Plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 2 contributes to short-term synapse plasticity at the parallel fiber to Purkinje neuron
Ruth M Empson1, Molly L Garside, Thomas Knöpfel
1School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, United Kingdom. ruth.empson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Abstract:
Plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 2 (PMCA2) is a fast, highly effective mechanism to control resting cytosolic Ca2+ and Ca2+ excursions in neurons and other excitable cells. The strong expression of PMCA2 in the cerebellum and the cerebellar behavioral deficits presented by PMCA2-/- knock-out mice all point to its importance for cerebellar circuit dynamics. Here, we provide direct functional evidence for the influence of presynaptic PMCA2-mediated Ca2+ extrusion for short-term plasticity at cerebellar parallel fiber to Purkinje neuron synapses. Dramatic structural alterations to the Purkinje neurons in the absence of PMCA2 also suggest a strong influence of this fast PMCA2 isoform for development and maintenance of cerebellar function.
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