GSBS Student Publications
Title
Rapid activity-dependent modifications in synaptic structure and function require bidirectional Wnt signaling
GSBS Program
Neuroscience
Publication Date
2008-03-18
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Neurobiology; Budnik Lab; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Abstract
Activity-dependent modifications in synapse structure play a key role in synaptic development and plasticity, but the signaling mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We demonstrate that glutamatergic Drosophila neuromuscular junctions undergo rapid changes in synaptic structure and function in response to patterned stimulation. These changes, which depend on transcription and translation, include formation of motile presynaptic filopodia, elaboration of undifferentiated varicosities, and potentiation of spontaneous release frequency. Experiments indicate that a bidirectional Wnt/Wg signaling pathway underlies these changes. Evoked activity induces Wnt1/Wg release from synaptic boutons, which stimulates both a postsynaptic DFz2 nuclear import pathway as well as a presynaptic pathway involving GSK-3beta/Shaggy. Our findings suggest that bidirectional Wg signaling operates downstream of synaptic activity to induce modifications in synaptic structure and function. We propose that activation of the postsynaptic Wg pathway is required for the assembly of the postsynaptic apparatus, while activation of the presynaptic Wg pathway regulates cytoskeletal dynamics.
DOI of Published Version
10.1016/j.neuron.2008.01.026
Source
Neuron. 2008 Mar 13;57(5):705-18. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Neuron
Related Resources
PubMed ID
18341991
Repository Citation
Ataman, Bulent; Ashley, James A.; Gorczyca, Michael; Ramachandran, Preethi; Fouquet, Wernher; Sigrist, Stephan J.; and Budnik, Vivian, "Rapid activity-dependent modifications in synaptic structure and function require bidirectional Wnt signaling" (2008). GSBS Student Publications. 526.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_sp/526