Abstract
Reward modulates the saliency of a specific drug exposure and is essential for the transition to addiction. Numerous human PET–fMRI studies establish a link between midbrain dopamine (DA) release, DA transporter (DAT) availability, and reward responses. However, how and whether DAT function and regulation directly participate in reward processes remains elusive. Here, we developed a novel experimental paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster to study the mechanisms underlying the psychomotor and rewarding properties of amphetamine (AMPH). AMPH principally mediates its pharmacological and behavioral effects by increasing DA availability through the reversal of DAT function (DA efflux). We have previously shown that the phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol (4, 5)-bisphosphate (PIP2), directly interacts with the DAT N-terminus to support DA efflux in response to AMPH. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction of PIP2 with the DAT N-terminus is critical for AMPH-induced DAT phosphorylation, a process required for DA efflux. We showed that PIP2 also interacts with intracellular loop 4 at R443. Further, we identified that R443 electrostatically regulates DA efflux as part of a coordinated interaction with the phosphorylated N-terminus. In Drosophila, we determined that a neutralizing substitution at R443 inhibited the psychomotor actions of AMPH. We associated this inhibition with a decrease in AMPH-induced DA efflux in isolated fly brains. Notably, we showed that the electrostatic interactions of R443 specifically regulate the rewarding properties of AMPH without affecting AMPH aversion. We present the first evidence linking PIP2, DAT, DA efflux, and phosphorylation processes with AMPH reward.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Saunders Consulting for the help in editing this manuscript. Research reported in this publication was supported by NIH R01-DA038058 (AG), NIH R01-DA035263 (AG and HJGM), NIH K99/R00-DA045795 (PJH), NIH F31-MH114316 (JIA), NIH P41-GM103712 (IB), and NIH P30-DA035778 (IB). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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JIA, AG, and HJGM conceptualized the study. JIA, ANB, SJM, MHC, DZ, PJH, DJS, AS, and HJGM carried out the experiments. JIA and AG conducted formal analyses of the data. JIA, AG, and HJGM provided conceptual advice and edited the manuscript. JIA and AG prepared data and figures and wrote the manuscript. AG and HJGM acquired funding and supervised the study. All authors contributed to the editing and review of the manuscript.
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Belovich, A.N., Aguilar, J.I., Mabry, S.J. et al. A network of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) binding sites on the dopamine transporter regulates amphetamine behavior in Drosophila Melanogaster. Mol Psychiatry 26, 4417–4430 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-019-0620-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-019-0620-0
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