The Cationic Amino Acid Transporters CAT1 and CAT3 Mediate NMDA Receptor Activation-Dependent Changes in Elaboration of Neuronal Processes via the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin mTOR Pathway
- Yunfei Huang1,
- Bingnan N. Kang1,2,
- Jing Tian1,
- Yi Liu1,
- Hongbo R. Luo4,
- Lynda Hester1, and
- Solomon H. Snyder1,2,3
- 1The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience and
- Departments of 2Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and
- 3Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, and
- 4Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Correspondence should be addressed to Solomon H. Snyder, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205. ssnyder{at}bs.jhmi.edu
Abstract
Neuronal activity influences protein synthesis and neuronal growth. Availability of nutrients, especially leucine and arginine, regulates the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway that controls cell growth. We show that NMDA receptor activation markedly reduces arginine transport by decreasing surface expression of the cationic amino acid transporters (CAT) 1 and 3. Depletion of CAT1 and CAT3 by RNA interference blocks influences of NMDA receptor activation on the mTOR pathway and neuronal process formation. Thus, the CATs mediate influences of NMDA receptor activation on the mTOR pathway that regulates neuronal processes.
- Copyright © 2007 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/07/270449-10$15.00/0
