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Phospholipase C-related inactive protein is involved in trafficking of gamma2 subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors to the cell surface.

Mizokami A, Kanematsu T, Ishibashi H, Yamaguchi T, Tanida I, Takenaka K, Nakayama KI, Fukami K, Takenawa T, Kominami E, Moss SJ, Yamamoto T, Nabekura J, Hirata M

Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Science, and Station for Collaborative Research, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.

The subunit composition of GABA(A) receptors is known to be associated with distinct physiological and pharmacological properties. Previous studies that used phospholipase C-related inactive protein type 1 knock-out (PRIP-1 KO) mice revealed that PRIP-1 is involved in the assembly and/or the trafficking of gamma2 subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors. There are two PRIP genes in mammals; thus the roles of PRIP-1 might be compensated partly by those of PRIP-2 in PRIP-1 KO mice. Here we used PRIP-1 and PRIP-2 double knock-out (PRIP-DKO) mice and examined the roles for PRIP in regulating the trafficking of GABA(A) receptors. Consistent with previous results, sensitivity to diazepam was reduced in electrophysiological and behavioral analyses of PRIP-DKO mice, suggesting an alteration of gamma2 subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors. The surface numbers of diazepam binding sites (alpha/gamma2 subunits) assessed by [3H]flumazenil binding were reduced in the PRIP-DKO mice as compared with those of wild-type mice, whereas the cell surface GABA binding sites (alpha/beta subunits, assessed by [3H]muscimol binding) were increased in PRIP-DKO mice. The association between GABA(A) receptors and GABA(A) receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) was reduced significantly in PRIP-DKO neurons. Disruption of the direct interaction between PRIP and GABA(A) receptor beta subunits via the use of a peptide corresponding to the PRIP-1 binding site reduced the cell surface expression of gamma2 subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors in cultured cell lines and neurons. These results suggest that PRIP is implicated in the trafficking of gamma2 subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors to the cell surface, probably by acting as a bridging molecule between GABARAP and the receptors.

Published 15 February 2007 in J Neurosci, 27(7): 1692-701.
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