A Combined Optogenetic-Knockdown Strategy Reveals a Major Role of Tomosyn in Mossy Fiber Synaptic Plasticity

Yoav Ben-Simon, Alma Rodenas-Ruano, Karina Alviña, Alice D. Lam, Edward L. Stuenkel, Pablo E. Castillo, Uri Ashery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neurotransmitter release probability (Pr) largely determines the dynamic properties of synapses. While much is known about the role of presynaptic proteins in transmitter release, their specific contribution to synaptic plasticity is unclear. One such protein, tomosyn, is believed to reduce Pr by interfering with the SNARE complex formation. Tomosyn is enriched at hippocampal mossy fiber-to-CA3 pyramidal cell synapses (MF-CA3), which characteristically exhibit low Pr, strong synaptic facilitation, and pre-synaptic protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP). To evaluate tomosyn's role in MF-CA3 function, we used a combined knockdown (KD)-optogenetic strategy whereby presynaptic neurons with reduced tomosyn levels were selectively activated by light. Using this approach in mouse hippocampal slices, we found that facilitation, LTP, and PKA-induced potentiation were significantly impaired attomosyn-deficient synapses. These findings not only indicate that tomosyn is a key regulator of MF-CA3 plasticity but also highlight the power of a combined KD-optogenetic approach to determine the role of presynaptic proteins.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)396-404
Number of pages9
JournalCell Reports
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 21 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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