β-Catenin regulates excitatory postsynaptic strength at hippocampal synapses

Takashi Okuda, Lily M.Y. Yu, Lorenzo A. Cingolani, Rolf Kemler, Yukiko Goda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The precise contribution of the cadherin-β-catenin synapse adhesion complex in the functional and structural changes associated with the pre- and postsynaptic terminals remains unclear. Here we report a requirement for endogenous β-catenin in regulating synaptic strength and dendritic spine morphology in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Ablating β-catenin after the initiation of synaptogenesis in the postsynaptic neuron reduces the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory synaptic responses without a concurrent change in their frequency and synapse density. The normal glutamatergic synaptic response is maintained by postsynaptic β-catenin in a cadherin-dependent manner and requires the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif of β-catenin but not the link to the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, ablating β-catenin in postsynaptic neurons accompanies a block of bidirectional quantal scaling of glutamatergic responses induced by chronic activity manipulation. In older cultures at a time when neurons have abundant dendritic spines, neurons ablated for β-catenin show thin, elongated spines and reduced proportion of mushroom spines without a change in spine density. Collectively, these findings suggest that the cadherin-β-catenin complex is an integral component of synaptic strength regulation and plays a basic role in coupling synapse function and spine morphology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13479-13484
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume104
Issue number33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007 Aug 14
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Quantal scaling
  • Spine morphology
  • Synapse adhesion proteins
  • α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'β-Catenin regulates excitatory postsynaptic strength at hippocampal synapses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this