AbstractActivation of the cAMP pathway is one of the common mechanisms underlying long‐term potentiation (LTP). In theDrosophilamushroom body, simultaneous activation of odour‐coding Kenyon cells (KCs) and reinforcement‐coding dopaminergic neurons activates adenylyl cyclase in KC presynaptic terminals, which is believed to trigger synaptic plasticity underlying olfactory associative learning. However, learning induces long‐term depression (LTD) at these synapses, contradicting the universal role of cAMP as a facilitator of transmission. Here, we developed a system to electrophysiologically monitor both short‐term and long‐term synaptic plasticity at KC output synapses and demonstrated that they are indeed an exception in which activation of the cAMP–protein kinase A pathway induces LTD. Contrary to the prevailing model, our cAMP imaging found no evidence for synergistic action of dopamine and KC activity on cAMP synthesis. Furthermore, we found that forskolin‐induced cAMP increase alone was insufficient for plasticity induction; it additionally required simultaneous KC activation to replicate the presynaptic LTD induced by pairing with dopamine. On the other hand, activation of the cGMP pathway paired with KC activation induced slowly developing LTP, proving antagonistic actions of the two second‐messenger pathways predicted by behavioural study. Finally, KC subtype‐specific interrogation of synapses revealed that different KC subtypes exhibit distinct plasticity duration even among synapses on the same postsynaptic neuron. Thus, our work not only revises the role of cAMP in synaptic plasticity by uncovering the unexpected convergence point of the cAMP pathway and neuronal activity, but also establishes the methods to address physiological mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in this important model.image Key pointsAlthough presynaptic cAMP increase generally facilitates synapses, olfactory associative learning inDrosophila, which depends on dopamine and cAMP signalling genes, induces long‐term depression (LTD) at the mushroom body output synapses.By combining electrophysiology, pharmacology and optogenetics, we directly demonstrate that these synapses are an exception where activation of the cAMP–protein kinase A pathway leads to presynaptic LTD.Dopamine‐ or forskolin‐induced cAMP increase alone is not sufficient for LTD induction; neuronal activity, which has been believed to trigger cAMP synthesis in synergy with dopamine input, is required in the downstream pathway of cAMP.In contrast to cAMP, activation of the cGMP pathway paired with neuronal activity induces presynaptic long‐term potentiation, which explains behaviourally observed opposing actions of transmitters co‐released by dopaminergic neurons.Our work not only revises the role of cAMP in synaptic plasticity, but also provides essential methods to address physiological mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in this important model system.
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NMDAR-dependent long-term depression is associated with increased short term plasticity through autophagy mediated loss of PSD-95
Abstract Long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic strength can take multiple forms and contribute to circuit remodeling, memory encoding or erasure. The generic term LTD encompasses various induction pathways, including activation of NMDA, mGlu or P2X receptors. However, the associated specific molecular mechanisms and effects on synaptic physiology are still unclear. We here compare how NMDAR- or P2XR-dependent LTD affect synaptic nanoscale organization and function in rodents. While both LTDs are associated with a loss and reorganization of synaptic AMPARs, only NMDAR-dependent LTD induction triggers a profound reorganization of PSD-95. This modification, which requires the autophagy machinery to remove the T19-phosphorylated form of PSD-95 from synapses, leads to an increase in AMPAR surface mobility. We demonstrate that these post-synaptic changes that occur specifically during NMDAR-dependent LTD result in an increased short-term plasticity improving neuronal responsiveness of depressed synapses. Our results establish that P2XR- and NMDAR-mediated LTD are associated to functionally distinct forms of LTD.
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- PAR ID:
- 10250506
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Volume:
- 12
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-1723
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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