(R)-AMPA

Steric antisense inhibition of AMPA receptor Q/R editing reveals tight coupling to intronic editing sites and splicing.[Pubmed:23172291]

Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Jan;41(2):1113-23.

Adenosine-to-Inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a post-transcriptional mechanism, evolved to diversify the transcriptome in metazoa. In addition to wide-spread editing in non-coding regions protein recoding by RNA editing allows for fine tuning of protein function. Functional consequences are only known for some editing sites and the combinatorial effect between multiple sites (functional epistasis) is currently unclear. Similarly, the interplay between RNA editing and splicing, which impacts on post-transcriptional gene regulation, has not been resolved. Here, we describe a versatile antisense approach, which will aid resolving these open questions. We have developed and characterized morpholino oligos targeting the most efficiently edited site--the AMPA receptor GluA2 Q/R site. We show that inhibition of editing closely correlates with intronic editing efficiency, which is linked to splicing efficiency. In addition to providing a versatile tool our data underscore the unique efficiency of a physiologically pivotal editing site.

GluA2 AMPA glutamate receptor subunit exhibits codon 607 Q/R RNA editing in the lens.[Pubmed:22266371]

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Feb 10;418(2):273-7.

Regulated GluA2 AMPA receptor subunit expression, RNA editing, and membrane localization are fundamental determinants of neuronal Ca(2+) influx, and underlie basic functions such as memory and the primary brain disorder epilepsy. Consistent with this, AMPARs, and specifically GluA2, are targets of common antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and antidepressants. Recently, epidemiological associations between epilepsy and increased cataract prevalence were found comparable to cataract links with diabetes and smoking. Similarly, use of AEDs and several antidepressants also showed links with increased cataract. Here, we demonstrated GluA2 in lenses, consistent with REST/NRSF and REST4 we described previously in lenses, as well as GluA1 and ADAR2 in the lens. Surprisingly, we found predominant neuron-like Q/R editing of GluA2 RNAs also occurs in the lens and evidence of lens GluA2 phosphorylation and STEP phosphatases linked with GluA2 membrane localization in neurons. This study is among the first to show GluA2 expression and predominant Q/R RNA editing in a non-neural cell. Our results suggest GluA2 AMPARs have related roles in lens physiology and disease processes, and provide evidence these anticonvulsant and antidepressant drug targets also occur in the lens.

Palmitoylation by DHHC5/8 targets GRIP1 to dendritic endosomes to regulate AMPA-R trafficking.[Pubmed:22325201]

Neuron. 2012 Feb 9;73(3):482-96.

Palmitoylation, a key regulatory mechanism controlling protein targeting, is catalyzed by DHHC-family palmitoyl acyltransferases (PATs). Impaired PAT activity is linked to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting critical roles for palmitoylation in neuronal function. However, few substrates for specific PATs are known, and functional consequences of palmitoylation events are frequently uncharacterized. Here, we identify the closely related PATs DHHC5 and DHHC8 as specific regulators of the PDZ domain protein GRIP1b. Binding, palmitoylation, and dendritic targeting of GRIP1b require a PDZ ligand unique to DHHC5/8. Palmitoylated GRIP1b is targeted to trafficking endosomes and may link endosomes to kinesin motors. Consistent with this trafficking role, GRIP1b's palmitoylation turnover rate approaches the highest of all reported proteins, and palmitoylation increases GRIP1b's ability to accelerate AMPA-R recycling. To our knowledge, these findings identify the first neuronal DHHC5/8 substrate, define novel mechanisms controlling palmitoylation specificity, and suggest further links between dysregulated palmitoylation and neuropathological conditions.

Zebrafish Adar2 Edits the Q/R site of AMPA receptor Subunit gria2alpha transcript to ensure normal development of nervous system and cranial neural crest cells.[Pubmed:24818983]

PLoS One. 2014 May 12;9(5):e97133.

BACKGROUND: Adar2 deaminates selective adenosines to inosines (A-to-I RNA editing) in the double-stranded region of nuclear transcripts. Although the functions of mouse Adar2 and its biologically most important substrate gria2, encoding the GluA2 subunit of AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) receptor, have been extensively studied, the substrates and functions of zebrafish Adar2 remain elusive. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Expression of Adar2 was perturbed in the adar2 morphant (adar2MO), generated by antisense morpholio oligonucleotides. The Q/R editing of gria2alpha was reduced in the adar2MO and was enhanced by overexpression of Adar2, demonstrating an evolutionarily conserved activity between zebrafish and mammalian Adar2 in editing the Q/R site of gria2. To delineate the role of Q/R editing of gria2alpha in the developmental defects observed in the adar2MO, the Q/R editing of gria2alpha was specifically perturbed in the gria2alphaQRMO, generated by a morpholio oligonucleotide complementary to the exon complementary sequence (ECS) required for the Q/R editing. Analogous to the adar2-deficient and Q/R-editing deficient mice displaying identical neurological defects, the gria2alphaQRMO and adar2MO displayed identical developmental defects in the nervous system and cranial cartilages. Knockdown p53 abolished apoptosis and partially suppressed the loss of spinal cord motor neurons in these morphants. However, reducing p53 activity neither replenished the brain neuronal populations nor rescued the developmental defects. The expressions of crestin and sox9b in the neural crest cells were reduced in the adar2MO and gria2alphaQRMO. Overexpressing the edited GluA2alphaR in the adar2MO restored normal expressions of cresting and sox9b. Moreover, overexpressing the unedited GluA2alphaQ in the wild type embryos resulted in reduction of crestin and sox9b expressions. These results argue that an elevated GluA2alphaQ level is sufficient for generating the cranial neural crest defects observed in the adar2MO. Our results present a link between dysfunction of AMPA receptors and defective development of the nervous system and cranial neural crest in the zebrafish.

Ibotenic acid analogues. Synthesis, molecular flexibility, and in vitro activity of agonists and antagonists at central glutamic acid receptors.[Pubmed:2859375]

J Med Chem. 1985 May;28(5):668-72.

The syntheses of (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (9, ATPA), (alpha-RS, beta-RS)-alpha-amino-beta-methyl-3-hydroxy-5-isoxazolepropionic acid (8), (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-isoxazolebutyric acid (15a), and (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-isoxazolevaleric acid (15b) are described. The compounds were tested in vitro together with (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-(bromomethyl)-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (ABPA) as inhibitors of the binding of radioactive-labeled (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) to rat brain synaptic membranes. These data were compared with the earlier reported effects of the compounds on single neurons in the feline spinal cord obtained by microelectrophoretic techniques. The three compounds AMPA, ATPA, and ABPA are agonists at the class of receptors assumed to represent a subtype of physiological (S)-glutamic acid (Glu) receptors. Inhibition of [3H]AMPA binding by ATPA was 1 order of magnitude weaker than that of AMPA, in agreement with the relative potency of these compounds in vivo. ABPA proved to be equipotent with AMPA both as an inhibitor of AMPA binding and as a neuronal excitant. The compounds 8, 15a, and 15b have no effect as inhibitors of AMPA binding, in agreement with in vivo studies that have shown that 8 does not affect the firing of central neurons whereas 15a and 15b are antagonists at NMDA receptors, a subpopulation of excitatory receptors not affected by AMPA. Molecular mechanical calculations on AMPA, ATPA, and ABPA using the program MM2 showed that conformations of AMPA, ABPA, and especially ATPA by rotation of the amino acid side chain have energy barriers. A possible receptor-active conformation is suggested.

Enzymic resolution and binding to rat brain membranes of the glutamic acid agonist alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid.[Pubmed:6133955]

J Med Chem. 1983 Jun;26(6):901-3.

The enantiomers of the glutamic acid central nervous system receptor agonist alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) were prepared via kinetic resolution of the racemic N-acetylated 3-methoxy derivative by reusable, immobilized aminoacylase. L-AMPA was more effective (IC50 = 0.6 microM) than D-AMPA (IC50 = 4.8 microM) in displacing racemic [3H]AMPA from binding sites on rat brain synaptic membranes in agreement with their relative in vivo excitatory potencies.