RESUMEN
Recent human exome-sequencing studies have implicated polymorphic Brg1-associated factor (BAF) complexes (mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes) in several intellectual disabilities and cognitive disorders, including autism. However, it remains unclear how mutations in BAF complexes result in impaired cognitive function. Post-mitotic neurons express a neuron-specific assembly, nBAF, characterized by the neuron-specific subunit BAF53b. Subdomain 2 of BAF53b is essential for the differentiation of neuronal precursor cells into neurons. We generated transgenic mice lacking subdomain 2 of Baf53b (BAF53bΔSB2). Long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) and long-term memory, both of which are associated with phosphorylation of the actin severing protein cofilin, were assessed in these animals. A phosphorylation mimic of cofilin was stereotaxically delivered into the hippocampus of BAF53bΔSB2 mice in an effort to rescue LTP and memory. BAF53bΔSB2 mutant mice show impairments in phosphorylation of synaptic cofilin, LTP, and memory. Both the synaptic plasticity and memory deficits are rescued by overexpression of a phosphorylation mimetic of cofilin. Baseline physiology and behavior were not affected by the mutation or the experimental treatment. This study suggests a potential link between nBAF function, actin cytoskeletal remodeling at the dendritic spine, and memory formation. This work shows that a targeted manipulation of synaptic function can rescue adult plasticity and memory deficits caused by manipulations of nBAF, and thereby provides potential novel avenues for therapeutic development for multiple intellectual disability disorders.
Asunto(s)
Ensamble y Desensamble de Cromatina/genética , Proteínas Cromosómicas no Histona/metabolismo , Memoria/fisiología , Mutación/genética , Plasticidad Neuronal/genética , Fosfopiruvato Hidratasa/metabolismo , Factores Despolimerizantes de la Actina/genética , Factores Despolimerizantes de la Actina/metabolismo , Animales , Proteína Quinasa Tipo 2 Dependiente de Calcio Calmodulina/genética , Proteína Quinasa Tipo 2 Dependiente de Calcio Calmodulina/metabolismo , Nucléolo Celular/metabolismo , Proteínas Cromosómicas no Histona/genética , Hipocampo/citología , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Técnicas In Vitro , Potenciación a Largo Plazo/genética , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Transgénicos , Red Nerviosa/fisiología , Neuronas/ultraestructura , Fosfopiruvato Hidratasa/genética , Fosforilación/genética , Eliminación de Secuencia/genética , Transducción GenéticaRESUMEN
Gene expression requires the coordination of trans-acting factors and cis-DNA elements to initiate transcription. Here we present a coordinated approach that combines cis-acting element engineering with mutant trans-acting factors to engineer yeast promoters. Specifically, we first construct a hybrid promoter based on the ARO9 upstream region that exhibits high constitutive and inducible expression with respect to exogenous tryptophan. Next, we perform protein engineering to identify a mutant Aro80p that affords both high constitutive expression while retaining inducible traits. We then use this mutant trans-acting factor to drive expression and generate ultra-strong promoters with transcriptional output roughly 2 fold higher than TDH3 (GPD), one of the strongest promoters to-date. Finally, we used this element to construct a modular expression system capable of staged outputs resulting in a system with nearly 6-fold, 12-fold and 15-fold expression relative to the off-state. This work further highlights the potential of using endogenous transcription factors (including mutant factors) along with hybrid promoters to expand the yeast synthetic biology toolbox.
