Cited by 490Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchCellular Mechanics and InteractionsGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The Subspine Organization of Actin Fibers Regulates the Structure and Plasticity of Dendritic Spines

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Honkura, Naoki, Matsuzaki, Masanori, Noguchi, Jun, Ellis-Davies, Graham C.R., Kasai, Haruo·2008·Neuron

Abstract

Synapse function and plasticity depend on the physical structure of dendritic spines as determined by the actin cytoskeleton. We have investigated the organization of filamentous (F-) actin within individual spines on CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. Using two-photon photoactivation of green fluorescent protein fused to beta-actin, we found that a dynamic pool of F-actin at the tip of the spine quickly treadmilled to generate an expansive force. The size of a stable F-actin pool at the base of the spine depended on spine volume. Repeated two-photon uncaging of glutamate formed a third pool of F-actin and enlarged the spine. The spine often released this "enlargement pool" into the dendritic shaft, but the pool had to be physically confined by a spine neck for the enlargement to be long-lasting. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II regulated this confinement. Thus, spines have an elaborate mechanical nature that is regulated by actin fibers.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.01.013

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  • WT and S3E PAGFP-cofilin accumulated in stimulated spines for 30 min after spine enlargement.

    “WT and the S3E PAGFP-cofilin mutant accumulated in the stimulated spines for 30 min after spine enlargement (Fig. 2A,E,G), similar to previous observations of the stable enlargement of the F-actin pool10.”
  • When long-term volume increase was induced in a single spine using 2-photon glutamate uncaging, RhoA and Cdc42 were rapidly activated in the stimulated spine.

    “When long-term volume increase was induced in a single spine using 2-photon glutamate uncaging14,15, RhoA and Cdc42 were rapidly activated in the stimulated spine.”
  • This form of plasticity shares many properties with Schaffer collateral LTP, including dependence on NMDARs, Rho GTPase signaling, CaMKII phosphorylation, F-actin polymerization and synaptic AMPAR insertion.

    “This form of plasticity shares many properties with Schaffer collateral LTP, including dependence on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), Rho GTPase signaling, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylation, F-actin polymerization and synaptic AMPAR insertion (20–24).”

    From Synaptic evidence for the efficacy of spaced learning (2012) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Honkura, N., Matsuzaki, M., Noguchi, J., Ellis-Davies, G. C. R., & Kasai, H.
Affiliations
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI (JP)
Corresponding author
Kasai, Haruo
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-03
Volume
57
Issue
5
Pages
719-729
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2054366304
Cited by
490
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 34
FWCI
14.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • National Institutes of Health (GM65473)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
dendritic spines, actin cytoskeleton, F-actin, spine plasticity, treadmilling, CA1 pyramidal neurons, hippocampus, glutamate uncaging, CaMKII, synaptic structure
MeSH terms
Actins, Animals, Humans, Actin Cytoskeleton, Neuronal Plasticity, Organ Culture Techniques, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Dendritic Spines, Rats

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