Neuron
Volume 70, Issue 4, 26 May 2011, Pages 758-772
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Article
Nonapoptotic Function of BAD and BAX in Long-Term Depression of Synaptic Transmission

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Summary

It has recently been found that caspases not only function in apoptosis, but are also crucial for nonapoptotic processes such as NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmission. It remains unknown, however, how caspases are activated and how neurons escape death in LTD. Here we show that caspase-3 is activated by the BAD-BAX cascade for LTD induction. This cascade is required specifically for NMDA receptor-dependent LTD but not for mGluR-LTD, and its activation is sufficient to induce synaptic depression. In contrast to apoptosis, however, BAD is activated only moderately and transiently and BAX is not translocated to mitochondria, resulting in only modest caspase-3 activation. We further demonstrate that the intensity and duration of caspase-3 activation determine whether it leads to cell death or LTD, thus fine-tuning of caspase-3 activation is critical in distinguishing between these two pathways.

Highlights

► The BCL-2 family protein BAD and BAX promote caspase-3 activation in LTD ► The BAD-BAX-caspase-3 cascade is necessary and sufficient for synaptic depression ► Unlike in apoptosis, activation of BAD and BAX is modest and transient in LTD ► The level and duration of caspase-3 activation determine whether apoptosis occurs

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