Iryna M. Ethell - US grants

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research project will investigate the role of EphB receptor signaling in dendritic spine development. Understanding the molecular basis of dendritic spine morphogenesis is fundamentally important to a variety of inherited developmental disorders associated with mental retardation and autism, including Rett Syndrome and FragileX Syndrome. Patients with these disorders exhibit malformation of dendritic spines. These abnormalities result in synaptic dysfunctions, mental retardation and autism. The molecular mechanisms of dendritic spine abnormalities are not well described and require further investigation. Recently I made an important discovery that spine morphogenesis is controlled by the EphB-type receptor tyrosine kinases (Ethell et al., Neuron, 2001). I showed that expression of kinase-inactive EphB2, which prevents activation of EphB-type receptors in a dominant-negative fashion, blocked spine formation in cultured hippocampal neurons, the dendritic protrusions remained long, thin filopodia, as seen in patients with mental retardation and autism. I hypothesize that EphrinB (ligand)-induced activation of EphB receptors control dendritic spine formation. Preliminary results support this hypothesis and shows that clustered EphrinB2-Fc promotes dendritic spine morphogenesis. In Specific Aim 1, I will conduct experiments with knock out mice in which expression of one or multiple EphB receptors is disrupted to find which of the EphB receptors is responsible for the EphrinB2-induced spine formation. I propose to investigate two possible mechanisms through which EphB receptors may trigger dendritic spine mophogenesis: 1) recruitment of signaling molecules to synaptic membranes; 2) tyrosine phosphorylation of key molecules at postsynaptic sites. In Specific Aim 2, I will identify signaling molecules that may link the signaling of the EphB receptors to its effect on spine formation, by conducting mass-spectrometry analysis of the proteins recruited by EphB2 to dendritic spines upon its activation with EphrinB2-Fc. Preliminary results suggest that RhoGTPases may be responsible for the EphrinB/EphB receptor-mediated dendritic spine formation. In Specific Aim 3, I propose to investigate the molecular mechanism of EphB-mediated regulation of RhoGTPases in dendritic spines and its correlation with EphrinB-induced spine formation. In Specific Aim 4, I will also investigate role of cell adhesion molecules in EphrinB-mediated formation and stabilization of dendritic spines.

? DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed studies is to define the mechanisms underlying synapse development and remodeling by delineating a new role of ephrin-B1 signaling in astrocyte- mediated synapse pruning. While several astrocyte-secreted factors have been implicated in synaptogenesis, molecular signals that trigger astrocyte-mediated synapse pruning remain undefined. Astrocytes are implicated in synaptic pruning that is associated with the developmental refinements of neuronal circuits and astrocyte dysfunctions are linked to the synapse pathology associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Astrocytes also play an important role in brain repair following traumatic brain injury (TBI) by protecting neurons from glutamate excitotoxicity and by regulating the blood-brain barrier. However, little is known about astrocyte-derived signals that contribute to injury-induced brain rewiring and the mechanisms underlying long-term neuropsychological changes and memory loss following TBI. This project will address the fundamental question of how astrocytes can regulate circuit remodeling through innovative experiments targeting ephrin-B signaling in astrocytes. We hypothesize that ephrin-B1/EphB signaling is involved in astrocyte-mediated synapse development and remodeling of excitatory synapses following injury. Our preliminary results support this hypothesis and show a transient up-regulation of ephrin-B1 in reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus following brain injury, which coincides with a significant reduction in synapse numbers. Further, targeted ablation of ephrin-B1 from adult astrocytes accelerated synapse recovery after injury. These studies support a role of astroglial ephrin-B1 in injury- induced synapse remodeling and suggest that astroglial ephrin-B1 may act as a negative regulator of synaptogenesis. Indeed, astrocyte-specific ablation of ephrin-B1 triggered an increase in the number of functional glutamatergic synapses in the adult hippocampus, suggesting that astrocytic ephrin-B1 may mediate pruning of existing synapses or inhibit new synapse formation through its interaction with neuronal EphB receptors. To test our hypothesis, we propose (1) to determine the mechanism of ephrinB1 signaling in astrocyte- mediated synapse formation and elimination; and (2) to establish the role of astrocytic ephrin- B1 in functional recovery after brain injury. The proposed research will advance our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of astrocyte-mediated circuit remodeling by utilizing a broad range of innovative approaches. Since the disruption of neuronal circuits contribute to the pathophysiology of many neurologic diseases, the proposed work will inform future studies of the mechanisms underlying both neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.