Propofol inhibits phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 subunits in neurons

Anesthetics may interact with ionotropic glutamate receptors to produce some of their biologic actions. Cellular studies reveal that the ionotropic glutamate receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), can be phosphorylated on their NR1 subunits at the C-terminal serine residues, which is a major mechanism for the regulation of NMDAR functions. It is currently unknown whether anesthetics have any modulatory effects on NMDAR NR1 subunit phosphorylation.

The possible effect of a general anesthetic propofol on phosphorylation of NR1 subunits at serine 897 (pNR1S897) and 896 (pNR1S896) was detected in cultured rat cortical neurons.

Propofol consistently reduced basal levels of pNR1S897 and pNR1S896 in a concentration-dependent manner. This reduction was rapid as the reliable reduction of pNR1S896 developed 1 min after propofol administration. Pretreatment of cultures with the protein phosphatase 2A inhibitors okadaic acid or calyculin A blocked the effect of propofol on the NR1 phosphorylation, whereas okadaic acid or calyculin A alone did not alter basal pNR1S897 and pNR1S896 levels. In addition, propofol decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of protein phosphatase 2A at tyrosine 307, resulting in an increase in protein phosphatase 2A activity. In the presence of propofol, the NMDAR agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase was impaired in neurons with dephosphorylated NR1 subunits.

Together, these data indicate an inhibitory effect of a general anesthetic propofol on NMDAR NR1 subunit phosphorylation in neurons. This inhibition was mediated through a signaling mechanism involving activation of protein phosphatase 2A.