| First Author | Lübbert M | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Neuron | Volume | 101 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 260-273.e6 |
| PubMed ID | 30545599 | Mgi Jnum | J:273268 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6275838 | Doi | 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.028 |
| Citation | Lubbert M, et al. (2019) CaV2.1 alpha1 Subunit Expression Regulates Presynaptic CaV2.1 Abundance and Synaptic Strength at a Central Synapse. Neuron 101(2):260-273.e6 |
| abstractText | The abundance of presynaptic CaV2 voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (CaV2) at mammalian active zones (AZs) regulates the efficacy of synaptic transmission. It is proposed that presynaptic CaV2 levels are saturated in AZs due to a finite number of slots that set CaV2 subtype abundance and that CaV2.1 cannot compete for CaV2.2 slots. However, at most AZs, CaV2.1 levels are highest and CaV2.2 levels are developmentally reduced. To investigate CaV2.1 saturation states and preference in AZs, we overexpressed the CaV2.1 and CaV2.2 alpha1 subunits at the calyx of Held at immature and mature developmental stages. We found that AZs prefer CaV2.1 to CaV2.2. Remarkably, CaV2.1 alpha1 subunit overexpression drove increased CaV2.1 currents and channel numbers and increased synaptic strength at both developmental stages examined. Therefore, we propose that CaV2.1 levels in the AZ are not saturated and that synaptic strength can be modulated by increasing CaV2.1 levels to regulate neuronal circuit output. VIDEO ABSTRACT. |
