Long-term potentiation-induced changes in actin dynamics and spine geometry persist on the timescale of the synaptic tag.

According to the tagging and capture hypothesis, long-lasting long-term potentiation (LTP) requires protein synthesis and a synaptic tag, which is a synapse specific memory of the stimulus with a so far unclear molecular or biophysical identity. Here we use an interdisciplinary approach to explore the hypothesis that interaction between the dynamics of actin and the spine geometry can provide such a memory. Using a mathematical model, we demonstrate that this implementation of the tag requires an increase in the stable, cross-linked pool of actin filaments, and is not possible without this stable pool. Using FRAP experiments, we show that such an increase in stable actin can be observed hours after chemical LTP induction in vitro. Thus, the interaction between actin dynamics and spine geometry could indeed serve as a synaptic tag for LTP.