Distinct roles of Gαq11 and Purkinje cell signaling and motor behavior

J. Hartmann, R. Blum, Y. Kovalchuk, H. Adelsberger, R. Kuner, G. M. Durand, M. Miyata, M. Kano, S. Offermanns, Arthur Konnerth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

G-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate group I receptors (mGluR1s) mediate synaptic transmission and plasticity in Purkinje cells and, therefore, critically determine cerebellar motor control and learning. Purkinje cells express two members of the G-protein Gq family, namely Gq and G11. Although in vitro coexpression of mGluR1 with either Gα11 or Gαq produces equally well functioning signaling cascades, Gαq- and Gα11-deficient mice exhibit distinct alterations in motor coordination. By using whole-cell recordings and Ca2+ imaging in Purkinje cells, we show that Gαq is required for mGluR-dependent synaptic transmission and for long-term depression (LTD). Gα11 has no detectable contribution for synaptic transmission but also contributes to LTD. Quantitative single-cell RT-PCR analyses in Purkinje cells demonstrate a more than 10-fold stronger expression of Gαq versus Gα 11. Our findings suggest an expression level-dependent action of Gαq and Gα11 for Purkinje cell signaling and assign specific roles of these two Gq isoforms for motor coordination.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5119-5130
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume24
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Jun 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Calcium [Ca] imaging
  • G-protein
  • Knock-out
  • Motor control
  • Patch clamp
  • Purkinje cell
  • RT-PCR
  • Synaptic plasticity
  • mGluR

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