Glutamate Receptor Modulation by Polysialic Acid in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Function
Disciplines
Cognitive Neuroscience | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Glutamate receptors serve as key mediators of excitatory neurotransmission and are fundamental to synaptic plasticity, the cellular basis of learning and memory. Among them, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors drive fast synaptic transmission, while N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical for activity-dependent synaptic strengthening. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a transmembrane glycoprotein, regulates neurite extension, cell migration, and synapse formation. Its polysialylated form, containing polysialic acid (PSA), a negatively charged carbohydrate polymer, plays a vital role in modulating cell–cell interactions and synaptic signaling. Although PSA has been implicated in the regulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, its specific influence on hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), the major electrophysiological correlates of learning and memory, remains insufficiently defined. In this study, we investigated the concentration-dependent effects of PSA on hippocampal synaptic plasticity. We conducted electrophysiological recordings from hippocampal slices of Sprague-Dawley rats to explore how different concentrations of PSA influence LTP and LTD. Our findings reveal that PSA markedly modulates both LTP and LTD by influencing AMPA and NMDA receptor-mediated transmission, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping synaptic strength. These results identify PSA as a crucial regulator of neuronal plasticity, highlighting its therapeutic potential for enhancing cognitive processes. By studying the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, PSA emerges as a promising target for treating cognitive dysfunction.
Use of AI Disclaimer
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Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM – Molecular and Cellular Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Vishnu Suppiramaniam
Additional Faculty
Kawsar Chowdhury, CSM, kchowdhu@kennesaw.edu
Glutamate Receptor Modulation by Polysialic Acid in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Function
Glutamate receptors serve as key mediators of excitatory neurotransmission and are fundamental to synaptic plasticity, the cellular basis of learning and memory. Among them, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors drive fast synaptic transmission, while N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical for activity-dependent synaptic strengthening. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a transmembrane glycoprotein, regulates neurite extension, cell migration, and synapse formation. Its polysialylated form, containing polysialic acid (PSA), a negatively charged carbohydrate polymer, plays a vital role in modulating cell–cell interactions and synaptic signaling. Although PSA has been implicated in the regulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, its specific influence on hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), the major electrophysiological correlates of learning and memory, remains insufficiently defined. In this study, we investigated the concentration-dependent effects of PSA on hippocampal synaptic plasticity. We conducted electrophysiological recordings from hippocampal slices of Sprague-Dawley rats to explore how different concentrations of PSA influence LTP and LTD. Our findings reveal that PSA markedly modulates both LTP and LTD by influencing AMPA and NMDA receptor-mediated transmission, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping synaptic strength. These results identify PSA as a crucial regulator of neuronal plasticity, highlighting its therapeutic potential for enhancing cognitive processes. By studying the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, PSA emerges as a promising target for treating cognitive dysfunction.