TY - JOUR
T1 - Local synaptic integration of mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase A signaling mediates intermediate-term synaptic facilitation in Aplysia
AU - Ye, Xiaojing
AU - Marina, Andreea
AU - Carew, Thomas J.
PY - 2012/10/30
Y1 - 2012/10/30
N2 - It is widely appreciated that memory processing engages a wide range of molecular signaling cascades in neurons, but how these cascades are temporally and spatially integrated is not well understood. To explore this important question, we used Aplysia californica as a model system.We simultaneously examined the timing and subcellular location of two signaling molecules, MAPK (ERK1/2) and protein kinase A (PKA), both of which are critical for the formation of enduring memory for sensitization. We also explored their interaction during the formation of enduring synaptic facilitation, a cellular correlate of memory, at tail sensory-to-motor neuron synapses. We find that repeated tail nerve shock (TNS, an analog of sensitizing training) immediately and persistently activates MAPK in both sensory neuron somata and synaptic neuropil. In contrast, we observe immediate PKA activation only in the synaptic neuropil. It is followed by PKA activation in both compartments 1 h after TNS. Interestingly, blocking MAPK activation during, but not after, TNS impairs PKA activation in synaptic neuropil without affecting the delayed PKA activation in sensory neuron somata. Finally, by applying inhibitors restricted to the synaptic compartment, we show that synapticMAPK activation during TNS is required for the induction of intermediate-term synaptic facilitation,which leads to the persistent synaptic PKA activation required to maintain this facilitation. Collectively, our results elucidate how MAPK and PKA signaling cascades are spatiotemporally integrated in a single neuron to support synaptic plasticity underlying memory formation.
AB - It is widely appreciated that memory processing engages a wide range of molecular signaling cascades in neurons, but how these cascades are temporally and spatially integrated is not well understood. To explore this important question, we used Aplysia californica as a model system.We simultaneously examined the timing and subcellular location of two signaling molecules, MAPK (ERK1/2) and protein kinase A (PKA), both of which are critical for the formation of enduring memory for sensitization. We also explored their interaction during the formation of enduring synaptic facilitation, a cellular correlate of memory, at tail sensory-to-motor neuron synapses. We find that repeated tail nerve shock (TNS, an analog of sensitizing training) immediately and persistently activates MAPK in both sensory neuron somata and synaptic neuropil. In contrast, we observe immediate PKA activation only in the synaptic neuropil. It is followed by PKA activation in both compartments 1 h after TNS. Interestingly, blocking MAPK activation during, but not after, TNS impairs PKA activation in synaptic neuropil without affecting the delayed PKA activation in sensory neuron somata. Finally, by applying inhibitors restricted to the synaptic compartment, we show that synapticMAPK activation during TNS is required for the induction of intermediate-term synaptic facilitation,which leads to the persistent synaptic PKA activation required to maintain this facilitation. Collectively, our results elucidate how MAPK and PKA signaling cascades are spatiotemporally integrated in a single neuron to support synaptic plasticity underlying memory formation.
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1209956109
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1209956109
M3 - Article
C2 - 23071303
AN - SCOPUS:84868135387
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 109
SP - 18162
EP - 18167
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 44
ER -