RGS2 determines short-term synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons by regulating Gi/o-mediated inhibition of presynaptic Ca2+ channels.
RGS2, one of the small members of the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) family, is highly expressed in brain and regulates G(i/o) as well as G(q)-coupled receptor pathways. RGS2 modulates anxiety, aggression, and blood pressure in mice, suggesting that RGS2 regulates synaptic circuits underlying animal physiology and behavior. How RGS2 in brain influences synaptic activity is unknown. We therefore analyzed the synaptic function of RGS2 in hippocampal neurons by comparing electrophysiological recordings from RGS2 knockout and wild-type mice. Our study provides a general mechanism of the action of the RGS family containing RGS2 by demonstrating that RGS2 increases synaptic vesicle release by downregulating the G(i/o)-mediated presynaptic Ca(2+) channel inhibition and therefore provides an explanation of how regulation of RGS2 expression can modulate the function of neuronal circuits underlying behavior.
Han
Jing
J
Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Room E 604, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Mark
Melanie D
MD
Li
Xiang
X
Xie
Mian
M
Waka
Sayumi
S
Rettig
Jens
J
Herlitze
Stefan
S
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism
D015220:Calcium Channels; D020710:RGS Proteins; C087182:RGS2 protein, human