Premium
Synaptopodin regulates release of calcium from stores in dendritic spines of cultured hippocampal neurons
Author(s) -
Korkotian Eduard,
Segal Menahem
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.217315
Subject(s) - calcium , dendritic spine , chemistry , biophysics , flash photolysis , hippocampal formation , dendritic filopodia , kinetics , calcium in biology , thapsigargin , biology , neuroscience , reaction rate constant , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Non‐technical summary Dendritic spines of central neurons contain calcium stores, but their involvement in synaptic plasticity is not entirely clear. Synaptopodin, an actin‐binding molecule, has been localized in the neck of some dendritic spines, and assumed to play a role in regulation of calcium stores in the spines. In the present study we used flash photolysis of calcium inside dendritic spines of cultured hippocampal neurons loaded with the calcium sensor Fluo‐4. An ultrafast UV flash generated a rapid rise in [Ca 2+ ] i followed by a monoexponential decay back to control level. In spines where synaptopodin was found in post hoc immunocytochemical analysis, the decay of elevated calcium was much prolonged compared to synaptopodin‐negative spines. This prolongation was eliminated by blockade of release of calcium from stores. Our results provide the first direct demonstration of calcium release from stores in dendritic spines of central neurons.