Na,K-ATPase signal transduction triggers CREB activation and dendritic growth.

Dendritic growth is pivotal in the neurogenesis of cortical neurons. The sodium pump, or Na,K-ATPase, is an evolutionarily conserved protein that, in addition to its central role in establishing the electrochemical gradient, has recently been reported to function as a receptor and signaling mediator. Although a large body of evidence points toward a dual function for the Na,K-ATPase, few biological implications of this signaling pathway have been described. Here we report that Na,K-ATPase signal transduction triggers dendritic growth as well as a transcriptional program dependent on cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and cAMP response element (CRE)-mediated gene expression, primarily regulated via Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein (CaM) kinases. The signaling cascade mediating dendritic arbor growth also involves intracellular Ca(2+) oscillations and sustained phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Thus, our results suggest a novel role for the Na,K-ATPase as a modulator of dendritic growth in developing neurons.