Functional Studies of Dopamine-D2S Receptor Signaling through the RASA3 Pathway

• Main Author: Chang, Chao
• Other Authors: Albert, Paul
• Language: en
• Published: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa 2014
• Subjects: Dopamine D2S Receptor; RASA3; Tyrosine Hydroxylase
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10393/31442; http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-6329

RASA3 (Ras p21 GTPase Activating Protein 3) is required for D2SR (Dopamine D2 Short Receptor) induced ERK1/2 inhibition in pituitary lactotroph GH4ZR7 cells. We hypothesized that RASA3 may be important for D2SR signaling to inhibit ERK1/2 in dopamine neurons, and thus negatively regulate TH (Tyrosine Hydroxylase) expression and activity. We designed and made shRASA3 lentivirus and showed that it inhibits RASA3 expression. Lentivirus mediated RASA3 knockdown can partially reverse the D2SR mediated ERK1/2 inactivation in GH4ZR7 cells. We then showed that knockdown of RASA3 in dopamine-secreting PC12 cells increased NGF-stimulated ERK1/2 in cells expressing D2SR, but not in cells lacking D2SR, thus implicating RASA3 plays a role in D2SR-mediated inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling. We also found that knockdown of RASA3 increased TH protein levels in cells expressing D2R receptors but not those without D2SR, suggesting that D2SR tonically inhibits the synthesis of TH. We also found preliminary indication that mutant RASA3 mice show increased level of TH in SN compared to WT mice. RASA3 mutant mice showed no striking changes in basal locomotion, anxiety or depression phenotypes, but further studies are needed to specifically address dopamine-driven behaviors. In summary, our data support the role of RASA3 in mediating D2SR-induced inhibition of ERK1/2 in dopamine neurons to negatively regulate TH expression and activity.