
The cerebellum is involved in learning of fine motor skills, yet whether presynaptic plasticity contributes to such learning remains elusive. Here, we report that the EPAC-PKCε module has a critical role in a presynaptic form of long-term potentiation in the cerebellum and motor behavior in mice. Presynaptic cAMP−EPAC−PKCε signaling cascade induces a previously unidentified threonine phosphorylation of RIM1α, and thereby initiates the assembly of the Rab3A−RIM1α−Munc13-1 tripartite complex that facilitates docking and release of synaptic vesicles. Granule cell-specific blocking of EPAC−PKCε signaling abolishes presynaptic long-term potentiation at the parallel fiber to Purkinje cell synapses and impairs basic performance and learning of cerebellar motor behavior. These results unveil a functional relevance of presynaptic plasticity that is regulated through a novel signaling cascade, thereby enriching the spectrum of cerebellar learning mechanisms.
Neurons, cerebellum, QH301-705.5, Science, Purkinje cell, Q, Long-Term Potentiation, R, Cerebellum/physiology, Mice, Purkinje Cells, Long-Term Potentiation/physiology, plasticity, Cerebellum, Synapses, Medicine, Animals, Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors, protein kinase A, Biology (General), Synapses/physiology, Neuroscience
Neurons, cerebellum, QH301-705.5, Science, Purkinje cell, Q, Long-Term Potentiation, R, Cerebellum/physiology, Mice, Purkinje Cells, Long-Term Potentiation/physiology, plasticity, Cerebellum, Synapses, Medicine, Animals, Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors, protein kinase A, Biology (General), Synapses/physiology, Neuroscience
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