Spatiotemporal dynamics of CREB phosphorylation: Transient versus sustained phosphorylation in the developing striatum

The cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is a plasticity-associated transcription factor that can potentially integrate cAMP and calcium signals at the gene activation level. We tested for convergent Ser-133 phosphorylation of CREB via dopamine D1/D5 receptors and L-type calcium channels in organotypic cultures of neonatal striatum. We found such convergence only transiently. Sustained CREB phosphorylation by D1/D5 receptor and L-type channel agonists was targeted to opposite (striosome and matrix) cellular phenotypes. Subsequent expression of the CRE-containing gene, c-fos, matched the divergent patterns of sustained CREB phosphorylation, and both divergent patterns could be switched by inhibition of phosphatases, including calcineurin. Control of the duration of CREB phosphorylation may be a critical regulator of CRE-mediated gene expression by dopamine and calcium.