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Ultrastructural and molecular features of excitatory and glutamatergic synapses. The auditory nerve synapses. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2020; 114:23-51. [PMID: 32723545 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glutamatergic synapses mediate fast synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. New developments highlight the importance of the synapse structural and molecular remodeling during development, aging and in neurological disorders. This chapter summarizes key structural and molecular aspects of the presynaptic and postsynaptic components of glutamatergic synapses in the brain. In addition, this chapter describes how the structure of the postsynaptic density and ionotropic glutamate content contribute to the function of auditory nerve synapses in the lower auditory brainstem.
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Morise J, Suzuki KGN, Kitagawa A, Wakazono Y, Takamiya K, Tsunoyama TA, Nemoto YL, Takematsu H, Kusumi A, Oka S. AMPA receptors in the synapse turnover by monomer diffusion. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5245. [PMID: 31748519 PMCID: PMC6868016 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13229-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The number and subunit compositions of AMPA receptors (AMPARs), hetero- or homotetramers composed of four subunits GluA1–4, in the synapse is carefully tuned to sustain basic synaptic activity. This enables stimulation-induced synaptic plasticity, which is central to learning and memory. The AMPAR tetramers have been widely believed to be stable from their formation in the endoplasmic reticulum until their proteolytic decomposition. However, by observing GluA1 and GluA2 at the level of single molecules, we find that the homo- and heterotetramers are metastable, instantaneously falling apart into monomers, dimers, or trimers (in 100 and 200 ms, respectively), which readily form tetramers again. In the dendritic plasma membrane, GluA1 and GluA2 monomers and dimers are far more mobile than tetramers and enter and exit from the synaptic regions. We conclude that AMPAR turnover by lateral diffusion, essential for sustaining synaptic function, is largely done by monomers of AMPAR subunits, rather than preformed tetramers. The mechanisms regulating the turnover of the AMPARs in the synapse, which is critically important to sustain basic synaptic activity, remains unclear. In this study, authors used single-molecule imaging techniques to demonstrate that AMPAR tetramers are not stable entities and readily fall apart to dimers and monomers that could reform to tetramers at the synapse, and that rapidly diffusing monomers in the plasma membrane are primarily responsible for the AMPAR turnover in the synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoji Morise
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Division of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kenichi G N Suzuki
- Center for Highly Advanced Integration of Nano and Life Sciences (G-CHAIN), Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan. .,Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Ayaka Kitagawa
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Division of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Wakazono
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Kogo Takamiya
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Taka A Tsunoyama
- Membrane Cooperativity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Onna-son, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yuri L Nemoto
- Membrane Cooperativity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Onna-son, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Hiromu Takematsu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Division of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.,Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Akihiro Kusumi
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. .,Membrane Cooperativity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Onna-son, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
| | - Shogo Oka
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Division of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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Two Pathways for the Activity-Dependent Growth and Differentiation of Synaptic Boutons in Drosophila. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0060-19.2019. [PMID: 31387877 PMCID: PMC6709223 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0060-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse formation can be promoted by intense activity. At the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), new synaptic boutons can grow acutely in response to patterned stimulation. We combined confocal imaging with electron microscopy and tomography to investigate the initial stages of growth and differentiation of new presynaptic boutons at the Drosophila NMJ. We found that the new boutons can form rapidly in intact larva in response to intense crawling activity, and we observed two different patterns of bouton formation and maturation. The first pathway involves the growth of filopodia followed by a formation of boutons that are initially devoid of synaptic vesicles (SVs) but filled with filamentous matrix. The second pathway involves rapid budding of synaptic boutons packed with SVs, and these more mature boutons are sometimes capable of exocytosis/endocytosis. We demonstrated that intense activity predominantly promotes the second pathway, i.e., budding of more mature boutons filled with SVs. We also showed that this pathway depends on synapsin (Syn), a neuronal protein which reversibly associates with SVs and mediates their clustering via a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent mechanism. Finally, we took advantage of the temperature-sensitive mutant sei to demonstrate that seizure activity can promote very rapid budding of new boutons filled with SVs, and this process occurs at scale of minutes. Altogether, these results demonstrate that intense activity acutely and selectively promotes rapid budding of new relatively mature presynaptic boutons filled with SVs, and that this process is regulated via a PKA/Syn-dependent pathway.
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Trotter JH, Hao J, Maxeiner S, Tsetsenis T, Liu Z, Zhuang X, Südhof TC. Synaptic neurexin-1 assembles into dynamically regulated active zone nanoclusters. J Cell Biol 2019; 218:2677-2698. [PMID: 31262725 PMCID: PMC6683742 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201812076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurexins are well-characterized presynaptic cell adhesion molecules that engage multifarious postsynaptic ligands and organize diverse synapse properties. However, the precise synaptic localization of neurexins remains enigmatic. Using super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrate that neurexin-1 forms discrete nanoclusters at excitatory synapses, revealing a novel organizational feature of synaptic architecture. Synapses generally contain a single nanocluster that comprises more than four neurexin-1 molecules and that also includes neurexin-2 and/or neurexin-3 isoforms. Moreover, we find that neurexin-1 is physiologically cleaved by ADAM10 similar to its ligand neuroligin-1, with ∼4-6% of neurexin-1 and ∼2-3% of neuroligin-1 present in the adult brain as soluble ectodomain proteins. Blocking ADAM10-mediated neurexin-1 cleavage dramatically increased the synaptic neurexin-1 content, thereby elevating the percentage of Homer1(+) excitatory synapses containing neurexin-1 nanoclusters from 40-50% to ∼80%, and doubling the number of neurexin-1 molecules per nanocluster. Taken together, our results reveal an unexpected nanodomain organization of synapses in which neurexin-1 is assembled into discrete presynaptic nanoclusters that are dynamically regulated via ectodomain cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin H Trotter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Junjie Hao
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Stephan Maxeiner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Theodoros Tsetsenis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Xiaowei Zhuang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Chen JH, Blanpied TA, Tang AH. Quantification of trans-synaptic protein alignment: A data analysis case for single-molecule localization microscopy. Methods 2019; 174:72-80. [PMID: 31325491 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoscale distribution of proteins and their relative positioning within a defined subcellular region are key to their physiological functions. Thanks to the super-resolution imaging methods, especially single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), mapping the three-dimensional distribution of multiple proteins has been easier and more efficient than ever. Nevertheless, in spite of the many tools available for efficient localization detection and image rendering, it has been a challenge to quantitatively analyze the 3D distribution and relative positioning of proteins in these SMLM data. Here, using heterogeneously distributed synaptic proteins as examples, we describe in detail a series of analytical methods including detection of nanoscale density clusters, quantification of the trans-synaptic alignment between these protein densities, and automatic en face projection and averaging. These analyses were performed within customized Matlab routines and we make the full scripts available. The concepts behind these analytical methods and the scripts can be adapted for quantitative analysis of spatial organization of other macromolecular complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Hui Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Thomas A Blanpied
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ai-Hui Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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Yang X, Specht CG. Subsynaptic Domains in Super-Resolution Microscopy: The Treachery of Images. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:161. [PMID: 31312120 PMCID: PMC6614521 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of super-resolution optical microscopy to investigating synaptic structures has revealed a highly heterogeneous and variable intra-synaptic organization. Dense subsynaptic protein assemblies named subsynaptic domains or SSDs have been proposed as structural units that regulate the efficacy of neuronal transmission. However, an in-depth characterization of SSDs has been hampered by technical limitations of super-resolution microscopy of synapses, namely the stochasticity of the signals during the imaging procedures and the variability of the synaptic structures. Here, we synthetize the available evidence for the existence of SSDs at central synapses, as well as the possible functional relevance of SSDs. In particular, we discuss the possible regulation of co-transmission at mixed inhibitory synapses as a consequence of the subsynaptic distribution of glycine receptors (GlyRs) and GABAA receptors (GABAARs). LAY ABSTRACT Super-resolution imaging strategies bypass the resolution limit of conventional optical microscopy and have given new insights into the distribution of proteins at synapses in the central nervous system. Neurotransmitter receptors and scaffold proteins appear to occupy specialized locations within synapses that we refer to as subsynaptic domains or SSDs. Interestingly, these SSDs are highly dynamic and their formation seems to be related to the remodeling of synapses during synaptic plasticity. It was also shown that SSDs of pre-and post-synaptic proteins are aligned in so-called nanocolumns, highlighting the role of SSDs in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Despite recent advances, however, the detection of SSDs with super-resolution microscopy remains difficult due to the inherent technical limitations of these approaches that are discussed in this review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Yang
- École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology (IBENS), Paris, France
| | - Christian G Specht
- École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology (IBENS), Paris, France
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Metzbower SR, Joo Y, Benavides DR, Blanpied TA. Properties of Individual Hippocampal Synapses Influencing NMDA-Receptor Activation by Spontaneous Neurotransmission. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0419-18.2019. [PMID: 31110134 PMCID: PMC6541874 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0419-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activation is critical for maintenance and modification of synapse strength. Specifically, NMDAR activation by spontaneous glutamate release has been shown to mediate some forms of synaptic plasticity as well as synaptic development. Interestingly, there is evidence that within individual synapses each release mode may be segregated such that postsynaptically there are distinct pools of responsive receptors. To examine potential regulators of NMDAR activation because of spontaneous glutamate release in cultured hippocampal neurons, we used GCaMP6f imaging at single synapses in concert with confocal and super-resolution imaging. Using these single-spine approaches, we found that Ca2+ entry activated by spontaneous release tends to be carried by GluN2B-NMDARs. Additionally, the amount of NMDAR activation varies greatly both between synapses and within synapses, and is unrelated to spine and synapse size, but does correlate loosely with synapse distance from the soma. Despite the critical role of spontaneous activation of NMDARs in maintaining synaptic function, their activation seems to be controlled factors other than synapse size or synapse distance from the soma. It is most likely that NMDAR activation by spontaneous release influenced variability in subsynaptic receptor position, release site position, vesicle content, and channel properties. Therefore, spontaneous activation of NMDARs appears to be regulated distinctly from other receptor types, notably AMPARs, within individual synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuyoung Joo
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201
| | - David R Benavides
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201
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On the cause of sleep: Protein fragments, the concept of sentinels, and links to epilepsy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:10773-10782. [PMID: 31085645 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1904709116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular-level cause of sleep is unknown. In 2012, we suggested that the cause of sleep stems from cumulative effects of numerous intracellular and extracellular protein fragments. According to the fragment generation (FG) hypothesis, protein fragments (which are continually produced through nonprocessive cleavages by intracellular, intramembrane, and extracellular proteases) can be beneficial but toxic as well, and some fragments are eliminated slowly during wakefulness. We consider the FG hypothesis and propose that, during wakefulness, the degradation of accumulating fragments is delayed within natural protein aggregates such as postsynaptic densities (PSDs) in excitatory synapses and in other dense protein meshworks, owing to an impeded diffusion of the ∼3,000-kDa 26S proteasome. We also propose that a major function of sleep involves a partial and reversible expansion of PSDs, allowing an accelerated destruction of PSD-localized fragments by the ubiquitin/proteasome system. Expansion of PSDs would alter electrochemistry of synapses, thereby contributing to a decreased neuronal firing during sleep. If so, the loss of consciousness, a feature of sleep, would be the consequence of molecular processes (expansions of protein meshworks) that are required for degradation of protein fragments. We consider the concept of FG sentinels, which signal to sleep-regulating circuits that the levels of fragments are going up. Also discussed is the possibility that protein fragments, which are known to be overproduced during an epileptic seizure, may contribute to postictal sleep and termination of seizures. These and related suggestions, described in the paper, are compatible with current evidence about sleep and lead to testable predictions.
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La Rosa C, Ghibaudi M, Bonfanti L. Newly Generated and Non-Newly Generated "Immature" Neurons in the Mammalian Brain: A Possible Reservoir of Young Cells to Prevent Brain Aging and Disease? J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8050685. [PMID: 31096632 PMCID: PMC6571946 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8050685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain plasticity is important for translational purposes since most neurological disorders and brain aging problems remain substantially incurable. In the mammalian nervous system, neurons are mostly not renewed throughout life and cannot be replaced. In humans, the increasing life expectancy explains the increase in brain health problems, also producing heavy social and economic burden. An exception to the “static” brain is represented by stem cell niches leading to the production of new neurons. Such adult neurogenesis is dramatically reduced from fish to mammals, and in large-brained mammals with respect to rodents. Some examples of neurogenesis occurring outside the neurogenic niches have been reported, yet these new neurons actually do not integrate in the mature nervous tissue. Non-newly generated, “immature” neurons (nng-INs) are also present: Prenatally generated cells continuing to express molecules of immaturity (mostly shared with the newly born neurons). Of interest, nng-INs seem to show an inverse phylogenetic trend across mammals, being abundant in higher-order brain regions not served by neurogenesis and providing structural plasticity in rather stable areas. Both newly generated and nng-INs represent a potential reservoir of young cells (a “brain reserve”) that might be exploited for preventing the damage of aging and/or delay the onset/reduce the impact of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara La Rosa
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Torino, Italy.
| | - Marco Ghibaudi
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
| | - Luca Bonfanti
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Torino, Italy.
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