Synaptic plasticity has been suggested to be a cellular counterpart for learning and memory. However, it is practically impossible to visually monitor synapses actually undergoing synaptic plasticity at a given memory paradigm in a given neuronal network. This project proposal, written in response to the program announcement """"""""Developing Novel Genetic Methods for Mapping Functional Neuronal Circuits and Synaptic Change"""""""", describes the development of a technology for visualizing synapses that are undergoing synaptic plasticity in neurons in living animal. This goal will be accomplished by a combination of two technologies: fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and two-photon laser scanning microscopy. We will first develop a FRET-based construct for optically measuring the CaMKII activity and actin polymerization/depolymerization equilibrium, which will allow non-destructive optical detection of CaMKII activation in intact neurons. Since the enzymatic activity of CaMKII is constitutively enhanced after the induction of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity and this activity is required for maintaining synaptic potentiation, we expect that the activation of CaMKII will be a good indicator of synaptic plasticity. In contrast, in a work which we published, we found actin polymerization/depolymerization equilibrium can be detected with FRET and that it follows LTP and LTD respectively. To detect FRET at the synaptic structure, we will take advantage of a two-photon microscope. We will then test the feasibility of our strategy by expressing the construct in neurons and induce synaptic plasticity by either high-speed ionophoretic stimulation of individual synapses or local electrical stimulation or combined with detection of structural plasticity. Finally, we will generate a transgenic animal expressing this construct. The barrel cortex of the resultant animal will be observed with the two-photon microscope. Paradigms known to induce synaptic plasticity in this structure such as sensory deprivation will be tested to see whether synaptic plasticity is reflected by FRET. In summary, our technology will provide a unique system for detecting NMDAR-mediated synaptic plasticity with spatial resolution at the single synapse level on a sub-second time scale. This technique, in combination with technologies currently under development in other laboratories, such as in vivo two-photon imaging in freely moving animals and deep-structure two-photon microscope imaging with a relay lens, will pro- vide a versatile system for monitoring synaptic plasticity that cannot be achieved with existing experimental systems. In the future, this technique could be applied to higher mammals, such as macaque monkeys, after viral or transgenic introduction of our reporter construct. It may be possible to have monkeys perform a task and observe synaptic plasticity in the brain during learning of the task. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA017310-02
Application #
7191766
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-K (94))
Program Officer
Wu, Da-Yu
Project Start
2006-03-01
Project End
2011-01-31
Budget Start
2007-02-01
Budget End
2008-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$280,376
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
001425594
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139
Kim, Karam; Saneyoshi, Takeo; Hosokawa, Tomohisa et al. (2016) Interplay of enzymatic and structural functions of CaMKII in long-term potentiation. J Neurochem 139:959-972
Sakaguchi, Masanori; Kim, Karam; Yu, Lily Mae Yee et al. (2015) Inhibiting the Activity of CA1 Hippocampal Neurons Prevents the Recall of Contextual Fear Memory in Inducible ArchT Transgenic Mice. PLoS One 10:e0130163
Hosokawa, Tomohisa; Mitsushima, Dai; Kaneko, Rina et al. (2015) Stoichiometry and phosphoisotypes of hippocampal AMPA-type glutamate receptor phosphorylation. Neuron 85:60-67
Kim, Karam; Lakhanpal, Gurpreet; Lu, Hsiangmin E et al. (2015) A Temporary Gating of Actin Remodeling during Synaptic Plasticity Consists of the Interplay between the Kinase and Structural Functions of CaMKII. Neuron 87:813-26
Bosch, Miquel; Castro, Jorge; Saneyoshi, Takeo et al. (2014) Structural and molecular remodeling of dendritic spine substructures during long-term potentiation. Neuron 82:444-59
Martinez-Lozada, Zila; Waggener, Christopher T; Kim, Karam et al. (2014) Activation of sodium-dependent glutamate transporters regulates the morphological aspects of oligodendrocyte maturation via signaling through calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II?'s actin-binding/-stabilizing domain. Glia 62:1543-1558
Ueda, Yoshibumi; Kwok, Showming; Hayashi, Yasunori (2013) Application of FRET probes in the analysis of neuronal plasticity. Front Neural Circuits 7:163
Ueda, Yoshibumi; Hayashi, Yasunori (2013) PIP? regulates spinule formation in dendritic spines during structural long-term potentiation. J Neurosci 33:11040-7
Wang, Dan Ohtan; Matsuno, Hitomi; Ikeda, Shuji et al. (2012) A quick and simple FISH protocol with hybridization-sensitive fluorescent linear oligodeoxynucleotide probes. RNA 18:166-75
Bosch, Miquel; Hayashi, Yasunori (2012) Structural plasticity of dendritic spines. Curr Opin Neurobiol 22:383-8

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