Overexpression of the dopamine receptor‐interacting protein Alix/ AIP AIP 1 modulates NMDA NMDA receptor‐triggered cell death

摘要

Alix/ AIP 1 is an adaptor protein involved in apoptosis, endocytic membrane trafficking and brain development. Alix has been found within the human postsynaptic density ( PSD ) and, since NMDA receptors ( NMDAR s) are central components of the PSD , we hypothesized that the close proximity of both proteins may allow Alix to influence the downstream pathways following NMDAR activation. NMDAR s play important roles in excitotoxicity and we evaluated the effects of recombinant Alix in an NMDAR cell death assay. Overexpression of Alix with NMDAR s increases the potency of NMDAR ‐ induced cell death compared to cells expressing only NMDAR s, and this requires expression of the Alix C‐terminal region. Therefore, we demonstrate a previously unreported role for Alix as a potential modulator of NMDAR function.