Studies on Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission
As a graduate student, I studied phosphorylation of glutamate receptors by CaMKII during long-term potentiation (LTP), a molecular and cellular model for learning and memory. We established that CaMKII phosphorylates the AMPA-type glutamate receptor upon induction of LTP, increasing its single channel conductance (Science, 1997; JBC, 1997; PNAS 1999). This model has been confirmed by several other laboratories and is now widely accepted as part of the mechanisms underlying LTP. As a postdoctoral fellow, I focused on trafficking and function of NMDA-type glutamate receptors. I developed optical and electrophysiological tags to study the trafficking of NMDA-Rs using two-photon laser scan microscopy and electrophysiological techniques (Neuron 2002, 2005).
Currently, my lab focuses in 2 main research programs: 1) Role and trafficking of NMDARs, and 2) Regulation of glutamatergic synapses by Wnt signaling. Key contributions of the lab include identification of molecular determinants that control trafficking of NMDARs, establishment of the role of NR2 subunits during synaptogenesis and development, identification of a novel regulatory mechanism of NMDARs via Wnt signaling. These contributions to the understanding of trafficking, role, and mechanisms of NMDARs in development and synaptic physiology are reflected in a rich publication record, including papers in Journal of Physiology, PNAS, and Journal of Neuroscience.
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Cerpa, W., Latorre-Esteves, E., Barria A. (2015) “RoR2 functions as a noncanonical Wntreceptor that regulates NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 112(15):4797-802. PMCID: 4403196
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Barria A. “Electrophysiological Tagging of Ionotropic Receptors” in Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies, Popescu, G. editor. New York. Springer (2015).
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Seidl, A.H., Rubel, E.W., Barria, A. (2014) “Differential conduction velocity regulation inipsilateral and contralateral collaterals innervating brainstem coincidence detector neurons.”J Neuroscience 34: 4914-9. PMCID: 3972718
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Mattison, H.A., Hayashi T., Barria A. (2012) “Palmitoylation at two cysteine clusters on the C-terminus of GluN2A and GluN2B differentially control synaptic targeting of NMDA Receptors”. PLOS One, 7(11):e49089. PMCID:3499554
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Sanchez, J.T., Seidl, A., Rubel, E., Barria A. (2012) “Control of neuronal excitability by NMDA-Rs in early developing binaural auditory neurons”. J Physiol 590:4801-18.
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Cerpa W., Gambrill A., Inestrosa N., and Barria A. (2011) “Regulation of NMDA-Receptor Synaptic Transmission by Wnt signaling”. J Neuroscience 31:9466-71. PMCID:3141819
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Storey G., Opitz-Araya X., Barria A. (2011) “Molecular Determinants Controlling NMDA Receptor Synaptic Incorporation”. J Neuroscience 31:6311-6. PMCID:3092540
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Gambrill A. and Barria A. (2011) “NMDA receptor subunit composition controls synaptogenesis and synapse stabilization”. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 108 (14): 5855-60
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Sanchez J., Seidl A., Rubel E. and Barria A. (2011) “Preparation and Culture of Chicken Auditory Brainstem Slices”. J Vis Exp. Mar 21; 49 pii: 2527. PMCID:3197304
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Opitz-Araya X. and Barria A. (2011) “Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures”. J Vis Exp. Feb 3; 48 pii: 2462. PMCID: 3197400.
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Gambrill, A., Storey G., and Barria A. (2011) “Dynamic regulation of NMDA-Receptor transmission”. J Neurophysiol. 105 (1):162-71. PMCID:3023381
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Sanchez J., Wang Y., Rubel E., and Barria A. (2010) “Development of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in binaural auditory neurons”. J Neurophysiol. 104 (3): 1774-89.
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Barria A. “Silent Synapses” in Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, Binder, Hirokawa, Windhorst, Hirsch editors. Berlin. Springer (2007)
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Barria A. “Subunit-specific trafficking of NMDA receptor trafficking to synapses” in Protein Trafficking in Neurons, Bean A. editor. Boston. Academic Press (2006).
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Barria A. and Malinow R. (2005) “NMDA receptor subunits control synaptic plasticity by regulating binding to CaMKII”. Neuron, 48:289-301
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Barria A. and Malinow R. (2002) “Subunit-Specific NMDA Receptor Trafficking to Synapses”.
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Barria A., Derkach V. and Soderling T. (2001) “Protein Phosphorylation and Long-term Synaptic Plasticity”, in Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, Nature Publishing Group, London,
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Derkach V., Barria A. and Soderling T. (1999) “Ca 2+ /calmodulin-kinase II enhances channel conductance of α-amino- 3-hydroxy- 5-methyl- 4-isoxazolepropionate type glutamate receptors.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96:3269-3274
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Barria A., Muller D., Derkach V., Griffith L., Soderling T. (1997) “Regulatory Phosphorylation of AMPA-type Glutamate receptors by Ca 2+ /Calmodulin-dependent Kinase II during Long-term potentiation.” Science, 276: 2042-2045
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Barria A., Derkach V. and Soderling T. (1997) “Identification of the CaM-KII Regulatory Phosphorylation Site in the AMPA-type Glutamate Receptor”. J. Biol. Chem., 272: 32727-30
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Barria A., Leyton V., Ojeda S.R. and Lara H. (1993) “Ovarian steroidal response to gonadotropins and -adrenergic stimulation is enhanced in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Role of sympathetic innervation”. Endocrinology 133 (6): 2696-2703
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Ferruz J., Barria A., Galleguillos X. and Lara H. (1991) “Release of Norepinephrine from the rat ovary: Local modulation by gonadotropins.” Biol. Reprod. 45:592-597