the postsynaptic density, inhibits D1–NMDA receptor …
Classical dopaminergic signaling paradigms and emerging studies on direct physical interactions between the D1 dopamine (DA) receptor and the NMDA glutamate receptor predict a reciprocally facilitating, positive feedback loop. This loop, if not controlled, may cause concomitant overactivation of both D1 and NMDA receptors, triggering neurotoxicity. Endogenous protective mechanisms must exist. Here, we report that PSD-95, a prototypical structural and signaling scaffold in the postsynaptic density, inhibits D1–NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NR1) NMDA receptor association and uncouples NMDA receptor-dependent enhancement of D1 signaling. This uncoupling is achieved, at least in part, via a disinhibition mechanism by which PSD-95 abolishes NMDA receptor-dependent inhibition of D1 internalization. Knockdown of PSD-95 immobilizes D1 receptors on the cell surface and escalates NMDA receptor-dependent D1 cAMP signaling in neurons. Thus, in addition to its role in receptor stabilization and synaptic plasticity, PSD-95 acts as a brake on the D1–NMDA receptor complex and dampens the interaction between them.
Soc Neuroscience