dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

Histone acetylation of chromatin plays a key role in promoting the dynamic transcriptional responses in neurons that influence the neuroplasticity linked to cognitive ability, yet the specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that create such epigenetic marks remain to be elucidated.Here we use the...

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Main Authors: Jessica Sarthi, Felice Elefant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3203119?pdf=render
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author Jessica Sarthi
Felice Elefant
author_facet Jessica Sarthi
Felice Elefant
author_sort Jessica Sarthi
collection DOAJ
description Histone acetylation of chromatin plays a key role in promoting the dynamic transcriptional responses in neurons that influence the neuroplasticity linked to cognitive ability, yet the specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that create such epigenetic marks remain to be elucidated.Here we use the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a well-characterized synapse model to identify HATs that control synaptic remodeling and structure. We show that the HAT dTip60 is concentrated both pre and post-synaptically within the NMJ. Presynaptic targeted reduction of dTip60 HAT activity causes a significant increase in synaptic bouton number that specifically affects type Is boutons. The excess boutons show a suppression of the active zone synaptic function marker bruchpilot, suggesting defects in neurotransmission function. Analysis of microtubule organization within these excess boutons using immunohistochemical staining to the microtubule associated protein futsch reveals a significant increase in the rearrangement of microtubule loop architecture that is required for bouton division. Moreover, α-tubulin acetylation levels of microtubules specifically extending into the terminal synaptic boutons are reduced in response to dTip60 HAT reduction.Our results are the first to demonstrate a causative role for the HAT dTip60 in the control of synaptic plasticity that is achieved, at least in part, via regulation of the synaptic microtubule cytoskeleton. These findings have implications for dTip60 HAT dependant epigenetic mechanisms underlying cognitive function.
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spelling doaj.art-f3a100ae097341bfae09cb7fc6fcc84f2022-12-22T00:11:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-01610e2620210.1371/journal.pone.0026202dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.Jessica SarthiFelice ElefantHistone acetylation of chromatin plays a key role in promoting the dynamic transcriptional responses in neurons that influence the neuroplasticity linked to cognitive ability, yet the specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that create such epigenetic marks remain to be elucidated.Here we use the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a well-characterized synapse model to identify HATs that control synaptic remodeling and structure. We show that the HAT dTip60 is concentrated both pre and post-synaptically within the NMJ. Presynaptic targeted reduction of dTip60 HAT activity causes a significant increase in synaptic bouton number that specifically affects type Is boutons. The excess boutons show a suppression of the active zone synaptic function marker bruchpilot, suggesting defects in neurotransmission function. Analysis of microtubule organization within these excess boutons using immunohistochemical staining to the microtubule associated protein futsch reveals a significant increase in the rearrangement of microtubule loop architecture that is required for bouton division. Moreover, α-tubulin acetylation levels of microtubules specifically extending into the terminal synaptic boutons are reduced in response to dTip60 HAT reduction.Our results are the first to demonstrate a causative role for the HAT dTip60 in the control of synaptic plasticity that is achieved, at least in part, via regulation of the synaptic microtubule cytoskeleton. These findings have implications for dTip60 HAT dependant epigenetic mechanisms underlying cognitive function.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3203119?pdf=render
spellingShingle Jessica Sarthi
Felice Elefant
dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
PLoS ONE
title dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
title_full dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
title_fullStr dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
title_full_unstemmed dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
title_short dTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
title_sort dtip60 hat activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the drosophila neuromuscular junction
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3203119?pdf=render
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