Background and purpose: Voltage sensitivity is a common feature of many membrane proteins, including some G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the functional consequences of voltage sensitivity in GPCRs are not well understood.
Experimental approach: In this study, we investigated the voltage sensitivity of the post-synaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu5 and its impact on synaptic transmission. Using biosensors and electrophysiological recordings in non-excitable HEK293T cells or neurons.
Key results: We found that mGlu5 receptor function is optimal at resting membrane potentials. We observed that membrane depolarization significantly reduced mGlu5 receptor activation, Gq-PLC/PKC stimulation, Ca2+ release and mGlu5 receptor-gated currents through transient receptor potential canonical, TRPC6, channels or glutamate ionotropic NMDA receptors. Notably, we report a previously unknown activity of the NMDA receptor at the resting potential of neurons, enabled by mGlu5.
Conclusions and implications: Our findings suggest that mGlu5 receptor activity is directly regulated by membrane voltage which may have a significant impact on synaptic processes and pathophysiological functions.
Keywords: G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCR); biosensors; metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu5); neuronal plasticity; signalling; synaptic transmission; voltage sensitivity.
© 2024 British Pharmacological Society.