Ligand-directed two-step labeling to quantify neuronal glutamate receptor trafficking

Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 5;12(1):831. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21082-x.

Abstract

The regulation of glutamate receptor localization is critical for development and synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. Conventional biochemical and molecular biological approaches have been widely used to analyze glutamate receptor trafficking, especially for α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs). However, conflicting findings have been reported because of a lack of useful tools for analyzing endogenous AMPARs. Here, we develop a method for the rapid and selective labeling of AMPARs with chemical probes, by combining affinity-based protein labeling and bioorthogonal click chemistry under physiological temperature in culture medium. This method allows us to quantify AMPAR distribution and trafficking, which reveals some unique features of AMPARs, such as a long lifetime and a rapid recycling in neurons. This method is also successfully expanded to selectively label N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors. Thus, bioorthogonal two-step labeling may be a versatile tool for investigating the physiological and pathophysiological roles of glutamate receptors in neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / chemistry
  • Fluorescein / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Gene Expression
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Half-Life
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Protein Transport
  • Quinoxalines / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, AMPA / chemistry
  • Receptors, AMPA / genetics
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / chemistry
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / genetics
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Staining and Labeling / methods*

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Ligands
  • NMDA receptor A1
  • Quinoxalines
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline
  • glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2
  • Fluorescein
  • N-methyl D-aspartate receptor subtype 2A