title: Glutamate-induced transient modification of the postsynaptic density.
abstract: Depolarization of rat hippocampal neurons with a high concentration of external potassium induces a thickening of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) within 1.5-3 min. After high-potassium treatment, PSDs thicken 2.1-fold in cultured neurons and 1.4-fold in hippocampal slices compared with their respective controls. Thin-section immunoelectron microscopy of hippocampal cultures indicates that at least part of the observed thickening of PSDs can be accounted for by an accumulation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) on their cytoplasmic faces. Indeed, PSD-associated gold label for CaMKII increases 5-fold after depolarization with potassium. The effects of high-potassium treatment on the composition and structure of the PSDs are mimicked by direct application of glutamate. In cultures, glutamate-induced thickening of PSDs and the accumulation of CaMKII on PSDs are reversed within 5 min of removal of glutamate and Ca(2+) from the extracellular medium. These results suggest that PSDs are dynamic structures whose thickness and composition are subject to rapid and transient changes during synaptic activity.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. dosemeci@marinebio.mbl.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dosemeci
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tao-Cheng
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vinade
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pozzo-Miller
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Reese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011188:Potassium