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Splice variant-specific interaction of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 with neuronal intermediate filaments.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ehlers, MD; Fung, ET; O'Brien, RJ; Huganir, RL
Published in: J Neurosci
January 15, 1998

NMDA receptors are excitatory neurotransmitter receptors critical for synaptic plasticity and neuronal development in the mammalian brain. These receptors are found highly concentrated in the postsynaptic membrane of glutamatergic synapses. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying NMDA receptor localization, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins expressed in the brain that interact with the NMDA receptor subunit NR1. Here we report that the 68 kDa neurofilament subunit NF-L directly interacts with the NR1 subunit. This interaction occurs between the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of NR1 and the rod domain of NF-L. However, NR1 splice variants lacking the first C-terminal exon cassette (C1) failed to associate with NF-L. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed a preferential localization of NR1 at the ends of in vitro-assembled neurofilaments. Overexpression of C1 cassette-containing NR1 constructs in fibroblast cells disrupted the assembly of recombinant neurofilaments. In addition, NR1 and NF-L cofractionated in detergent-treated rat brain synaptic plasma membranes. Furthermore, NR1 and NF-L colocalize in the dendrites and growth cones of cultured hippocampal neurons. These results demonstrate the splice variant-specific association of NR1 with neurofilaments and suggest a possible mechanism for anchoring or localizing NMDA receptors in the neuronal plasma membrane.

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Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0270-6474

Publication Date

January 15, 1998

Volume

18

Issue

2

Start / End Page

720 / 730

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Rats
  • Protein Binding
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neurofilament Proteins
  • Intermediate Filaments
  • Dendrites
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Ehlers, M. D., Fung, E. T., O’Brien, R. J., & Huganir, R. L. (1998). Splice variant-specific interaction of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 with neuronal intermediate filaments. J Neurosci, 18(2), 720–730. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-02-00720.1998
Ehlers, M. D., E. T. Fung, R. J. O’Brien, and R. L. Huganir. “Splice variant-specific interaction of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 with neuronal intermediate filaments.J Neurosci 18, no. 2 (January 15, 1998): 720–30. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-02-00720.1998.
Ehlers MD, Fung ET, O’Brien RJ, Huganir RL. Splice variant-specific interaction of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 with neuronal intermediate filaments. J Neurosci. 1998 Jan 15;18(2):720–30.
Ehlers, M. D., et al. “Splice variant-specific interaction of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 with neuronal intermediate filaments.J Neurosci, vol. 18, no. 2, Jan. 1998, pp. 720–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-02-00720.1998.
Ehlers MD, Fung ET, O’Brien RJ, Huganir RL. Splice variant-specific interaction of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 with neuronal intermediate filaments. J Neurosci. 1998 Jan 15;18(2):720–730.

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0270-6474

Publication Date

January 15, 1998

Volume

18

Issue

2

Start / End Page

720 / 730

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Rats
  • Protein Binding
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neurofilament Proteins
  • Intermediate Filaments
  • Dendrites
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Animals