Neuroplastin-55 binds to and signals through the fibroblast growth factor receptor

FASEB J. 2010 Apr;24(4):1139-50. doi: 10.1096/fj.09-140509. Epub 2009 Dec 1.

Abstract

Neuroplastin (Np) is a glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and existing in two isoforms, Np55 and Np65, named according to their molecular weights. The extracellular part of Np65 contains three immunoglobulin (Ig)-like modules (Ig1, Ig2, and Ig3), whereas Np55 lacks the Ig1 module. Of these two isoforms, only Np65 is involved in homophilic interactions resulting in cell adhesion, whereas the role of Np55 is poorly understood. The present study reports for the first time the crystal structure of the ectodomain of Np55 at 1.95-A resolution and demonstrates that Np55 binds to and activates the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1). Furthermore, we identify a sequence motif in the Ig2 module of Np55 interacting with FGFR1 and show that a synthetic peptide encompassing this motif, termed narpin, binds to and activates FGFR1. We show that both Np55 and the narpin peptide induce neurite outgrowth through FGFR1 activation and that Np55 increases synaptic calcium concentration in an FGFR1-dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that narpin has an antidepressive-like effect in rats subjected to the forced swim test, suggesting that Np55-induced signaling may be involved in synaptic plasticity in vivo. Owczarek, S., Kiryushko, D., Larsen, M. H., Kastrup, J. S., Gajhede, M., Sandi, C., Berezin, V., Bock, E., Soroka, V. Neuroplastin-55 binds to and signals through the fibroblast growth factor receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / chemistry
  • Antidepressive Agents / metabolism
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / pharmacology
  • Neurites / metabolism
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Swimming
  • Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Nptn protein, rat
  • Peptides
  • Fgfr1 protein, rat
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Calcium