Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) regulate dopaminergic signaling in the striatum by modulating the release of neurotransmitters. We have recently reported that nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine via alpha4beta2(*) nAChRs and/or alpha7 nAChRs, leading to the regulation of DARPP-32 at Thr34, the site involved in regulation of protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1). In this study, we investigated the regulation of DARPP-32 phosphorylation at its other sites, Thr75 [cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5) site], Ser97 (CK2 site), and Ser130 (CK1 site), that serve to modulate Thr34 phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. In neostriatal slices, nicotine (100 microM) increased phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Ser97 and Ser130 at an early time point (30 s) and decreased phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr75 at a late time point (3 min). The increase in Ser97 and Ser130 phosphorylation was mediated through the release of dopamine via activation of alpha4beta2(*) nAChRs and alpha7 nAChRs and the subsequent activation of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors. The decrease in Thr75 phosphorylation was mediated through the release of dopamine via activation of alpha4beta2(*) nAChRs and the subsequent activation of dopamine D1 receptors. These various actions of nicotine on modulatory sites of phosphorylation would be predicted to result in a synergistic increase in the state of phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr34 and thus would contribute to increased dopamine D1 receptor/DARPP-32 Thr34/PP-1 signaling.
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