scholarly journals Degradation of Transcriptional Repressor ATF4 during Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8543
Author(s):  
Spencer G. Smith ◽  
Kathryn A. Haynes ◽  
Ashok N. Hegde

Maintenance of long-term synaptic plasticity requires gene expression mediated by cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB). Gene expression driven by CREB can commence only if the inhibition by a transcriptional repressor activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4; also known as CREB2) is relieved. Previous research showed that the removal of ATF4 occurs through ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Using chemically induced hippocampal long-term potentiation (cLTP) as a model system, we investigate the mechanisms that control ATF4 degradation. We observed that ATF4 phosphorylated at serine-219 increases upon induction of cLTP and decreases about 30 min thereafter. Proteasome inhibitor β-lactone prevents the decrease in ATF4. We found that the phosphorylation of ATF4 is mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Our initial experiments towards the identification of the ligase that mediates ubiquitination of ATF4 revealed a possible role for β-transducin repeat containing protein (β-TrCP). Regulation of ATF4 degradation is likely to be a mechanism for determining the threshold for gene expression underlying maintenance of long-term synaptic plasticity and by extension, long-term memory.

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (23) ◽  
pp. 9105-9115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Blaeser ◽  
Matthew J. Sanders ◽  
Nga Truong ◽  
Shanelle Ko ◽  
Long Jun Wu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Signaling by the Ca2+/calmodulin kinase (CaMK) cascade has been implicated in neuronal gene transcription, synaptic plasticity, and long-term memory consolidation. The CaM kinase kinase α (CaMKKα) isoform is an upstream component of the CaMK cascade whose function in different behavioral and learning and memory paradigms was analyzed by targeted gene disruption in mice. CaMKKα mutants exhibited normal long-term spatial memory formation and cued fear conditioning but showed deficits in context fear during both conditioning and long-term follow-up testing. They also exhibited impaired activation of the downstream kinase CaMKIV/Gr and its substrate, the transcription factor cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) upon fear conditioning. Unlike CaMKIV/Gr-deficient mice, the CaMKKα mutants exhibited normal long-term potentiation and normal levels of anxiety-like behavior. These results demonstrate a selective role for CaMKKα in contextual fear memory and suggest that different combinations of upstream and downstream components of the CaMK cascade may serve distinct physiological functions.


Cell ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhonghui Guan ◽  
Maurizio Giustetto ◽  
Stavros Lomvardas ◽  
Joung-Hun Kim ◽  
Maria Concetta Miniaci ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norimichi Itoh ◽  
Atsushi Enomoto ◽  
Taku Nagai ◽  
Masahide Takahashi ◽  
Kiyofumi Yamada

AbstractIt is well known that synaptic plasticity is the cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. Activity-dependent synaptic changes in electrical properties and morphology, including synaptogenesis, lead to alterations of synaptic strength, which is associated with long-term potentiation (LTP). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) signaling is involved in learning and memory formation by regulating synaptic plasticity. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt pathway is one of the key signaling cascades downstream BDNF/TrkB and is believed to modulate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the connection between these two key players in synaptic plasticity remains largely unknown. Girders of actin filament (Girdin), an Akt substrate that directly binds to actin filaments, has been shown to play a role in neuronal migration and neuronal development. Recently, we identified Girdin as a key molecule involved in regulating long-term memory. It was demonstrated that phosphorylation of Girdin by Akt contributed to the maintenance of LTP by linking the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway with NMDA receptor activity. These findings indicate that Girdin plays a pivotal role in a variety of processes in the CNS. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding about the roles of Girdin in the CNS and focus particularly on neuronal migration and memory.


Cell ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roussoudan Bourtchuladze ◽  
Bruno Frenguelli ◽  
Julie Blendy ◽  
Diana Cioffi ◽  
Gunther Schutz ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Autumn S. Ivy ◽  
Tim Yu ◽  
Enikö Kramár ◽  
Sonia Parievsky ◽  
Fred Sohn ◽  
...  

AbstractAerobic exercise is a powerful modulator of learning and memory. Molecular mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of exercise are well documented in adult rodents. Animal models of exercise targeting specific postnatal periods of hippocampal development and plasticity are lacking. Here we characterize a model of early-life exercise (ELE) in male and female mice designed with the goal of identifying critical periods by which exercise may have a lasting impact on hippocampal memory and synaptic plasticity. Mice freely accessed a running wheel during three postnatal periods: the 4th postnatal week (juvenile ELE, P21-27), 6th postnatal week (adolescent ELE, P35-41), or 4th-6th postnatal weeks (juvenile-adolescent ELE, P21-41). All exercise groups significantly increased their running distances over time. When exposed to a weak learning stimulus, mice that had exercised during the juvenile period were able to form lasting long-term memory for a hippocampus-dependent spatial memory task. Electrophysiological experiments revealed enhanced long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 the juvenile-adolescent ELE group only. Furthermore, basal synaptic transmission was significantly increased in all mice that exercised during the juvenile period. Our results suggest early-life exercise can enable hippocampal memory, synaptic plasticity, and basal synaptic physiology when occurring during postnatal periods of hippocampal maturation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (36) ◽  
pp. 18078-18087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenzie Ford ◽  
Emi Ling ◽  
Eric R. Kandel ◽  
Luana Fioriti

Protein synthesis is crucial for the maintenance of long-term memory-related synaptic plasticity. The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3) regulates the translation of several mRNAs important for long-term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. In previous studies, we found that the oligomerization and activity of CPEB3 are controlled by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation. In the basal state, CPEB3 is SUMOylated; it is soluble and acts as a repressor of translation. Following neuronal stimulation, CPEB3 is de-SUMOylated; it now forms oligomers that are converted into an active form that promotes the translation of target mRNAs. To better understand how CPEB3 regulates the translation of its mRNA targets, we have examined CPEB3 subcellular localization. We found that basal, repressive CPEB3 is localized to membraneless cytoplasmic processing bodies (P bodies), subcellular compartments that are enriched in translationally repressed mRNA. This basal state is affected by the SUMOylation state of CPEB3. After stimulation, CPEB3 is recruited into polysomes, thus promoting the translation of its target mRNAs. Interestingly, when we examined CPEB3 recombinant protein in vitro, we found that CPEB3 phase separates when SUMOylated and binds to a specific mRNA target. These findings suggest a model whereby SUMO regulates the distribution, oligomerization, and activity of oligomeric CPEB3, a critical player in the persistence of memory.


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