RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Variability of Distribution of Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Kinase II at Mixed Synapses on the Mauthner Cell: Colocalization and Association with Connexin 35 JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 9488 OP 9499 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4466-09.2010 VO 30 IS 28 A1 Carmen E. Flores A1 Roger Cachope A1 Srikant Nannapaneni A1 Smaranda Ene A1 Angus C. Nairn A1 Alberto E. Pereda YR 2010 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/28/9488.abstract AB In contrast to chemical transmission, few proteins have been shown associated with gap junction-mediated electrical synapses. Mixed (electrical and glutamatergic) synaptic terminals on the teleost Mauthner cell known as “Club endings” constitute because of their unusual large size and presence of connexin 35 (Cx35), an ortholog of the widespread mammalian Cx36, a valuable model for the study of electrical transmission. Remarkably, both components of their mixed synaptic response undergo activity-dependent potentiation. Changes in electrical transmission result from interactions with colocalized glutamatergic synapses, the activity of which leads to the activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), required for the induction of changes in both forms of transmission. However, the distribution of this kinase and potential localization to electrical synapses remains undetermined. Taking advantage of the unparalleled experimental accessibility of Club endings, we explored the presence and intraterminal distribution of CaMKII within these terminals. Here we show that (1) unlike other proteins, both CaMKII labeling and distribution were highly variable between contiguous contacts, and (2) CaMKII was not restricted to the periphery of the terminals, in which glutamatergic synapses are located, but also was present at the center in which gap junctions predominate. Accordingly, double immunolabeling indicated that Cx35 and CaMKII were colocalized, and biochemical analysis showed that these proteins associate. Because CaMKII characteristically undergoes activity-dependent translocation, the observed variability of labeling likely reflects physiological differences between electrical synapses of contiguous Club endings, which remarkably coexist with differing degrees of conductance. Together, our results indicate that CaMKII should be considered a component of electrical synapses, although its association is nonobligatory and likely driven by activity.