Impaired actin dynamics and suppression of Shank2-mediated spine enlargement in cortactin knockout mice

Microscopy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-52
Author(s):  
Shinji Tanaka ◽  
Yasutaka Masuda ◽  
Akihiro Harada ◽  
Shigeo Okabe

Abstract Cortactin regulates actin polymerization and stabilizes branched actin network. In neurons, cortactin is enriched in dendritic spines that contain abundant actin polymers. To explore the function of cortactin in dendritic spines, we examined spine morphology and dynamics in cultured neurons taken from cortactin knockout (KO) mice. Histological analysis revealed that the density and morphology of dendritic spines were not significantly different between wild-type (WT) and cortactin KO neurons. Time-lapse imaging of hippocampal slice cultures showed that the extent of spine volume change was similar between WT and cortactin KO neurons. Despite little effect of cortactin deletion on spine morphology and dynamics, actin turnover in dendritic spines was accelerated in cortactin KO neurons. Furthermore, we detected a suppressive effect of cortactin KO on spine head size under the condition of excessive spine enlargement induced by overexpression of a prominent postsynaptic density protein Shank2. These results suggest that cortactin may have a role in maintaining actin organization by stabilizing actin filaments near the postsynaptic density.

2002 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 1065-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoichiro Ono ◽  
Kanako Ono

Tropomyosin binds to actin filaments and is implicated in stabilization of actin cytoskeleton. We examined biochemical and cell biological properties of Caenorhabditis elegans tropomyosin (CeTM) and obtained evidence that CeTM is antagonistic to ADF/cofilin-dependent actin filament dynamics. We purified CeTM, actin, and UNC-60B (a muscle-specific ADF/cofilin isoform), all of which are derived from C. elegans, and showed that CeTM and UNC-60B bound to F-actin in a mutually exclusive manner. CeTM inhibited UNC-60B–induced actin depolymerization and enhancement of actin polymerization. Within isolated native thin filaments, actin and CeTM were detected as major components, whereas UNC-60B was present at a trace amount. Purified UNC-60B was unable to interact with the native thin filaments unless CeTM and other associated proteins were removed by high-salt extraction. Purified CeTM was sufficient to restore the resistance of the salt-extracted filaments from UNC-60B. In muscle cells, CeTM and UNC-60B were localized in different patterns. Suppression of CeTM by RNA interference resulted in disorganized actin filaments and paralyzed worms in wild-type background. However, in an ADF/cofilin mutant background, suppression of CeTM did not worsen actin organization and worm motility. These results suggest that tropomyosin is a physiological inhibitor of ADF/cofilin-dependent actin dynamics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (8) ◽  
pp. 2255-2257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Schlett

Synaptic activity reshapes the morphology of dendritic spines via regulating F-actin arborization. In this issue, Lei et al. (2017. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201612042) reports a novel, G-actin–dependent regulation of actin polymerization within spine heads. They show that actin monomer levels are elevated in spines upon activity, with G-actin immobilized by the local enrichment of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate (PIP3) within the spine plasma membrane.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Domínguez-Iturza ◽  
María Calvo ◽  
Marion Benoist ◽  
José Antonio Esteban ◽  
Miguel Morales

Dendritic spines are mushroom-shaped protrusions of the postsynaptic membrane. Spines receive the majority of glutamatergic synaptic inputs. Their morphology, dynamics, and density have been related to synaptic plasticity and learning. The main determinant of spine shape is filamentous actin. Using FRAP, we have reexamined the actin dynamics of individual spines from pyramidal hippocampal neurons, both in cultures and in hippocampal organotypic slices. Our results indicate that, in cultures, the actin mobile fraction is independently regulated at the individual spine level, and mobile fraction values do not correlate with either age or distance from the soma. The most significant factor regulating actin mobile fraction was the presence of astrocytes in the culture substrate. Spines from neurons growing in the virtual absence of astrocytes have a more stable actin cytoskeleton, while spines from neurons growing in close contact with astrocytes show a more dynamic cytoskeleton. According to their recovery time, spines were distributed into two populations with slower and faster recovery times, while spines from slice cultures were grouped into one population. Finally, employing fast lineal acquisition protocols, we confirmed the existence of loci with high polymerization rates within the spine.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Sala ◽  
Menahem Segal

The introduction of high-resolution time lapse imaging and molecular biological tools has changed dramatically the rate of progress towards the understanding of the complex structure-function relations in synapses of central spiny neurons. Standing issues, including the sequence of molecular and structural processes leading to formation, morphological change, and longevity of dendritic spines, as well as the functions of dendritic spines in neurological/psychiatric diseases are being addressed in a growing number of recent studies. There are still unsettled issues with respect to spine formation and plasticity: Are spines formed first, followed by synapse formation, or are synapses formed first, followed by emergence of a spine? What are the immediate and long-lasting changes in spine properties following exposure to plasticity-producing stimulation? Is spine volume/shape indicative of its function? These and other issues are addressed in this review, which highlights the complexity of molecular pathways involved in regulation of spine structure and function, and which contributes to the understanding of central synaptic interactions in health and disease.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anika Heinze ◽  
Cara Schuldt ◽  
Sharof Khudayberdiev ◽  
Bas van Bommel ◽  
Daniela Hacker ◽  
...  

Abstract The vast majority of excitatory synapses are formed on small dendritic protrusions termed dendritic spines. Dendritic spines vary in size and density that are both crucial determinants of excitatory synaptic transmission. Aberrations in spine morphogenesis can compromise brain function and have been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Because actin filaments (F-actin) are the major structural component in spines, actin-binding proteins (ABP) that control F-actin dis-/assembly moved into the focus as critical regulators of brain function. Indeed, mouse studies identified the ABP cofilin1 as a key regulator of spine morphology, synaptic transmission and behavior. These studies emphasized the necessity for a tight control of cofilin1 to ensure proper brain function. We report spine enrichment of cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1), a conserved multidomain protein with largely unknown physiological functions. Super-resolution microscopy and live cell imaging of CAP1-deficient hippocampal neurons revealed impaired synaptic F-actin organization and dynamics associated with alterations in spine morphology. Mechanistically, we found that CAP1 cooperated with cofilin1 in spines and that its helical folded domain mediated this interaction. Moreover, our data proved functional interdependence of CAP1 and cofilin1 in control of spine morphology. In summary, we identified CAP1 as a novel regulator of the postsynaptic actin cytoskeleton that was essential for synaptic cofilin1 activity.


2003 ◽  
Vol 161 (5) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Wittmann ◽  
Gary M. Bokoch ◽  
Clare M. Waterman-Storer

Actin in migrating cells is regulated by Rho GTPases. However, Rho proteins might also affect microtubules (MTs). Here, we used time-lapse microscopy of PtK1 cells to examine MT regulation downstream of Rac1. In these cells, “pioneer” MTs growing into leading-edge protrusions exhibited a decreased catastrophe frequency and an increased time in growth as compared with MTs further from the leading edge. Constitutively active Rac1(Q61L) promoted pioneer behavior in most MTs, whereas dominant-negative Rac1(T17N) eliminated pioneer MTs, indicating that Rac1 is a regulator of MT dynamics in vivo. Rac1(Q61L) also enhanced MT turnover through stimulation of MT retrograde flow and breakage. Inhibition of p21-activated kinases (Paks), downstream effectors of Rac1, inhibited Rac1(Q61L)-induced MT growth and retrograde flow. In addition, Rac1(Q61L) promoted lamellipodial actin polymerization and Pak-dependent retrograde flow. Together, these results indicate coordinated regulation of the two cytoskeletal systems in the leading edge of migrating cells.


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (13) ◽  
pp. 3623-3632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsueh-Yen Ku ◽  
Chia-Lun Wu ◽  
Leonard Rabinow ◽  
Guang-Chao Chen ◽  
Tzu-Ching Meng

ABSTRACT We identify Kette, a key regulator of actin polymerization, as a substrate for Drosophila protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP61F, as well as for dAbl tyrosine kinase. We further show that dAbl is a direct substrate for PTP61F. Therefore, Kette phosphotyrosine levels are regulated both directly and indirectly by PTP61F. Kette and PTP61F genetically interact in the regulation of F-actin organization in pupal eye discs, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation is essential for the proper regulation of Kette-mediated actin dynamics. This hypothesis was confirmed by demonstrating the loss of Kette-mediated F-actin organization and lamella formation in S2 cells in a Kette Y482F mutant in which the dAbl phosphorylation site was eliminated. Our results establish for the first time that PTP61F and dAbl ensure proper actin organization through the coordinated and reversible tyrosine phosphorylation of Kette.


2009 ◽  
Vol 185 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirta Hotulainen ◽  
Olaya Llano ◽  
Sergei Smirnov ◽  
Kimmo Tanhuanpää ◽  
Jan Faix ◽  
...  

Dendritic spines are small protrusions along dendrites where the postsynaptic components of most excitatory synapses reside in the mature brain. Morphological changes in these actin-rich structures are associated with learning and memory formation. Despite the pivotal role of the actin cytoskeleton in spine morphogenesis, little is known about the mechanisms regulating actin filament polymerization and depolymerization in dendritic spines. We show that the filopodia-like precursors of dendritic spines elongate through actin polymerization at both the filopodia tip and root. The small GTPase Rif and its effector mDia2 formin play a central role in regulating actin dynamics during filopodia elongation. Actin filament nucleation through the Arp2/3 complex subsequently promotes spine head expansion, and ADF/cofilin-induced actin filament disassembly is required to maintain proper spine length and morphology. Finally, we show that perturbation of these key steps in actin dynamics results in altered synaptic transmission.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilkka Paatero ◽  
Loïc Sauteur ◽  
Minkyoung Lee ◽  
Anne K. Lagendijk ◽  
Daniel Heutschi ◽  
...  

AbstractAngiogenesis and vascular remodeling are driven by a wide range of endothelial cell behaviors, such as cell divisions, cell movements, cell shape and polarity changes. To decipher the cellular and molecular mechanism of cell movements, we have analyzed the dynamics of different junctional components during blood vessel anastomosis in vivo. We show that endothelial cell movements are associated with oscillating lamellipodia-like structures, which are orientated in the direction of these movements. These structures emerge from endothelial cell junctions and we thus call them junction-based lamellipodia (JBL). High-resolution time-lapse imaging shows that JBL are formed by F-actin based protrusions at the front end of moving cells. These protrusions also contain diffusely distributed VE-cadherin, whereas the junctional protein ZO-1 (Zona occludens 1) remains at the junction. Subsequently, a new junction is formed at the front of the JBL and the proximal junction is pulled towards the newly established distal junction. JBL function is highly dependent on F-actin dynamics. Inhibition of F-actin polymerization prevents JBL formation, whereas Rac-1 inhibition interferes with JBL oscillations. Both interventions disrupt endothelial junction formation and cell elongation. To examine the role of VE-cadherin (encoded by cdh5 gene) in this process, we generated a targeted mutation in VE-cadherin gene (cdh5ubs25), which prevents VE-cad/F-actin interaction. Although homozygous ve-cadherin mutants form JBL, these JBL are less dynamic and do not promote endothelial cell elongation. Taken together, our observations suggest a novel oscillating ratchet-like mechanism, which is used by endothelial cells to move along or over each other and thus provides the physical means for cell rearrangements.


2022 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 101020
Author(s):  
Tushna Kapoor ◽  
Pankaj Dubey ◽  
Krishanu Ray

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