A Methodology for Specific Disruption of Microtubules in Dendritic Spines

Dendritic spines, the mushroom-shaped extensions along dendritic shafts of excitatory neurons, are critical for synaptic function and are one of the first neuronal structures disrupted in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Microtubule (MT) polymerization into dendritic spines is an activity-dependent process capable of affecting spine shape and function. Studies have shown that MT polymerization into spines occurs specifically in spines undergoing plastic changes. However, discerning the function of MT invasion of dendritic spines requires the specific inhibition of MT polymerization into spines, while leaving MT dynamics in the dendritic shaft, synaptically connected axons and associated glial cells intact. This is not possible with the unrestricted, bath application of pharmacological compounds. To specifically disrupt MT entry into spines we coupled a MT elimination domain (MTED) from the Efa6 protein to the actin filament-binding peptide LifeAct. LifeAct was chosen because actin filaments are highly concentrated in spines and are necessary for MT invasions. Temporally controlled expression of this LifeAct-MTED construct inhibits MT entry into dendritic spines, while preserving typical MT dynamics in the dendrite shaft. Expression of this construct will allow for the determination of the function of MT invasion of spines and more broadly, to discern how MT-actin interactions affect cellular processes.