Amplification of dopaminergic signaling by a positive feedback loop

Akinori Nishi, James A. Bibb, Gretchen L. Snyder, Hideho Higashi, Angus C. Nairn, Paul Greengard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

204 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of M(r) 32,000 (DARPP-32) plays an obligatory role in most of the actions of dopamine. In resting neostriatal slices, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) phosphorylates DARPP-32 at Thr-75, thereby reducing the efficacy of dopaminergic signaling. We report here that dopamine, in slices, and acute cocaine, in whole animals, decreases the state of phosphorylation of striatal DARPP-32 at Thr-75 and thereby removes this inhibitory constraint. This effect of dopamine is achieved through dopamine D1 receptor-mediated activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The activated PKA, by decreasing the state of phosphorylation of DARPP-32-Thr-75, de-inhibits itself. Dopamine D2 receptor stimulation has the opposite effect. The ability of activated PKA to reduce the state of phosphorylation of DARPP-32-Thr-75 is apparently attributable to increased protein phosphatase-2A activity, with Cdk5 being unaffected. Together, these results indicate that via positive feedback mechanisms, Cdk5 signaling and PKA signaling are mutually antagonistic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12840-12845
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume97
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 7 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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