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Expression of constitutively active CaMKII in target tissue modifies presynaptic axon arbor growth

D J Zou1, H T Cline

  • 1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.

Neuron
|March 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Increased postsynaptic Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity in Xenopus optic tectal neurons inhibits retinotectal axon development by increasing branch retraction, impacting arbor structure.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Synaptic activity regulates Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII).
  • CaMKII may influence activity-dependent neuronal growth.
  • The role of postsynaptic CaMKII in axonal development is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if elevated CaMKII activity in postsynaptic optic tectal neurons affects retinotectal axon development in Xenopus.
  • To determine the impact of constitutively active CaMKII on axonal arbor complexity.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo observation of individual retinal axons in Xenopus.
  • Infection of tectal cells with vaccinia virus carrying the gene for constitutively active truncated CaMKII (tCaMKII).
  • Monitoring axonal arbor morphology before and up to 3 days post-infection.

Main Results:

  • Elevated postsynaptic CaMKII activity reduced the complexity of axonal arbors.
  • Increased branch retraction rate was observed in axons with heightened CaMKII activity.
  • Morphological changes became more pronounced by day 3 post-infection.

Conclusions:

  • Postsynaptic CaMKII activity plays a significant role in regulating presynaptic arbor structure.
  • CaMKII influences the dynamic processes of axonal branch elaboration and retraction.
  • Findings suggest a mechanism for activity-dependent refinement of neural connections during development.

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