Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Outside of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the role of Fragile-X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) in mediating neuropsychological abnormalities is not clear. FMRP, p70-S6 kinase (S6K) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) are thought to cooperate as a dynamic signaling complex. In our prior work, adult rats have enhanced CA1 hippocampal long-term depression (LTD) following an early life seizure (ELS). We now show that mGluR-mediated LTD (mLTD) is specifically enhanced following ELS, similar to FMRP knock-outs. Total FMRP expression is unchanged but S6K is hyperphosphorylated, consistent with S6K overactivation. We postulated that either disruption of the FMRP-S6K-PP2A complex and/or removal of this complex from synapses could explain our findings. Using subcellular fractionation, we were surprised to find that concentrations of FMRP and PP2A were undisturbed in the synaptosomal compartment but reduced in parallel in the cytosolic compartment. Following ELS FMRP phosphorylation was reduced in the cytosolic compartment and increased in the synaptic compartment, in parallel with the compartmentalization of S6K activation. Furthermore, FMRP and PP2A remain bound following ELS. In contrast, the interaction of S6K with FMRP is reduced by ELS. Blockade of PP2A results in enhanced mLTD; this is occluded by ELS. This suggests a critical role for the location and function of the FMRP-S6K-PP2A signaling complex in limiting the amount of mLTD. Specifically, non-synaptic targeting and the function of the complex may influence the "set-point" for regulating mLTD. Consistent with this, striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP), an FMRP "target" which regulates mLTD expression, is specifically increased in the synaptosomal compartment following ELS. Further, we provide behavioral data to suggest that FMRP complex dysfunction may underlie altered socialization, a symptom associated and observed in other rodent models of autism, including FXS.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.nbd.2013.06.013

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neurobiol Dis

Publication Date

11/2013

Volume

59

Pages

1 - 17

Keywords

Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), Long-term depression (LTD), Metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR), Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), Seizure, Striatal-enriched tyrosine protein phosphatase (STEP), Animals, Animals, Newborn, Disease Models, Animal, Enzyme Inhibitors, Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists, Female, Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein, Hippocampus, In Vitro Techniques, Kainic Acid, Long-Term Synaptic Depression, Phosphorylation, Pregnancy, Protein Phosphatase 2, Pyridines, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate, Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa, Seizures, Signal Transduction, Subcellular Fractions, Thiazoles