Stargazin regulates synaptic targeting of AMPA receptors by two distinct mechanisms

TLDR: Stargazer, an ataxic and epileptic mutant mouse, lacks functional AMPA receptors on cerebellar granule cells, and expression of a mutant stargazin lacking the PDZ-binding domain in hippocampal pyramidal cells disrupts synaptic AMPA receptor receptors, indicating that st argazin-like mechanisms for targeting AM PA receptors may be widespread in the central nervous system.

Abstract: Stargazer, an ataxic and epileptic mutant mouse, lacks functional AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate) receptors on cerebellar granule cells. Stargazin, the mutated protein, interacts with both AMPA receptor subunits and synaptic PDZ proteins, such as PSD-95. The interaction of stargazin with AMPA receptor subunits is essential for delivering functional receptors to the surface membrane of granule cells, whereas its binding with PSD-95 and related PDZ proteins through a carboxy-terminal PDZ-binding domain is required for targeting the AMPA receptor to synapses. Expression of a mutant stargazin lacking the PDZ-binding domain in hippocampal pyramidal cells disrupts synaptic AMPA receptors, indicating that stargazin-like mechanisms for targeting AMPA receptors may be widespread in the central nervous system.