Postsynaptic translation affects the efficacy and morphology of neuromuscular junctions

Stephan J. Sigrist, Philippe R. Thiel, Dierk F. Reiff, Pascal E. D. Lachance, Paul Lasko and Christoph M. Schuster ()
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Stephan J. Sigrist: Friedrich-Miescher-Laboratorium der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Philippe R. Thiel: Friedrich-Miescher-Laboratorium der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Dierk F. Reiff: Friedrich-Miescher-Laboratorium der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Pascal E. D. Lachance: McGill University
Paul Lasko: McGill University
Christoph M. Schuster: Friedrich-Miescher-Laboratorium der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

Nature, 2000, vol. 405, issue 6790, 1062-1065

Abstract: Abstract Long-term synaptic plasticity may be associated with structural rearrangements within the neuronal circuitry1,2. Although the molecular mechanisms governing such activity-controlled morphological alterations are mostly elusive, polysomal accumulations at the base of developing dendritic spines3 and the activity-induced synthesis of synaptic components suggest that localized translation is involved during synaptic plasticity4,5. Here we show that large aggregates of translational components as well as messenger RNA of the postsynaptic glutamate receptor subunit DGluR-IIA6 are localized within subsynaptic compartments of larval neuromuscular junctions of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetic models of junctional plasticity7 and genetic manipulations using the translation initiation factors eIF4E8 and poly(A)-binding protein9 showed an increased occurrence of subsynaptic translation aggregates. This was associated with a significant increase in the postsynaptic DGluR-IIA protein levels and a reduction in the junctional expression of the cell-adhesion molecule Fasciclin II. In addition, the efficacy of junctional neurotransmission and the size of larval neuromuscular junctions were significantly increased. Our results therefore provide evidence for a postsynaptic translational control of long-term junctional plasticity.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35016598

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