title: The CREB/CREM transcription factors negatively regulate early synaptogenesis and spontaneous network activity.
abstract: The family of CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) transcription factors are involved in a variety of biological processes including the development and plasticity of the nervous system. In the maturing and adult brain, CREB genes are required for activity-dependent processes, including synaptogenesis, refinement of connections and long-term potentiation. Here, we use CREB1(Nescre)CREM(-/-) (cAMP-responsive element modulator) mutants to investigate the role of these genes in stimulus-independent patterns of neural activity at early stages. We show that lack of CREB/CREM genes specifically in neural tissue leads to increased synaptogenesis and to a dramatic increase in the levels of spontaneous network activity at embryonic stages. Thus, the functions of CREB/CREM genes in neural activity differ in distinct periods of neural development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red para Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aguado
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Ruiz
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parlato
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleckmann
authors.forename: Jesús M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ureña
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burgaya
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: del Río
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: C492004:Creb1 protein, mouse; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D002118:Calcium