[HTML][HTML] Interaction of nitric oxide synthase with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 and α1-syntrophin mediated by PDZ domains

JE Brenman, DS Chao, SH Gee, AW McGee… - Cell, 1996 - cell.com
JE Brenman, DS Chao, SH Gee, AW McGee, SE Craven, DR Santillano, Z Wu, F Huang…
Cell, 1996cell.com
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is concentrated at synaptic junctions in brain and
motor endplates in skeletal muscle. Here, we show that the N-terminus of nNOS, which
contains a PDZ protein motif, interacts with similar motifs in postsynaptic density–95 protein
(PSD-95) and a related novel protein, PSD-93. nNOS and PSD-95 are coexpressed in
numerous neuronal populations, and a PSD-95/nNOS complex occurs in cerebellum. PDZ
domain interactions also mediate binding of nNOS to skeletal muscle syntrophin, a …
Abstract
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is concentrated at synaptic junctions in brain and motor endplates in skeletal muscle. Here, we show that the N-terminus of nNOS, which contains a PDZ protein motif, interacts with similar motifs in postsynaptic density–95 protein (PSD-95) and a related novel protein, PSD-93. nNOS and PSD-95 are coexpressed in numerous neuronal populations, and a PSD-95/nNOS complex occurs in cerebellum. PDZ domain interactions also mediate binding of nNOS to skeletal muscle syntrophin, a dystrophin-associated protein. nNOS isoforms lacking a PDZ domain, identified in nNOSΔ/Δ mutant mice, do not associate with PSD-95 in brain or with skeletal muscle sarcolemma. Interaction of PDZ-containing domains therefore mediates synaptic association of nNOS and may play a more general role in formation of macromolecular signaling complexes.
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