Neuronal Receptors Display Cytoskeleton-Independent Directed Motion on the Plasma Membrane
Ruth D. Taylor,
Martin Heine,
Nigel J. Emptage,
Laura C. Andreae
Affiliations
Ruth D. Taylor
Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
Martin Heine
Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology, Research Group Molecular Physiology, Brenneckestrasse 6, Magdeburg 39118, Germany; Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Universitätsplatz 2, Magdeburg 39106, Germany; Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, AG Funktional Neurobiology, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch Weg 15, Mainz 55128, Germany
Nigel J. Emptage
Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK; Corresponding author
Laura C. Andreae
Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK; Corresponding author
Summary: Directed transport of transmembrane proteins is generally believed to occur via intracellular transport vesicles. However, using single-particle tracking in rat hippocampal neurons with a pH-sensitive quantum dot probe that specifically reports surface movement of receptors, we have identified a subpopulation of neuronal EphB2 receptors that exhibit directed motion between synapses within the plasma membrane itself. This receptor movement occurs independently of the cytoskeleton but is dependent on cholesterol and is regulated by neuronal activity. : Neuroscience; Molecular Neuroscience; Optical Materials Subject Areas: Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience, Optical Materials