CaMKII controls neuromodulation via neuropeptide gene expression and axonal targeting of neuropeptide vesicles

PLoS Biol. 2020 Aug 10;18(8):e3000826. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000826. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) regulates synaptic plasticity in multiple ways, supposedly including the secretion of neuromodulators like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Here, we show that neuromodulator secretion is indeed reduced in mouse α- and βCaMKII-deficient (αβCaMKII double-knockout [DKO]) hippocampal neurons. However, this was not due to reduced secretion efficiency or neuromodulator vesicle transport but to 40% reduced neuromodulator levels at synapses and 50% reduced delivery of new neuromodulator vesicles to axons. αβCaMKII depletion drastically reduced neuromodulator expression. Blocking BDNF secretion or BDNF scavenging in wild-type neurons produced a similar reduction. Reduced neuromodulator expression in αβCaMKII DKO neurons was restored by active βCaMKII but not inactive βCaMKII or αCaMKII, and by CaMKII downstream effectors that promote cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. These data indicate that CaMKII regulates neuromodulation in a feedback loop coupling neuromodulator secretion to βCaMKII- and CREB-dependent neuromodulator expression and axonal targeting, but CaMKIIs are dispensable for the secretion process itself.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / cytology
  • Astrocytes / metabolism*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / deficiency
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics*
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Protein Subunits / deficiency
  • Protein Subunits / genetics*
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Time-Lapse Imaging

Substances

  • Bdnf protein, mouse
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Creb1 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Protein Subunits
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium

Grants and funding

This work is supported by an ERC Advanced Grant to MV. FP7-IDEAS-ERC ID:322966 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/107066/factsheet/en The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.