Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
Published on: January 28, 2019
STIM2 regulates PKA-dependent phosphorylation and trafficking of AMPARs
Gisela Garcia-Alvarez1, Bo Lu1, Kenrick An Fu Yap1
1Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, DUKE-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857.
Abstract:
STIMs (STIM1 and STIM2 in mammals) are transmembrane proteins that reside in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and regulate store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE). The function of STIMs in the brain is only beginning to be explored, and the relevance of SOCE in nerve cells is being debated. Here we identify STIM2 as a central organizer of excitatory synapses. STIM2, but not its paralogue STIM1, influences the formation of dendritic spines and shapes basal synaptic transmission in excitatory neurons. We further demonstrate that STIM2 is essential for cAMP/PKA-dependent phosphorylation of the AMPA receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluA1. cAMP triggers rapid migration of STIM2 to ER-plasma membrane (PM) contact sites, enhances recruitment of GluA1 to these ER-PM junctions, and promotes localization of STIM2 in dendritic spines. Both biochemical and imaging data suggest that STIM2 regulates GluA1 phosphorylation by coupling PKA to the AMPAR in a SOCE-independent manner. Consistent with a central role of STIM2 in regulating AMPAR phosphorylation, STIM2 promotes cAMP-dependent surface delivery of GluA1 through combined effects on exocytosis and endocytosis. Collectively our results point to a unique mechanism of synaptic plasticity driven by dynamic assembly of a STIM2 signaling complex at ER-PM contact sites.
Related Concept Videos
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

