Subcellular translocation of molecules associated with synapse specific plasticity

Activity-dependent remodelling of synaptic connections is a fundamental process by which information is acquired (learning) and stored for subsequent retrieval (memory). Remodelling of glutamatergic synapses displays distinct temporal components with an initial modification of pre-existing synaptic proteins, for example by phosphorylation, followed by transcription- and translation-dependent late phases. Using a proteomics (differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE))-based approach, we have investigated global changes in protein expression in response to pharmacological, synaptic and behavioural stimulation of glutamatergic synapses in area CA1 of the rodent hippocampus. In initial experiments, mouse hippocampal slices were subjected to pharmacological activation of glutamate receptors and protein extracts from cornu ammonis (CA)1 subfields were harvested at 4hrs following incubation. The entire hippocampal proteome was subsequently subjected to 2 dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis to separate component proteins and enable the quantification of individual protein spot abundance levels compared with control tissues. Of the 2946 protein spots resolved, 79 showed significantly altered abundance levels following activation of glutamate receptors when compared to vehicle controls (35 increased / 44 decreased abundance (-1.91 to 1.9 fold change), all p