Loss of 4E-BP converts cerebellar long-term depression to long-term potentiation.

Genetic perturbances in translational regulation result in defects in cerebellar motor learning; however, little is known about the role of translational mechanisms in the regulation of cerebellar plasticity. We show that genetic removal of 4E-BP, a translational suppressor and target of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1, results in a striking change in cerebellar synaptic plasticity. We find that cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) at parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses is converted to long-term potentiation in 4E-BP knockout mice. Biochemical and pharmacological experiments suggest that increased phosphatase activity largely accounts for the defects in LTD. Our results point to a model in which translational regulation through the action of 4E-BP plays a critical role in establishing the appropriate kinase/phosphatase balance required for normal synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum.

Removing 4E-BP Enables Synapses to Refine without Postsynaptic Activity.

Throughout the developing nervous system, considerable synaptic re-organization takes place as postsynaptic neurons extend dendrites and incoming axons refine their synapses, strengthening some and eliminating others. It is well accepted that these processes rely on synaptic activity; however, the mechanisms that lead to this developmental reorganization are not fully understood. Here, we explore the regulation of cap-dependent translation, a mechanism known to play a role in synaptic growth and plasticity. Using sympathetic ganglia in α3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-knockout (KO) mice, we establish that electrophysiologically silent synapses between preganglionic axons and postsynaptic sympathetic neurons do not refine, and the growth of dendrites and the targeting of synapses on postsynaptic neurons are impaired. Remarkably, genetically removing 4E-BP, a suppressor of cap-dependent translation, from these α3 nAChR-KO mice largely restores these features. We conclude that synaptic connections can re-organize and refine without postsynaptic activity during post-natal development when 4E-BP-regulated cap-dependent translation is enhanced.

TIE: A Method to Electroporate Long DNA Templates into Preimplantation Embryos for CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing.

Precise genome editing using CRISPR typically requires delivery of guide RNAs, Cas9 endonuclease, and DNA repair templates. Both microinjection and electroporation effectively deliver these components into mouse zygotes provided the DNA template is an oligonucleotide of only a few hundred base pairs. However, electroporation completely fails with longer double-stranded DNAs leaving microinjection as the only delivery option. Here, we overcome this limitation by first injecting all CRISPR components, including long plasmid-sized DNA templates, into the sub-zona pellucida space. There they are retained, supporting subsequent electroporation. We show that this simple and well-tolerated method achieves intracellular reagent concentrations sufficient to effect precise gene edits.