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Molecular Pharmacology

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Research ArticleArticle

Early Failure of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors and Deficient Spine Formation Induced by Reduction of Regulatory Heme in Neurons

Tatyana Chernova, Joern R. Steinert, Paul Richards, Rajendra Mistry, R. A. John Challiss, Rebekah Jukes-Jones, Kelvin Cain, Andrew G. Smith and Ian D. Forsythe
Molecular Pharmacology May 2011, 79 (5) 844-854; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.110.069831
Tatyana Chernova
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Joern R. Steinert
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Paul Richards
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Rajendra Mistry
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R. A. John Challiss
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Rebekah Jukes-Jones
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Kelvin Cain
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Andrew G. Smith
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Ian D. Forsythe
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Abstract

An initial stage of many neurodegenerative processes is associated with compromised synaptic function and precedes synapse loss, neurite fragmentation, and neuronal death. We showed previously that deficiency of heme, regulating many proteins of pharmacological importance, causes neurodegeneration of primary cortical neurons via N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent suppression of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway. Here, we asked whether the reduction of heme causes synaptic perturbation before neurite fragmentation in neuronal cultures and investigated molecular mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction in these cells. We showed the change in the NR2B subunit phosphorylation that correlates with compromised NMDAR function after the reduction of regulatory heme and a rapid rescue of NR2B phosphorylation and NMDAR function by exogenous heme. Electrophysiological recordings demonstrated diminished NMDAR currents and NMDAR-mediated calcium influx after 24 h of inhibition of heme synthesis. These effects were reversed by treatment with heme; however, inhibition of the Src family kinases abolished the rescue effect of heme on NMDA-evoked currents. Diminished NMDAR current and Ca2+ influx resulted in suppressed cGMP production and impairment of spine formation. Exogenous heme exerted rescue effects on NR2B tyrosine phosphorylation and NMDA-evoked currents within minutes, suggesting direct interactions within the NMDAR complex. These synaptic changes after inhibition of heme synthesis occurred at this stage without apparent dysfunction of major hemoproteins. We conclude that regulatory heme is necessary in maintaining NR2B phosphorylation and NMDAR function. NMDAR failure occurs before neurite fragmentation and may be a causal factor in neurodegeneration; this could suggest a route for an early pharmacological intervention.

Footnotes

  • ↵Embedded Image The online version of this article (available at http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org) contains supplemental material.

  • Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org.

    doi:10.1124/mol.110.069831.

  • ABBREVIATIONS:

    NMDAR
    N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor
    ALAS
    aminolevulinic acid synthase
    nNOS
    neuronal nitric-oxide synthase
    SFK
    Src family kinase
    PP2
    4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine
    SA
    succinyl acetone
    PCR
    polymerase chain reaction
    DIV
    days in vitro
    aCSF
    artificial cerebrospinal fluid
    BSA
    bovine serum albumin
    PSD
    postsynaptic density
    sGC
    soluble guanylate cyclase
    HO-1
    heme-oxygenase-1.

  • Received November 9, 2010.
  • Accepted February 15, 2011.
  • Copyright © 2011 The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Molecular Pharmacology: 79 (5)
Molecular Pharmacology
Vol. 79, Issue 5
1 May 2011
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Research ArticleArticle

Early Failure of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors and Deficient Spine Formation Induced by Reduction of Regulatory Heme in Neurons

Tatyana Chernova, Joern R. Steinert, Paul Richards, Rajendra Mistry, R. A. John Challiss, Rebekah Jukes-Jones, Kelvin Cain, Andrew G. Smith and Ian D. Forsythe
Molecular Pharmacology May 1, 2011, 79 (5) 844-854; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.110.069831

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Research ArticleArticle

Early Failure of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors and Deficient Spine Formation Induced by Reduction of Regulatory Heme in Neurons

Tatyana Chernova, Joern R. Steinert, Paul Richards, Rajendra Mistry, R. A. John Challiss, Rebekah Jukes-Jones, Kelvin Cain, Andrew G. Smith and Ian D. Forsythe
Molecular Pharmacology May 1, 2011, 79 (5) 844-854; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.110.069831
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