Modulation of D2R-NR2B interactions in response to cocaine

Neuron. 2006 Dec 7;52(5):897-909. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.10.011.

Abstract

Dopamine-glutamate interactions in the neostriatum determine psychostimulant action, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here we found that dopamine stimulation by cocaine enhances a heteroreceptor complex formation between dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) and NMDA receptor NR2B subunits in the neostriatum in vivo. The D2R-NR2B interaction is direct and occurs in the confined postsynaptic density microdomain of excitatory synapses. The enhanced D2R-NR2B interaction disrupts the association of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) with NR2B, reduces NR2B phosphorylation at a CaMKII-sensitive site (Ser1303), and inhibits NMDA receptor-mediated currents in medium-sized striatal neurons. Furthermore, the regulated D2R-NR2B interaction is critical for constructing behavioral responsiveness to cocaine. Our findings here uncover a direct and dynamic D2R-NR2B interaction in striatal neurons in vivo. This type of dopamine-glutamate integration at the receptor level may be responsible for synergistically inhibiting the D2R-mediated circuits in the basal ganglia and fulfilling the stimulative effect of psychostimulants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • DNA, Complementary / biosynthesis
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Glutamic Acid / physiology
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Male
  • Neostriatum / cytology
  • Neostriatum / drug effects
  • Neostriatum / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / drug effects*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects*

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • NR2B NMDA receptor
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Cocaine