Characterization of Small RNAs in Aplysia Reveals a Role for miR-124 in Constraining Synaptic Plasticity through CREB Journal Article


Authors: Rajasethupathy, P.; Fiumara, F.; Sheridan, R.; Betel, D.; Puthanveettil, S. V.; Russo, J. J.; Sander, C.; Tuschl, T.; Kandel, E.
Article Title: Characterization of Small RNAs in Aplysia Reveals a Role for miR-124 in Constraining Synaptic Plasticity through CREB
Abstract: Memory storage and memory-related synaptic plasticity rely on precise spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression. To explore the role of small regulatory RNAs in learning-related synaptic plasticity, we carried out massive parallel sequencing to profile the small RNAs of Aplysia californica. We identified 170 distinct miRNAs, 13 of which were novel and specific to Aplysia. Nine miRNAs were brain enriched, and several of these were rapidly downregulated by transient exposure to serotonin, a modulatory neurotransmitter released during learning. Further characterization of the brain-enriched miRNAs revealed that miR-124, the most abundant and well-conserved brain-specific miRNA, was exclusively present presynaptically in a sensory-motor synapse where it constrains serotonin-induced synaptic facilitation through regulation of the transcriptional factor CREB. We therefore present direct evidence that a modulatory neurotransmitter important for learning can regulate the levels of small RNAs and present a role for miR-124 in long-term plasticity of synapses in the mature nervous system. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: controlled study; human cell; mutation; nonhuman; animal cell; animals; animal tissue; microrna; nerve tissue proteins; protein binding; neurons; dose-response relationship, drug; central nervous system; time factors; evolution, molecular; rna; enzyme inhibitors; molneuro; nerve cell plasticity; cellbio; down regulation; molecular biology; micrornas; analysis of variance; kinesin; rna sequence; cyclic amp responsive element binding protein; serotonin; aplysia; facilitation; learning; cyclic amp response element-binding protein; excitatory postsynaptic potentials; neuronal plasticity; oligonucleotides, antisense; synapses; ubiquitin thiolesterase
Journal Title: Neuron
Volume: 63
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0896-6273
Publisher: Cell Press  
Date Published: 2009-09-24
Start Page: 803
End Page: 817
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.05.029
PUBMED: 19778509
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC2875683
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 19" - "Export Date: 30 November 2010" - "CODEN: NERNE" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Doron Betel
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  2. Chris Sander
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