Phosphorylation of neurofilament-L during LTD

We recently reported that CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of the neurofila ment-L (NF-L) head domain was induced in the apical dendrites during long-t erm potentiation. Long-term depression (LTD) is another cellular model for neuronal plasticity. In the present study, we examined the phosphorylation of NF-L during hippocampal LTD using a series of phospho-specific antibodie s against the NF-L head domain. During LTD, these antibodies visualized NF- L phosphorylation at Ser57 in the apical dendrites of the hippocampal pyram idal neurons. The assembly and disassembly of NF-L filaments are regulated by phosphorylation of its head domain. Thus, our results indicated that NF- L phosphorylation might be associated with alterations of the neuronal stru cture during LTD. NeuroReport 11:2739-2742 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & W ilkins.