An Intrinsic Transcriptional Program Underlying Synaptic Scaling during Activity Suppression.

ABSTRACT: Homeostatic scaling allows neurons to maintain stable activity patterns by globally altering their synaptic strength in response to changing activity levels. Suppression of activity by the blocking of action potentials increases synaptic strength through an upregulation of surface α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. Although this synaptic upscaling was shown to require transcription, the molecular nature of the intrinsic transcription program underlying this process and its functional significance have been unclear. Using RNA-seq, we identified 73 genes that were specifically upregulated in response to activity suppression. In particular, Neuronal pentraxin-1 (Nptx1) increased within 6 hr of activity blockade, and knockdown of this gene blocked the increa

SUBMITTER: Schaukowitch K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5524384 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature