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GSK3α, not GSK3β, drives hippocampal NMDAR‐dependent LTD via tau‐mediated spine anchoring
Author(s) -
Draffin Jonathan E,
SánchezCastillo Carla,
FernándezRodrigo Alba,
SánchezSáez Xavier,
Ávila Jesús,
Wagner Florence F,
Esteban José A
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2020105513
Subject(s) - gsk 3 , biology , neuroscience , small hairpin rna , gsk3b , synaptic plasticity , hippocampus , hippocampal formation , dendritic spine , gene isoform , microbiology and biotechnology , nmda receptor , kinase , receptor , gene knockdown , biochemistry , gene
Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK3) is an important signalling protein in the brain and modulates different forms of synaptic plasticity. Neuronal functions of GSK3 are typically attributed to one of its two isoforms, GSK3β, simply because of its prevalent expression in the brain. Consequently, the importance of isoform‐specific functions of GSK3 in synaptic plasticity has not been fully explored. We now directly address this question for NMDA receptor‐dependent long‐term depression (LTD) in the hippocampus. Here, we specifically target the GSK3 isoforms with shRNA knock‐down in mouse hippocampus and with novel isoform‐selective drugs to dissect their roles in LTD. Using electrophysiological and live imaging approaches, we find that GSK3α, but not GSK3β, is required for LTD. The specific engagement of GSK3α occurs via its transient anchoring in dendritic spines during LTD induction. We find that the major GSK3 substrate, the microtubule‐binding protein tau, is required for this spine anchoring of GSK3α and mediates GSK3α‐induced LTD. These results link GSK3α and tau in a common mechanism for synaptic depression and rule out a major role for GSK3β in this process.