Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are mandatory dimers playing important roles in regulating CNS function. Although assumed to form exclusive homodimers, 16 possible heterodimeric mGluRs have been proposed but their existence in native cells remains elusive. Here, we set up two assays to specifically identify the pharmacological properties of rat mGlu heterodimers composed of mGlu2 and 4 subunits. We used either a heterodimer-specific conformational LRET-based biosensor or a system that guarantees the cell surface targeting of the heterodimer only. We identified mGlu2-4 specific pharmacological fingerprints that were also observed in a neuronal cell line and in lateral perforant path terminals naturally expressing mGlu2 and mGlu4. These results bring strong evidence for the existence of mGlu2-4 heterodimers in native cells. In addition to reporting a general approach to characterize heterodimeric mGluRs, our study opens new avenues to understanding the pathophysiological roles of mGlu heterodimers.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25233 | DOI Listing |
Exp Neurol
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, China. Electronic address:
Depression is one of the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and the hyperactivity of the lateral habenula (LHb) may contribute to depression. The present study was performed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the LHb on PD-related depressive-like behaviors. Unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) were used to establish the PD rat model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal; CIBB - Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address:
The adenosine A receptor (AR), a class A GPCR, is a known player in neurological diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and is also implicated in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recent studies have revealed its oligomerization with metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR), a class C G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that exists in the homodimeric form. Simultaneous activation of both receptors synergistically enhances mGluR-mediated effects in the hippocampus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
January 2025
Neurodegenerative Disorders Research Group, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro), 3801 University St, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) remains the main treatment for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, chronic use is associated with the development of complications such as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. We previously demonstrated that LY-487,379, a highly selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) positive allosteric modulator (PAM), reduces the severity of L-DOPA-induced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of PD, without interfering with the anti-parkinsonian action of L-DOPA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElife
January 2025
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.
Unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are excitatory interneurons in the cerebellar cortex that receive mossy fiber (MF) inputs and excite granule cells. The UBC population responds to brief burst activation of MFs with a continuum of temporal transformations, but it is not known how UBCs transform the diverse range of MF input patterns that occur in vivo. Here, we use cell-attached recordings from UBCs in acute cerebellar slices to examine responses to MF firing patterns that are based on in vivo recordings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Neuropharmacol
January 2025
Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148, Genoa, Italy.
The central nervous system (CNS) is not an immune-privileged compartment, but it is intimately intertwined with the immune system. Among the components shared by the two compartments is the complement, a main constituent of innate immunity, which is also produced centrally and controls the development and organization of synaptic connections. Complement is considered a doubled-faced system that, besides controlling the physiological development of the central network, also subserves synaptic engulfment pivotal to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
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