CaMKIIα-driven, phosphatase-checked postsynaptic plasticity via phase separation

Cell Res. 2021 Jan;31(1):37-51. doi: 10.1038/s41422-020-00439-9. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Abstract

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) is essential for synaptic plasticity and learning by decoding synaptic Ca2+ oscillations. Despite decades of extensive research, new mechanisms underlying CaMKIIα's function in synapses are still being discovered. Here, we discover that Shank3 is a specific binding partner for autoinhibited CaMKIIα. We demonstrate that Shank3 and GluN2B, via combined actions of Ca2+ and phosphatases, reciprocally bind to CaMKIIα. Under basal condition, CaMKIIα is recruited to the Shank3 subcompartment of postsynaptic density (PSD) via phase separation. Rise of Ca2+ concentration induces GluN2B-mediated recruitment of active CaMKIIα and formation of the CaMKIIα/GluN2B/PSD-95 condensates, which are autonomously dispersed upon Ca2+ removal. Protein phosphatases control the Ca2+-dependent shuttling of CaMKIIα between the two PSD subcompartments and PSD condensate formation. Activation of CaMKIIα further enlarges the PSD assembly and induces structural LTP. Thus, Ca2+-induced and phosphatase-checked shuttling of CaMKIIα between distinct PSD nano-domains can regulate phase separation-mediated PSD assembly and synaptic plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / chemistry
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein / genetics
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / genetics
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism
  • SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • NR2B NMDA receptor
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins
  • SHANK3 protein, human
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Calcium