The epilepsy-associated protein PCDH19 undergoes NMDA receptor-dependent proteolytic cleavage and regulates the expression of immediate-early genes

Protocadherin-19 (PCDH19) is a synaptic cell-adhesion molecule encoded by X-linked PCDH19, a gene linked with epilepsy. Here, we report a synapse-to-nucleus signaling pathway through which PCDH19 bridges neuronal activity with gene expression. In particular, we describe the NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent proteolytic cleavage of PCDH19, which leads to the generation of a PCDH19 C-terminal fragment (CTF) able to enter the nucleus. We demonstrate that PCDH19 CTF associates with chromatin and with the chromatin remodeler lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and regulates expression of immediate-early genes (IEGs). Our results are consistent with a model whereby PCDH19 favors maintenance of neuronal homeostasis via negative feedback regulation of IEG expression and provide a key to interpreting PCDH19-related hyperexcitability.