Fragile X mental retardation protein is required for synapse elimination by the activity-dependent transcription factor MEF2

Brad E. Pfeiffer, Tong Zang, Julia R. Wilkerson, Makoto Taniguchi, Marina A. Maksimova, Laura N. Smith, Christopher W. Cowan, Kimberly M. Huber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

129 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of mental retardation and autism, is caused by loss-of-function mutations in an RNA-binding protein, Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP). Neurons from patients and the mouse Fmr1 knockout (KO) model are characterized by an excess of dendritic spines, suggesting a deficit in excitatory synapse elimination. In response to neuronal activity, myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factors induce robust synapse elimination. Here, we demonstrate that MEF2 activation fails to eliminate functional or structural excitatory synapses in hippocampal neurons from Fmr1 KO mice. Similarly, inhibition of endogenous MEF2 increases synapse number in wild-type but not Fmr1 KO neurons. MEF2-dependent synapse elimination is rescued in Fmr1 KO neurons by acute postsynaptic expression of wild-type but not RNA-binding mutants of FMRP. Our results reveal that active MEF2 and FMRP function together in an acute, cell-autonomous mechanism to eliminate excitatory synapses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)191-197
Number of pages7
JournalNeuron
Volume66
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010

Keywords

  • Humdisease
  • Molneuro

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fragile X mental retardation protein is required for synapse elimination by the activity-dependent transcription factor MEF2'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this