Identification of a Novel Signaling Molecule and Elucidation of Its Cellular Functions —Development of an Interface between Neuroscience and Oral Health Science—

The investigation of chemically synthesized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins (1,4,5)P3] analogs has led to the isolation of a novel protein with a molecular size of 130 kDa, characterized as a molecule with a domain organization similar to phospholipase C (PLC)-δ1 but lacking enzymatic activity. Two isoforms of the molecule were subsequently identified, the molecule has been named PRIP (PLC-related, but catalytically inactive protein), with the two isoforms named PRIP-1 and -2. Regarding its ability to bind Ins (1,4,5)-P3via the pleckstrin homology domain, the involvement of PRIP-1 in Ins (1,4,5)P3-mediated Ca2+ signaling was first examined. Yeast two-hybrid screening of a brain cDNA library identified GABARAP (GABAA receptor-associated protein) and PP1 (protein phosphatase 1), which led us to examine the possible neurological involvement of PRIP, particularly in GABAA receptor signaling. PRIP-1 and -2 double knock-out (DKO) mice were analyzed for GABAA receptor function with special reference to the action of benzodiazepines whose target is the γ subunit of the receptors; sensitivity to benzodiazepine was reduced, as assessed by biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral analyses of DKO mice, suggesting the dysfunction of γ2 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. The mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, which mediates perceptions from periodontal mechanoreceptors and jaw-closer muscle spindles, receives many synaptic inputs, including those from GABAA receptors, indicating that PRIP might indirectly be involved in rhythmical jaw movement. In the present article, we summarize our current research and the functional significance of PRIP.