AMPA受体的磷酸化与突触可塑性

突触可塑性在学习记忆中发挥了重要作用,AMPA(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid,AMPA)受体功能和运输的调节是突触可塑性机制研究的重要环节。在突触可塑性发生过程中,激酶和磷酸酶能够调节AMPA受体C末端的磷酸化水平,进而影响AMPA受体运输。对于AMPA受体磷酸化的研究能够加深我们对突触可塑性机制的理解。     

神经元的突触可塑性与学习和记忆

大量研究表明,神经元的突触可塑性包括功能可塑性和结构可塑性,与学习和记忆密切相关.最近,在经过训练的动物海马区,记录到了学习诱导的长时程增强(long term potentiation,LTP),如果用激酶抑制剂阻断晚期LTP,就会使大鼠丧失训练形成的记忆.这些结果指出,LTP可能是形成记忆的分子基础.因此,进一步研究哺乳动物脑内突触可塑性的分子机制,对揭示学习和记忆的神经基础有重要意义.此外,在精神迟滞性疾病和神经退行性疾病患者脑内记录到异常的LTP,并发现神经元的树突棘数量减少,形态上产生畸变或萎缩,同时发现,产生突变的基因大多编码调节突触可塑性的信号通路蛋白,故突触可塑性研究也将促进精神和神经疾病的预防和治疗.综述了突触可塑性研究的最新进展,并展望了其发展前景.     

降钙素基因相关肽在突触可塑性调控和情绪记忆中的作用

降钙素基因相关肽(calcitonin gene-related peptide, CGRP)是由降钙素基因表达的一种神经肽类物质,分为α和β两种亚型。CGRP在人体内广泛分布,在外周和中枢神经系统中高表达。研究表明CGRP参与多种生理和病理生理活动,包括伤害性感觉信号的形成与传导、心血管功能的调节作用等。近年来越来越多的研究表明,在中枢神经系统中CGRP参与突触可塑性调控,并与认知和学习记忆功能密切相关。本文综述了CGRP在突触可塑性调控和情绪记忆中的作用研究进展,以期为临床治疗相关神经系统疾病提供新的分子靶点和理论依据。     

突触的可塑性与学习,记忆机制

位于哺乳动物海马、小脑皮层的不同类型的可塑性突触,分别具有突触传递的长时程强化(LTP)或抑制(LTD)现象,它们可能是某些经典条件反射形成的基础。以LTD型突触为记忆装置的小脑局部神经网络,具有典型的适应控制能力。突触可塑性的另一类表现是突触前纤维长芽,有证据表明,伴随大脑—红核系统条件反射的建立,在红核神经元胞体附近有新的突触形成,这可能是长期记忆的基础。     

Eph-ephrin与突触可塑性

Eph受体酪氨酸激酶及其配体ephrin广泛参与神经系统的发育,如轴突导向、细胞迁移、体节形成和血管生成。最近研究显示的Ephephrin在突触的定位提示其与突触可塑性有关。Ephephrin对成年神经系统的可塑性、学习和记忆,以及神经损伤后的再生可能具有重要的调节作用。     

突触素Ⅰ的若干研究进展

突触素Ⅰ(synapsin Ⅰ)是神经元特有的一类与小型突触囊泡外侧相连的磷蛋白.该蛋白在进化过程中是比较保守的,其基因位于X染色体上.通过基因重组产生的小鼠Synapsin Ⅰ基因的零突变及脑片电生理学的观察,发现synapsin Ⅰ在神经递质释放及突触可塑性等生理活动过程中具有重要作用.     

突触前代谢型谷氨酸受体调节神经递质的释放

谷氨酸通过激活离子型受体（iGluR)介导快速兴奋性突触传递,参与脑内几乎所有生理过程。谷氨酸过量释放可导致与脑缺血,缺氧及变性疾病有关的兴奋毒作用,最终引起神经元的死亡。代谢型谷氨酸受体（mGluRs)是一个与G－蛋白偶联的受体家族,分三型共八个亚型。其中Ⅱ和Ⅲ型mGluRs主要位于突触前,发挥对谷氨酸释放的负反馈调节。Ⅲ型mGluRs中的mGluR7位于谷氨酸能末梢突触前膜的活性区,发挥自身受体的作用,对正常情况下突触传递过程的谷氨酸释放进行负反馈调节;而属于Ⅱ型的mGluR2及属于Ⅲ型的mGluR4和mGluR8,则位于远离突有膜活性区的外突触区,因而正常突触传递过程中释放的谷氨酸量不能激活它们。只有在突触传递增强的情况下才被激活,抑制递质的释放。国外,mGluRs还分布在GABA能纤维末梢,通过突触前机制抑制GABA的释放。对突触前膜受体尤其是位于外突触区的mGluRs受体的研究,将有可能开发出理想的工具药,从而预防和阻止谷氨酸过量释放引起的神经毒及神经元的死亡。     

蘑菇体-昆虫嗅觉学习和记忆中心

蘑菇体(革形体)是昆虫脑内非常重要的一个结构,构成蘑菇体的冠和叶在不同目昆虫中高度分化,其结构虽然保守,但形态上的变化在一定程度上反映了昆虫的进化地位.冠是触角叶嗅觉投射神经元的主要投射区,叶通过输出神经元联系蘑菇体与其它脑区.冠和叶在嗅觉记忆中不可或缺,垂直叶(α叶)支持长时记忆,中叶(γ叶)支持短时记忆.蘑菇体对嗅觉记忆的形成尤其是记忆的再现(提取)具有重要作用.乙酰胆碱(Ach)、γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)和一氧化氮(NO)等是蘑菇体嗅觉突触传递的主要神经递质.蘑菇体内的第二信使系统cAMP-PKA途径和NI-cGMP途径在嗅觉学习和记忆中起基础性作用.     

豚鼠心交感神经末梢突触前膜存在组胺H3受体

本文首次报道豚鼠心肌存在一种新型突触前抑制性受体－组胺Ｈ３受体,选择性Ｈ３受体激动剂α－ＭｅＨＡ可抑制电场刺激诱发的离体豚鼠右心房交感性正性变力效应,以及去甲肾上腺素的释放。以上效应可被Ｈ３受体拮剂所拮抗。Ｎ－乙基马来酰亚胺可取消α－ＭｅＨＡ的作用。增加或减少心肌内源性组胺含量,可分别抑制或增强电场刺激诱发的心交感性反应。以上结果表明,组胺Ｈ３受体参与调节心交感神经冲动的传递,Ｈ３受体可能与Ｇ０－     

不同品系小菜蛾成虫脑突触体 蛋白质磷酸化的研究

对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)敏感品系、抗溴氰菊酯品系、抗杀虫双品系和抗杀螟丹品系的成虫脑突触体蛋白质磷酸化进行了研究比较。结果表明：蛋白质磷酸化在各个品系中的表现是不一样的。cAMP和钙加钙调蛋白对不同品系小菜蛾脑蛋白质磷酸化都有不同程度的刺激作用;3种杀虫剂均对各品系小菜蛾的磷酸化反应有影响,杀虫双、杀螟丹表现为抑制,溴氰菊酯表现为加强。这种影响在敏感品系中表现得比抗性品系中要强烈。     

Changes of synaptotagmin interaction with t-SNARE proteins in vitro after calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation

The regulation of multiple phases of the life cycle of synaptic vesicles is carried out by a complex series of protein-protein interactions. According to the SNARE hypothesis the core of these interactions is a heterotrimeric complex formed by syntaxin, SNAP-25, and VAMP-synaptobrevin. Other proteins interacting with the core of the SNARE complex, such as voltage-activated calcium channels and synaptotagmin (a putative calcium sensor), are considered crucial for the calcium dependence of release and also molecular mediators of synaptic plasticity. Here the interaction of synaptotagmin with SNARE proteins was studied in immunoprecipitated native complexes, and the effects of previous phosphorylation-dephosphorylation on this interaction were analyzed. It is surprising that the interaction of synaptotagmin with syntaxin and SNAP-25 in native complexes was not found to be calcium-dependent. However, previous incubation under dephosphorylating conditions decreased the synaptotagmin-syntaxin interaction. Stimulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, which endogenously phosphorylates synaptotagmin in synaptic vesicles, increased the interaction of syntaxin and SNAP-25 with synaptotagmin (particularly when measured in the presence of calcium), as well as increasing the binding of the kinase itself. These results suggest that calcium decreases synaptotagmin-t-SNARE interactions after dephosphorylation and increases them after phosphorylation. Overall, these results imply a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation balance in regulation of the synaptotagmin-t-SNARE interaction and suggest a role for protein phosphorylation in the modulation of calcium sensitivity in transmitter release.     

细胞因子受体的组成,结构功能及信号传导机制

细胞因子受体种类繁多,分属于不同受体超家族。活化受体的功能可分为：ＰＴＫ型受体或其结合蛋白具有ＰＴＫ活性、丝／苏氨酸蛋白激酶型受体以及与Ｇ蛋白耦联的受体等。不同受体与其配体结合后,通过对受体后信号传导成分的可逆的磷酸化反应传递信号,最终通过对其终端成分,如酶活力、基因表达、细胞骨架蛋白的功能、膜通透性等的调节,导致细胞的生物效应。     

Estrogen-Induced Up-Regulation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptors in the CNS of Rodents

Previous studies have identified an effect of estrogen administration on the number of central GABAergic binding sites of rat. We have further characterized this effect by performing a series of experiments in vitro where we analyzed the changes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) binding in slices of nervous tissue incubated in a physiological medium in presence of estradiol. The tissues were dissected from ovariectomized rats. In such a system, estrogen augmented the amount of [3H]muscimol binding within 3 h of incubation. The effect was dose-dependent and could be blocked by the addition of the anti-estrogen tamoxifen. The increase in [3H]muscimol binding could not be observed by addition of estradiol to broken membranes or by incubation of the slices with steroids deprived of estrogenic activity. Furthermore, the estrogen-induced increase of GABA binding sites could be prevented by addition of cycloheximide and alpha-amanitin in the incubation medium. Our data indicate that the estrogen may increase the number of GABA binding sites by direct interaction with the GABA receptor gene or genes involved in the metabolism of GABA receptor.     

Integrin signaling cascades are operational in adult hippocampal synapses and modulate NMDA receptor physiology

Integrin class adhesion proteins are concentrated at adult brain synapses. Whether synaptic integrins engage kinase signaling cascades has not been determined, but is a question of importance to ideas about integrin involvement in functional synaptic plasticity. Accordingly, synaptoneurosomes from adult rat brain were used to test if matrix ligands activate integrin-associated tyrosine kinases, and if integrin signaling targets include NMDA-class glutamate neurotransmitter receptors. The integrin ligand peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP) induced rapid (within 5 min) and robust increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 and Src family kinases. Increases were similarly induced by the native ligand fibronectin, blocked with neutralizing antibodies to beta1 integrin, and not obtained with control peptides, indicating that kinase activation was integrin-mediated. Both GRGDSP and fibronectin caused rapid Src kinase-dependent increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in synaptoneurosomes and acute hippocampal slices. Tests of the physiological significance of the latter result showed that ligand treatment caused a rapid and beta1 integrin-dependent increase in NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses. These results provide the first evidence that, in adult brain, synaptic integrins activate local kinase cascades with potent effects on the operation of nearby neurotransmitter receptors implicated in synaptic plasticity.     

New spines, new memories

For more than a century dendritic spines have been a source of fascination and speculation. The long-held belief that these anatomical structures are involved in learning and memory are addressed. Specifically, two lines of evidence that support this claim are reviewed. In the first, we review evidence that experimental manipulations that affect dendritic spine number in the hippocampus also affect learning processes of various sorts. In the second, we review evidence that learning itself affects the presence of dendritic spines in the hippocampus. Based on these observations, we propose that the presence of spines enhances synaptic efficacy and thereby the excitability of the network involved in the learning process. With this scheme, learning is not dependent on changes in spine density but rather changes in the presence of dendritic spines provide anatomical support for the processing of novel information used in memory formation.     

Long-term potentiation at hippocampal perforant path-dentate astrocyte synapses

Accumulated evidence indicates that astroglial cells actively participate in neuronal synaptic transmission and plasticity. However, it is still not clear whether astrocytes are able to undergo plasticity in response to synaptic inputs. Here we demonstrate that a long-term potentiation (LTP)-like response could be detected at perforant path-dentate astrocyte synapses following high-frequency stimulation (HFS) in hippocampal slices of GFAP-GFP transgenic mice. The potentiation was not dependent on the glutamate transporters nor the group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. However, the induction of LTP requires activation of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR). The presence of functional NMDAR was supported by isolating the NMDAR-gated current and by identifying mRNAs of NMDAR subunits in astrocytes. Our results suggest that astrocytes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus are able to undergo plasticity in response to presynaptic inputs.     

Neurotransmitter release at fast synapses

We wish to thank Raya Khanin for her assistance in gathering the papers cited here and Chaim Mayerson for reading and editing this review.     

Biochemical Modulation of NMDA Receptors: Role in Conditioned Taste Aversion

Glutamate neurotransmission plays a crucial role in a variety of functions in the central nervous system, including learning and memory. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this process in mammals because of the scarceness of experimental models that permit correlation of behavioral and biochemical changes occurring during the different stages of learning and the retrieval of the acquired information. One model that has been useful to study these mechanisms is conditioned taste aversion (CTA), a paradigm in which animals learn to avoid new tastes when they are associated with gastrointestinal malaise. Glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type appear to be necessary in this process, because blockade of this receptor prevents CTA. Phosphorylation of the main subunits of the NMDA receptor is a well-established biochemical mechanism for the modulation of the receptor response. Such modulation seems to be involved in CTA, because inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) block CTA acquisition and because the exposure to an unfamiliar taste results in an increased phosphorylation of tyrosine and serine residues of the NR2B subunit of the receptor in the insular cortex, the cerebral region where gustatory and visceral information converge. In this work we review these mechanisms of NMDA receptor modulation in CTA.