Inter-Synaptic Lateral Diffusion of GABAA Receptors Shapes Inhibitory Synaptic Currents

Neuron. 2017 Jul 5;95(1):63-69.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.022.

Abstract

The lateral mobility of neurotransmitter receptors has been shown to tune synaptic signals. Here we report that GABAA receptors (GABAARs) can diffuse between adjacent dendritic GABAergic synapses in long-living desensitized states, thus laterally spreading "activation memories" between inhibitory synapses. Glutamatergic activity limits this inter-synaptic diffusion by trapping GABAARs at excitatory synapses. This novel form of activity-dependent hetero-synaptic interplay is likely to modulate dendritic synaptic signaling.

Keywords: GABAA receptors; excitatory synapses; inhibitory synapses; intracellular calcium; lateral diffusion; optogenetics; scaffold proteins; single particle tracking; synaptic crosstalk; uncaging.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Dendrites / metabolism*
  • Diffusion
  • GluK2 Kainate Receptor
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials*
  • Mice
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Optical Imaging
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Quantum Dots
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid / metabolism
  • Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid
  • Calcium