The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons

Mastoparan-7 (Mas-7), an analogue of the peptide mastoparan, which is derived from wasp venom, is a direct activator of Pertussis toxin- (PTX-) sensitive G proteins. Mas-7 produces several biological effects in different cell types; however, little is known about how Mas-7 influences mature hippocam...

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Main Authors: Valerie T. Ramírez, Eva Ramos-Fernández, Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4258171
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author Valerie T. Ramírez
Eva Ramos-Fernández
Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
author_facet Valerie T. Ramírez
Eva Ramos-Fernández
Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
author_sort Valerie T. Ramírez
collection DOAJ
description Mastoparan-7 (Mas-7), an analogue of the peptide mastoparan, which is derived from wasp venom, is a direct activator of Pertussis toxin- (PTX-) sensitive G proteins. Mas-7 produces several biological effects in different cell types; however, little is known about how Mas-7 influences mature hippocampal neurons. We examined the specific role of Mas-7 in the development of dendritic spines, the sites of excitatory synaptic contact that are crucial for synaptic plasticity. We report here that exposure of hippocampal neurons to a low dose of Mas-7 increases dendritic spine density and spine head width in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, Mas-7 enhances postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) clustering in neurites and activates Gαo signaling, increasing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. To define the role of signaling intermediates, we measured the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) after Mas-7 treatment and determined that CaMKII activation is necessary for the Mas-7-dependent increase in dendritic spine density. Our results demonstrate a critical role for Gαo subunit signaling in the regulation of synapse formation.
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spelling doaj-art-073fb345bf1b4f13ab57aeffdf71d3be2025-08-20T02:02:48ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432016-01-01201610.1155/2016/42581714258171The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal NeuronsValerie T. Ramírez0Eva Ramos-Fernández1Nibaldo C. Inestrosa2Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150 Santiago, ChileCentro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150 Santiago, ChileCentro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150 Santiago, ChileMastoparan-7 (Mas-7), an analogue of the peptide mastoparan, which is derived from wasp venom, is a direct activator of Pertussis toxin- (PTX-) sensitive G proteins. Mas-7 produces several biological effects in different cell types; however, little is known about how Mas-7 influences mature hippocampal neurons. We examined the specific role of Mas-7 in the development of dendritic spines, the sites of excitatory synaptic contact that are crucial for synaptic plasticity. We report here that exposure of hippocampal neurons to a low dose of Mas-7 increases dendritic spine density and spine head width in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, Mas-7 enhances postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) clustering in neurites and activates Gαo signaling, increasing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. To define the role of signaling intermediates, we measured the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) after Mas-7 treatment and determined that CaMKII activation is necessary for the Mas-7-dependent increase in dendritic spine density. Our results demonstrate a critical role for Gαo subunit signaling in the regulation of synapse formation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4258171
spellingShingle Valerie T. Ramírez
Eva Ramos-Fernández
Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons
Neural Plasticity
title The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons
title_full The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons
title_fullStr The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons
title_full_unstemmed The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons
title_short The Gαo Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons
title_sort gαo activator mastoparan 7 promotes dendritic spine formation in hippocampal neurons
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4258171
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