Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Logo for

J. Physiol. 583 (2): 537-553

NEUROSCIENCE

Activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors induces a PKC-dependent switch in AMPA receptor subtypes in mouse cerebellar stellate cells

Lu Sun1, and Siqiong June Liu1

1 Department of Biology, Penn State University, State College, PA 16802, USA

Abstract: The repetitive activation of synaptic glutamate receptors can induce a lasting change in the number or subunit composition of synaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs). However, NMDA receptors that are present extrasynaptically can also be activated by a burst of presynaptic activity, and thus may be involved in the induction of synaptic plasticity. Here we show that the physiological-like activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs induces a lasting change in the synaptic current, by changing the subunit composition of AMPARs at the parallel fibre-to-cerebellar stellate cell synapse. This extrasynaptic NMDAR-induced switch in synaptic AMPARs from GluR2-lacking (Ca2+-permeable) to GluR2-containing (Ca2+-impermeable) receptors requires the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). These results indicate that the activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs by glutamate spillover is an important mechanism that detects the pattern of afferent activity and subsequently exerts a remote regulation of AMPAR subtypes at the synapse via a PKC-dependent pathway.

Received for publication 17 May 2007. Revision received 15 June 2007. Accepted for publication 21 June 2007.

Corresponding author S. J. Liu: Department of Biology, 208 Mueller lab, Penn State University, State College, PA 16802, USA. Email: sjl16{at}psu.edu

This paper has online supplemental material.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Glutamatergic Modulation of Cerebellar Interneuron Activity Is Mediated by an Enhancement of GABA Release and Requires Protein Kinase A/RIM1{alpha} Signaling.
P. M. Lachamp, Y. Liu, and S. J. Liu (2009)
J. Neurosci. 29, 381-392
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Light-Induced Rescue of Breathing after Spinal Cord Injury.
W. J. Alilain, X. Li, K. P. Horn, R. Dhingra, T. E. Dick, S. Herlitze, and J. Silver (2008)
J. Neurosci. 28, 11862-11870
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Calcium-permeable presynaptic AMPA receptors in cerebellar molecular layer interneurones.
B. Rossi, G. Maton, and T. Collin (2008)
J. Physiol. 586, 5129-5145
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882