Heterodimerization of calcium sensing receptors with metabotropic glutamate receptors in neurons

J Biol Chem. 2001 Oct 19;276(42):39053-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M105662200. Epub 2001 Aug 6.

Abstract

Calcium sensing (CaR) and Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors exhibit overlapping expression patterns in brain, and share common signal transduction pathways. To determine whether CaR and Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) (mGluR1alpha and mGluR5) can form heterodimers, we immunoprecipitated CaR from bovine brain and observed co-precipitation of mGluR1alpha. CaR and mGluR1alpha co-localize in hippocampal and cerebellar neurons, but are expressed separately in other brain regions. In vitro transfection studies in HEK-293 cells established the specificity and disulfide-linked nature of the CaR:mGluR1alpha (CaR:mGluR5) interactions. CaR:mGluR1alpha (CaR:mGluR5) heterodimers exhibit altered trafficking via Homer 1c when compared with CaR:CaR homodimers. CaR becomes sensitive to glutamate-mediated internalization when present in CaR:mGluR1alpha heterodimers. These results demonstrate cross-family covalent heterodimerization of CaR with Group I mGluRs, and increase the potential role(s) for CaR in modulating neuronal function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Dimerization
  • Disulfides
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neurons / chemistry
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / chemistry*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Disulfides
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • Calcium