Williams, Danaé. Analysis of localization and trafficking of TrkB after BDNF treatment in rat hippocampal neurons. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3RF5WQG
DescriptionNeurotrophins regulate neuronal cell survival and death in hippocampal neurons via two distinct receptors, TrkB, a member of the Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases and the p75, neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). When BDNF binds to TrkB, the association with p75NTR is enhanced. Yet, the purpose of the association of these two receptors is unknown. This thesis investigated whether the association with p75NTR directs the trafficking of TrkB to specific endosomal compartments. To determine whether the treatment with BDNF in the presence or absence of p75NTR alters the trafficking of TrkB though the endosomal pathway, we examined and analyzed the localization of TrkB and pAkt, a downstream effector of the PI3K pathway, in wild type and p75-/- rat hippocampal neurons using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Our data suggested that the addition of BDNF increased trafficking of pTrkB to the early and recycling endosomes. However, in the absence of p75NTR, more TrkB appeared to traffic to the lysosome, suggesting that p75NTR may participate in directing trafficking of TrkB to the endosomal pathway and preventing its degradation. Additionally, activation of pAkt localized in the late and recycling endosomes in the wild type neurons. These results suggested that p75NTR may direct the internalized TrkB through the endosomal pathway.