Editing Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (section)

==== NMDA receptor activity ====

NMDA receptor activation is essential to producing the activity-dependent molecular changes involved in the formation of new memories.  Following exposure to an enriched environment, BDNF and NR1 phosphorylation levels are upregulated simultaneously, probably because BDNF is capable of phosphorylating NR1 subunits, in addition to its many other effects.<ref name="Slack_2004">{{cite journal | vauthors = Slack SE, Pezet S, McMahon SB, Thompson SW, Malcangio M | title = Brain-derived neurotrophic factor induces NMDA receptor subunit one phosphorylation via ERK and PKC in the rat spinal cord | journal = The European Journal of Neuroscience | volume = 20 | issue = 7 | pages = 1769–78 | date = October 2004 | pmid = 15379998 | doi = 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03656.x | s2cid = 23108942 }}</ref><ref name="Xu_2009">{{cite journal | vauthors = Xu X, Ye L, Ruan Q | title = Environmental enrichment induces synaptic structural modification after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats | journal = Experimental Biology and Medicine | volume = 234 | issue = 3 | pages = 296–305 | date = March 2009 | pmid = 19244205 | doi = 10.3181/0804-RM-128 | s2cid = 39825785 }}</ref> One of the primary ways BDNF can modulate NMDA receptor activity is through phosphorylation and activation of the NMDA receptor one subunit, particularly at the PKC Ser-897 site.<ref name="Slack_2004"/> The mechanism underlying this activity is dependent upon both [[Extracellular signal-regulated kinases|ERK]] and [[Protein kinase C|PKC]] signaling pathways, each acting individually, and all NR1 phosphorylation activity is lost if the TrKB receptor is blocked.<ref name="Slack_2004"/> PI3 kinase and Akt are also essential in BDNF-induced potentiation of NMDA receptor function and inhibition of either molecule eliminated receptor BDNF can also increase NMDA receptor activity through phosphorylation of the [[NR2B]] subunit.  BDNF signaling leads to the autophosphorylation of the intracellular domain of the TrkB receptor (ICD-TrkB).  Upon autophosphorylation, [[FYN|Fyn]] associates with the pICD-TrkB through its [[SH2 domain|Src homology domain 2]] (SH2) and is phosphorylated at its Y416 site.<ref name="pmid20368433">{{cite journal | vauthors = Namekata K, Harada C, Taya C, Guo X, Kimura H, Parada LF, Harada T | title = Dock3 induces axonal outgrowth by stimulating membrane recruitment of the WAVE complex | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | volume = 107 | issue = 16 | pages = 7586–91 | date = April 2010 | pmid = 20368433 | pmc = 2867726 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.0914514107 | bibcode = 2010PNAS..107.7586N | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="pmid9648856">{{cite journal | vauthors = Iwasaki Y, Gay B, Wada K, Koizumi S | title = Association of the Src family tyrosine kinase Fyn with TrkB | journal = Journal of Neurochemistry | volume = 71 | issue = 1 | pages = 106–11 | date = July 1998 | pmid = 9648856 | doi = 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1998.71010106.x | s2cid = 9012343 }}</ref> Once activated, Fyn can bind to NR2B through its SH2 domain and mediate phosphorylation of its Tyr-1472 site.<ref name="pmid11024032">{{cite journal | vauthors = Nakazawa T, Komai S, Tezuka T, Hisatsune C, Umemori H, Semba K, Mishina M, Manabe T, Yamamoto T | title = Characterization of Fyn-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation sites on GluR epsilon 2 (NR2B) subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor | journal = The Journal of Biological Chemistry | volume = 276 | issue = 1 | pages = 693–99 | date = January 2001 | pmid = 11024032 | doi = 10.1074/jbc.M008085200 | doi-access = free }}</ref>  Similar studies have suggested Fyn is also capable of activating NR2A although this was not found in the hippocampus.<ref name="pmid12663749">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mizuno M, Yamada K, He J, Nakajima A, Nabeshima T | title = Involvement of BDNF receptor TrkB in spatial memory formation | journal = Learning & Memory | volume = 10 | issue = 2 | pages = 108–15 | year = 2003 | pmid = 12663749 | pmc = 196664 | doi = 10.1101/lm.56003 }}</ref><ref name="pmid9892651">{{cite journal | vauthors = Tezuka T, Umemori H, Akiyama T, Nakanishi S, Yamamoto T | title = PSD-95 promotes Fyn-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR2A | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | volume = 96 | issue = 2 | pages = 435–40 | date = January 1999 | pmid = 9892651 | pmc = 15154 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.96.2.435 | bibcode = 1999PNAS...96..435T | doi-access = free }}</ref> Thus, BDNF can increase NMDA receptor activity through Fyn activation.  This has been shown to be important for processes such as spatial memory in the hippocampus, demonstrating the therapeutic and functional relevance of BDNF-mediated NMDA receptor activation.<ref name="pmid12663749"/>