Project description:To better comprehend how synaptic scaling affects the neuronal transcriptome, we used the whole genome microarray expression profiling in hippocampal cultures treated with AMPARs and synaptic NMDARs antagonists for 9h and 26h, or under control conditions. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed altered transcripts associated with synaptic signalling and synaptic plasticity classes, including transcripts of several proteins already associated with synaptic scaling mechanisms.
Project description:Neural circuits utilize a host of homeostatic plasticity mechanisms, including synaptic scaling, to maintain stability in circuits undergoing experience-dependent remodeling necessary for information processing. During synaptic scaling, compensatory adaptations in synaptic strength are induced after chronic manipulations in neuronal firing, but our understanding of this process is largely limited to its initial induction. How these homeostatic synaptic adaptations evolve when activity renormalizes and their impact on subsequent homeostatic compensation are both poorly understood. To examine these issues, we investigated whether a previous history of homeostatic scaling in networks of cultured hippocampal neurons altered their subsequent homeostatic responses to chronic activity manipulations. Unexpectedly, we found that a history of synaptic scaling strongly suppressed future scaling to the same, and even opposite, activity challenges. This history-dependent suppression was specific for future homeostatic compensation, as networks with a prior scaling history showed no deficits in the chemical induction of long-term potentiation (cLTP), a Hebbian form of synaptic plasticity. Hippocampal neurons with a prior scaling history exhibited normal engagement of activity-dependent signaling during subsequent activity challenges (as assessed by examination of the ERK/MAPK pathway) but demonstrated widespread alterations in activity-dependent transcriptional
Project description:Synaptic scaling is a form of homeostatic plasticity which allows neurons to reduce their action potential firing rate in response to chronic alterations in neural activity. Synaptic scaling requires profound changes in gene expression, but the relative contribution of local and cell-wide mechanisms to synaptic scaling is controversial. Here we performed a comprehensive multi-omics characterization of the somatic and process compartments of primary rat hippocampal neurons during synaptic scaling. Thereby, we uncovered highly compartment-specific and correlated changes in the neuronal transcriptome and proteome. Specifically, we identified highly compartment-specific downregulation of crucial regulators of neuronal excitability and excitatory synapse structure. Motif analysis further suggests an important role for trans-acting post-transcriptional regulators, including RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs, in the local regulation of the corresponding mRNAs. Altogether, our study indicates that compartmentalized gene expression changes are widespread in synaptic scaling and might co-exist with neuron-wide mechanism to allow synaptic computation and homeostasis.
Project description:Synaptic scaling is a form of homeostatic plasticity which allows neurons to adjust their action potential firing rate in response to chronic alterations in neural activity. Synaptic scaling requires profound changes in gene expression, but the relative contribution of local and cell-wide mechanisms is controversial. Here we performed a comprehensive multi-omics characterization of the somatic and process compartments of primary rat hippocampal neurons during synaptic scaling. Thereby, we uncovered highly compartment-specific and correlated changes in the neuronal transcriptome and proteome. Specifically, we identified highly compartment-specific downregulation of crucial regulators of neuronal excitability and excitatory synapse structure. Motif analysis further suggests an important role for trans-acting post-transcriptional regulators, including RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs, in the local regulation of the corresponding mRNAs. Altogether, our study indicates that compartmentalized gene expression changes are widespread in synaptic scaling and might co-exist with neuron-wide mechanisms to allow synaptic computation and homeostasis
Project description:Neuronal networks are subject to fluctuations in both the magnitude and frequency of inputs, requiring plasticity mechanisms to stabilize network activity. Homeostatic synaptic scaling is a form of synaptic plasticity that adjusts the strength of neuronal connections up or down in response to large changes in input. Although homeostatic plasticity requires changes in gene expression, there is only limited data describing the molecular changes associated with homeostatic scaling, focusing mostly on the expression mechanisms involving glutamate receptors. The fact that neuronal networks can be scaled up (in response to reduced activity) or down (in response to enhanced activity) provides a unique opportunity to examine the molecular and proteomic response to opposite ends of the phenotypic spectrum of synaptic plasticity. Here we first demonstrate that homeostatic scaling required protein synthesis. We then examined the plasticity-induced changes in the newly-synthesized neuronal proteome of neurons to identify the landscape of proteomic changes that contribute to opposing forms of homeostatic plasticity. Cultured rat hippocampal neurons (21 DIV) underwent homeostatic upscaling or downscaling (treatments with TTX and Bicucculine, respectively). We used BONCAT (BioOrthogonal Non-Canonical Amino acid Tagging) to metabolically label, capture and identify newly-synthesized proteins, detecting and analysing 5940 newly-synthesized proteins using liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry and label-free quantitation. Neither up- or down-scaling produced changes in the number of different proteins translated. Rather, our findings indicate that synaptic up- and down-scaling elicit opposing translational regulation of several molecular pathways, producing targeted adjustments in the neuronal proteome. We detected ~ 300 differentially regulated proteins involved in neurite outgrowth, reorganization of nerve terminals, axon guidance and targeting, neurotransmitter transport, filopodia assembly, excitatory synapses and glutamate receptor complexes. These proteins include well-characterized mediators of synaptic plasticity, e.g. the ionotropic glutamate receptor complex that is down-regulated during down-scaling and coordinately upregulated during upscaling. We also identified differentially regulated proteins that in addition to their regulation in homeostatic plasticity, are also associated with multiple diseases and disorders, including intellectual disability, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Project description:Homeostatic scaling allows neurons to maintain stable activity patterns by globally altering their synaptic strength in response to changing activity levels. Suppression of activity by blocking action potentials increases synaptic strength through an upregulation of surface AMPA receptors. Although this synaptic up-scaling was shown to require transcription, the molecular nature of the intrinsic transcription program underlying this process and its functional significance have been unclear. Using RNA-seq, we identified 73 genes that were specifically upregulated in response to activity suppression. In particular, Neuronal pentraxin-1 (Nptx1) increased within 6 h of activity blockade, and knockdown of this gene blocked the increase in synaptic strength. Notably, Nptx1 induction is mediated by calcium influx through the T-type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel, as well as two transcription factors, SRF and ELK1. Taken together, these results uncover a transcriptional program that specifically operates when neuronal activity is suppressed, to globally coordinate the increase in synaptic strength.
Project description:Homeostatic plasticity, a form of synaptic plasticity, maintains the fine balance between overall excitation and inhibition in developing and mature neuronal networks. Although the synaptic mechanisms of homeostatic plasticity are well characterized, the associated transcriptional program remains poorly understood. We show that the Kleefstra syndrome-associated protein, EHMT1, plays a critical and cell-autonomous role in synaptic scaling by responding to attenuated neuronal firing or sensory drive. Chronic activity deprivation increased the amount of neuronal dimethylated H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me2), the catalytic product of EHMT1 and an epigenetic marker for gene repression. Genetic knockdown and pharmacological blockade of EHMT1 or EHMT2 prevented the increase of H3K9me2 and synaptic scaling up. Furthermore, BDNF repression was preceded by EHMT1/2-mediated H3K9me2 deposition at the Bdnf promoter during synaptic scaling up, both in vivo or in vivo. These findings suggest that changes in chromatin state through H3K9me2 governs a repressive program to achieve synaptic scaling. 12 samples (4 conditions in biological triplicate), 3 wt, 3 wt tetradotoxin treated, 3 k.d., 3 k.d. tetradotoxin treated
Project description:Synaptic activity drives changes in gene expression to promote long-lasting adaptations of neuronal structure and function. One example of such an adaptive response is the buildup of acquired neuroprotection, a synaptic activity- and gene transcription-mediated increase in the resistance of neurons against harmful conditions. A hallmark of acquired neuroprotection is the stabilization of mitochondrial structure and function. We therefore re-examined previously identified sets of synaptic activity-regulated genes to identify genes that are directly linked to mitochondrial function. In mouse and rat primary hippocampal cultures synaptic activity caused an upregulation of glycolytic genes and a concomitant downregulation of genes required for oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial biogenesis and maintenance. Changes in metabolic gene expression were induced by action potential bursting, but not by glutamate bath application activating extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. The specific pattern of gene expression changes suggested that synaptic activity promotes a shift of neuronal energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation toward aerobic glycolysis, also known as Warburg effect. The ability of neurons to upregulate glycolysis has, however, been debated. We therefore used FACS sorting to show that, in mixed neuron glia co-cultures, activity-dependent regulation of metabolic gene expression occurred in neurons. Changes in gene expression were accompanied by changes in the phosphorylation-dependent regulation of the key metabolic enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase. Finally, increased synaptic activity caused an increase in the ratio of L-lactate production to oxygen consumption in primary hippocampal cultures. Based on these data we suggest the existence of a synaptic activity-mediated neuronal Warburg effect that may promote mitochondrial homeostasis and neuroprotection.
Project description:Homeostatic plasticity, a form of synaptic plasticity, maintains the fine balance between overall excitation and inhibition in developing and mature neuronal networks. Although the synaptic mechanisms of homeostatic plasticity are well characterized, the associated transcriptional program remains poorly understood. We show that the Kleefstra syndrome-associated protein, EHMT1, plays a critical and cell-autonomous role in synaptic scaling by responding to attenuated neuronal firing or sensory drive. Chronic activity deprivation increased the amount of neuronal dimethylated H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me2), the catalytic product of EHMT1 and an epigenetic marker for gene repression. Genetic knockdown and pharmacological blockade of EHMT1 or EHMT2 prevented the increase of H3K9me2 and synaptic scaling up. Furthermore, BDNF repression was preceded by EHMT1/2-mediated H3K9me2 deposition at the Bdnf promoter during synaptic scaling up, both in vivo or in vivo. These findings suggest that changes in chromatin state through H3K9me2 governs a repressive program to achieve synaptic scaling.