calcium-phosphate-transfection-of-primary-hippocampal-neurons

Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this ...

Rutgers University

Dendritic spines in the central nervous system undergo rapid actin-based shape changes, making actin regulators potential modulators of spine morphology and synapse formation. Although several potential regulators and effectors for actin organization have been identified, the mechanisms by which these molecules assemble and localize are not understood. Here we show that the G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting protein (GIT)1 serves such a function by targeting actin regulators and locally modulating Rac activity at synapses. In cultured hippocampal neurons, GIT1 is enriched in both pre- and postsynaptic terminals and targeted to these sites by a novel domain. Disruption of the synaptic localization of GIT1 by a dominant-negative mutant results in numerous dendritic protrusions and a significant decrease in the number of synapses and normal mushroom-shaped spines. The phenotype results from mislocalized GIT1 and its binding partner PIX, an exchange factor for Rac. In addition, constitutively active Rac shows a phenotype similar to the GIT1 mutant, whereas dominant-negative Rac inhibits the dendritic protrusion formation induced by mislocalized GIT1. These results demonstrate a novel function for GIT1 as a key regulator of spine morphology and synapse formation and point to a potential mechanism by which mutations in Rho family signaling leads to decreased neuronal connectivity and cognitive defects in nonsyndromic mental retardation.

Synapse formation is regulated by the signaling adaptor GIT1.

Cell migration is an essential process for normal development and homeostasis that can also contribute to important pathologies. Not surprisingly, there is considerable interest in understanding migration on a molecular level, but this is a difficult task. However, technologies are rapidly emerging to address the major intellectual challenges associated with migration. In this chapter, we outline the basics of cell migration with an emphasis on the diverse systems, methodologies, and techniques described in this book. From the contributions presented, it is apparent that the next few years should produce major advances in our understanding of cell migration.

Cell migration: an overview.

Three of seven recently identified genes mutated in nonsyndromic mental retardation are involved in Rho family signaling. Two of the gene products, alpha-p-21-activated kinase (PAK) interacting exchange factor (alphaPIX) and PAK3, form a complex with the synaptic adaptor protein G-protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting protein 1 (GIT1). Using an RNA interference approach, we show that GIT1 is critical for spine and synapse formation. We also show that Rac is locally activated in dendritic spines using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This local activation of Rac is regulated by PIX, a Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor. PAK1 and PAK3 serve as downstream effectors of Rac in regulating spine and synapse formation. Active PAK promotes the formation of spines and dendritic protrusions, which correlates with an increase in the number of excitatory synapses. These effects are dependent on the kinase activity of PAK, and PAK functions through phosphorylating myosin II regulatory light chain (MLC). Activated MLC causes an increase in dendritic spine and synapse formation, whereas inhibiting myosin ATPase activity results in decreased spine and synapse formation. Finally, both activated PAK and activated MLC can rescue the defects of GIT1 knockdown, suggesting that PAK and MLC are downstream of GIT1 in regulating spine and synapse formation. Our results point to a signaling complex, consisting of GIT1, PIX, Rac, and PAK, that plays an essential role in the regulation of dendritic spine and synapse formation and provides a potential mechanism by which alphaPIX and PAK3 mutations affect cognitive functions in mental retardation.

A GIT1/PIX/Rac/PAK signaling module regulates spine morphogenesis and synapse formation through MLC.

PAR-3 (partitioning-defective gene 3) is essential for cell polarization in many contexts, including axon specification. However, polarity proteins have not been implicated in later steps of neuronal differentiation, such as dendritic spine morphogenesis. Here, we show that PAR-3 is necessary for normal spine development in primary hippocampal neurons. Depletion of PAR-3 causes the formation of multiple filopodia- and lamellipodia-like dendritic protrusions - a phenotype similar to neurons expressing activated Rac. PAR-3 regulates spine formation by binding the Rac guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) TIAM1, and spatially restricting it to dendritic spines. Thus, a balance of PAR-3 and TIAM1 is essential to modulate Rac-GTP levels and to allow spine morphogenesis.

The polarity protein PAR-3 and TIAM1 cooperate in dendritic spine morphogenesis.

The actin-based dynamics of dendritic spines play a key role in synaptic plasticity, which underlies learning and memory. Although it is becoming increasingly clear that modulation of actin is critical for spine dynamics, the upstream molecular signals that regulate the formation and plasticity of spines are poorly understood. In non-neuronal cells, integrins are critical modulators of the actin cytoskeleton, but their function in the nervous system is not well characterized. Here we show that alpha5 integrin regulates spine morphogenesis and synapse formation in hippocampal neurons. Knockdown of alpha5 integrin expression using small interfering RNA decreased the number of dendritic protrusions, spines, and synapses. Expression of constitutively active or dominant negative alpha5 integrin also resulted in alterations in the number of dendritic protrusions, spines, and synapses. alpha5 integrin signaling regulates spine morphogenesis and synapse formation by a mechanism that is dependent on Src kinase, Rac, and the signaling adaptor GIT1. Alterations in the activity or localization of these molecules result in a significant decrease in the number of spines and synapses. Thus, our results point to a critical role for integrin signaling in regulating the formation of dendritic spines and synapses in hippocampal neurons.

alpha5 integrin signaling regulates the formation of spines and synapses in hippocampal neurons.

The majority of excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain occurs at dendritic spines, which are actin-rich protrusions on the dendrites. The asymmetric nature of these structures suggests that proteins regulating cell polarity might be involved in their formation. Indeed, the polarity protein PAR-3 is required for normal spine morphogenesis. However, this function is independent of association with atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and PAR-6. Here we show that PAR-6 together with aPKC plays a distinct but essential role in spine morphogenesis. Knockdown of PAR-6 inhibits spine morphogenesis, whereas overexpression of PAR-6 increases spine density, and these effects are mediated by aPKC. Using a FRET biosensor, we further show that p190 RhoGAP and RhoA act downstream of the PAR-6/aPKC complex. These results define a role for PAR-6 and aPKC in dendritic spine biogenesis and maintenance, and reveal an unexpected link between the PAR-6/aPKC complex and RhoA activity.

The PAR-6 polarity protein regulates dendritic spine morphogenesis through p190 RhoGAP and the Rho GTPase.

p-n junction photocatalyst p-CaFe(2)O(4)/n-Ag(3)VO(4) was prepared by ball milling Ag(3)VO(4) in H(2)O doped with p-type CaFe(2)O(4). The structural and optical properties of the photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS). The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the p-CaFe(2)O(4)/n-Ag(3)VO(4) was higher than that of Ag(3)VO(4). When the amount of doped p-CaFe(2)O(4) was 2.0 wt.% and the p-CaFe(2)O(4)/n-Ag(3)VO(4) was ball milled for 12h, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency was 85.4%. Effect of ball milling time on the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was also investigated. The mechanisms of the increase in the photocatalytic activity were discussed by the p-n junction principle.

Preparation, characterization and activity evaluation of p-n junction photocatalyst p-CaFe2O4/n-Ag3VO4 under visible light irradiation.

In this paper, the heterostructure In(2)O(3)/In(OH)(3) photocatalyst was prepared by programmed thermal treatment of In(OH)(3) using In(NO(3))(3).9H(2)O as the precursor. Various characterization methods such as X-ray power diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to investigate the structure, morphologies, and optical properties. Terephthalic acid was used as a probe molecule to detect the generation of hydroxyl radicals (OH) on the surface of UV-illuminated photocatalyst by a photoluminescence (PL) technique. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the heterostructure In(2)O(3)/In(OH)(3) was higher than that of single In(2)O(3) or In(OH)(3). The increased photocatalytic activity may be attributed to the formation of the heterojunction between In(2)O(3) and In(OH)(3), which suppresses the recombination of photoexcited electrons-hole pairs.

Preparation, characterization and activity evaluation of heterostructure In(2)O(3)/In(OH)(3) photocatalyst.

In this paper, we found that the acidic and basic dyes were easily decolorized by a bis-ions coexistence system of NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) under UV light irradiation. The coexistence of NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) is a necessary condition for the photocatalytic decolorization of soluble dyes. The photocatalytic decolorization of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) follows the first order rate kinetics. The location of an absorption peak in the visible region is blue-shifted with the increase in the illumination time. It is proposed that the photocatalytic decolorization of soluble dyes in the bis-ions coexistence system of NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) is a photoreduction reaction, in which the ammonium nitrate acts as a photocatalyst. The chromophore of acidic and basic dyes reacts with hydrogen and then results in their rapid decolorization.

Photocatalytic decolorization of soluble dyes by a bis-ions coexistence system of NH4(+) and NO3(-) with high photoreduction ability.

Dendritic spines are actin-rich structures, the formation and plasticity of which are regulated by the Rho GTPases in response to synaptic input. Although several guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have been implicated in spine development and plasticity in hippocampal neurons, it is not known how many different Rho GEFs contribute to spine morphogenesis or how they coordinate the initiation, establishment, and maintenance of spines. In this study, we screened 70 rat Rho GEFs in cultured hippocampal neurons by RNA interference and identified a number of candidates that affected spine morphogenesis. Of these, Dock180, which plays a pivotal role in a variety of cellular processes including cell migration and phagocytosis, was further investigated. We show that depletion of Dock180 inhibits spine morphogenesis, whereas overexpression of Dock180 promotes spine morphogenesis. ELMO1, a protein necessary for in vivo functions of Dock180, functions in a complex with Dock180 in spine morphogenesis through activating the Rac GTPase. Moreover, RhoG, which functions upstream of the ELMO1/Dock180 complex, is also important for spine formation. Together, our findings uncover a role for the RhoG/ELMO1/Dock180 signaling module in spine morphogenesis in hippocampal neurons.

The RhoG/ELMO1/Dock180 signaling module is required for spine morphogenesis in hippocampal neurons.

The polarity protein PAR-1 plays an essential role in many cellular contexts, including embryogenesis, asymmetric cell division, directional migration, and epithelial morphogenesis. Despite its known importance in different cellular processes, the role of PAR-1 in neuronal morphogenesis is less well understood. In particular, its role in the morphogenesis of dendritic spines, which are sites of excitatory synaptic inputs, has been unclear. Here, we show that PAR-1 is required for normal spine morphogenesis in hippocampal neurons. We further show that PAR-1 functions through phosphorylating the synaptic scaffolding protein PSD-95 in this process. Phosphorylation at a conserved serine residue in the KXGS motif in PSD-95 regulates spine morphogenesis, and a phosphomimetic mutant of this site can rescue the defects of kinase-dead PAR-1. Together, our findings uncover a role of PAR-1 in spine morphogenesis in hippocampal neurons through phosphorylating PSD-95.

The polarity protein partitioning-defective 1 (PAR-1) regulates dendritic spine morphogenesis through phosphorylating postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95).

Article	Year
Synapse formation is regulated by the signaling adaptor GIT1. The Journal of cell biology\| PubMed ID: 12695502	2003
Cell migration: an overview. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)\| PubMed ID: 15576900	2005
A GIT1/PIX/Rac/PAK signaling module regulates spine morphogenesis and synapse formation through MLC. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience\| PubMed ID: 15800193	2005
The polarity protein PAR-3 and TIAM1 cooperate in dendritic spine morphogenesis. Nature cell biology\| PubMed ID: 16474385	2006
alpha5 integrin signaling regulates the formation of spines and synapses in hippocampal neurons. The Journal of biological chemistry\| PubMed ID: 17213186	2007
The PAR-6 polarity protein regulates dendritic spine morphogenesis through p190 RhoGAP and the Rho GTPase. Developmental cell\| PubMed ID: 18267090	2008
Preparation, characterization and activity evaluation of p-n junction photocatalyst p-CaFe2O4/n-Ag3VO4 under visible light irradiation. Journal of hazardous materials\| PubMed ID: 19709814	2009
Preparation, characterization and activity evaluation of heterostructure In(2)O(3)/In(OH)(3) photocatalyst. Journal of hazardous materials\| PubMed ID: 20494512	2010
Photocatalytic decolorization of soluble dyes by a bis-ions coexistence system of NH4(+) and NO3(-) with high photoreduction ability. Journal of hazardous materials\| PubMed ID: 21227584	2011
The RhoG/ELMO1/Dock180 signaling module is required for spine morphogenesis in hippocampal neurons. The Journal of biological chemistry\| PubMed ID: 21900250	2011
The polarity protein partitioning-defective 1 (PAR-1) regulates dendritic spine morphogenesis through phosphorylating postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). The Journal of biological chemistry\| PubMed ID: 22807451	2012

Huaye Zhang

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