Abstract
The elaboration of dendrites is fundamental to the establishment of neuronal polarity and connectivity, but the mechanisms that underlie dendritic morphogenesis are poorly understood. We found that the genetic knockdown of the transcription factor NeuroD in primary granule neurons including in organotypic cerebellar slices profoundly impaired the generation and maintenance of dendrites while sparing the development of axons. We also found that NeuroD mediated neuronal activity-dependent dendritogenesis. The activity-induced protein kinase CaMKII catalyzed the phosphorylation of NeuroD at distinct sites, including endogenous NeuroD at Ser336 in primary neurons, and thereby stimulated dendritic growth. These findings uncover an essential function for NeuroD in granule neuron dendritic morphogenesis. Our study also defines the CaMKII-NeuroD signaling pathway as a novel mechanism underlying activity-regulated dendritic growth that may play important roles in the developing and mature brain.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Axons / physiology
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Axons / ultrastructure
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology*
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cell Polarity
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Cell Survival / physiology
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebellar Cortex / cytology
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Cerebellar Cortex / growth & development
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Cerebellar Cortex / physiology
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Cerebellum / cytology
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Cerebellum / growth & development
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Dendrites / physiology*
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Dendrites / ultrastructure
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Immunohistochemistry
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Mass Spectrometry
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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Neurons / physiology
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Organ Culture Techniques
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Phosphorylation
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RNA Interference
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Rats
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Serine / physiology
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Transfection
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Neurogenic differentiation factor 1
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Serine
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases