Here we describe an important involvement of Cdk5/p35 in regulating the gene expression of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular synapse. Cdk5 and p35 were prominently expressed in embryonic muscle, and concentrated at the neuromuscular junction in adulthood. Neuregulin increased the p35-associated Cdk5 kinase activity in the membrane fraction of cultured C2C12 myotubes. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed the association between Cdk5, p35 and ErbB receptors in muscle and cultured myotubes. Inhibition of Cdk5 activity not only blocked the NRG-induced AChR transcription, but also attenuated ErbB activation in cultured myotubes. In light of our finding that overexpression of p35 alone led to an increase in AChR promoter activity in muscle, Cdk5 activation is sufficient to mediate the up-regulation of AChR gene expression. Taken together, these results reveal the unexpected involvement of Cdk5/p35 in neuregulin signaling at the neuromuscular synapse.

Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)5 is a key regulator of neural development. We have previously demonstrated that Cdk5͞p35 are localized to the postsynaptic muscle and are implicated in the regulation of neuregulin͞ErbB signaling in myotube culture. To further elucidate whether Cdk5 activity contributes to neuromuscular junction (NMJ) development in vivo, the NMJ of Cdk5 ؊/؊ mice was examined. Consistent with our previous demonstration that Cdk5 phosphorylates ErbB2͞3 to regulate its tyrosine phosphorylation, we report here that the phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB3 and the ErbB2 kinase activity are reduced in Cdk5-deficient muscle. In addition, Cdk5 ؊/؊ mice also display morphological abnormalities at the NMJ pre-and postsynaptically. Whereas the outgrowth of the main nerve trunk is grossly normal, the intramuscular nerve projections exhibit profuse and anomalous branching patterns in the Cdk5 ؊/؊ embryos. The central band of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters is also wider in Cdk5 ؊/؊ diaphragms, together with the absence of S100 immunoreactivity along the phrenic nerve during late embryonic stages. Moreover, we unexpectedly discovered that the agrin-induced formation of large AChR clusters is significantly increased in primary muscle cultures prepared from Cdk5-null mice and in C2C12 myotubes when Cdk5 activity was suppressed. These abnormalities are accompanied by elevated frequency of miniature endplate potentials in Cdk5-null diaphragm. Taken together, our findings reveal the essential role of Cdk5 in regulating the development of motor axons and neuromuscular synapses in vivo.agrin ͉ Cdk5 ͉ ErbB receptor ͉ neuromuscular junction