Unveiling Neuronal Synaptic Plasticity with Biofunctional Quantum Dots and Super Resolution Microscopy

VILLALBA, NERINA; NGUYEN, JULIE; PONS, THOMAS; LEQUEUX, NICOLAS; CALTANA, LAURA; BRUSCO, ALICIA; LENKEI, ZSOLT; ZALA, DIANA; TASSO, MARIANA

Conferencia; RSCPoster conference 2024; 2024

Neuronal plasticity governs processes as diverse as learning and memory, brain development and homeostasis, and the recovery from brain lesions. In spite of its relevance, the molecular mechanisms behind synaptic plasticity are still not fully elucidated. In a previous work, we demonstrated that activation of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) at the growth cone in neurons leads to axonal retraction via actomyosin contraction. This nano-contraction process occurring at the presynapse upon CB1 activation has temporal and morphological nanoscopic characteristics that are relevant to our understanding of synaptic plasticity. Recently, we introduced a super resolution based platform named nanoPaint that enables a fast reconstruction of the cell membrane in live neurons, in real time and with nanometer-size spatial resolution. Recording CB1 receptor movement on the cell membrane of neurons by means of quantum dots bearing an anti-CB1 antibody, we were able to reconstruct the presynaptic boutons in 3D and to track their spontaneous and WIN (a CB1 receptor agonist)-induced temporal deformation in live conditions. Preliminary results support our previous findings linking CB1 activation to presynaptic contraction.