Glia-synapse interaction through Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors in Bergmann glia

Glial cells express a variety of neurotransmitter receptors. Notably, Bergmann glial cells in the cerebellum have Ca2+-permeable alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) assembled without the GluR2 subunit. To elucidate the role of these Ca2+-permeable AMPARs, we converted them into Ca2+-impermeable receptors by adenoviral-mediated delivery of the GluR2 gene. This conversion retracted the glial processes ensheathing synapses on Purkinje cell dendritic spines and retarded the removal of synaptically released glutamate. Furthermore, it caused multiple innervation of Purkinje cells by the climbing fibers. Thus, the glial Ca2+-permeable AMPARs are indispensable for proper structural and functional relations between Bergmann glia and glutamatergic synapses.     

Spine-type-specific recruitment of newly synthesized AMPA receptors with learning

The stabilization of long-term memories requires de novo protein synthesis. How can proteins, synthesized in the soma, act on specific synapses that participate in a given memory? We studied the dynamics of newly synthesized AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) induced with learning using transgenic mice expressing the GluR1 subunit fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP-GluR1) under control of the c-fos promoter. We found learning-associated recruitment of newly synthesized GFP-GluR1 selectively to mushroom-type spines in adult hippocampal CA1 neurons 24 hours after fear conditioning. Our results are consistent with a "synaptic tagging" model to allow activated synapses to subsequently capture newly synthesized receptor and also demonstrate a critical functional distinction in the mushroom spines with learning.     

抗沙门氏菌O_4、O_(12)抗原特异单克隆抗体的产生及其特性鉴定

用鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的热灭活全菌和热酚—水抽提脂多糖抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠,取脾脏淋巴细胞与SP_2/O细胞融合,获得稳定分泌抗沙门氏菌O_4和O_(12)抗原的特异单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞系7个,分别命名为AG24-1、AG90-5、BG1-8、BG17-12、BG66-10、BG78-15、EG19-11。小鼠腹水中的单抗直接凝集滴度为10~2-10~4,间接免疫荧光滴度为10~3-10~6。与沙门氏菌和肠杆菌科中其他细菌的反应性试验表明,BG78-15是O_(12)因子特异单抗,其他6种为对O_4因子的特异单抗。     

Long-term potentiation of neuron-glia synapses mediated by Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors

Interactions between neurons and glial cells in the brain may serve important functions in the development, maintenance, and plasticity of neural circuits. Fast neuron-glia synaptic transmission has been found between hippocampal neurons and NG2 cells, a distinct population of macroglia-like cells widely distributed in the brain. We report that these neuron-glia synapses undergo activity-dependent modifications analogous to long-term potentiation (LTP) at excitatory synapses, a hallmark of neuronal plasticity. However, unlike the induction of LTP at many neuron-neuron synapses, both induction and expression of LTP at neuron-NG2 synapses involve Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors on NG2 cells.     

mGluR1 in cerebellar Purkinje cells essential for long-term depression, synapse elimination, and motor coordination

Targeted deletion of metabotropic glutamate receptor-subtype 1 (mGluR1) gene can cause defects in development and function in the cerebellum. We introduced the mGluR1alpha transgene into mGluR1-null mutant [mGluR1 (-/-)] mice with a Purkinje cell (PC)-specific promoter. mGluR1-rescue mice showed normal cerebellar long-term depression and regression of multiple climbing fiber innervation, events significantly impaired in mGluR1 (-/-) mice. The impaired motor coordination was rescued by this transgene, in a dose-dependent manner. We propose that mGluR1 in PCs is a key molecule for normal synapse formation, synaptic plasticity, and motor control in the cerebellum.     

Requirement of AMPA receptor GluR2 phosphorylation for cerebellar long-term depression

Cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) is a model of synaptic memory that requires protein kinase C (PKC) activation and is expressed as a reduction in the number of postsynaptic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptors. LTD was absent in cultured cerebellar Purkinje cells from mutant mice lacking the AMPA receptor GluR2 subunit and could be rescued by transient transfection with the wild-type GluR2 subunit. Transfection with a point mutant that eliminated PKC phosphorylation of Ser880 in the carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of GluR2 failed to restore LTD. In contrast, transfection with a point mutant that mimicked phosphorylation at Ser880 occluded subsequent LTD. Thus, PKC phosphorylation of GluR2 Ser880 is a critical event in the induction of cerebellar LTD.     

Ongoing in vivo experience triggers synaptic metaplasticity in the neocortex

In vivo experience can occlude subsequent induction of long-term potentiation and enhance long-term depression of synaptic responses. Although a reduced capacity for synaptic strengthening may function to prevent excessive excitation, such an effect paradoxically implies that continued experience or training should not improve and may even degrade neural representations. In mice, we examined the effect of ongoing whisker stimulation on synaptic strengthening at layer 4-2/3 synapses in the barrel cortex. Although N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors were required to initiate strengthening, they subsequently suppressed further potentiation at these synapses in vitro and in vivo. Despite this transition, synaptic strengthening continued with additional sensory activity but instead required the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors, suggesting a mechanism by which continued experience can result in increasing synaptic strength over time.     

Cerebellum shapes hippocampal spatial code

Spatial representation is an active process that requires complex multimodal integration from a large interacting network of cortical and subcortical structures. We sought to determine the role of cerebellar protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent plasticity in spatial navigation by recording the activity of hippocampal place cells in transgenic L7PKCI mice with selective disruption of PKC-dependent plasticity at parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses. Place cell properties were exclusively impaired when L7PKCI mice had to rely on self-motion cues. The behavioral consequence of such a deficit is evidenced here by selectively impaired navigation capabilities during a path integration task. Together, these results suggest that cerebellar PKC-dependent mechanisms are involved in processing self-motion signals essential to the shaping of hippocampal spatial representation.     

Control of synapse number by glia

Although astrocytes constitute nearly half of the cells in our brain, their function is a long-standing neurobiological mystery. Here we show by quantal analyses, FM1-43 imaging, immunostaining, and electron microscopy that few synapses form in the absence of glial cells and that the few synapses that do form are functionally immature. Astrocytes increase the number of mature, functional synapses on central nervous system (CNS) neurons by sevenfold and are required for synaptic maintenance in vitro. We also show that most synapses are generated concurrently with the development of glia in vivo. These data demonstrate a previously unknown function for glia in inducing and stabilizing CNS synapses, show that CNS synapse number can be profoundly regulated by nonneuronal signals, and raise the possibility that glia may actively participate in synaptic plasticity.     

刺激隐核虫幼虫膜蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与特性分析

为获得刺激隐核虫幼虫膜蛋白单克隆抗体并初步分析单抗特性,提取刺激隐核虫幼虫膜蛋白,免疫Balb/c小鼠,取脾细胞与SP2/O细胞融合,以间接ELISA筛选阳性杂交瘤细胞。通过ELISA方法检测单克隆抗体的亚类及效价;通过SDS-PAGE和western blot分析单抗特异性结合的蛋白,并以串联质谱方法对所识别条带进行鉴定;采用免疫荧光法分析单抗的抗原结合位点和特异性。结果得到3株能稳定分泌刺激隐核虫幼虫膜蛋白抗体的细胞株(5D11AG5、5H9BG3、6E11CE7)。这3株细胞株产生的抗体亚型均为IgM,ELISA效价分别为1∶3200、1∶25600、1∶51200。单抗5D11AG5和单抗5H9BG3株能够识别~35kDa的刺激隐核虫幼虫膜蛋白线性抗原表位,单抗5D11AG5所识别的蛋白与数据库中刺激隐核虫表面抗原蛋白、嗜热四膜虫微管蛋白(tubulin)的肽段具有较高覆盖率。免疫荧光结果显示单抗5D11AG5和单抗5H9DG3识别部位主要在虫体表面近胞口的前端,而单抗6E11CE7识别虫体表面外膜。刺激隐核虫幼虫膜蛋白单克隆抗体的制备,为刺激隐核虫功能性蛋白的筛选、纯化和功能分析提供了条件。     

Protective efficacy of vaccination with NcMIC3 and NcMIC8 against Neospora caninum infection in mice

Microneme proteins (MICs) are important for Apicomplexan parasite invasion due to their adhesion to host cells. Several studies have indicated that Neospora caninum MIC3 and MIC8 are important adhesion factors and potential vaccine candidates against neosporosis. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of recombinant proteins and DNA vaccines of NcMIC3 and NcMIC8. BALB/c mice were immunized with rNcMIC3, rNcMIC8, pcDNA3.1-NcMIC3 and pcDNA3.1-NcMIC8 respectively, and challenged with N. caninum tachyzoites. The immune responses were evaluated through cytokine, antibody measurements and the parasite burden in the mice brain tissues. Serological analysis showed that recombinant protein vaccines induced higher levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) than other groups. The percentage of IgG1 and IgG2a in the recombinant protein groups was higher than the other groups, and with a predominance of IgG1 over IgG2a, suggesting that recombinant protein vaccines elicited a Th2-type immune response, while DNA vaccines mainly produce a Th1-type immune response. In addition, mice immunized with rNcMIC3 and rNcMIC8 a had lower parasite burden in brain tissue compared with the other groups. These results demonstrate that rNcMIC3 and rNcMIC8 could induce humoral and Th2-type immune response, leading to a considerable level of resistance against neosporosis.     

Detection of sweet and umami taste in the absence of taste receptor T1r3

The tastes of sugars (sweet) and glutamate (umami) are thought to be detected by T1r receptors expressed in taste cells. Molecular genetics and heterologous expression implicate T1r2 plus T1r3 as a sweet-responsive receptor,and T1r1 plus T1r3,as well as a truncated form of the type 4 metabotropic glutamate receptor (taste-mGluR4),as umami-responsive receptors. Here,we show that mice lacking T1r3 showed no preference for artificial sweeteners and had diminished but not abolished behavioral and nerve responses to sugars and umami compounds. These results indicate that T1r3-independent sweet- and umami-responsive receptors and/or pathways exist in taste cells.     

Experience strengthening transmission by driving AMPA receptors into synapses

The mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity in the brain may depend on the AMPA subclass of glutamate receptors (AMPA-Rs). We examined the trafficking of AMPA-Rs into synapses in the developing rat barrel cortex. In vivo gene delivery was combined with in vitro recordings to show that experience drives recombinant GluR1, an AMPA-R subunit, into synapses formed between layer 4 and layer 2/3 neurons. Moreover, expression of the GluR1 cytoplasmic tail, a construct that inhibits synaptic delivery of endogenous AMPA-Rs during long-term potentiation, blocked experience-driven synaptic potentiation. In general, synaptic incorporation of AMPA-Rs in vivo conforms to rules identified in vitro and contributes to plasticity driven by natural stimuli in the mammalian brain.     

拟南芥β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因(BG1)在不同组织及非生物胁迫下的表达研究

[目的]研究拟南芥β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因(BG1)在不同组织及胁迫条件下的表达规律.[方法]研究以拟南芥为材料,以28S rRNA为内参,利用半定量RT-PCR法研究了低温(4℃)、高温(37℃)、NaCl胁迫(200 mmol/L)和与之等渗的PEG(21.5;)干旱胁迫处理在不同组织(叶、薹、花、果)ep BGl的表达情况.[结果](1)正常植株中,BG1在不同组织的表达量不同:花、果>叶>薹.(2)胁迫处理对BGI的表达量有影响.在叶中,盐胁迫不影响其表达,其他处理都使其表达量减少;在薹中,除低温处理使其表达量明显增加,其他情况的表达都减少,37℃和干旱胁迫后几乎不表达;在花中,NaCl胁迫处理后表达量明显增加,PEG处理及高温胁迫后表达量下降;在果实中,BGI在PEG胁迫后表达量稍有增加,而37℃和盐胁迫表达稍有下降.[结论]在正常植株中,BG1的表达具有差异性;BG1对各种胁迫处理的响应不同.     

Driving AMPA receptors into synapses by LTP and CaMKII: requirement for GluR1 and PDZ domain interaction

To elucidate mechanisms that control and execute activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptors (AMPA-Rs) with an electrophysiological tag were expressed in rat hippocampal neurons. Long-term potentiation (LTP) or increased activity of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) induced delivery of tagged AMPA-Rs into synapses. This effect was not diminished by mutating the CaMKII phosphorylation site on the GluR1 AMPA-R subunit, but was blocked by mutating a predicted PDZ domain interaction site. These results show that LTP and CaMKII activity drive AMPA-Rs to synapses by a mechanism that requires the association between GluR1 and a PDZ domain protein.     

The contribution of single synapses to sensory representation in vivo

The extent to which synaptic activity can signal a sensory stimulus limits the information available to a neuron. We determined the contribution of individual synapses to sensory representation by recording excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in cerebellar granule cells during a time-varying, quantifiable vestibular stimulus. Vestibular-sensitive synapses faithfully reported direction and velocity, rather than position or acceleration of whole-body motion, via bidirectional modulation of EPSC frequency. The lack of short-term synaptic dynamics ensured a highly linear relationship between velocity and charge transfer, and as few as 100 synapses provided resolution approaching psychophysical limits. This indicates that highly accurate stimulus representation can be achieved by small networks and even within single neurons.     

苏云金杆菌(B.t-7216菌株)噬菌体的活性测试

[目的]将分离纯化鉴定的Pc1、Pc2、Pc3、Pc4 4种噬菌体,测其活性。[方法]进行效价测定、寄主范围测定、稳定性测定、紫外线照射失活试验、热失活试验方面的研究。[结果]从效价测定中看,噬菌斑的大小取决于噬菌体的类型,并与涂布和培养工作中所采用的条件有关,条件不变,噬菌空斑形状及大小相对稳定。各种噬菌体在其相应的寄主细胞上表现其本身的特征,是区剐噬菌体的一个依据。从噬菌体寄主范围来看,4株噬菌体对6株菌株敏感,对2株菌不完全敏感,对2株菌不敏感。一般较稳定,当pH值为10时,Pc1和Pc3还有12．5％～30．7％存活,Pc2和PC4完全灭活。紫外线照射10s存活率为35．9％-66．7％,照射60s有13％-25％的存活率,照射120s则有3％-6％的存活率。噬菌体在60℃下热处理,均失活,失活率与时间呈正比关系。时间的延长。失活率增加。在70℃下处理5min则全部失活。[结论]从所采集的6个样品中筛选的4种噬菌体,经过分离、纯化后,并进行各项理化指标测定,基本掌握了它们的活性范围。找出了杀灭7216菌株噬菌体的理化方法。     

Dichotomous dopaminergic control of striatal synaptic plasticity

At synapses between cortical pyramidal neurons and principal striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs), postsynaptic D1 and D2 dopamine (DA) receptors are postulated to be necessary for the induction of long-term potentiation and depression, respectively-forms of plasticity thought to underlie associative learning. Because these receptors are restricted to two distinct MSN populations, this postulate demands that synaptic plasticity be unidirectional in each cell type. Using brain slices from DA receptor transgenic mice, we show that this is not the case. Rather, DA plays complementary roles in these two types of MSN to ensure that synaptic plasticity is bidirectional and Hebbian. In models of Parkinson's disease, this system is thrown out of balance, leading to unidirectional changes in plasticity that could underlie network pathology and symptoms.     

Influence of the major histocompatibility complex on positive thymic selection of V beta 17a+ T cells

A monoclonal antibody was used to show directly positive thymic selection of the T cell repertoire in mouse strains expressing the 17a beta-chain variable domain (V beta 17a) of the T cell receptor. In the absence of the potent tolerizing class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule, I-E, peripheral expression of V beta 17a+ T cell receptors varied with the MHC haplotype of the mouse strain. In the most extreme case, H-2q mice expressed high peripheral levels of CD4+ V beta 17a+ T cells (14 to 19 percent), whereas H-2b mice expressed low levels (3 to 4 percent). Analysis of (b x q)F1 mice and chimeric mice showed that these differences were determined by positive thymic selection and implicated the thymic epithelium as the controlling cell type.     

An essential role for BAFF in the normal development of B cells through a BCMA-independent pathway

The B cell activating factor BAFF (BlyS/TALL-1/zTNF4) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related ligand that promotes B cell survival and binds to three receptors (BCMA, TACI, and the recently described BAFF-R). Here we report an absolute requirement for BAFF in normal B cell development. Examination of secondary lymphoid organs from BAFF-deficient mice revealed an almost complete loss of follicular and marginal zone B lymphocytes. In contrast, mice lacking BCMA had normal-appearing B lymphocyte compartments. BAFF therefore plays a crucial role in B cell development and can function through receptors other than BCMA.