# Mechanisms that determine Glutamine synthetase activity in the brain

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 2021 · $418,204

## Abstract

Abstract. Neural circuit function requires synaptic inhibition mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Glutamine is the major metabolic precursor for neuronal GABA synthesis and is supplied to neurons via the
activity of the astrocyte-specific enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS). Inhibition or brain-specific genetic ablation
of GS leads to impaired GABAergic inhibition, intractable epilepsy, and death. Consistent with this, deficits in
GS expression lead to epilepsy and are implicated in neurodegeneration. However, to date, there have been
no systematic studies to evaluate how GS activity is regulated to meet the demand of neurons for glutamine.
Here we will address the role that cAMP-dependent phosphorylation plays in regulating GS activity, and if this
process contributes to the deficits in GABAergic inhibition that result in epilepsy. To do so, we will identify sites
of phosphorylation within GS, under control conditions and during Status Epilepticus (SE), the most severe
form of epilepsy and a medical emergency. The effects that phosphorylation have on GS activity will then be
determined using high-resolution enzyme kinetics. The cellular mechanisms that regulate GS phosphorylation
will be explored using Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) to selectively
modulate PKA signaling in astrocytes. Finally, we will assess the significance of GS phosphorylation for the efficacy
of GABAergic inhibition using viral expression to replace endogenous GS molecules with mutants in which
phosphorylation of critical regulatory residues has been prevented. Preliminary studies have allowed us to
formulate a central hypothesis that will be tested here: GS activity is negatively regulated by PKA-
dependent phosphorylation, and this process contributes to the deficits in GABAergic inhibition that
are fundamental to the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Our proposal will center on the following specific aims:
Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that PKA-mediated phosphorylation of GS leads to decreased enzyme
activity.
Aim 2. To test the hypothesis that phospho-dependent inactivation of GS is enhanced by seizure
activity.
Aim 3. To test the hypothesis that GS phosphorylation contributes to the deficits in GABAergic
inhibition during SE.
Collectively, these studies will provide the first evidence that GS is subject to phospho-dependent modulation
and that this process contributes to the deficits in GABAergic inhibition seen in SE. Such insights may lead to
improved therapies to reduce the impact of epilepsy.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10217263
- **Project number:** 5R01NS081986-09
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephen J Moss
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $418,204
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-09-15 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10217263

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10217263, Mechanisms that determine Glutamine synthetase activity in the brain (5R01NS081986-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10217263. Licensed CC0.

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