Biology:Retrograde signaling
Introduction
Retrograde signaling in biology is the process where a signal travels backwards from a target source back to its original source. Neurons use extended axons that are away from the cell body and dendrites, by using retrograde signaling endosomes, communication can occur. This occurrence happens from the distal part of the axon, the signals then travel to the cell body.[1] Typically, the nucleus of a cell is the original source that creates signaling proteins. However, during retrograde signaling, instead of signals leaving the nucleus, they are sent to the nucleus.[2] Particularly, in cell biology, this type of signaling typically occurs between the mitochondria or chloroplast and the nucleus. Signaling molecules from the mitochondria or chloroplast act on the nucleus to affect nuclear gene expression.[3] In this regard, the chloroplast or mitochondria act as a sensor for internal and external stimuli which activate a signaling pathway.[4]

In neuroscience, retrograde signaling (or retrograde neurotransmission) refers more specifically to the process by which a retrograde messenger, such as an anandamide or nitric oxide, is released by a postsynaptic dendrite or cell body, and travels "backwards" across a chemical synapse to bind to the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron.[5]
In Cell Biology
Retrograde signals are transmitted from plastids to the nucleus in plants and eukaryotic algae,[6][4] and from mitochondria to the nucleus in most eukaryotes.[7] Retrograde signals are generally considered to convey intracellular signals related to stress and environmental sensing.[8] Many of the molecules associated with retrograde signaling act on modifying the transcription or by directly binding and acting as a transcription factor. The outcomes of these signaling pathways vary by organism and by stimuli or stress.[6] Furthermore, oxylipins are compounds derived from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, These compounds are essential in retrograde signaling when redox and hormonal signaling occur resulting in the control of plant development and stress responses.[9]
Evolution
Retrograde signaling is believed to have arisen after endocytosis of the mitochondria and chloroplast occurred billions of years ago.[10] Originally believed to be photosynthetic bacteria, the mitochondria and chloroplast transferred some of their DNA to the membrane protected nucleus.[11] Thus, some of the proteins required for the mitochondria or chloroplast are within the nucleus. This transfer of DNA further required a network of communication to properly respond to external and internal signals that produces requisite proteins.[12]
In Yeast
The first retrograde signaling pathways discovered in yeast was the RTG pathway,[13][14] the RTG pathway plays an important role in maintaining the metabolic homeostasis of yeast.[14] Under limited resources the mitochondria must maintain the balance of glutamate for the citric acid cycle.[15] Retrograde signaling from the mitochondria initiates production precursor molecules of glutamate to properly balance supplies within the mitochondria.[16] Retrograde signaling can also act to arrest growth if problems are encountered. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, if the mitochondria fails to develop properly, they will stop growing until the issue is addressed or cell death is induced.[16] This mechanism is vital to maintain homeostasis of the cell and ensure proper function of the mitochondria.[16]
In Plants
Developing chloroplasts control nuclear gene expression through biogenic retrograde signaling. The disruption of chloroplast development affects nuclear expression of thousands of genes along with Repression of Photosynthesis Associated Nuclear Genes (PhANGs). Chloroplast biogenesis is proposed to normally generate stage specific signals that allow cells to progress through distinct steps of photosynthesis differentiation. If the signals are missing, cells are then "stuck" in juvenile states. Thus, resulting in late acting genes not being induced. Observing how juvenile the transcriptome looks depends on where the development is blocked.[17]
One of the most studied retrograde signaling molecules in plants are reactive oxygen species (ROS).[18] These compounds, previously believed to be damaging to the cell, have since been discovered to act as a signaling molecule.[19] Reactive oxygen species are created as a by-product of aerobic respiration and act on genes involved in the stress response.[19] Depending on the stress, reactive oxygen species can act on neighboring cells to initiate a local signal.[20][21] By doing this, surrounding cells are "primed" to react to the stress because genes involved in a stress response are initiated prior to encountering the stress.[20] The chloroplast can then also act as a sensor for pathogen response and drought. Detection of these stresses in the cell will induce the formation of compounds that then act on the nucleus to produce pathogen resistance genes or drought tolerance.[22]
In Neuroscience

The primary purpose of retrograde neurotransmission is to regulate chemical neurotransmission.[5] For this reason, retrograde neurotransmission allows neural circuits to create feedback loops. Furthermore, retrograde neurotransmission mainly serves to regulate typical, anterograde neurotransmission, rather than to actually distribute any information - it is similar to electrical neurotransmission.
In contrast to conventional (anterograde) neurotransmitters, retrograde neurotransmitters are synthesized in the postsynaptic neuron, and bind to receptors on the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron.[23] Additionally, retrograde signaling initiates a signaling cascade that focuses on the presynaptic neuron. Once retrograde signaling is initiated, an increase in action potentials begins in the presynaptic neuron, which directly impacts the postsynaptic neuron by increasing the number of its receptors.[24]
Endocannabinoids like anandamide are known to act as retrograde messengers[25][26][27] - as is nitric oxide.[28][29]
Retrograde signaling may also play a role in long-term potentiation (LTP), a proposed mechanism of learning and memory, although this is still controversial.[30][31][32]
Formal Definition of a Retrograde Neurotransmitter
In 2009, Regehr et al. proposed criteria for defining retrograde neurotransmitters. According to their work, a signaling molecule can be considered a retrograde neurotransmitter if it satisfies all of the following criteria:[5]
- The appropriate machinery for synthesizing and releasing the retrograde messenger must be located in the postsynaptic neuron
- Disrupting the synthesis and/or release of the messenger from the postsynaptic neuron must prevent retrograde signaling
- The appropriate targets for the retrograde messenger must be located in the presynaptic bouton
- Disrupting the targets for the retrograde messenger in the presynaptic boutons must eliminate retrograde signaling
- Exposing the presynaptic bouton to the messenger should mimic retrograde signaling provided the presence of the retrograde messenger is sufficient for retrograde signaling to occur
- In cases where the retrograde messenger is not sufficient, pairing the other factors with the retrograde signal should mimic the phenomenon
Types of Retrograde Neurotransmitters
The most prevalent endogenous retrograde neurotransmitters are nitric oxide[28][29] and various endocannabinoids, which are lipophilic ligands.[24][33]
The retrograde neurotransmitter, nitric oxide (NO), is a soluble gas that can readily diffuse through various cell membranes.[34] Nitric oxide synthase is the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of nitric oxide in various presynaptic cells.[35] Specifically, nitric oxide is known to play a critical role in LTP, which is crucial in memory storage within the hippocampus.[36] Additionally, literature suggests that nitric oxide can act as intracellular messengers in the brain and can also have an effect on the presynaptic glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses.[37]
Utilizing retrograde signaling, endocannabinoids, a type of retrograde neurotransmitter, are activated when they bind to G-protein coupled receptors on the presynaptic terminals of neurons.[38] The activation of endocannabinoids results in the release of particular neurotransmitters at the excitatory and inhibitory synapses of a neuron, ultimately impacting various forms of plasticity.[39][24][38]
Retrograde Signaling in Long-Term Potentiation
As it pertains to LTP, retrograde signaling is a hypothesis describing how events prior to LTP may begin in the postsynaptic neuron but be propagated to the presynaptic neuron, even though normal communication across a chemical synapse occurs in a presynaptic to postsynaptic direction. It is used most commonly by those who argue that presynaptic neurons contribute significantly to the expression of LTP.[40]
Background
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is the persistent increase in the strength of a chemical synapse that lasts from hours to days.[41] It is thought to occur via two temporally separated events, with induction occurring first, followed by expression.[41] Most LTP investigators agree that induction is entirely postsynaptic, whereas others disagree as to whether expression is primarily a presynaptic or postsynaptic event.[31] Some researchers believe that both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms are involved in LTP expression.[31]
Were LTP entirely induced and expressed postsynaptically, there would be no need for the postsynaptic cell to communicate with the presynaptic cell following LTP induction. However, postsynaptic induction combined with presynaptic expression requires that, following induction, the postsynaptic cell communicating with the presynaptic cell. Due to normal synaptic transmission occurring in a presynaptic to postsynaptic direction, postsynaptic to presynaptic communication is considered a form of retrograde transmission.[30]
Mechanism
The retrograde signaling hypothesis proposes that during the early stages of LTP expression, the postsynaptic cell "sends a message" to the presynaptic cell to notify it that an LTP-inducing stimulus has been received postsynaptically. The general hypothesis of retrograde signaling does not propose a precise mechanism by which this message is sent and received. One mechanism may be that the postsynaptic cell synthesizes and releases a retrograde messenger upon receipt of LTP-inducing stimulation.[42][43] Another is that it releases a preformed retrograde messenger upon such activation. Additionally, another mechanism includes synapse-spanning proteins becoming altered by LTP-inducing stimuli in the postsynaptic cell, and that changes the conformation of these proteins which propagates this information across the synapse and to the presynaptic cell.[44]
Identity of the Messenger
Of these mechanisms, the retrograde messenger hypothesis has received the most attention. Among proponents of the model, there is disagreement over the identity of the retrograde messenger. An abundant amount of work was completed in the early 1990s o demonstrate the existence of a retrograde messenger and to determine its identity. Furthermore, the completed work resulted in a generated list of candidates including carbon monoxide,[45] platelet-activating factor,[46][47] arachidonic acid,[48] and nitric oxide. Nitric oxide has received a great deal of attention in the past, but has recently been superseded by adhesion proteins that span the synaptic cleft to join the presynaptic and postsynaptic cells.[44] The endocannabinoids anandamide and/or 2-AG, acting through G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptors, may play an important role in retrograde signaling through LTP.[25][26]
References
- ↑ Yamashita, Naoya (October 2019). "Retrograde signaling via axonal transport through signaling endosomes" (in en). Journal of Pharmacological Sciences 141 (2): 91–96. doi:10.1016/j.jphs.2019.10.001. PMID 31679963.
- ↑ Leister, Dario (2012). "Retrograde signaling in plants: from simple to complex scenarios". Frontiers in Plant Science 3: 135. doi:10.3389/fpls.2012.00135. PMID 22723802. Bibcode: 2012FrPS....3..135L.
- ↑ Kleine, Tatjana; Leister, Dario (2016-08-01). "Retrograde signaling: Organelles go networking". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics. EBEC 2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference 1857 (8): 1313–1325. doi:10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.03.017. ISSN 0005-2728. PMID 26997501. Bibcode: 2016BBAcB1857.1313K. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005272816300640.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling". Annual Review of Plant Biology 57: 739–59. June 2006. doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.57.032905.105310. PMID 16669780.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Activity-dependent regulation of synapses by retrograde messengers". Neuron 63 (2): 154–70. July 2009. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2009.06.021. PMID 19640475.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Retrograde bilin signaling enables Chlamydomonas greening and phototrophic survival". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110 (9): 3621–6. February 2013. doi:10.1073/pnas.1222375110. PMID 23345435. Bibcode: 2013PNAS..110.3621D.
- ↑ "Mitochondrial retrograde signaling". Annual Review of Genetics 40: 159–85. December 2006. doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.40.110405.090613. PMID 16771627.
- ↑ "Plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling". Annual Review of Plant Biology 57: 739–59. 2006. doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.57.032905.105310. PMID 16669780.
- ↑ Muñoz, Paula; Munné-Bosch, Sergi (October 2020). "Oxylipins in plastidial retrograde signaling" (in en). Redox Biology 37. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2020.101717. PMID 32979794. Bibcode: 2020RedBi..3701717M.
- ↑ Bevan, Rachel B.; Lang, B. Franz (2004). "Mitochondrial genome evolution: The origin of mitochondria and of eukaryotes". Mitochondrial Function and Biogenesis. Topics in Current Genetics. 8. pp. 1–35. doi:10.1007/b96830. ISBN 978-3-540-21489-2.
- ↑ "Mitochondrial Retrograde Signaling: Triggers, Pathways, and Outcomes". Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2015. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/482582. PMID 26583058.
- ↑ "Mitochondrial signaling: forwards, backwards, and in between". Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2013. 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/351613. PMID 23819011.
- ↑ "The mitochondrial genotype can influence nuclear gene expression in yeast". Science 235 (4788): 576–80. January 1987. doi:10.1126/science.3027892. PMID 3027892. Bibcode: 1987Sci...235..576P.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "RTG-dependent mitochondria to nucleus signaling is negatively regulated by the seven WD-repeat protein Lst8p". The EMBO Journal 20 (24): 7209–19. December 2001. doi:10.1093/emboj/20.24.7209. PMID 11742997.
- ↑ "The yeast retrograde response as a model of intracellular signaling of mitochondrial dysfunction". Frontiers in Physiology 3: 139. 2012. doi:10.3389/fphys.2012.00139. PMID 22629248.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "A transcriptional switch in the expression of yeast tricarboxylic acid cycle genes in response to a reduction or loss of respiratory function". Molecular and Cellular Biology 19 (10): 6720–8. October 1999. doi:10.1128/MCB.19.10.6720. PMID 10490611.
- ↑ Loudya, Naresh; Barkan, Alice; López-Juez, Enrique (2024-10-03). "Plastid retrograde signaling: A developmental perspective" (in en). The Plant Cell 36 (10): 3903–3913. doi:10.1093/plcell/koae094. ISSN 1040-4651. PMID 38546347. PMC 11449110. https://academic.oup.com/plcell/article/36/10/3903/7636561.
- ↑ "H2O2-triggered retrograde signaling from chloroplasts to nucleus plays specific role in response to stress". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 287 (15): 11717–29. April 2012. doi:10.1074/jbc.m111.292847. PMID 22334687. Bibcode: 2012JBiCh.28711717M.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "ROS function in redox signaling and oxidative stress". Current Biology 24 (10): R453-62. May 2014. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.034. PMID 24845678. Bibcode: 2014CBio...24.R453S.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "ROS-talk - how the apoplast, the chloroplast, and the nucleus get the message through". Frontiers in Plant Science 3: 292. 2012. doi:10.3389/fpls.2012.00292. PMID 23293644. Bibcode: 2012FrPS....3..292S.
- ↑ Kleine, Tatjana; Leister, Dario (1 August 2016). "Retrograde signaling: Organelles go networking". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics 1857 (8): 1313–1325. doi:10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.03.017. PMID 26997501. Bibcode: 2016BBAcB1857.1313K.
- ↑ "Reconsidering the nature and mode of action of metabolite retrograde signals from the chloroplast". Frontiers in Plant Science 3: 300. 2013. doi:10.3389/fpls.2012.00300. PMID 23316207. Bibcode: 2013FrPS....3..300E.
- ↑ Tao, Huizhong W.; Poo, Mu-ming (2001-09-25). "Retrograde signaling at central synapses". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 98 (20): 11009–11015. doi:10.1073/pnas.191351698. PMID 11572961. Bibcode: 2001PNAS...9811009T.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Endocannabinoids Performance through Retrograde Signaling | Cannabis Sciences". https://www.labroots.com/trending/cannabis-sciences/8519/endocannabinoids-performance-retrograde-signaling.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Retrograde signaling in the regulation of synaptic transmission: focus on endocannabinoids". Progress in Neurobiology 68 (4): 247–86. November 2002. doi:10.1016/S0301-0082(02)00080-1. PMID 12498988.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Endogenous cannabinoids mediate retrograde signalling at hippocampal synapses". Nature 410 (6828): 588–92. March 2001. doi:10.1038/35069076. PMID 11279497. Bibcode: 2001Natur.410..588W.
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- ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Nitric oxide facilitates long-term potentiation, but not long-term depression". The Journal of Neuroscience 17 (7): 2645–51. April 1997. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-07-02645.1997. PMID 9065524.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Activity-dependent regulation of synapses by retrograde messengers". Neuron 63 (2): 154–70. July 2009. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2009.06.021. PMID 19640475.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Contrasting properties of two forms of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus". Nature 377 (6545): 115–8. September 1995. doi:10.1038/377115a0. PMID 7675078. Bibcode: 1995Natur.377..115N.
- ↑ "Is plasticity of synapses the mechanism of long-term memory storage?". npj Science of Learning 4 (1). December 2019. doi:10.1038/s41539-019-0048-y. PMID 31285847. Bibcode: 2019npjSL...4....9A.
- ↑ Vaughan, C. W.; Christie, M. J. (2005). "Retrograde Signalling by Endocannabinoids". Cannabinoids. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. 168. pp. 367–383. doi:10.1007/3-540-26573-2_12. ISBN 3-540-22565-X.
- ↑ Arancio, Ottavio; Kiebler, Michael; Lee, C.Justin; Lev-Ram, Varda; Tsien, Roger Y; Kandel, Eric R; Hawkins, Robert D (December 1996). "Nitric Oxide Acts Directly in the Presynaptic Neuron to Produce Long-Term Potentiationin Cultured Hippocampal Neurons". Cell 87 (6): 1025–1035. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81797-3. PMID 8978607. Bibcode: 1996Cell...87.1025A.
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- ↑ Hardingham, Neil; Dachtler, James; Fox, Kevin (2013). "The role of nitric oxide in pre-synaptic plasticity and homeostasis". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 7: 190. doi:10.3389/fncel.2013.00190. PMID 24198758.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Kreitzer, A (June 2002). "Retrograde signaling by endocannabinoids". Current Opinion in Neurobiology 12 (3): 324–330. doi:10.1016/S0959-4388(02)00328-8. PMID 12049940.
- ↑ Castillo, Pablo E.; Younts, Thomas J.; Chávez, Andrés E.; Hashimotodani, Yuki (October 2012). "Endocannabinoid Signaling and Synaptic Function". Neuron 76 (1): 70–81. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2012.09.020. PMID 23040807.
- ↑ Matthies, H. (1988). "Long-Term Synaptic Potentiation and Macromolecular Changes in Memory Formation". Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus. pp. 119–121. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-73202-7_35. ISBN 978-3-642-73204-1.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Warburton, Elizabeth C. (2014). "Long-Term Potentiation and Memory". Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology. pp. 1–6. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27772-6_345-2. ISBN 978-3-642-27772-6.
- ↑ "Glutamate, nitric oxide and cell-cell signalling in the nervous system". Trends in Neurosciences 14 (2): 60–7. February 1991. doi:10.1016/0166-2236(91)90022-M. PMID 1708538.
- ↑ "Cyclic GMP-dependent feedback inhibition of AMPA receptors is independent of PKG". Nature Neuroscience 3 (6): 559–65. June 2000. doi:10.1038/75729. PMID 10816311.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Malenka, Robert C.; Bear, Mark F. (September 2004). "LTP and LTD". Neuron 44 (1): 5–21. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2004.09.012. PMID 15450156.
- ↑ "Retrograde carbon monoxide is required for induction of long-term potentiation in rat superior cervical ganglion". The Journal of Neuroscience 21 (10): 3515–20. May 2001. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-10-03515.2001. PMID 11331380.
- ↑ "Platelet-activating factor as a potential retrograde messenger". Journal of Lipid Mediators and Cell Signalling 14 (1–3): 341–8. September 1996. doi:10.1016/0929-7855(96)00543-3. PMID 8906580.
- ↑ "Platelet-activating factor as a potential retrograde messenger in CA1 hippocampal long-term potentiation". Nature 367 (6459): 175–9. January 1994. doi:10.1038/367175a0. PMID 8114914. Bibcode: 1994Natur.367..175K.
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