Neuronal co-expression of EGFP and beta-galactosidase in mice causes neuropathology and premature death.

Dose-dependent co-expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) in the cytoplasm of forebrain neurons of two independent mouse lines resulted in growth retardation, weakness, and premature lethality. In primary motor cortex and striatum, apoptosis, glial fibrillary acidic protein proliferation, and cell loss were found. In addition, we observed aggregations of EGFP and beta-gal that colocalized with ubiquitin.

Intracellular domains of NMDA receptor subtypes are determinants for long-term potentiation induction.

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are essential for modulating synaptic strength at central synapses. At hippocampal CA3-to-CA1 synapses of adult mice, different NMDAR subtypes with distinct functionality assemble from NR1 with NR2A and/or NR2B subunits. Here we investigated the role of these NMDA receptor subtypes in long-term potentiation (LTP) induction.