Maturation of a central glutamatergic synapse.
Whole-cell recordings from optic tectal neurons in Xenopus tadpoles were used to study the maturation of a glutamatergic synapse. The first glutamatergic transmission is mediated only by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and is silent at resting potentials. More mature synapses acquire transmission by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors. This maturational program is mimicked by postsynaptic expression of constitutively active calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Newly formed synapses may be silent unless sufficient depolarization is provided by coincident activity that could activate postsynaptic CaMKII, resulting in the appearance of AMPA responses.
Wu
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA. cline@cshl.org
Malinow
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R
Cline
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HT
D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005971:Glutamates / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014981:Xenopus; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D005971:Glutamates; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases