Removal of FKBP12 enhances mTOR-Raptor interactions, LTP, memory, and perseverative/repetitive behavior

Neuron. 2008 Dec 10;60(5):832-45. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.037.

Abstract

FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) binds the immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and rapamycin and regulates several signaling pathways, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. We determined whether the brain-specific disruption of the FKBP12 gene in mice altered mTOR signaling, synaptic plasticity, and memory. Biochemically, the FKBP12-deficient mice displayed increases in basal mTOR phosphorylation, mTOR-Raptor interactions, and p70 S6 kinase (S6K) phosphorylation. Electrophysiological experiments revealed that FKBP12 deficiency was associated with an enhancement in long-lasting hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). The LTP enhancement was resistant to rapamycin, but not anisomycin, suggesting that altered translation control is involved in the enhanced synaptic plasticity. Behaviorally, FKBP12 conditional knockout (cKO) mice displayed enhanced contextual fear memory and autistic/obsessive-compulsive-like perseveration in several assays including the water maze, Y-maze reversal task, and the novel object recognition test. Our results indicate that FKBP12 plays a critical role in the regulation of mTOR-Raptor interactions, LTP, memory, and perseverative behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
  • Fear / drug effects
  • Fear / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology*
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Raptors / metabolism*
  • Recognition, Psychology / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A / deficiency*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinases
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A