Dendritic Spines: Similarities with Protrusions and Adhesions in Migrating Cells

Cytoskeletal regulation of synaptogenesis in a model of human fetal brain development

Excitatory synapse formation begins in mid-fetal gestation. However, due to our inability to image fetal synaptogenesis, the initial formation of synapses remains understudied. The recent development of human fetal brain spheroids provides access to this critical period of synapse formation. Using human neurons and brain spheroids, we address how altered actin regulation impacts the formation of excitatory synapses during fetal brain development. Prior to synapse formation, inhibition of RhoA kinase (ROCK) signaling promotes neurite elongation and branching. In addition to increasing neural complexity, ROCK inhibition increases the length of protrusions along the neurite, ultimately promoting excitatory synapse formation in human cortical brain spheroids. A corresponding increase in Rac1-driven actin polymerization drives this increase in excitatory synaptogenesis. Using STORM super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrate that actomyosin regulators, including the Rac1 regulator, α-PIX, and the RhoA regulator, p115-RhoGEF, localize to nascent excitatory synapses, where they preferentially localize to postsynaptic compartments. These results demonstrate that coordinated RhoGTPase activities underlie the initial formation of excitatory synapses and identify critical cytoskeletal regulators of early synaptogenic events.

Rapid Estrogen and Progesterone Signaling to Dendritic Spine Formation via Cortactin/Wave1-Arp2/3 Complex

BACKGROUND

Synaptic plasticity is the neuronal capacity to modify the function and structure of dendritic spines (DS) in response to neuromodulators. Sex steroids, particularly 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), are key regulators in the control of DS formation through multiprotein complexes including WAVE1 protein, and are thus fundamental for the development of learning and memory.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this work was to evaluate the molecular switch Cdk5 kinase/protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in the control of WAVE1 protein (phosphorylation/dephosphorylation) and the regulation of WAVE1 and cortactin to the Arp2/3 complex, in response to rapid treatments with E2 and P4 in cortical neuronal cells.

RESULTS

Rapid treatment with E2 and P4 modified neuronal morphology and significantly increased the number of DS. This effect was reduced by the use of a Cdk5 inhibitor (Roscovitine). In contrast, inhibition of PP2A with PP2A dominant negative construct significantly increased DS formation, evidencing the participation of kinase/phosphatase in the regulation of WAVE1 in DS formation induced by E2 and P4. Cortactin regulates DS formation via Src and PAK1 kinase induced by E2 and P4. Both cortactin and WAVE1 signal to Arp2/3 complex to synergistically promote actin nucleation.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that E2 and P4 dynamically regulate neuron morphology through nongenomic signaling via cortactin/WAVE1-Arp2/3 complex. The control of these proteins is tightly orchestrated by phosphorylation, where kinases and phosphatases are essential for actin nucleation and, finally, DS formation. This work provides a deeper understanding of the biological actions of sex steroids in the regulation of DS turnover and neuronal plasticity processes.

Non-muscle myosin II in disease: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

The actin motor protein non-muscle myosin II (NMII) acts as a master regulator of cell morphology, with a role in several essential cellular processes, including cell migration and post-synaptic dendritic spine plasticity in neurons. NMII also generates forces that alter biochemical signaling, by driving changes in interactions between actin-associated proteins that can ultimately regulate gene transcription. In addition to its roles in normal cellular physiology, NMII has recently emerged as a critical regulator of diverse, genetically complex diseases, including neuronal disorders, cancers and vascular disease. In the context of these disorders, NMII regulatory pathways can be directly mutated or indirectly altered by disease-causing mutations. NMII regulatory pathway genes are also increasingly found in disease-associated copy-number variants, particularly in neuronal disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Furthermore, manipulation of NMII-mediated contractility regulates stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, thus highlighting the key role of NMII-based pharmaceuticals in the clinical success of stem cell therapies. In this Review, we discuss the emerging role of NMII activity and its regulation by kinases and microRNAs in the pathogenesis and prognosis of a diverse range of diseases, including neuronal disorders, cancer and vascular disease. We also address promising clinical applications and limitations of NMII-based inhibitors in the treatment of these diseases and the development of stem-cell-based therapies.

The interaction between Shroom3 and Rho-kinase is required for neural tube morphogenesis in mice

Shroom3 is an actin-associated regulator of cell morphology that is required for neural tube closure, formation of the lens placode, and gut morphogenesis in mice and has been linked to chronic kidney disease and directional heart looping in humans. Numerous studies have shown that Shroom3 likely regulates these developmental processes by directly binding to Rho-kinase and facilitating the assembly of apically positioned contractile actomyosin networks. We have characterized the molecular basis for the neural tube defects caused by an ENU-induced mutation that results in an arginine-to-cysteine amino acid substitution at position 1838 of mouse Shroom3. We show that this substitution has no effect on Shroom3 expression or localization but ablates Rock binding and renders Shroom3 non-functional for the ability to regulate cell morphology. Our results indicate that Rock is the major downstream effector of Shroom3 in the process of neural tube morphogenesis. Based on sequence conservation and biochemical analysis, we predict that the Shroom-Rock interaction is highly conserved across animal evolution and represents a signaling module that is utilized in a variety of biological processes.

Myosin IIb activity and phosphorylation status determines dendritic spine and post-synaptic density morphology

Dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons mature from a filopodia-like precursor into a mushroom-shape with an enlarged post-synaptic density (PSD) and serve as the primary post-synaptic location of the excitatory neurotransmission that underlies learning and memory. Using myosin II regulatory mutants, inhibitors, and knockdowns, we show that non-muscle myosin IIB (MIIB) activity determines where spines form and whether they persist as filopodia-like spine precursors or mature into a mushroom-shape. MIIB also determines PSD size, morphology, and placement in the spine. Local inactivation of MIIB leads to the formation of filopodia-like spine protrusions from the dendritic shaft. However, di-phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain on residues Thr18 and Ser19 by Rho kinase is required for spine maturation. Inhibition of MIIB activity or a mono-phosphomimetic mutant of RLC similarly prevented maturation even in the presence of NMDA receptor activation. Expression of an actin cross-linking, non-contractile mutant, MIIB R709C, showed that maturation into a mushroom-shape requires contractile activity. Loss of MIIB also leads to an elongated PSD morphology that is no longer restricted to the spine tip; whereas increased MIIB activity, specifically through RLC-T18, S19 di-phosphorylation, increases PSD area. These observations support a model whereby myosin II inactivation forms filopodia-like protrusions that only mature once NMDA receptor activation increases RLC di-phosphorylation to stimulate MIIB contractility, resulting in mushroom-shaped spines with an enlarged PSD.

The dynamic cytoskeleton: backbone of dendritic spine plasticity

Dendritic spines are small actin-rich protrusions on the surface of dendrites whose morphological and molecular plasticity play key roles in learning and memory. Both the form and function of spines are critically dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. However, new research, using electron microscopy and live-cell super-resolution microscopy indicates that the actin cytoskeleton is more complex and dynamic than originally thought. Also, exciting recent studies from several labs indicate that microtubules, once thought to be restricted to the dendrite shaft, can make excursions into the most distal regions of dendritic spines. Moreover, microtubule invasions of spines appear to be associated with changes in synaptic activity. Thus, it is likely that dynamic interactions between microtubules and actin filaments within dendritic spines play important roles in dendritic spine plasticity.