title: Molecular dissociation of the role of PSD-95 in regulating synaptic strength and LTD.
abstract: The postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 influences synaptic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) content and may play a critical role in LTD. Here we demonstrate that the effects of PSD-95 on AMPAR-mediated synaptic responses and LTD can be dissociated. Our findings suggest that N-terminal-domain-mediated dimerization is important for PSD-95's effect on basal synaptic AMPAR function, whereas the C-terminal SH(3)-GK domains are also necessary for localizing PSD-95 to synapses. We identify PSD-95 point mutants (Q15A, E17R) that maintain PSD-95's influence on basal AMPAR synaptic responses yet block LTD. These point mutants increase the proteolysis of PSD-95 within its N-terminal domain, resulting in a C-terminal fragment that functions as a dominant negative likely by scavenging critical signaling proteins required for LTD. Thus, the C-terminal portion of PSD-95 serves a dual function. It is required to localize PSD-95 at synapses and as a scaffold for signaling proteins that are required for LTD.
authors.affiliation: Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Oliver M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Schlüter
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Czervionke
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Malenka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins