The noncoding circular RNA circHomer1 regulates synaptic development and experience-dependent plasticity in mouse...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in the brain, but their function in experience-dependent plasticity is largely unknown.
• Synaptic plasticity, crucial for learning and memory, involves changes in neuronal connections influenced by experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of circRNAs in experience-dependent plasticity in the mouse visual cortex.
• To identify specific circRNAs regulated by monocular deprivation (MD) and elucidate their functions.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome-wide analysis of mRNA and circRNA expression in mouse visual cortex after 3-day monocular deprivation (MD).
• Knockdown of circHomer1 using molecular techniques.
• Assessment of visual responses, dendritic spine morphology, and AMPA receptor dynamics.

Main Results:

• MD altered the expression of multiple circRNAs, including circHomer1, which increased while Homer1a decreased.
• circHomer1 knockdown impaired visual plasticity, reduced dendritic spine size, and prevented the reduction of surface AMPA receptors.
• circHomer1 knockdown inhibited experience-dependent endocytosis of AMPA receptors.

Conclusions:

• circRNAs are regulated by experience-dependent plasticity in the developing brain.
• circHomer1 plays a critical role in visual cortex synaptic development and plasticity, particularly in regulating AMPA receptor trafficking.