GSBS Student Publications

Title

Rapid activity-dependent modifications in synaptic structure and function require bidirectional Wnt signaling

Student Author(s)

Bulent Ataman; James Ashley; Preethi Ramachandran

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

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

18341991

Link to Full Text

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