Name: isolation of ca1 nuclear enriched fractions from hippocampal slices to study activity-dependent nuclear import of synapto-nuclear messenger proteins
Uploaded: 2014-08-10T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of CA1 Nuclear Enriched Fractions from Hippocampal Slices to Study Activity-dependent Nuclear Import of Synapto-nuclear Messenger Proteins at JoVE.c

This work was funded by the DFG (SFB 779 TPB8, Kr1879/3-1 MRK), DIP grant (MRK), EU FP7 MC-ITN NPlast (MRK), Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS, Sahsen-Anhalt), (AK and SB), MM is a recipient of European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Long-Term Fellowship (EMBO ALTF 884-2011) and Marie-Curie IEF.

1. Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Adult Rat Brain
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize rats with isoflurane. CAUTION: Perform the procedure using a closed exicator, do not inhale isoflurane. Make sure that the animal is completely anesthetized.</li>
	<li>Decapitate the rat, quickly isolate the brain, and immerse it in precarbonated (95% O2 / 5% CO2 gas mixture) ice-cold Gey&#8217;s solution (composition in mM: 130 NaCl, 4.9 KCl, 1.5 CaCl2&#183;2H2O, 0.3 MgSO4&#183;2...

<ol>
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P., Behnisch, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+degradation+by+the+proteasome+is+required+for+synaptic+tagging+and+the+heterosynaptic+stabilization+of+hippocampal+late-phase+long-term+potentiation.">Protein degradation by the proteasome is required for synaptic tagging and the heterosynaptic stabilization of hippocampal late-phase long-term potentiation.</a> Neuroscience. 169 (4), 1520-1526 (2010).</li><li>Chapman, C. A., Perez, Y., Lacaille, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+GABA(A)+inhibition+on+the+expression+of+long-term+potentiation+in+CA1+pyramidal+cells+are+dependent+on+tetanization+parameters.">Effects of GABA(A) inhibition on the expression of long-term potentiation in CA1 pyramidal cells are dependent on tetanization parameters.</a> Hippocampus. 8 (3), 289-298 (1998).</li><li>Ch'ng, T. H., Uzgil, B., Lin, P., Avliyakulov, N. K., O'Dell, T. J., Martin, K. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Activity-dependent+transport+of+the+transcriptional+coactivator+CRTC1+from+synapse+to+nucleus.">Activity-dependent transport of the transcriptional coactivator CRTC1 from synapse to nucleus.</a> Cell. 150 (1), 207-221 (2012).</li><li>Dieterich, D. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Caldendrin-Jacob:+a+protein+liaison+that+couples+NMDA+receptor+signalling+to+the+nucleus.">Caldendrin-Jacob: a protein liaison that couples NMDA receptor signalling to the nucleus.</a> PLoS Biol. 6 (2), e34 (2008).</li><li>Fainzilber, M., Budnik, V., Segal, R. A., Kreutz, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+synapse+to+nucleus+and+back+again--communication+over+distance+within+neurons.">From synapse to nucleus and back again--communication over distance within neurons.</a> J. Neurosci. 31 (45), 16045-16048 (2011).</li><li>Hardingham, G. E., Bading, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synaptic+versus+extrasynaptic+NMDA+receptor+signalling:+implications+for+neurodegenerative+disorders.">Synaptic versus extrasynaptic NMDA receptor signalling: implications for neurodegenerative disorders.</a> Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 11 (10), 682-696 (2010).</li><li>Ivanov, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Opposing+role+of+synaptic+and+extrasynaptic+NMDA+receptors+in+regulation+of+the+extracellular+signal-regulated+kinases+(ERK)+activity+in+cultured+rat+hippocampal+neurons.">Opposing role of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in regulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) activity in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.</a> J. Physiol. 57, 789-798 (2006).</li><li>Jordan, B. A., Kreutz, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nucleocytoplasmic+protein+shuttling:+the+direct+route+in+synapse-to-nucleus+signaling.">Nucleocytoplasmic protein shuttling: the direct route in synapse-to-nucleus signaling.</a> Trends Neurosci. 32 (7), 392-401 (2009).</li><li>Karpova, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Encoding+and+transducing+the+synaptic+or+extrasynaptic+origin+of+NMDA+receptor+signals+to+the+nucleus.">Encoding and transducing the synaptic or extrasynaptic origin of NMDA receptor signals to the nucleus.</a> Cell. 152 (5), 1119-1133 (2013).</li><li>Kim, M. J., Dunah, A. W., Wang, Y. T., Sheng, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+roles+of+NR2A-+and+NR2B-containing+NMDA+receptors+in+Ras-ERK+signaling+and+AMPA+receptor+trafficking.">Differential roles of NR2A- and NR2B-containing NMDA receptors in Ras-ERK signaling and AMPA receptor trafficking.</a> Neuron. 46, 745-760 (2005).</li><li>Lai, K. O., Zhao, Y., Ch'ng, T. H., Martin, K. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Importin-mediated+retrograde+transport+of+CREB2+from+distal+processes+to+the+nucleus+in+neurons.">Importin-mediated retrograde transport of CREB2 from distal processes to the nucleus in neurons.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105 (44), 17175-17180 (2008).</li><li>Leutgeb, J. K., Frey, J. U., Behnisch, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=LTP+in+cultured+hippocampal-entorhinal+cortex+slices+from+young+adult+(P25-30)+rats.">LTP in cultured hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices from young adult (P25-30) rats.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 130 (1), 19-32 (2003).</li><li>Leutgeb, J. K., Frey, J. U., Behnisch, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single+cell+analysis+of+activity-dependent+cyclic+AMP-responsive+element-binding+protein+phosphorylation+during+long-lasting+long-term+potentiation+in+area+CA1+of+mature+rat+hippocampal-organotypic+cultures.">Single cell analysis of activity-dependent cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation during long-lasting long-term potentiation in area CA1 of mature rat hippocampal-organotypic cultures.</a> Neuroscience. 131 (3), 601-610 (2005).</li><li>Perlson, E., Hanz, S., Ben-Yaakov, K., Segal-Ruder, Y., Seger, R., Fainzilber, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vimentin-dependent+spatial+translocation+of+an+activated+MAP+kinase+in+injured+nerve.">Vimentin-dependent spatial translocation of an activated MAP kinase in injured nerve.</a> Neuron. 45 (5), 715-726 (2005).</li><li>Xiang, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+maintenance+of+mature+hippocampal+slices+in+vitro.">Long-term maintenance of mature hippocampal slices in vitro.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 98 (2), 145-154 (2000).</li><li>Zhao, M., Adams, J. P., Dudek, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pattern-dependent+role+of+NMDA+receptors+in+actin+potential+generation:+consequences+on+extracellular+signal-regulated+kinase+activation.">Pattern-dependent role of NMDA receptors in actin potential generation: consequences on extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation.</a> J. Neurosci. 25 (30), 7032-7039 (2005).</li></ol>

The steps described in the protocol above provide guidance how to prepare hippocampal acute sliced from young or adult rats, induce and record LTP, rapidly dissect stimulated area of slice, and prepare nuclear enriched fraction for studying activity dependent protein dynamics. This approach derives from combination of several different methods used independently from each other. We optimized a workflow and provide sufficient detail for the beginner to set up their own experiments to study the subcellular redistribution o...

Synaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptors (NMDARs) play a crucial role in synaptic plasticity and cell survival signaling whereas activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs can trigger neurodegeneration and cell death. These changes depend on tightly controlled/regulated activity dependent gene expression and thus require constant communication between activated synapses or dendrites and the nucleus7. The MAP kinases ERK1/2 are downstream effectors of synaptic NMDARs signaling and are involved in NMDAR-activation-induced gene expression, whereas signaling via extrasynaptic NMDAR has no or an inhibitory effect on ERK1/2 activity8,11.
There are number of proteins that have been shown to shuttle between distal dendrites and the nucleus. Many of these proteins contain a nuclear localization signal and are actively transported along microtubuli in a dynein and importin-dependent manner to the nucleus6,9. Interestingly, some of these messengers only transit to the nucleus in response to specific synaptic stimuli. For example, retrograde transport of cyclic AMP response element binding protein 2 (CREB2) is induced by chemical LTD but not LTP12. Localized NMDAR-dependent synaptic stimulation drives CREB-regulated transcriptional coactivator (CRTC1) into the nucleus, a translocation process, which is involved in long-term hippocampal plasticity4. It was recently shown that the protein messenger Jacob translocates to the nucleus after both, synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDAR activation and regulates CREB dependent gene transcription5. The synaptic or extrasynaptic origin of the signal is encoded in a posttranslational modification of Jacob. Synaptic activity induces ERK1/2 dependent phosphorylation of Jacob at a crucial serine at position 180 (pJacobS&#160;180) which is a requisite for the subsequent translocation to the nucleus in primary hippocampal culture. Moreover, in CA1 neurons of acute hippocampal slices pJacobS 180 translocates to the nucleus after Schaffer collateral LTP but not LTD1,10. pS180&#160;Jacob leads to an increased expression of plasticity related genes and this gene expression feeds back to synaptic function. In sharp contrast, Jacob that translocates to the nucleus after extrasynaptic NMDARs activation is not phosphorylated at Ser180 and might be associated with different protein complex in the nucleus causing &#8216;CREB shut off&#8217; and a retraction of synaptic contacts10.
Most published studies on the nuclear import of synapto-nuclear protein messenger have been done in dissociated neuronal primary cultures. Therefore it would be interesting to see if such findings can be reproduced in physiologically more relevant conditions using hippocampal slices where neuronal connectivity and function are much better preserved. Here we present an optimized protocol for assessing LTP-dependent nuclear translocation of protein messengers by immunoblotting. This method is also suitable for analyzing activity dependent phosphorylation of proteins in a crude nuclear fraction. Specifically, the current protocol involves preparation of acute CA1 hippocampal slices, induction, and recording of LTP. Next, CA1 region is microscopically dissected to isolate the stimulated region. We combined and modified the protocol for nuclear isolation provided by CellLytic NuCLEAR Extraction Kit with changes introduced by Zhao and colleagues17. The optimized procedure includes the lysis of dissected CA1 regions in hypotonic buffer allowing cell swelling and release of nuclei. Cell lysis and nuclei morphology can be determined by microscopic examination. Nuclear enrichment is achieved by a short centrifugation step. Immunoblotting analysis with antibodies against NeuN and NSE2, specific markers of nuclear or cytosolic fractions, indicates that this approach can be used as a fast and reproducible protocol to isolate these subcellular fractions and to study very labile posttranslational modifications like protein phosphorylation. Additionally, this method is advantageous for small tissue samples deriving from dissected CA1 regions of hippocampal slices and can be used in combination to immunohistochemistry of hippocampal slices.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Table 1. Equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CED 1401 AD/DA converter</td>
			<td>Cambridge Electronics Design, UK</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Axopatch 200B amplifier</td>
			<td>Axon&#65292;USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><a href="http://www.iciba.com/data_acquisition_system">Axon Digidata acquisition system</a></td>
			<td>Axon&#65292;USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clampex 10.0 Data acquisition and analysis software</td>
			<td>Axon&#65292;USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica microscope</td>
			<td>Leica TCS SP2&#65292;Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>P-97 Standard microelectrode puller</td>
			<td>Sutter&#65292;USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><a href="http://www.iciba.com/stereomicroscope">Stereomicroscope</a></td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>Leica S4E, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vibrotome</td>
			<td>Leica VT1000S, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isolated pulse stimulator</td>
			<td>Model2100, A-M systmes, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific, HERAEUS, FRSCO17</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SDS-PAGE system</td>
			<td>BIORAD</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cooler</td>
			<td>JULABO</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bright field Microscope</td>
			<td>NIKON ECLIPSE TS100</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell culture incubator</td>
			<td>Thermo Electron Corporation, HERAEUS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micromanipulator</td>
			<td>Luigs &#38; Neumann, SM-5, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blotting chamber and electric power supplier</td>
			<td>Hoefer Scientific Instruments, San Francisco</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cooler</td>
			<td>Julabo, F12</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific, Heraeus, FRESCO 17</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Submerged type Recording Chamber</td>
			<td>custom made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>U-shape and submerged type incubator&#160;</td>
			<td>custom made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small surgical scissors</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thin spatula</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic Pasteur pipette</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic culture dish&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bunsen beaker</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Table 2. Reagents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of Reagent</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>ROTH</td>
			<td>Art.-Nr.3957.1</td>
			<td>&#8805;99.5%, p.a.,ACS,ISO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>ROTH</td>
			<td>Art.-Nr.6781.1</td>
			<td>&#8805;99.5%, p.a.,ACS,ISO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td>MERCK</td>
			<td>1.02382.0500</td>
			<td>pro analysi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgSO4&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td>MERCK</td>
			<td>5886.05</td>
			<td>pro analysi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2&#183;6H2O</td>
			<td>AppliChem</td>
			<td>CAS-NO: 7791-18-6; EC-NO:2320946</td>
			<td>for Molecularbiology</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KH2PO4</td>
			<td>MERCK</td>
			<td>12034.025</td>
			<td>for Molecularbiology</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td>MERCK</td>
			<td>1.06574.1000</td>
			<td>extra pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose&#183;H2O</td>
			<td>ROTH</td>
			<td>Art.-Nr.6887.1</td>
			<td>for Molecularbiology</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hepes</td>
			<td>ROTH</td>
			<td>Art.-Nr.9105.4</td>
			<td>PUFFERAN, &#8805;99.5%, p.a.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>MERCK</td>
			<td>1.06329.1000</td>
			<td>pro analysi</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Protease inhibitor Coctail</td>
			<td>ROCHE</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphostop</td>
			<td>ROCHE</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bicuculline</td>
			<td>Tocris bioscience</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;Isofluran</td>
			<td>Baxter</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Table 4. Antibodies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Primary antibodies</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Species</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pJac-s180</td>
			<td>Biogenes/ purified</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>rabbit (dil. 1:100)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NeuN</td>
			<td>Milipore</td>
			<td>MAB377</td>
			<td>mouse (dil. 1:1,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NSE</td>
			<td>Cell Signaling</td>
			<td>D20H2</td>
			<td>rabbit (dil. 1:1,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>beta-actin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A-5441</td>
			<td>mouse (dil. 1:5,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Secondary antibodies</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Species</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IgG HRP Conjugated</td>
			<td>DAKO</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>goat anti - mouse (1:5,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IgG HRP Conjugated</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>goat anti - rabbit (1:5,000)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of ca1 nuclear enriched fractions from hippocampal slices to study activity-dependent nuclear import of synapto-nuclear messenger proteins

Studying activity dependent protein expression, subcellular translocation, or phosphorylation is essential to understand the underlying cellular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) induced in acute hippocampal slices are widely accepted as cellular models of learning and memory. There are numerous studies that use live cell imaging or immunohistochemistry approaches to visualize activity dependent protein dynamics. However these methods rely on the suitability of antibodies for immunocytochemistry or overexpression of fluorescence-tagged proteins in single neurons. Immunoblotting of proteins is an alternative method providing independent confirmation of the findings.&#160;The first limiting factor in preparation of subcellular fractions from individual tetanized hippocampal slices is the low amount of material. Second, the handling procedure is crucial because even very short and minor manipulations of living slices might induce activation of certain signaling cascades. Here we describe an optimized workflow in order to obtain sufficient quantity of nuclear enriched fraction of sufficient purity from the CA1 region of acute hippocampal slices from rat brain. As a representative example we show that the ERK1/2 phosphorylated form of the synapto-nuclear protein messenger Jacob actively translocates to the nucleus upon induction of LTP and can be detected in a nuclear enriched fraction from CA1 neurons.

We have previously shown that the synapto-nuclear protein messenger Jacob accumulates in the nucleus following the&#160;induction of LTP but not LTD1. Moreover, translocation of Jacob after synaptic stimulation requires activation of MAPK ERK1/2 and phosphorylation of Jacob at Ser180 (Figure 1). Phosphorylated Jacob translocates to the nucleus in an importin-dependent manner and the phosphorylated state can be preserved over extended periods of time by association with the intermediate filamen...

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Isolation of CA1 Nuclear Enriched Fractions from Hippocampal Slices to Study Activity-dependent Nuclear Import of Synapto-nuclear Messenger Proteins

We provide a detailed protocol for induction of long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and the subsequent isolation of nuclear enriched fractions from the tetanized area of the slice. This approach can be used to determine activity dependent nuclear protein import in cellular models of learning and memory.

Studying activity dependent protein expression, subcellular translocation, or phosphorylation is essential to understand the underlying cellular ...

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Neuroscience

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The rodent hippocampal slice preparation is perhaps the most broadly used tool for investigating mammalian synaptic function and plasticity. The ...

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

Mechanical dissociation of neurons from the central nervous system has the advantage that presynaptic boutons remain attached to the isolated neuron of ...

Isolation and Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from Prenatal Mice

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual ...

Mitochondria-associated ER Membranes (MAMs) and Glycosphingolipid Enriched Microdomains (GEMs): Isolation from Mouse Brain

Mitochondria-associated ER Membranes MAMs and Glycosphingolipid Enriched Microdomains GEMs: Isolation from Mouse Brain

Intracellular organelles are highly dynamic structures with varying shape and composition, which are subjected to cell-specific intrinsic and extrinsic ...

Paired Whole Cell Recordings in Organotypic Hippocampal Slices

Pair recordings involve simultaneous whole cell patch clamp recordings from two synaptically connected neurons, enabling not only direct ...

Immunohistochemistry and Multiple Labeling with Antibodies from the Same Host Species to Study Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Adult neurogenesis is a highly regulated, multi-stage process in which new neurons are generated from an activated neural stem cell via increasingly ...

Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents

Synaptic tagging and capture (STC) and cross-tagging are two important mechanisms at cellular level that explain how synapse-specificity and associativity ...

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

In the brain, synapses are specialized junctions between neurons, determining the strength and spread of neuronal signaling. The number of synapses is ...

Implantation of Chronic Silicon Probes and Recording of Hippocampal Place Cells in an Enriched Treadmill Apparatus

An important requisite for understanding brain function is the identification of behavior and cell activity correlates. Silicon probes are advanced ...

An Improved Method for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Anesthetized Mice

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a valuable body fluid for analysis in neuroscience research. It is one of the fluids in closest contact with the central ...