The δ2 glutamate receptor gates long-term depression by coordinating interactions between two AMPA receptor phosphorylation sites

Abstract

Long-term depression (LTD) commonly affects learning andmemoryin various brain regions. Although cerebellar LTD absolutely requires the δ2 glutamate receptor (GluD2) that is expressed in Purkinje cells, LTDin other brain regions does not;why andhowcerebellar LTD is regulated by GluD2 remains unelucidated. Here, we show that the activitydependent phosphorylation of serine 880 (S880) in GluA2 AMPA receptor subunit, which is an essential step for AMPA receptor endocytosis during LTD induction, was impaired in GluD2-null cerebellum. In contrast, the basal phosphorylation levels of tyrosine 876 (Y876) in GluA2were increased in GluD2-null cerebellum. An in vitro phosphorylation assay revealed that Y876 phosphorylation inhibited subsequent S880 phosphorylation. Conversely, Y876 dephosphorylation was sufficient to restore S880 phosphorylation and LTD induction in GluD2-null Purkinje cells. Furthermore, megakaryocyte protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPMEG), which binds to the C terminus of GluD2, directly dephosphorylated Y876. These data indicate that GluD2 gates LTD by coordinating interactions between the two phosphorylation sites of the GluA2.