Acetylation of AMPA Receptors Regulates Receptor Trafficking and Rescues Memory Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), decreases in the amount and synaptic localization of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) result in weakened synaptic activity and dysfunction in synaptic plasticity, leading to impairments in cognitive functions. We have previously, fount that AMPARs are subject to lysine acetylation, resulting in higher AMPAR stability and protein accumulation. Here we report that AMPAR acetylation was significantly reduced in AD and neurons with A beta incubation. We identified p300 as the acetyltransferase responsible for AMPAR acetylation and found that enhancing GluA1 acetylation ameliorated A beta-induced reductions in total and cell-surface AMPARs. Importantly, expression of acetylation mimetic GluA1 (GluA1-4KQ) in APP/PS1 mice rescued impairments in synaptic plasticity and memory. These findings indicate that A beta-induced reduction in AMPAR acetylation and stabin; contributes to synaptopathy and memory deficiency in AD, suggesting that AMPAR acetylation may be an effective molecular target for AD therapeutics.