Cofilin under control of β-arrestin-2 in NMDA-dependent dendritic spine plasticity, long-term depression (LTD), and learning

Dendritic spines are dynamic, actin-rich structures that form the postsynaptic sites of most excitatory synapses in the brain. The F-actin severing protein cofilin has been implicated in the remodeling of dendritic spines and synapses under normal and pathological conditions, by yet unknown mechanisms. Here we report that β-arrestin-2 plays an important role in NMDA-induced remodeling of dendritic spines and synapses via translocation of active cofilin to dendritic spines. NMDAR activation triggers cofilin activation through calcineurin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-mediated dephosphorylation and promotes cofilin translocation to dendritic spines that is mediated by β-arrestin-2. Hippocampal neurons lacking β-arrestin-2 develop mature spines that fail to remodel in response to NMDA. β-Arrestin-2-deficient mice exhibit normal hippocampal long-term potentiation, but significantly impaired NMDA-dependent long-term depression and spatial learning deficits. Moreover, β-arrestin-2-deficient hippocampal neurons are resistant to Aβ-induced dendritic spine loss. Our studies demonstrate unique functions of β-arrestin-2 in NMDAR-mediated dendritic spine and synapse plasticity through spatial control over cofilin activation.