alpha-Synuclein Stimulates a Dopamine Transporter-dependent Chloride Current and Modulates the Activity of the Transporter

作者:Swant Jarod; Goodwin J Shawn; North Ashley; Ali Ahmad Abdul; Gamble George Joyonna; Chirwa Sanika; Khoshbouei Habibeh*
来源:Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2011, 286(51): 43933-43943.
DOI:10.1074/jbc.M111.241232

摘要

Dysregulation of dopamine (DA) homeostasis is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, drug addiction, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The neuronal plasma membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) is essential for the maintenance of DA homeostasis in the brain. alpha-Synuclein is a 140-amino acid protein that forms a stable complex with DAT and is linked to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. To elucidate the potential functional consequences of DAT/alpha-synuclein interaction, we explored alpha-synuclein modulation of DAT activity in midbrain dopaminergic neurons obtained from TH::RFP mice, immortalized DA neurons, and a heterologous system expressing DAT. We used dual pipette whole cell patch clamp recording to measure the DAT-mediated current before and after dialysis of recombinant alpha-synuclein into immortalized DA neurons. Our data suggest that intracellular alpha-synuclein induces a Na(+) independent but Cl(-)-sensitive inward current in DAT-expressing cells. This current is blocked by DAT blocker GBR12935 and is absent when heat-inactivated alpha-synuclein is dialyzed into these cells. The functional consequence of this interaction on DAT activity was further examined with real-time monitoring of transport function using a fluorescent substrate of DAT, 4-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-N-methylpyridinium (ASP(+)). Overexpression of alpha-synucleinin DAT-positive immortalized DA neurons and CHO cells expressing DAT decreased the magnitude and rate of DAT-mediated substrate uptake without a decrease in the initial binding of the substrate at the plasma membrane. Taken together our findings are consistent with the interpretation that DAT/alpha-synuclein interaction at the cell surface results in a DAT-dependent, Na(+)-insensitive, Cl-sensitive inward current with a decrease in substrate uptake, suggesting that DAT/alpha-synuclein interaction can modulate dopamine transmission and thus neuronal function.

  • 出版日期2011-12-23