Regulation of dendritic spine morphology by an NMDA receptor-associated Rho GTPase-activating protein, p250GAP

J Neurochem. 2008 May;105(4):1384-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05335.x. Epub 2008 Mar 9.

Abstract

The NMDA receptor regulates spine morphological plasticity by modulating Rho GTPases. However, the molecular mechanisms for NMDA receptor-mediated regulation of Rho GTPases remain elusive. In this study, we show that p250GAP, an NMDA receptor-associated RhoGAP, regulates spine morphogenesis by modulating RhoA activity. Knock-down of p250GAP increased spine width and elevated the endogenous RhoA activity in primary hippocampal neurons. The increased spine width by p250GAP knock-down was suppressed by the expression of a dominant-negative form of RhoA. Furthermore, p250GAP is involved in NMDA receptor-mediated RhoA activation. In response to NMDA receptor activation, exogenously expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged p250GAP was redistributed. Thus, these data suggest that p250GAP plays an important role in NMDA receptor-mediated regulation of RhoA activity leading to spine morphological plasticity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Spines / enzymology
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Spines / ultrastructure*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / physiology*
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / genetics
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*

Substances

  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • rho GTPase-activating protein