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

✍ Scribed by Dongcheng Lu; Henglin Yan; Timothy Othman; Scott A. Rivkees

• Book ID: 102382385
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 245 KB
• Volume: 78
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.20230

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

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 1α (mGlu1α) and 4.1G, which is a member of the erythrocyte membrane, cytoskeletal protein 4.1 family. First, co‐localization of 4.1G and mGlu1α was observed in cultured hippocampal neurons. Second, in transiently transfected HEK 293 cells and in whole rat brain tissue, direct interactions between mGlu1α and 4.1G were observed. Third, we were able to identify the C‐terminal tail of mGlu1α as an essential region for mGlu1α–4.1G interactions. Fourth, 4.1 G influences mGlu1α‐mediated cAMP accumulation. Finally, we found that 4.1G increases the ligand‐binding ability of mGlu1α and alters its cellular distribution. These observations identify 4.1G as a novel binding partner of mGlu1α that can regulate the action of mGlu1α. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.