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Related Experiment Videos

Tyrosine phosphorylation during synapse formation between identified leech neurons

S Catarsi1, S Ching, D C Merz

  • 1Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The Journal of Physiology
|June 15, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Tyrosine phosphorylation is crucial for synapse formation in leech neurons. Inhibiting tyrosine kinases prevents synapse development and preserves neuronal responses, indicating its essential signaling role.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Signaling

Background:

  • Synapse formation is a fundamental process in neural development.
  • The role of specific signaling pathways, like tyrosine phosphorylation, in synapse development is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the requirement of tyrosine phosphorylation in synapse formation between identified leech neurons in culture.
  • To elucidate the signaling role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the establishment of functional neuronal connections.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized identified Retzius (R) neurons and pressure-sensitive (P) neurons from the leech central nervous system in cell culture.
  • Employed immunocytochemistry with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies to detect tyrosine phosphorylation.
  • Used selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein, lavendustin A) and their inactive analogues to assess the role of tyrosine kinases.

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  • Measured neuronal responses to serotonin (5-HT) and characterized synapse formation electrophysiologically.

    • Main Results:

    • Contact between R cells and P cells induced specific phosphotyrosine labeling in P cells, which was blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
    • R cell contact led to the loss of a serotonin-evoked depolarizing response in P cells, a process prevented by tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
    • Inhibitors also prevented the formation of inhibitory, chloride-dependent synapses between R and P cells without affecting neurite outgrowth or adhesion.

    Conclusions:

    • Tyrosine phosphorylation acts as a critical signal during the formation of inhibitory synapses between leech neurons.
    • The study identifies tyrosine kinase activity as essential for initiating and establishing functional synaptic connections.