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MSK1 regulates transcriptional induction of Arc/Arg3.1 in response to neurotrophins
Chris J Hunter1, Judit Remenyi2, Sonia A Correa3
1MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit College of Life Sciences Sir James Black Centre University of Dundee UK.
Abstract:
The immediate early gene activity-regulated cytoskeletal protein (Arc)/Arg3.1 and the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) play important roles in synaptic plasticity and learning and memory in the mammalian brain. However, the mechanisms by which BDNF regulates the expression of Arc/Arg3.1 are unclear. In this study, we show that BDNF acts via the ERK1/2 pathway to activate the nuclear kinase mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1). MSK1 then induces Arc/Arg3.1 expression via the phosphorylation of histone H3 at the Arc/Arg3.1 promoter. MSK1 can also phosphorylate the transcription factor cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) on Ser133. However, this is not required for BDNF-induced Arc.Arg3.1 transcription as a Ser133Ala knockin mutation had no effect on Arc/Arg3.1 induction. In parallel, ERK1/2 directly activates Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA transcription via at least one serum response element on the promoter, which bind a complex of the Serum Response Factor (SRF) and a Ternary Complex Factor (TCF).
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