Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
17:27
Preparation of Aplysia Sensory-motor Neuronal Cell Cultures
Published on: June 8, 2009
A single Aplysia neurotrophin mediates synaptic facilitation via differentially processed isoforms
Stefan R Kassabov1, Yun-Beom Choi, Kevin A Karl
1Department of Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. srk2110@columbia.edu
Cell Reports
|April 9, 2013
Summary
Researchers discovered invertebrate neurotrophins (ApNT) and Trk receptors (ApTrk) in Aplysia, crucial for learning and synaptic plasticity. This finding opens new avenues for studying neurotrophin function in simpler nervous systems.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Invertebrate Zoology
Background:
- Neurotrophins are vital for vertebrate nervous system development and plasticity.
- The absence of identified invertebrate neurotrophin orthologs has hindered research into fundamental neurotrophin biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize neurotrophin and Trk receptor orthologs in invertebrates.
- To investigate the role of these molecules in learning-related synaptic plasticity in Aplysia.
Main Methods:
- Identification of neurotrophin (ApNT) and Trk receptor (ApTrk) in Aplysia.
- Experimental manipulation of ApTrk signaling and ApNT expression.
- Analysis of synaptic plasticity and neuronal morphology in the gill-withdrawal reflex circuit.
Main Results:
- ApNT and ApTrk were identified in Aplysia, playing a key role in synaptic plasticity.
- Blocking ApTrk signaling inhibited long-term facilitation.
- Increased ApNT expression enhanced long-term facilitation and induced synaptic growth.
Conclusions:
- This study demonstrates the presence of genuine neurotrophin signaling in invertebrates.
- A posttranscriptional mechanism regulates neurotrophin processing and differential modulation of synaptic plasticity via splice isoforms.
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