Post-translational S-glutathionylation of cofilin increases actin cycling during cocaine seeking

PLoS One. 2019 Sep 24;14(9):e0223037. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223037. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Neuronal defense against oxidative damage is mediated primarily by the glutathione redox system. Traditionally considered a mechanism to protect proteins from irreversible oxidation, mounting evidence supports a role for protein S-glutathionylation in cell signaling in response to changes in intracellular redox status. Here we determined the specific sites on the actin binding protein cofilin that undergo S-glutathionylation. In addition, we show that S-glutathionylation of cofilin reduces its capacity to depolymerize F-actin. We further describe an assay to determine the S-glutathionylation of target proteins in brain tissue from behaving rodents. Using this technique, we show that cofilin in the rat nucleus accumbens undergoes S-glutathionylation during 15-minutes of cued cocaine seeking in the absence of cocaine. Our findings demonstrate that cofilin S-glutathionylation is increased in response to cocaine-associated cues and that increased cofilin S-glutathionylation reduces cofilin-dependent depolymerization of F-actin. Thus, S-glutathionylation of cofilin may serve to regulate actin cycling in response to drug-conditioned cues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / metabolism*
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Cocaine / administration & dosage
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / physiology
  • Cues
  • Drug-Seeking Behavior / physiology*
  • Glutathione / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Models, Animal
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects
  • Nucleus Accumbens / physiology*
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / physiology
  • Rats
  • Self Administration / psychology

Substances

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • Actins
  • Glutathione
  • Cocaine