Integration of nuclear Ca(2+) transients and subnuclear protein shuttling provides a novel mechanism for the regulation of CREB-dependent gene expression

Nuclear Ca(2+) waves elicited by NMDAR and L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+)-channels as well as protein transport from synapse-to-nucleus are both instrumental in control of plasticity-related gene expression. At present it is not known whether fast [Ca(2+)](n) transients converge in the nucleus with signaling of synapto-nuclear protein messenger. Jacob is a protein that translocate a signalosome from N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) to the nucleus and that docks this signalosome to the transcription factor CREB. Here we show that the residing time of Jacob in the nucleoplasm strictly correlates with nuclear [Ca(2+)](n) transients elicited by neuronal activity. A steep increase in [Ca(2+)](n) induces instantaneous uncoupling of Jacob from LaminB1 at the nuclear lamina and promotes the association with the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) in hippocampal neurons. The size of the Jacob pool at the nuclear lamina is controlled by previous activity-dependent nuclear import, and thereby captures the previous history of NMDAR-induced nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Moreover, the localization of Jacob at the nuclear lamina strongly correlates with synaptic activity and [Ca(2+)](n) waves reflecting ongoing neuronal activity. In consequence, the resulting extension of the nuclear residing time of Jacob amplifies the capacity of the Jacob signalosome to regulate CREB-dependent gene expression and will, thereby, compensate for the relatively small number of molecules reaching the nucleus from individual synapses. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00018-023-04876-8.