MAP kinase translocates into the nucleus of the presynaptic cell and is required for long-term facilitation in Aplysia

K C Martin; D Michael; J C Rose; M Barad; A Casadio; H Zhu; E R Kandel

doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80330-x

MAP kinase translocates into the nucleus of the presynaptic cell and is required for long-term facilitation in Aplysia

Neuron. 1997 Jun;18(6):899-912. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80330-x.

Authors

K C Martin¹, D Michael, J C Rose, M Barad, A Casadio, H Zhu, E R Kandel

Affiliation

¹ Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.

PMID: 9208858
DOI: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80330-x

Abstract

Long-term facilitation of the sensory to motor synapse in Aplysia requires gene expression. While some transcription factors involved in long-term facilitation are phosphorylated by PKA, others lack PKA sites but contain MAP Kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation sites. We now show that MAPK translocates into the nucleus of the presynaptic but not the postsynaptic cell during 5-HT-induced long-term facilitation. The presynaptic nuclear translocation of MAPK is also triggered by elevations in intracellular cAMP. Injection of anti-MAPK antibodies or of MAPK Kinase inhibitors into the presynaptic cell blocks long-term facilitation, without affecting basal synaptic transmission or short-term facilitation. Thus, MAPK appears to be specifically recruited and necessary for the long-term form of facilitation. This mechanism for long-term plasticity may be quite general: cAMP also activated MAPK in mouse hippocampal neurons, suggesting that MAPK may play a role in hippocampal long-term potentiation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Aplysia
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
Cell Compartmentation
Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
Cells, Cultured
Colforsin / metabolism
Cyclic AMP / metabolism
Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
Flavonoids / pharmacology
Hippocampus / metabolism
Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
MAP Kinase Kinase 1
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases*
Molecular Sequence Data
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
Neurons, Afferent / enzymology
Peptides / immunology
Presynaptic Terminals / physiology
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
Serotonin / pharmacology
Synapses
Synaptic Transmission

Substances

Enzyme Inhibitors
Flavonoids
Peptides
Colforsin
Serotonin
Cyclic AMP
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
MAP Kinase Kinase 1
Map2k1 protein, mouse
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one