Neuron
Volume 34, Issue 6, 13 June 2002, Pages 999-1010
Journal home page for Neuron

Article
Calcium Regulation of Dendritic Growth via CaM Kinase IV and CREB-Mediated Transcription

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0896-6273(02)00737-7Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

We report that CaM kinase IV and CREB play a critical role in mediating calcium-induced dendritic growth in cortical neurons. Calcium-dependent dendritic growth is suppressed by CaM kinase inhibitors, a constitutively active form of CaM kinase IV induces dendritic growth in the absence of extracellular stimulation, and a kinase-dead form of CaM kinase IV suppresses dendritic growth induced by calcium influx. CaM kinase IV activates the transcription factor CREB, and expression of a dominant negative form of CREB blocks calcium- and CaM kinase IV-induced dendritic growth. In cortical slice cultures, dendritic growth is attenuated by inhibitors of voltage-sensitive calcium channels and by dominant negative CREB. These experiments indicate that calcium-induced dendritic growth is regulated by activation of a transcriptional program that involves CaM kinase IV and CREB-mediated signaling to the nucleus.

Cited by (0)

2

Present address: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30912.