Cited by 234Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersAmino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism

Synaptic scaling requires the GluR2 subunit of the AMPA receptor

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Gainey, Melanie A., Hurvitz-Wolff, Jennifer R., Lambo, Mary E., Turrigiano, Gina G.·2009·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Two functionally distinct forms of synaptic plasticity, Hebbian long-term potentiation (LTP) and homeostatic synaptic scaling, are thought to cooperate to promote information storage and circuit refinement. Both arise through changes in the synaptic accumulation of AMPA receptors (AMPARs), but whether they use similar or distinct receptor-trafficking pathways is unknown. Here, we show that TTX-induced synaptic scaling in cultured visual cortical neurons leads to the insertion of GluR2-containing AMPARs at synapses. Similarly, visual deprivation with monocular TTX injections results in synaptic accumulation of GluR2-containing AMPARs. Unlike chemical LTP, synaptic scaling is blocked by a GluR2 C-tail peptide but not by a GluR1 C-tail peptide. Knockdown of endogenous GluR2 with an short hairpin RNA (shRNA) also blocks synaptic scaling but not chemical LTP. Scaling can be rescued with expression of exogenous GluR2 resistant to the shRNA, but a chimeric GluR2 subunit with the C-terminal domain swapped with the GluR1 C-terminal domain (GluR2/CT1) does not rescue synaptic scaling, indicating that regulatory sequences on the GluR2 C-tail are required for the accumulation of synaptic AMPARs during scaling. Together, our results suggest that synaptic scaling and LTP use different trafficking pathways, making these two forms of plasticity both functionally and molecularly distinct.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.3753-08.2009

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  • Synaptic scaling allows neurons to detect changes in their own firing rates through calcium-dependent sensors that regulate receptor trafficking to increase or decrease accumulation of glutamate receptors at synaptic sites.

    “One such mechanism is synaptic scaling, which allows neurons to detect changes in their own firing rates through a set of calcium-dependent sensors that then regulate receptor trafficking to increase or decrease the accumulation of glutamate receptors at synaptic sites.”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Gainey et al. 2009

    The Introduction says that a drop in postsynaptic firing leads to AMPA-receptor accumulation at synapses, and the Discussion describes synaptic strengths scaling up or down in response to chronic changes in activity. The paper also links scaling to receptor trafficking, but the passages do not identify calcium-dependent sensors that detect firing-rate changes or regulate that trafficking. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Modulating network activity induces uniform increases or decreases in the entire mini amplitude distribution, scaling postsynaptic strength up or down.

    “by measuring minis arising from many synapses onto the same neuron, it was observed that modulating network activity induced uniform increases or decreases in the entire mini amplitude distribution, in effect scaling postsynaptic strength up or down (Turrigiano et al. 1998;Desai et al. 2002;Gainey et al. 2009).”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Gainey et al. 2009

    The Results section ('GluR2 knockdown blocks synaptic scaling, but does not block LTP'; page not provided) reports that activity blockade proportionally scaled up the mEPSC amplitude distribution. The copy does not report a corresponding activity-induced decrease across that distribution. Its reference to scaling a distribution down describes a mathematical comparison with controls, not a physiological decrease in postsynaptic strength. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Global enhancement of AMPAR abundance in response to activity blockade requires sequences on the carboxyl terminus of the GluA2 subunit of the AMPAR.

    “This global enhancement of AMPAR abundance in response to activity blockade requires sequences on the carboxyl terminus of the GluA2 subunit of the AMPAR (Gainey et al. 2009)”
  • Postsynaptic knockdown of GluA2 completely blocks synaptic scaling, suggesting that if there is a presynaptic change in transmitter packaging it is not sufficient to enhance mini amplitude on its own.

    “It is worth noting, however, that postsynaptic knockdown of GluA2 is able to completely block synaptic scaling (Gainey et al. 2009), suggesting that if there is a presynaptic change in transmitter packaging it is not sufficient to enhance mini amplitude on its own.”
  • Visual deprivation induced by optic nerve block scales up mEPSC amplitude in vivo as in vitro, and results in insertion of GluA2-containing AMPAR.

    “Visual deprivation induced by optic nerve block scale ups mEPSC amplitude in vivo as in vitro, and results in insertion of GluA2-containing AMPAR (Desai et al. 2002;Maffei and Turrigiano 2008;Gainey et al. 2009).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Malenka RC Bear MF LTP and LTD: an embarrassment of riches Neuron 2004 44 5 21 15450156

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Authors
Gainey, M. A., Hurvitz-Wolff, J. R., Lambo, M. E., & Turrigiano, G. G.
Affiliations
Brandeis University (US)
Corresponding author
Turrigiano, Gina G.
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2009-05-20
Volume
29
Issue
20
Pages
6479-6489
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2011046807
Cited by
234
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 22
FWCI
8.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (NS 36853)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 36853, R56NS036853, F31NS063532, R01NS036853)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
Keywords
synaptic scaling, GluR2 subunit, AMPA receptors, long-term potentiation, homeostatic plasticity, receptor trafficking, GluR1, visual cortex, visual deprivation, tetrodotoxin, synaptic plasticity
MeSH terms
Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein, Adamantane, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Biophysics, Cells, Cultured, Electric Stimulation, Membrane Proteins, Neurons, Synapses, Tetrodotoxin, Transfection, Visual Cortex, Long-Term Potentiation, Receptors, AMPA, alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Rats, Long-Evans, Sodium Channel Blockers, RNA Interference, RNA, Small Interfering, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Rats, In Vitro Techniques

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