RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 NETO1 Guides Development of Glutamatergic Connectivity in the Hippocampus by Regulating Axonal Kainate Receptors JF eneuro JO eNeuro FD Society for Neuroscience SP ENEURO.0048-17.2017 DO 10.1523/ENEURO.0048-17.2017 VO 4 IS 3 A1 Orav, Ester A1 Atanasova, Tsvetomira A1 Shintyapina, Alexandra A1 Kesaf, Sebnem A1 Kokko, Michela A1 Partanen, Juha A1 Taira, Tomi A1 Lauri, Sari E. YR 2017 UL http://www.eneuro.org/content/4/3/ENEURO.0048-17.2017.abstract AB Kainate-type glutamate receptors (KARs) are highly expressed in the developing brain, where they are tonically activated to modulate synaptic transmission, network excitability and synaptogenesis. NETO proteins are auxiliary subunits that regulate biophysical properties of KARs; however, their functions in the immature brain are not known. Here, we show that NETO1 guides the development of the rodent hippocampal CA3-CA1 circuitry via regulating axonal KARs. NETO deficiency reduced axonal targeting of most KAR subunits in hippocampal neurons in a subtype independent manner. As an interesting exception, axonal delivery of GluK1c was strongly and selectively impaired in the Neto1 −/−, but not Neto2 −/−, neurons. Correspondingly, the presynaptic GluK1 KAR activity that tonically inhibits glutamate release at immature CA3-CA1 synapses was completely lost in the absence of NETO1 but not NETO2. The deficit in axonal KARs at Neto1 −/− neurons resulted in impaired synaptogenesis and perturbed synchronization of CA3 and CA1 neuronal populations during development in vitro. Both these Neto1 −/− phenotypes were fully rescued by overexpression of GluK1c, emphasizing the role of NETO1/KAR complex in development of efferent connectivity. Together, our data uncover a novel role for NETO1 in regulation of axonal KARs and identify its physiological significance in development of the CA3-CA1 circuit.