NMDA receptor activation stimulates transcription-independent rapid wnt5a protein synthesis via the MAPK signaling pathway

Yichen Li; Bei Li; Xianzi Wan; Wei Zhang; Ling Zhong; Shao Jun Tang

doi:10.1186/1756-6606-5-1

NMDA receptor activation stimulates transcription-independent rapid wnt5a protein synthesis via the MAPK signaling pathway

Yichen Li, Bei Li, Xianzi Wan, Wei Zhang, Ling Zhong, Shao Jun Tang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Wnt proteins are emerging key regulators of the plasticity and functions of adult brains. However, the mechanisms by which the expression of Wnt proteins is regulated in neurons are unclear. Using cortical primary cultures, we show here that activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) induces rapid Wnt5a protein synthesis and secretion. This NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a synthesis does not require transcription and is a result of activity-dependent translation. We also show that NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a translation depends on MAPK signaling but not mTOR signaling. Our findings suggest that the synaptic activity of CNS neurons activates NMDARs, which in turn stimulate translation from stored Wnt5a mRNA via the MAPK signaling pathway.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	1
Journal	Molecular Brain
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-6606-5-1
State	Published - 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

MAPK signaling
NMDA receptors
Wnt protein
activity-regulated protein synthesis
mTOR signaling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Molecular Biology
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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10.1186/1756-6606-5-1

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title = "NMDA receptor activation stimulates transcription-independent rapid wnt5a protein synthesis via the MAPK signaling pathway",

abstract = "Wnt proteins are emerging key regulators of the plasticity and functions of adult brains. However, the mechanisms by which the expression of Wnt proteins is regulated in neurons are unclear. Using cortical primary cultures, we show here that activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) induces rapid Wnt5a protein synthesis and secretion. This NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a synthesis does not require transcription and is a result of activity-dependent translation. We also show that NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a translation depends on MAPK signaling but not mTOR signaling. Our findings suggest that the synaptic activity of CNS neurons activates NMDARs, which in turn stimulate translation from stored Wnt5a mRNA via the MAPK signaling pathway.",

keywords = "MAPK signaling, NMDA receptors, Wnt protein, activity-regulated protein synthesis, mTOR signaling",

author = "Yichen Li and Bei Li and Xianzi Wan and Wei Zhang and Ling Zhong and Tang, {Shao Jun}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the UTMB start-up funds and the Whitehall Foundation to S.-J. T., the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30873457 to L. Z. and No. 30873457 to W. Z.) and the Scientific Technology Project of Guangdong Province of China (No.2008A060202010 and No. 2010B050700019 to L. Z. and 2008A060202010 and 2010B050700019 to W. Z.).",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1186/1756-6606-5-1",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "5",

journal = "Molecular Brain",

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T1 - NMDA receptor activation stimulates transcription-independent rapid wnt5a protein synthesis via the MAPK signaling pathway

AU - Li, Yichen

AU - Li, Bei

AU - Wan, Xianzi

AU - Zhang, Wei

AU - Zhong, Ling

AU - Tang, Shao Jun

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the UTMB start-up funds and the Whitehall Foundation to S.-J. T., the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30873457 to L. Z. and No. 30873457 to W. Z.) and the Scientific Technology Project of Guangdong Province of China (No.2008A060202010 and No. 2010B050700019 to L. Z. and 2008A060202010 and 2010B050700019 to W. Z.).

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Wnt proteins are emerging key regulators of the plasticity and functions of adult brains. However, the mechanisms by which the expression of Wnt proteins is regulated in neurons are unclear. Using cortical primary cultures, we show here that activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) induces rapid Wnt5a protein synthesis and secretion. This NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a synthesis does not require transcription and is a result of activity-dependent translation. We also show that NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a translation depends on MAPK signaling but not mTOR signaling. Our findings suggest that the synaptic activity of CNS neurons activates NMDARs, which in turn stimulate translation from stored Wnt5a mRNA via the MAPK signaling pathway.

AB - Wnt proteins are emerging key regulators of the plasticity and functions of adult brains. However, the mechanisms by which the expression of Wnt proteins is regulated in neurons are unclear. Using cortical primary cultures, we show here that activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) induces rapid Wnt5a protein synthesis and secretion. This NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a synthesis does not require transcription and is a result of activity-dependent translation. We also show that NMDAR-regulated Wnt5a translation depends on MAPK signaling but not mTOR signaling. Our findings suggest that the synaptic activity of CNS neurons activates NMDARs, which in turn stimulate translation from stored Wnt5a mRNA via the MAPK signaling pathway.

KW - MAPK signaling

KW - NMDA receptors

KW - Wnt protein

KW - activity-regulated protein synthesis

KW - mTOR signaling

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JF - Molecular Brain

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NMDA receptor activation stimulates transcription-independent rapid wnt5a protein synthesis via the MAPK signaling pathway

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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