title: The contribution of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein-kinase II (CaMKII) to short-term plasticity at the neuromuscular junction.
abstract: Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein-kinase II (CaMKII) is a ubiquitous intracellular enzyme, which is implicated in learning and memory mechanisms in the central nervous system, however its contribution to peripheral cholinergic neurotransmission is not well characterized. This study evaluated the impact of CaMKII on the function of frog neuromuscular synapse using electrophysiological recordings. Application of the selective CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 (5 microM) did not significantly alter the parameters of evoked and spontaneous quantal acetylcholine release under low-frequency stimulation (0.03 Hz). KN-93, on the other hand, produced pronounced changes in short-term synaptic plasticity: particularly, KN-93 inhibits the second component of paired-pulse facilitation (interpulse intervals of 100 ms and longer) and strengthens the depression of synaptic transmission under high-frequency stimulation (50 Hz). These results imply that CaMKII plays an important role in presynaptic functions at the frog neuromuscular junction, and potentiates quantal acetylcholine release under high-frequency activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kazan State Medical University, R-420012 Kazan, Russia. maratm80@list.ru
authors.forename: Marat A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mukhamedyarov
authors.forename: Julia O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kochunova
authors.forename: Elvina R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Yusupova
authors.forename: Bulat A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Haidarov
authors.forename: Andrey L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zefirov
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palotás
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011895:Rana ridibunda; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D000109:Acetylcholine; D001596:Benzylamines; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; C072105:KN 93; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides