Drebrin A regulates dendritic spine plasticity and synaptic function in mature cultured hippocampal neurons

J Cell Sci. 2009 Feb 15;122(Pt 4):524-34. doi: 10.1242/jcs.033464. Epub 2009 Jan 27.

Abstract

Drebrin A, one of the most abundant neuron-specific F-actin-binding proteins, is found exclusively in dendrites and is particularly concentrated in dendritic spines receiving excitatory inputs. We investigated the role of drebrin A in synaptic transmission and found that overexpression of drebrin A augmented the glutamatergic synaptic transmission, probably through an increase of active synaptic site density. Interestingly, overexpression of drebrin A also affected the frequency, amplitude and kinetics of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), despite the fact that GABAergic synapse density and transmission efficacy were not modified. Downregulation of drebrin A led to a decrease of both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic activity. In heterologous cells, drebrin A reorganized and stabilized F-actin and these effects were mediated by its actin-binding domain. Thus, drebrin A might regulate dendritic spine morphology via regulation of actin cytoskeleton remodeling and dynamics. Our data demonstrate for the first time that drebrin A modulates glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cricetinae
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • DNA, Recombinant / biosynthesis*
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Spines / ultrastructure
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Neuronal Plasticity*
  • Neuropeptides / chemistry
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / physiology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, AMPA / chemistry
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism
  • Receptors, GABA-A / chemistry
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / chemistry
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Synaptic Transmission*

Substances

  • Actins
  • DNA, Recombinant
  • Neuropeptides
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • drebrins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins