Activity-driven dendrtic remodeling requires microtuble-associated protein1A

SZEBENYI, G.; BOLLATI, F.; BISBAL, M.; SHERIDAN, S.; FAAS, L.; WRAY, S.; HAFERKAMP, S.; NGUYEN, S.; CACERES, A.; BRADY, ST.

CURRENT BIOLOGY

Cell Press

Lugar: Cambridge, Masachusetts; Año: 2005 vol. 15 p. 1820 - 1826

0960-9822

The shape of the dendritic arbor plays a critical role in processing and integrating  neuronal inputs  and input activity sculpts the dendritic arbor by inducing  neurites to grow and branch . Remodeling of dendrites in response to activity  involves Ca flux, the MAPK pathway, and transcription of selected genes, but  mechanisms that underlie structural renovation of dendrites are poorly understood.  Neuronal remodeling requires the extension and stabilization of the actin and  microtubule cytoskeleton in nascent processes . Microtubule associated proteins  (MAPs) bind both microtubules and actin ; they may also anchor ion  channels   and signaling complexes. Here we show that MAP1A becomes  enriched in a subset of dendrites in the developing brain at the time of  synaptogenesis, its levels and distribution are regulated by neuronal activity, and  MAP1A expression is required for activity dependent growth, branching, and  stabilization of the dendritic arbor. Thus, we propose that MAP1A is involved in  input driven remodeling of neuronal circuits.