Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
11:29
Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents
Published on: September 4, 2015
14.4K
Photoactivatable CaMKII induces synaptic plasticity in single synapses.
Akihiro C E Shibata1, Hiromi H Ueda1,2, Kei Eto2,3
1Supportive Center for Brain Research, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
Nature Communications
|February 3, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a new optogenetic tool, photoactivatable CaMKII (paCaMKII), to study synaptic plasticity. This tool enables precise control over neuronal function at single synapses, advancing neuroscience research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Optogenetics
Background:
- Optogenetics is crucial for studying neuronal functions.
- Existing optogenetic tools lack the precision to induce synaptic plasticity at single synapses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a photoactivatable tool for precise manipulation of synaptic plasticity.
- To investigate the role of CaMKII activation in synaptic plasticity at the single-synapse level.
Main Methods:
- Engineered photoactivatable CaMKII (paCaMKII) by fusing a light-sensitive domain (LOV2) to CaMKIIα.
- Utilized blue light and two-photon excitation for reversible paCaMKII activation.
- Combined paCaMKII with 2-photon FLIM-FRET for protein activity imaging.
Main Results:
- Single-spine activation of paCaMKII induced structural long-term potentiation (sLTP) both in vitro and in vivo.
- paCaMKII activation promoted AMPA receptor recruitment and functional LTP in single spines.
- Demonstrated that paCaMKII activation in clustered spines drives sLTP via Cdc42 signaling.
Conclusions:
- Developed a novel optogenetic tool (paCaMKII) for studying CaMKII function and synaptic plasticity.
- This tool allows for the investigation of CaMKII sufficiency in synaptic plasticity.
- The tool has broad applications in neuroscience for dissecting synaptic mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
5.6K
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
5.6K
01:25cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
7.4K
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...
7.4K
01:25Long-term Potentiation
3.1K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when...
3.1K
01:35Long-term Potentiation
57.1K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
57.1K
01:27C4 Pathway and CAM
47.7K
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
47.7K