Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists-induced recurrent seizure in elderly patient.

Abuse of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) has been associated with young individuals. The abuse of SCRAs is very rare in elderly people, but a few cases highlight the SCRAs-induced side effects. These substances lead to a variety of clinical and psychiatric symptoms including seizures. Here we report recurrent seizures after SCRA abuse by an elderly patient.

Transduction of group I mGluR-mediated synaptic plasticity by ß-arrestin2 signalling.

Conventional signalling by the group I metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGluR1 and mGluR5, occurs through G-protein coupling, but evidence suggests they might also utilize other, non-canonical effector pathways. Here we test whether group I mGluRs require ß-arrestin signalling during specific forms of plasticity at hippocampal excitatory synapses. We find that genetic ablation of ß-arrestin2, but not ß-arrestin1, results in deficits in plasticity mediated by mGlu1 receptors in CA3 pyramidal neurons and by mGlu5 receptors in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Pharmacological studies additionally support roles for Src kinases and MAPK/ERK downstream of ß-arrestin2 in CA3 neurons. mGluR1 modulation of intrinsic conductances is otherwise preserved in ß-arrestin2-/- mice with the exception of a rebound depolarization, and non-mGluR-mediated long-term potentiation is unaltered. These results reveal a signalling pathway engaged by group I mGluRs to effect changes in synaptic and cell intrinsic physiology dependent upon ß-arrestin rather than G proteins. Pharmacological manipulation of mGluRs with effector-biased ligands could lead to novel therapies to treat neurological disease.

Scaffold protein X11α interacts with kalirin-7 in dendrites and recruits it to Golgi outposts.

Pyramidal neurons in the mammalian forebrain receive their synaptic inputs through their dendritic trees, and dendritic spines are the sites of most excitatory synapses. Dendritic spine structure is important for brain development and plasticity. Kalirin-7 is a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor for the small GTPase Rac1 and is a critical regulator of dendritic spine remodeling. The subcellular localization of kalirin-7 is thought to be important for regulating its function in neurons. A yeast two-hybrid screen has identified the adaptor protein X11α as an interacting partner of kalirin-7. Here, we show that kalirin-7 and X11α form a complex in the brain, and this interaction is mediated by the C terminus of kalirin-7. Kalirin-7 and X11α co-localize at excitatory synapses in cultured cortical neurons. Using time-lapse imaging of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we show that X11α is present in a mobile fraction of the postsynaptic density. X11α also localizes to Golgi outposts in dendrites, and its overexpression induces the removal of kalirin-7 from spines and accumulation of kalirin-7 in Golgi outposts. In addition, neurons overexpressing X11α displayed thinner spines. These data support a novel mechanism of regulation of kalirin-7 localization and function in dendrites, providing insight into signaling pathways underlying neuronal plasticity. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of synaptic structural plasticity will improve our understanding of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, as kalirin-7 has been associated with schizophrenia and Alzheimer disease.

Studies on an (S)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl)propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist IKM-159: asymmetric synthesis, neuroactivity, and structural characterization.

IKM-159 was developed and identified as a member of a new class of heterotricyclic glutamate analogues that act as AMPA receptor-selective antagonists. However, it was not known which enantiomer of IKM-159 was responsible for its pharmacological activities. Here, we report in vivo and in vitro neuronal activities of both enantiomers of IKM-159 prepared by enantioselective asymmetric synthesis. By employment of (R)-2-amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol as a chiral auxiliary, (2R)-IKM-159 and the (2S)-counterpart were successfully synthesized in 0.70% and 1.5% yields, respectively, over a total of 18 steps. Both behavioral and electrophysiological assays showed that the biological activity observed for the racemic mixture was reproduced only with (2R)-IKM-159, whereas the (2S)-counterpart was inactive in both assays. Racemic IKM-159 was crystallized with the ligand-binding domain of GluA2, and the structure revealed a complex containing (2R)-IKM-159 at the glutamate binding site. (2R)-IKM-159 locks the GluA2 in an open form, consistent with a pharmacological action as competitive antagonist of AMPA receptors.