A possible postsynaptic role for SNAP-25 in hippocampal synapses

S. Hussain, H. Ringsevjen, M. Schupps, Ø. Hvalby, J. B. Sørensen, V. Jensen, S. Davanger*

*Corresponding author for this work
8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The SNARE protein SNAP-25 is well documented as regulator of presynaptic vesicle exocytosis. Increasing evidence suggests roles for SNARE proteins in postsynaptic trafficking of glutamate receptors as a basic mechanism in synaptic plasticity. Despite these indications, detailed quantitative subsynaptic localization studies of SNAP-25 have never been performed. Here, we provide novel electron microscopic data of SNAP-25 localization in postsynaptic spines. In addition to its expected presynaptic localization, we show that the protein is also present in the postsynaptic density (PSD), the postsynaptic lateral membrane and on small vesicles in the postsynaptic cytoplasm. We further investigated possible changes in synaptic SNAP-25 protein expression after hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). Quantitative analysis of immunogold-labeled electron microscopy sections did not show statistically significant changes of SNAP-25 gold particle densities 1 h after LTP induction, indicating that local trafficking of SNAP-25 does not play a role in the early phases of LTP. However, the strong expression of SNAP-25 in postsynaptic plasma membranes suggests a function of the protein in postsynaptic vesicle exocytosis and a possible role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBrain Structure and Function
Volume224
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)521-532
ISSN1863-2653
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2019

Keywords

  • Electron microscopy
  • Hippocampus
  • LTP
  • SNARE proteins
  • Synaptic plasticity

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