An activity-regulated microRNA controls dendritic plasticity by down-regulating p250GAP.
Activity-regulated gene expression is believed to play a key role in the development and refinement of neuronal circuitry. Nevertheless, the transcriptional networks that regulate synapse growth and plasticity remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we show that microRNA 132 (miR132) is an activity-dependent rapid response gene regulated by the cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein pathway. Introduction of miR132 into hippocampal neurons enhanced dendrite morphogenesis whereas inhibition of miR132 by 2'O-methyl RNA antagonists blocked these effects. Furthermore, neuronal activity inhibited translation of p250GAP, a miR132 target, and siRNA-mediated knockdown of p250GAP mimicked miR132-induced dendrite growth. Experiments using dominant-interfering mutants suggested that Rac signaling is downstream of miR132 and p250GAP. We propose that the miR132-p250GAP pathway plays a key role in activity-dependent structural and functional plasticity.
Wayman
Gary A
GA
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Washington State University, 100 Dairy Road, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. waymang@ohsu.edu
Davare
Monika
M
Ando
Hideaki
H
Fortin
Dale
D
Varlamova
Olga
O
Cheng
Hai-Ying M
HY
Marks
Daniel
D
Obrietan
Karl
K
Soderling
Thomas R
TR
Goodman
Richard H
RH
Impey
Soren
S
D000818:Animals; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
C470196:ARHGAP32 protein, human; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; C547077:MIRN132 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs