کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
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1933424 | 1050613 | 2009 | 6 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
Rap small GTPases regulate excitatory synaptic strength and morphological plasticity of dendritic spines. Changes in spine structure are mediated by the F-actin cytoskeleton, but the link between Rap activity and actin dynamics is unclear. Here, we report a novel interaction between SPAR, a postsynaptic inhibitor of Rap, and α-actinin, a family of actin-cross-linking proteins. SPAR and α-actinin engage in bidirectional structural plasticity of dendritic spines: SPAR promotes spine head enlargement, whereas increased α-actinin2 expression favors dendritic spine elongation and thinning. Surprisingly, SPAR and α-actinin2 can function in an additive rather than antagonistic fashion at the same dendritic spine, generating combination spine/filopodia hybrids. These data identify a molecular pathway bridging the actin cytoskeleton and Rap at synapses, and suggest that formation of spines and filopodia are not necessarily opposing forms of structural plasticity.
Journal: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications - Volume 384, Issue 1, 19 June 2009, Pages 55–60