Regulation of actin and NMDA receptor activity in dendritic spines

Regulation of actin and NMDA receptor activity in dendritic spines

Speaker: Professor Tony Koleske, Yale University

The actin cytoskeleton plays many important roles in synapse function and in the maintenance of dendritic spines, but the role that actin-binding proteins play in maintenance and turnover of the actin cytoskeleton in dendritic spines is poorly understood. Our recent work is studying the regulation of different actin pools in dendritic spines and the role these pools have in dendritic spine morphology and synaptic transmission and plasticity. Using microscopy and biochemistry, we have identified actin-binding proteins that regulate spine actin stability, and others that help keep the spine actin dynamic. We also find that the amount of dynamic actin in a dendritic spine closely correlates with GluN2B-NMDA receptor activity in hippocampal synapses. Our work is examining how GluN2B interacts with actin and whether Ca²⁺ entry through these receptors directly drives remodelling of the cytoskeleton.

Host: Professor Maddy Parsons