Canonical Wnt3a Modulates Intracellular Calcium and Enhances Excitatory Neurotransmission in Hippocampal Neurons

Overview

Journal J Biol Chem

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2010 Apr 21

PMID 20404321

Citations 39

Authors

Miguel E Avila

Fernando J Sepulveda

Carlos F Burgos

Gustavo Moraga-Cid

Jorge Parodi

Randall T Moon

Luis G Aguayo

Carlos Opazo

Giancarlo V De Ferrari

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A role for Wnt signal transduction in the development and maintenance of brain structures is widely acknowledged. Recent studies have suggested that Wnt signaling may be essential for synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission. However, the direct effect of a Wnt protein on synaptic transmission had not been demonstrated. Here we show that nanomolar concentrations of purified Wnt3a protein rapidly increase the frequency of miniature excitatory synaptic currents in embryonic rat hippocampal neurons through a mechanism involving a fast influx of calcium from the extracellular space, induction of post-translational modifications on the machinery involved in vesicle exocytosis in the presynaptic terminal leading to spontaneous Ca(2+) transients. Our results identify the Wnt3a protein and a member of its complex receptor at the membrane, the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) coreceptor, as key molecules in neurotransmission modulation and suggest cross-talk between canonical and Wnt/Ca(2+) signaling in central neurons.

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