title: cJun and CREB2 in the postsynaptic neuron contribute to persistent long-term facilitation at a behaviorally relevant synapse.
abstract: Basic region leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors regulate gene expression critical for long-term synaptic plasticity or neuronal excitability contributing to learning and memory. At sensorimotor synapses of Aplysia, changes in activation or expression of CREB1 and CREB2 in sensory neurons are required for long-term synaptic plasticity. However, it is unknown whether concomitant stimulus-induced changes in expression and activation of bZIP transcription factors in the postsynaptic motor neuron also contribute to persistent long-term facilitation (P-LTF). We overexpressed various forms of CREB1, CREB2, or cJun in the postsynaptic motor neuron L7 in cell culture to examine whether these factors contribute to P-LTF. P-LTF is evoked by 2 consecutive days of 5-HT applications (2 5-HT), while a transient form of LTF is produced by 1 day of 5-HT applications (1 5-HT). Significant increases in the expression of both cJun and CREB2 mRNA in L7 accompany P-LTF. Overexpressing each bZIP factor in L7 did not alter basal synapse strength, while coexpressing cJun and CREB2 in L7 evoked persistent increases in basal synapse strength. In contrast, overexpressing cJun and CREB2 in sensory neurons evoked persistent decreases in basal synapse strength. Overexpressing wild-type cJun or CREB2, but not CREB1, in L7 can replace the second day of 5-HT applications in producing P-LTF. Reducing cJun activity in L7 blocked P-LTF evoked by 2 5-HT. These results suggest that expression and activation of different bZIP factors in both presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons contribute to persistent change in synapse strength including stimulus-dependent long-term synaptic plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032 and jh2004@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Jiang-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032 and.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: The Commonwealth Medical College, Department of Basic Sciences, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509.
authors.forename: Ying-Ju
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9597-2993
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032 and.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D055366:Synaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C097204:ApCREB2 protein, Aplysia californica; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Aplysia; cell culture; persistent synaptic plasticity; postsynaptic neuron; sensorimotor synapse; transcription factors