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Postsynaptic expression of an epidermal growth factor receptor regulates cholinergic synapse formation between identified molluscan neurons
Author(s) -
Van Kesteren Ronald E.,
Gagatek Jessica S.,
Hagendorf Antje,
Gouwenberg Yvonne,
Smit August B.,
Syed Naweed I.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06189.x
Subject(s) - lymnaea stagnalis , lymnaea , biology , postsynaptic potential , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , synapse , cholinergic , excitatory synapse , epidermal growth factor , neurotrophic factors , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , snail , biochemistry , ecology
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family members are conserved in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Recent studies suggest that EGF ligands in invertebrates may have neurotrophic actions that possibly compensate for the apparent absence of neurotrophins in these species. In this study, we have cloned an EGF receptor from the mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis (L‐EGFR), and shown that L‐EGFR is the receptor for a previously identified EGF‐like peptide in Lymnaea , named Lymnaea EGF (L‐EGF). Knock‐down of L‐EGFR expression prevented L‐EGF‐induced excitatory synapse formation between identified cholinergic neuron visceral dorsal 4 (VD4) and its postsynaptic partner left pedal dorsal 1 (LPeD1). Moreover, knock‐down of L‐EGFR also prevented synapse formation induced by Lymnaea brain conditioned medium, suggesting that L‐EGF is the most important, if not the only, brain‐derived factor that promotes excitatory cholinergic synapse formation in Lymnaea . Thus, our data establish canonical EGF/EGFR signaling as an important synaptotrophic mechanism in invertebrates.