M1 muscarinic receptor facilitates cognitive function by interplay with AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit.

M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1 mAChRs) are the most abundant muscarinic receptors in the hippocampus and have been shown to have procognitive effects. AMPA receptors (AMPARs), an important subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors, are key components in neurocognitive networks. However, the role of AMPARs in procognitive effects of M1 mAChRs and how M1 mAChRs affect the function of AMPARs remain poorly understood. Here, we found that basal expression of GluA1, a subunit of AMPARs, and its phosphorylation at Ser845 were maintained by M1 mAChR activity. Activation of M1 mAChRs promoted membrane insertion of GluA1, especially to postsynaptic densities. Impairment of hippocampus-dependent learning and memory by antagonism of M1 mAChRs paralleled the reduction of GluA1 expression, and improvement of learning and memory by activation of M1 mAChRs was accompanied by the synaptic insertion of GluA1 and its increased phosphorylation at Ser845. Furthermore, abrogation of phosphorylation of Ser845 residue of GluA1 ablated M1 mAChR-mediated improvement of learning and memory. Taken together, these results show a functional correlation of M1 mAChRs and GluA1 and the essential role of GluA1 in M1 mAChR-mediated cognitive improvement.-Zhao, L.-X., Ge, Y.-H., Xiong, C.-H., Tang, L., Yan, Y.-H., Law, P.-Y., Qiu, Y., Chen, H.-Z. M1 muscarinic receptor facilitates cognitive function by interplay with AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit.

FK506-binding protein 12 modulates µ-opioid receptor phosphorylation and protein kinase C(ε)-dependent signaling by its direct interaction with the receptor.

Protein kinase C (PKC) activation plays an important role in morphine-induced µ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) desensitization and tolerance development. It was recently shown that receptor phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinase regulates agonist-dependent selective signaling and that inefficient phosphorylation of OPRM1 leads to PKCε activation and subsequent responses. Here, we demonstrate that such receptor phosphorylation and PKCε activation can be modulated by FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12). Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, FKBP12 was identified as specifically interacting with OPRM1 at the Pro(353) residue. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing OPRM1, the association of FKBP12 with OPRM1 decreased the agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation at Ser(375). The morphine-induced PKCε activation and the recruitment of PKCε to the OPRM1 signaling complex were attenuated both by FKBP12 short interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment and in cells expressing OPRM1 with a P353A mutation (OPRM1P353A), which leads to diminished activation of PKC-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Meanwhile, the overexpression of FKBP12 enabled etorphine to activate PKCε. Further analysis of the receptor complex demonstrated that morphine treatment enhanced the association of FKBP12 and calcineurin with the receptor. The blockade of the FKBP12 association with the receptor by the siRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous FKBP12 or the mutation of Pro(353) to Ala resulted in a reduction in PKCε and calcineurin recruitment to the receptor signaling complex. The receptor-associated calcineurin modulates OPRM1 phosphorylation, as demonstrated by the ability of the calcineurin autoinhibitory peptide to increase the receptor phosphorylation. Thus, the association of FKBP12 with OPRM1 attenuates the phosphorylation of the receptor and triggers the recruitment and activation of PKCε.

M1 muscarinic receptors facilitate hippocampus-dependent cognitive flexibility via modulating GluA2 subunit of AMPA receptors.

Cognitive flexibility is an important aspect of executive function. The cholinergic system, an important component of cognition, has been shown to modulate cognitive flexibility mainly through the striatum and prefrontal cortex. The role of M1 muscarinic receptors (M1 mAChRs), an important therapeutic target in the cholinergic system, in hippocampus-dependent cognitive flexibility is unclarified. In the present study, we demonstrated that selective activation of M1 mAChRs promoted extinction of initial learned response and facilitated acquisition of reversal learning in the Morris water maze, a behavior test that is mainly dependent on the hippocampus. However, these effects were abolished in GluA2 mutant mice with deficiency in phosphorylation of Ser880 by protein kinase C (PKC). Further long-term depression (LTD) in the hippocampal CA1 area induced by M1 mAChR activation was shown to be dependent on AMPA receptor subunit GluA2 but not GluA1. M1 mAChRs increased GluA2 endocytosis through phosphorylation of Ser880 by PKC. Inhibition of PKC blocked M1 mAChR-mediated LTD, memory switching and reversal learning facilitation. Moreover, the slow memory extinction observed in GluA2 mutant mice and PKC inhibitor-treated mice appeared to affect the consolidation and retrieval of reversal learning. Thus, these results demonstrate that M1 mAChRs mainly facilitate acquisition in spatial reversal learning and further elucidate that such an effect is dependent on the phosphorylation of GluA2 by PKC. The study helps clarify the role of M1 mAChRs in cognitive flexibility and may prompt the earlier prevention of cognitive inflexibility.

Role of FK506 binding protein 12 in morphine-induced µ-opioid receptor internalization and desensitization.

Agonist-activated µ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) undergoes robust receptor phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinases and subsequent ß-arrestin recruitment, triggering receptor internalization and desensitization. Morphine, a widely prescribed opioid, induces receptor phosphorylation inefficiently. Previously we reported that FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP12) specifically interacts with OPRM1 and such interaction attenuates receptor phosphorylation and facilitates morphine-induced recruitment and activation of protein kinase C. In the current study, we demonstrated that the association of FKBP12 with OPRM1 also affects morphine-induced receptor internalization and G protein-dependent adenylyl cyclase desensitization. Morphine induced faster receptor internalization and adenylyl cyclase desensitization in cells expressing OPRM1 with Pro(353) mutated to Ala (OPRM1P353A), which does not interact with FKBP12, or in the presence of FK506 which dissociates the receptor-FKBP12 interaction. Furthermore, knockdown of cellular FKBP12 level by siRNA accelerated morphine-induced receptor internalization and adenylyl cyclase desensitization. Our study further demonstrated that peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity of FKBP12 probably plays a role in inhibition of receptor phosphorylation. In the view that internalized receptor recycles and thus counteracts the development of analgesic tolerance, receptor's association with FKBP12 could also contribute to the development of morphine tolerance through modulation of receptor trafficking.