Coupled phosphatase and kinase switches produce the tristability required for long-term potentiation and long-term depression

A biochemical description of postsynaptic plasticity-with timescales ranging from milliseconds to seconds

Synaptic plasticity [long-term potentiation/depression (LTP/D)], is a cellular mechanism underlying learning. Two distinct types of early LTP/D (E-LTP/D), acting on very different time scales, have been observed experimentally-spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP), on time scales of tens of ms; and behavioral time scale synaptic plasticity (BTSP), on time scales of seconds. BTSP is a candidate for a mechanism underlying rapid learning of spatial location by place cells. Here, a computational model of the induction of E-LTP/D at a spine head of a synapse of a hippocampal pyramidal neuron is developed. The single-compartment model represents two interacting biochemical pathways for the activation (phosphorylation) of the kinase (CaMKII) with a phosphatase, with ion inflow through channels (NMDAR, CaV1,Na). The biochemical reactions are represented by a deterministic system of differential equations, with a detailed description of the activation of CaMKII that includes the opening of the compact state of CaMKII. This single model captures realistic responses (temporal profiles with the differing timescales) of STDP and BTSP and their asymmetries. The simulations distinguish several mechanisms underlying STDP vs. BTSP, including i) the flow of [Formula: see text] through NMDAR vs. CaV1 channels, and ii) the origin of several time scales in the activation of CaMKII. The model also realizes a priming mechanism for E-LTP that is induced by [Formula: see text] flow through CaV1.3 channels. Once in the spine head, this small additional [Formula: see text] opens the compact state of CaMKII, placing CaMKII ready for subsequent induction of LTP.

A spatial model of autophosphorylation of CaMKII in a glutamatergic spine suggests a network-driven kinetic mechanism for bistable changes in synaptic strength

Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) at synapses in the CNS triggers changes in synaptic strength that underlie memory formation in response to strong synaptic stimuli. The primary target of Ca2+ flowing through NMDARs is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) which forms dodecameric holoenzymes that are highly concentrated at the postsynaptic site. Activation of CaMKII is necessary to trigger long-term potentiation of synaptic strength (LTP), and is prolonged by autophosphorylation of subunits within the holoenzyme. Here we use MCell4, an agent-based, stochastic, modeling platform to model CaMKII holoenzymes placed within a realistic spine geometry. We show how two mechanisms of regulation of CaMKII, 'Ca2+-calmodulin-trapping (CaM-trapping)' and dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) shape the autophosphorylation response during a repeated high-frequency stimulus. Our simulation results suggest that autophosphorylation of CaMKII does not constitute a bistable switch. Instead, prolonged but temporary, autophosphorylation of CaMKII may contribute to a biochemical-network-based 'kinetic proof-reading" mechanism that controls induction of synaptic plasticity.

Spatiotemporal modelling reveals geometric dependence of AMPAR dynamics on dendritic spine morphology

The modification of neural circuits depends on the strengthening and weakening of synaptic connections. Synaptic strength is often correlated to the density of the ionotropic, glutamatergic receptors, AMPARs, (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors) at the postsynaptic density (PSD). While AMPAR density is known to change based on complex biological signalling cascades, the effect of geometric factors such as dendritic spine shape, size and curvature remain poorly understood. In this work, we developed a deterministic, spatiotemporal model to study the dynamics of AMPARs during long-term potentiation (LTP). This model includes a minimal set of biochemical events that represent the upstream signalling events, trafficking of AMPARs to and from the PSD, lateral diffusion in the plane of the spine membrane, and the presence of an extrasynaptic AMPAR pool. Using idealized and realistic spine geometries, we show that the dynamics and increase of bound AMPARs at the PSD depends on a combination of endo- and exocytosis, membrane diffusion, the availability of free AMPARs and intracellular signalling interactions. We also found non-monotonic relationships between spine volume and the change in AMPARs at the PSD, suggesting that spines restrict changes in AMPARs to optimize resources and prevent runaway potentiation. KEY POINTS: Synaptic plasticity involves dynamic biochemical and physical remodelling of small protrusions called dendritic spines along the dendrites of neurons. Proper synaptic functionality within these spines requires changes in receptor number at the synapse, which has implications for downstream neural functions, such as learning and memory formation. In addition to being signalling subcompartments, spines also have unique morphological features that can play a role in regulating receptor dynamics on the synaptic surface. We have developed a spatiotemporal model that couples biochemical signalling and receptor trafficking modalities in idealized and realistic spine geometries to investigate the role of biochemical and biophysical factors in synaptic plasticity. Using this model, we highlight the importance of spine size and shape in regulating bound AMPA receptor dynamics that govern synaptic plasticity, and predict how spine shape might act to reset synaptic plasticity as a built-in resource optimization and regulation tool.

Numerous Trigger-like Interactions of Kinases/Protein Phosphatases in Human Skeletal Muscles Can Underlie Transient Processes in Activation of Signaling Pathways during Exercise

Optimizing physical training regimens to increase muscle aerobic capacity requires an understanding of the internal processes that occur during exercise that initiate subsequent adaptation. During exercise, muscle cells undergo a series of metabolic events that trigger downstream signaling pathways and induce the expression of many genes in working muscle fibers. There are a number of studies that show the dependence of changes in the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), one of the mediators of cellular signaling pathways, on the duration and intensity of single exercises. The activity of various AMPK isoforms can change in different directions, increasing for some isoforms and decreasing for others, depending on the intensity and duration of the load. This review summarizes research data on changes in the activity of AMPK, Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and other components of the signaling pathways in skeletal muscles during exercise. Based on these data, we hypothesize that the observed changes in AMPK activity may be largely related to metabolic and signaling transients rather than exercise intensity per se. Probably, the main events associated with these transients occur at the beginning of the exercise in a time window of about 1-10 min. We hypothesize that these transients may be partly due to putative trigger-like kinase/protein phosphatase interactions regulated by feedback loops. In addition, numerous dynamically changing factors, such as [Ca²⁺], metabolite concentration, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), can shift the switching thresholds and change the states of these triggers, thereby affecting the activity of kinases (in particular, AMPK and CaMKII) and phosphatases. The review considers the putative molecular mechanisms underlying trigger-like interactions. The proposed hypothesis allows for a reinterpretation of the experimental data available in the literature as well as the generation of ideas to optimize future training regimens.

GluN2B-NMDAR subunit contribution on synaptic plasticity: A phenomenological model for CA3-CA1 synapses

Synaptic plasticity is believed to be a key mechanism underlying learning and memory. We developed a phenomenological N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-based voltage-dependent synaptic plasticity model for synaptic modifications at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses on a hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron. The model incorporates the GluN2A-NMDA and GluN2B-NMDA receptor subunit-based functions and accounts for the synaptic strength dependence on the postsynaptic NMDA receptor composition and functioning without explicitly modeling the NMDA receptor-mediated intracellular calcium, a local trigger of synaptic plasticity. We embedded the model into a two-compartmental model of a hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell and validated it against experimental data of spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP), high and low-frequency stimulation. The developed model predicts altered learning rules in synapses formed on the apical dendrites of the detailed compartmental model of CA1 pyramidal neuron in the presence of the GluN2B-NMDA receptor hypofunction and can be used in hippocampal networks to model learning in health and disease.

Mechanisms underlying divergent relationships between Ca2+ and YAP/TAZ signalling

Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its homologue TAZ are transducers of several biochemical and biomechanical signals, integrating multiplexed inputs from the microenvironment into higher level cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation and migration. Emerging evidence suggests that Ca2+ is a key second messenger that connects microenvironmental input signals and YAP/TAZ regulation. However, studies that directly modulate Ca2+ have reported contradictory YAP/TAZ responses: in some studies, a reduction in Ca2+ influx increases the activity of YAP/TAZ, while in others, an increase in Ca2+ influx activates YAP/TAZ. Importantly, Ca2+ and YAP/TAZ exhibit distinct spatiotemporal dynamics, making it difficult to unravel their connections from a purely experimental approach. In this study, we developed a network model of Ca2+ -mediated YAP/TAZ signalling to investigate how temporal dynamics and crosstalk of signalling pathways interacting with Ca2+ can alter the YAP/TAZ response, as observed in experiments. By including six signalling modules (e.g. GPCR, IP3-Ca2+ , kinases, RhoA, F-actin and Hippo-YAP/TAZ) that interact with Ca2+ , we investigated both transient and steady-state cell response to angiotensin II and thapsigargin stimuli. The model predicts that stimuli, Ca2+ transients and frequency-dependent relationships between Ca2+ and YAP/TAZ are primarily mediated by cPKC, DAG, CaMKII and F-actin. Simulation results illustrate the role of Ca2+ dynamics and CaMKII bistable response in switching the direction of changes in Ca2+ -induced YAP/TAZ activity. A frequency-dependent YAP/TAZ response revealed the competition between upstream regulators of LATS1/2, leading to the YAP/TAZ non-monotonic response to periodic GPCR stimulation. This study provides new insights into underlying mechanisms responsible for the controversial Ca2+ -YAP/TAZ relationship observed in experiments. KEY POINTS: YAP/TAZ integrates biochemical and biomechanical inputs to regulate cellular functions, and Ca2+ acts as a key second messenger linking cellular inputs to YAP/TAZ. Studies have reported contradictory Ca2+ -YAP/TAZ relationships for different cell types and stimuli. A network model of Ca2+ -mediated YAP/TAZ signalling was developed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of divergent Ca2+ -YAP/TAZ relationships. The model predicts context-dependent Ca2+ transient, CaMKII bistable response and frequency-dependent activation of LATS1/2 upstream regulators as mechanisms governing the Ca2+ -YAP/TAZ relationship. This study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of the controversial Ca2+ -YAP/TAZ relationship to better understand the dynamics of cellular functions controlled by YAP/TAZ activity.

Crosstalk between biochemical signalling network architecture and trafficking governs AMPAR dynamics in synaptic plasticity

Synaptic plasticity involves modification of both biochemical and structural components of neurons. Many studies have revealed that the change in the number density of the glutamatergic receptor AMPAR at the synapse is proportional to synaptic weight update; an increase in AMPAR corresponds to strengthening of synapses while a decrease in AMPAR density weakens synaptic connections. The dynamics of AMPAR are thought to be regulated by upstream signalling, primarily the calcium-CaMKII pathway, trafficking to and from the synapse, and influx from extrasynaptic sources. Previous work in the field of deterministic modelling of CaMKII dynamics has assumed bistable kinetics, while experiments and rule-based modelling have revealed that CaMKII dynamics can be either monostable or ultrasensitive. This raises the following question: how does the choice of model assumptions involving CaMKII dynamics influence AMPAR dynamics at the synapse? To answer this question, we have developed a set of models using compartmental ordinary differential equations to systematically investigate contributions of different signalling and trafficking variations, along with their coupled effects, on AMPAR dynamics at the synaptic site. We find that the properties of the model including network architecture describing different stability features of CaMKII and parameters that capture the endocytosis and exocytosis of AMPAR significantly affect the integration of fast upstream species by slower downstream species. Furthermore, we predict that the model outcome, as determined by bound AMPAR at the synaptic site, depends on (1) the choice of signalling model (bistable CaMKII or monostable CaMKII dynamics), (2) trafficking versus influx contributions and (3) frequency of stimulus. KEY POINTS: The density of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) at the postsynaptic density of the synapse provides a readout of synaptic plasticity, which involves crosstalk between complex biochemical signalling networks including CaMKII dynamics and trafficking pathways including exocytosis and endocytosis. Here we build a model that integrates CaMKII dynamics and AMPAR trafficking to explore this crosstalk. We compare different models of CaMKII that result in monostable or bistable kinetics and their impact on AMPAR dynamics. Our results show that AMPAR density depends on the coupling between aspects of biochemical signalling and trafficking. Specifically, assumptions regarding CaMKII dynamics and its stability features can alter AMPAR density at the synapse. Our model also predicts that the kinetics of trafficking versus influx of AMPAR from the extrasynaptic space can further impact AMPAR density. Thus, the contributions of both signalling and trafficking should be considered in computational models.

A multifarious exploration of synaptic tagging and capture hypothesis in synaptic plasticity: Development of an integrated mathematical model and computational experiments

The synaptic tagging and capture (STC) hypothesis not only explain the integration and association of synaptic activities, but also the formation of learning and memory. The synaptic pathways involved in the synaptic tagging and capture phenomenon are called STC pathways. The STC hypothesis provides a potential explanation of the neuronal and synaptic processes underlying the synaptic consolidation of memories. Several mechanisms and molecules have been proposed to explain the process of memory allocation and synaptic tags, respectively. However, a clear link between the STC hypothesis and memory allocation is still missing because the encoding of memories in neural circuits is mainly associated with strongly recurrently connected groups of neurons. To explore the mechanisms of potential synaptic tagging candidates and their involvement in the process of memory allocation, we develop a mathematical model for a single dendritic spine based on five essential criteria of a synaptic tag. By developing a mathematical model, we attempt to understand the roles of the potentially critical molecular networks underlying the STC and the essential attributes of a synaptic tag. We include essential memory molecules in the STC model that have been identified in earlier studies as crucial for STC pathways. CaMKII activation is critical for the setting of the initial tag; however, coordinated activities with other kinases and the biochemical pathways are necessary for the tag to be stable. PKA modulates NMDAR-mediated Ca²⁺ signalling. Similarly, PKA and ERK crosstalk is essential for Ca²⁺ - mediated protein synthesis during l-LTP. Our theoretical model explains the quantitative contribution of Tags and protein synthesis during l-LTP in synaptic strength.

Neurostimulation as a Putative Method for the Treatment of Drug-resistant Epilepsy in Patient and Animal Models of Epilepsy

A patient with epilepsy was shown to have neurobiological, psychological, cognitive, and social issues as a result of recurring seizures, which is regarded as a chronic brain disease. However, despite numerous drug treatments, approximately, 30%-40% of all patients are resistant to antiepileptic drugs. Therefore, newer therapeutic modalities are introduced into clinical practice which involve neurostimulation and direct stimulation of the brain. Hence, we review published literature on vagus nerve stimulation, trigeminal nerve stimulation, applying responsive stimulation systems, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) in animals and epileptic patient with an emphasis on drug-resistant epilepsy.

Bayesian parameter estimation for dynamical models in systems biology

Dynamical systems modeling, particularly via systems of ordinary differential equations, has been used to effectively capture the temporal behavior of different biochemical components in signal transduction networks. Despite the recent advances in experimental measurements, including sensor development and '-omics' studies that have helped populate protein-protein interaction networks in great detail, modeling in systems biology lacks systematic methods to estimate kinetic parameters and quantify associated uncertainties. This is because of multiple reasons, including sparse and noisy experimental measurements, lack of detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the reactions, and missing biochemical interactions. Additionally, the inherent nonlinearities with respect to the states and parameters associated with the system of differential equations further compound the challenges of parameter estimation. In this study, we propose a comprehensive framework for Bayesian parameter estimation and complete quantification of the effects of uncertainties in the data and models. We apply these methods to a series of signaling models of increasing mathematical complexity. Systematic analysis of these dynamical systems showed that parameter estimation depends on data sparsity, noise level, and model structure, including the existence of multiple steady states. These results highlight how focused uncertainty quantification can enrich systems biology modeling and enable additional quantitative analyses for parameter estimation.

Combining hypothesis- and data-driven neuroscience modeling in FAIR workflows

Modeling in neuroscience occurs at the intersection of different points of view and approaches. Typically, hypothesis-driven modeling brings a question into focus so that a model is constructed to investigate a specific hypothesis about how the system works or why certain phenomena are observed. Data-driven modeling, on the other hand, follows a more unbiased approach, with model construction informed by the computationally intensive use of data. At the same time, researchers employ models at different biological scales and at different levels of abstraction. Combining these models while validating them against experimental data increases understanding of the multiscale brain. However, a lack of interoperability, transparency, and reusability of both models and the workflows used to construct them creates barriers for the integration of models representing different biological scales and built using different modeling philosophies. We argue that the same imperatives that drive resources and policy for data - such as the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles - also support the integration of different modeling approaches. The FAIR principles require that data be shared in formats that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Applying these principles to models and modeling workflows, as well as the data used to constrain and validate them, would allow researchers to find, reuse, question, validate, and extend published models, regardless of whether they are implemented phenomenologically or mechanistically, as a few equations or as a multiscale, hierarchical system. To illustrate these ideas, we use a classical synaptic plasticity model, the Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro rule, as an example due to its long history, different levels of abstraction, and implementation at many scales.

Can biophysical models of dendritic spines be used to explore synaptic changes associated with addiction?

Effective treatments that prevent or reduce drug relapse vulnerability should be developed to relieve the high burden of drug addiction on society. This will only be possible by enhancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of addiction. Recent experimental data have shown that dendritic spines, small protrusions from the dendrites that receive excitatory input, of spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens exhibit morphological changes during drug exposure and withdrawal. Moreover, these changes relate to the characteristic drug-seeking behavior of addiction. However, due to the complexity of the dendritic spines, we do not yet fully understand the processes underlying their structural changes in response to different inputs. We propose that biophysical models can enhance the current understanding of these processes by incorporating different, and sometimes, discrepant experimental data to identify the shared underlying mechanisms and generate experimentally testable hypotheses. This review aims to give an up-to-date report on biophysical models of dendritic spines, focusing on those models that describe their shape changes, which are well-known to relate to learning and memory. Moreover, it examines how these models can enhance our understanding of the effect of the drugs and the synaptic changes during withdrawal, as well as during neurodegenerative disease progression such as Alzheimer's disease.

αCaMKII in the lateral amygdala mediates PTSD-Like behaviors and NMDAR-Dependent LTD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that afflicts many individuals. However, its molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we found PTSD susceptible mice exhibited significant up-regulation of alpha-Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (αCaMKII) in the lateral amygdala (LA). Consistently, increasing αCaMKII in the LA not only caused PTSD-like behaviors such as impaired fear extinction and anxiety-like behaviors, but also attenuated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression (LTD) at thalamo-lateral amygdala (T-LA) synapses, and reduced GluA1-Ser845/Ser831 dephosphorylation and a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) internalization. Suppressing the elevated αCaMKII to normal levels completely rescued both PTSD-like behaviors and the impairments in LTD, GluA1-Ser845/Ser831 dephosphorylation, and AMPAR internalization. Intriguingly, deficits in GluA1-Ser845/Ser831 dephosphorylation and AMPAR internalization were detected not only after impaired fear extinction, but also after attenuated LTD. Our results suggest that αCaMKII in the LA may be a potential molecular determinant of PTSD. We further demonstrate for the first time that GluA1-Ser845/Ser831 dephosphorylation and AMPAR internalization are molecular links between fear extinction and LTD.

Functional repertoire of protein kinases and phosphatases in synaptic plasticity and associated neurological disorders

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are two essential and vital cellular mechanisms that regulate many receptors and enzymes through kinases and phosphatases. Ca²⁺- dependent kinases and phosphatases are responsible for controlling neuronal processing; balance is achieved through opposition. During molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, kinases generally modulate positively while phosphatases modulate negatively. This review outlines some of the critical physiological and structural aspects of kinases and phosphatases involved in maintaining postsynaptic structural plasticity. It also explores the link between neuronal disorders and the deregulation of phosphatases and kinases.

Epigenetic Regulation as a Basis for Long-Term Changes in the Nervous System: In Search of Specificity Mechanisms

Abstract

Adaptive long-term changes in the functioning of nervous system (plasticity, memory) are not written in the genome, but are directly associated with the changes in expression of many genes comprising epigenetic regulation. Summarizing the known data regarding the role of epigenetics in regulation of plasticity and memory, we would like to highlight several key aspects. (i) Different chromatin remodeling complexes and DNA methyltransferases can be organized into high-order multiprotein repressor complexes that are cooperatively acting as the “molecular brake pads”, selectively restricting transcriptional activity of specific genes at rest. (ii) Relevant physiological stimuli induce a cascade of biochemical events in the activated neurons resulting in translocation of different signaling molecules (protein kinases, NO-containing complexes) to the nucleus. (iii) Stimulus-specific nitrosylation and phosphorylation of different epigenetic factors is linked to a decrease in their enzymatic activity or changes in intracellular localization that results in temporary destabilization of the repressor complexes. (iv) Removing “molecular brakes” opens a “critical time window” for global and local epigenetic changes, triggering specific transcriptional programs and modulation of synaptic connections efficiency. It can be assumed that the reversible post-translational histone modifications serve as the basis of plastic changes in the neural network. On the other hand, DNA methylation and methylation-dependent 3D chromatin organization can serve a stable molecular basis for long-term maintenance of plastic changes and memory.

First Passage Time Memory Lifetimes for Multistate, Filter-Based Synapses

Models of associative memory with discrete state synapses learn new memories by forgetting old ones. In contrast to non-integrative models of synaptic plasticity, models with integrative, filter-based synapses exhibit an initial rise in the fidelity of recall of stored memories. This rise to a peak is driven by a transient process and is then followed by a return to equilibrium. In a series of papers, we have employed a first passage time (FPT) approach to define and study memory lifetimes, incrementally developing our methods, from both simple and complex binary-strength synapses to simple multistate synapses. Here, we complete this work by analyzing FPT memory lifetimes in multistate, filter-based synapses. To achieve this, we integrate out the internal filter states so that we can work with transitions only in synaptic strength. We then generalize results on polysynaptic generating functions from binary strength to multistate synapses, allowing us to examine the dynamics of synaptic strength changes in an ensemble of synapses rather than just a single synapse. To derive analytical results for FPT memory lifetimes, we partition the synaptic dynamics into two distinct phases: the first, pre-peak phase studied with a drift-only approximation, and the second, post-peak phase studied with approximations to the full strength transition probabilities. These approximations capture the underlying dynamics very well, as demonstrated by the extremely good agreement between results obtained by simulating our model and results obtained from the Fokker-Planck or integral equation approaches to FPT processes.

Perineuronal nets protect long-term memory by limiting activity-dependent inhibition from parvalbumin interneurons

Perineuronal nets (PNNs), a complex of extracellular matrix molecules that mostly surround GABAergic neurons in various brain regions, play a critical role in synaptic plasticity. The function and cellular mechanisms of PNNs in memory consolidation and reconsolidation processes are still not well understood. We hypothesized that PNNs protect long-term memory by limiting feedback inhibition from parvalbumin (PV) interneurons to projection neurons. Using behavioral, electrophysiological, and optogenetic approaches, we investigated the role of PNNs in fear memory consolidation and reconsolidation and GABAergic long-term potentiation (LTP). We made the discovery that the formation of PNNs was promoted by memory events in the hippocampus (HP), and we also demonstrated that PNN formation in both the HP and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is essential for memory consolidation and reconsolidation of recent and remote memories. Removal of PNNs resulted in evident LTP impairments, which were rescued by acute application of picrotoxin, a GABA_A receptor blocker, indicating that enhanced inhibition was the cause of the LTP impairments induced by PNN removal. Moreover, removal of PNNs switched GABA_A receptor-mediated long-term depression to LTP through a presynaptic mechanism. Furthermore, the reduced activity of PV interneurons surrounded by PNNs regulated theta oscillations during fear memory consolidation. Finally, optogenetically suppressing PV interneurons rescued the memory impairment caused by removal of PNNs. Altogether, these results unveil the function of PV interneurons surrounding PNNs in protecting recent and remote contextual memory through the regulation of PV neuron GABA release.

Dynamic Integrative Synaptic Plasticity Explains the Spacing Effect in the Transition from Short- to Long-Term Memory

Repeated stimuli that are spaced apart in time promote the transition from short- to long-term memory, while massing repetitions together does not. Previously, we showed that a model of integrative synaptic plasticity, in which plasticity induction signals are integrated by a low-pass filter before plasticity is expressed, gives rise to a natural timescale at which to repeat stimuli, hinting at a partial account of this spacing effect. The account was only partial because the important role of neuromodulation was not considered. We now show that by extending the model to allow dynamic integrative synaptic plasticity, the model permits synapses to robustly discriminate between spaced and massed repetition protocols, suppressing the response to massed stimuli while maintaining that to spaced stimuli. This is achieved by dynamically coupling the filter decay rate to neuromodulatory signaling in a very simple model of the signaling cascades downstream from cAMP production. In particular, the model's parameters may be interpreted as corresponding to the duration and amplitude of the waves of activity in the MAPK pathway. We identify choices of parameters and repetition times for stimuli in this model that optimize the ability of synapses to discriminate between spaced and massed repetition protocols. The model is very robust to reasonable changes around these optimal parameters and times, but for large changes in parameters, the model predicts that massed and spaced stimuli cannot be distinguished or that the responses to both patterns are suppressed. A model of dynamic integrative synaptic plasticity therefore explains the spacing effect under normal conditions and also predicts its breakdown under abnormal conditions.

Geometric principles of second messenger dynamics in dendritic spines

Dendritic spines are small, bulbous protrusions along dendrites in neurons and play a critical role in synaptic transmission. Dendritic spines come in a variety of shapes that depend on their developmental state. Additionally, roughly 14-19% of mature spines have a specialized endoplasmic reticulum called the spine apparatus. How does the shape of a postsynaptic spine and its internal organization affect the spatio-temporal dynamics of short timescale signaling? Answers to this question are central to our understanding the initiation of synaptic transmission, learning, and memory formation. In this work, we investigated the effect of spine and spine apparatus size and shape on the spatio-temporal dynamics of second messengers using mathematical modeling using reaction-diffusion equations in idealized geometries (ellipsoids, spheres, and mushroom-shaped). Our analyses and simulations showed that in the short timescale, spine size and shape coupled with the spine apparatus geometries govern the spatiotemporal dynamics of second messengers. We show that the curvature of the geometries gives rise to pseudo-harmonic functions, which predict the locations of maximum and minimum concentrations along the spine head. Furthermore, we showed that the lifetime of the concentration gradient can be fine-tuned by localization of fluxes on the spine head and varying the relative curvatures and distances between the spine apparatus and the spine head. Thus, we have identified several key geometric determinants of how the spine head and spine apparatus may regulate the short timescale chemical dynamics of small molecules that control synaptic plasticity.

Multi-scale modeling of the circadian modulation of learning and memory

We propose a multi-scale model to explain the time-of-day effects on learning and memory. We specifically model the circadian variation of hippocampus (HC) dependent long-term potentiation (LTP), depression (LTD), and the fear conditioning paradigm in amygdala. The model we built has both Goodwin type circadian gene regulatory network (GRN) and the conductance model of Morris-Lecar (ML) type to explain the spontaneous firing patterns (SFR) in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). In the conductance model, we also include N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) to study the circadian dependent changes in LTP/LTD in hippocampus and include both NMDAR and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) dynamics to explain the circadian modulation of fear conditioning paradigm in memory acquisition, recall, and extinction as seen in amygdala. Our multi-scale model captures the essential dynamics seen in the experiments and strongly supports the circadian time-of-the-day effects on learning and memory.

How can memories last for days, years, or a lifetime? Proposed mechanisms for maintaining synaptic potentiation and memory

With memory encoding reliant on persistent changes in the properties of synapses, a key question is how can memories be maintained from days to months or a lifetime given molecular turnover? It is likely that positive feedback loops are necessary to persistently maintain the strength of synapses that participate in encoding. Such feedback may occur within signal-transduction cascades and/or the regulation of translation, and it may occur within specific subcellular compartments or within neuronal networks. Not surprisingly, numerous positive feedback loops have been proposed. Some posited loops operate at the level of biochemical signal-transduction cascades, such as persistent activation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) or protein kinase Mζ. Another level consists of feedback loops involving transcriptional, epigenetic and translational pathways, and autocrine actions of growth factors such as BDNF. Finally, at the neuronal network level, recurrent reactivation of cell assemblies encoding memories is likely to be essential for late maintenance of memory. These levels are not isolated, but linked by shared components of feedback loops. Here, we review characteristics of some commonly discussed feedback loops proposed to underlie the maintenance of memory and long-term synaptic plasticity, assess evidence for and against their necessity, and suggest experiments that could further delineate the dynamics of these feedback loops. We also discuss crosstalk between proposed loops, and ways in which such interaction can facilitate the rapidity and robustness of memory formation and storage.

Regulatory mechanisms in postsynaptic phosphorylation networks

The modulation of the postsynaptic signaling machinery by protein phosphorylation has attracted much interest since it is key for the understanding of the regulation of a variety of synaptic functions. While advances in mass spectrometry have allowed us to begin performing large-scale analysis of protein phosphorylation in components of the PSD, the systematic collection of datasets and their functional significance within the context of regulatory signaling networks is in its infancy. Here, we will focus on the composition of the PSD phosphoproteome describing kinase, phosphatase, and protein domain modules involved in the regulation of phosphorylation signaling. We will discuss the impact of synaptic plasticity mechanisms such as long-term potentiation (LTP) in mammalian kinomes and describe the general rules of signaling organization in the PSD phosphoproteome.

From membrane receptors to protein synthesis and actin cytoskeleton: Mechanisms underlying long lasting forms of synaptic plasticity

Synaptic plasticity, the activity dependent change in synaptic strength, forms the molecular foundation of learning and memory. Synaptic plasticity includes structural changes, with spines changing their size to accomodate insertion and removal of postynaptic receptors, which are correlated with functional changes. Of particular relevance for memory storage are the long lasting forms of synaptic plasticity which are protein synthesis dependent. Due to the importance of spine structural plasticity and protein synthesis, this review focuses on the signaling pathways that connect synaptic stimulation with regulation of protein synthesis and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. We also review computational models that implement novel aspects of molecular signaling in synaptic plasticity, such as the role of neuromodulators and spatial microdomains, as well as highlight the need for computational models that connect activation of memory kinases with spine actin dynamics.

Modulation of Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity: Towards the Inclusion of a Third Factor in Computational Models

In spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) change in synaptic strength depends on the timing of pre- vs. postsynaptic spiking activity. Since STDP is in compliance with Hebb's postulate, it is considered one of the major mechanisms of memory storage and recall. STDP comprises a system of two coincidence detectors with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation often posited as one of the main components. Numerous studies have unveiled a third component of this coincidence detection system, namely neuromodulation and glia activity shaping STDP. Even though dopaminergic control of STDP has most often been reported, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, nitric oxide (NO), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) also has been shown to effectively modulate STDP. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that astrocytes, via the release or uptake of glutamate, gate STDP expression. At the most fundamental level, the timing properties of STDP are expected to depend on the spatiotemporal dynamics of the underlying signaling pathways. However in most cases, due to technical limitations experiments grant only indirect access to these pathways. Computational models carefully constrained by experiments, allow for a better qualitative understanding of the molecular basis of STDP and its regulation by neuromodulators. Recently, computational models of calcium dynamics and signaling pathway molecules have started to explore STDP emergence in ex and in vivo-like conditions. These models are expected to reproduce better at least part of the complex modulation of STDP as an emergent property of the underlying molecular pathways. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying STDP modulation and its consequences on network dynamics is of critical importance and will allow better understanding of the major mechanisms of memory storage and recall both in health and disease.

Removal of perineuronal nets disrupts recall of a remote fear memory

Throughout life animals learn to recognize cues that signal danger and instantaneously initiate an adequate threat response. Memories of such associations may last a lifetime and far outlast the intracellular molecules currently found to be important for memory processing. The memory engram may be supported by other more stable molecular components, such as the extracellular matrix structure of perineuronal nets (PNNs). Here, we show that recall of remote, but not recent, visual fear memories in rats depend on intact PNNs in the secondary visual cortex (V2L). Supporting our behavioral findings, increased synchronized theta oscillations between V2L and basolateral amygdala, a physiological correlate of successful recall, was absent in rats with degraded PNNs in V2L. Together, our findings suggest a role for PNNs in remote memory processing by stabilizing the neural network of the engram.

Down-regulation of dorsal striatal αCaMKII causes striatum-related cognitive and synaptic disorders

Alpha calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII) is a serine/threonine protein kinase which is expressed abundantly in dorsal striatum and is highly involved in the corticostriatal synaptic plasticity. Nevertheless, it currently remains unclear whether and how αCaMKII plays a in the striatum-related neural disorders. To address the above issue, lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to silence the expression of αCaMKII gene in the dorsal striatum of mice. As a consequence of down-regulation of dorsal striatal αCaMKII expression, we observed defective motor skill learning in accelerating rotarod and response learning in water cross maze. Furthermore, impaired corticostriatal basal transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP), which correlated with the deficits in dorsal striatum-related cognition, were also detected in the αCaMKII-shRNA mice. Consistent with the above results, αCaMKII-shRNA mice exhibited a remarkable decline in GluA1-Ser831 and GluA1-Ser845 phosphorylation levels of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR), and a decline in the expression levels of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B. Taken together, αCaMKII down-regulation caused dorsal striatum-related cognitive disorders by inhibiting corticostriatal synaptic plasticity, which resulted from dysfunction of AMPARs and NMDARs. Our findings demonstrate for the first time an important role of αCaMKII in striatum-related neural disorders and provide further evidence for the proposition that corticostriatal LTP underlies aspects of dorsal striatum-related cognition.

Depotentiation from Potentiated Synaptic Strength in a Tristable System of Coupled Phosphatase and Kinase

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength is strongly implicated in learning and memory. On the other hand, depotentiation, the reversal of synaptic strength from potentiated LTP state to the pre-LTP level, is required in extinction of the obsolete memory. A generic tristable system, which couples the phosphatase and kinase switches, exclusively explains how moderate and high elevation of intracellular calcium concentration triggers long-term depression (LTD) and LTP, respectively. The present study, introducing calcium influx and calcium release from internal store into the tristable system, further show that significant elevation of cytoplasmic calcium concentration switches activation of both kinase and phosphatase to their basal states, thereby depotentiate the synaptic strength. A phase-plane analysis of the combined model was employed to explain the previously reported depotentiation in experiments and predict a threshold-like effect with calcium concentration. The results not only reveal a mechanism of NMDAR- and mGluR-dependent depotentiation, but also predict further experiments about the role of internal calcium store in induction of depotentiation and extinction of established memories.

Paradoxical signaling regulates structural plasticity in dendritic spines

Transient spine enlargement (3- to 5-min timescale) is an important event associated with the structural plasticity of dendritic spines. Many of the molecular mechanisms associated with transient spine enlargement have been identified experimentally. Here, we use a systems biology approach to construct a mathematical model of biochemical signaling and actin-mediated transient spine expansion in response to calcium influx caused by NMDA receptor activation. We have identified that a key feature of this signaling network is the paradoxical signaling loop. Paradoxical components act bifunctionally in signaling networks, and their role is to control both the activation and the inhibition of a desired response function (protein activity or spine volume). Using ordinary differential equation (ODE)-based modeling, we show that the dynamics of different regulators of transient spine expansion, including calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), RhoA, and Cdc42, and the spine volume can be described using paradoxical signaling loops. Our model is able to capture the experimentally observed dynamics of transient spine volume. Furthermore, we show that actin remodeling events provide a robustness to spine volume dynamics. We also generate experimentally testable predictions about the role of different components and parameters of the network on spine dynamics.

The Enhanced Rise and Delayed Fall of Memory in a Model of Synaptic Integration: Extension to Discrete State Synapses

Integrate-and-express models of synaptic plasticity propose that synapses may act as low-pass filters, integrating synaptic plasticity induction signals in order to discern trends before expressing synaptic plasticity. We have previously shown that synaptic filtering strongly controls destabilizing fluctuations in developmental models. When applied to palimpsest memory systems that learn new memories by forgetting old ones, we have also shown that with binary-strength synapses, integrative synapses lead to an initial memory signal rise before its fall back to equilibrium. Such an initial rise is in dramatic contrast to nonintegrative synapses, in which the memory signal falls monotonically. We now extend our earlier analysis of palimpsest memories with synaptic filters to consider the more general case of discrete state, multilevel synapses. We derive exact results for the memory signal dynamics and then consider various simplifying approximations. We show that multilevel synapses enhance the initial rise in the memory signal and then delay its subsequent fall by inducing a plateau-like region in the memory signal. Such dynamics significantly increase memory lifetimes, defined by a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We derive expressions for optimal choices of synaptic parameters (filter size, number of strength states, number of synapses) that maximize SNR memory lifetimes. However, we find that with memory lifetimes defined via mean-first-passage times, such optimality conditions do not exist, suggesting that optimality may be an artifact of SNRs.

Wip1 phosphatase modulates both long-term potentiation and long-term depression through the dephosphorylation of CaMKII

Synaptic plasticity is an important mechanism that underlies learning and cognition. Protein phosphorylation by kinases and dephosphorylation by phosphatases play critical roles in the activity-dependent alteration of synaptic plasticity. In this study, we report that Wip1, a protein phosphatase, is essential for long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) processes. Wip1-deletion suppresses LTP and enhances LTD in the hippocampus CA1 area. Wip1 deficiency-induced aberrant elevation of CaMKII T286/287 and T305 phosphorylation underlies these dysfunctions. Moreover, we showed that Wip1 modulates CaMKII dephosphorylation. Wip1(-/-) mice exhibit abnormal GluR1 membrane expression, which could be reversed by the application of a CaMKII inhibitor, indicating that Wip1/CaMKII signaling is crucial for synaptic plasticity. Together, our results demonstrate that Wip1 phosphatase plays a vital role in regulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity by modulating the phosphorylation of CaMKII.

The Role of Functional Prion-Like Proteins in the Persistence of Memory

Prions are a self-templating amyloidogenic state of normal cellular proteins, such as prion protein (PrP). They have been identified as the pathogenic agents, contributing to a number of diseases of the nervous system. However, the discovery that the neuronal RNA-binding protein, cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein (CPEB), has a prion-like state that is involved in the stabilization of memory raised the possibility that prion-like proteins can serve normal physiological functions in the nervous system. Here, we review recent experimental evidence of prion-like properties of neuronal CPEB in various organisms and propose a model of how the prion-like state may stabilize memory.

A novel explanation for observed CaMKII dynamics in dendritic spines with added EGTA or BAPTA

We present a simplified reaction network in a single well-mixed volume that captures the general features of CaMKII dynamics observed during both synaptic input and spine depolarization. Our model can also account for the greater-than-control CaMKII activation observed with added EGTA during depolarization. Calcium input currents are modeled after experimental observations, and existing models of calmodulin and CaMKII autophosphorylation are used. After calibration against CaMKII activation data in the absence of chelators, CaMKII activation dynamics due to synaptic input via n-methyl-d-aspartate receptors are qualitatively accounted for in the presence of the chelators EGTA and BAPTA without additional adjustments to the model. To account for CaMKII activation dynamics during spine depolarization with added EGTA or BAPTA, the model invokes the modulation of CaV2.3 (R-type) voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) currents observed in the presence of EGTA or BAPTA. To our knowledge, this is a novel explanation for the increased CaMKII activation seen in dendritic spines with added EGTA, and suggests that differential modulation of VDCCs by EGTA and BAPTA offers an alternative or complementary explanation for other experimental results in which addition of EGTA or BAPTA produces different effects. Our results also show that a simplified reaction network in a single, well-mixed compartment is sufficient to account for the general features of observed CaMKII dynamics.

Overexpression of αCaMKII impairs behavioral flexibility and NMDAR-dependent long-term depression in the medial prefrontal cortex

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) participates in the behavioral flexibility. As a major downstream molecule in the NMDA receptor signaling, alpha-Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII) is crucial for hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and hippocampus-related memory. However, the role of αCaMKII in mPFC-related behavioral flexibility and mPFC synaptic plasticity remains elusive. In the present study, using chemical-genetic approaches to temporally up-regulate αCaMKII activity, we found that αCaMKII-F89G transgenic mice exhibited impaired behavioral flexibility in Y-water maze arm reversal task. Notably, in vitro electrophysiological analysis showed normal basal synaptic transmission, LTP and depotentiation, but selectively impaired NMDAR-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the mPFC of αCaMKII-F89G transgenic mice. In accordance with the deficit in NMDAR-dependent LTD, αCaMKII-F89G transgenic mice exhibited impaired AMPAR internalization during NMDAR-dependent chemical LTD expression in the mPFC. Furthermore, the above deficits in behavioral flexibility, NMDAR-dependent LTD and AMPAR internalization could all be reversed by 1-naphthylmethyl (NM)-PP1, a specific inhibitor of exogenous αCaMKII-F89G activity. Taken together, our results for the first time indicate that αCaMKII overexpression in the forebrain impairs behavioral flexibility and NMDAR-dependent LTD in the mPFC, and supports the notion that there is a close relationship between NMDAR-dependent LTD and behavioral flexibility.

Synaptic consolidation: from synapses to behavioral modeling

Synaptic plasticity, a key process for memory formation, manifests itself across different time scales ranging from a few seconds for plasticity induction up to hours or even years for consolidation and memory retention. We developed a three-layered model of synaptic consolidation that accounts for data across a large range of experimental conditions. Consolidation occurs in the model through the interaction of the synaptic efficacy with a scaffolding variable by a read-write process mediated by a tagging-related variable. Plasticity-inducing stimuli modify the efficacy, but the state of tag and scaffold can only change if a write protection mechanism is overcome. Our model makes a link from depotentiation protocols in vitro to behavioral results regarding the influence of novelty on inhibitory avoidance memory in rats.

Inhibitory control of site-specific synaptic plasticity in a model CA1 pyramidal neuron

A computational model of a biochemical network underlying synaptic plasticity is combined with simulated on-going electrical activity in a model of a hippocampal pyramidal neuron to study the impact of synapse location and inhibition on synaptic plasticity. The simulated pyramidal neuron is activated by the realistic stimulation protocol of causal and anticausal spike pairings of presynaptic and postsynaptic action potentials in the presence and absence of spatially targeted inhibition provided by basket, bistratified and oriens-lacunosum moleculare (OLM) interneurons. The resulting Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) curves depend strongly on the number of pairing repetitions, the synapse location and the timing and strength of inhibition.

Calcium: amplitude, duration, or location?

Calcium plays a role in long-term plasticity by triggering postsynaptic signaling pathways for both the strengthening (LTP) and weakening (LTD) of synapses. Since these are opposing processes, several hypotheses have been developed to explain how calcium can trigger LTP in some situations and LTD in others. These hypotheses fall broadly into three categories, based on the amplitude of calcium concentration, the duration of the calcium elevation, and the location of the calcium influx. Here we review the experimental evidence for and against each of these hypotheses and the recent computational models utilizing each. We argue that with new experimental techniques for the precise visualization of calcium and new computational techniques for the modeling of calcium diffusion, it is time to take a new look at the location hypothesis.

In vitro reconstitution of a CaMKII memory switch by an NMDA receptor-derived peptide

Ca(2+)/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) has been shown to play a major role in establishing memories through complex molecular interactions including phosphorylation of multiple synaptic targets. However, it is still controversial whether CaMKII itself serves as a molecular memory because of a lack of direct evidence. Here, we show that a single holoenzyme of CaMKII per se serves as an erasable molecular memory switch. We reconstituted Ca(2+)/Calmodulin-dependent CaMKII autophosphorylation in the presence of protein phosphatase 1 in vitro, and found that CaMKII phosphorylation shows a switch-like response with history dependence (hysteresis) only in the presence of an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-derived peptide. This hysteresis is Ca(2+) and protein phosphatase 1 concentration-dependent, indicating that the CaMKII memory switch is not simply caused by an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-derived peptide lock of CaMKII in an active conformation. Mutation of a phosphorylation site of the peptide shifted the Ca(2+) range of hysteresis. These functions may be crucial for induction and maintenance of long-term synaptic plasticity at hippocampal synapses.

Synaptopodin regulates spine plasticity: mediation by calcium stores

The role of synaptopodin (SP), an actin-binding protein residing in dendritic spines, in synaptic plasticity was studied in dissociated cultures of hippocampus taken from control and SP knock-out (SPKO) mice. Unlike controls, SPKO cultures were unable to express changes in network activity or morphological plasticity after intense activation of their NMDA receptors. SPKO neurons were transfected with SP-GFP, such that the only SP resident in these neurons is the fluorescent species. The localization and intensity of the transfected SP were similar to that of the native one. Because less than half of the spines in the transfected neurons contained SP, comparisons were made between SP-containing (SP(+)) and SP lacking (SP(-)) spines in the same dendritic segments. Synaptic plasticity was induced either in the entire network by facilitation of the activation of the NMDA receptor, or specifically by local flash photolysis of caged glutamate. After activation, spines that were endowed with SP puncta were much more likely to expand than SP(-) spines. The spine expansion was suppressed by thapsigargin, which disables calcium stores. The mechanism through which SP may promote plasticity is indicated by the observations that STIM-1, the sensor of calcium concentration in stores, and Orai-1, the calcium-induced calcium entry channel, are colocalized with SP, in the same dendritic spines. The structural basis of SP is likely to be the spine apparatus, found in control but not in SPKO cells. These results indicate that SP has an essential, calcium store-related role in regulating synaptic plasticity in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Memory maintenance in synapses with calcium-based plasticity in the presence of background activity

Most models of learning and memory assume that memories are maintained in neuronal circuits by persistent synaptic modifications induced by specific patterns of pre- and postsynaptic activity. For this scenario to be viable, synaptic modifications must survive the ubiquitous ongoing activity present in neural circuits in vivo. In this paper, we investigate the time scales of memory maintenance in a calcium-based synaptic plasticity model that has been shown recently to be able to fit different experimental data-sets from hippocampal and neocortical preparations. We find that in the presence of background activity on the order of 1 Hz parameters that fit pyramidal layer 5 neocortical data lead to a very fast decay of synaptic efficacy, with time scales of minutes. We then identify two ways in which this memory time scale can be extended: (i) the extracellular calcium concentration in the experiments used to fit the model are larger than estimated concentrations in vivo. Lowering extracellular calcium concentration to in vivo levels leads to an increase in memory time scales of several orders of magnitude; (ii) adding a bistability mechanism so that each synapse has two stable states at sufficiently low background activity leads to a further boost in memory time scale, since memory decay is no longer described by an exponential decay from an initial state, but by an escape from a potential well. We argue that both features are expected to be present in synapses in vivo. These results are obtained first in a single synapse connecting two independent Poisson neurons, and then in simulations of a large network of excitatory and inhibitory integrate-and-fire neurons. Our results emphasise the need for studying plasticity at physiological extracellular calcium concentration, and highlight the role of synaptic bi- or multistability in the stability of learned synaptic structures.

Synaptic plasticity is widely believed to be the main mechanism underlying learning and memory. In recent years, several mathematical plasticity rules have been shown to fit satisfactorily a wide range of experimental data in hippocampal and neocortical in vitro preparations. In particular, a model in which plasticity is driven by the postsynaptic calcium concentration was shown to reproduce successfully how synaptic changes depend on spike timing, specific spike patterns, and firing rate. The advantage of calcium-based rules is the possibility of predicting how changes in extracellular concentrations will affect plasticity. This is particularly significant in the view that in vitro studies are typically done at higher concentrations than the ones measured in vivo. Using such a rule, with parameters fitting in vitro data, we explore how long the memory of a particular synaptic change can be maintained in the presence of background neuronal activity, ubiquitously observed in cortex. We find that the memory time scales increase by several orders of magnitude when calcium concentrations are lowered from typical in vitro experiments to in vivo. Furthermore, we find that synaptic bistability further extends the memory time scale, and estimate that synaptic changes in vivo could be stable on the scale of weeks to months.

Drosophila Syd-1, liprin-α, and protein phosphatase 2A B' subunit Wrd function in a linear pathway to prevent ectopic accumulation of synaptic materials in distal axons

During synaptic development, presynaptic differentiation occurs as an intrinsic property of axons to form specialized areas of plasma membrane [active zones (AZs)] that regulate exocytosis and endocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Genetic and biochemical studies in vertebrate and invertebrate model systems have identified a number of proteins involved in AZ assembly. However, elucidating the molecular events of AZ assembly in a spatiotemporal manner remains a challenge. Syd-1 (synapse defective-1) and Liprin-α have been identified as two master organizers of AZ assembly. Genetic and imaging analyses in invertebrates show that Syd-1 works upstream of Liprin-α in synaptic assembly through undefined mechanisms. To understand molecular pathways downstream of Liprin-α, we performed a proteomic screen of Liprin-α-interacting proteins in Drosophila brains. We identify Drosophila protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulatory subunit B' [Wrd (Well Rounded)] as a Liprin-α-interacting protein, and we demonstrate that it mediates the interaction of Liprin-α with PP2A holoenzyme and the Liprin-α-dependent synaptic localization of PP2A. Interestingly, loss of function in syd-1, liprin-α, or wrd shares a common defect in which a portion of synaptic vesicles, dense-core vesicles, and presynaptic cytomatrix proteins ectopically accumulate at the distal, but not proximal, region of motoneuron axons. Strong genetic data show that a linear syd-1/liprin-α/wrd pathway in the motoneuron antagonizes glycogen synthase kinase-3β kinase activity to prevent the ectopic accumulation of synaptic materials. Furthermore, we provide data suggesting that the syd-1/liprin-α/wrd pathway stabilizes AZ specification at the nerve terminal and that such a novel function is independent of the roles of syd-1/liprin-α in regulating the morphology of the T-bar structural protein BRP (Bruchpilot).

Distinct molecular components for thalamic- and cortical-dependent plasticity in the lateral amygdala

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) is a form of synaptic plasticity thought to be a cellular substrate for the extinction of fear memory. The LA receives converging inputs from the sensory thalamus and neocortex that are weakened following fear extinction. Combining field and patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings in mice, we show that paired-pulse low-frequency stimulation can induce a robust LTD at thalamic and cortical inputs to LA, and we identify different underlying molecular components at these pathways. We show that while LTD depends on NMDARs and activation of the protein phosphatases PP2B and PP1 at both pathways, it requires NR2B-containing NMDARs at the thalamic pathway, but NR2C/D-containing NMDARs at the cortical pathway. LTD appears to be induced post-synaptically at the thalamic input but presynaptically at the cortical input, since post-synaptic calcium chelation and NMDAR blockade prevent thalamic but not cortical LTD. These results highlight distinct molecular features of LTD in LA that may be relevant for traumatic memory and its erasure, and for pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Acute modulation of synaptic plasticity of pyramidal neurons by activin in adult hippocampus

Activin A is known as a neuroprotective factor produced upon acute excitotoxic injury of the hippocampus (in pathological states). We attempt to reveal the role of activin as a neuromodulator in the adult male hippocampus under physiological conditions (in healthy states), which remains largely unknown. We showed endogenous/basal expression of activin in the hippocampal neurons. Localization of activin receptors in dendritic spines (=postsynapses) was demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy. The incubation of hippocampal acute slices with activin A (10 ng/mL, 0.4 nM) for 2 h altered the density and morphology of spines in CA1 pyramidal neurons. The total spine density increased by 1.2-fold upon activin treatments. Activin selectively increased the density of large-head spines, without affecting middle-head and small-head spines. Blocking Erk/MAPK, PKA, or PKC prevented the activin-induced spinogenesis by reducing the density of large-head spines, independent of Smad-induced gene transcription which usually takes more than several hours. Incubation of acute slices with activin for 2 h induced the moderate early long-term potentiation (moderate LTP) upon weak theta burst stimuli. This moderate LTP induction was blocked by follistatin, MAPK inhibitor (PD98059) and inhibitor of NR2B subunit of NMDA receptors (Ro25-6981). It should be noted that the weak theta burst stimuli alone cannot induce moderate LTP. These results suggest that MAPK-induced phosphorylation of NMDA receptors (including NR2B) may play an important role for activin-induced moderate LTP. Taken together, the current results reveal interesting physiological roles of endogenous activin as a rapid synaptic modulator in the adult hippocampus.

Contribution of Orb2A stability in regulated amyloid-like oligomerization of Drosophila Orb2

How learned experiences persist as memory for a long time is an important question. In Drosophila the persistence of memory is dependent upon amyloid-like oligomers of the Orb2 protein. However, it is not clear how the conversion of Orb2 to the amyloid-like oligomeric state is regulated. The Orb2 has two protein isoforms, and the rare Orb2A isoform is critical for oligomerization of the ubiquitous Orb2B isoform. Here, we report the discovery of a protein network comprised of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), Transducer of Erb-B2 (Tob), and Lim Kinase (LimK) that controls the abundance of Orb2A. PP2A maintains Orb2A in an unphosphorylated and unstable state, whereas Tob-LimK phosphorylates and stabilizes Orb2A. Mutation of LimK abolishes activity-dependent Orb2 oligomerization in the adult brain. Moreover, Tob-Orb2 association is modulated by neuronal activity and Tob activity in the mushroom body is required for stable memory formation. These observations suggest that the interplay between PP2A and Tob-LimK activity may dynamically regulate Orb2 amyloid-like oligomer formation and the stabilization of memories.

Calcium-dependent calcium decay explains STDP in a dynamic model of hippocampal synapses

It is widely accepted that the direction and magnitude of synaptic plasticity depends on post-synaptic calcium flux, where high levels of calcium lead to long-term potentiation and moderate levels lead to long-term depression. At synapses onto neurons in region CA1 of the hippocampus (and many other synapses), NMDA receptors provide the relevant source of calcium. In this regard, post-synaptic calcium captures the coincidence of pre- and post-synaptic activity, due to the blockage of these receptors at low voltage. Previous studies show that under spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) protocols, potentiation at CA1 synapses requires post-synaptic bursting and an inter-pairing frequency in the range of the hippocampal theta rhythm. We hypothesize that these requirements reflect the saturation of the mechanisms of calcium extrusion from the post-synaptic spine. We test this hypothesis with a minimal model of NMDA receptor-dependent plasticity, simulating slow extrusion with a calcium-dependent calcium time constant. In simulations of STDP experiments, the model accounts for latency-dependent depression with either post-synaptic bursting or theta-frequency pairing (or neither) and accounts for latency-dependent potentiation when both of these requirements are met. The model makes testable predictions for STDP experiments and our simple implementation is tractable at the network level, demonstrating associative learning in a biophysical network model with realistic synaptic dynamics.

Roles of phosphotase 2A in nociceptive signal processing

Multiple protein kinases affect the responses of dorsal horn neurons through phosphorylation of synaptic receptors and proteins involved in intracellular signal transduction pathways, and the consequences of this modulation may be spinal central sensitization. In contrast, the phosphatases catalyze an opposing reaction of de-phosphorylation, which may also modulate the functions of crucial proteins in signaling nociception. This is an important mechanism in the regulation of intracellular signal transduction pathways in nociceptive neurons. Accumulated evidence has shown that phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a serine/threonine specific phosphatase, is implicated in synaptic plasticity of the central nervous system and central sensitization of nociception. Therefore, targeting protein phosphotase 2A may provide an effective and novel strategy for the treatment of clinical pain. This review will characterize the structure and functional regulation of neuronal PP2A and bring together recent advances on the modulation of PP2A in targeted downstream substrates and relevant multiple nociceptive signaling molecules.

Very long-term memories may be stored in the pattern of holes in the perineuronal net

A hypothesis and the experiments to test it propose that very long-term memories, such as fear conditioning, are stored as the pattern of holes in the perineuronal net (PNN), a specialized ECM that envelops mature neurons and restricts synapse formation. The 3D intertwining of PNN and synapses would be imaged by serial-section EM. Lifetimes of PNN vs. intrasynaptic components would be compared with pulse-chase (15)N labeling in mice and (14)C content in human cadaver brains. Genetically encoded indicators and antineoepitope antibodies should improve spatial and temporal resolution of the in vivo activity of proteases that locally erode PNN. Further techniques suggested include genetic KOs, better pharmacological inhibitors, and a genetically encoded snapshot reporter, which will capture the pattern of activity throughout a large ensemble of neurons at a time precisely defined by the triggering illumination, drive expression of effector genes to mark those cells, and allow selective excitation, inhibition, or ablation to test their functional importance. The snapshot reporter should enable more precise inhibition or potentiation of PNN erosion to compare with behavioral consequences. Finally, biosynthesis of PNN components and proteases would be imaged.

The Rise and Fall of Memory in a Model of Synaptic Integration

Plasticity-inducing stimuli must typically be presented many times before synaptic plasticity is expressed, perhaps because induction signals gradually accumulate before overt strength changes occur. We consider memory dynamics in a mathematical model with synapses that integrate plasticity induction signals before expressing plasticity. We find that the memory trace initially rises before reaching a maximum and then falling. The memory signal dissociates into separate oblivescence and reminiscence components, with reminiscence initially dominating recall. In radical contrast, related but nonintegrative models exhibit only a highly problematic oblivescence. Synaptic integration mechanisms possess natural timescales, depending on the statistics of the induction signals. Together with neuromodulation, these timescales may therefore also begin to provide a natural account of the well-known spacing effect in the transition to late-phase plasticity. Finally, we propose experiments that could distinguish between integrative and nonintegrative synapses. Such experiments should further elucidate the synaptic signal processing mechanisms postulated by our model.