RESUMEN
Mutation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 7 (mGlu7) induces absence-like epileptic seizures, but its precise role in the somatosensory thalamocortical network remains unknown. By combining electrophysiological recordings, optogenetics, and pharmacology, we dissected the contribution of the mGlu7 receptor at mouse thalamic synapses. We found that mGlu7 is functionally expressed at both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses, where it can inhibit neurotransmission and regulate short-term plasticity. These effects depend on the PDZ-ligand of the receptor, as they are lost in mutant mice. Interestingly, the very low affinity of mGlu7 receptors for glutamate raises the question of how it can be activated, namely at GABAergic synapses and in basal conditions. Inactivation of the receptor activity with the mGlu7 negative allosteric modulator (NAM), ADX71743, enhances thalamic synaptic transmission. In vivo administration of the NAM induces a lethargic state with spindle and/or spike-and-wave discharges accompanied by a behavioral arrest typical of absence epileptic seizures. This provides evidence for mGlu7 receptor-mediated tonic modulation of a physiological function in vivo preventing synchronous and potentially pathological oscillations.
Asunto(s)
Corteza Cerebral/citología , Vías Nerviosas/fisiología , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/metabolismo , Tálamo/fisiología , Animales , Benzoxazoles/química , Benzoxazoles/farmacología , Corteza Cerebral/fisiología , Channelrhodopsins , Fármacos actuantes sobre Aminoácidos Excitadores/farmacología , Potenciales Postsinápticos Excitadores/efectos de los fármacos , Potenciales Postsinápticos Excitadores/genética , GABAérgicos/farmacología , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gq-G11/genética , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gq-G11/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Potenciales de la Membrana/efectos de los fármacos , Potenciales de la Membrana/genética , Ratones , Ratones Transgénicos , Mutación/genética , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/fisiología , Densidad Postsináptica/efectos de los fármacos , Densidad Postsináptica/genética , Receptores de GABA-A/fisiología , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/genética , Potenciales Sinápticos/efectos de los fármacos , Potenciales Sinápticos/genéticaRESUMEN
We have previously shown that the interaction of Ca2+/calmodulin with the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 7 (mGluR7) promotes the G-protein-mediated inhibition of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCCs) seen upon agonist activation. Here, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen of a new-born rat brain cDNA library using the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail of mGluR7 as bait and identified macrophage myristoylated alanine-rich c-kinase substrate (MacMARCKS) as a binding protein. The interaction was confirmed in vitro and in vivo by pull-down assays, immunoprecipitation, and colocalization of mGluR7 and MacMARCKS in transfected HEK293 cells and cultured cerebellar granule cells. Binding of MacMARCKS to mGluR7 was antagonized by Ca2+/calmodulin. In neurons, cotransfection of MacMARCKS with mGluR7, but not mGluR7 mutants unable to bind MacMARCKS, reduced the G-protein-mediated tonic inhibition of VSCCs in the absence of mGluR7 agonist. These results suggest that competitive interactions of Ca2+/calmodulin and MacMARCKS with mGluR7 control the tonic inhibition of VSCCs by G-proteins.