Molecular basis of interactions between CaMKII and α-actinin-2 that underlie dendritic spine enlargement.

ABSTRACT: Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is essential for long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synapses that is linked to learning and memory. In this study, we focused on understanding how interactions between CaMKIIα and the actin-crosslinking protein α-actinin-2 underlie long-lasting changes in dendritic spine architecture. We found that association of the two proteins was unexpectedly elevated within 2 minutes of NMDA receptor stimulation that triggers structural LTP in primary hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, disruption of interactions between the two proteins prevented the accumulation of enlarged mushroom-type dendritic spines following NMDA receptor activation. α-Actinin-2 binds to the regulatory segment of CaMKII. Calorimetry experiments, and a crysta

SUBMITTER: Curtis AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10484527 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature